Call to Worship

While making the sign of the cross:

Lord, open my lips.
And my mouth will proclaim your praise.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son,
and to the Holy Spirit.
As it was in the beginning,
is now and will be forever. Amen. Alleluia!

Hymn

Holy, Holy, Holy! (1)

Holy, Holy, Holy! Lord God Almighty!
Early in the morning, our song shall rise to thee:
Holy, Holy, Holy! Merciful and mighty,
God in three Persons, blessed Trinity.

Holy, Holy, Holy! All the saints adore thee,
Casting down their golden crowns around the glassy sea;
Cherubim and seraphim falling down before thee,
With songs of praise for all eternity.

Holy, Holy, Holy! Though the darkness hide thee,
Though the eye of sinners, thy glory may not see,
Only thou art holy; there is none beside thee,
Perfect in pow’r, in love, and purity.

Holy, Holy, Holy! Lord God Almighty!
All thy works shall praise thy Name,
in earth, and sky, and sea;
Holy, Holy, Holy! Merciful and mighty,
God in three Persons, blessed Trinity.

PSALMODY

Psalm 63

Ant. The Lord extended his hand and touched my lips; he ordered me to prophesy to the nations.

O God, you are my God, for you I long;
for you, my soul is thirsting.
My body pines for you
like a dry, weary land without water.
So I gaze on you in the sanctuary
to see your strength and your glory.

For your love is better than life,
my lips will speak your praise.
So I will bless you all my life;
in your name, I will lift up my hands.
My soul shall be filled as with a banquet;
my mouth shall praise you with joy.

On my bed, I remember you.
On you, I muse through the night,
for you have been my help;
in the shadow of your wings, I rejoice.
My soul clings to you;
your right hand holds me fast.

Glory to the Father and to the Son
and to the Holy Spirit.
As it was in the beginning
is now and will be forever.
Amen.

Ant. The Lord extended his hand and touched my lips; he ordered me to prophesy to the nations.

Psalm Prayer

Father, creator of unfailing light, give that same light to those who call to you. May our lips praise you, our lives proclaim your goodness, our works give you honor, and our voices celebrate you for ever.

Canticle
Daniel 3:57-88, 56

Ant. Herod feared John, knowing him to be a good and holy man, and guarded him carefully.
Bless the Lord, all you works of the Lord.
Praise and exalt God above all forever.
Angels of the Lord, bless the Lord.
You heavens, bless the Lord.
All you waters above the heavens, bless the Lord.
All you hosts of the Lord, bless the Lord.
Sun and moon, bless the Lord.
Stars of heaven, bless the Lord.
Every shower and dew, bless the Lord.
All you winds, bless the Lord.
Fire and heat, bless the Lord.
Cold and chill, bless the Lord.
Dew and rain, bless the Lord.
Frost and chill, bless the Lord.
Ice and snow, bless the Lord.
Nights and days, bless the Lord.
Light and darkness, bless the Lord.
Lightnings and clouds, bless the Lord.

Let the earth bless the Lord.
Praise and exalt God above all for ever.
Mountains and hills, bless the Lord.
Everything growing from the earth, bless the Lord.
You springs, bless the Lord.
Seas and rivers, bless the Lord.
You dolphins and all water creatures, bless the Lord.
All you birds of the air, bless the Lord.
All you beasts, wild and tame, bless the Lord.
All you human beings, bless the Lord.

O Israel, bless the Lord.
Praise and exalt God above all for ever.
Priests of the Lord, bless the Lord.
Servants of the Lord, bless the Lord.
Spirits and souls of the just, bless the Lord.
Holy ones of humble heart, bless the Lord.
Hananiah, Azariah, Mishael, bless the Lord.
Praise and exalt God above all for ever.

Let us bless the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
Let us praise and exalt God above all for ever.
Blessed are you, Lord, in the firmament of heaven.
Praiseworthy and glorious and exalted above all for ever.

Ant. Herod feared John, knowing him to be a good and holy man, and guarded him carefully.

Psalm 149

Ant. Although John’s words disturbed him greatly, Herod enjoyed listening to John.

Sing a new song to the Lord,
God’s praise in the assembly of the faithful.
Let Israel rejoice in its maker.
Let the people of Zion exult in their king.
Let them praise God’s name with dancing
and make music with timbrel and harp.

For the Lord takes delight in his people
and crowns the poor with salvation.
Let the faithful rejoice in their glory,
shout for joy and take their rest.
Let the praise of God be on their lips
and a two-edged sword in their hand,

to deal out vengeance to the nations
and punishment on all the peoples;
to bind their kings in chains
and their nobles in fetters of iron;
to carry out the sentence pre-ordained;
this honor is for all God’s faithful

Glory to the Father and to the Son
and to the Holy Spirit.
As it was in the beginning
is now and will be forever.
Amen.

Ant. Although John’s words disturbed him greatly, Herod enjoyed listening to John.

Reading

A Reading from the Book of the Prophet Isaiah
(Isaiah 49:1b2)

The Lord called me from birth,
from my mother’s womb he gave me my name.
He made me a sharp-edged sword
and concealed me in the shadow of his arm.
He made me a polished arrow,
in his quiver he hid me.

The word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.

Take a few moments to reflect on the reading.

Responsory

You sent your disciples to John, and he gave witness to the truth.
You sent your disciples to John, and he gave witness to the truth.
He was like a brightly shining light.
he gave witness to the truth.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit,
You sent your disciples to John, and he gave witness to the truth.

Gospel Canticle
Canticle of Zechariah

Luke 1:68-79
The Benedictus (2)

Ant. The friend of the bridegroom, who waits and listens for his return, rejoices when he hears his voice: so now my joy is complete.

While making the sign of the cross:

Blest be the God of Israel
who comes to set us free
and raises new hope for us:
a Branch from David's tree.
So have the prophets long declared
that with a mighty arm
God would turn back our enemies
and all who wish us harm.

With promised mercy, will God still
the covenant recall:
the oath once sworn to Abraham,
from foes to save us all;
that we might worship without fear
and offer lives of praise,
in holiness and righteousness
before God all our days.

My child, as prophet of the Lord,
you will prepare the way,
to tell God's people they are saved
from sin's eternal sway.
Then shall God's mercy from on high
shine forth and never cease
to drive away the gloom of death
and lead us into peace.

Ant. The friend of the bridegroom, who waits and listens for his return, rejoices when he hears his voice: so now my joy is complete.

Intercessions

In faith, let us call upon Christ, who sent John to prepare for his coming:
Christ Jesus, fill us with light and truth.

Your coming caused John the Baptist to leap for joy in his mother’s womb,
help us to rejoice at your coming among us.
Christ Jesus, fill us with light and truth.

Through the life and preaching of the Baptist, you showed us the way to repentance. Turn our hearts to follow the commandments of your kingdom.
Christ Jesus, fill us with light and truth.

You willed that your coming among men should be announced by John the Baptist: Send new heralds to proclaim you throughout the world.
Christ Jesus, fill us with light and truth.

You wished to be baptized by John in the Jordan to fulfill all that God required; help us to do God’s will.
Christ Jesus, fill us with light and truth.

For the sick who have asked us to accompany them with our prayers that they may experience your merciful and healing touch today.

Please pray aloud the names of those who are sick or in need of healing.

Christ Jesus, fill us with light and truth. (3)

The Lord’s Prayer

And now let us pray with confidence as Christ our Lord asked:

Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name;
thy kingdom come;
thy will be done
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread;
and forgive us our trespasses
as we forgive those who trespass against us;
and lead us not into temptation
but deliver us from evil.

Closing Prayer

God our Heavenly Creator,
you called John the Baptist
to be the herald of your Son’s birth and death.
As he gave his life
in witness to truth and justice,
so may we strive to
profess our faith in your gospel.
Grant this through our
Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God, for ever and ever.
Amen.

Blessing

While making the sign of the cross:

May the Lord bless us, protect us from all evil, and bring us to everlasting life.
Amen.

Flos Carmeli (4)

Flos Carmeli
Vitis florigera
Splendor caeli
Virgo puerpera
—Singularis.

Mater mitis
Sed viri nescia
Carmelitis
Esto propitia
—Stella maris.

Our Lady of Mount Carmel,
Pray for us.
St. John the Baptist,
Pray for us.
Sant’Angelo,
Pray for us.

Let us spend this day in peace.
Thanks be to God.

Credits and Permissions

All text and music are in the public domain or used with permission:
OneLicense A-726188. All rights reserved.
Unless otherwise stated, all music is published by OCP or a division of OCP.

Julian Pardo produces all audio.
Michael J. Aguilar produces all videos.

1. Lyrics: Reginald Heber, 1826.
   Music: Timothy R. Smith, copyright 1999.
   Lead Vocals: Alondra Garza
   Descant: Alondra Garza; Carl Markelz, O.Carm., Matthew Gummess, O.Carm.,
   Michael Aguilar, Jr., and Benjamín Aguilar, O.Carm.
   Piano: Benjamín Aguilar, O.Carm.
   Flute: Jeff Delisanti.

2. Lyrics: Based on Luke 1:68-79; “Blessed be the God of Israel”, Carl P. Daw. Jr., born 1944.
   Music: “Forest Green,” English Folk Tune; arr. Ralph Vaughn Williams (1871-1958).
   Vocals: The Carmelites and NickRitacco.
   Piano: Benjamín Aguilar, O.Carm.

3. Text: “Intercessions.” James A. Wilde, copyright 1996.
   Music: Michael Joncas, copyright 1996.
   Vocals: The Carmelites.

4. Traditional.
   Vocals: The Carmelites, including Matthew Gummess, O.Carm., Carl Markelz, O.Carm., Ryan J. Resurreccion, O. Carm. and Benjamín Aguilar, O.Carm.