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

In Christ Alone (1)

In Christ alone, my hope is found.
He is my light, my strength, my song;
This cornerstone, this solid ground,
firm through the fiercest drought and storm.
What heights of love, what depths of peace,
when fears are stilled when strivings cease.
My comforter, my all in all,
Here, in the love of Christ, I stand.

There in the ground, his body lay,
light of the world, by darkness slain;
Then, bursting forth in glorious day,
up from the grave, he rose again.
And as he stands in victory,
sin’s curse has lost its grip on me;
for I am his, and he is mine,
bought with the precious blood of Christ. 

No guilt in life, no fear in death,
this is the pow’r of Christ in me;
from life’s first cry to final breath,
Jesus commands my destiny,
No pow’r of hell, no human scheme
can ever pluck me from his hand:
for I am his, and he is mine,
bought with the precious blood of Christ. 
No one can pluck me from his hand:
In Christ alone, I’ll stand.

PSALMODY

Psalm 63

Ant. My lips will praise you, Lord, for sweeter than life is your merciful love.

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. My lips will praise you, Lord, for sweeter than life is your merciful love.

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. Martyrs of the Lord, bless the Lord for ever.

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. Martyrs of the Lord, bless the Lord for ever.

Psalm 149

Ant. I will make the man who is victorious a pillar in my temple, says the Lord.

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 this 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. I will make the man who is victorious a pillar in my temple, says the Lord.

Reading

A Reading from the Second Letter of St. Paul to the Corinthians
(2 Corinthians 1:3-5)

Praised be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and the God of all consolation! God comforts us in all our afflictions and thus enables us to comfort those who are in trouble with the same consolation we have received from him. As we have shared much in the suffering of Christ, so through Christ do we share abundantly in his consolation.

The word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.

Take a few moments to reflect on the reading.

Responsory

The Lord is my strength, and I shall sing God’s praise.
The Lord is my strength, and I shall sing God’s praise.
The Lord is my savior,
and I shall sing God’s praise.
Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.
The Lord is my strength, and I shall sing God’s praise.

Gospel Canticle
Canticle of Zechariah

Luke 1:68-79
The Benedictus (2)

Ant. He was light to those who sat in the shadow of death, a model for those who sought freedom and justice, doing good even to those who hated him.

While making the sign of the cross:

Blest be the Lord, the God of Israel
Who brings the dawn and darkest night dispels,
Who raises up a mighty Savior from the earth,
Of David’s line, a son of royal birth.

The prophets tell a story just begun
Of vanquished foe and glorious vict’ry won,
Of promise made to all who keep the law as guide:
God’s faithful love and mercy will abide.

This is the oath once sworn to Abraham:
All shall be free to dwell upon the land,
Free now to praise, unharmed by the oppressor’s rod,
Holy and righteous in the sight of God.

And you, my child, this day you shall be called
The promised one, the prophet of our God,
For you will go before the Lord to clear the way,
And shepherd all into the light of day.

The tender love God promised from our birth
Is soon to dawn upon this shadowed earth,
To shine on those whose sorrows seem to never cease,
To guide our feet into the path of peace.

All glory be to God, Creator blest,
To Jesus Christ, God’s love made manifest,
And to the Holy Spirit, gentle Comforter,
All glory be, both now and evermore.

Ant. He was light to those who sat in the shadow of death, a model for those who sought freedom and justice, doing good even to those who hated him.

Intercessions

Our Savior's faithfulness is mirrored in the fidelity of his witnesses who shed their blood for the Word of God. Let us praise him in remembrance of them:
Christ Jesus, fill us with light and truth.

Our brother, Titus, freely embraced death in bearing witness for the faith; give us the true freedom of the Spirit, O Lord.
Christ Jesus, fill us with light and truth.

Your martyrs professed their faith by shedding their blood; give us a faith, O Lord, that is constant and pure.
Christ Jesus, fill us with light and truth.

Your martyrs followed in your footstep by carrying the cross; help us to endure courageously the misfortunes of life.
Christ Jesus, fill us with light and truth.

Your martyrs washed their garments in the blood of the Lamb. Help us to avoid the weaknesses of the flesh and worldly allurements.
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

Lord our God,
source and giver of life,
you gave St. Titus
the spirit of courage
to proclaim human dignity and
the freedom of the Church,
even in the throes of
degrading persecution and death.
Grant us that same Spirit
so that in the coming of
your kingdom of justice and peace,
we might never be ashamed of the Gospel
but be enabled to recognize your loving-kindness
in all the events of our lives.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.
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. Titus Brandsma,
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. Text and Music: Keith Getty and Stuart Townsend;
   harmony by Rick Modlin, b. 1966. Text and Music Copyright 2001, 2009. Thankyou Music, (PRS).
   Vocals: Matthew Gummess, O.Carm. and Anna May Rudolph.

2. Lyrics Based on Luke 1:68-79; Owen Alstott, b. 1947, copyright 1993.
   Music: Bernadette Farrell, b. 1957, copyright 1993.
   Vocals: Steven Begert-Clark.
   Piano: Benjamín Aguilar, O.Carm.
   Bells: Julian Pardo.

3. Response Text: James A, Wilde © 1996.
   Music: Michael Joncas, b. 1951, © 1996, Michael Joncas.
   Vocals: The Carmelites.

4. Traditional.
   Vocals: The Carmelites.