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,
Which wert and art —
and evermore shall be.

Holy, Holy, Holy!
Though the darkness hide thee,
though the eye made blind by sin
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. Glorious is the Lord on high, alleluia.

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. Glorious is the Lord on high, alleluia.

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. To you, Lord, be highest glory and praise for ever, alleluia.

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. To you, Lord, be highest glory and praise for ever, alleluia.

Psalm 148

Ant. Praise the Lord from the heavens, alleluia.

Praise the Lord!
Across the heavens,
from the heights, all you angels, heavenly beings,
sing praise, sing praise!

Sun and moon, glittering stars,
sing praise, sing praise.
Highest heavens, rain clouds,
sing praise, sing praise.

Praise God's name,
whose word called you forth
and fixed you in place
for ever by eternal decree.

Let there be praise:
from depths of the earth,
from creatures of the deep.
Fire and hail, snow and mist,
storms, winds, mountains, hills, fruit trees and cedars,
wild beasts and tame, snakes and birds,

Princes, judges, rulers, subjects,
men, women, old and young,
praise, praise the holy name,
this name beyond all names.

God's splendor above the earth,
above the heavens,
gives strength to the nation,
glory to the faithful,
a people close to the Lord.
Israel, let there be 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.

Ant. Praise the Lord from the heavens, alleluia.

Reading

A Reading from the Book of the Prophet Ezekiel
(Ezekiel 37:12b-14)

Thus says the Lord God: Look! I am going to open your graves; I will make you come up out of your graves, my people, and bring you back to the land of Israel. You shall know that I am the Lord when I open your graves and make you come up out of them, my people! I will put my spirit in you that you may come to life, and I will settle you in your land. Then you shall know that I am the Lord. I have spoken; I will do it, says the Lord.

The word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.

Take a few moments to reflect on the reading.

Responsory

Christ, Son of the living God, have mercy on us.
Christ, Son of the living God, have mercy on us.
You are seated at the right hand of the Father,
Have mercy on us.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit,
Christ, Son of the living God, have mercy on us.

Gospel Canticle
Canticle of Zechariah

Luke 1:68-79
The Benedictus (2)

Ant. Amen, amen I say to you: Whoever believes in me will live for ever, alleluia.

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. Amen, amen I say to you: Whoever believes in me will live for ever, alleluia.

Intercessions

Heavenly God, you sent the Holy Spirit to enlighten the hearts of all people; hear us as we pray:
O God, hear us, hear our prayer.

Blessed are you, O God, our light. You have given us a new day resplendent with your glory.
O God, hear us, hear our prayer.

You enlightened the world through the resurrection of your Son; through your Church, shed this light on all people.
O God, hear us, hear our prayer.

You gave the disciples of your only begotten Son the Spirit’s gift of understanding. Through the same Spirit, keep the Church faithful to you.
O God, hear us, hear our prayer.

Light of nations, remember those who remain in darkness. Open their eyes and let them recognize you, the only true God.
O God, hear us, hear our prayer.

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.
O God, hear us, hear our prayer. (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

Almighty and ever-living God,
your Spirit made us your children,
confident to call you Father.
Increase your Spirit within us
and bring us to our promised inheritance.
Help us to be like him in word and deed.
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.
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 M Aguilar produces all videos.

1. Lyrics: Reginald Heber, 1826.
   Tune: NICAEA, John B. Dykes, 1820.
   Arrangement: Howard Hughes, SM, 2009.
   Vocals: Matthew Gummess, O.Carm., Carl Markelz, O.Carm. Ryan Joseph Resurreccion, O.Carm., Benjamín Aguilar, 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. Text: (Response) James A, Wilde © 1996.
   Music: Michael Joncas, b. 1951, © 1996, Michael Joncas.
   Vocals: The Carmelites.

4. Traditional.
   Vocals: The Carmelites.