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

Come, come Emmanuel!
Son of God appear.
Heaven and earth, rejoice!
Salvation is drawing near.
Salvation is drawing near.

O come, O come, Emmanuel,
And ransom captive Israel,
That mourns in lonely exile here
Until the Son of God appear.

Come, come Emmanuel!
Son of God appear!
Heaven and earth, rejoice!
Salvation is drawing near.
Salvation is drawing near.

O come, O Wisdom from on high,
Who ordered all things mightily;
To us the path of knowledge show,
And teach us in her ways to go.

Come, come Emmanuel!
Son of God appear!
Heaven and earth, rejoice!
Salvation is drawing near.
Salvation is drawing near.

PSALMODY

Psalm 63

Ant. The Lord is coming without delay. He will reveal things kept hidden and show himself to all humanity, 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. The Lord is coming without delay. He will reveal things kept hidden and show himself to all humanity, 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. Mountains and hills shall be level, crooked paths straight, rough ways smooth. Come, Lord, do not delay, 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. Mountains and hills shall be level, crooked paths straight, rough ways smooth. Come, Lord, do not delay, alleluia.

Psalm 148

Ant. I shall enfold Zion with my salvation and shed my glory around Jerusalem, 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. I shall enfold Zion with my salvation and shed my glory around Jerusalem, alleluia.

Reading

A Reading from the Letter of St. Paul to the Romans
(Romans 13:11-12)

It is now the hour for you to wake from sleep, for our salvation is closer than when we first accepted the faith. The night is far spent; the day draws near. Let us cast off deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. Let us live honorably as in daylight, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual excess and lust, not in quarreling and jealousy. Rather, put on the Lord Jesus Christ and make no provision for the desires of the flesh.

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 the one who is to come,
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

Ant. When John, in prison, heard of the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples with this question: Are you the One whose coming was foretold, or should we look for another?

While making the sign of the cross:

Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel;
who has come to his people and set them free.
Who has raised up for us a mighty savior,
born of the house of his servant David.

Through the holy prophets, God promised of old
to save us from our enemies,
from the hands of all who hate us.
God promised to show mercy to our ancestors
and to remember God’s holy covenant.

This was the oath God swore to our father Abraham:
to set us free from the hands of our enemies,
free to worship God without fear,
holy and righteous in God’s sight all the days of our life.

You, my child, shall be called the prophet of the Most High;
for you will go before the Lord to prepare his way,
to give his people knowledge of salvation
by the forgiveness of their sins.

In the tender compassion of our God
the dawn from on high shall break upon us,
to shine on those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death,
and to guide our feet into the way of peace.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son,
and to the Holy Spirit:
as it was in the beginning, is now,
and will be for ever. Amen.

Ant. When John, in prison, heard of the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples with this question: Are you the One whose coming was foretold, or should we look for another?

Intercessions

To God, who has given us the grace to wait in joyful hope for the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ, let us make our prayer:
Come, O Lord, and set us free! Maranatha.

Sanctify us in mind and body; keep us without sin until the coming of your Son.
Come, O Lord, and set us free! Maranatha.

Make us walk this day in holiness and live upright and devout lives in this world.
Come, O Lord, and set us free! Maranatha.

May we be clothed in our Lord Jesus Christ and filled with the Holy Spirit.
Come, O Lord, and set us free! Maranatha.

Lord, help us to stand watchful and ready until your Son is revealed in all his glory.
Come, O Lord, and set us free! Maranatha.

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.

Come, O Lord, and set us free! Maranatha. (2)

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

Heavenly God of our Lord Jesus Christ,
ever faithful to your promises
and ever close to your Church:
the earth rejoices in hope of the Savior’s coming
and looks forward with longing
to his return at the end of time.
Prepare our hearts and remove the sadness
that hinders us from feeling the joy
which his presence will bestow
for he is Lord 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 (3)

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. Joseph,
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: Refrain, Steve Angrisano, b. 1965, copyright 2004. Verses based on ‘O’ Antiphons.
   Music: Steve Angrisano, copyright 2004, Steve Angrisano.
   Vocals: Nick Ritacco, Anna May Rudolph, Roberto Reyes, O.Carm., Matthew Gummess, O.Carm., Carl Markelz, O.Carm., Ryan J. Resurreccion, O. Carm., Benjamín Aguilar, O.Carm.
   Guitar; Julian Pardo
   Violin: Connie O’Shea.
   Keyboard: Benjamín Aguilar, O.Carm.

2. Text: (Refrain). Based on Isaiah 35; Romans 13; James 5;
   Tim Schoenbachler, b. 1952.
   Music: Tim Schoenbachler.
   Vocals: The Carmelites.

3. Traditional.
   Vocals: The Carmelites.