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.

Hymn

There is a Longing (1)

There is a longing in our hearts, O Lord,
for you to reveal yourself to us.
There is a longing in our hearts for love
we only find in you, our God.

For wisdom, for courage,
for comfort, hear our prayer.
In weakness, in fear,
be near, hear our prayer, O God.

There is a longing in our hearts, O Lord,
for you to reveal yourself to us.
There is a longing in our hearts for love
we only find in you, our God.

For healing, for wholeness,
for new life, hear our prayer.
In sickness, in death,
be near, hear our prayer, O God.

There is a longing in our hearts, O Lord,
for you to reveal yourself to us.
There is a longing in our hearts for love
we only find in you, our God.

Lord save us, take pity,
light in our darkness.
We call you; we wait,
be near, hear our prayer, O God.

There is a longing in our hearts, O Lord,
for you to reveal yourself to us.
There is a longing in our hearts for love
we only find in you, our God.

PSALMODY

Psalm 63

Ant. Your decrees, O Lord, are to be trusted; your truth is more powerful than the roaring of the seas.

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. Your decrees, O Lord, are to be trusted; your truth is more powerful than the roaring of the seas.

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 3:52-57

Ant. Springs of water, bless the Lord; praise and exalt God above all 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 forever.

Ant. Springs of water, bless the Lord; praise and exalt God above all for ever.

Psalm 148

Ant. All kings and peoples of the earth give praise to God.

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. All kings and peoples of the earth give praise to God.

Reading

A Reading from the Book of Nehemiah
(Nehemiah 8:9-10)

Today is holy to the Lord your God.
Do not be sad, and do not weep;
for today is holy to our Lord.
Do not be saddened this day,
for rejoicing in the Lord must be your strength!

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. Destroy this temple, says the Lord, and in three days, I will rebuild it. He was speaking of the temple of his body.

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 forever.
Amen.

Ant. Destroy this temple, says the Lord, and in three days, I will rebuild it. He was speaking of the temple of his body.

Intercessions

Let us praise our loving Redeemer, who gained for us this season of grace, and pray to him, singing:
Miserere nobis. Miserere nobis. Lord, hear our prayer.

Christ, our life, through baptism we were buried with you and rose to life with you, may we walk today in newness of life.
Cry out for God’s mercy:
Miserere nobis. Miserere nobis. Lord, hear our prayer.

Lord, you have brought blessings to all humankind; bring us to share your concern for the good of all.
Cry out for God’s mercy:
Miserere nobis. Miserere nobis. Lord, hear our prayer.

May we work together to build up the earthly city with our eyes fixed on the city that lasts for ever.
Cry out for God’s mercy:
Miserere nobis. Miserere nobis. Lord, hear our prayer.

Healer of body and soul, cure the sickness of our spirit so that we may grow in holiness through your constant care.
Cry out for God’s mercy:
Miserere nobis. Miserere nobis. Lord, 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.
Cry out for God’s mercy:
Miserere nobis. Miserere nobis. Lord, hear our prayer. (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

Father,
You have taught us to overcome our sins by praying, fasting, and works of mercy. When we are discouraged by our weakness, give us confidence in your love. We ask 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 (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.
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 & Music: Anne Quigley, copyright 1992, 1994.
   Vocals: The Carmelites.
   Guitar: Julian Pardo,
   Viola: Briana Bandy.
   Piano: Benjamín Aguilar, O.Carm.

2. Text: Bob Hurd. © 1996
   Music: Missa Ubi Caritas.. © 1996
   Vocals: The Carmelites.

3. Traditional.
   Vocals: The Carmelites.