(Make the sign of the cross, saying:)

God, come to my assistance,
Lord, make haste to help me.
Glory be 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: The Lord has made manifest his steadfast love for us.

Canticle 2 (1 Samuel 2)
My heart exults in the Lord,
I find my strength in my God.
My mouth laughs at my enemies
as I rejoice in your saving help.

There is none like the Lord,
there is no other but you.
There is no Rock like our God!

Bring your haughty words to an end,
let no boasts fall from your lips,
for the Lord is a God who knows all.
It is he who weighs the deeds of all.

The bows of the mighty are broken,
but the weak are clothed with strength.
Those with plenty must labor for bread,
but the hungry need work no more.

It is the Lord who gives life and death;
he brings people to the grave and back.
It is the Lord who gives poverty and riches,
He brings people low and raises them on high.

He lifts up the lowly from the dust,
from the dung heap he raises the poor
to set them in the company of rulers,
to give them a seat of honor.

For the pillars of the earth are the Lord's,
on them he has set the world.
He guards the steps of his faithful.

But the wicked perish in darkness,
for no one's power makes him a victor.
The enemies of the Lord will be bro-ken.

The Most High will thunder in the heavens,
the Lord will judge the ends of the earth.
He will give power to his king
and exalt the might of his anointed.

Glory be 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: The Lord has made manifest his steadfast love for us.

[Pause and reflect on the previous psalm.]

ANT: Through Jesus Christ, our King, all things were made.

Psalm 67 (66)
O God, be gracious and bless us
and let your face shed its light upon us.
So will your ways be known upon earth
and all nations learn your saving help.

Let the peoples praise you, O God;
let all the peoples praise you.

Let the nations be glad and exult
for you rule the world with justice.
With fairness you rule the peoples,
you guide the nations on earth.

Let the peoples praise you, O God;
let all the peoples praise you.

The earth has yielded its fruit
for God, our God, has blest us.
May God still give us his blessing
till the ends of the earth revere him.

Let the peoples praise you, O God;
let all the peoples praise you.

Glory be 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: Through Jesus Christ, our King, all things were made.

[Pause and reflect on the previous psalm.]

READING (Isaiah 62:11-12)
Say to daughter Zion, your savior comes! Here is his reward with him, his recompense before him. They shall be called the holy people, the redeemed of the Lord.

[Reflect on the Reading, applying it to your life today.]

ANT: God sent Jesus his Son into the world.

CANTICLE OF MARY (Lk 1:46-55)
My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord,
my spirit rejoices in God my Savior
for he has looked with favor on his lowly servant.

From this day all generations will call me blessed;
the Almighty has done great things for me,
and holy is his Name.

He has mercy on those who fear him
in every generation.

He has shown the strength of his arm,
he has scattered the proud in their conceit.

He has cast down the mighty from their thrones,
and has lifted up the lowly.

He has filled the hungry with good things,
and the rich he has sent away empty.

He has come to the help of his servant Israel
for he has remembered his promise of mercy,
the promise he made to our fathers,
to Abraham and his children for ever.

Glory be 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: God sent Jesus his Son into the world.

INTERCESSIONS

Lord Jesus, through your birth we also became children of God and your brothers and sisters, give us the grace to live in peace with all our neighbors. We pray to the Lord.

That all travelers, vacationers and tourists, during this Holy Season, may have a safe and enjoyable time. We pray to the Lord.

That more young men and women will give of their lives to serve God as ministers. We pray to the Lord.

That all who are suffering from illness (physical or mental) may feel the healing touch of Jesus, our new-born Savior. We pray to the Lord.

(Pray for your special intentions.)

OUR FATHER
And now we pray to God the Father in the words that Jesus taught us.

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.
For Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory for ever and ever. Amen

PRAYER
God our Father, when your Son was born of the Virgin Mary he became like us in all things but sin. May we who have been reborn in him be free from our sinful ways. We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen