(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: Come, let us worship Christ,
who for our sake endured temptation and suffering.

Psalm 118-S (117-S)
I call with all my heart, Lord, hear me,
I will keep your statutes.
I call upon you, save me
and I will do your will.

I rise before dawn and cry for help,
I hope in your word.
My eyes watch through the night
to ponder your promise.

In your love hear my voice, O Lord;
give me life by your decrees.
Those who harm me unjustly draw near;
they are far from your law.

But you, O Lord, are close,
your commands are truth.
Long have I known that your will is established 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: Come, let us worship Christ,
who for our sake endured temptation and suffering.

ANT: The Lord is my strength,
I shall sing his praise, for he has become my savior.

Canticle 30 (Exodus 15)
I will sing to the Lord, glorious his triumph!
Horse and rider he has thrown into the sea!
The Lord is my strength, my song, my salvation.
This is my God, and I extol him.

He is my father's God, and I give him praise.
The Lord is a warrior, the Lord is his name.
The chariots of Pharaoh he hurled into the sea.
The flower of his army is drowned in the sea.

The enemy said "I will pursue and overtake them;
I will divide the plunder, I shall have my will.
I will draw my sword and my hand shall destroy them."
You blew with your breath and the sea closed over them.
They went down like lead into the mighty waters.

Who is like you among the gods, O Lord,
who is like you so glorious in holiness,
spreading fear through your deeds, you who do marvels?
You stretched forth your hand, the earth engulfed them.
Your love has guided the people you redeemed;
your power has led them to your holy dwelling.

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 is my strength,
I shall sing his praise, for he has become my savior.

READING (James 5:16,19-20)
Declare your sins to one another, and pray for one another,
that you may find healing. The fervent petition
of a holy person is powerful indeed. My friends,
the case may arise among you of someone straying from the truth,
and of another bringing him back. Remember this:
the person who brings a sinner back from his way
will save his soul from death and cancel a multitude of sins.

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

ANT: If you are bringing your gift to the altar,
and there you remember that your brother or sister has something against you,
leave your gift in front of the altar;
go at once and make peace with your brother or sister,
and then come back and offer your gift.

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: If you are bringing your gift to the altar,
and there you remember that your brother or sister has something against you,
leave your gift in front of the altar;
go at once and make peace with your brother or sister,
and then come back and offer your gift.

INTERCESSIONS
Lord Jesus, you sanctified your people with your blood;
have mercy on us and save us.

Grant that all Christians may make you known in every place,
and bear witness to you with living faith and hope and love.

Teach us to see your passion in our own suffering,
and let us show to others your power to save.

Author of life, remember those who have passed from this world;
grant them the glory of your risen life.

[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
Lord, may our observance of Lent
help to renew us and prepare us
to celebrate the death and resurrection of Christ,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. Amen