(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 surrounds his people with his strength.

Psalm 125 (124)
Those who put their trust in the Lord
are like Mount Zion, that cannot be shaken,
that stands for ever.

Jerusalem! The mountains surround her,
so the Lord surrounds his people both now and for ever.

For the scepter of the wicked shall not rest
over the land of the just
for fear that the hands of the just should turn to evil.

Do good, Lord, to those who are good,
to the upright of heart;
but the crooked and those who do evil,
drive them away!

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 surrounds his people with his strength.

ANT: You have made us, O Lord,
a kingdom and priest to our God.

Canticle 27 (Revelation 4:11 & 5:11)
Worthy are you, our Lord and God,
to receive glory and honor and power.
For you created all things,
and by your will they existed and were created.

Worthy are you, O Lord,
to take the scroll and to open its seals.
For you were slain and by your blood you ransomed men for God
from every tribe and tongue and people and nation.

You have made us a kingdom and priests to our God,
and we shall reign on earth.
Worthy is the Lamb who was slain,
to receive power and wealth,
and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!

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: You have made us, O Lord,
a kingdom and priest to our God.

READING (James 2:14,17,18b)
My brothers, what good it is to profess faith without practicing it?
Such faith has no power to save one, has it?
So it is with the faith that does nothing in practice.
It is thoroughly lifeless.
Show me faith without works,
and I will show you the faith that underlies my works!

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

ANT: My heavenly Father will treat you the way you treat others.

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: My heavenly Father will treat you the way you treat others.

INTERCESSIONS
Christ our Lord, you warned us to watch and pray to avoid temptation.
Turn to us and have mercy.

Jesus, you promised to be with those who pray in your name;
help us always to pray with you to the Father in the Holy Spirit.

Jesus, teach us concern for our neighbor as you have commanded
that all may see you more clearly as the light of the world.

King of peace, give us your peace and let us share it with our family and friends.

Open the door of eternal happiness to all the dead;
welcome them into the glory of unending 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
Father, look on us your children.
Through the discipline of Lent
help us to grow in our desire for you.
We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit. Amen