(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: Your word, O Lord, is the lantern to light our way.

Psalm 119:105-112 (118:105-112)
Your word is a lamp for my steps
and a light for my path.
I have sworn and have made up my mind
to obey your decrees.

Lord, I am deeply afflicted;
by your word give me life.
Accept, Lord, the homage of my lips
and teach me your decrees.

Though I carry my life in my hands,
I remember your law.
Though the wicked try to ensnare me,
I do not stray from your precepts.

Your will is my heritage for ever,
the joy of my heart.
I set myself to carry out your statutes in fullness 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: Your word, O Lord, is the lantern to light our way.

ANT: When I see your face, O Lord, I shall know the fullness of joy.

Psalm 16 (15)
Preserve me, God, I take refuge in you.
I say to you Lord "You are my God.
My happiness lies in you alone."

You have put into my heart a marvelous love
for the faithful ones who dwell in your land.
Those who choose other gods increase their sorrows.
Never will I offer their offerings of blood.
Never will I take their name upon my lips.

O Lord, it is you who are my portion and cup,
it is you yourself who are my prize.
The lot marked out for me is my delight,
welcome indeed the heritage that falls to me!

I will bless you, Lord, you give me counsel,
and even at night direct my heart.
I keep you, Lord, ever in my sight;
since you are at my right hand, I shall stand firm.

And so my heart rejoices, my soul is glad;
even my body shall rest in safety.
For you will not leave my soul among the dead,
nor let your beloved know decay.

You will show me the path of life,
the fullness of joy in your presence,
at your right hand happiness 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: When I see your face, O Lord, I shall know the fullness of joy.

READING (Colossians 1:2b-6a)
May God our Father give you grace and peace.
We always give thanks to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
in our prayers for you because we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus
and the love you bear toward all the saints -
moved as you are by the hope held in store for you in heaven.
You heard of this hope through the message of truth, the gospel,
which has come to you, has borne fruit,
and has continued to grow in your midst, as it has everywhere in the world.

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

ANT: He is not a God of the dead, but of the living;
for to him all things are alive.

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: He is not a God of the dead, but of the living;
for to him all things are alive.

INTERCESSIONS
God aids and protects the people he has chosen for his inheritance.
Let us give thanks to him and proclaim his goodness: Lord, we trust in you.

May the sick feel their companionship with the suffering Christ,
and know that they will enjoy his eternal consolation.

In your goodness have compassion on the homeless,
help them to find proper housing.

In your goodness give and preserve the fruits of the earth,
so that each day there may be bread enough for all.

Lord, you attend the dying with great mercy, grant them an eternal dwelling.

[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
Almighty God, every good thing comes from you.
Fill our hearts with love for you,
increase our faith,
and by your constant care
protect the good you have given us.
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