INVITATORY
The Invitatory is said when this is the first ‘hour’ of the day.
Lord, + open my lips.
— And my mouth will proclaim your praise.
Ant. The Lord is risen, alleluia.
The antiphon is repeated. In individual recitation, the antiphon may be said only at the beginning of the psalm; it need not be repeated after each strophe.
Psalm 95
A call to praise God
Encourage each other daily while it is still today (Hebrews 3:13).
Come, let us sing to the Lord *
and shout with joy to the Rock who saves us.
Let us approach him with praise and thanksgiving *
and sing joyful songs to the Lord.
Ant. The Lord is risen, alleluia.
The Lord is God, the mighty God, *
the great king over all the gods.
He holds in his hands the depths of the earth *
and the highest mountains as well.
He made the sea; it belongs to him, *
the dry land, too, for it was formed by his hands.
Ant. The Lord is risen, alleluia.
Come, then, let us bow down and worship, *
bending the knee before the Lord, our maker.
For he is our God and we are his people, *
the flock he shepherds.
Ant. The Lord is risen, alleluia.
Today, listen to the voice of the Lord: †
Do not grow stubborn, as your fathers did
in the wilderness, *
when at Meriba and Massah
they challenged me and provoked me, *
Although they had seen all of my works.
Ant. The Lord is risen, alleluia.
Forty years I endured that generation. *
I said, “They are a people whose hearts go astray
and they do not know my ways.”
So I swore in my anger, *
“They shall not enter into my rest.”
Ant. The Lord is risen, alleluia.
Glory 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 risen, alleluia.
If the Invitatory is not said, then the following is used:
God, + come to my assistance.
— Lord, make haste to help me.
Glory 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. Alleluia.
HYMN
This is the day, true day of God,
serene with clear and holy light,
on which the sacred blood has washed
both shame and guilt from all the world.
In this the lost regain their faith,
the blind receive the gift of light;
can one remain in anxious fear
who sees forgiveness for the thief?
The angels wonder at this work,
they see the body wracked with pain,
they see a thief draw near to Christ
to pluck the fruit of blessed life.
How wondrous is the mystery:
that flesh should cleanse the sins of flesh,
to take away the guilt of all
and wash the world of foul decay.
What could be more sublime than this:
that guilt should seek the gift of grace,
that charity should cast out fear,
and death should render life renewed?
O Jesus, be for mind and heart
our everlasting paschal joy
and gather us, reborn by grace,
to share your triumphs evermore.
To you, Lord Jesus, glory be,
who shine in vict’ry over death,
with God the Father, ever blest,
and loving Spirit, ever one. Amen.
Tune: EISENACH, 8 8 8 8
Music: Johann Hermann Schein, 1586-1630
or Mode III, melody 56; Liber Hymnarius, Solesmes, 1983*
Text: Hic est dies verus Dei, Saint Ambrose, 340-397, © 2023 ICEL
Or:
Rejoice, O heaven, from on high
and clap your hands, both earth and sea,
for after death upon the Cross
Christ rose again and gave us life.
The accepted time has now returned:
we see the day of saving pow’r,
on which the blood shed by the Lamb
restored the darkened world to light.
His death brought agony to death
and absolution from all sin;
his might and pow’r remain unharmed:
the vanquished gave us victory.
This was the foretaste of our hope,
so that the faithful might believe
they too may rise again one day
to gain the crown of blessed life.
And filled with joy at such a gift,
now, therefore, let us praise with zeal
our bright, resplendent Paschal Lamb
for giving us such wondrous goods.
O Jesus, be for mind and heart
our everlasting paschal joy
and gather us, reborn by grace,
to share your triumphs evermore.
To you, Lord Jesus, glory be,
who shine in vict’ry over death,
with God the Father, ever blest,
and loving Spirit, ever one. Amen.
Tune: EISENACH, as above
or Mode VIII, melody 116; Liber Hymnarius, Solesmes, 1983
Text: Lætare, cælum, desuper, 10th c., © 2023 ICEL
PSALMODY
Ant. 1 Remember us, O Lord; come with your saving help, alleluia.
Psalm 106
The goodness of the Lord; the faithlessness of his people
These things have been written for a warning for us, for we are living at the end of the ages (1 Corinthians 10:11).
I
O give thanks to the Lord for he is good: *
for his love endures for ever.
Who can tell the Lord’s mighty deeds? *
Who can recount all his praise?
They are happy who do what is right, *
who at all times do what is just.
O Lord, remember me *
out of the love you have for your people.
Come to me, Lord, with your help *
that I may see the joy of your chosen ones
and may rejoice in the gladness of your nation *
and share the glory of your people.
Our sin is the sin of our fathers; *
we have done wrong, our deeds have been evil.
Our fathers when they were in Egypt *
paid no heed to your wonderful deeds.
They forgot the greatness of your love; *
at the Red Sea defied the Most High.
Yet he saved them for the sake of his name, *
in order to make known his power.
He threatened the Red Sea; it dried up *
and he led them through the deep as through the desert.
He saved them from the hand of the foe; *
he saved them from the grip of the enemy.
The waters covered their oppressors; *
not one of them was left alive.
Then they believed in his words; *
then they sang his praises.
But they soon forgot his deeds *
and would not wait upon his will.
They yielded to their cravings in the desert *
and put God to the test in the wilderness.
He granted them the favor they asked *
and sent disease among them.
Then they rebelled, envious of Moses *
and of Aaron, who was holy to the Lord.
The earth opened and swallowed up Dathan *
and buried the clan of Abiram.
Fire blazed up against their clan *
and flames devoured the rebels.
Glory 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. Remember us, O Lord; come with your saving help, alleluia.
Ant. 2 Keep it carefully in mind; the Lord your God has made a covenant with you, alleluia.
II
They fashioned a calf at Horeb *
and worshiped an image of metal,
exchanging the God who was their glory *
for the image of a bull that eats grass.
They forgot the God who was their savior, *
who had done such great things in Egypt,
such portents in the land of Ham, *
such marvels at the Red Sea.
For this he said he would destroy them, *
but Moses, the man he had chosen,
stood in the breach before him, *
to turn back his anger from destruction.
Then they scorned the land of promise: *
they had no faith in his word.
They complained inside their tents *
and would not listen to the voice of the Lord.
So he raised his hand to swear an oath *
that he would lay them low in the desert;
would scatter their sons among the nations *
and disperse them throughout the lands.
They bowed before the Baal of Peor; *
ate offerings made to lifeless gods.
They roused him to anger with their deeds *
and a plague broke out among them.
Then Phinehas stood up and intervened. *
Thus the plague was ended
and this was counted in his favor *
from age to age for ever.
They provoked him at the waters of Meribah. *
Through their fault it went ill with Moses;
for they made his heart grow bitter *
and he uttered words that were rash.
Glory 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. Keep it carefully in mind; the Lord your God has made a covenant with you, alleluia.
Ant. 3 Save your people, Lord; bring us together from among the nations, alleluia.
III
They failed to destroy the peoples *
as the Lord had given command,
but instead they mingled with the nations *
and learned to act as they did.
They worshiped the idols of the nations *
and these became a snare to entrap them.
They even offered their own sons *
and their daughters in sacrifice to demons.
They shed the blood of the innocent, *
the blood of their sons and daughters
whom they offered to the idols of Canaan. *
The land was polluted with blood.
So they defiled themselves by their deeds *
and broke their marriage bond with the Lord
till his anger blazed against his people: *
he was filled with horror at his chosen ones.
So he gave them into the hand of the nations *
and their foes became their rulers.
Their enemies became their oppressors; *
they were subdued beneath their hand.
Time after time he rescued them, †
but in their malice they dared to defy him *
and sank low through their guilt.
In spite of this he paid heed to their distress, *
so often as he heard their cry.
For their sake he remembered his covenant. *
In the greatness of his love he relented
and he let them be treated with mercy *
by all who held them captive.
O Lord, our God, save us! *
Bring us together from among the nations
that we may thank your holy name *
and make it our glory to praise you.
Blessed be the Lord, God of Israel, *
for ever, from age to age.
Let all the people cry out: *
“Amen! Amen! Alleluia!”
Glory 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.
Psalm Prayer
God, our Creator, how wonderfully you made man. You transformed dust into your own image and gave it a share in your own nature; yet you are more wonderful in pardoning the man who had rebelled against you. Grant that where sin has abounded, grace may more abound, so that we can become holier through forgiveness and be more grateful to you.
Ant. Save your people, Lord; bring us together from among the nations, alleluia.
My whole body rejoices, alleluia.
— With all my strength I will praise my God, alleluia.
READINGS
FIRST READING
From the first letter of the apostle John
3:18-24
The commandment of faith and love
Little children,
let us love in deed and in truth
and not merely talk about it.
This is our way of knowing we are committed to the truth
and are at peace before him
no matter what our consciences may charge us with;
for God is greater than our hearts
and all is known to him.
Beloved,
if our consciences have nothing to charge us with,
we can be sure that God is with us
and that we will receive at his hands
whatever we ask.
Why? Because we are keeping his commandments
and doing what is pleasing in his sight.
His commandment is this:
we are to believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ,
and are to love one another as he commanded us.
Those who keep his commandments remain in him
and he in them.
And this is how we know that he remains in us:
from the Spirit that he gave us.
RESPONSORY
1 John 3:24; Sirach 1:9, 10
All who keep God’s commandments live in God
and God lives in them.
— We know that he dwells in us,
by the Spirit he has given us, alleluia.
In his Holy Spirit God created wisdom,
which he has poured forth upon all creation
and has offered to those who love him.
— We know that he dwells in us,
by the Spirit he has given us, alleluia.
SECOND READING
From a homily on the Song of Songs by Saint Gregory of Nyssa, bishop
(Hom. 15: Jaeger VI, 466-468)
The glory you gave to me, I have given to them
When love has entirely cast out fear, and fear has been transformed into love, then the unity brought us by our savior will be fully realized, for all men will be united with one another through their union with the one supreme Good. They will possess the perfection ascribed to the dove, according to our interpretation of the text: One alone is my dove, my perfect one. She is the only child of her mother, her chosen one.
Our Lord’s words in the gospel bring out the meaning of this text more clearly. After having conferred all power on his disciples by his blessing, he obtained many other gifts for them by his prayer to the Father. Among these was included the greatest gift of all, which was that they were no longer to be divided in their judgment of what was right and good, for they were all to be united to the one supreme Good. As the Apostle says, they were to be bound together with the bonds of peace in the unity that comes from the Holy Spirit. They were to be made one body and one spirit by the one hope to which they were all called. We shall do better, however, to quote the sacred words of the gospel itself. I pray, the Lord says, that they all may be one; that as you, Father, are in me and I am in you, so they also may be one in us.
Now the bond that creates this unity is glory. That the Holy Spirit is called glory no one can deny if he thinks carefully about the Lord’s words: The glory you gave to me, I have given to them. In fact, he gave this glory to his disciples when he said to them: Receive the Holy Spirit. Although he had always possessed it, even before the world existed, he himself received this glory when he put on human nature. Then, when his human nature had been glorified by the Spirit, the glory of the Spirit was passed on to all his kin, beginning with his disciples. This is why he said: The glory you gave to me, I have given to them, so that they may be one as we are one. With me in them and you in me, I want them to be perfectly one.
Whoever has grown from infancy to manhood and attained to spiritual maturity possesses the mastery over his passions and the purity that makes it possible for him to receive the glory of the Spirit. He is that perfect dove upon whom the eyes of the bridegroom rest when he says: One alone is my dove, my perfect one.
RESPONSORY
See John 15:15; 14:26; 15:14
I no longer call you servants.
Instead, I call you friends,
for you have seen all the things I have done among you.
— Receive the Holy Spirit, the Paraclete,
whom the Father will send you, alleluia.
You are my friends
if you do what I command you.
— Receive the Holy Spirit, the Paraclete,
whom the Father will send you, alleluia.
CONCLUDING PRAYER
Let us pray.
Lord,
teach us to know you better
by doing good to others.
Help us to grow in your love
and come to understand the eternal mystery
of Christ’s death and resurrection.
We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
God, for ever and ever.
— Amen.
Or:
Constantly shape our minds, O Lord,
by the practice of good works,
that, always trying for what is better,
we may strive to hold ever fast to the Paschal Mystery.
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.
ACCLAMATION
Let us praise the Lord.
— And give him thanks.
******
Psalm 24
The Lord’s entry into his temple
Christ opened heaven for us in the manhood he assumed (Saint Irenaeus).
The Lord’s is the earth and its fullness, *
the world and all its peoples.
It is he who set it on the seas; *
on the waters he made it firm.
Ant. The Lord is risen, alleluia.
Who shall climb the mountain of the Lord? *
Who shall stand in his holy place?
The man with clean hands and pure heart, †
who desires not worthless things, *
who has not sworn so as to deceive his neighbor.
Ant. The Lord is risen, alleluia.
He shall receive blessings from the Lord *
and reward from the God who saves him.
Such are the men who seek him, *
seek the face of the God of Jacob.
Ant. The Lord is risen, alleluia.
O gates, lift high your heads; †
grow higher, ancient doors. *
Let him enter, the king of glory!
Ant. The Lord is risen, alleluia.
Who is the king of glory? †
The Lord, the mighty, the valiant, *
the Lord, the valiant in war.
Ant. The Lord is risen, alleluia.
O gates, lift high your heads; †
grow higher, ancient doors. *
Let him enter, the king of glory!
Ant. The Lord is risen, alleluia.
Who is he, the king of glory? †
He, the Lord of armies, *
he is the king of glory.
Ant. The Lord is risen, alleluia.
Glory 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 risen, alleluia.
Psalm 67
People of all nations will worship the Lord
You must know that God is offering his salvation to all the world (Acts 28:28).
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.
Ant. The Lord is risen, alleluia.
Let the peoples praise you, O God; *
let all the peoples praise you.
Ant. The Lord is risen, alleluia.
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.
Ant. The Lord is risen, alleluia.
Let the peoples praise you, O God; *
let all the peoples praise you.
Ant. The Lord is risen, alleluia.
The earth has yielded its fruit *
for God, our God, has blessed us.
May God still give us his blessing *
till the ends of the earth revere him.
Ant. The Lord is risen, alleluia.
Glory 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 risen, alleluia.
Psalm 100
The joyful song of those entering God’s temple
The Lord calls his ransomed people to sing songs of victory (Saint Athanasius).
Cry out with joy to the Lord, all the earth. †
Serve the Lord with gladness. *
Come before him, singing for joy.
Ant. The Lord is risen, alleluia.
Know that he, the Lord, is God. †
He made us, we belong to him, *
we are his people, the sheep of his flock.
Ant. The Lord is risen, alleluia.
Go within his gates, giving thanks. †
Enter his courts with songs of praise. *
Give thanks to him and bless his name.
Ant. The Lord is risen, alleluia.
Indeed, how good is the Lord, †
eternal his merciful love. *
He is faithful from age to age.
Ant. The Lord is risen, alleluia.
Glory 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 risen, alleluia.
Christ the Lord is ris’n today;
Christians, haste your vows to pay;
Offer you your praises meet
At the Paschal Victim’s feet.
For the sheep the Lamb has bled,
Sinless in the sinner’s stead;
Christ, the Lord, is ris’n on high,
Now he lives no more to die!
Christ, the Victim undefiled,
Man to God has reconciled;
When in strange and awful strife
Met together death and life;
Christians, on this happy day
Haste with joy your vows to pay.
Christ, the Lord, is ris’n on high,
Now he lives no more to die!
Christ, who once for sinners bled,
Now the firstborn from the dead,
Throned in endless might and power,
Lives and reigns forevermore.
Hail, eternal Hope on high!
Hail, our King of Victory!
Hail, our Prince of life adored!
Help and save us, gracious Lord.
Tune: Victimae Paschali Laudes 77.77 D
Music: Traditional, alt.
Text: Victimae Paschali Laudes, Wipo of Burgundy, eleventh century
Translation: Jane E. Leeson, 1807-1882
Or:
The day of resurrection!
Earth spread the news abroad;
The Paschal feast of gladness,
The Paschal feast of God.
From death to life eternal,
From earth to heaven’s height
Our Savior Christ has brought us,
The glorious Lord of Light.
Our hearts be free from evil
That we may see aright
The Savior resurrected
In his eternal light;
And hear his message plainly,
Delivered calm and clear:
“Rejoice with me in triumph,
Be glad and do not fear.”
Now let the heav’ns be joyful,
And earth her song begin,
The whole world keep high triumph
And all that is therein;
Let all things in creation
Their notes of gladness blend,
For Christ the Lord has risen,
Our joy that has no end.
Tune: Ellacombe or Aurelia 76.76 D
Music: (Ellacombe) Wurtemburg Gesangbuch, 1784, adapted in the Mainz Gesangbuch, 1833, and further adapted in the St. Gall Gesangbuch, 1863; (Aurelia) S. S. Wesley, 1810-1876
Text: John Mason Neale, 1818-1866, adapted by Anthony G. Petti
Or:
Alleluia! Alleluia!
Hearts and voices heav’nward raise:
Sing to God a hymn of gladness,
Sing to God a hymn of praise.
He who on the cross a victim,
For the world’s salvation bled,
Jesus Christ, the King of glory,
Now is risen from the dead.
Now the iron bars are broken,
Christ from death to life is born,
Glorious life, and life immortal,
On this holy Easter morn,
Christ has triumphed, and we conquer
By his mighty enterprise;
We with him to life eternal
By his resurrection rise.
Christ is risen, Christ, the firstfruits
Of the holy harvest field,
Which with all its full abundance
At his second coming yields;
Then the golden ears of harvest
Will their heads before him wave,
Ripened by his glorious sunshine
From the furrows of the grave.
Christ is risen, we are risen!
Shed upon us heav’nly grace,
Rains and dew and gleams of glory
From the brightness of your face;
That with hearts in heaven dwelling,
We on earth may fruitful be,
And by angels hands be gathered
Into heav’n’s eternity.
Alleluia! Alleluia!
Glory be to God on high;
Alleluia to the Savior
Who has won the victory;
Alleluia to the Spirit,
Fount of love and sanctity;
Alleluia! Alleluia!
To the Triune majesty.
Tune: Würtzburg 87.87 D
Music: Andäctige und Auserlesene Gesänger, Würtzburg, 1705
Text: Christopher Wordsworth, 1782
Or:
Praise the Savior now and ever;
Praise him, all beneath the skies;
Prostrate lying, suff’ring, dying
On the cross, a sacrifice.
Vict’ry gaining, life obtaining,
Now in glory he does rise.
Man’s work failing, Christ’s availing;
He is all our righteousness;
He, our Savior, has forever
Set us free from dire distress.
Through his merit we inherit
Light and peace and happiness.
Sin’s bonds severed, we’re delivered,
Christ has bruised the serpent’s head;
Death no longer is the stronger,
Hell itself is captive led.
Christ has risen from death’s prison,
O’er the tomb his light he shed.
For His favor, praise forever,
Unto God the Father sing;
Praise the Savior, praise him ever,
Son of God, our Lord and King.
Praise the Spirit, through Christ’s merit,
For he does salvation bring.
Tune: Upp, Min Tunga 87.87.87 or Lauda Anima 87.87.87
Music: (Upp, Min Tunga) Koralpsalmboken, Stockholm, 1697; (Lauda Anima) John Gross, 1869
Text: Pange lingua gloriosi prœlium certaminis, Venantius Fortunatus, c. 530-609
Translation: Augustus Nelson, 1863-1949, alt.