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. Come, let us adore Christ the Lord who promised to send the Holy Spirit on his people, 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. Come, let us adore Christ the Lord who promised to send the Holy Spirit on his people, 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. Come, let us adore Christ the Lord who promised to send the Holy Spirit on his people, 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. Come, let us adore Christ the Lord who promised to send the Holy Spirit on his people, 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. Come, let us adore Christ the Lord who promised to send the Holy Spirit on his people, 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. Come, let us adore Christ the Lord who promised to send the Holy Spirit on his people, 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. Come, let us adore Christ the Lord who promised to send the Holy Spirit on his people, 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
Eternal King and God Most high,
Redeemer of all faithful souls,
in you the pow’r of death is crushed,
and triumph shown in gifts of grace.
You mount the holy judgment seat,
established at the Father’s right,
receiving pow’r to rule all things,
divine, not human, sov’reignty,
That all in heaven and on earth
and in the nether world below,
the threefold universe you made,
should bend the knee in tribute now.
The angels tremble as they watch
the mortal order overturned:
in flesh the sin, in flesh the cure,
in flesh the reign of God the Word.
O Christ, you are our lasting joy,
our sure, abiding recompense,
who rule the fabric of this world,
yet far surpass all earthly joys.
And so with humble prayer we ask
that you forgive us all our faults,
and by your heav’nly gift of grace
lift up our hearts to you on high.
That when the clouds grow red with dawn
and you, the Judge, appear in light,
you may remit the debt we owe
and so restore the crown we lost.
To you, Lord Jesus, glory be,
who now ascend to heaven’s height,
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 VIII, melody 114; Antiphonale Sacrosanctæ Ecclesiæ Romanæ, Typis Polyglottis Vaticanis, 1912
Text: Æterne rex, altissime, ca. 10th c., © 2023 ICEL
PSALMODY
Ant. 1 Let us praise the Lord for his mercy and for the wonderful things he has done for men, alleluia.
Psalm 107
Thanksgiving for deliverance
This is God’s message to the sons of Israel; the good news of peace proclaimed through Jesus Christ (Acts 10:36).
I
“O give thanks to the Lord for he is good; *
for his love endures for ever.”
Let them say this, the Lord’s redeemed, *
whom he redeemed from the hand of the foe
and gathered from far-off lands, *
from east and west, north and south.
Some wandered in the desert, in the wilderness, *
finding no way to a city they could dwell in.
Hungry they were and thirsty; *
their soul was fainting within them.
Then they cried to the Lord in their need *
and he rescued them from their distress
and he led them along the right way *
to reach a city they could dwell in.
Let them thank the Lord for his love, *
for the wonders he does for men.
For he satisfies the thirsty soul; *
he fills the hungry with good things.
Some lay in darkness and in gloom, *
prisoners in misery and chains,
Having defied the words of God *
and spurned the counsels of the Most High.
He crushed their spirit with toil; *
they stumbled; there was no one to help.
Then they cried to the Lord in their need *
and he rescued them from their distress.
He led them forth from darkness and gloom *
and broke their chains to pieces.
Let them thank the Lord for his goodness, *
for the wonders he does for men:
for he bursts the gates of bronze *
and shatters the iron bars.
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. Let us praise the Lord for his mercy and for the wonderful things he has done for men, alleluia.
Ant. 2 Men have seen the works of God, the marvels he has done, alleluia.
II
Some were sick on account of their sins *
and afflicted on account of their guilt.
They had a loathing for every food; *
they came close to the gates of death.
Then they cried to the Lord in their need *
and he rescued them from their distress.
He sent forth his word to heal them *
and saved their life from the grave.
Let them thank the Lord for his love, *
for the wonders he does for men.
Let them offer a sacrifice of thanks *
and tell of his deeds with rejoicing.
Some sailed to the sea in ships *
to trade on the mighty waters.
These men have seen the Lord’s deeds, *
the wonders he does in the deep.
For he spoke; he summoned the gale, *
raising up the waves of the sea.
Tossed up to heaven, then into the deep; *
their soul melted away in their distress.
They staggered, reeled like drunken men, *
for all their skill was gone.
Then they cried to the Lord in their need *
and he rescued them from their distress.
He stilled the storm to a whisper: *
all the waves of the sea were hushed.
They rejoiced because of the calm *
and he led them to the haven they desired.
Let them thank the Lord for his love, *
the wonders he does for men.
Let them exalt him in the gathering of the people *
and praise him in the meeting of all the elders.
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. Men have seen the works of God, the marvels he has done, alleluia.
Ant. 3 Those who love the Lord will see and rejoice; they will understand his loving kindness, alleluia.
III
He changes streams into a desert, *
springs of water into thirsty ground,
fruitful land into a salty waste, *
for the wickedness of those who live there.
But he changes desert into streams, *
thirsty ground into springs of water.
There he settles the hungry *
and they build a city to dwell in.
They sow fields and plant their vines; *
these yield crops for the harvest.
He blesses them; they grow in numbers. *
He does not let their herds decrease.
He pours contempt upon princes, *
makes them wander in trackless wastes.
They diminish, are reduced to nothing *
by oppression, evil and sorrow.
But he raises the needy from distress; *
makes families numerous as a flock.
The upright see it and rejoice *
but all who do wrong are silenced.
Whoever is wise, let him heed these things *
and consider the love of the Lord.
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
You fill the hungry with good things, Lord God, and break the sinner’s chains. Hear your people who call to you in their need, and lead your Church from the shadows of death. Gather us from sunrise to sunset, that we may grow together in faith and love and give lasting thanks for your kindness.
Ant. Those who love the Lord will see and rejoice; they will understand his loving kindness, alleluia.
God has given us a new birth into a living hope, alleluia.
— By raising Jesus Christ from the dead, alleluia.
READINGS
FIRST READING
The third letter of the apostle John
Let us live in the truth
The elder to the beloved Gaius, whom indeed I love.
Beloved, I hope you are in good health—may you thrive in all other ways as you do in the spirit. For it has given me great joy to have the brothers bear witness to how truly you walk in the path of truth. Nothing delights me more than to hear that my children are walking in this path.
Beloved, you demonstrate fidelity by all that you do for the brothers even though they are strangers; indeed, they have testified to your love before the church. And you will do a good thing if, in a way that pleases God, you help them to continue their journey. It was for the sake of the Name that they set out, and they are accepting nothing from the pagans. Therefore, we owe it to such men to support them and thus to have our share in the work of truth.
I did write to the church; but Diotrephes, who enjoys being their leader, ignores us. Therefore, if I come I will speak publicly of what he is doing in spreading evil nonsense about us. And that is not all. Not only does he refuse to welcome the brothers himself but he even hinders those who wish to do so and expels them from the church!
Beloved, do not imitate what is evil but what is good, Whoever does what is good belongs to God; whoever does what is evil has never seen God. Demetrius is one who gets a good testimonial from all, even from truth itself. We give our testimonial as well, and you know that our testimony is true.
There is much more that I had in mind to write you, but I do not wish to write it out with pen and ink. Rather, I hope to see you soon, when we can talk face to face.
Peace be with you. The beloved here send you their greetings; greet the beloved there, each by name.
RESPONSORY
3 John 11; 1 Peter 2:19
Do not imitate an evil example
but follow what is good.
— By doing good you will become a child of God, alleluia.
Grace is at work in the one who endures suffering
for the sake of God.
— By doing good you will become a child of God, alleluia.
SECOND READING
From a sermon by a sixth century African author
(Sermo 8, 1-3: PL 65, 743-744)
The Church in its unity speaks in the language of every nation
The disciples spoke in the language of every nation. At Pentecost God chose this means to indicate the presence of the Holy Spirit: whoever had received the Spirit spoke in every kind of tongue. We must realize, dear brothers, that this is the same Holy Spirit by whom love is poured out in our hearts. It was love that was to bring the Church of God together all over the world. And as individual men who received the Holy Spirit in those days could speak in all kinds of tongues, so today the Church, united by the Holy Spirit, speaks in the language of every people.
Therefore if somebody should say to one of us, “You have received the Holy Spirit, why do you not speak in tongues?” his reply should be, “I do indeed speak in the tongues of all men, because I belong to the body of Christ, that is, the Church, and she speaks all languages. What else did the presence of the Holy Spirit indicate at Pentecost, except that God’s Church was to speak in the language of every people?”
This was the way in which the Lord’s promise was fulfilled: No one puts new wine into old wineskins. New wine is put into fresh skins, and so both are preserved. So when the disciples were heard speaking in all kinds of languages, some people were not far wrong in saying: They have been drinking too much new wine. The truth is that the disciples had now become fresh wineskins, renewed and made holy by grace. The new wine of the Holy Spirit filled them, so that their fervor brimmed over and they spoke in manifold tongues. By this spectacular miracle they became a sign of the Catholic Church, which embraces the language of every nation.
Keep this feast, then, as members of the one body of Christ. It will be no empty festival for you if you really live what you are celebrating. For you are the members of that Church which the Lord acknowledges as his own, being himself acknowledged by her, that same Church which he fills with the Holy Spirit as she spreads throughout the world. He is like a bridegroom who never loses sight of his own bride; no one could ever deceive him by substituting some other woman.
To you men of all nations, then, who make up the Church of Christ, you, the members of Christ, you, the body of Christ, you, the bride of Christ, to all of you the Apostle addresses these words: Bear with one another in love; do all you can to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. Notice that when Paul urges us to bear with one another, he bases his argument on love, and when he speaks of our hope of unity, he emphasizes the bond of peace. This Church is the house of God. It is his delight to dwell here. Take care, then, that he never has the sorrow of seeing it undermined by schism and collapsing in ruins.
RESPONSORY
Acts 15:8-9; 11:18
God who can read the hearts of all
sent his Spirit to the Gentiles
just as he did to us.
— He made no distinction between them and us,
and he cleansed their hearts by faith, alleluia.
God also gave life-giving repentance to the Gentiles.
— He made no distinction between them and us,
and he cleansed their hearts by faith, alleluia.
CONCLUDING PRAYER
Let us pray.
Almighty Father,
let the love we have celebrated in this Easter season
be put into practice in our daily lives.
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:
Grant, we pray, almighty God,
that we, who have celebrated the paschal festivities,
may by your gift hold fast to them
in the way that we live our lives.
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. Come, let us adore Christ the Lord who promised to send the Holy Spirit on his people, 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. Come, let us adore Christ the Lord who promised to send the Holy Spirit on his people, 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. Come, let us adore Christ the Lord who promised to send the Holy Spirit on his people, alleluia.
O gates, lift high your heads; †
grow higher, ancient doors. *
Let him enter, the king of glory!
Ant. Come, let us adore Christ the Lord who promised to send the Holy Spirit on his people, alleluia.
Who is the king of glory? †
The Lord, the mighty, the valiant, *
the Lord, the valiant in war.
Ant. Come, let us adore Christ the Lord who promised to send the Holy Spirit on his people, alleluia.
O gates, lift high your heads; †
grow higher, ancient doors. *
Let him enter, the king of glory!
Ant. Come, let us adore Christ the Lord who promised to send the Holy Spirit on his people, alleluia.
Who is he, the king of glory? †
He, the Lord of armies, *
he is the king of glory.
Ant. Come, let us adore Christ the Lord who promised to send the Holy Spirit on his people, 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. Come, let us adore Christ the Lord who promised to send the Holy Spirit on his people, 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. Come, let us adore Christ the Lord who promised to send the Holy Spirit on his people, alleluia.
Let the peoples praise you, O God; *
let all the peoples praise you.
Ant. Come, let us adore Christ the Lord who promised to send the Holy Spirit on his people, 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. Come, let us adore Christ the Lord who promised to send the Holy Spirit on his people, alleluia.
Let the peoples praise you, O God; *
let all the peoples praise you.
Ant. Come, let us adore Christ the Lord who promised to send the Holy Spirit on his people, 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. Come, let us adore Christ the Lord who promised to send the Holy Spirit on his people, 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. Come, let us adore Christ the Lord who promised to send the Holy Spirit on his people, 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. Come, let us adore Christ the Lord who promised to send the Holy Spirit on his people, 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. Come, let us adore Christ the Lord who promised to send the Holy Spirit on his people, alleluia.
Go within his gates, giving thanks. †
Enter his courts with songs of praise. *
Give thanks to him and bless his name.
Ant. Come, let us adore Christ the Lord who promised to send the Holy Spirit on his people, alleluia.
Indeed, how good is the Lord, †
eternal his merciful love. *
He is faithful from age to age.
Ant. Come, let us adore Christ the Lord who promised to send the Holy Spirit on his people, 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. Come, let us adore Christ the Lord who promised to send the Holy Spirit on his people, 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.