INTRODUCTION
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, will be for ever. Amen. Alleluia.
HYMN
O blessed city, Rome in purple richly clad
by such great Princes, pouring forth their precious blood!
You shine in beauty, far surpassing all the world,
not by your praises, but by merits of these Saints
whom you once slaughtered with your cruel and bloody swords.
And so we beg you, glorious Martyrs, hear us now,
O blessed Peter, Paul the lily of the world,
triumphant warriors, dwelling in the halls of heav’n,
protect and shield us by your gracious, loving prayers,
keep us from evil, lead us high beyond the stars.
Praise to the Father, endless glory through all time,
all rule and splendor be to you, Begotten Son,
all pow’r and honor to the Holy Paraclete:
so to the perfect, undivided Three in One,
be all salvation through the ages evermore. Amen.
Tune: ANNUE CHRISTE 12 12 12 12 12, adapted by ICEL, 2021
Music: from François de La Feillée’s Methode de plain-chant, 1782
or Mode IV, melody 79; Liber Hymnarius, Solesmes, 1983*
Text: O Roma felix, quæ tantorum principum, attributed to Saint Paulinus of Aquilea, ca. 726-802, © 2023 ICEL
PSALMODY
Ant. 1 I have prayed for you, Peter, that your faith may not fail; and when you have turned to me, you must strengthen the faith of your brothers.
Psalm 116:10-19
Thanksgiving in the Temple
Through Christ let us offer God a continual sacrifice of praise (Hebrews 13:15).
I trusted, even when I said: *
“I am sorely afflicted,”
and when I said in my alarm: *
“No man can be trusted.”
How can I repay the Lord *
for his goodness to me?
The cup of salvation I will raise; *
I will call on the Lord’s name.
My vows to the Lord I will fulfill *
before all his people.
O precious in the eyes of the Lord *
is the death of his faithful.
Your servant, Lord, your servant am I; *
you have loosened my bonds.
A thanksgiving sacrifice I make; *
I will call on the Lord’s name.
My vows to the Lord I will fulfill *
before all his people,
in the courts of the house of the Lord, *
in your midst, O Jerusalem.
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
Father, precious in your sight is the death of the saints, but precious above all is the love with which Christ suffered to redeem us. In this life we fill up in our own flesh what is still lacking in the sufferings of Christ; accept this as our sacrifice of praise, and we shall even now taste the joy of the new Jerusalem.
Ant. I have prayed for you, Peter, that your faith may not fail; and when you have turned to me, you must strengthen the faith of your brothers.
Ant. 2 Willingly I boast of my weaknesses, that the power of Christ may live in me.
Psalm 126
Joyful hope in God
Just as you share in sufferings so you will share in the divine glory (2 Corinthians 1:7).
When the Lord delivered Zion from bondage, *
it seemed like a dream.
Then was our mouth filled with laughter, *
on our lips there were songs.
The heathens themselves said: “What marvels *
the Lord worked for them!”
What marvels the Lord worked for us! *
Indeed we were glad.
Deliver us, O Lord, from our bondage *
as streams in dry land.
Those who are sowing in tears *
will sing when they reap.
They go out, they go out, full of tears, *
carrying seed for the sowing:
they come back, they come back, full of song, *
carrying their sheaves.
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
Lord, you have raised us from the earth; may you let the seeds of justice, which we have sown in tears, grow and increase in your sight. May we reap in joy the harvest we hope for patiently.
Ant. Willingly I boast of my weaknesses, that the power of Christ may live in me.
Ant. 3 You are shepherd of the flock, the prince of the apostles; to you were entrusted the keys of the kingdom of heaven.
Canticle: Ephesians 1:3-10
God our Savior
Praised be the God and Father *
of our Lord Jesus Christ,
who has bestowed on us in Christ *
every spiritual blessing in the heavens.
God chose us in him *
before the world began
to be holy *
and blameless in his sight.
He predestined us *
to be his adopted sons through Jesus Christ,
such was his will and pleasure, †
that all might praise the glorious favor *
he has bestowed on us in his beloved.
In him and through his blood, we have been redeemed, *
and our sins forgiven,
so immeasurably generous *
is God’s favor to us.
God has given us the wisdom *
to understand fully the mystery,
the plan he was pleased *
to decree in Christ.
A plan to be carried out *
in Christ, in the fullness of time,
to bring all things into one in him, *
in the heavens and on earth.
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. You are shepherd of the flock, the prince of the apostles; to you were entrusted the keys of the kingdom of heaven.
READING
1 Corinthians 15:3-5, 8a
I handed on to you first of all what I myself received, that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures; that he was buried and, in accordance with the Scriptures, rose on the third day; that he was seen by Cephas, then by the Twelve. Last of all he was seen by me.
RESPONSORY
The apostles proclaimed the word of God and preached it faithfully.
— The apostles proclaimed the word of God and preached it faithfully.
They bore witness to the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
— And preached it faithfully.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
— The apostles proclaimed the word of God and preached it faithfully.
GOSPEL CANTICLE
Ant. Peter the apostle and Paul the teacher of the Gentiles taught us your law, O Lord.
Canticle of Mary
Luke 1:46-55
The soul rejoices in the Lord
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 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. Peter the apostle and Paul the teacher of the Gentiles taught us your law, O Lord.
INTERCESSIONS
The Lord Jesus built his holy people on the foundation of the apostles and prophets. In faith let us pray:
Lord, come to the aid of your people.
You once called Simon, the fisherman, to catch men,
— now summon new workers who will bring the message of salvation to all peoples.
Lord, come to the aid of your people.
You calmed the waves so that your followers would not be drowned,
— guard your Church, protect it from all dangers.
Lord, come to the aid of your people.
You gathered your scattered flock around Peter after the resurrection,
— good Shepherd, bring all your people together as one flock.
Lord, come to the aid of your people.
You sent Paul as apostle to preach the good news to the Gentiles,
— let the word of salvation be proclaimed to all mankind.
Lord, come to the aid of your people.
You gave the keys of your kingdom into the hands of your holy Church,
— open the gates of that kingdom to all who trusted in your mercy while on earth.
Lord, come to the aid of your people.
THE LORD’S PRAYER
(Remember us, Lord, when you come into your kingdom, and teach us to pray:)
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.
CONCLUDING PRAYER
God our Father,
today you give us the joy
of celebrating the feast of the apostles Peter and Paul.
Through them your Church first received the faith.
Keep us true to their teaching.
Grant 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:
O God, who on the Solemnity of the Apostles Peter and Paul
give us the noble and holy joy of this day,
grant, we pray, that your Church
may in all things follow the teaching
of those through whom she received
the beginnings of right religion.
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.
DISMISSAL
If a priest or deacon presides, he dismisses the people:
The Lord be with you.
— And with your spirit.
May almighty God bless you,
the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
— Amen.
Another form of the blessing may be used, as at Mass.
Then he adds:
Go in peace.
— Thanks be to God.
In the absence of a priest or deacon and in individual recitation, Evening Prayer concludes:
May the Lord + bless us,
protect us from all evil
and bring us to everlasting life.
— Amen.
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