In those places where this Memorial is observed as a Solemnity or Feast, please use the texts found in the Common of Holy Women with the proper texts below.
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, and will be for ever. Amen. Alleluia.
HYMN
Let us together praise in song
this woman of a valiant heart,
who shines in splendor, far and wide,
with glory born of holiness.
When wounded by a holy love,
she spurned all worldly, vain delights
and trod the steep, ascending path,
to make her way through heaven’s gates.
By fasting she subdued the flesh,
yet by the sweet repast of prayer
that gently fed her mind and heart
she gained a share in heaven’s joys.
O King, true strength of all the strong,
O Christ, sole source of mighty deeds,
at her petition, we implore:
With loving kindness hear our prayer.
To you, Lord Jesus, glory be,
who grant that we may place our hope
both in this blessed servant’s prayers
and in rewards that never end. Amen.
Tune: WAREHAM, 8 8 8 8
Music: William Knapp, 1698-1768
or Mode II, melody 48; Liber Hymnarius, Solesmes, 1983
Text: Fortem virili pectore, Silvio Antoniano, 1540-1603, © 2023 ICEL
PSALMODY
Ant. 1 I cried to you, Lord, and you healed me; I will praise you for ever.
Psalm 30
Thanksgiving for deliverance from death
Christ, risen in glory, gives continual thanks to his Father (Cassian).
I will praise you, Lord, you have rescued me *
and have not let my enemies rejoice over me.
O Lord, I cried to you for help *
and you, my God, have healed me.
O Lord, you have raised my soul from the dead, *
restored me to life from those who sink into the grave.
Sing psalms to the Lord, you who love him, *
give thanks to his holy name.
His anger lasts but a moment; his favor through life. *
At night there are tears, but joy comes with dawn.
I said to myself in my good fortune: *
“Nothing will ever disturb me.”
Your favor had set me on a mountain fastness, *
then you hid your face and I was put to confusion.
To you, Lord, I cried, *
to my God I made appeal:
“What profit would my death be, my going to the grave? *
Can dust give you praise or proclaim your truth?”
The Lord listened and had pity. *
The Lord came to my help.
For me you have changed my mourning into dancing, *
you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy.
So my soul sings psalms to you unceasingly. *
O Lord my God, I will thank you 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.
Psalm Prayer
God our Father, glorious in giving life, and even more glorious in restoring it, when his last night on earth came, your Son shed tears of blood, but dawn brought incomparable gladness. Do not turn away from us, or we shall fall back into dust, but rather turn our mourning into joy by raising us up with Christ.
Ant. I cried to you, Lord, and you healed me; I will praise you for ever.
Ant. 2 The one who is sinless in the eyes of God is blessed indeed.
Psalm 32
They are happy whose sins are forgiven
David speaks of the happiness of the man who is holy in God’s eyes not because of his own worth, but because God has justified him (Romans 4:6).
Happy the man whose offense is forgiven, *
whose sin is remitted.
O happy the man to whom the Lord †
imputes no guilt, *
in whose spirit is no guile.
I kept it secret and my frame was wasted. *
I groaned all the day long
for night and day your hand *
was heavy upon me.
Indeed, my strength was dried up *
as by the summer’s heat.
But now I have acknowledged my sins; *
my guilt I did not hide.
I said: “I will confess *
my offense to the Lord.”
And you, Lord, have forgiven *
the guilt of my sin.
So let every good man pray to you *
in the time of need.
The floods of water may reach high *
but him they shall not reach.
You are my hiding place, O Lord; †
you save me from distress. *
You surround me with cries of deliverance.
I will instruct you and teach you *
the way you should go;
I will give you counsel *
with my eye upon you.
Be not like horse and mule, unintelligent, †
needing bridle and bit, *
else they will not approach you.
Many sorrows has the wicked †
but he who trusts in the Lord, *
loving mercy surrounds him.
Rejoice, rejoice in the Lord, *
exult, you just!
O come, ring out your joy, *
all you upright of heart.
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 desired, Lord, to keep from us your indignation and so did not spare Jesus Christ, who was wounded for our sins. We are your prodigal children, but confessing our sins we come back to you. Embrace us that we may rejoice in your mercy together with Christ your beloved Son.
Ant. The one who is sinless in the eyes of God is blessed indeed.
Ant. 3 The Father has given Christ all power, honor and kingship; all people will obey him.
Canticle: Revelation 11:17-18; 12:10b-12a
The judgment of God
We praise you, the Lord God Almighty, *
who is and who was.
You have assumed your great power, *
you have begun your reign.
The nations have raged in anger, *
but then came your day of wrath
and the moment to judge the dead: *
the time to reward your servants the prophets
and the holy ones who revere you, *
the great and the small alike.
Now have salvation and power come, †
the reign of our God and the authority *
of his Anointed One.
For the accuser of our brothers is cast out, *
who night and day accused them before God.
They defeated him by the blood of the Lamb †
and by the word of their testimony; *
love for life did not deter them from death.
So rejoice, you heavens, *
and you that dwell therein!
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 Father has given Christ all power, honor and kingship; all people will obey him.
READING
Romans 8:28-30
We know that God makes all things work for the good for those who have been called according to his decree. Those whom he foreknew he predestined to share the image of his Son, so the Son might be the first-born among many brothers. Those he predestined he likewise called; those he called he also justified; and those he justified he also glorified.
RESPONSORY
The Lord has chosen her, his loved one from the beginning.
— The Lord has chosen her, his loved one from the beginning.
He has taken her to live with him,
— his loved one from the beginning.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
— The Lord has chosen her, his loved one from the beginning.
GOSPEL CANTICLE
Ant. While in this world, Monica lived in Christ; the goodness of her life was so evident that the name of the Lord was praised in her faith and in her works.
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. While in this world, Monica lived in Christ; the goodness of her life was so evident that the name of the Lord was praised in her faith and in her works.
INTERCESSIONS
Through the intercession of holy women let us pray for the Church in these words:
Be mindful of your Church, Lord.
Through all the women martyrs who conquered bodily death by their courage,
— strengthen your Church in the hour of trial.
Be mindful of your Church, Lord.
Through married women who have advanced in grace by holy matrimony,
— make the apostolic mission of your Church fruitful.
Be mindful of your Church, Lord.
Through widows who eased their loneliness and sanctified it by prayer and hospitality,
— help your Church reveal the mystery of your love to the world.
Be mindful of your Church, Lord.
Through mothers who have borne children for the kingdom of God and the human community,
— help your Church bring all men to a rebirth in life and salvation.
Be mindful of your Church, Lord.
Through all your holy women who have been worthy to contemplate the light of your countenance,
— let the deceased members of your Church exult in that same vision for ever.
Be mindful of your Church, Lord.
THE LORD’S PRAYER
(Gathering our prayer and praises into one, let us offer the prayer Christ himself 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.
CONCLUDING PRAYER
God of mercy,
comfort of those in sorrow,
the tears of Saint Monica moved you
to convert her son Saint Augustine to the faith of Christ.
By her prayers, help us to turn from our sins
and to find your loving forgiveness.
Grant this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
God, forever and ever.
— Amen.
Or:
O God, who console the sorrowful
and who mercifully accepted
the motherly tears of Saint Monica
for the conversion of her son Augustine,
grant us, through the intercession of them both,
that we may bitterly regret our sins
and find the grace of your pardon.
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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