In those places where the Seventh Sunday of Easter is observed today, the complete texts may be found in the Commons Section.
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
O Jesus, our redeeming Lord,
our greatest love and all desire,
true God, Creator of all things,
true Man, beyond the end of time,
What loving mercy mastered you,
that you should bear our grievous sins
and suffer cruel and bitter death
to rescue us from death’s domain?
For us you breached the walls of hell
and ransomed all your captives there;
as victor at the Father’s right,
in noble triumph you preside.
May this same love compel you still
to overcome our evil deeds,
to pardon us and grant that we
may gaze in wonder at your face.
Lord Jesus, be all joy for us,
for you shall be our great reward;
may all our glory be in you
through endless ages evermore. Amen.
Tune: VENI CREATOR SPIRITUS (MECHLIN), 8 8 8 8
Plainsong, Mechlin adaptation
or Mode IV, melody 62; Liber Hymnarius, Solesmes, 1983*
Text: Iesu, nostra redemptio, 7-8th c., © 2023 ICEL
PSALMODY
Ant. 1 I came forth from the Father and have come into the world; now I leave the world to return to the Father, alleluia.
Psalm 113
Praise the name of the Lord
He has cast down the mighty and has lifted up the lowly (Luke 1:52).
Praise, O servants of the Lord, *
praise the name of the Lord!
May the name of the Lord be blessed *
both now and for evermore!
From the rising of the sun to its setting *
praised be the name of the Lord!
High above all nations is the Lord, *
above the heavens his glory.
Who is like the Lord, our God, *
who has risen on high to his throne
yet stoops from the heights to look down, *
to look down upon heaven and earth?
From the dust he lifts up the lowly, *
from the dungheap he raises the poor
to set them in the company of princes, *
yes, with the princes of his people.
To the childless wife he gives a home *
and gladdens her heart with children.
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 Jesus, Word of God, surrendering the brightness of your glory you became man so that we may be raised from the dust to share your very being. May there be innumerable children of the Church to offer homage to your name from the rising of the sun to its setting.
Ant. I came forth from the Father and have come into the world; now I leave the world to return to the Father, alleluia.
Ant. 2 After he spoke to his disciples, the Lord Jesus ascended into heaven where he is seated at the right hand of the Father, alleluia.
Psalm 117
Praise for God’s loving compassion
I affirm that… the Gentile peoples are to praise God because of his mercy (Romans 15:8-9).
O praise the Lord, all you nations, *
acclaim him all you peoples!
Strong is his love for us; *
he is faithful 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, may all nations and peoples praise you. May Jesus, who is called faithful and true and who lives with you eternally, possess our hearts for ever.
Ant. After he spoke to his disciples, the Lord Jesus ascended into heaven where he is seated at the right hand of the Father, alleluia.
Ant. 3 No one has ascended into heaven except the one who descended from heaven, the Son of Man, who is in heaven, alleluia.
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. No one has ascended into heaven except the one who descended from heaven, the Son of Man, who is in heaven, alleluia.
READING
Ephesians 2:4-6
God is rich in mercy; because of his great love for us he brought us to life with Christ Jesus when we were dead in sin. By this favor you are saved. Both with and in Christ Jesus he raised us up and gave us a place in the heavens.
RESPONSORY
God ascends to shouts of joy, alleluia, alleluia.
— God ascends to shouts of joy, alleluia, alleluia.
The Lord to the blast of trumpets,
— alleluia, alleluia.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
— God ascends to shouts of joy, alleluia, alleluia.
GOSPEL CANTICLE
Ant. Father, I have made known your name to the men you have given me; now I am praying for them and not for the world, because I am coming to you, alleluia.
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. Father, I have made known your name to the men you have given me; now I am praying for them and not for the world, because I am coming to you, alleluia.
INTERCESSIONS
In joy of spirit let us acclaim Christ, who sits at the right hand of the Father:
Lord Jesus, you are the King of glory.
King of glory, you took with you our frail humanity to be glorified in heaven; remove the sins of the world,
— and restore us to the innocence which was ours before the Fall.
Lord Jesus, you are the King of glory.
You came down from heaven on a pilgrimage of love,
— grant that we may take the same path to your presence.
Lord Jesus, you are the King of glory.
You promised to draw all things to yourself,
— do not allow any one of us to be separated from your body.
Lord Jesus, you are the King of glory.
Where you have gone before us in glory,
— may we follow you in mind and heart.
Lord Jesus, you are the King of glory.
True God, we await your coming as our judge,
— may we see the vision of your glory and your mercy in company with all the dead.
Lord Jesus, you are the King of glory.
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 our Father,
make us joyful in the ascension of your Son Jesus Christ.
May we follow him into the new creation,
for his ascension is our glory and our hope.
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:
O God, whose Son today ascended to the heavens
as the Apostles looked on,
grant, we pray, that, in accordance with his promise,
we may be worthy for him to live with us always on earth,
and we with him in heaven.
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.
******
Hail the day that sees Him rise, Alleluia!
To His throne above the skies, Alleluia!
Christ, awhile to mortals given, Alleluia!
Reascends His native heaven, Alleluia!
There the glorious triumph waits, Alleluia!
Lift your heads, eternal gates, Alleluia!
Christ hath conquered death and sin, Alleluia!
Take the King of glory in, Alleluia!
See! He lifts His hands above, Alleluia!
See! He shows the prints of love, Alleluia!
Hark! His gracious lips bestow, Alleluia!
Blessings on His church below, Alleluia!
There we shall with Thee remain, Alleluia!
Partners of Thy endless reign, Alleluia!
There Thy face unclouded see, Alleluia!
Find our heaven of heavens in Thee, Alleluia!
Tune: Llanfair 77.77 with Alleluias
Music: Robert Williams, 1817
Text: Charles Wesley, Hymns and Sacred Poems, 1742