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
As John fulfilled his sacred charge,
Christ Jesus, Author of the world,
immersed this day in Jordan’s tide,
by bathing, washed its waters clean.
Born from the Virgin Mother’s womb,
he did not need to be baptized,
yet by his washing, he desired,
to take away our guilt and sin.
The Father speaks, his voice proclaims:
This is my own beloved Son;
from heaven’s height on him descends,
in dove-like form, the Spirit blest.
Beneath the myst’ry of this Name,
salvation shines within the Church;
the Trinity abides with her,
one God through every time and place.
All glory be to you, O Christ;
the Father and the Spirit blest,
in splendor from the heights of heav’n,
reveal that you are Life and Truth. Amen.
Tune: BRESLAU, 8 8 8 8
Music: first appeared in As Hymnodus Sacer, Leipzig 1625, adapted by Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy, 1809-1847
or Mode I, melody 17; Liber Hymnarius, Solesmes, 1983*
Text: Implente munus debitum, ca. 10th c., © 2023 ICEL
PSALMODY
Ant. 1 The Father’s voice resounded from the heavens: This is my Son in whom I delight, listen to what he says to you.
Psalm 110:1-5, 7
The Messiah, king and priest
Christ’s reign will last until all his enemies are made subject to him (1 Corinthians 15:25).
The Lord’s revelation to my Master: †
“Sit on my right: *
your foes I will put beneath your feet.”
The Lord will wield from Zion †
your scepter of power: *
rule in the midst of all your foes.
A prince from the day of your birth †
on the holy mountains; *
from the womb before the dawn I begot you.
The Lord has sworn an oath he will not change. †
“You are a priest for ever, *
a priest like Melchizedek of old.”
The Master standing at your right hand *
will shatter kings in the day of his great wrath.
He shall drink from the stream by the wayside *
and therefore he shall lift up his head.
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, we ask you to give us victory and peace. In Jesus Christ, our Lord and King, we are already seated at your right hand. We look forward to praising you in the fellowship of all your saints in our heavenly homeland.
Ant. The Father’s voice resounded from the heavens: This is my Son in whom I delight, listen to what he says to you.
Ant. 2 In the Jordan River our Savior crushed the serpent’s head and wrested us free from his grasp.
Psalm 112
The happiness of the just man
Live as children born of the light. Light produces every kind of goodness and justice and truth (Ephesians 5:8-9).
Happy the man who fears the Lord, *
who takes delight in all his commands.
His sons will be powerful on earth; *
the children of the upright are blessed.
Riches and wealth are in his house; *
his justice stands firm for ever.
He is a light in the darkness for the upright: *
he is generous, merciful and just.
The good man takes pity and lends, *
he conducts his affairs with honor.
The just man will never waver: *
he will be remembered for ever.
He has no fear of evil news; *
with a firm heart he trusts in the Lord.
With a steadfast heart he will not fear; *
he will see the downfall of his foes.
Open-handed, he gives to the poor; †
his justice stands firm for ever. *
His head will be raised in glory.
The wicked man sees and is angry, †
grinds his teeth and fades away; *
the desire of the wicked leads to doom.
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 God, you are the eternal light which illumines the hearts of good people. Help us to love you, to rejoice in your glory, and so to live in this world as to avoid harsh judgment in the next. May we come to see the light of your countenance.
Ant. In the Jordan River our Savior crushed the serpent’s head and wrested us free from his grasp.
Ant. 3 A wondrous mystery is declared to us today: the Creator of the universe has washed away our sins in the waters of the Jordan.
Canticle: Revelation 15:3-4
Hymn of adoration
Mighty and wonderful are your works, *
Lord God Almighty!
Righteous and true are your ways, *
O King of the nations!
Who would dare refuse you honor, *
or the glory due your name, O Lord?
Since you alone are holy, *
all nations shall come
and worship in your presence. *
Your mighty deeds are clearly seen.
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. A wondrous mystery is declared to us today: the Creator of the universe has washed away our sins in the waters of the Jordan.
READING
Acts 10:37-38
I take it you know what has been reported all over Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John preached, how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power. He went about doing good and healing all those oppressed by the devil, for God was with him.
RESPONSORY
Christ comes to us. He comes in water and in blood.
— Christ comes to us. He comes in water and in blood.
Jesus Christ our Lord.
— Comes in water and in blood.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
— Christ comes to us. He comes in water and in blood.
GOSPEL CANTICLE
Ant. Christ Jesus loved us, poured out his blood to wash away our sins, and made us a kingdom and priests for God our Father. To him be glory and honor for ever.
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. Christ Jesus loved us, poured out his blood to wash away our sins, and made us a kingdom and priests for God our Father. To him be glory and honor for ever.
INTERCESSIONS
Our Redeemer desired to be baptized in the Jordan by John; let us make our petition to him:
Lord send forth your Spirit upon us.
Christ, Servant of God, the Father acknowledged you as his own Son with whom he was pleased,
— send forth your Spirit upon us.
Lord send forth your Spirit upon us.
Christ, Chosen One of God, you did not break the crushed reed or extinguish the wavering flame,
— have mercy on all who are seeking you in good faith.
Lord send forth your Spirit upon us.
Christ, Son of God, the Father called you to be a light to the nations in the new covenant,
— open the eyes of the blind by the waters of baptism.
Lord send forth your Spirit upon us.
Christ, Savior of mankind, the Father anointed you with the Holy Spirit for the ministry of salvation,
— lead all mankind to see you and to believe in you, that they may have eternal life.
Lord send forth your Spirit upon us.
Christ, our hope, you lead those in darkness to the light of salvation,
— receive our departed brothers and sisters into your kingdom.
Lord send forth your Spirit upon us.
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
Almighty, eternal God,
when the Spirit descended upon Jesus
at his baptism in the Jordan,
you revealed him as your own beloved Son.
Keep us, your children born of water and the Spirit,
faithful to our calling.
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:
Almighty ever-living God,
who, when Christ had been baptized in the River Jordan
and as the Holy Spirit descended upon him,
solemnly declared him your beloved Son,
grant that your children by adoption,
reborn of water and the Holy Spirit,
may always be well pleasing to you.
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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