“To be gone and to be with Christ”

most holy Lord Jesus Christ,
here and in all your churches
throughout the world,
and we bless you
because by your holy cross
you have redeemed the world.

O Lord make haste to help us.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit,

as it was in the beginning is now and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen.

OPENING HYMN:

He was found perfect and virtuous and through him a remnant
was preserved in time of wrath.

Psalm 1

They who choose to lead a meaningful life,†
Accept no signals from the indifferent,*
They do not conform to the crowd,
Express no prejudices, nor do they*
Take satisfaction from the failure of others.

Their ultimate concern is God’s will,*
their daily decisions follow his law.

Such a life may be likened to*
A sturdy tree, planted in rich loam,
That yields fruit in due season.*
Such a soul brings blessings to others.

Not so for those who live without God,*
They are like chaff the wind sweeps away,
or, leaves scattered by an autumn gale;*
Empty and fickle, they cannot withstand the word of the Lord.
The children of God walk in his ways,*
The children of unbelief thread a dangerous course.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit,

as it was in the beginning is now and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen.

He was found perfect and virtuous and through him a remnant
was preserved in time of wrath.

O blessed poverty, who bestows eternal riches on those who love and
embrace her.

Psalm 121 (122)

I rejoiced when I heard them say: *
‘Let us go to God’s house.’
And now our feet are standing *
within your gates, O Jerusalem.

Jerusalem is built as a city *
strongly compact.
It is there that the tribes go up, *
the tribes of the Lord.

For Israel’s law it is, *
there to praise the Lord’s name.
There were set the thrones of judgement *
of the house of David.

For the peace of Jerusalem pray: *
‘Peace be to your homes!
May peace reign in your walls, *
in your palaces, peace!’

For love of my brethren and friends *
I say: ‘Peace upon you!’
For love of the house of the Lord *
I will ask for your good.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,

as it was in the beginning is now and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen.

Pause for quiet prayer & reflection on Psalm

Place your mind before the mirror of eternity!
Place your soul in the brilliance of glory!

Canticle: Eph 1:3-10

Blessed be the God and Father *
of our Lord Jesus Christ,
who has blessed us in Christ *
with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places.

He chose us in him *
before the foundation of the world,
that we should be holy *
and blameless before him.

He destined us in love *
to be his sons through Jesus Christ,
according to the purpose of his will, †
to the praise of his glorious grace *
which he freely bestowed on us in the Beloved.

In him we have redemption through his blood, *
the forgiveness of our trespasses,
according to the riches of his grace *
which he lavished upon us.

He has made known to us †
in all wisdom and insight *
the mystery of his will,
according to his purpose *
which he set forth in Christ.

His purpose he set forth in Christ, *
as a plan for the fullness of time,
to unite all things in him, *
things in heaven and things on earth.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,

as it was in the beginning is now and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen.

Pause for quiet prayer & reflection on Psalm

Place your mind before the mirror of eternity!
Place your soul in the brilliance of glory!

Reading

A Reading from Paul’s Second letter to the Thessalonians (2:13-14f)

We feel that we must be continually thanking God for you, brothers and sisters
whom the Lord loves, because God chose you as first fruits to be saved by the
sanctifying spirit and by faith in the truth. Through the Good News that we
brought he called you to this so that you should share the glory of our Lord Jesus
Christ.
The Word of the Lord.

Responsory:

will receive, in this present world, many times their worth,
and in the world to come, everlasting life.

A Reading from the Sacrum Commercium (nos. 59-63)

When everything was ready, the brothers constrained Lady Poverty to eat with
them. But she said: “Show me your oratory, chapter room, and cloister; your refectory,
your kitchen, your dormitory and stable; show me your fine chairs, your
polished tables, your great houses. I do not see any of these things, I see only that
you are cheerful and happy, overflowing with joy, replete with consolation, as
though you expect everything will be given you.”

They answered, “Our Lady and our Queen, we, your servants, are tired from our
long journey, and you too, coming with us, have suffered not a little. Let us therefore
first eat, if it pleases you, and thus refreshed we will fulfil your wishes.”
“What you say pleases me,” she replied; “but now bring water so that we may
wash our hands, and towels to dry them.”

They were quickly brought a broken earthenware bowl filled with water, for there
was not a whole one in that place. And pouring the water over her hands, they
looked here and there for a towel. But when they did not find one, one of the
brothers gave her a tunic with which he was clothed so that she could dry her
hands with it. Taking it with thanks, she magnified God in her heart because he
had placed her in the midst of such men.

Responsory:

by such works you have taught your people to be pleasing
too.

Benedictus:

Holy is God’s name, God’s mercy is for all peoples.

Blessed are you, God of Israel,
for you have visited and redeemed your people,
and have raised up a horn of salvation for us
in the house of your servant.

As you spoke through the mouths
of your holy prophets from of old,
that we should be saved from our enemies,
and from the hand of all who oppress us;

to perform the mercy promised to our ancestors
and to remember your holy covenant,

and the oath you swore to Abraham and Sarah,
to grant us deliverance from evil,
that we might serve you without fear,
in holiness and righteousness
all the days of our lives.

And you, child,
will be called the prophet of the Most High,
for you will go before the Holy One
to prepare God’s ways,

to give knowledge of salvation to God’s people
in the forgiveness of their sins,
through the tender mercy of our God
when the day shall dawn upon us from on high,
to give light to those in darkness
and in the shadow of death,
to guide our feet
into the way of peace.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit,

as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen

Holy is God’s name, God’s mercy is for all peoples.

INTERCESSIONS

Christ our Lord established the Church with his own blood, and has
graciously called us to be followers of Francis; let us humbly pray to him saying:

Keep us faithful, Lord, in your service.

You came to bring the good news to the poor; teach us to spread your
kingdom abroad by word and deed – and to establish it effectively among all
people.
Response

You are the light of all nations and the teacher of holiness; grant that we may
firmly adhere to the true faith – and preach your name to the ends of the earth.
Response

You commanded your disciples to observe, above all, your precept of love – grant
that we may make it our special concern to do good to all.
Response

Wisdom of the Eternal Father, enlighten our minds – so that we may live the truth
in love, and that all our thoughts may be imbued with truth and holiness.
Response

Christ our Saviour, you did not disdain to work with your hands; direct the work
of our hands so that all may see our good works and glorify the Father.
Response

Our Father ….

CONCLUDING PRAYER

Amen.

Amen.