Prayers

Votive Offices of the Passion for Fridays (Passionist)

(Under development)

I. Jesus is Condemned to Death

Office of Readings         Morning Prayer      Evening Prayer

II. Jesus is Scourged

Office of Readings         Morning Prayer      Evening Prayer

III. Jesus is Crowned with Thorns

Office of Readings         Morning Prayer      Evening Prayer

IV. Face of the Suffering Christ

Office of Readings         Morning Prayer      Evening Prayer

V. Crucifixion and Death of Jesus

Office of Readings         Morning Prayer      Evening Prayer

VI. Jesus is Pierced by the Lance

Office of Readings         Morning Prayer      Evening Prayer

APPENDIX

FIRST READINGS  (feria)

ALTERNATIVE HYMNS


JESUS IS CONDEMNED TO DEATH




OFFICE OF READINGS


INVITATORY

The Invitatory may be said for the first ‘hour’ recited in the day.

Lord, + open my lips.
And my mouth will proclaim your praise.

Ant. Come, let us adore Christ the Lord, who declared himself the Son of God before the Sanhedrin.
Or:
Come, let us adore Christ the Son of God, who was condemned to death for us

Psalm 95
A call to praise God

Encourage each other daily while it is still today (Hebrews 3:13).

Come, let us sing to the Lord *
  and shout with joy to the Rock who saves us.
Let us approach him with praise and thanksgiving *
  and sing joyful songs to the Lord.

Ant. Come, let us adore Christ the Lord, who declared himself the Son of God before the Sanhedrin.
Or:
Come, let us adore Christ the Son of God, who was condemned to death for us

The Lord is God, the mighty God, *
  the great king over all the gods.
He holds in his hands the depths of the earth *
  and the highest mountains as well.
He made the sea; it belongs to him, *
  the dry land, too, for it was formed by his hands.

Ant. Come, let us adore Christ the Lord, who declared himself the Son of God before the Sanhedrin.
Or:
Come, let us adore Christ the Son of God, who was condemned to death for us

Come, then, let us bow down and worship *
  bending the knee before the Lord, our maker.
For he is our God and we are his people, *
  the flock he shepherds.

Ant. Come, let us adore Christ the Lord, who declared himself the Son of God before the Sanhedrin.
Or:
Come, let us adore Christ the Son of God, who was condemned to death for us

Today, listen to the voice of the Lord:
Do not grow stubborn, as your fathers did
  in the wilderness, *
when at Meriba and Massah
  they challenged me and provoked me, *
Although they had seen all of my works.

Ant. Come, let us adore Christ the Lord, who declared himself the Son of God before the Sanhedrin.
Or:
Come, let us adore Christ the Son of God, who was condemned to death for us

Forty years I endured that generation. *
I said, “They are a people whose hearts go astray
  and they do not know my ways.”
So I swore in my anger, *
  “They shall not enter into my rest.”

Ant. Come, let us adore Christ the Lord, who declared himself the Son of God before the Sanhedrin.
Or:
Come, let us adore Christ the Son of God, who was condemned to death for us

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. Come, let us adore Christ the Lord, who declared himself the Son of God before the Sanhedrin.
Or:
Come, let us adore Christ the Son of God, who was condemned to death for us

If the Invitatory is not said, then the following is used:

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

(Click here for alternative hymns)

O Christ, the Lord of the heavens,
but especially the savior of the world,
through your cross
you have freed all persons from the rule of death.

We now beseech you in prayer
to preserve your gifts,
lavished upon every nation,
through the sacred mysteries.

You, the gentle lamb,
the innocent victim offered for the world
have washed the garments of the saints
in your blood.

These you have redeemed,
paying the price of your Sacred Body.
After rising from the grave
you ascend into heaven
where the saints praise you forever.

Include us in that blessed number,
we beg of you, O Lord,
who have made us,
people of every nation,
the kingdom of the Father. Amen.

PSALMODY

Ant. The Lord will call upon heaven and earth to judge his people.

Psalm 69: 2-22, 30-37

Save me, O God, *
for the waters have risen to my neck.

I have sunk into the mud of the deep *
and there is no foothold.
I have entered the waters of the deep *
and the waves overwhelm me.

I am wearied with all my crying, *
my throat is parched.
My eyes are wasted away *
from looking for my God.

More numerous than the hairs on my head *
are those who hate me without cause.
Those who attack me with lies *
are too much for my strength.

How can I restore *
what I have never stolen?
O God, you know my sinful folly; *
my sins you can see.

Let not those who hope in you not be put to shame *
through me, Lord of hosts:
let not those who seek you be dismayed *
through me, God of Israel.

It is for you that I suffer taunts, *
that shame covers my face,
that I have become a stranger to my brothers, *
an alien to my own mother's sons.
I burn with zeal for your house *
and taunts against you fall on me.

When I afflict my soul with fasting *
they make it a taunt against me.
When I put on sackcloth in mourning *
then they make me a byword,
the gossip of men at the gates, *
the subject of drunkards' songs.

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 Lord will call upon heaven and earth to judge his people.

Ant. Do me justice, O Lord, my God, and defend my life.

            II

This is my prayer to you, *
my prayer for your favor.
In your great love, answer me, O God, *
with your help that never fails:
rescue me from sinking in the mud; *
save me from my foes.

Save me from the waters of the deep *
lest the waves overwhelm me.
Do not let the deep engulf me *
nor death close its mouth on me.

Lord, answer, for your love is kind; *
in your compassion, turn towards me.
Do not hide your face from your servant; *
answer quickly for I am in distress.
Come close to my soul and redeem me; *
ransom me pressed by my foes.

You know how they taunt and deride me; *
my oppressors are all before you.
Taunts have broken my heart; *
I have reached the end of my strength.
I looked in vain for compassion, *
for consolers; not one could I find.

For food they gave me poison; *
in my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink.

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. Do me justice, O Lord, my God, and defend my life.

Ant. There is One who is lawgiver and judge; who are you who judge your neighbor.

                 III

As for me in my poverty and pain *
let your help, O God, lift me up.

I will praise God's name with a song; *
I will glorify him with thanksgiving.
A gift pleasing God more than oxen, *
more than beasts prepared for sacrifice.

The poor when they see it will be glad *
and God-seeking hearts will revive;
for the Lord listens to the needy *
and does not spurn his servants in their chains.
Let the heavens and the earth give him praise, *
the sea and all its living creatures.

For God will bring help to Zion
and rebuild the cities of Judah *
and men shall dwell there in possession.
The sons of his servants shall inherit it; *
those who love his name shall dwell there.

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. There is One who is lawgiver and judge; who are you who judge your neighbor.

Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good.
His mercy endures for ever.

FIRST READING

From the weekday.

SECOND READING

From the Meditations on the Passion by Blessed Dominic of the Mother of God, priest
(Translation from the French autograph manuscripts in AGCP, B.I. VIII, VI 16. II, 4. Pp. 344-348)

Jesus is condemned to death before the tribunal of Caiaphas

Caiaphas is jubilant on hearing that Jesus has been seized and immediately prepares to try him. Jesus must appear as a criminal before this infamous judge who questions him about this disciples and his teaching. Jesus refuses to answer for the conduct of the disciples. But he cannot be silent about his teaching les the seem to be repudiating it. He says: “I have spoken publicly for all the world to hear. I have always taught in the synagogues, or in the temple area where all the Jews come together.  There was nothing secret about anything I said. Why do you question me? Question those who heard me when I spoke; they know what I said. By this wise reply we are taught that it is useless to claim we are taught by his word if we refuse to listen to the Church. For God has spoken to his Church and entrusted ot her the sacred deposit of his doctrines. Therefore listen to the Church and let particular revelations not be believed. “God has spoken once and he does not repeat himself.”

Then his accusers look for false witnesses to testify against Jesus. But their scheme is frustrated because no two witnesses say the same thing. Their testimony does not agree. Then Caiaphas tries another approach. Standing up, he himself questions Jesus: I order you to tell us under oath, before the living God, whether you are the Messiah, the Son of God. Such impudence! O vicious judge, what do you want from Jesus? Do you want him to deny he is the Son of God? Then you will say he is a blasphemer.

Out of reverence for the name of God, Jesus clearly confesses his divinity and testifies not only to his first mission but to his second: It is you who say it. But I tell you this: Soon you will see the Son of Man, seated at the right hand of the Power and coming in the clouds of heaven. Jesus warns Caiaphas of his second coming in order to urge him to take advantage of the first.

But can anything soften hears hardened by malice? Instead of profiting by Jesus’ words, the high priest and those around him cover their ears, tear their robes and cry out: He has blasphemed! What is your verdict? He deserves death. Why did Jesus deserve death? Because he claimed to be the Son of God? But if he is truly so, why should he deserve death for acknowledging it? Shameless ones! You are criminals of whom the Holy Spirit speaks in the Book of Wisdom. The real reason for your hatred is not Jesus’ claim but his holy life which is so different from your own. His life is a castigation of yours. But this jealousy of yours is imitated by those Christians who harass good, honorable people precisely because they are good and honourable. Be glad, my brothers and sisters, if you have the good fortune to be persecuted in the cause of right. Jesus said: “Blest are those persecuted for holiness’ sake ; the reign of God is theirs.” You must also be careful not to victimize or ridicule good people lest you be counted among those who condemned Jesus to death.

RESPONSORY
See John 11:49-52

Caiaphas, who was high priest that year,
prophesied that Jesus must die  for the nation,
and not for this nation only,
but to gather into one all the dispersed children of God.

It is better to have one man die for the people
than to have the whole nation destroyed.
but to gather into one all the dispersed children of God.

PRAYER

Let us pray

Eternal Father,
you looked with compassion on your only Son
when he was treated with derision
and condemned to death.
Through his patience in suffering, heal our pride.
Keep us from judging others
that we may be shown mercy on the great day of judgment.
We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever.
Amen.

ACCLAMATION

Let us praise the Lord.
And give him thanks.


MORNING PRAYER


INVITATORY

The Invitatory may be said for the first ‘hour’ recited in the day.

Lord, + open my lips.
And my mouth will proclaim your praise.

Ant. Come, let us adore Christ the Lord, who declared himself the Son of God before the Sanhedrin.
Or:
Come, let us adore Christ the Son of God, who was condemned to death for us

Psalm 95
A call to praise God

Encourage each other daily while it is still today (Hebrews 3:13).

Come, let us sing to the Lord *
  and shout with joy to the Rock who saves us.
Let us approach him with praise and thanksgiving *
  and sing joyful songs to the Lord.

Ant. Come, let us adore Christ the Lord, who declared himself the Son of God before the Sanhedrin.
Or:
Come, let us adore Christ the Son of God, who was condemned to death for us

The Lord is God, the mighty God, *
  the great king over all the gods.
He holds in his hands the depths of the earth *
  and the highest mountains as well.
He made the sea; it belongs to him, *
  the dry land, too, for it was formed by his hands.

Ant. Come, let us adore Christ the Lord, who declared himself the Son of God before the Sanhedrin.
Or:
Come, let us adore Christ the Son of God, who was condemned to death for us

Come, then, let us bow down and worship *
  bending the knee before the Lord, our maker.
For he is our God and we are his people, *
  the flock he shepherds.

Ant. Come, let us adore Christ the Lord, who declared himself the Son of God before the Sanhedrin.
Or:
Come, let us adore Christ the Son of God, who was condemned to death for us

Today, listen to the voice of the Lord:
Do not grow stubborn, as your fathers did
  in the wilderness, *
when at Meriba and Massah
  they challenged me and provoked me, *
Although they had seen all of my works.

Ant. Come, let us adore Christ the Lord, who declared himself the Son of God before the Sanhedrin.
Or:
Come, let us adore Christ the Son of God, who was condemned to death for us

Forty years I endured that generation. *
I said, “They are a people whose hearts go astray
  and they do not know my ways.”
So I swore in my anger, *
  “They shall not enter into my rest.”

Ant. Come, let us adore Christ the Lord, who declared himself the Son of God before the Sanhedrin.
Or:
Come, let us adore Christ the Son of God, who was condemned to death for us

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. Come, let us adore Christ the Lord, who declared himself the Son of God before the Sanhedrin.
Or:
Come, let us adore Christ the Son of God, who was condemned to death for us

If the Invitatory is not said, then the following is used:

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

(Click here for alternative hymns)

O Redeemer of the world,
in tears we sing our song to you:
pardon us, Lord,
O pardon us as we confess our fault.

It was you who overcame
the power of the ancient enemy
through your death on the cross:
on our foreheads now
we bear the standard of our faith.

You have repelled Satan with this sign,
lest he be able ever to harm those
redeemed by your blood.

For our sake, you deigned
to descend to the lower regions
to extend the gifts of life
to those still indebted to death.

You who will declare
the end of the world at a determined time
will, also, as just rewarder
decide the merits of all.

Therefore, we beg of you, O Christ,
to attend to our wounds,
you who are deserving to be praised forever,
together with the Father and the Spirit. Amen.

PSALMODY

Ant. For this I was born, for this did I come into the world: to give testimony to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears my voice.

Psalm 51

Have mercy on me, God, in your kindness. *
In your compassion blot out my offense.
O wash me more and more from my guilt *
and cleanse me from my sin.

My offenses truly I know them; *
my sin is always before me
Against you, you alone, have I sinned; *
what is evil in your sight I have done.

That you may be justified when you give sentence *
and be without reproach when you judge.
O see, in guilt I was born, *
a sinner was I conceived.

Indeed you love truth in the heart; *
then in the secret of my heart teach me wisdom.
O purify me, then I shall be clean; *
O wash me, I shall be whiter than snow.

Make me hear rejoicing and gladness, *
that the bones you have crushed may revive.
From my sins turn away your face *
and blot out all my guilt.

A pure heart create for me, O God, *
put a steadfast spirit within me.
Do not cast me away from your presence, *
nor deprive me of your holy spirit.

Give me again the joy of your help; *
with a spirit of fervor sustain me,
that I may teach transgressors your ways *
and sinners may return to you.

O rescue me, God, my helper, *
and my tongue shall ring out your goodness.
O Lord, open my lips *
and my mouth shall declare your praise.

For in sacrifice you take no delight, *
burnt offering from me you would refuse,
my sacrifice, a contrite spirit.*
A humbled, contrite heart you will not spurn.

In your goodness, show favor to Zion: *
rebuild the walls of Jerusalem.
Then you will be pleased with lawful sacrifice,
Holocausts offered on your altar.

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. For this I was born, for this did I come into the world: to give testimony to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears my voice.

Ant. The Lord is just and loves just deeds. The upright shall see his face.

Canticle: Habakkuk 3:2-4, 13a, 15-19

O Lord, I have heard your renown, *
and feared, O Lord, your work.
In the course of the years revive it,
in the course of the years make it known; *
in your wrath remember compassion!

God comes from Teman, *
the Holy One from Mount Paran.
Covered are the heavens with his glory, *
and with his praise the earth is filled.

His splendor spreads like the light;
rays shine forth from beside him, *
where his power is concealed.
You come forth to save your people, *
to save your anointed one.

You tread the sea with your steeds *
amid the churning of the deep waters.
I hear, and my body trembles; *
at the sound, my lips quiver.

Decay invades my bones, *
my legs tremble beneath me.
I await the day of distress *
that will come upon the people who attack us.

For though the fig tree blossom not *
nor fruit be on the vines,
though the yield of the olive fail *
and the terraces produce no nourishment,

though the flocks disappear from the fold *
and there be no herd in the stalls,
yet will I rejoice in the Lord *
and exult in my saving God.

God, my Lord, is my strength;
he makes my feet swift as those of hinds *
and enables me to go upon the heights.

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 Lord is just and loves just deeds. The upright shall see his face.

Ant. Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive glory and honor, for his judgments are true and just.

Psalm 100

Cry out with joy to the Lord, all the earth.
Serve the Lord with gladness. *
Come before him, singing for joy.

Know that he, the Lord, is God.
He made us, we belong to him, *
we are his people, the sheep of his flock.

Go within his gates, giving thanks.
Enter his courts with songs of praise. *
Give thanks to him and bless his name.

Indeed, how good is the Lord,
eternal his merciful love. *
He is faithful from age to age.

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. Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive glory and honor, for his judgments are true and just.

READING
Acts 10:39-42

Now I, and those with me, can witness to everything he did throughout the countryside of Judaea and in Jerusalem itself: and also to the fact that they killed him by hanging him on a tree, yet three days afterwards God raised him to life and allowed him to be seen, not by the whole people but only by certain witnesses God had been chosen beforehand. Now we are those witnesses - we have eaten and drunk with him after his resurrection from the dead - and he has ordered us to proclaim this to his people and to tell them that God has appointed him to judge everyone, alive or dead.

RESPONSORY

The Lord shall reign forever. He will judge the world with justice.
The Lord shall reign forever. He will judge the world with justice.

He will render to each according to his works.
He will judge the world with justice.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
The Lord shall reign forever. He will judge the world with justice.

CANTICLE OF ZECHARIAH

Ant. Blessed be God who gave his Son to have life in Himself and has given him power to judge, because he is the Son of Man.

Blessed + be the Lord, the God of Israel; *
he has come to his people and set them free.

He has raised up for us a mighty savior, *
born of the house of his servant David.

Through his holy prophets he promised of old
  that he would save us from our enemies, *
  from the hands of all who hate us.

He promised to show mercy to our fathers *
and to remember his holy covenant.

This was the oath he swore to our father Abraham: *
to set us free from the hands of our enemies,
free to worship him without fear, *
holy and righteous in his sight
   all the days of our life.

You, my child, shall be called the prophet of the Most High; *
for you will go before the Lord to prepare his way,
to give his people knowledge of salvation *
by the forgiveness of their sins.

In the tender compassion of our God *
the dawn from on high shall break upon us,
to shine on those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death, *
and to guide our feet into the way of peace.

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. Blessed be God who gave his Son to have life in Himself and has given him power to judge, because he is the Son of Man.

INTERCESSIONS

Let us humbly adore Christ our Lord, who is the judge of the living and the dead. Let us confidently ask him:
Just Judge, defend our cause.

Lord, you are eternal Truth who came into the world to testify to the truth
enlighten us so that we may aid your Church in fostering truth.
Just Judge, defend our cause.

Ruler of the universe, inspire all governments with a concern for justice
so that justice and peace may be established throughout the world.
Just Judge, defend our cause.

Lord, our Master, sustain priests and ministers of the Church,
so that while caring for others, they may grow in grace themselves.
Just Judge, defend our cause.

Eternal Judge, place us at your right hand when you hand over your kingdom to the Father,
that we may possess the kingdom prepared for us from the beginning.
Just Judge, defend our cause.

THE LORD’S PRAYER

(Though we are unworthy to address the Father of mercies, he will recognize and respond to the voice of his Son as we pray:

Or:

Let us offer to Almighty God, the Father of mercies, the prayer his Son, the firstborn of many brethren, 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.

PRAYER

Eternal Father,
you looked with compassion on your only Son
when he was treated with derision
and condemned to death.
Through his patience in suffering, heal our pride.
Keep us from judging others
that we may be shown mercy on the great day of judgment.
We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever.
Amen.

DISMISSAL

May the Lord bless + us,
protect us from all evil
and bring us to everlasting life.
Amen.


EVENING PRAYER


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

(Click here for alternative hymns)

O Christ, the Lord of the heavens,
but especially the savior of the world,
through your cross
you have freed all persons from the rule of death.

We now beseech you in prayer
to preserve your gifts,
lavished upon every nation,
through the sacred mysteries.

You, the gentle lamb,
the innocent victim offered for the world
have washed the garments of the saints
in your blood.

These you have redeemed,
paying the price of your Sacred Body.
After rising from the grave
you ascend into heaven
where the saints praise you forever.

Include us in that blessed number,
we beg of you, O Lord,
who have made us,
people of every nation,
the kingdom of the Father. Amen.

PSALMODY

Ant. The Lord does not judge by appearances, but in justice and truth.

Psalm 46

God is for us a refuge and strength, *
a helper close at hand, in time of distress,
so we shall not fear though the earth should rock, *
though the mountains fall into the depths of the sea;
even though its waters rage and foam, *
even though the mountains be shaken by its waves.

The Lord of hosts is with us: *
the God of Jacob is our stronghold.

The waters of a river give joy to God's city, *
the holy place where the Most High dwells.
God is within, it cannot be shaken; *
God will help it at the dawning of the day.
Nations are in tumult, kingdoms are shaken: *
he lifts his voice, the earth shrinks away.

The Lord of hosts is with us: *
the God of Jacob is our stronghold.

Come, consider the works of the Lord, *
the redoubtable deeds he has done on the earth.
He puts an end to wars over all the earth;
the bow he breaks, the spear he snaps. *
He burns the shields with fire.
"Be still and know that I am God, *
supreme among the nations, supreme on the earth!"

The Lord of hosts is with us:
the God of Jacob is our stronghold.

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 Lord does not judge by appearances, but in justice and truth.

Ant. The high priests and the whole council sought false testimony against Jesus so that they might put him to death, but they found none.

Psalm 82

God stands in the divine assembly. *
In the midst of the gods he gives judgment.
"How long will you judge unjustly *
and favor the cause of the wicked?

Do justice for the weak and the orphan, *
defend the afflicted and the needy.
Rescue the weak and the poor; *
set them free from the hand of the wicked.

Unperceiving, they grope in the darkness *
and the order of the world is shaken.
I have said to you: 'You are gods *
and all of you, sons of the Most High.'

And yet, you shall die like men, *
you shall fall like any of the princes."
Arise, O God, judge the earth, *
for you rule all the nations.

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 high priests and the whole council sought false testimony against Jesus so that they might put him to death, but they found none.

Ant. The chief priests with the elders and the whole Sanhedrin condemned Jesus as guilty of death.

Canticle: Revelation 11:18-18; 12:10b-12a

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 chief priests with the elders and the whole Sanhedrin condemned Jesus as guilty of death.

READING
Romans 14:9-13

This explains why Christ both died and came to life, it was so that he might be Lord both of the dead and of the living. This is also why you should never pass judgment on a brother or treat him with contempt, as some of you have done. We shall all have to stand before the judgment seat of God; as scripture says: By my life - it is the Lord who speaks - every knee shall bend before me, and every tongue shall praise God, therefore, that each of us must give an account of himself. Far from passing judgment on each other, therefore, you should make up your mind never to be the cause of your brother tripping or failing.

RESPONSORY

You shall see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of the power of God
You shall see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of the power of God

He will come on the clouds of heaven;
at the right hand of the power of God

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:
You shall see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of the power of God

CANTICLE OF MARY

Ant. The Son of Man will come in the clouds with great power and glory; he will sit upon the throne of majesty and all people will be gathered before him.

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. The Son of Man will come in the clouds with great power and glory; he will sit upon the throne of majesty and all people will be gathered before him.

INTERCESSIONS

Christ our Lord has been appointed judge of the living and the dead. Let us humbly adore him and fervently cry out:
Just Judge, defend our cause.

Lord our Redeemer, help us to honor your passion by a profound spirit of penance,
so that at the judgment you may find us worthy of a crown of justice.
Just Judge, defend our cause.

Lord, our model and our teacher, you were struck in the face by a servant of the high priest,
may every word and action  of ours be right and just.
Just Judge, defend our cause.

Lord, Man of Sorrows, help those who suffer distress or oppression,
that your faithful ones who suffer injustice in this world may shine with justice in your eyes forever.
Just Judge, defend our cause.

Christ the rewarder, grant that those who die hoping in you may find their expectation justified,
and enjoy in heaven the vision of your face.
Just Judge, defend our cause.

THE LORD’S PRAYER

(Though we are unworthy to address the Father of mercies, he will recognize and respond to the voice of his Son as we pray:

Or:

Let us offer to Almighty God, the Father of mercies, the prayer his Son, the firstborn of many brethren, 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.

PRAYER

Eternal Father,
you looked with compassion on your only Son
when he was treated with derision
and condemned to death.
Through his patience in suffering, heal our pride.
Keep us from judging others
that we may be shown mercy on the great day of judgment.
We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever.
Amen.

DISMISSAL

May the Lord bless + us,
protect us from all evil
and bring us to everlasting life.
Amen.


JESUS IS SCOURGED




OFFICE OF READINGS




INVITATORY

The Invitatory may be said for the first ‘hour’ recited in the day.

Lord, + open my lips.
And my mouth will proclaim your praise.

Ant. Come, let us adore Christ the Lord, who suffered scourging and death for us.

Psalm 95
A call to praise God

Encourage each other daily while it is still today (Hebrews 3:13).

Come, let us sing to the Lord *
  and shout with joy to the Rock who saves us.
Let us approach him with praise and thanksgiving *
  and sing joyful songs to the Lord.

Ant. Come, let us adore Christ the Lord, who suffered scourging and death for us.

The Lord is God, the mighty God, *
  the great king over all the gods.
He holds in his hands the depths of the earth *
  and the highest mountains as well.
He made the sea; it belongs to him, *
  the dry land, too, for it was formed by his hands.

Ant. Come, let us adore Christ the Lord, who suffered scourging and death for us.

Come, then, let us bow down and worship *
  bending the knee before the Lord, our maker.
For he is our God and we are his people, *
  the flock he shepherds.

Ant. Come, let us adore Christ the Lord, who suffered scourging and death for us.

Today, listen to the voice of the Lord:
Do not grow stubborn, as your fathers did
  in the wilderness, *
when at Meriba and Massah
  they challenged me and provoked me, *
Although they had seen all of my works.

Ant. Come, let us adore Christ the Lord, who suffered scourging and death for us.

Forty years I endured that generation. *
I said, “They are a people whose hearts go astray
  and they do not know my ways.”
So I swore in my anger, *
  “They shall not enter into my rest.”

Ant. Come, let us adore Christ the Lord, who suffered scourging and death for us.

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. Come, let us adore Christ the Lord, who suffered scourging and death for us.

If the Invitatory is not said, then the following is used:

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

(Click here for alternative hymns)

Hail, O wounds of Christ,
pledges of an immeasurable love,
whence flow the never failing red streams
of his blood.

In brilliance, you excel the stars;
in fragrance, roses and balsam;
in value, the precious stones from India
and in sweetness, ever honeycomb.

How many the stripes,
Jesus, stripped of his clothes,
Receives in the Praetorium!
How many the drops of blood
His torn skin lets fall
All around him.

Come, no matter how many deadly sins
Have caused infection,
For whosoever washes himself in this salvific bath
Will be made clean.

O Jesus, who was struck down
And cut by the lashing of the scourge
Glory be given to you always,
Together with the Father and the Holy Spirit,
Now and for all ages. Amen.

The following hymn is a metrical version of original Latin text of the prose above; however, it does not appear in the Passionist Proper.

Hail wounds! which through eternal years
The love of Jesus show;
Hail wounds! from which the crimson streams
Of blood for ever flow.

More precious than the Indian gems,
Than all the stars more fair;
Nor honeycomb, nor fragrant rose,
Can once with you compare.

What countless stripes did Christ receive
Naked in Pilate's hall!
From his torn flesh what streams of blood
Did all around him fall!

Oh, come all you in whom are fixed
The deadly stains of sin!
Come! wash in this all-saving Blood,
And you shall be made clean.

Praise him, who with the Father sits
Enthroned upon the skies;
Whose Blood redeems our souls from guilt,
Whose Spirit sanctifies.

PSALMODY

Ant. I suffer affliction day after day and chastisement with each new dawn.

Psalm 35:1-2, 3c, 9-19, 22-23, 27-28

               I

O Lord, plead my cause against my foes; *
fight those who fight me.
Take up your buckler and shield; *
arise to help me.

O Lord, say to my soul: *
“I am your salvation.”

But my soul shall be joyful in the Lord *
and rejoice in his salvation.
My whole being will say: *
“Lord, who is like you
who rescue the weak from the strong *
and the poor from the oppressor?”

Lying witnesses arise *
and accuse me unjustly.
They repay me evil for good: *
my soul is forlorn.

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. I suffer affliction day after day and chastisement with each new dawn.

Ant. Blood was splattered on my clothing and all my apparel is stained.

                        II

When they were sick I went into mourning, *
afflicted with fasting.
My prayer was ever on my lips, *
as for a brother, a friend.
I went as though mourning a mother, *
bowed down with grief.

Now that I am in trouble they gather, *
they gather and mock me.
They take me by surprise and strike me *
and tear me to pieces.
They provoke me with mockery on mockery *
and gnash their teeth.

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. Blood was splattered on my clothing and all my apparel is stained.

Ant. Truly he bore our infirmities and carried our sorrows.

                     III

O Lord, how long will you look on? *
Come to my rescue!
Save my life from these raging beasts, *
my soul from these lions.
I will thank you in the great assembly, *
amid the throng I will praise you.

Do not let my lying foes *
rejoice over me.
Do not let those who hate me unjustly *
wink eyes at each other.

O Lord, you have seen, do not be silent, *
do not stand afar off!
Awake, stir to my defense, *
to my cause, O God!

Let there be joy for those who love my cause. *
Let them say without end:
“Great is the Lord who delights *
in the peace of his servant.”
Then my tongue shall speak of your justice, *
all day long of your praise.

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. Truly he bore our infirmities and carried our sorrows.

He was pierced for our offenses
By his wounds we were healed.

FIRST READING

From the weekday

SECOND READING

From the Treasures Which We Have in Jesus Christ by Saint Vincent Mary Strambi, bishop
(Vol. III, pp. 364-345, 367-370)

Think how Jesus endured the extreme suffering caused by the many blows he had received in his entire body. Like a meek lamb, he does nothing to escape it: he does not threaten, nor try to stare down his tormentors. Rather, he offers his sufferings to the eternal Father for our sins. The more he suffers, the less compassion he receives. His enemies seem only to want him to die. He is a dreadful sight: his face is swollen, livid and bruised from the blows of the preceding night. His eyes are blackened; his beard, matted; his body, a mass of wounds and blood. The blood which flows down in rivulets makes a red pool at his feet.

O my Jesus, to what a frightful condition you have been reduced! That body of yours is the body that was formed by the Holy Spirit in the womb of the immaculate Virgin, so handsome and symmetrical, the living temple of divinity to which the eternal Word is personally united, a temple full of grace and gentle majesty.

Come, O Christians, and with the eyes of faith look with wonder on your Jesus. Is not your heart moved to see him in such great shame? But why is the Son of God treated like this? Ah, we know well! He wished to supply the remedy for all our evils.  He willed to suffer for us the punishment which was rightfully ours, as Isaiah says: “It was our infirmities that he bore, our sufferings that he endured. He was pierced for our offenses, crushed for our sins; upon him was a punishment bringing us peace and by his wounds we were healed. We all were like unruly sheep wandering on the bring of a precipice. Each of us had mapped out his own preferred path of sin and perdition. Though we deserved to suffer just punishment, the Father of mercies laid the sins of us all on his incarnate Son that he might make atonement for them. “We had all gone astray like sheep, each following his own way, but the Lord laid upon him the guilt of us all. Since he willed that the price of our redemption be paid superabundantly, the Lord was wounded in his entire body, all his flesh torn and lacerated: “But the Lord was pleased to crush him in infirmity.”

Imprint deeply on your hearts, O Christians, this pitiful picture. Reflect on it with compassion when the attraction of pleasure lures you or temptation entices you to the edge of the precipice. If no other consideration will restrain you from unlawful pleasures, may at last this thought restrain you: your body does not belong to you because you have been redeemed by Christ at a great price. The price was his blood shed from so many wounds. How well the Apostle has said: “You are not your own, for you have been bought at a great price.” Jesus willed not only to atone for our sins, and to redeem us, but also to transform our bodies into living temples of God, of whom he is the sovereign head, full of grace and love.

RESPONSORY
See 1 Peter 2:24; Acts 8:32

In his own body Christ has brought our sins to the cross,
so that all of us, dead to sin,
could live in accord with God’s will;
by his wounds we have been healed.

Like a sheep he was led to the slaughter,
like a lamb before its shearer
he was silent and opened not his mouth.
By his wounds we have been healed.

PRAYER

Let us pray

Lord Jesus Christ,
you took to yourself a body like our own
and offered it to be scourged for our salvation.
Your blood is our ransom;
may it cleanse us from all sin
as, with faith and love, we recall
the sufferings you endured,
who now live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever.
Amen.

ACCLAMATION

Let us praise the Lord.
And give him thanks.


MORNING PRAYER



INVITATORY

The Invitatory may be said for the first ‘hour’ recited in the day.

Lord, + open my lips.
And my mouth will proclaim your praise.

Ant. Come, let us adore Christ the Lord, who suffered scourging and death for us.

Psalm 95
A call to praise God

Encourage each other daily while it is still today (Hebrews 3:13).

Come, let us sing to the Lord *
  and shout with joy to the Rock who saves us.
Let us approach him with praise and thanksgiving *
  and sing joyful songs to the Lord.

Ant. Come, let us adore Christ the Lord, who suffered scourging and death for us.

The Lord is God, the mighty God, *
  the great king over all the gods.
He holds in his hands the depths of the earth *
  and the highest mountains as well.
He made the sea; it belongs to him, *
  the dry land, too, for it was formed by his hands.

Ant. Come, let us adore Christ the Lord, who suffered scourging and death for us.

Come, then, let us bow down and worship *
  bending the knee before the Lord, our maker.
For he is our God and we are his people, *
  the flock he shepherds.

Ant. Come, let us adore Christ the Lord, who suffered scourging and death for us.

Today, listen to the voice of the Lord:
Do not grow stubborn, as your fathers did
  in the wilderness, *
when at Meriba and Massah
  they challenged me and provoked me, *
Although they had seen all of my works.

Ant. Come, let us adore Christ the Lord, who suffered scourging and death for us.

Forty years I endured that generation. *
I said, “They are a people whose hearts go astray
  and they do not know my ways.”
So I swore in my anger, *
  “They shall not enter into my rest.”

Ant. Come, let us adore Christ the Lord, who suffered scourging and death for us.

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. Come, let us adore Christ the Lord, who suffered scourging and death for us.

If the Invitatory is not said, then the following is used:

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

(Click here for alternative hymns)

Come let us contemplate in awe
the disgrace the our sins inflicted upon Jesus
how he is stripped of his clothes
and bound with ropes.

He is struck by repeated blows
from the leather thongs, the chains and clubs,
so much so, that his entire body
is drenched with blood.

Yet he remains silent, like an innocent lamb
soon to be sacrificed
and he prays deep within his soul
that the Father might spare us.

Thus truly he washes away the sins
born of our shameless passion:
let us with a firm purpose of amendment
vow to change our ways and
follow his call steadfastly.

To you, O Jesus,
who have suffered for your servants,
let glory be given,
together with the Father and the Holy Spirit
forever and ever.

PSALMODY

Ant. He was wounded for our iniquities, crushed for our sins; by his bruises we have been healed

Psalm 42

Like the deer that yearns *
for running streams,
so my soul is yearning *
for you, my God.

My soul is thirsting for God, *
the God of my life;
when can I enter and see *
the face of God?

My tears have become my bread, *
by night, by day,
as I hear it said all the day long:
“Where is your God?” *

These things will I remember *
as I pour out my soul:
how I would lead the rejoicing crowd *
into the house of God,
amid cries of gladness and thanksgiving, *
the throng wild with joy.

Why are you cast down, my soul, *
why groan within me?
Hope in God; I will praise him still, *
my savior and my God.

My soul is cast down within me *
as I think of you,
from the country of Jordan and Mount Hermon, *
from the Hill of Mizar.

Deep is calling on deep, *
in the roar of waters;
your torrents and all your waves *
swept over me.

By day the Lord will send *
his loving kindness;
by night I will sing to him, *
praise the God of my life.

I will say to God, my rock: *
“Why have your forgotten me?
Why do I go mourning *
oppressed by the foe?”

With cries that pierce me to the heart, *
my enemies revile me,
saying to me all day long: *
“Where is your God?”

Why are you cast down, my soul, *
why groan within me?
Hope in God; I will praise him still, *
my savior and my God.

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. He was wounded for our iniquities, crushed for our sins; by his bruises we have been healed

Ant. Christ humbled himself, becoming obedient even to death. Therefore God exalted him.

Canticle: Isaiah 12:1-6

I give you thanks, O Lord;
though you have been angry with me, *
your anger has abated, and you have consoled me.

God indeed is my savior; *
I am confident and unafraid.
My strength and my courage is the Lord, *
and he has been my savior.

With joy you will draw water *
at the fountain of salvation, and say on that day:
Give thanks to the Lord, acclaim his name;
among the nations make known his deeds, *
proclaim how exalted is his name.

Sing praise to the Lord for his glorious achievement; *
let this be known throughout all the earth.

Shout with exultation, O city of Zion,
for great in your midst  *
is the Holy One of Israel!

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 humbled himself, becoming obedient even to death. Therefore God exalted him.

Ant. Happy the one who is tried by God; the Lord wounds and he heals.

Psalm 98

Sing a new song to the Lord *
for he has worked wonders.
His right hand and his holy arm *
have brought salvation.

The Lord has made known his salvation; *
has shown his justice to the nations.
He has remembered his truth and love *
for the house of Israel.

All the ends of the earth have seen *
the salvation of our God.
Shout to the Lord, all the earth, *
ring out your joy.

Sing psalms to the Lord with the harp *
with the sound of music.
With trumpets and the sound of the horn *
acclaim the King, the Lord.

Let the sea and all within it thunder; *
the world, and all its peoples.
Let the rivers clap their hands *
and the hills ring out their joy.

Rejoice at the presence of the Lord, *
for he comes to rule the earth.
He will rule the world with justice *
and the peoples with fairness.

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. Happy the one who is tried by God; the Lord wounds and he heals.

READING
Isaiah 50:5-7

The Lord God has opened my ear.
For my part, I made no resistance,
neither did I turn away.
I offered my back to those who struck me,
my cheeks to those who tore at my beard;
I did not cover my face
against insult and spittle.
The Lord God comes to my help,
so that I am untouched by the insults.
So, too, I set my face like flint;
I know I shall not be ashamed.

RESPONSORY

Christ suffered for our sins that he might offer us to God.
Christ suffered for our sins that he might offer us to God.

He was put to death in the flesh but brought to life in the Spirit.
that he might offer us to God.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Christ suffered for our sins that he might offer us to God.

CANTICLE OF ZECHARIAH

Ant.  Pilate, wishing to satisfy the people, released Barabbas for them, and having ordered Jesus to be scourged, handed him over to be crucified.

Blessed + be the Lord, the God of Israel; *
he has come to his people and set them free.

He has raised up for us a mighty savior, *
born of the house of his servant David.

Through his holy prophets he promised of old
  that he would save us from our enemies, *
  from the hands of all who hate us.

He promised to show mercy to our fathers *
and to remember his holy covenant.

This was the oath he swore to our father Abraham: *
to set us free from the hands of our enemies,
free to worship him without fear, *
holy and righteous in his sight
   all the days of our life.

You, my child, shall be called the prophet of the Most High; *
for you will go before the Lord to prepare his way,
to give his people knowledge of salvation *
by the forgiveness of their sins.

In the tender compassion of our God *
the dawn from on high shall break upon us,
to shine on those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death, *
and to guide our feet into the way of peace.

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. Pilate, wishing to satisfy the people, released Barabbas for them, and having ordered Jesus to be scourged, handed him over to be crucified.

INTERCESSIONS

Let us glorify our Redeemer who in his passion gave us a surpassing example of charity and patience, and let us beg him:
Lord, through your scourging give us life.

Christ our Savior, we thank you for suffering and dying for us.
you bought our souls with your own blood.
Lord, through your scourging give us life.

You humbled yourself, becoming obedient even to death,
grant your servants also the gift of obedience and patience.
Lord, through your scourging give us life.

As a lamb before the shearer, you surrendered yourself to be scourged,
help us to accept the will of God in all the trials of life.
Lord, through your scourging give us life.

Through the blood you shed you brought us back to your Father,
let your ministers of grace shine with your love and radiate it to the world.
Lord, through your scourging give us life.

THE LORD’S PRAYER

(Though we are unworthy to address the Father of mercies, he will recognize and respond to the voice of his Son as we pray:

Or:

Let us offer to Almighty God, the Father of mercies, the prayer his Son, the firstborn of many brethren, 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.

PRAYER

Lord Jesus Christ,
you took to yourself a body like our own
and offered it to be scourged for our salvation.
Your blood is our ransom;
may it cleanse us from all sin
as, with faith and love, we recall
the sufferings you endured,
who now live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever.
Amen.

DISMISSAL

May the Lord bless + us,
protect us from all evil
and bring us to everlasting life.
Amen.


EVENING PRAYER


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

(Click here for alternative hymns)

Hail, O wounds of Christ,
pledges of an immeasurable love,
whence flow the never failing red streams
of his blood.

In brilliance, you excel the stars;
in fragrance, roses and balsam;
in value, the precious stones from India
and in sweetness, ever honeycomb.

How many the stripes,
Jesus, stripped of his clothes,
Receives in the Praetorium!
How many the drops of blood
His torn skin lets fall
All around him.

Come, no matter how many deadly sins
Have caused infection,
For whosoever washes himself in this salvific bath
Will be made clean.

O Jesus, who was struck down
And cut by the lashing of the scourge
Glory be given to you always,
Together with the Father and the Holy Spirit,
Now and for all ages. Amen.

The following hymn is a metrical version of original Latin text of the prose above; however, it does not appear in the Passionist Proper.

Hail wounds! which through eternal years
The love of Jesus show;
Hail wounds! from which the crimson streams
Of blood for ever flow.

More precious than the Indian gems,
Than all the stars more fair;
Nor honeycomb, nor fragrant rose,
Can once with you compare.

What countless stripes did Christ receive
Naked in Pilate's hall!
From his torn flesh what streams of blood
Did all around him fall!

Oh, come all you in whom are fixed
The deadly stains of sin!
Come! wash in this all-saving Blood,
And you shall be made clean.

Praise him, who with the Father sits
Enthroned upon the skies;
Whose Blood redeems our souls from guilt,
Whose Spirit sanctifies.

PSALMODY

Ant. Then Pilate released Barabbas for them and, having ordered Jesus to be scourged, handed him over to be crucified.

Psalm 82

God stands in the divine assembly. *
In the midst of the gods he gives judgment.
"How long will you judge unjustly *
and favor the cause of the wicked?

Do justice for the weak and the orphan, *
defend the afflicted and the needy.
Rescue the weak and the poor; *
set them free from the hand of the wicked.

Unperceiving, they grope in the darkness *
and the order of the world is shaken.
I have said to you: 'You are gods *
and all of you, sons of the Most High.'

And yet, you shall die like men, *
you shall fall like any of the princes."
Arise, O God, judge the earth, *
for you rule all the nations.

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. Then Pilate released Barabbas for them and, having ordered Jesus to be scourged, handed him over to be crucified.

Ant. From the soles of his feet to the crown of his head, there is no sound spot in him.

Psalm 140:1-9, 13-14

Rescue me, Lord, from evil men; *
from the violent keep me safe,
from those who plan evil in their hearts *
and stir up strife every day;
who sharpen their tongue like an adder’s, *
with the poison of viper on their lips.

Lord, guard me from the hands of the wicked; *
from the violent keep me safe;
they plan to make me stumble. *
The proud have hidden a trap,
have spread out lines in a net, *
set snares across my path.

I have said to the Lord: “You are my God.” *
Lord, hear the cry of my appeal!
Lord my God, my mighty help, *
you shield my head in battle.
Do not grant the wicked their desire *
nor let their plots succeed.

I know that the Lord will avenge the poor, *
that he will do justice for the needy.
Yes, the just will praise your name: *
the upright shall live in your presence.

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. From the soles of his feet to the crown of his head, there is no sound spot in him.

Ant. We always bear the dying of Jesus in our bodies, that the life of Jesus may be manifest in our body. .

Canticle : Philippians 2:6-11

Though he was in the form of God,
Jesus did not deem equality with God *
something to be grasped at.

Rather, he emptied himself
and took the form of a slave, *
being born in the likeness of men.

He was known to be of human estate, *
and it was thus that he humbled himself,
obediently accepting even death, *
death on a cross!

Because of this, *
God highly exalted him
and bestowed on him the name *
above every other name,
So that at Jesus’ name *
every knee must bend
in the heavens, on the earth, *
and under the earth,
and every tongue proclaim
to the glory of God the Father: *
JESUS CHRIST IS LORD!

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. We always bear the dying of Jesus in our bodies, that the life of Jesus may be manifest in our body.

READING
1 John 4:9-10

God's love for us was revealed
when God sent into the world his only Son
so that we could have life through him;
this is the love I mean:
not our love for God,
but God's love for us when he sent his Son
to be the sacrifice that takes our sins away.

RESPONSORY

Justified by the blood of Christ, we shall be saved by him from God’s wrath.
Justified by the blood of Christ, we shall be saved by him from God’s wrath.

He gave himself as an offering to God, a gift of pleasing fragrance
We shall be saved by him from God’s wrath.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:
Justified by the blood of Christ, we shall be saved by him from God’s wrath.

CANTICLE OF MARY

Ant. The Son of Man will be handed over to the Gentiles to be mocked, scourged and spit upon; and after they have scourged him, they will kill him, and he will rise again on the third day.

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. The Son of Man will be handed over to the Gentiles to be mocked, scourged and spit upon; and after they have scourged him, they will kill him, and he will rise again on the third day.

INTERCESSIONS

Let us pray to our Savior whom the Father delivered over to be scourged for our sins, saying to him:
Lord have mercy on your people

You who have sealed the new and eternal covenant in your own blood,
grant that by fulfilling your will we may remain faithful to that covenant.
Lord have mercy on your people

You were despised and treated with contempt,
teach us to imitate your humility.
Lord have mercy on your people

In your passion, you identified yourself with the powerless and afflicted ones of the earth,
help them to be patient and enduring in their misfortunes.
Lord have mercy on your people

Strengthen with your own strength all those who suffer,
help us to comfort them while we work to improve their lot.
Lord have mercy on your people

Remember all our brothers and sisters who in faith have departed this life,
let them share with you your eternal kingdom.
Lord have mercy on your people

THE LORD’S PRAYER

(Though we are unworthy to address the Father of mercies, he will recognize and respond to the voice of his Son as we pray:

Or:
Let us offer to Almighty God, the Father of mercies, the prayer his Son, the firstborn of many brethren, 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.

PRAYER

Lord Jesus Christ,
you took to yourself a body like our own
and offered it to be scourged for our salvation.
Your blood is our ransom;
may it cleanse us from all sin
as, with faith and love, we recall
the sufferings you endured,
who now live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever.
Amen.

DISMISSAL

May the Lord bless + us,
protect us from all evil
and bring us to everlasting life.
Amen.



JESUS IS CROWNED WITH THORNS



OFFICE OF READINGS



INVITATORY

The Invitatory may be said for the first ‘hour’ recited in the day.

Lord, + open my lips.
And my mouth will proclaim your praise.

Ant. Come, let us adore Christ our King who was crowned with thorns.

Psalm 95
A call to praise God

Encourage each other daily while it is still today (Hebrews 3:13).

Come, let us sing to the Lord *
  and shout with joy to the Rock who saves us.
Let us approach him with praise and thanksgiving *
  and sing joyful songs to the Lord.

Ant. Come, let us adore Christ our King who was crowned with thorns.

The Lord is God, the mighty God, *
  the great king over all the gods.
He holds in his hands the depths of the earth *
  and the highest mountains as well.
He made the sea; it belongs to him, *
  the dry land, too, for it was formed by his hands.

Ant. Come, let us adore Christ our King who was crowned with thorns.

Come, then, let us bow down and worship *
  bending the knee before the Lord, our maker.
For he is our God and we are his people, *
  the flock he shepherds.

Ant. Come, let us adore Christ our King who was crowned with thorns.

Today, listen to the voice of the Lord:
Do not grow stubborn, as your fathers did
  in the wilderness, *
when at Meriba and Massah
  they challenged me and provoked me, *
Although they had seen all of my works.

Ant. Come, let us adore Christ our King who was crowned with thorns.

Forty years I endured that generation. *
I said, “They are a people whose hearts go astray
  and they do not know my ways.”
So I swore in my anger, *
  “They shall not enter into my rest.”

Ant. Come, let us adore Christ our King who was crowned with thorns.

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. Come, let us adore Christ our King who was crowned with thorns.

If the Invitatory is not said, then the following is used:

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

(Click here for alternative hymns)

The limbs of his body, cut and bruised,
his temples encircled by thorns,
his blood streaming from every wound -
who would not be affected
by so sad a sight?

And yet as followers of Christ
we have at times been willing witnesses to his scourging
and have betimes cried out that he be crucified.

Jesus does not refuse the cross
but leaving the column that
witnessed his scourging,
he submits his back
to the heavy weight of the cross.

Weighed down by this rough beam
and more so, by our own sins,
a victim dedicated to death,
behold he marches on to Calvary.

Carrying our own cross,
and with his help,
set free from imprisonment,
may we, in stouthearted way,
follow in his footsteps.

O Jesus who suffered for your servants,
glory be to you,
together with the Father and the Holy Spirit,
forevermore. Amen.

PSALMODY

Ant. The soldiers, weaving a crown of thorns, fixed it on his head.

Psalm 38

                        I

O Lord, do not rebuke me in your anger; *
do not punish me, Lord, in your rage.
Your arrows have sunk deep in me; *
your hand has come down upon me.

Through your anger all my body is sick: *
through my sin, there is no health in my limbs.
My guilt towers higher than my head; *
it is a weight too heavy to bear.

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 soldier, weaving a crown of thorns, fixed it on his head.

Ant. The nations rage and conspire together against the Lord and his anointed one.

                     II

My wounds are foul and festering, *
the result of my own folly.
I am bowed and brought to my knees. *
I go mourning all the day long.

All my frame burns with fever; *
all my body is sick.
Spent and utterly crushed, *
I cry aloud in anguish of heart.

O Lord, you know all my longing: *
my groans are not hidden from you.
My heart throbs, my strength is spent; *
the very light has gone from my eyes.

My friends avoid me like a leper;
those closest to me stand afar off. *
Those who plot against my life lay snares;
those who seek my ruin speak of harm, *
planning treachery all the day long.

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 nations rage and conspire together against the Lord and his anointed one.

Ant. I have suffered insult and terror; but the Lord is with me, like a mighty champion.

                     III

But I am like the deaf who cannot hear, *
like the dumb unable to speak.
I am like a man who hears nothing, *
in whose mouth is no defense.

I count on you, O Lord: *
it is you, Lord God, who will answer.
I pray: “Do not let them mock me, *
those who triumph if my foot should slip.”

For I am on the point of falling *
and my pain is always before me.
I confess that I am guilty *
and my sin fills me with dismay.

My wanton enemies are numberless *
and my lying foes are many.
They repay me evil for good *
and attack me for seeking what is right.

O Lord, do not forsake me! *
My God, do not stay afar off!
Make haste and come to my help, *
O Lord, my God, my savior!

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. I have suffered insult and terror; but the Lord is with me, like a mighty champion.

Great are your works, O Lord.
You are my light and my salvation.

FIRST READING

From the weekday

SECOND READING

From the book The Treasures Which We Have in Jesus Christ by Saint Vincent Mary Strambi, bishop
(Vol. III, pp. 381-386)

Weaving a crown of thorns, they fixed it on his head

After having scourged Jesus so that blood flowed from every part of his body but his head, his executioners saw that the sacred head of Jesus was not bloodied as they angrily desired. Therefore they then considered how they might wound him completely and turn him into a mock king.

Note carefully, O Christian, all the trappings of our king. They put a purple garment over his naked body, as it is written: “They stripped off his clothes and wrapped him in a scarlet military cloak.” Then, weaving a thick crown of long, sharp thorns, they placed it on his sacred head as though it were a crown worthy of him, and stuck a reed in his hand as a befitting scepter. In fact, when the cohort of soldiers had gathered around him, what did they not dare against him? Thye prostrated before him, laughed, and insulted him. They genuflected before him in mock adoration and taunted him: Hail, king of Jews! They also hit him on the head, and since this was nto enough for them, they took the reed from his hand and struck the crown of thorns so that the thorns opened fresh wounds and deepened those already made.

What pain! What agony! How that sacred head was wounded! The blood flowing from every part of it moistens the hair and the forehead; it drips down on the face of our divine Redeemer. How many tears Jesus shed in this torment! Bu there was no one to have compassion on him. Indeed, to show that they have not concern but only disdain for him in his great sufferings, they spat on his face, disfiguring it still more with their spittle.

Let us pause here and penetrate, if possible, the secrets of the wisdom and love of Jesus Christ who suffers so much. He wanted to make our trials precious to us because he wished, in this way, to lead us to heaven after him.

Pains and tribulations ought truly to be precious to us because they are very advantageous. Tribulations, says Saint Paul, helps us to acquire patience , by which all things are made perfect. Patience purifies the spirit like fire, in order to confirm the good. It increases our confidence in God and will not leave us disappointed. We gain salvation and life through our tribulations, which in this life of exile are most brief and mild compared to the immense reward.

Should we not, therefore, think of suffering as a precious reality? Every trial is sent to us by God; no trial can touch us unless it is ordained by our heavenly Father, who disposes all for our goopd. With his own hand he lovingly holds to our lips the distatsteful cup of suffering. The cup is indeed bitter; but consider the hand which presents it, the love with which that hand offers it, and the good that our acceptance claims for us.

RESPONSORY
See Is 53:3, Ps 103:4, Is 53:5

A man of suffering, accustomed to infirmity,
he has been crowned with thorns:
He crowns us with kindness and compassion.

He was pierced for our offenses, crushed for our sins;
by his stripes we were healed.
He crowns us with kindness and compassion.

PRAYER

Let us pray

Lord our God,
for love of us, your beloved Son
accepted a crown of thorns
and stood silent in the midst of insults.
Teach us to recognize the face of Christ
in all who suffer in body and mind.
Give us strength to help them
that we may grow daily in your love.
We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever.
Amen.

ACCLAMATION

Let us praise the Lord.
And give him thanks.


MORNING PRAYER


INVITATORY

The Invitatory may be said for the first ‘hour’ recited in the day.

Lord, + open my lips.
And my mouth will proclaim your praise.

Ant. Come, let us adore Christ our King who was crowned with thorns.

Psalm 95
A call to praise God

Encourage each other daily while it is still today (Hebrews 3:13).

Come, let us sing to the Lord *
  and shout with joy to the Rock who saves us.
Let us approach him with praise and thanksgiving *
  and sing joyful songs to the Lord.

Ant. Come, let us adore Christ our King who was crowned with thorns.

The Lord is God, the mighty God, *
  the great king over all the gods.
He holds in his hands the depths of the earth *
  and the highest mountains as well.
He made the sea; it belongs to him, *
  the dry land, too, for it was formed by his hands.

Ant. Come, let us adore Christ our King who was crowned with thorns.

Come, then, let us bow down and worship *
  bending the knee before the Lord, our maker.
For he is our God and we are his people, *
  the flock he shepherds.

Ant. Come, let us adore Christ our King who was crowned with thorns.

Today, listen to the voice of the Lord:
Do not grow stubborn, as your fathers did
  in the wilderness, *
when at Meriba and Massah
  they challenged me and provoked me, *
Although they had seen all of my works.

Ant. Come, let us adore Christ our King who was crowned with thorns.

Forty years I endured that generation. *
I said, “They are a people whose hearts go astray
  and they do not know my ways.”
So I swore in my anger, *
  “They shall not enter into my rest.”

Ant. Come, let us adore Christ our King who was crowned with thorns.

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. Come, let us adore Christ our King who was crowned with thorns.

If the Invitatory is not said, then the following is used:

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

(Click here for alternative hymns)

A derisive garland
woven from a thorn branch
crowns the King of glory,
already clothed in squalid purple.

A shuddering dread
stabs his sacred head
from the piercing thorns
A pale hue strikes his countenance
such as indicates approaching death.

What land about to be plowed,
arid and covered with thorns and briars,
has produced so mournfully a spectacle?
What hand has harvested so much cruelty?

Made crimson by the blood of Christ,
the thorn transmutes its piercing point into roses,
and, willing the palm and its rewards,
the thorn is now more fitting as a symbol of his triumphs.

O Christ, the thorns
planed by the crimes perpetrated in human affairs,
wounded you.
Pluck out from our hearts the thorns
we ourselves have created
and insert therein your own.

O Jesus, who suffered for your servants,
glory be to you,
together with the Father and the Holy Spirit
forevermore. Amen.

The following hymn is a metrical version of original Latin text of the prose above; however, it does not appear in the Passionist Proper.

Daughters of Sion ! royal maids !
Come forth to see the crown,
Which Sion's self, with cruel hands,
Hath woven for her Son.

See ! how amid his gory locks
The jagged thorns appear;
See ! how his pallid countenance
Foretells that death is near.

Oh, savage was the earth that bore
Those thorns so sharp and long!
Savage the hand that gather'd them
To work this deadly wrong.

But now that Christ's redeeming Blood
Hath tinged them with its dye,
Fairer than roses they appear,
Or palms of victory.

Jesu ! the thorns which pierced thy brow
Sprang from the seed of sin ;
Pluck ours, we pray thee, from our hearts,
And plant thine own therein.

Jesu! Who suffered for our sake
To thee, we give glory,
With Father and the Paraclete
Who reign eternally.

PSALMODY

Ant. The wicked said: Let us oppress the just man, for he sets himself against our doings.

Psalm 57

Have mercy on me, God, have mercy  *
for in you my soul has taken refuge.
In the shadow of your wings I take refuge *
till the storms of destruction pass by.

I call to God the Most High, *
to God who has always been my help.
May he send from heaven and save me *
and shame those who assail me.

May God send his truth and his love.

My soul lies down among lions, *
who would devour the sons of men.
Their teeth are spears and arrows, *
their tongue a sharpened sword.

O God, arise above the heavens; *
may your glory shine on earth!

They laid a snare for my steps, *
my soul was bowed down.
They dug a pit in my path *
but fell in it themselves.

My heart is ready, O God, *
my heart is ready.
I will sing, I will sing your praise. *
Awake, my soul,
awake, lyre and harp, *
I will awake the dawn.

I will thank you, Lord, among the peoples, *
I will praise you among the nations,
for your love reaches to the heavens *
and your truth to the skies.

O God, arise above the heavens; *
may your glory shine 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. he wicked said: Let us oppress the just man, for he sets himself against our doings.

Ant. The King of eternal glory, who was crowned with thorns for our sake, crowns us with grace and mercy.

Canticle: Isaiah 45:15-25

Truly with you God is hidden, *
the God of Israel, the savior!
Those are put to shame and disgrace *
who vent their anger against him.
Those go in disgrace *
who carve images.

Israel, you are saved by the Lord, saved forever!
You shall never be put to shame or disgrace *
in future ages.

For thus says the Lord, *
the creator of the heavens,
who is God, *
the designer and maker of the earth
who established it,
not creating it to be a waste, *
but designing it to be lived in:

I am the Lord, and there is no other. *
I have not spoken from hiding
nor from some dark place of the earth.
And I have not said to the descendants of Jacob, *
“Look for me in an empty waste.” *
I, the Lord, promise justice, *
I foretell what is right.

Come and assemble, gather together, *
you fugitives from among the Gentiles!
They are without knowledge who bear wooden idols *
and pray to gods that cannot save.

Come here and declare in counsel together: *
Who announced this from the beginning
and foretold it from of old? *
Was it not I, the Lord,
besides whom there is no other God? *
There is no just and saving God but me.

Turn to me and be safe,
all you ends of the earth, *
for I am God; there is no other!

By myself I swear,
uttering my just decree *
and my unalterable word:

To me every knee shall bend; *
by me every tongue shall swear,
saying, “Only in the Lord *
are just deeds and power.

“Before him in shame shall come *
all who vent their anger against him.
In the Lord shall be the vindication and the glory *
of all the descendants of Israel.”

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 King of eternal glory, who was crowned with thorns for our sake, crowns us with grace and mercy.

Ant. Christ suffered for you and left you an example, to have you follow in his footsteps.

Psalm 147:12-20

O praise the Lord, Jerusalem! *
Zion, praise your God!

He has strengthened the bars of your gates, *
he has blessed the children within you.
He established peace on your borders, *
he feeds you with finest wheat.

He sends out his word to the earth *
and swiftly runs his command.
He showers down snow white as wool, *
he scatters hoar-frost like ashes.

He hurls down hailstones like crumbs. *
The waters are frozen at his touch;
he sends forth his word and it melts them: *
at the breath of his mouth the waters flow.

He makes his word known to Jacob, *
to Israel his laws and decrees.
He has not dealt thus with other nations; *
he has not taught them his decrees.

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 suffered for you and left you an example, to have you follow in his footsteps.

READING
Isaiah 53:2-3

Like a sapling he grew up in front of us,
like a root in arid ground.
Without beauty, without majesty we saw him,
no looks to attract our eyes;
a thing despised and rejected by men,
a man of sorrows and familiar with suffering,
a man to make people screen their faces;
he was despised and we took no account of him.

RESPONSORY

Lord, you have crowned him with majesty and honor; great is his glory.
Christ suffered for our sins that he might offer us to God.

You have placed on his head a crown of fine gold;
great is his glory.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Lord, you have crowned him with majesty and honor; great is his glory.

CANTICLE OF ZECHARIAH

Ant.  The soldiers, weaving a crown of thorns, fixed it on the head of Jesus. Then they began to mock him by dropping to their knees before him, saying: All hail, king of the Jews!

Blessed + be the Lord, the God of Israel; *
he has come to his people and set them free.

He has raised up for us a mighty savior, *
born of the house of his servant David.

Through his holy prophets he promised of old
  that he would save us from our enemies, *
  from the hands of all who hate us.

He promised to show mercy to our fathers *
and to remember his holy covenant.

This was the oath he swore to our father Abraham: *
to set us free from the hands of our enemies,
free to worship him without fear, *
holy and righteous in his sight
   all the days of our life.

You, my child, shall be called the prophet of the Most High; *
for you will go before the Lord to prepare his way,
to give his people knowledge of salvation *
by the forgiveness of their sins.

In the tender compassion of our God *
the dawn from on high shall break upon us,
to shine on those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death, *
and to guide our feet into the way of peace.

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 soldiers, weaving a crown of thorns, fixed it on the head of Jesus. Then they began to mock him by dropping to their knees before him, saying: All hail, king of the Jews!

INTERCESSIONS

Let us glorify Christ, who in his passion gave us a precious example of humility and patience. With all the earnestness of our heart let us ask him:
Lord, teach us the ways of holiness.

Loving Savior, help is grow more like you every day of our life,
so that we who went astray in the first Adam may be brought back by imitating the second.
Lord, teach us the ways of holiness.

You allowed your enemies to crown you with thorns and to treat you like a fool
make us patient when we suffer and forgiving when we are slighted.
Lord, teach us the ways of holiness.

You suffered for us to provide us with a model for our own conduct,
may we feel for you as we recall your ordeal and imitate you in helping those who are in need.
Lord, teach us the ways of holiness.

By your acceptance of suffering, you taught us to control our wayward instincts,
help us to deny ourselves and thus condition our bodies for a glorious resurrection.
Lord, teach us the ways of holiness.

Lord our God, for love of us, your beloved Son accepted a crown of thorns and stood silent in the midst of insults,
Teach us to recognize the face of Christ in all who suffer in body and mind.
Lord, teach us the ways of holiness.

THE LORD’S PRAYER

(Though we are unworthy to address the Father of mercies, he will recognize and respond to the voice of his Son as we pray:

Or:

Let us offer to Almighty God, the Father of mercies, the prayer his Son, the firstborn of many brethren, 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.

PRAYER

Lord our God,
for love of us, your beloved Son
accepted a crown of thorns
and stood silent in the midst of insults.
Teach us to recognize the face of Christ
 in all who suffer in body and mind.
Give us strength to help them
that we may grow daily in your love.
We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever.
Amen.

DISMISSAL

May the Lord bless + us,
protect us from all evil
and bring us to everlasting life.
Amen.


EVENING PRAYER



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

(Click here for alternative hymns)

The limbs of his body, cut and bruised,
his temples encircled by thorns,
his blood streaming from every wound -
who would not be affected
by so sad a sight?

And yet as followers of Christ
we have at times been willing witnesses to his scourging
and have betimes cried out that he be crucified.

Jesus does not refuse the cross
but leaving the column that
witnessed his scourging,
he submits his back
to the heavy weight of the cross.

Weighed down by this rough beam
and more so, by our own sins,
a victim dedicated to death,
behold he marches on to Calvary.

Carrying our own cross,
and with his help,
set free from imprisonment,
may we, in stouthearted way,
follow in his footsteps.

O Jesus who suffered for your servants,
glory be to you,
together with the Father and the Holy Spirit,
forevermore. Amen.

PSALMODY

Ant. Jesus went out, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple cloak.

Psalm 82

God stands in the divine assembly. *
In the midst of the gods he gives judgment.
"How long will you judge unjustly *
and favor the cause of the wicked?

Do justice for the weak and the orphan, *
defend the afflicted and the needy.
Rescue the weak and the poor; *
set them free from the hand of the wicked.

Unperceiving, they grope in the darkness *
and the order of the world is shaken.
I have said to you: 'You are gods *
and all of you, sons of the Most High.'

And yet, you shall die like men, *
you shall fall like any of the princes."
Arise, O God, judge the earth, *
for you rule all the nations.

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. Jesus went out, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple cloak.

Ant. I looked for sympathy, but there was none; for comforters, and I found none.

Psalm 110: 1-5, 7

The Lord’s revelation to my Master:
“Sit on my right: *
your foes I will put beneath your feet.”

The Lord will yield 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 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.

Ant. I looked for sympathy, but there was none; for comforters, and I found none.

Ant. The soldiers mocked him, struck him on the head with a reed and spat at him.

Canticle: 1 Peter 2:21-24

Christ suffered for you,
and left you an example  *
to have you follow in his footsteps.

He did no wrong; *
no deceit was found in his mouth.
When he was insulted, *
he returned no insult.

When he was made to suffer, *
he did not counter with threats.
Instead he delivered himself up *
to the One who judges justly.

In his own body *
he brought your sins to the cross,
so that all of us, dead to sin,
could live in accord with God’s will. *
By his wounds you were healed.

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 soldiers mocked him, struck him on the head with a reed and spat at him.

READING
Hebrews 2:9-10

We see in Jesus
one who was for a short while made lower than the angels
and is now crowned with glory and splendor
because he submitted to death;
by God's grace he had to experience death for all mankind.
As it was his purpose
to bring a great many of sons and daughters into glory,
it was appropriate that God,
for whom everything exists
and through whom everything exists,
should make perfect, through suffering,
the leader who would take them to their salvation.

RESPONSORY

Christ, King of eternal glory, you shall crown us with grace and mercy.
Christ, King of eternal glory, you shall crown us with grace and mercy.

You were crowned with thorns for our sake;
you shall crown us with grace and mercy.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:
Christ, King of eternal glory, you shall crown us with grace and mercy.

CANTICLE OF MARY

Ant. When Jesus came out wearing the crown of thorns and the purple cloak, Pilate said to the Jews: Look at your king!

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. When Jesus came out wearing the crown of thorns and the purple cloak, Pilate said to the Jews: Look at your king!

INTERCESSIONS

Let us adore our Lord Jesus Christ who shed his blood to save us, and let us humbly implore him:
Lord, show us your mercy.

You came into this world to bring the good news of salvation
raise up a multitude of disciples to announce this Gospel so that all peoples may know you as the King of glory.
Lord, show us your mercy.

Help all the faithful to see their own trials as a participation in yours,
that they may witness in themselves to the salvation that comes from you.
Lord, show us your mercy.

You humbled yourself becoming obedient even to death
make your servants like to you in their obedience and willingness to suffer.
Lord, show us your mercy.

Crowned with thorns, you bore with you on the cross all the sins of men
apply this same merciful forgiveness to those who have departed this life.
Lord, show us your mercy.

THE LORD’S PRAYER

(Though we are unworthy to address the Father of mercies, he will recognize and respond to the voice of his Son as we pray:

Or:

Let us offer to Almighty God, the Father of mercies, the prayer his Son, the firstborn of many brethren, 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.

PRAYER

Lord our God,
for love of us, your beloved Son
accepted a crown of thorns
and stood silent in the midst of insults.
Teach us to recognize the face of Christ
 in all who suffer in body and mind.
Give us strength to help them
that we may grow daily in your love.
We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever.
Amen.

DISMISSAL

May the Lord bless + us,
protect us from all evil
and bring us to everlasting life.
Amen.


FACE OF THE SUFFERING CHRIST




OFFICE OF READINGS


INVITATORY

The Invitatory may be said for the first ‘hour’ recited in the day.

Lord, + open my lips.
And my mouth will proclaim your praise.

Ant. Come, let us adore Christ, the Word of God who became the Man of Sorrows for us.

Psalm 95
A call to praise God

Encourage each other daily while it is still today (Hebrews 3:13).

Come, let us sing to the Lord *
  and shout with joy to the Rock who saves us.
Let us approach him with praise and thanksgiving *
  and sing joyful songs to the Lord.

Ant. Come, let us adore Christ, the Word of God who became the Man of Sorrows for us.

The Lord is God, the mighty God, *
  the great king over all the gods.
He holds in his hands the depths of the earth *
  and the highest mountains as well.
He made the sea; it belongs to him, *
  the dry land, too, for it was formed by his hands.

Ant. Come, let us adore Christ, the Word of God who became the Man of Sorrows for us.

Come, then, let us bow down and worship *
  bending the knee before the Lord, our maker.
For he is our God and we are his people, *
  the flock he shepherds.

Ant. Come, let us adore Christ, the Word of God who became the Man of Sorrows for us.

Today, listen to the voice of the Lord:
Do not grow stubborn, as your fathers did
  in the wilderness, *
when at Meriba and Massah
  they challenged me and provoked me, *
Although they had seen all of my works.

Ant. Come, let us adore Christ, the Word of God who became the Man of Sorrows for us.

Forty years I endured that generation. *
I said, “They are a people whose hearts go astray
  and they do not know my ways.”
So I swore in my anger, *
  “They shall not enter into my rest.”

Ant. Come, let us adore Christ, the Word of God who became the Man of Sorrows for us.

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. Come, let us adore Christ, the Word of God who became the Man of Sorrows for us.

If the Invitatory is not said, then the following is used:

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

(Click here for alternative hymns)

We celebrate in song
the glory of that countenance
which was foretold by the sacred prophets of old
and which is sketched in blood
on the linen cloth that covered your face in the tomb.

Christ, the redeemer of mankind
 lamenting the fall of Adam and victorious over death,
restores all things
by the cruel sufferings he endures in his heart.

Who, being grateful,
can view these marked and expressive semblances
of so unworthy a death
without shedding a tear
or weeping from the bottom of his heart?

Only to you, O Christ,
do we owe our life
when our fault may have been the cause of so many evils:
this same life we have given to you.

Honor and power be given to you, O Son,
who redeems the world by blood,
and who reigns together with the Enteral Father
and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

The following hymn is a metrical version of original Latin text of the prose above; however, it does not appear in the Passionist Proper.

The glories of that Countenance
Let every tongue record;
Which foretold in mystic sign of old,
Was wrapped in linen shroud.

Holy memorial! on which we see,
In bloody stains impress'd,
The form, sublime in awful majesty,
Of our Redeemer blest.

How doth the grievous sight of thee recall
Those dying throes to mind,
Which Christ, compassionating Adam's fall,
Endured for lost mankind!

Ah! who beholding these sad images,
Can the big tears control?
Can check the throbs of swelling grief that rise
Up from his inmost soul?

Jesu! my sin it was that laid Thee low,
And through thy death I live;
That life, which to thy sufferings I owe,
Henceforth to Thee I give.

Glory to Him, who, to redeem us, bore
Such bitter dying pains;
Who with th' eternal Father evermore,
And Holy Spirit, reigns.

PSALMODY

Ant. We saw him despised and rejected, a man of sorrows, accustomed to infirmity.

Psalm 69: 2-22, 30-37

Save me, O God, *
for the waters have risen to my neck.

I have sunk into the mud of the deep *
and there is no foothold.
I have entered the waters of the deep *
and the waves overwhelm me.

I am wearied with all my crying, *
my throat is parched.
My eyes are wasted away *
from looking for my God.

More numerous than the hairs on my head *
are those who hate me without cause.
Those who attack me with lies *
are too much for my strength.

How can I restore *
what I have never stolen?
O God, you know my sinful folly; *
my sins you can see.

Let not those who hope in you not be put to shame *
through me, Lord of hosts:
let not those who seek you be dismayed *
through me, God of Israel.

It is for you that I suffer taunts, *
that shame covers my face,
that I have become a stranger to my brothers, *
an alien to my own mother's sons.
I burn with zeal for your house *
and taunts against you fall on me.

When I afflict my soul with fasting *
they make it a taunt against me.
When I put on sackcloth in mourning *
then they make me a byword,
the gossip of men at the gates, *
the subject of drunkards' songs.

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. We saw him despised and rejected, a man of sorrows, accustomed to infirmity.

Ant. He was one of those from whom men hide their faces, spurned, and we held him in no esteem.

            II

This is my prayer to you, *
my prayer for your favor.
In your great love, answer me, O God, *
with your help that never fails:
rescue me from sinking in the mud; *
save me from my foes.

Save me from the waters of the deep *
lest the waves overwhelm me.
Do not let the deep engulf me *
nor death close its mouth on me.

Lord, answer, for your love is kind; *
in your compassion, turn towards me.
Do not hide your face from your servant; *
answer quickly for I am in distress.
Come close to my soul and redeem me; *
ransom me pressed by my foes.

You know how they taunt and deride me; *
my oppressors are all before you.
Taunts have broken my heart; *
I have reached the end of my strength.
I looked in vain for compassion, *
for consolers; not one could I find.

For food they gave me poison; *
in my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink.

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. He was one of those from whom men hide their faces, spurned, and we held him in no esteem.

Ant. His look was marred beyond that of man, and his appearance beyond that of mortals.

                 III

As for me in my poverty and pain *
let your help, O God, lift me up.

I will praise God's name with a song; *
I will glorify him with thanksgiving.
A gift pleasing God more than oxen, *
more than beasts prepared for sacrifice.

The poor when they see it will be glad *
and God-seeking hearts will revive;
for the Lord listens to the needy *
and does not spurn his servants in their chains.
Let the heavens and the earth give him praise, *
the sea and all its living creatures.

For God will bring help to Zion
and rebuild the cities of Judah *
and men shall dwell there in possession.
The sons of his servants shall inherit it; *
those who love his name shall dwell there.

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. His look was marred beyond that of man, and his appearance beyond that of mortals.

Let the light of your countenance shine upon me, O Lord.
Teach me your wisdom.

FIRST READING

From the weekday.

SECOND READING

From the Discourses of Saint Augustine, bishop
(Opera Omnia, Sermo 44, 1-5; PL 38, 258-259)

We have seen him and there was no comeliness nor beauty in him

My dearly beloved, long ago a prophecy about our Lord and Saviour had already been made. He grew up like a sapling before him, like a shoot from parched earth. Why like a shoot? Because there was in him no stately bearing to make us look at him, nor appearance that would attract us to him. He suffered, was humiliated and covered with spittle; in him there was no stately bearing. He was seen as a man yet was God, He is like a root which, though without exterior beauty, conceals within itself the essence of its own beauty.

Be attentive, O Christian, and understand the mercy of God. When you see a beautiful tree, luxuriant in foliage and rich in fruit, you extol it and delight in gathering some of its fruit. Sitting in its shade and taking rest from the heat, you rejoice in all the splendour of the tree. When, however, you are shown the root of the tree, you find no beauty in it. But you do not disdain the root because it is unsightly, for from it, like a root in arid ground, comes forth something beautiful. See now the splendour of a tree.

The Church has grown, nations have believed, and the great ones of the earth have been conquered in the name of Christ, that they may be victors on earth. They have been subjected to the yoke of Christ. Formerly they persecuted Christians because of idols; now they persecute idols because of Christ. In every tribulation and calamity, all have recourse ot the protection of the Church. That mustard seed has grown, and becomes larger than all other plants; the birds of heaven, the great ones of the earth, have come to take refuge in its branches.

Whence comes such great splendour? It arises from a certain root, a root of great reknown. Let us seek out the root. He was covered with spittle, humiliated, scourged, crucified, pierced with a lance and held in no esteem. In all this there was no stately bearing but the glory of the root is great in the Church. Accordingly, she portrays her Bridegroom as the one who was disdained, despised and humiliated. See now the tree has arisen from this root, a root in parched land, and filled the earth.

There was in him no beauty nor majesty; we saw him and he had no stately bearing nor comeliness. Is this not the carpenter’s son? Certainly he has no beauty, since it is said, Do we not truthfully say you have a devil. Devils fled in his name and the objection is made to him that he had a devil. But why is this? We saw him and he had not stately bearing, no attractive appearance.

What is this hidden attractiveness of Christ; when was it not seen? In the beginning was the Word; the Word was in God’s presence, and the Word was God. What is the splendour of this Word? Though he was in the form of God, he did not deem equality with God something to be grasped at. When was he seen without stately bearing or comeliness? When his appearance became abject and his condition despicable in the sight of all. He is a man in affliction. He is a man in the weakness of human nature, God before assuming the weakness of human nature, and the man-God after assuming the weakness of human nature. He is a man in affliction and knows how to bear infirmities, the infirmities of those for whom he suffered. The physician bore the infirmities of those who were frenetic. When he was crucified, he prayed, saying, Father, forgive them for they do not know what they are doing.

Let us love our Bridegroom. The more contemptible he is presented to us, the more beloved and esteemed he becomes for the bride. Why did he become despicable? He became despicable lest those who crucified him recognize him. He was abused and held in no esteem. He took upon himself our infirmities, and suffered for us, while we thought of him as stricken, as one smitten by God and afflicted. But he was pierced for our offenses and crushed for our sins.

RESPONSORY
See Isaiah 53:2,4,5

There was in him no stately bearing to make us look at him,
nor appearance that would attract us to him.
It was our infirmities that he bore; by his stripes we were healed.

He was pierced for our offenses.
It was our infirmities that he bore; by his stripes we were healed.

PRAYER

Let us pray

Lord, our God,
through the passion of your only Son,
you have freed us
from our inheritance of sin and death.
Destroy in us our inborn likeness to Adam
and create us anew
in the likeness of the new and sinless Adam,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever.
Amen.

ACCLAMATION

Let us praise the Lord.
And give him thanks.


MORNING PRAYER


INVITATORY

The Invitatory may be said for the first ‘hour’ recited in the day.

Lord, + open my lips.
And my mouth will proclaim your praise.

Ant. Come, let us adore Christ, the Word of God who became the Man of Sorrows for us.

Psalm 95
A call to praise God

Encourage each other daily while it is still today (Hebrews 3:13).

Come, let us sing to the Lord *
  and shout with joy to the Rock who saves us.
Let us approach him with praise and thanksgiving *
  and sing joyful songs to the Lord.

Ant. Come, let us adore Christ, the Word of God who became the Man of Sorrows for us.

The Lord is God, the mighty God, *
  the great king over all the gods.
He holds in his hands the depths of the earth *
  and the highest mountains as well.
He made the sea; it belongs to him, *
  the dry land, too, for it was formed by his hands.

Ant. Come, let us adore Christ, the Word of God who became the Man of Sorrows for us.

Come, then, let us bow down and worship *
  bending the knee before the Lord, our maker.
For he is our God and we are his people, *
  the flock he shepherds.

Ant. Come, let us adore Christ, the Word of God who became the Man of Sorrows for us.

Today, listen to the voice of the Lord:
Do not grow stubborn, as your fathers did
  in the wilderness, *
when at Meriba and Massah
  they challenged me and provoked me, *
Although they had seen all of my works.

Ant. Come, let us adore Christ, the Word of God who became the Man of Sorrows for us.

Forty years I endured that generation. *
I said, “They are a people whose hearts go astray
  and they do not know my ways.”
So I swore in my anger, *
  “They shall not enter into my rest.”

Ant. Come, let us adore Christ, the Word of God who became the Man of Sorrows for us.

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. Come, let us adore Christ, the Word of God who became the Man of Sorrows for us.

If the Invitatory is not said, then the following is used:

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

(Click here for alternative hymns)

The Word that has existed eternally
as God, light from light,
assumed the form of a servant
and then appeared in the likeness of man.

He passed through towns and cities
where he was seen, renowned
in all his grace and glory
accompanied by his disciples.

Now as the Innocent One among criminals.
he hangs with outstretched arms
from the high beam of the cross.

O noble image of Jesus,.
the eternal image of the Most High,
your sacred light fills the heaven s with joy.

To us, you still remain  beautiful,
even despite the crown of thorns,
and you are gratified to be regarded
as the all-knowing Man of Sorrows.

Glance back to us
with the same look of yours
that favored Peter with forgiveness
as he shed bitter tears.

Help us to see your image in our brothers and sisters,
oppressed by the burden of sorrow
and inspire us to offer them relief.

O Jesus, redeemer, we beg of you
wipe clean all our guilt,
and help us to enjoy the sight of your face
throughout the blessedness of eternity. Amen.

PSALMODY

Ant. Christ Jesus has become our wisdom, our justice, our sanctification and our redemption.

Psalm 51

Have mercy on me, God, in your kindness. *
In your compassion blot out my offense.
O wash me more and more from my guilt *
and cleanse me from my sin.

My offenses truly I know them; *
my sin is always before me
Against you, you alone, have I sinned; *
what is evil in your sight I have done.

That you may be justified when you give sentence *
and be without reproach when you judge.
O see, in guilt I was born, *
a sinner was I conceived.

Indeed you love truth in the heart; *
then in the secret of my heart teach me wisdom.
O purify me, then I shall be clean; *
O wash me, I shall be whiter than snow.

Make me hear rejoicing and gladness, *
that the bones you have crushed may revive.
From my sins turn away your face *
and blot out all my guilt.

A pure heart create for me, O God, *
put a steadfast spirit within me.
Do not cast me away from your presence, *
nor deprive me of your holy spirit.

Give me again the joy of your help; *
with a spirit of fervor sustain me,
that I may teach transgressors your ways *
and sinners may return to you.

O rescue me, God, my helper, *
and my tongue shall ring out your goodness.
O Lord, open my lips *
and my mouth shall declare your praise.

For in sacrifice you take no delight, *
burnt offering from me you would refuse,
my sacrifice, a contrite spirit.*
A humbled, contrite heart you will not spurn.

In your goodness, show favor to Zion: *
rebuild the walls of Jerusalem.
Then you will be pleased with lawful sacrifice,
Holocausts offered on your altar.

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 has become our wisdom, our justice, our sanctification and our redemption.

Ant. God has spoken to us through his Son, who is the radiant light of God’s glory and bears the very stamp of his face.

Canticle: Habakkuk 3:2-4, 13a, 15-19

O Lord, I have heard your renown, *
and feared, O Lord, your work.
In the course of the years revive it,
in the course of the years make it known; *
in your wrath remember compassion!

God comes from Teman, *
the Holy One from Mount Paran.
Covered are the heavens with his glory, *
and with his praise the earth is filled.

His splendor spreads like the light;
rays shine forth from beside him, *
where his power is concealed.
You come forth to save your people, *
to save your anointed one.

You tread the sea with your steeds *
amid the churning of the deep waters.
I hear, and my body trembles; *
at the sound, my lips quiver.

Decay invades my bones, *
my legs tremble beneath me.
I await the day of distress *
that will come upon the people who attack us.

For though the fig tree blossom not *
nor fruit be on the vines,
though the yield of the olive fail *
and the terraces produce no nourishment,

though the flocks disappear from the fold *
and there be no herd in the stalls,
yet will I rejoice in the Lord *
and exult in my saving God.

God, my Lord, is my strength;
he makes my feet swift as those of hinds *
and enables me to go upon the heights.

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. God has spoken to us through his Son, who is the radiant light of God’s glory and bears the very stamp of his face.

Ant. Let your face shine upon us, Lord, and we shall be saved.

Psalm 100

Cry out with joy to the Lord, all the earth.
Serve the Lord with gladness. *
Come before him, singing for joy.

Know that he, the Lord, is God.
He made us, we belong to him, *
we are his people, the sheep of his flock.

Go within his gates, giving thanks.
Enter his courts with songs of praise. *
Give thanks to him and bless his name.

Indeed, how good is the Lord,
eternal his merciful love. *
He is faithful from age to age.

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. Let your face shine upon us, Lord, and we shall be saved.

READING
Isaiah 53:2-3

Like a sapling he grew up in front of us,
like a root in arid ground.
Without beauty, without majesty we saw him,
no looks to attract our eyes;
a thing despised and rejected by men,
a man of sorrows and familiar with suffering,
a man to make people screen their faces;
he was despised and we took no account of him.

RESPONSORY

Have pity on me, O Lord: hide not your face from me.
Have pity on me, O Lord: hide not your face from me.

Your face, O Lord, I seek:
hide not your face from me.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Have pity on me, O Lord: hide not your face from me.

CANTICLE OF ZECHARIAH

Ant.  Some of the soldiers mocked him. They spat at him, blindfolded him, and slapped him. .

Blessed + be the Lord, the God of Israel; *
he has come to his people and set them free.

He has raised up for us a mighty savior, *
born of the house of his servant David.

Through his holy prophets he promised of old
  that he would save us from our enemies, *
  from the hands of all who hate us.

He promised to show mercy to our fathers *
and to remember his holy covenant.

This was the oath he swore to our father Abraham: *
to set us free from the hands of our enemies,
free to worship him without fear, *
holy and righteous in his sight
   all the days of our life.

You, my child, shall be called the prophet of the Most High; *
for you will go before the Lord to prepare his way,
to give his people knowledge of salvation *
by the forgiveness of their sins.

In the tender compassion of our God *
the dawn from on high shall break upon us,
to shine on those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death, *
and to guide our feet into the way of peace.

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.  Some of the soldiers mocked him. They spat at him, blindfolded him, and slapped him.

INTERCESSIONS

Let us adore Jesus, the Man of Sorrows, whom the Father gave us as our Savior, and let us confidently pray:
Let us see your face, Lord, and we shall be saved.

Blessed are you Lord, for not hesitating to suffer and die for us,
you bought us at the price of your blood.
Let us see your face, Lord, and we shall be saved.

Close your eyes to the enormity of our sins
and wash us clean of our iniquity.
Let us see your face, Lord, and we shall be saved.

In your own person, you restored us to the likeness of God,
keep us from defacing that image in our souls.
Let us see your face, Lord, and we shall be saved.

Take care of priest and ministers of the Church,
  so that in serving others they may faithfully reflect the glory of your face.
Let us see your face, Lord, and we shall be saved.

THE LORD’S PRAYER

(Though we are unworthy to address the Father of mercies, he will recognize and respond to the voice of his Son as we pray:

Or:

Let us offer to Almighty God, the Father of mercies, the prayer his Son, the firstborn of many brethren, 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.

PRAYER

Lord, our God,
through the passion of your only Son,
you have freed us
from our inheritance of sin and death.
Destroy in us our inborn likeness to Adam
and create us anew
in the likeness of the new and sinless Adam,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever.
Amen.

DISMISSAL

May the Lord bless + us,
protect us from all evil
and bring us to everlasting life.
Amen.


EVENING PRAYER


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

(Click here for alternative hymns)

We celebrate in song
the glory of that countenance
which was foretold by the sacred prophets of old
and which is sketched in blood
on the linen cloth that covered your face in the tomb.

Christ, the redeemer of mankind
 lamenting the fall of Adam and victorious over death,
restores all things
by the cruel sufferings he endures in his heart.

Who, being grateful,
can view these marked and expressive semblances
of so unworthy a death
without shedding a tear
or weeping from the bottom of his heart?

Only to you, O Christ,
do we owe our life
when our fault may have been the cause of so many evils:
this same life we have given to you.

Honor and power be given to you, O Son,
who redeems the world by blood,
and who reigns together with the Enteral Father
and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

The following hymn is a metrical version of original Latin text of the prose above; however, it does not appear in the Passionist Proper.

The glories of that Countenance
Let every tongue record;
Which foretold in mystic sign of old,
Was wrapped in linen shroud.

Holy memorial! on which we see,
In bloody stains impress'd,
The form, sublime in awful majesty,
Of our Redeemer blest.

How doth the grievous sight of thee recall
Those dying throes to mind,
Which Christ, compassionating Adam's fall,
Endured for lost mankind!

Ah! who beholding these sad images,
Can the big tears control?
Can check the throbs of swelling grief that rise
Up from his inmost soul?

Jesu! my sin it was that laid Thee low,
And through thy death I live;
That life, which to thy sufferings I owe,
Henceforth to Thee I give.

Glory to Him, who, to redeem us, bore
Such bitter dying pains;
Who with th' eternal Father evermore,
And Holy Spirit, reigns.

PSALMODY

Ant. I seek your face, O Lord; hide not your face from me for my hope is your passion.

Psalm 130

Out of the depths I cry to you, O Lord, *
Lord, hear my voice!
O let your ears be attentive *
to the voice of my pleading.

If you, O Lord, should mark our guilt, *
Lord, who would survive?
But with you is found forgiveness: *
for this we revere you.

My soul is waiting for the Lord,*
I count on his word.
My soul is longing for the Lord *
more than watchman for daybreak.
Let the watchman count on daybreak *
and Israel on the Lord.

Because with the Lord there is mercy *
and fullness of redemption,
Israel indeed he will redeem *
from all its iniquity.

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. I seek your face, O Lord; hide not your face from me for my hope is your passion.

Ant. Lord, let the light of your countenance shine on us.

Psalm 140:1-9, 13-14

Rescue me, Lord, from evil men; *
from the violent keep me safe,
from those who plan evil in their hearts *
and stir up strife every day;
who sharpen their tongue like an adder’s, *
with the poison of viper on their lips.

Lord, guard me from the hands of the wicked; *
from the violent keep me safe;
they plan to make me stumble. *
The proud have hidden a trap,
have spread out lines in a net, *
set snares across my path.

I have said to the Lord: “You are my God.” *
Lord, hear the cry of my appeal!
Lord my God, my mighty help, *
you shield my head in battle.
Do not grant the wicked their desire *
nor let their plots succeed.

I know that the Lord will avenge the poor, *
that he will do justice for the needy.
Yes, the just will praise your name: *
the upright shall live in your presence.

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. Lord, let the light of your countenance shine on us.

Ant. Christ was struck and despised, but God raised him up to his right hand.

Canticle : Ephesians 1:3-10

Praised be the God and Father *
of our Lord Jesus Christ,
who 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. Christ was struck and despised, but God raised him up to his right hand.

READING
1 Peter 2:21-23

Christ suffered for you
and left an example for you
to follow the way he took.
He had not done anything wrong,
and there had been no perjury in his mouth.
He was insulted and did not retaliate with insults;
when he was tortured he made no threats
 but he put his trust in the righteous judge.

RESPONSORY

Let the light of your countenance, Lord, shine on your servant: save me by your mercy.
Let the light of your countenance, Lord, shine on your servant:, save me by your mercy.

Look not at my sins;
save me by your mercy.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:
Let the light of your countenance, Lord, shine on your servant: save me by your mercy.

CANTICLE OF MARY

Ant. When Jesus came out wearing the crown of thorns and the purple cloak, Pilate said to the Jews: Look at the man.

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. When Jesus came out wearing the crown of thorns and the purple cloak, Pilate said to the Jews: Look at the man.

INTERCESSIONS

Let us adore Christ the King as he is presented by Pilate to the view of the people, and let us humbly beg him:
Lord, be merciful to your people.

For our sake you were made the object of scorn and treated with contempt,
teach us to be humble and patient like you.
Lord, be merciful to your people.

In your passion, you suffered beyond what we can conceive,
may we share your sufferings with you and show forth in our lives the fruit of your redemption.
Lord, be merciful to your people.

Comfort with your strength all our afflicted ones,
and let us be bearers of your compassion.
Lord, be merciful to your people.

May our deceased brothers and sisters shine with the glory they will have from you,
  and may we one day share it with them.
Lord, be merciful to your people.

THE LORD’S PRAYER

(Though we are unworthy to address the Father of mercies, he will recognize and respond to the voice of his Son as we pray:

Or:

Let us offer to Almighty God, the Father of mercies, the prayer his Son, the firstborn of many brethren, 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.

PRAYER

Lord, our God,
through the passion of your only Son,
you have freed us
from our inheritance of sin and death.
Destroy in us our inborn likeness to Adam
and create us anew
in the likeness of the new and sinless Adam,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever.
Amen.

DISMISSAL

May the Lord bless + us,
protect us from all evil
and bring us to everlasting life.
Amen.



CRUCIFIXION AND DEATH OF JESUS




OFFICE OF READINGS


INVITATORY

The Invitatory may be said for the first ‘hour’ recited in the day.

Lord, + open my lips.
And my mouth will proclaim your praise.

Ant. Come, let us adore Christ the Lord who was nailed to the cross for us.

Psalm 95
A call to praise God

Encourage each other daily while it is still today (Hebrews 3:13).

Come, let us sing to the Lord *
  and shout with joy to the Rock who saves us.
Let us approach him with praise and thanksgiving *
  and sing joyful songs to the Lord.

Ant. Come, let us adore Christ the Lord who was nailed to the cross for us.

The Lord is God, the mighty God, *
  the great king over all the gods.
He holds in his hands the depths of the earth *
  and the highest mountains as well.
He made the sea; it belongs to him, *
  the dry land, too, for it was formed by his hands.

Ant. Come, let us adore Christ the Lord who was nailed to the cross for us.

Come, then, let us bow down and worship *
  bending the knee before the Lord, our maker.
For he is our God and we are his people, *
  the flock he shepherds.

Ant. Come, let us adore Christ the Lord who was nailed to the cross for us.

Today, listen to the voice of the Lord:
Do not grow stubborn, as your fathers did
  in the wilderness, *
when at Meriba and Massah
  they challenged me and provoked me, *
Although they had seen all of my works.

Ant. Come, let us adore Christ the Lord who was nailed to the cross for us.

Forty years I endured that generation. *
I said, “They are a people whose hearts go astray
  and they do not know my ways.”
So I swore in my anger, *
  “They shall not enter into my rest.”

Ant. Come, let us adore Christ the Lord who was nailed to the cross for us.

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. Come, let us adore Christ the Lord who was nailed to the cross for us.

If the Invitatory is not said, then the following is used:

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

(Click here for alternative hymns)

O Cross, blessing upon the world
our certain hope and redemption.
Once you bore the dead to the world below
now you are the shining gate to heaven.

You lifted high Christ the Victim
who has drawn all to himself.
Though this world’s prince assailed him
he could not claim him for his own.

Through the Cross, we beg you, O Christ,
bestow the reward of life
upon those you deigned to redeem
 by being affixed to a piece of wood.

The article of your law
cancels the ancient decree.
The ancient bondage is destroyed
and true liberty is restored.

Glory to the Father be given,
 and to the Paracelete
and to you, O Jesus, victor on the cross,
grant us blessed joy. Amen.

The following hymn is a metrical version of original Latin text of the prose above; however, it does not appear in the Passionist Proper.

(Click here for alternative hymns)

O Cross, whereby the earth is blest,
Certain Redemption, Hope, and Rest,
Once as the Tree of Torture known,
Now the bright gate to Jesu's Throne:

On thee was the Victim raised high
Who to himself drew all men nigh;
Whom this world's prince in malice sought,
And in his spotless soul found nought.

Thou by thy Cross, O Christ, we pray,
To Life's reward direct our way:
Who of old time upon the Tree
Our Ransom didst vouchsafe to be.

The Law that in thy form begins
Blots out the writing of our sins:
Our ancient servitude is o'er
And freedom is restored once more.

The Father and the Spirit’s praise,
And thine, victorious Son's we raise,
Who by the cross didst set us free,
Ever to laud the One in Three!

PSALMODY

Ant. Jesus, carrying the cross for himself, went out to what is called the Place of the Skull.

Psalm 38

                I

O Lord, do not rebuke me in your anger;
do not punish me, Lord, in your rage.
Your arrows have sunk deep in me;
your hand has come down upon me.

Through your anger all my body is sick:
through my sin, there is no health in my limbs.
My guilt towers higher than my head;
it is a weight too heavy to bear.

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. Jesus, carrying the cross for himself, went out to what is called the Place of the Skull.

Ant. As they led Jesus away, they laid hold of one Simon the Cyrene who they pressed into service to carry the cross after Jesus.

My wounds are foul and festering,
the result of my own folly.
I am bowed and brought to my knees.
I go mourning all the day long.

All my frame burns with fever;
all my body is sick.
Spent and utterly crushed,
I cry aloud in anguish of heart.

O Lord, you know all my longing:
my groans are not hidden from you.
My heart throbs, my strength is spent;
the very light has gone from my eyes.

My friends avoid me like a leper;
those closest to me stand afar off.
Those who plot against my life lay snares;
those who seek my ruin speak of harm,
planning treachery all the day long.

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. As they led Jesus away, they laid hold of one Simon the Cyrene who they pressed into service to carry the cross after Jesus.

Ant. Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me; weep for yourselves and for your children.

                 III

But I am like the deaf who cannot hear,
like the dumb unable to speak.
I am like a man who hears nothing,
in whose mouth is no defense.

I count on you, O Lord:
it is you, Lord God, who will answer.
I pray: “Do not let them mock me,
those who triumph if my foot should slip.”

For I am on the point of falling
and my pain is always before me.
I confess that I am guilty
and my sin fills me with dismay.

My wanton enemies are numberless
and my lying foes are many.
They repay me evil for good
and attack me for seeking what is right.

O Lord, do not forsake me!
My God, do not stay afar off!
Make haste and come to my help,
O Lord, my God, my savior!

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. Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me; weep for yourselves and for your children.

Christ died for our sins
To lead us back to the Father.

FIRST READING

From the weekday.

SECOND READING

From the book The Treasures Which We Have in Jesus Christ by Saint Vincent Mary Strambi, bishop
(Vol III. Pp 414-419)

Meditation on the Crucified

Look at the Lord on the cross. Look at the great Priest on the altar, offering himself as a victim pleasing to the heavenly and eternal Father, Look at the Bridegroom of our souls on the nuptial bed, inviting us to unite ourselves lovingly with him. Look at our teacher instructing us from the pulpit of love. Look at the divine Word-made-man, bathed in blood for our salvation: He wore a cloak that had been sprinkled in blood and his name was the Word of God. Look at the cross, the source of all blessedness, deserving of all our love. Look at Jesus. I seem to see him with a hundred bloody wounds. He hangs, I would say, rather from sorrow and pain than from nails.

Although his agony and torment are crushing enough already, they increase the closer he approaches death. The angelic doctor, Saint Thomas, notes that in every case of death by crucifixion the suffering is extreme and protracted. The pain keeps increasing as the victim slowly dies.  How much ore terrible must have been the pain in Jesus’ body, for he was a young man and was already so racked with pain as to seem the image of pain itself.

Ah, Jesus most afflicted, how much you have suffered for us. Most loving Lord, you are tormented in every part of your body; there is no soundness left in you.

His lacerated back scrapes against the rough-hewn wood and shrinks from the harshness of this deathbed. His arms, forcibly stretched out, ache violently, and his head throbs from the wounds made by the piercing thorns. His feet trembled spasmodically against the nails that toture and immobilize them on the gibbet, while his hands writhe from the intensity of the pain. Indeed, his whole body is overwhelmed in one dreadful torment.

I stop here at the foot of the cross. I come close to it; I embrace it. I kiss it, especially where it is drenched most liberally with the blood of the Crucified. With humble and tender love I ask my loving Lord: Why such a painful deathbed? Why all these added sufferings when have already been immersed in a great sea of suffering?

My brothers and sisters, through the wounds of the Lord, let us plunge into the boundless ocean of God’s love. The apostle Sant Paul, our guide and instructor, says that Jesus, dying on the cross, wanted to show the ardor of his love for us. The Crucified is a furnance of love flaming out on every side. How many are the wounds, which are so many apertures through which the fire flares; how many of the blood lacerations, which are so many mouths crying out: Love, love!

The Crucified is a book written in letter of blood, teaching us God’s love. The more severe and numerous the wounds and bruises, the more Jesus would have us realize the immense scope of God’s love. God-=made-man suffers for love of us; so that we may be aflame with love for him, he uses every expedient to make us attentive to his love.

RESPONSORY
See Gal 6:14; 1 Cor 1:23

May we never boast of anything but the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ: he is our salvation, life and resurrection.
We have been saved and freed through him.

We preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and an absurdity to Gentiles.
We have been saved and freed through him.

Alternative:

From the Meditation on the Passion by Blessed Dominic of the Mother of God, priest

(Translation from the French manuscript in AGCP, B.I.VIII, VI-13a; copied by Father Valentine, M)

Let us ascend the mountain of the Lord; he will teach us his way

The heavenly Father sent his only-begotten Son to earth not only to ransom us from the slavery of sin, but also to instruct us in our duties and to guide us on the path to eternal life. The Son of God fulfilled exactly the plans of the Father. He ransomed us; he taught us. His whole life; all that he did and suffered in this valley of tears was directed to our redemption and our education. Not only his words but also his actions, and even his silence, teach us. Without saying a word, he shows us how we should act.

In the last moments of his mortal life, however, Jesus completed both our redemption and our instruction. The wood of the cross was the pulpit from which he delivered his last lectures. Let us, then go to hear Jesus’ last lessons. Let us climb the mountain of the Lord that he may instruct us in his ways and we may walk in his paths.

What are the lessons Jesus teaches us from his cross? They are so varied, profitable and exalted that we could not want them improved. Even his position is a lesson. Look at him. He is rasied in the air so that we might recognize him as mediator between heaven and earth, between God and humanity. He also teaches us exiles to lift ourselves above the earth to a certain degree, to free ourselves from worldly attachments: like an eagle inciting its nestlings forth by hovering over its brood. He is deprived of everything; let us divest ourselves of worldly aspirations and bad habits. What do you want from earth? What do we desire? What are our expectations of this treacherous world?  Ah! If we truly had the spirit of Jesus Christ, we would say with the Apostle: I am crucified to the world and the world to me.

His heart burning only with a desire to be merciful to us, despite his pain, aloneness and sorrow, Jesus, immediately on being raised between heaven and earth, offers a prayer befitting his immense kindness. He sees his cruel enemies gathered at the foot of the cross to harass him with their insults and blasphemies.  Yet, instead of asking heaven to avenge him on them, he makes his first words a prayer than will discredit forever all vindictiveness, rancor and dissension. Foather, forgive them, they do not know what they are doing.

But, divine Savior, is it right that crime like this should go unpunished? Does not your honor demand adequate restitution? Are you not forgetting your responsibilities, your justice? Yes, Jesus forgets everything but his boundless mercy. Nailed to his cross, he becomes peacemaker between heaven and earth. At this solemn moment, how could his divine heart be preoccupied with any other sentiment than mercy? How could he speak anything but words of forgiveness?

O my Jesus, this is too favorable a moment for me not to take advantage of it. Look at me here at the foot of your cross, burdened with numberless sins but full of trust in your infinite mercy. Apply that mercy to me. Bathe my soul in the precious blood that streams from your wounds and restore to your heart all the honor it has been deprived of by countless outrages.

RESPONSORY
Colossians 2:14-15; John 3:17

Christ cancelled the bond that stood against us with all its claims,
snatching it up and nailed it to the cross.
God disarmed the powers of the world,
and leading them off captive,
triumphed in the person of Christ.

God did not send the Son into the world
to condemn the world,
but that the world might be saved through him.
God disarmed the powers of the world,
and leading them off captive,
triumphed in the person of Christ.

PRAYER

Let us pray

Lord God,
you appointed as the Redeemer of the world
your only Son, who was nailed to the cross.
Keep safe within us the gifts of your mercy.
As we live in union with Jesus
the mystery of our salvation,
may we share in the harvest of redemption.
We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with the Father and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever.
Amen.

ACCLAMATION

Let us praise the Lord.
And give him thanks.


MORNING PRAYER



INVITATORY

The Invitatory may be said for the first ‘hour’ recited in the day.

Lord, + open my lips.
And my mouth will proclaim your praise.

Ant. Come, let us adore Christ the Lord who was nailed to the cross for us.

Psalm 95
A call to praise God

Encourage each other daily while it is still today (Hebrews 3:13).

Come, let us sing to the Lord *
  and shout with joy to the Rock who saves us.
Let us approach him with praise and thanksgiving *
  and sing joyful songs to the Lord.

Ant. Come, let us adore Christ the Lord who was nailed to the cross for us.

The Lord is God, the mighty God, *
  the great king over all the gods.
He holds in his hands the depths of the earth *
  and the highest mountains as well.
He made the sea; it belongs to him, *
  the dry land, too, for it was formed by his hands.

Ant. Come, let us adore Christ the Lord who was nailed to the cross for us.

Come, then, let us bow down and worship *
  bending the knee before the Lord, our maker.
For he is our God and we are his people, *
  the flock he shepherds.

Ant. Come, let us adore Christ the Lord who was nailed to the cross for us.

Today, listen to the voice of the Lord:
Do not grow stubborn, as your fathers did
  in the wilderness, *
when at Meriba and Massah
  they challenged me and provoked me, *
Although they had seen all of my works.

Ant. Come, let us adore Christ the Lord who was nailed to the cross for us.

Forty years I endured that generation. *
I said, “They are a people whose hearts go astray
  and they do not know my ways.”
So I swore in my anger, *
  “They shall not enter into my rest.”

Ant. Come, let us adore Christ the Lord who was nailed to the cross for us.

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. Come, let us adore Christ the Lord who was nailed to the cross for us.

If the Invitatory is not said, then the following is used:

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

(Click here for alternative hymns)

The unjust judge decrees
that the Son of the Most High
although he is guilty of no crime whatsoever
be nailed to the cruel tree.

A Man of Sorrows
overwhelmed by this calamitous punishment,
yet restraining the bitterness of anguish,
the Redeemer is affixed to the cross.

The nails and their horrible wound
stain his hands and feet.
His precious blood pours out
from his heart in love.

He, the Innocent One,
is hanged upon the infamous cross
between criminals;
he offers a prayer for his tormentors in his final moment s,
and then breathes forth his spirit.

The hills, the graces and rocks are split asunder.
The fields of grain, the rivers and the caverns and the quiet sea,
all shake and tremble.
The temple veil is ripped in twain.

To blot out our guilt, O Lord,
 you because the victim of love
achieving our divine adoption
through your sacrifice.

O Jesus, be then our peace and joy,
our life and our prize.
Be too our guide, our light upon our pilgrim’s way,
our reward and crown in heaven.

The following hymn is a metrical version of original Latin text of the prose above; however, it does not appear in the Passionist Proper.

The All Holy, as a minister of ill,
Betwixt two thieves they place;
Oh, deed unjust! yet such the cruel will
Of our human race.

O'erwhelm'd in depths of woe,
Upon the Tree of scorn
Hangs the Redeemer of mankind,
With racking anguish torn.

See! how the nails those hands
And feet so tender rend;
See! down his face, and neck, and breast,
His sacred Blood descend.

Hark! with what awful cry
His Spirit takes its flight;
That cry, it pierced his Mother's heart,
And whelm'd her soui in night.

Earth hears, and to its base
Rocks wildly to and fro;
Tombs burst; seas, rivers, mountains quake;
The veil is rent in two.

Come! fall before his Cross,
Who shed for us his blood;
Who died the victim of pure love,
To make us sons of God.

 Jesu! all praise to Thee,
Our joy and endless rest!
Be Thou our guide while pilgrims here,
Our crown amid the blest.

PSALMODY

Ant. Just as the serpent was lifted up in the desert, so must the Son of Man be lifted up. .

Psalm 57

Have mercy on me, God, have mercy  *
for in you my soul has taken refuge.
In the shadow of your wings I take refuge *
till the storms of destruction pass by.

I call to God the Most High, *
to God who has always been my help.
May he send from heaven and save me *
and shame those who assail me.

May God send his truth and his love.

My soul lies down among lions, *
who would devour the sons of men.
Their teeth are spears and arrows, *
their tongue a sharpened sword.

O God, arise above the heavens; *
may your glory shine on earth!

They laid a snare for my steps, *
my soul was bowed down.
They dug a pit in my path *
but fell in it themselves.

My heart is ready, O God, *
my heart is ready.
I will sing, I will sing your praise. *
Awake, my soul,
awake, lyre and harp, *
I will awake the dawn.

I will thank you, Lord, among the peoples, *
I will praise you among the nations,
for your love reaches to the heavens *
and your truth to the skies.

O God, arise above the heavens; *
may your glory shine 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. Just as the serpent was lifted up in the desert, so must the Son of Man be lifted up. .

Ant. In his own body Christ brought our sins to the cross, so that all of us, dead to sin, could live in accord with God’s will.

Canticle: Isaiah 12:1-6

I give you thanks, O Lord;
though you have been angry with me, *
your anger has abated, and you have consoled me.

God indeed is my savior; *
I am confident and unafraid.
My strength and my courage is the Lord, *
and he has been my savior.

With joy you will draw water *
at the fountain of salvation, and say on that day:
Give thanks to the Lord, acclaim his name;
among the nations make known his deeds,*
proclaim how exalted is his name.

Sing praise to the Lord for his glorious achievement; *
let this be known throughout all the earth.

Shout with exultation, O city of Zion,
for great in your midst *
is the Holy One of Israel!

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. In his own body Christ brought our sins to the cross, so that all of us, dead to sin, could live in accord with God’s will.

Ant. Once I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw all people to myself .

Psalm 98

Sing a new song to the Lord *
for he has worked wonders.
His right hand and his holy arm *
have brought salvation.

The Lord has made known his salvation; *
has shown his justice to the nations.
He has remembered his truth and love *
for the house of Israel.

All the ends of the earth have seen *
the salvation of our God.
Shout to the Lord, all the earth, *
ring out your joy.

Sing psalms to the Lord with the harp *
with the sound of music.
With trumpets and the sound of the horn *
acclaim the King, the Lord.

Let the sea and all within it thunder; *
the world, and all its peoples.
Let the rivers clap their hands *
and the hills ring out their joy.

Rejoice at the presence of the Lord, *
for he comes to rule the earth.
He will rule the world with justice *
and the peoples with fairness.

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. Once I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw all people to myself .

READING
Isaiah 53:6-7, 11-12

We had all gone astray like sheep,
each taking his own way,
and the Lord burdened him with the sins of all of us.
Harshly dealt with, he bore it humbly,
he never opened his mouth,
like a lamb that is led to the slaughter-house,
like a sheep that is dumb before its shearers
never opening its mouth.
His soul's anguish over,
he shall see the light and be content.
By his sufferings shall my servant justify many,
taking their faults on himself.
Hence I will grant whole hordes for his tribute,
he shall divide the spoil with the mighty,
for surrendering himself to death
and letting himself be taken for a sinner,
while he was bearing the faults of many
and praying all the time for sinners.

RESPONSORY

Christ took our weakness upon himself; he knew our suffering.
Christ took our weakness upon himself; he knew our suffering.

He was pierced for our sins
he knew our suffering.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Christ took our weakness upon himself; he knew our suffering.

CANTICLE OF ZECHARIAH

Ant.  All you who pass by the way, look and see whether there is any suffering like my suffering.

Blessed + be the Lord, the God of Israel; *
he has come to his people and set them free.

He has raised up for us a mighty savior, *
born of the house of his servant David.

Through his holy prophets he promised of old
  that he would save us from our enemies, *
  from the hands of all who hate us.

He promised to show mercy to our fathers *
and to remember his holy covenant.

This was the oath he swore to our father Abraham: *
to set us free from the hands of our enemies,
free to worship him without fear, *
holy and righteous in his sight
   all the days of our life.

You, my child, shall be called the prophet of the Most High; *
for you will go before the Lord to prepare his way,
to give his people knowledge of salvation *
by the forgiveness of their sins.

In the tender compassion of our God *
the dawn from on high shall break upon us,
to shine on those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death, *
and to guide our feet into the way of peace.

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.  All you who pass by the way, look and see whether there is any suffering like my suffering.

INTERCESSIONS

Let us look upon Christ as he hangs on the cross and dies, and let us pray with confidence:
Lord, by your dying, bring us to life.

Blessed are you, Jesus, Savior of mankind; you gladly suffered for us and died on the cross;
  you redeemed us with your own blood.
Lord, by your dying, bring us to life.

On the cross, you asked your Father to forgive those who were tormenting you,
inspire us to love those who dislike or oppose us.
Lord, by your dying, bring us to life.

Dying on the cross, you bequeathed your mother to us as our mother,
may we cherish this holy Virgin who suffered at your side.
Lord, by your dying, bring us to life.

The thirst you spoke of on the cross was especially a thirst you felt for the salvation of our souls,
help us to spend ourselves for souls.
Lord, by your dying, bring us to life.

You stretched out your arms on the cross to gather the whole world to yourself,
bring all the children of God into your welcoming embrace in heaven.
Lord, by your dying, bring us to life.

THE LORD’S PRAYER

(Following the example of Christ, who, on the cross, submitted to the  will of the Father and prayed for his enemies, let us ask the Father saying:

Or:

The words of Christ on the cross summarize the spirit of his teaching; let us adopt these sentiments as we offer the prayer he 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.

PRAYER

Lord God,
you appointed as the Redeemer of the world
your only Son, who was nailed to the cross.
Keep safe within us the gifts of your mercy.
As we live in union with Jesus
the mystery of our salvation,
may we share in the harvest of redemption.
We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with the Father and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever.
Amen.

DISMISSAL

May the Lord bless + us,
protect us from all evil
and bring us to everlasting life.
Amen.


EVENING PRAYER


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

(Click here for alternative hymns)

O Cross, blessing upon the world
our certain hope and redemption.
Once you bore the dead to the world below
now you are the shining gate to heaven.

You lifted high Christ the Victim
who has drawn all to himself.
Though this world’s prince assailed him
he could not claim him for his own.

Through the Cross, we beg you, O Christ,
bestow the reward of life
upon those you deigned to redeem
 by being affixed to a piece of wood.

The article of your law
cancels the ancient decree.
The ancient bondage is destroyed
and true liberty is restored.

Glory to the Father be given,
 and to the Paracelete
and to you, O Jesus, victor on the cross,
grant us blessed joy. Amen.

The following hymn is a metrical version of original Latin text of the prose above; however, it does not appear in the Passionist Proper.

O Cross, whereby the earth is blest,
Certain Redemption, Hope, and Rest,
Once as the Tree of Torture known,
Now the bright gate to Jesu's Throne:

On thee was the Victim raised high
Who to himself drew all men nigh;
Whom this world's prince in malice sought,
And in his spotless soul found nought.

Thou by thy Cross, O Christ, we pray,
To Life's reward direct our way:
Who of old time upon the Tree
Our Ransom didst vouchsafe to be.

The Law that in thy form begins
Blots out the writing of our sins:
Our ancient servitude is o'er
And freedom is restored once more.

The Father and the Spirit’s praise,
And thine, victorious Son's we raise,
Who by the cross didst set us free,
Ever to laud the One in Three!

PSALMODY

Ant. All you who pass by the way, look and see whether there is any suffering like my suffering.

Psalm 46

God is for us a refuge and strength, *
a helper close at hand, in time of distress,
so we shall not fear though the earth should rock, *
though the mountains fall into the depths of the sea;
even though its waters rage and foam, *
even though the mountains be shaken by its waves.

The Lord of hosts is with us: *
the God of Jacob is our stronghold.

The waters of a river give joy to God's city, *
the holy place where the Most High dwells.
God is within, it cannot be shaken; *
God will help it at the dawning of the day.
Nations are in tumult, kingdoms are shaken: *
he lifts his voice, the earth shrinks away.

The Lord of hosts is with us: *
the God of Jacob is our stronghold.

Come, consider the works of the Lord, *
the redoubtable deeds he has done on the earth.
He puts an end to wars over all the earth;
the bow he breaks, the spear he snaps. *
He burns the shields with fire.
"Be still and know that I am God, *
supreme among the nations, supreme on the earth!"

The Lord of hosts is with us:
the God of Jacob is our stronghold.

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. All you who pass by the way, look and see whether there is any suffering like my suffering.

Ant. Jesus, realizing that everything was now finished, said to fulfill Scripture: I am thirsty.

Psalm 116:1-13

I love the Lord for he has heard *
the cry of my appeal;
for he turned his ear to me *
in the day when I called him.

They surrounded me, the snares of death, *
with the anguish of the tomb;
they caught me, sorrow and distress. *
I called on the Lord’s name.

O Lord, my God, deliver me!

How gracious is the Lord, and just; *
our God has compassion.
The Lord protects the simple hearts; *
I was helpless so he saved me.

Turn back, my soul, to your rest *
for the Lord has been good;
he has kept my soul from death, *
(my eyes from tears)
and my feet from stumbling.

I will walk in the presence of the Lord *
in the land of the living.

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. Jesus, realizing that everything was now finished, said to fulfill Scripture: I am thirsty.

Ant. May your passion be always in our hearts, O Lord: by it you have given us the supreme proof of your love.

Canticle : Philippians 2:6-11

Though he was in the form of God,
Jesus did not deem equality with God
something to be grasped at.

Rather, he emptied himself
and took the form of a slave,
being born in the likeness of men.

He was known to be of human estate,
and it was thus that he humbled himself,
obediently accepting even death,
death on a cross!

Because of this,
God highly exalted him
and bestowed on him the name
above every other name,
So that at Jesus’ name
every knee must bend
in the heavens, on the earth,
and under the earth,
and every tongue proclaim
to the glory of God the Father:
JESUS CHRIST IS LORD!

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. May your passion be always in our hearts, O Lord: by it you have given us the supreme proof of your love.

READING
1 Peter 2:21-23

Christ suffered for you
and left an example for you
to follow the way he took.
He had not done anything wrong,
and there had been no perjury in his mouth.
He was insulted and did not retaliate with insults;
when he was tortured he made no threats
but he put his trust in the righteous judge.
He was bearing our faults
in his own body on the cross,
so that we might die to our faults
and live for holiness;
through his wounds you have been healed.
You had gone astray like sheep
but now you have come back
to the shepherd and guardian of your souls.

RESPONSORY

God did not spare his own Son
God did not spare his own Son

He gave him over to death for the sake of us all.
  His own Son.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:
God did not spare his own Son.

CANTICLE OF MARY

Ant. When Jesus had taken the wine, he said: Now it is finished. Then he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.  

Or:

I am the redeemer of your soul: These hands that made you were riven by nails; I was thirsty and pleaded for water, but they gave me vinegar instead; they served me gall to eat and drove a lance into my side. I died, was buried, and came to life again; I am with you now, and I live forever.

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. When Jesus had taken the wine, he said: Now it is finished. Then he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.  

Or:

I am the redeemer of your soul: These hands that made you were riven by nails; I was thirsty and pleaded for water, but they gave me vinegar instead; they served me gall to eat and drove a lance into my side. I died, was buried, and came to life again; I am with you now, and I live forever.

INTERCESSIONS

Christ on the cross offered himself to the Father to wash our souls clean of the taint of death; come, let us adore him and ask:
Lord, show us your mercy.

You abased yourself, dying in disgrace on a cross;
hearten your servants to obedience and patience through the memory of yours.
Lord, show us your mercy.

Experiencing abandonment by your Father, you cried out to him;
grant that we may trust God’s love no matter how desperate life seems.
Lord, show us your mercy.

Hanging on the cross, you offered up the evening sacrifice,
gladden the children of the Church and protect all those who follow you.
Lord, show us your mercy.

You made your cross into the tree of life,
may all the baptized eat of its fruit.
Lord, show us your mercy.

You opened heaven to the thief who confessed you as his Savior,
do likewise to all the deceased who have believed in you.
Lord, show us your mercy.

THE LORD’S PRAYER

(Following the example of Christ, who, on the cross, submitted to the  will of the Father and prayed for his enemies, let us ask the Father saying:

Or:

The words of Christ on the cross summarize the spirit of his teaching; let us adopt these sentiments as we offer the prayer he 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.

PRAYER

Lord God,
you appointed as the Redeemer of the world
your only Son, who was nailed to the cross.
Keep safe within us the gifts of your mercy.
As we live in union with Jesus
the mystery of our salvation,
may we share in the harvest of redemption.
We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with the Father and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever.
Amen.

DISMISSAL

May the Lord bless + us,
protect us from all evil
and bring us to everlasting life.
Amen.



JESUS IS PIERCED BY THE LANCE




OFFICE OF READINGS


INVITATORY

The Invitatory may be said for the first ‘hour’ recited in the day.

Lord, + open my lips.
And my mouth will proclaim your praise.

Ant. Come, let us adore Christ the Lord who was pierced by the lance for us.

Psalm 95
A call to praise God

Encourage each other daily while it is still today (Hebrews 3:13).

Come, let us sing to the Lord *
  and shout with joy to the Rock who saves us.
Let us approach him with praise and thanksgiving *
  and sing joyful songs to the Lord.

Ant. Come, let us adore Christ the Lord who was pierced by the lance for us.

The Lord is God, the mighty God, *
  the great king over all the gods.
He holds in his hands the depths of the earth *
  and the highest mountains as well.
He made the sea; it belongs to him, *
  the dry land, too, for it was formed by his hands.

Ant. Come, let us adore Christ the Lord who was pierced by the lance for us.

Come, then, let us bow down and worship *
  bending the knee before the Lord, our maker.
For he is our God and we are his people, *
  the flock he shepherds.

Ant. Come, let us adore Christ the Lord who was pierced by the lance for us.

Today, listen to the voice of the Lord:
Do not grow stubborn, as your fathers did
  in the wilderness, *
when at Meriba and Massah
  they challenged me and provoked me, *
Although they had seen all of my works.

Ant. Come, let us adore Christ the Lord who was pierced by the lance for us.

Forty years I endured that generation. *
I said, “They are a people whose hearts go astray
  and they do not know my ways.”
So I swore in my anger, *
  “They shall not enter into my rest.”

Ant. Come, let us adore Christ the Lord who was pierced by the lance for us.

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. Come, let us adore Christ the Lord who was pierced by the lance for us.

If the Invitatory is not said, then the following is used:

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

(Click here for alternative hymns)

Abroad the Regal Banners fly,
now shines the Cross's mystery;
upon it Life did death endure,
and yet by death did life procure.

Who, wounded with a direful spear,
did, purposely to wash us clear
from stain of sin, pour out a flood
of precious Water mixed with Blood.

That which the Prophet-King of old
hath in mysterious verse foretold,
is now accomplished, whilst we see
God ruling nations from a Tree.

O lovely and refulgent Tree,
adorned with purpled majesty;
culled from a worthy stock, to bear
those Limbs which sanctified were.

Blest Tree, whose happy branches bore
the wealth that did the world restore;
the beam that did that Body weigh
which raised up hell's expected prey.

Hail, Cross, of hopes the most sublime!
now in this mournful Passion time,
improve religious souls in grace,
the sins of criminals efface.

Blest Trinity, salvation's spring,
may every soul thy praises sing;
to those thou grantest conquest by
the holy Cross, rewards apply. Amen.

PSALMODY

Ant. One of the soldiers pierced his side with a lance, and immediately there came out blood and water.

Psalm 69: 2-22, 30-37

Save me, O God, *
for the waters have risen to my neck.

I have sunk into the mud of the deep *
and there is no foothold.
I have entered the waters of the deep *
and the waves overwhelm me.

I am wearied with all my crying, *
my throat is parched.
My eyes are wasted away *
from looking for my God.

More numerous than the hairs on my head *
are those who hate me without cause.
Those who attack me with lies *
are too much for my strength.

How can I restore *
what I have never stolen?
O God, you know my sinful folly; *
my sins you can see.

Let not those who hope in you not be put to shame *
through me, Lord of hosts:
let not those who seek you be dismayed *
through me, God of Israel.

It is for you that I suffer taunts, *
that shame covers my face,
that I have become a stranger to my brothers, *
an alien to my own mother's sons.
I burn with zeal for your house *
and taunts against you fall on me.

When I afflict my soul with fasting *
they make it a taunt against me.
When I put on sackcloth in mourning *
then they make me a byword,
the gossip of men at the gates, *
the subject of drunkards' songs.

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. One of the soldiers pierced his side with a lance, and immediately there came out blood and water.

Ant. You were slain, Lord, and purchased us for God with your own blood.

             II

This is my prayer to you, *
my prayer for your favor.
In your great love, answer me, O God, *
with your help that never fails:
rescue me from sinking in the mud; *
save me from my foes.

Save me from the waters of the deep *
lest the waves overwhelm me.
Do not let the deep engulf me *
nor death close its mouth on me.

Lord, answer, for your love is kind; *
in your compassion, turn towards me.
Do not hide your face from your servant; *
answer quickly for I am in distress.
Come close to my soul and redeem me; *
ransom me pressed by my foes.

You know how they taunt and deride me; *
my oppressors are all before you.
Taunts have broken my heart; *
I have reached the end of my strength.
I looked in vain for compassion, *
for consolers; not one could I find.

For food they gave me poison; *
in my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink.

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 were slain, Lord, and purchased us for God with your own blood.

Ant. In his own body he bore our sins by his wounds we were healed.

                 III

As for me in my poverty and pain *
let your help, O God, lift me up.

I will praise God's name with a song; *
I will glorify him with thanksgiving.
A gift pleasing God more than oxen, *
more than beasts prepared for sacrifice.

The poor when they see it will be glad *
and God-seeking hearts will revive;
for the Lord listens to the needy *
and does not spurn his servants in their chains.
Let the heavens and the earth give him praise, *
the sea and all its living creatures.

For God will bring help to Zion
and rebuild the cities of Judah *
and men shall dwell there in possession.
The sons of his servants shall inherit it; *
those who love his name shall dwell there.

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. In his own body he bore our sins by his wounds we were healed.

Draw water joyfully
At the fountain of salvation.

FIRST READING

From the weekday.

SECOND READING

From the Discourses of Saint Augustine, bishop
(Tract. 120. 2-3;CCL 36, 661-662)

The mystery of the side of Christ

The soldiers came and broke the legs of the men crucified with Jesus, first of the one, then of the other. When they came to Jesus, however, and saw that he was already dead, they did not break his legs. But one of the soldiers opened his side with a lance and immediately there came out blood and water.

The evangelist uses a well chosen word. He does not say that the soldier “pierced” or “wounded” Christ’s side or some similar expression; rather, he says he “opened” it. He thereby indicates that in Christ’s wounded side a door of life was opened, from which flowed out the sacraments of the Church, those sacraments without which it is impossible to enter into life which is true life. That blood was shed for the remission of sins; that water was an essential part of the cup of salvation: it is used both for purifying and for drinking.

This mystery was foreshadowed when Noah was instructed to make a door in the side of the ark. Through that door, in prefigurement of the Church, entered the animals that were to survive the flood. Another foreshadowing of this mystery was given when the first woman was formed from the side of the man as he slept, and was called Life and the mother of the living. Indeed, she signified a great good before the great evil of sin.

Here the second Adam, bowing his head, slept on the cross so that his bride might be formed from the blood and water which flowed from his side as he slept. O death, by which the dead come to life again! What is more cleansing than this blood? What is more life-giving than this wound?

The testimony, the evangelist continues, has been given by an eyewitness and his testimony is true. He tells what he knows is true, so that you may believe. The evangelist does not say “so that you may know” but “so that you may believe”. For he who sees, knows, and he who has not seen believes in his testimony. Believing belongs more to the nature of faith than seeing. In fact, what does it mean to believe if not to give faith?

These events took place, explains the evangelist, for the fulfillment of Scripture: ’Break none of his bones.’ There is still another Scripture passage which says: ‘They shall look on him whom they have pierced.’ John recalls two testimonies from Scripture to attest to the truth of the events he has narrated. He confirms the statement: When they came to Jesus and saw that he was already dead, they did not break his legs with the prophecy: Break none of his bones.  For the Old Law had ordained that those who celebrated the Passover should immolate a lamb, a symbol of the Lord’s sacrifice. Therefore, Saint Paul  says: Christ our Passover has been sacrificed, just as Isaiah had foretold: Like a lamb he was led to slaughter.

The evangelist then confirms his statement: One of the soldiers opened his side with a lance with the prophecy: They shall look on him whom they have pierced. This prophecy proclaims that Christ will come again in the same flesh in which he was crucified.

RESPONSORY
Colossians 1:18; 1 John 5:6

Christ is the head of the body, the Church;
he is the firstborn of the dead;
so that primacy may be his in everything.

Jesus Christ it is who came through water and blood;
not in water only, but in water and blood;
so that primacy may be his in everything.

Alternative:

From the encyclical letter Mystici Corporis by Pope Pius XII
(AAS, Vol. XXXV, pp. 204-206)

The Church was born from the side of Christ on the cross

As We set out briefly to expound in what sense Christ founded his social Body, the following thought of Our predecessor of happy memory, Leo XIII, occurs to Us at once: "The Church which, already conceived, came forth from the side of the second Adam in his sleep on the Cross, first showed herself before the eyes of men on the great day of Pentecost." For the Divine Redeemer began the building of the mystical temple of the Church when by his preaching he made known his Precepts; he completed it when he hung glorified on the Cross; and he manifested and proclaimed it when he sent the Holy Ghost as Paraclete in visible form on his disciples.

For while fulfilling his office as preacher he chose Apostles, sending them as he had been sent by the Father - namely, as teachers, rulers, instruments of holiness in the assembly of the believers; he appointed their Chief and his Vicar on earth; he made known to them all things and whatsoever he had heard from his Father; he also determined that through Baptism those who should believe would be incorporated in the Body of the Church; and finally, when he came to the close of his life, he instituted at the Last Supper the wonderful Sacrifice and Sacrament of the Eucharist.

That he completed his work on the gibbet of the Cross is the unanimous teaching of the holy Fathers who assert that the Church was born from the side of our Savior on the Cross like a new Eve, mother of all the living. "And it is now," says the great St. Ambrose, speaking of the pierced side of Christ, "that it is built, it is now that it is formed, it is now that it is...molded, it is now that it is created... Now it is that arises a spiritual house, a holy priesthood." One who reverently examines this venerable teaching will easily discover the reasons on which it is based.

By the death of our Redeemer, the New Testament took the place of the Old Law which had been abolished; then the Law of Christ together with its mysteries, enactments, institutions, and sacred rites was ratified for the whole world in the blood of Jesus Christ. For, while our Divine Savior was preaching in a restricted area - he was not sent but to the sheep that were lost of the House of Israel- the Law and the Gospel were together in force; but on the gibbet of his death Jesus made void the Law with its decrees fastened the handwriting of the Old Testament to the Cross, establishing the New Testament in his blood shed for the whole human race. "To such an extent, then," says St. Leo the Great, speaking of the Cross of our Lord, "was there effected a transfer from the Law to the Gospel, from the Synagogue to the Church, from the many sacrifices to one Victim, that, as Our Lord expired, that mystical veil which shut off the innermost part of the temple and its sacred secret was rent violently from top to bottom."

On the Cross then the Old Law died, soon to be buried and to be a bearer of death,  in order to give way to the New Testament of which Christ had chosen the Apostles as qualified ministers;  and although he had been constituted the head of the whole human family in the womb of the Blessed Virgin, it is by the power of the Cross that our Savior exercises fully the office itself of head of his Church. "For it was through his triumph on the Cross," according to the teaching of the Angelic and Common Doctor, "that he won power and dominion over the gentiles"; by that same victory he increased the immense treasure of graces, which, as he reigns in glory in heaven, he lavishes continually on his mortal members; it was by his blood shed on the Cross that God's anger was averted and that all the heavenly gifts, especially the spiritual graces of the New and Eternal Testament, could then flow from the fountains of our Savior for the salvation of men, of the faithful above all; it was on the tree of the Cross, finally, that he entered into possession of his Church, that is, of all the members of his Mystical Body; for they would not have been untied to this Mystical Body through the waters of Baptism except by the salutary virtue of the Cross, by which they had been already brought under the complete sway of Christ.

But if our Savior, by his death, became, in the full and complete sense of the word, the head of the Church, it was likewise through his blood that the Church was enriched with the fullest communication of the Holy Spirit, through which, from the time when the Son of Man was lifted up and glorified on the Cross by his sufferings, she is divinely illumined.

RESPONSORY
See Eph 5:25-27; Col 1:24

Christ loved the Church and gave himself up for her,
purifying her in the bath of water by the power of the word;
to make her holy and immaculate.

In my own flesh I fill up what is lacking
in the sufferings of Christ
for the sake of his body, the Church;.
to make her holy and immaculate.

PRAYER

Let us pray

Lord Jesus,
crucified for love of us,
your heart was pierced by a lance
and flowed with blood and water.
In your mercy draw us to your open heart,
cleanse us from our sins
and help us grow daily in your love,
as you live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever.
Amen.

ACCLAMATION

Let us praise the Lord.
And give him thanks.


MORNING PRAYER



INVITATORY

The Invitatory may be said for the first ‘hour’ recited in the day.

Lord, + open my lips.
And my mouth will proclaim your praise.

Ant. Come, let us adore Christ the Lord who was pierced by the lance for us.

Psalm 95
A call to praise God

Encourage each other daily while it is still today (Hebrews 3:13).

Come, let us sing to the Lord *
  and shout with joy to the Rock who saves us.
Let us approach him with praise and thanksgiving *
  and sing joyful songs to the Lord.

Ant. Come, let us adore Christ the Lord who was pierced by the lance for us.

The Lord is God, the mighty God, *
  the great king over all the gods.
He holds in his hands the depths of the earth *
  and the highest mountains as well.
He made the sea; it belongs to him, *
  the dry land, too, for it was formed by his hands.

Ant. Come, let us adore Christ the Lord who was pierced by the lance for us.

Come, then, let us bow down and worship *
  bending the knee before the Lord, our maker.
For he is our God and we are his people, *
  the flock he shepherds.

Ant. Come, let us adore Christ the Lord who was pierced by the lance for us.

Today, listen to the voice of the Lord:
Do not grow stubborn, as your fathers did
  in the wilderness, *
when at Meriba and Massah
  they challenged me and provoked me, *
Although they had seen all of my works.

Ant. Come, let us adore Christ the Lord who was pierced by the lance for us.

Forty years I endured that generation. *
I said, “They are a people whose hearts go astray
  and they do not know my ways.”
So I swore in my anger, *
  “They shall not enter into my rest.”

Ant. Come, let us adore Christ the Lord who was pierced by the lance for us.

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. Come, let us adore Christ the Lord who was pierced by the lance for us.

If the Invitatory is not said, then the following is used:

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

(Click here for alternative hymns)

O blessed creator of the world
and redeemer of all mankind,
light from the light of the Father
and true God from God.

It was loved that compelled you, Christ,
to assume a mortal body,
so that, as the new Adam,
you could restore what the old Adam
had taken away from us.

That same love,
the magnanimous and skillful designer  
of the earth, the sea and the sky,
showed for our first parents
in spite of their faults
and broke the chains that bound us.

May that power of the glorious love
never be absent from your heart;
may the nations draw from this wellspring
the grace of forgiveness.

It was for this reason
that your heart suffered the sharp point of the lance;
 it was for this reason
that it suffered so many wounds,
namely to wash away our sins
in the water and blood that flowed from it.

O Jesus, who suffered for your servants,
glory be to you,
together with the Father
and the Holy Spirit, forevermore. Amen.
    
The following hymn is a metrical version of original Latin text of the prose above; however, it does not appear in the Passionist Proper.

O Christ, the world's Creator bright,
Who didst mankind from sin redeem,
Light from the Father's glorious light,
True God of God, in bliss supreme.

thy love compelled thee to assume
A mortal body, man to save;
Reversing the old Adam's doom;
Our ransom the new Adam gave.

That love which gloriously framed all
The earth, the stars, and wondrous sea
Took pity on our parents' fall,
Broke all our bonds and set us free.

O Saviour, let thy potent love
Flow ever from thy bounteous heart;
To nations that pure fount above
The grace of pardon will impart.

Thy heart for this was opened wide,
And wounded by the soldier's spear,
That freely from thy sacred side
Might flow the streams our souls to clear.

To Father and to Spirit blest
All glory, O Christ, ever be
With thee, who for us who transgressed
Didst suffer in great agony.

PSALMODY

Ant. I will take the cup of salvation and call upon the name of the Lord.

Psalm 57

Have mercy on me, God, have mercy  *
for in you my soul has taken refuge.
In the shadow of your wings I take refuge *
till the storms of destruction pass by.

I call to God the Most High, *
to God who has always been my help.
May he send from heaven and save me *
and shame those who assail me.

May God send his truth and his love.

My soul lies down among lions, *
who would devour the sons of men.
Their teeth are spears and arrows, *
their tongue a sharpened sword.

O God, arise above the heavens; *
may your glory shine on earth!

They laid a snare for my steps, *
my soul was bowed down.
They dug a pit in my path *
but fell in it themselves.

My heart is ready, O God, *
my heart is ready.
I will sing, I will sing your praise. *
Awake, my soul,
awake, lyre and harp, *
I will awake the dawn.

I will thank you, Lord, among the peoples, *
I will praise you among the nations,
for your love reaches to the heavens *
and your truth to the skies.

O God, arise above the heavens; *
may your glory shine 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. I will take the cup of salvation and call upon the name of the Lord.

Ant. Christ Jesus loved us and freed us from our sins with his own blood.

Canticle: Isaiah 12:1-6

I give you thanks, O Lord; *
though you have been angry with me,
your anger has abated, and you have consoled me.

God indeed is my savior; *
I am confident and unafraid.
My strength and my courage is the Lord, *
and he has been my savior.

With joy you will draw water *
at the fountain of salvation, and say on that day:
Give thanks to the Lord, acclaim his name;
among the nations make known his deeds, *
proclaim how exalted is his name.

Sing praise to the Lord for his glorious achievement; *
let this be known throughout all the earth.

Shout with exultation, O city of Zion, ®
for great in your midst *
is the Holy One of Israel!

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 and freed us from our sins with his own blood.

Ant. Listen, all you who fear the Lord, and hear what great things God has done for me. .

Psalm 98

Sing a new song to the Lord *
for he has worked wonders.
His right hand and his holy arm *
have brought salvation.

The Lord has made known his salvation; *
has shown his justice to the nations.
He has remembered his truth and love *
for the house of Israel.

All the ends of the earth have seen *
the salvation of our God.
Shout to the Lord, all the earth, *
ring out your joy.

Sing psalms to the Lord with the harp *
with the sound of music.
With trumpets and the sound of the horn *
acclaim the King, the Lord.

Let the sea and all within it thunder; *
the world, and all its peoples.
Let the rivers clap their hands *
and the hills ring out their joy.

Rejoice at the presence of the Lord, *
for he comes to rule the earth.
He will rule the world with justice *
and the peoples with fairness.

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. Listen, all you who fear the Lord, and hear what great things God has done for me. .

READING
1 John 5:5-7a, 8b

Who can overcome the world?
Only the man who believes that Jesus is the Son of God:
Jesus Christ who came by water and blood,
not with water only,
but with water and blood;
with the Spirit as another witness -
since the Spirit is truth -
so that there are three witnesses,
the Spirit, the water and the blood,
and all three of them agree.

RESPONSORY

Christ Jesus loved us and gave himself up for us.
Christ Jesus loved us and gave himself up for us.

As an offering to God, a gift of pleasing fragrance.
he gave himself up for us.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Have pity on me, O Lord: hide not your face from me.

CANTICLE OF ZECHARIAH

Ant.  This took place for the fulfillment of Scripture which days: They shall look on him whom they have pierced.

Blessed + be the Lord, the God of Israel; *
he has come to his people and set them free.

He has raised up for us a mighty savior, *
born of the house of his servant David.

Through his holy prophets he promised of old
  that he would save us from our enemies, *
  from the hands of all who hate us.

He promised to show mercy to our fathers *
and to remember his holy covenant.

This was the oath he swore to our father Abraham: *
to set us free from the hands of our enemies,
free to worship him without fear, *
holy and righteous in his sight
   all the days of our life.

You, my child, shall be called the prophet of the Most High; *
for you will go before the Lord to prepare his way,
to give his people knowledge of salvation *
by the forgiveness of their sins.

In the tender compassion of our God *
the dawn from on high shall break upon us,
to shine on those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death, *
and to guide our feet into the way of peace.

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.  This took place for the fulfillment of Scripture which days: They shall look on him whom they have pierced.

INTERCESSIONS

Let us adore Christ as he hangs on the cross, his side bleeding for a soldier’s lance; let us plead with him: By your holy death save us, Lord.

Jesus, your side was opened by a lance and poured forth blood and water to symbolize the birth of your spouse, the Church,
keep that spouse spotless and holy.
By your holy death save us, Lord.

Jesus our Lord, for our sake you were obedient even to death,
help us to submit as you did to the will of the Father.
By your holy death save us, Lord.

Christ, priest of the new and eternal covenant, who, on the altar of the cross offered a perfect sacrifice to the Father,
teach us to share this offering with you.
By your holy death save us, Lord.

Jesus our Saviour, who gave your life out of love for your brethren,
may we love each other with a love like yours.
By your holy death save us, Lord.

THE LORD’S PRAYER

(Following the example of Christ, who, on the cross, submitted to the  will of the Father and prayed for his enemies, let us ask the Father saying:

Or:

The words of Christ on the cross summarize the spirit of his teaching; let us adopt these sentiments as we offer the prayer he 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.

PRAYER

Lord Jesus,
crucified for love of us,
your heart was pierced by a lance
and flowed with blood and water.
In your mercy draw us to your open heart,
cleanse us from our sins
and help us grow daily in your love,
as you live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever.
Amen.

DISMISSAL

May the Lord bless + us,
protect us from all evil
and bring us to everlasting life.
Amen.


EVENING PRAYER


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

(Click here for alternative hymns)

Abroad the Regal Banners fly,
now shines the Cross's mystery;
upon it Life did death endure,
and yet by death did life procure.

Who, wounded with a direful spear,
did, purposely to wash us clear
from stain of sin, pour out a flood
of precious Water mixed with Blood.

That which the Prophet-King of old
hath in mysterious verse foretold,
is now accomplished, whilst we see
God ruling nations from a Tree.

O lovely and refulgent Tree,
adorned with purpled majesty;
culled from a worthy stock, to bear
those Limbs which sanctified were.

Blest Tree, whose happy branches bore
the wealth that did the world restore;
the beam that did that Body weigh
which raised up hell's expected prey.

Hail, Cross, of hopes the most sublime!
now in this mournful Passion time,
improve religious souls in grace,
the sins of criminals efface.

Blest Trinity, salvation's spring,
may every soul thy praises sing;
to those thou grantest conquest by
the holy Cross, rewards apply. Amen.

PSALMODY

Ant. I shall give many people to my servant, because he gave himself up to death.

Psalm 110: 1-5, 7

The Lord’s revelation to my Master:
“Sit on my right:
your foes I will put beneath your feet.”

The Lord will yield 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 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.

Ant. I shall give many people to my servant, because he gave himself up to death.

Ant. Jesus Christ came to us through water and blood; not in water only, but in water and blood.

Psalm 140:1-9, 13-14

Rescue me, Lord, from evil men; *
from the violent keep me safe,
from those who plan evil in their hearts *
and stir up strife every day;
who sharpen their tongue like an adder’s, *
with the poison of viper on their lips.

Lord, guard me from the hands of the wicked; *
from the violent keep me safe;
they plan to make me stumble. *
The proud have hidden a trap,
have spread out lines in a net, *
set snares across my path.

I have said to the Lord: “You are my God.” *
Lord, hear the cry of my appeal!
Lord my God, my mighty help, *
you shield my head in battle.
Do not grant the wicked their desire *
nor let their plots succeed.

I know that the Lord will avenge the poor, *
that he will do justice for the needy.
Yes, the just will praise your name: *
the upright shall live in your presence.

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. Jesus Christ came to us through water and blood; not in water only, but in water and blood.

Ant. O eternal love of God! Lifted up from the earth, Jesus draws us to his merciful heart.

Canticle : Philippians 2:6-11

Though he was in the form of God,
Jesus did not deem equality with God
something to be grasped at.

Rather, he emptied himself
and took the form of a slave,
being born in the likeness of men.

He was known to be of human estate,
and it was thus that he humbled himself,
obediently accepting even death,
death on a cross!

Because of this,
God highly exalted him
and bestowed on him the name
above every other name,
So that at Jesus’ name
every knee must bend
in the heavens, on the earth,
and under the earth,
and every tongue proclaim
to the glory of God the Father:
JESUS CHRIST IS LORD!

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. O eternal love of God! Lifted up from the earth, Jesus draws us to his merciful heart.

READING
Hebrews 2:9-10

Christ loved the Church
and sacrificed himself for her to make her holy.
He made her clean
by washing her in water with a form of words,
 so that when he took her to himself
she would be glorious,
with no speck or wrinkle or anything like that,
but holy and faultless.

RESPONSORY

With joy you will draw water at the fountain of salvation.
With joy you will draw water at the fountain of salvation.

Let all who desire it accept the gift of life.
  at the fountain of salvation.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:
With joy you will draw water at the fountain of salvation.

CANTICLE OF MARY

Ant. When they came to Jesus and saw that he was already dead, they did not break his legs. One of the soldiers pierced his side with a lance and immediately there came out blood and water.

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. When they came to Jesus and saw that he was already dead, they did not break his legs. One of the soldiers pierced his side with a lance and immediately there came out blood and water.

INTERCESSIONS

Let us adore Christ hanging on the cross, his side pierced with a soldier’s lance, and let us implore him:
Lord, have mercy on us.

As you hung on your cross, your open side poured forth water with the remnant of your blood,
by this saving stream wash away our sins and sanctify the City of God.
Lord, have mercy on us.

You took with you to the cross the sentence of our damnation and destroyed it there,
break the chains that bind us and free us from the darkness of evil.
Lord, have mercy on us.

You willed that your heart-broken mother should stand close to your cross,
by our trials may we share in your passion as she did.
Lord, have mercy on us.

You opened heaven to the penitent thief,
open it also to all the dead who embraced you as their Redeemer.
Lord, have mercy on us.

THE LORD’S PRAYER

(Following the example of Christ, who, on the cross, submitted to the  will of the Father and prayed for his enemies, let us ask the Father saying:

Or:

The words of Christ on the cross summarize the spirit of his teaching; let us adopt these sentiments as we offer the prayer he 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.

PRAYER

Lord Jesus,
crucified for love of us,
your heart was pierced by a lance
and flowed with blood and water.
In your mercy draw us to your open heart,
cleanse us from our sins
and help us grow daily in your love,
as you live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever.
Amen.

DISMISSAL

May the Lord bless + us,
protect us from all evil
and bring us to everlasting life.
Amen.


APPENDIX 1: FIRST READINGS


Select the appropriate date:

August 26
September 2
September 9
October 14
October 21
November 18
November 25
From the Office of the Passion


August 26:

From the book of the prophet Jeremiah
4:5-8, 13-28

The destroying enemy from the North

Thus says the Lord:
Proclaim it in Judah,
make it heard in Jerusalem;
Blow the trumpet through the land,
summon the recruits!
Say, “Fall in, let us march
to the fortified cities.”
Bear the standard to Zion,
seek refuge without delay!
Evil I bring from the north,
and great destruction.
Up comes the lion from his lair,
the destroyer of nations has set out,
has left his place,
To turn your land into desolation,
till your cities lie waste and empty.
So gird yourselves with sackcloth,
mourn and wail:
“The blazing wrath of the Lord
is not turned away from us.”

See! like storm clouds he advances,
like a hurricane his chariots;
Swifter than eagles are his steeds:
“Woe to us! we are ruined.”
Cleanse your heart of evil, O Jerusalem,
that you may be saved.
How long must your pernicious thoughts
lodge within you?
Listen! They proclaim it from Dan,
from Mount Ephraim they announce destruction:

“Make this known to the nations,
announce it to Jerusalem:
The besiegers are coming from the distant land,
shouting their war cry against the cities of Judah.”
Like watchmen of the fields they surround her,
for she has rebelled against me, says the Lord.
Your conduct, your misdeeds, have done this to you;
how bitter is this disaster of yours,
how it reaches to your very heart!

My breast! my breast! how I suffer!
The walls of my heart!
My heart beats wildly,
I cannot be still;
For I have heard the sound of the trumpet,
the alarm of war.
Ruin after ruin is reported;
the whole earth is laid waste.
In an instant my tents are ravaged;
in a flash, my shelters.
How long must I see that signal,
hear that trumpet sound!

Fools my people are,
they know me not;
Senseless children they are,
having no understanding;
They are wise in evil,
but know not how to do good.
I looked at the earth, and it was waste and void;
at the heavens, and their light had gone out!
I looked at the mountains, and they were trembling,
and all the hills were crumbling!
I looked and behold, there was no man;
even the birds of the air had flown away!

I looked and behold, the garden land was a desert,
with all its cities destroyed
before the Lord, before his blazing wrath.
For thus says the Lord:
Waste shall the whole land be;
I will not wholly destroy it.
Because of this the earth shall mourn,
the heavens above shall darken;
I have spoken, I will not repent,
I have resolved, I will not turn back.

RESPONSORY
See Jeremiah 4:24-26; 8:18; Psalm 85:5

O God, before your blazing anger the whole earth shook with fear.
Have mercy on us, O Lord;
do not destroy us.

Restore us again, O God, with your saving power,
and do not be angry with us.
Do not destroy us.

Go to Second Reading:

Jesus is Condemned to Death
Jesus is Scourged
Jesus is Crowned with Thorns
Face of the Suffering Christ
Crucifixion and Death of Jesus
Jesus is Pierced by the Lance

September 2:

From the book of the prophet Jeremiah
30:18–31:9

The promise of Israel’s restoration

Thus says the Lord:
See! I will restore the tents of Jacob,
his dwellings I will pity;
City shall be rebuilt upon hill,
and palace restored as it was.
From them will resound songs of praise,
the laughter of happy men.
I will make them not few, but many;
they will not be tiny, for I will glorify them.
His sons shall be as of old,
his assembly before me shall stand firm;
I will punish all his oppressors.
His leader shall be one of his own,
and his rulers shall come from his kin.
When I summon him, he shall approach me;
how else should one take the deadly risk
of approaching me? says the Lord.

You shall be my people,
and I will be your God.
See, the storm of the Lord!
His wrath breaks forth
In a whirling storm
that bursts upon the heads of the wicked.
The anger of the Lord will not abate
until he has done and fulfilled
what he has determined in his heart.
When the time comes,
you will fully understand.
At that time, says the Lord,
I will be the God of all the tribes of Israel,
and they shall be my people.

Thus says the Lord:
The people that escaped the sword
have found favor in the desert.
As Israel comes forward to be given his rest,
the Lord appears to him from afar:
With age-old love I have loved you;
so I have kept my mercy toward you.
Again I will restore you, and you shall be rebuilt,
O virgin Israel;
Carrying your festive tambourines,
you shall go forth dancing with the merrymakers.
Again you shall plant vineyards
on the mountains of Samaria;
those who plant them shall enjoy the fruits.
Yes, a day will come when the watchmen
will call out on Mount Ephraim:
“Rise up, let us go to Zion,
to the Lord, our God.”

For thus says the Lord:
Shout with joy for Jacob,
exult at the head of the nations;
proclaim your praise and say:
The Lord has delivered his people,
the remnant of Israel.
Behold, I will bring them back
from the land of the north
I will gather them from the ends of the world,
with the blind and the lame in their midst,
The mothers and those with child;
they shall return as an immense throng.
They departed in tears,
but I will console them and guide them;
I will lead them to brooks of water,
on a level road, so that none shall stumble.
For I am a father to Israel,
Ephraim is my first-born.

RESPONSORY
Jeremiah 31:6; Isaiah 2:5

A day is coming when the watchmen will shout:
Rise up, let us go to Zion, to the Lord our God.

O House of Jacob, come, let us walk in the light of the Lord.
Rise up, let us go to Zion, to the Lord our God.

Go to Second Reading:

Jesus is Condemned to Death
Jesus is Scourged
Jesus is Crowned with Thorns
Face of the Suffering Christ
Crucifixion and Death of Jesus
Jesus is Pierced by the Lance

September 9

From the book of Lamentations
3:1-33

Hope in time of mourning

I am a man who knows affliction
from the rod of his anger,
One whom he has led and forced to walk
in darkness, not in the light;
Against me alone he brings back his hand
again and again all the day.

He has worn away my flesh and my skin,
he has broken my bones;
He has beset me round about
with poverty and weariness;
He has left me to dwell in the dark
like those long dead.

He has hemmed me in with no escape
and weighed me down with chains;
Even when I cry out for help,
he stops my prayer;
He has blocked my ways with fitted stones,
and turned my paths aside.

A lurking bear he has been to me,
a lion in ambush!
He deranged my ways, set me astray,
left me desolate.
He bent his bow, and set me up
as the target for his arrow.

He pierces my sides
with shafts from his quiver.
I have become a laughingstock for all nations,
their taunt all the day long;
He has sated me with bitter food,
made me drink my fill of wormwood.

He has broken my teeth with gravel,
pressed my face in the dust;
My soul is deprived of peace,
I have forgotten what happiness is;
I tell myself my future is lost,
all that I hoped for from the Lord.

The thought of my homeless poverty
is wormwood and gall;
Remembering it over and over
leaves my soul downcast within me.
But I will call this to mind,
as my reason to have hope:

The favors of the Lord are not exhausted,
his mercies are not spent;
They are renewed each morning,
so great is his faithfulness.
My portion is the Lord, says my soul;
therefore will I hope in him.

Good is the Lord to one who waits for him,
to the soul that seeks him;
It is good to hope in silence
for the saving help of the Lord.
It is good for a man to bear
the yoke from his youth.

Let him sit alone and in silence,
when it is laid upon him.
Let him put his mouth to the dust;
there may yet be hope.
Let him offer his cheek to be struck,
let him be filled with disgrace.

For the Lord’s rejection
does not last forever;
Though he punishes, he takes pity,
in the abundance of his mercies;
He has no joy in afflicting
or grieving the sons of men.

RESPONSORY
Lamentations 3:52, 54, 56, 58; Acts 21:13

My enemies hated me for no reason;
I said: I am lost.
I called for help, O Lord,
and you heard my prayer.
You said: Do not be afraid;
you took up my cause and redeemed my life.

For the sake of the name of the Lord Jesus,
I am ready not only for imprisonment but even death.
You said: Do not be afraid;
you took up my cause and redeemed my life.

Go to Second Reading:

Jesus is Condemned to Death
Jesus is Scourged
Jesus is Crowned with Thorns
Face of the Suffering Christ
Crucifixion and Death of Jesus
Jesus is Pierced by the Lance

October 14

From the beginning of the book of the prophet Malachi
1:1-14; 2:13-16

A prophecy concerning negligent priests and concerning repudiation

An oracle. The word of the Lord to Israel through Malachi.

I have loved you, says the Lord;
but you say, “How have you loved us?”
Was not Esau Jacob’s brother? says the Lord:
yet I loved Jacob, but hated Esau;
I made his mountains a waste,
his heritage a desert for jackals.
If Edom says, “We have been crushed
but we will rebuild the ruins,”
Thus says the Lord of hosts:
They indeed may build, but I will tear down,
And they shall be called the land of guilt,
the people with whom the Lord is angry forever.
Your own eyes shall see it, and you will say,
“Great is the Lord, even beyond the land of Israel.”

A son honors his father,
and a servant fears his master;
If then I am a father,
where is the honor due to me?
And if I am a master,
where is the reverence due to me?—
So says the Lord of hosts to you, O priests,
who despise his name.
But you ask, “How have we despised your name?”
By offering polluted food on my altar!
Then you ask, “How have we polluted it?”
By saying the table of the Lord may be slighted!
When you offer a blind animal for sacrifice,
is this not evil?
When you offer the lame or the sick,
is it not evil?
Present it to your governor; see if he will accept it,
or welcome you, says the Lord of hosts.

So now if you implore God for mercy on us,
when you have done the like
Will he welcome any of you?
says the Lord of hosts.
Oh, that one among you would shut the temple gates
to keep you from kindling fire on my altar in vain!
I have no pleasure in you, says the Lord of hosts;
neither will I accept any sacrifice from your hands,
For from the rising of the sun, even to its setting,
my name is great among the nations;
And everywhere they bring sacrifice to my name,
and a pure offering;
For great is my name among the nations,
says the Lord of hosts.

But you behave profanely toward me by thinking
the Lord’s table and its offering may be polluted,
and its food slighted.
You also say, “What a burden!”
and you scorn it, says the Lord of hosts;
You bring in what you seize, or the lame, or the sick;
yes, you bring it as a sacrifice.
Shall I accept it from your hands?
says the Lord.
Cursed is the deceiver, who has in his flock a male,
but under his vow sacrifices to the Lord a gelding;
For a great King am I, says the Lord of hosts,
and my name will be feared among the nations.

This also you do: the altar of the Lord you cover
with tears, weeping and groaning,
Because he no longer regards your sacrifice
nor accepts it favorably from your hand;
And you say, “Why is it?”—
Because the Lord is witness
between you and the wife of your youth,
With whom you have broken faith
though she is your companion, your betrothed wife.

Did he not make one being, with flesh and spirit:
and what does that one require but godly offspring?
You must then safeguard life that is your own,
and not break faith with the wife of your youth.
For I hate divorce,
says the Lord, the God of Israel,
And covering one’s garment with injustice,
says the Lord of hosts;
You must then safeguard life that is your own,
and not break faith.

RESPONSORY
Malachi 2:5, 6; Psalm 110:4

I made a covenant with Levi, the priest.
In it I promised him life and peace.
I filled him with fear,
and he revered me.
His teaching was true,
and no dishonesty fell from his lips.

The Lord has sworn an oath
which he will not regret:
You are a priest for ever in the line of Melchizedek
His teaching was true,
and no dishonesty fell from his lips.

Go to Second Reading:

Jesus is Condemned to Death
Jesus is Scourged
Jesus is Crowned with Thorns
Face of the Suffering Christ
Crucifixion and Death of Jesus
Jesus is Pierced by the Lance

October 21

From the book of the prophet Baruch
1:14-2:5; 3:1-8

The prayer and confession of sin of a penitent people

Read out publicly this scroll which we send you, in the house of the Lord, on the feast day and during the days of assembly:

“Justice is with the Lord, our God; and we today are flushed with shame, we men of Judah and citizens of Jerusalem, that we, with our kings and rulers and priests and prophets, and with our fathers, have sinned in the Lord’s sight and disobeyed him. We have neither heeded the voice of the Lord, our God, nor followed the precepts which the Lord set before us.

“From the time the Lord led our fathers out of the land of Egypt until the present day, we have been disobedient to the Lord, our God, and only too ready to disregard his voice. And the evils and the curse which the Lord enjoined upon Moses, his servant, at the time he led our fathers forth from the land of Egypt to give us the land flowing with milk and honey, cling to us even today. For we did not heed the voice of the Lord, our God, in all the words of the prophets whom he sent us, but each one of us went off after the devices of our own wicked hearts, served other gods, and did evil in the sight of the Lord, our God.

“And the Lord fulfilled the warning he had uttered against us: against our judges, who governed Israel, against our kings and princes, and against the men of Israel and Judah. He brought down upon us evils so great that there has not been done anywhere under heaven what has been done in Jerusalem, as was written in the law of Moses: that one after another of us should eat the flesh of his son or of his daughter. He has made us subject to all the kingdoms round about us, a reproach and a horror among all the nations round about to which the Lord has scattered us. We are brought low, not raised up, because we sinned against the Lord, our God, not heeding his voice.

“Lord Almighty, God of Israel, afflicted souls and dismayed spirits call to you. Hear, O Lord, for you are a God of mercy; and have mercy on us, who have sinned against you: for you are enthroned forever, while we are perishing forever. Lord Almighty, God of Israel, hear the prayer of Israel’s few, the sons of those who sinned against you; they did not heed the voice of the Lord, their God, and the evils cling to us.

“Remember at this time not the misdeeds of our fathers, but your own hand and name: for you are the Lord our God; and you, O Lord, we will praise! For this, you put into our hearts the fear of you: that we may call upon your name, and praise you in our captivity, when we have removed from our hearts all the wickedness of our fathers who sinned against you. Behold us today in our captivity, where you scattered us, a reproach, a curse, and a requital for all the misdeeds of our fathers, who withdrew from the Lord, our God.”

RESPONSORY
Ephesians 2:4-5; see Baruch 2:12

God is rich in mercy,
and because he loved us so much,
even though we were dead in sin,
he brought us to life in Christ.

We have sinned, been ungodly,
and have broken all your commandments,
O Lord our God.
Even though we were dead in sin,
he brought us to life in Christ.

Go to Second Reading:

Jesus is Condemned to Death
Jesus is Scourged
Jesus is Crowned with Thorns
Face of the Suffering Christ
Crucifixion and Death of Jesus
Jesus is Pierced by the Lance

November 18:

From the book of the prophet Zechariah
12:9-12a; 13:1-9

Salvation in Jerusalem

On that day I will seek the destruction of all nations that come against Jerusalem.

I will pour out on the house of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and petition; and they shall look on him whom they have thrust through, and they shall mourn for him as one mourns for an only son, and they shall grieve over him as one grieves over a first-born.

On that day the mourning in Jerusalem shall be as great as the mourning of Hadadrimmon in the plain of Megiddo. And the land shall mourn, each family apart.

On that day there shall be open to the house of David and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, a fountain to purify from sin and uncleanness. On that day, says the Lord of hosts, I will destroy the names of the idols from the land, so that they shall be mentioned no more; I will also take away the prophets and the spirit of uncleanness from the land. If a man still prophesies, his parents, father and mother, shall say to him, “You shall not live, because you have spoken a lie in the name of the Lord.” When he prophesies, his parents, father and mother, shall thrust him through.

On that day, every prophet shall be ashamed to prophesy his vision, neither shall he assume the hairy mantle to mislead, but he shall say, “I am no prophet, I am a tiller of the soil, for I have owned land since my youth.” And if anyone asks him, “What are these wounds on your chest?” he shall answer, “With these I was wounded in the house of my dear ones.”

Awake, O sword, against my shepherd,
against the man who is my associate,
says the Lord of hosts.
Strike the shepherd
that the sheep may be dispersed,
and I will turn my hand against the little ones.
In all the land, says the Lord,
two thirds of them shall be cut off and perish,
and one third shall be left.
I will bring the one third through fire,
and I will refine them as silver is refined,
and I will test them as gold is tested.
They shall call upon my name,
and I will hear them.
I will say, “They are my people,”
and they shall say, “The Lord is my God.”

RESPONSORY
Matthew 26:31; Zechariah 13:7

Tonight your faith in me will be shaken,
for Scripture says:
I will strike the shepherd,
and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.

Awake, O sword, and strike my shepherd,
the man who is my companion, says the Lord.
I will strike the shepherd,
and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.

Go to Second Reading:

Jesus is Condemned to Death
Jesus is Scourged
Jesus is Crowned with Thorns
Face of the Suffering Christ
Crucifixion and Death of Jesus
Jesus is Pierced by the Lance

November 25

From the second letter of the apostle Peter
3:1-18

A reflection on the coming of the Lord

This is now, beloved, the second letter I am writing to you; through them by way of reminder I am trying to stir up your sincere disposition, to recall the words previously spoken by the holy prophets and the commandment of the Lord and savior through your apostles.

Know this first of all, that in the last days scoffers will come to scoff, living according to their own desires and saying, “Where is the promise of his coming? From the time when our ancestors fell asleep, everything has remained as it was from the beginning of creation.”

They deliberately ignore the fact that the heavens existed of old and earth was formed out of water and through water by the word of God; through these the world that then existed was destroyed, deluged with water. The present heavens and earth have been reserved by the same word for fire, kept for the day of judgment and of destruction of the godless.

But do not ignore this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years and a thousand years like one day. The Lord does not delay his promise, as some regard “delay,” but he is patient with you, not wishing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a mighty roar and the elements will be dissolved by fire, and the earth and everything done on it will be found out.

Since everything is to be dissolved in this way, what sort of persons ought you to be, conducting yourselves in holiness and devotion, waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be dissolved in flames and the elements melted by fire. But according to his promise we await new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.

Therefore, beloved, since you await these things, be eager to be found without spot or blemish before him, at peace. And consider the patience of our Lord as salvation, as our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given to him, also wrote to you, speaking of these things as he does in all his letters. In them there are some things hard to understand that the ignorant and unstable distort to their own destruction, just as they do the other scriptures.

Therefore, beloved, since you are forewarned, be on your guard not to be led into the error of the unprincipled and to fall from your own stability. But grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory now and to the day of eternity. Amen.

RESPONSORY
Isaiah 65:17, 18; Revelation 21:5

I will create new heavens and a new earth,
and you will rejoice for ever in my creation.
See, I will make all things new.

I will create Jerusalem to be a joy
and her people a delight.
See, I will make all things new.

Go to Second Reading:

Jesus is Condemned to Death
Jesus is Scourged
Jesus is Crowned with Thorns
Face of the Suffering Christ
Crucifixion and Death of Jesus
Jesus is Pierced by the Lance

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