Day of immense joy
in the city of God;
may the flame of the Spirit
shine in the Cenacle.
The wondrous gift of the prophets
is renewed on this day
and a mystic rapture
touches tongues and hearts.
Day of immense joy…
O blessed season
of the new-born Church,
who welcomes in her womb
the first fruits of the nations.
Day of immense joy…
This is the jubilee
of the fiftieth year
that ransoms the slave
and proclaims forgiveness.
Day of immense joy…
Send upon us, O Lord,
the gift of your Spirit;
grant to this restless world
justice and peace.
Day of immense joy…
Light of eternal wisdom,
reveal to us the mystery
of the one and threefold God,
fountain of eternal love.
Amen.

Towards you, Holy City,
towards you, our Saviour’s Land,
like pilgrims we are walking,
coming unto you.
We are your holy people,
today we walk together;
you come among us,
your love will guide us.
You are our way,
you are our hope,
you, brother of the poor.
Amen, alleluia!
Towards you, Holy City…
We are coming to your table,
we shall seal your Covenant,
we shall eat your body,
we’ll be washed by your blood.
We shall reign with you,
in your Holy City,
we shall drink your blood,
your faith shall save us.
Towards you, Holy City…

Down there beyond the river,
I chose your father Abraham,
and from an impotent old man
I multiplied your descendants.
Far be it from us to forsake
our God
who has worked marvels for us
before our very eyes.
A people enslaved
I rescued from Egypt
and with a mighty hand
I opened the Red Sea.
Far be it from us to forsake…
For years in the desert
I fed you with manna
and upon eagles’ wings
I took you beyond the mountains.
Far be it from us to forsake…
I gave you a land,
cities you did not build,
vineyards you did not plant,
springs of living water.
Far be it from us to forsake…

They were poor men, like you, like me;
they'd been casting their nets in the lake
or collecting taxes at the gates of the city.
I remember that amongst them all
there was not even a learned man,
and the one whom they called Master
was dead and buried in a tomb.
If you feel a breeze from heaven,
a wind shaking the doors,
listen, it's a voice that is calling you,
inviting you to travel afar.
There's a fire arising
in him who is waiting,
in him who cherishes
hopes of love.
They had a heart in their breast, like you, like me,
gripped by a fear cold as ice,
eyes that were dry, unable to cry anymore
and faces pale with fever and fear.
They surely were thinking about their lost friend,
about the woman left at the door of the house,
about the cross standing at the top of the hill.
If you feel a breeze from heaven…
And the wind shook the door of the house,
it entered wildly into the room,
and they had eyes and voices of fire;
they rushed out to sing their joy in the street.
Man, you who wait hidden in shadow,
the voice that is calling is really for you;
it brings you joy, it brings you good news:
the Kingdom of God has already come!
If you feel a breeze from heaven…

If the Lord does not build the house,
in vain do the builders toil.
If the Lord does not watch over the city,
in vain the watchman keeps vigil;
if the Lord does not watch over the city.
If the Lord does not build the house…
In vain is your early rising,
your going late to rest
to earn your daily bread.
God gives to his friends while they sleep!
God gives to his friends while they sleep.
If the Lord does not build the house…
Sons are a gift from the Lord,
like arrows in the hands of a warrior
are the sons of one’s youth.
Happy the man who has his quiver full of them,
he will not fear when enemies arrive.
If the Lord does not build the house…

You are the light of the world,
you are the light, the light of the world,
the light of the world.
It cannot be hidden,
a city on a hilltop.
It cannot be hidden,
a city on a hilltop;
nor is a lamp lit
to be put under a tub,
but it is put on the lampstand,
so it may shine on all those in the house.
In the same way may your light shine
in the sight of men,
so they may see your works
and give glory to your Father in heaven.
You are the light of the world,
you are the light, the light of the world,

Jesus entered Jericho, and was going through the city,
Jesus entered Jericho, and was going through the city.
And behold a man called Zaccheus,
chief of the publicans and very rich,
was trying to see Jesus.
But he could not, for he was short.
Then he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore,
because Jesus was to pass that way,
because Jesus was to pass that way.
When Jesus came to that place, he lifted up his eyes,
saw him and said to him:
“Zaccheus, come down at once,
for today it behoves me to stay at your house.”
for today it behoves me to stay at your house.”
Zaccheus came down in a hurry
and welcomed him full of joy.
Seeing this, they all murmured:
“He has entered the house of a sinner.”
And Zaccheus stood up and said to the Lord:
“Behold, Lord, I give half of my goods to the poor
And if I have cheated anyone,
I will give him back fourfold.”
And Jesus answered him:
“Today salvation has entered this house,
Today salvation has entered this house.
Because he too is a son of Abraham,
because the Son of Man has come to seek
and save that which was lost.”
Jesus, entered Jericho, and was going…
“Today salvation has entered this house,
today salvation has entered this house.
Because he too is a son of Abraham.”
Zaccheus is you.
Zaccheus, come down at once.
The Lord wants to enter your house.

While I was asleep, my heart was awake,
the voice of my beloved I heard:
"Open to me, my sister,
open to me, my dove,
for my head is wet with dew,
my locks with the drops of the night."
He put his hand through the latch of the door,
my heart stirred within me.
I arose, running,
and my hands dripped with myrrh,
the purest myrrh from my fingers
onto the bolt of the door.
I implore you, daughters of Jerusalem,
if you find my beloved,
tell him I’m dying of love.
I opened to my beloved
but he was not there, he had already gone.
My soul fainted at his flight.
I sought him, but I did not find him,
I called him, I called him, but he did not answer.
The watchmen met me
going the rounds of the city,
they undressed me, they beat me,
the watchmen of the walls.
I implore you, daughters of Jerusalem …
Ay! If you were my brother,
I could kiss you,
without anyone being scandalised.
I implore you daughters of Jerusalem…

Her foundations are on the holy mountains:
the Lord loves the gates of Zion
more than all Jacob's dwellings;
Of you are told glorious things,
City of God!
I will remember Rahab and Babylon,
Palestine, Tyre and Ethiopia,
when someone is born in them,
men say: 'There, this man was born.'
But of Zion, all say 'Mother!'
For all were born in her.
For all were born in her.
The Lord himself has founded her!
The Lord himself has founded her!
Mother, Mother, city of God!
The Lord writes in the book of the peoples:
'This man was born in her;'
and while dancing they will sing:
'In you are all my fountains.'
And while dancing, while dancing they will sing:
And while dancing, while dancing they will sing:
'all my fountains are in you.'
'All my fountains are in you.'
'Mother, Mother, city of God!'
For all…
And while dancing…