The voices of the prophets
announce the coming of the Lord
who brings to all men
the gift of his peace.
Behold a new light
rises in the morning,
a voice resounds:
the king of glory comes.
At his first coming
Christ came to save us,
to heal our wounds
of body and spirit.
At the end of time
he will return as judge;
he will give the promised kingdom
to his faithful servants.
Today, on our path
his light shines for us;
Jesus, the sun of grace,
calls us to new life.
It is you, O Christ, we seek;
it is you we want to know,
to praise you forever
in your eternal kingdom.
To you be praise, O Lord,
born of the Virgin Mary,
to the Father and the Holy Spirit
for ever and ever. Amen.

From the abyss of death
Christ ascends victorious
together with the ancient fathers.
The sun of Easter shines,
the sky with songs resounds,
all the earth rejoices.
From the abyss of death…
Beside the empty tomb
in vain the guardian watches:
the Lord from death has risen!
From the abyss of death…
O Jesus, immortal King,
unite in your victory
those in baptism reborn.
From the abyss of death…
May the light of your Passover,
the pledge of love and peace,
shine upon your Church.
From the abyss of death…
Glory and honour to Christ,
to the Father and the Spirit,
now and forever.
Amen! Amen! Amen!

At the banquet of the Lamb,
arrayed in white robes,
having crossed the Red Sea,
we sing to Christ the Lord.
His body ablaze with love,
at the banquet, is living bread;
on the altar, his blood
is the cup of the New Covenant.
At the banquet of the Lamb…
On this wondrous evening
the ancient marvels are made present:
a mighty arm saves us
from the angel of destruction.
At the banquet of the Lamb…
The meek slaughtered lamb,
Christ, is our Passover;
his sacred body
is the true unleavened bread.
At the banquet of the Lamb…
Pour out paschal joy
on your Church, O Lord;
unite in your victory
those born again through baptism.
At the banquet of the Lamb…
Praise and honour be to Christ,
triumphant over death,
to the Father and the Holy Spirit
now and forever.
Amen

Flee, shadows and darkness,
the light of day shines forth,
Christ the Lord is coming.
The sun of justice
transfigures and inflames
the waiting universe.
With pure and humble joy,
amid songs and prayers,
we welcome the Lord.
You, Saviour of the poor,
let the glory of your face
shine on a new world.
Praise to you, O Christ,
with the Father and the Spirit,
now and forever.
Amen.

O Lord, you are my God, I will exalt you!
O Lord, you are my God, I will exalt you!
I will bless your Name,
I will bless your Name,
I will bless your Name!
O Lord, you are my God…
You will destroy death forever,
you will wipe away the tears
from all our faces, from all our faces.
O Lord, you are my God…
Now we hear the footsteps of the poor,
the footsteps of the lowly, the footsteps of the lowly,
the remnant of Jacob.
O Lord, you are my God…

My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord
and my spirit exults in God my Saviour.
My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord
and my spirit exults in God my Saviour.
From this day all generations
will call me blessed.
From this day all generations
will call me blessed.
For the Almighty has done great things for me,
and his name is holy.
For the Almighty has done great things for me,
and his name is holy.
He shows the power of his arm,
he routs the proud of heart.
He shows the power of his arm,
he routs the proud of heart.
The mighty he casts down from their thrones,
and exalts the lowly.
The hungry he fills with good things,
and the rich he sends empty away.
He helps his servant Israel,
remembering his mercy.
He helps his servant Israel,
remembering his mercy.
According to the promise he made to Abraham,
and to all his sons forever.
According to the promise he made to Abraham,
and to all his sons forever.
My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord
and my spirit exults in God my Saviour.
My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord
and my spirit exults in God my Saviour.

Let us sing to the Lord,
let us sing to the Lord.
He’s covered himself in glory,
in glory, in glory.
He has thrown into the sea
horse and rider.
My strength and my song
is the Lord.
He is my salvation,
he’s my God;
I will extol him.
He has thrown into the sea
horse and rider,
horse and rider.
The Lord is a warrior,
The Lord is his name;
Pharaoh’s chariots
and his hosts
he cast into the sea.
He has thrown into the sea…
My strength and my song…
Your right hand, O Lord,
glorious in power,
your right hand, O Lord,
shattered the enemy,
shattered the enemy.
He has thrown into the sea…
The enemy said:
"I will give chase and overtake,
I shall draw my sword,
I’ll share out the spoils,
my hand will destroy them.”
He has thrown into the sea…
One breath of yours you blew
and the sea closed over them,
they sank like lead
in the mighty waters,
in the waters of death.
He has thrown into the sea…
Who is like you among the gods,
who is like you, O Lord,
majestic in holiness,
terrible in deeds,
worker of wonders?
He has thrown into the sea…
You have guided this people
which you have rescued;
with strength you have led them,
with strength and love
to your Holy House.
He has thrown into the sea…
You have brought them in and planted them
on the mountain of your promise
where you, O Lord, reign;
you reign eternally,
you reign forever.
He has thrown into the sea…

Mary, little Mary,
you are the gentle breeze of Elijah,
the breath of the Spirit of God.
You are the burning bush of Moses
which bears the Lord without being consumed.
You are 'That place near me,'
which the Lord showed to Moses.
You are the cleft in the rock
which God covers with his hand
while his glory passes by.
Let the Lord come with us
if we have found favour in his eyes.
It’s true that we are sinners,
but pray for us,
and we shall be his heritage forever.
Mary, little Mary,
daughter of Jerusalem.
Mother of all nations,
Virgin of Nazareth.
You are the cloud which protects Israel,
the tent of meeting,
the Ark of the Covenant,
the place where the Lord dwells,
the sanctuary of his Shekinah.
Let the Lord come with us…
You are 'That place near me'…

I lift up my eyes to the mountains:
from where will my help come?
My help comes from the Lord
who made heaven and earth.
He will not let your foot stumble,
your keeper does not sleep;
he does not sleep nor slumber,
the guardian of Israel.
I lift up my eyes…
The Lord is your guard and your shade,
he stands at your right hand;
by day the sun shall not smite you,
nor the moon by night.
I lift up my eyes…
The Lord keeps you from all evil,
he guards your life.
The Lord watches over you,
he guards your going and coming.
The Lord watches over you,
now and forever.
I lift up my eyes…
My help comes from the Lord,
who made heaven and earth.

Bless the Lord, my soul,
bless the Lord, the great King,
because she will be rebuilt,
Jerusalem, Jerusalem!
Jerusalem, Jerusalem,
Jerusalem, Jerusalem,
Jerusalem rebuilt again,
Jerusalem forever!
Your gates will be rebuilt
with sapphires and emeralds;
your walls with precious stones,
your towers with pure gold.
Your squares inlaid with rubies,
your streets with gold of Ophir.
Within your doors will be exultation,
in your houses there will be singing!
Jerusalem…
Your light will arise to the ends of the earth,
to you numerous peoples will come,
the inhabitants of the nations
will come towards the abode of your Name.
Generations will exult,
people will sing,
and in her the Name of your Chosen One
will be forever, will be forever.
Jerusalem…
Cursed are those who insult you,
cursed are those who destroy you,
cursed are those who demolish your walls,
who tear down your towers.
But blessed, blessed forever,
are those who rebuild you,
those who build you again.
Blessed are those who love you,
those who rejoice because of your peace.
Within your doors they will exult,
in your houses they will sing!
Within your doors they will exult,
in your houses they will sing!
Jerusalem…
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia,
alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!

Says the Lord to my Lord:
"Sit at my right hand,
while I make your enemies,
a foot-stool for your feet,
a foot-stool for your feet,
a foot-stool for your feet."
The sceptre of your power
the Lord holds out from Sion:
"Rule in the midst of your enemies,
rule in the midst of your enemies."
From the womb of the dawn,
like dew I have begotten you,
from the womb of the dawn,
like dew I have begotten you.
Says the Lord to my Lord…
The Lord has sworn and will not repent:
"You are a priest forever
of the order of Melchisedek,
of the order of Melchisedek."
The Lord is at your right hand,
He will shatter all your enemies.
He will judge all the peoples,
he will judge all the nations.
Along the way he drinks from the torrent
and lifts high his head,
and lifts high his head,
and lifts high his head.
Says the Lord to my Lord…

I come to gather,
I come to gather,
all the nations,
all the nations;
they’ll come and see my glory,
they’ll come and see my glory.
Glory, glory, glory!
Glory, glory, glory!
I will set a sign upon them
and I will send them to the distant nations
to announce my glory,
to announce my glory.
Glory…
And they shall bring your brothers
from all the nations
as an offering to the Lord,
as an offering to the Lord.
And from among them I will take priests for me –
priests, to announce my glory –
priests, to announce my glory.
Glory…
For as the new heavens and the new earth
I am making will endure forever,
so your descendants
will endure forever.
Glory…

You will show me the path of life,
you will show me the path of life:
the fullness of joy in your presence,
happiness forever at your right hand.
Protect me, O God, in you I take refuge.
I said to God: "You are my Lord,
without you there is nothing good for me."
You will show me the path of life…
The Lord is my inheritance and my cup:
my life is in your hands.
My lot has fallen in delightful places,
my heritage is wonderful.
I bless the Lord who has given me counsel;
even at night my heart instructs me,
I keep the Lord always before me,
he is at my right hand, I shall not falter.
You will show me the path of life…
Therefore my heart is glad,
my soul rejoices:
my body also rests secure,
for you will not abandon my life to the grave,
nor let your Holy One know corruption,
know corruption.
You will show me the path of life…

God, God
has led me, has led me
into darkness.
He has made for me a yoke
and he has pressed my head, my head
and my jaw.
God has bent his bow,
making me the target
for his arrows.
Though I call and cry,
he stifles, he stifles
my prayer.
When I see where he has brought me
in my wandering life,
this is wormwood and gall.
What will I do
if hope fails within me,
the hope
that comes from the Lord,
that comes from the Lord.
Sit down alone and in silence,
because God has laid it upon you.
Put your mouth in the dust,
there may yet be hope.
Offer your cheek to him who strikes you,
for the Lord does not reject you forever:
even if he afflicts you, he will then be merciful.
For the Lord does not reject you forever,
even if he afflicts you, he will then be merciful,
according to the abundance of his love.

Behold, our mirror is the Lord!
Open your eyes and look at yourselves in him
and learn what your face is like.
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.
Give glory to his Spirit!
Give glory to his Spirit!
Wipe away the dirt from your face;
love his holiness and clothe yourselves with it;
then you will be spotless forever before him.
Alleluia…
Give glory to his Spirit!
Give glory to his Spirit!
Give glory to his Spirit!

Elí, Elí, lamá sabachtháni?
My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?
How far I feel you from my lamentation;
I call on you by day and you do not answer,
I call by night and there is no rest for me.
Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?…
Yet you are the Holy One,
you dwell in the praises of my people;
in you my fathers have hoped,
they hoped in you and you have freed them;
they cried to you and they were saved,
they hoped in you and did not remain disappointed.
Then me? Why don’t you help me?
Perhaps I am not a man? Look, I am a worm!
Disgraced among men! Rejection of my people!
All those who see me curl their lips,
they mock me, shake their heads and say:
"He trusted in the Lord,
let him rescue him if he loves him so much."
Yes, you love me, yes, you cherish me!
You drew me out of my mother’s womb,
at my birth you picked me up,
from my mother’s womb you have been my God,
when I was being born I entrusted myself to you.
Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?…
Do not be far from me;
look! anguish is near and no one helps me.
Many bullocks surround me,
bulls of Bashan besiege me,
against me they open wide their mouths,
like a lion raging and roaring.
I am dirty water which is thrown away,
all my bones are racked;
my heart is like wax,
melting away within my bosom;
dry as a pot-shard is my palate,
my tongue is stuck to my throat,
you have thrown me in the dust of death.
Eli…
A pack of dogs surrounds me,
a gang of evildoers besieges me;
they have pierced my hands and my feet,
I can count all my bones.
They stare at me, they observe me,
they divide my garments among them,
and for my clothes they cast lots.
But you, Lord, do not stay far away! –
my strength, my strength, run to my help!
Save me from the sword,
from the claws of the dogs, save my life,
save me, save me from the mouth of the lion,
and from the horns of the bulls!
Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?…
I will announce your name to my brothers,
I will praise you in the midst of the assembly:
I will say: Praise the Lord you who fear him,
sing to the Lord, descendants of Jacob!
let the race of Israel give him glory;
because he was not disgusted with this poor man,
the only one who was not scandalised at me.
He did not despise this wretched man,
he did not hide his face from him,
but at his cry for help he answered him,
at his cry he heard him.
Eli…
Now I know that the poor will be saved,
that everyone who looks for you will find you,
that their hearts, their hearts will live,
will live forever, will live eternally.
All the ends of the earth will return to the Lord,
all the families of nations shall bow down before him.
Because the kingdom, the kingdom is the Lord’s;
he is the ruler of all the nations,
all those who prosper on the earth will bow down before him,
to him will bow all those who go down to the dust.
And I, I will live, will live for him,
my descendants shall serve him.
The Lord will be spoken of to the coming generations,
they will announce to them what he has done for me;
to the people yet to be born they will say: "Behold the work of the Lord."

O Lord, my heart has no lofty ambitions,
nor are my eyes raised with pride.
I am not looking for great things
that are above my strength.
O Lord, my heart has no lofty ambitions,
nor are my eyes raised with pride.
I am not looking for great things
that are above my strength.
But I have calmed and quietened my soul,
like a child in its mother’s arms,
like a child that has been suckled is my spirit,
like a child within me.
O Lord, my heart…
Israel, hope in the Lord, now and forever.
Israel, hope in the Lord, now and forever.

Shema Israel, shema Israel:
Adonai elohenu,
Adonai ehad!
Shema Israel, shema Israel:
Adonai elohenu,
Adonai ehad!
Listen Israel *
- Shema Israel
listen Israel
- shema Israel
the Lord is our God
- Adonai elohenu
the Lord is the only one - Adonai ehad!
You shall love the Lord your God
with all your heart,
with all your mind,
with all your strength.
You shall fasten these words,
on your hands as a sign,
as a band round your forehead,
on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.
Shema Israel, shema Israel:
Adonai elohenu, Adonai ehad!
Listen Israel *, listen Israel,
the Lord is our God, the Lord is the only one!
You’ll instil these words in your children,
repeat them in your house, walking in the street,
when you go to bed and when you rise.
This is the first commandment of life,
the second is like the first:
love your neighbour as yourself.
do this, and you will live forever.
Shema Israel, shema Israel:
Adonai elohenu, Adonai ehad!
Listen Israel *, listen Israel,
the Lord is our God, the Lord is the only one!
Shema Israel, shema Israel:
Adonai elohenu,
Adonai ehad!

You who dwell in the gardens,
where my companions are listening,
let me hear your voice,
let me hear your voice.
Flee, my beloved,
like a gazelle,
like a young stag,
on the sweet scented mountains.
I am in his eyes
as one who has found peace,
my vineyard is here in front of me,
my vineyard is here in front of me,
Flee, my beloved,
like a gazelle,
like a young stag,
on the sweet scented mountains.
You who dwell in the gardens…
The Church through Baptism has been introduced into the gardens of the Kingdom "where the
companions are listening."
There, as she has been made mother and teacher of all nations because of the experience of
love she has received and because of the suffering, the joys, the failures, the recoveries and – we
could say – because of the history of salvation that the Song of Songs expresses, the Church is
invited by the Bridegroom to let her voice be heard in a final yearning.
The Church answers with an eschatological paschal cry: what she has come to know and
experienced of the Bridegroom makes her desire to flee with him in a final exodus "to the sweet
scented mountains," which is Heaven, forever free.