O God, who by invisible power
accomplish a wondrous effect through sacramental signs
and who in many ways have prepared water, your creation,
to show forth the grace of Baptism;
O God, whose Spirit, in the first moments of the world’s creation,
hovered over the waters,
so that the very substance of water
would even then take to itself the power to sanctify;
O God, who by the outpouring of the flood
foreshadowed regeneration,
so that from the mystery of one and the same element of water
would come an end to vice and a beginning of virtue;
O God, who caused the children of Abraham
to pass dry shod through the Red Sea,
so that the chosen people, set free from slavery to Pharaoh,
would prefigure the people of the baptized;
O God,
whose Son, baptised by John in the waters of the Jordan,
was anointed with the Holy Spirit,
and as he hung | upon the Cross,
gave forth from his side | blood and water,
and, after his Resurrection, commanded his disciples:
“Go forth, teach all nations, teach all nations,
look now, we pray, upon the face of your Church
and graciously unseal for her the fountain of Baptism.
May this water receive by the Holy Spirit
the grace of your Only Begotten Son,
so that human nature, created in your image,
and washed clean through the sacrament of Baptism
from all the squalor of the life of old,
may be found worthy to rise to the life of newborn children
through water and the Holy Spirit.
May the power of the Holy Spirit,
O Lord, we pray,
come down through your Son
into the fullness of this font,
so that, all who have been buried with Christ
by Baptism into his death
Who lives and reigns for ever and ever.

Come, O creator Spirit,
visit our minds,
fill with your love
the hearts you have created.
O sweet Consoler,
gift of the most high Father,
living water, fire, love,
holy chrism of the soul.
Finger of the hand of God,
promised by the Saviour,
pour out your seven gifts,
make the word be born in us.
Be light to the intellect,
living flame in our hearts;
heal our wounds
with the balm of your love.
Defend us from the enemy,
bring peace as your gift;
may your unfailing guidance
save us from all evil.
Light of eternal wisdom,
reveal to us the great mystery
of God the Father and the Son,
united in one single Love.
Amen.

Come Holy Spirit,
send us a ray of your light.
Come, Father of the poor,
come, giver of gifts.
Come, light of the heart,
you, the greatest Consoler.
Come Holy Spirit…
Sweet guest of the soul,
sweetest consolation,
rest in the midst of our labours,
comfort in our weeping.
Come Holy Spirit…
Come most blessed light,
come and fill our hearts.
Without your holy strength,
nothing pure dwells in man.
Come Holy Spirit…
Wash what is dirty,
water what is dry.
Heal what is wounded,
bend what is rigid.
Come Holy Spirit…
Warm what is cold,
bring back what goes astray.
Give to your faithful
your seven holy gifts.
Come Holy Spirit…
Give virtue and love,
give us a holy death.
Give joy eternal.
Amen, Alleluia!
Come Holy Spirit,
send us a ray of your light.

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…

Give thanks to the Lord, alleluia!
Give thanks to the Lord, alleluia!
Give thanks to the Lord, alleluia!
Give thanks to the Lord, alleluia!
Give thanks to the God of gods,
for his love is everlasting.
He alone does great marvels.
Give thanks to the Lord, alleluia…
He made the heavens with wisdom,
for his love is everlasting.
He set the earth firmly on the waters. *
He created the great lights in the heavens,
for his love is everlasting,
the sun to rule the day and the moon the night. *
He struck down the first born of Egypt,
for his love is everlasting.
And he brought out his people, Israel.*
He opened a way through the sea,
for his love is everlasting.
And he led his people through the waters. *
He drowned Pharaoh and his army,
for his love is everlasting.
And he led his people through the desert. *
He gave us according to his promise,
for his love is everlasting,
a land flowing with milk and honey. *
He is with us in our anguish,
for his love is everlasting.
And he frees us from our oppressors. *
He provides for all living creatures,
for his love is everlasting.
Give thanks to the Lord of Heaven. *
Give thanks to the Lord…

All you works of the Lord
O bless the Lord!
To him…
be highest glory and praise for evermore!
Angels of the Lord *
Heavens of the Lord
All waters above the heavens *
All armies of the Lord*
Sun and moon
Stars of heaven *
Showers and rain
All breezes and winds *
Fire and heat *
Cold and heat *
Showers and dew *
Frosts and cold *
Ice and snow *
Night and day
Darkness and light *
Lightning and clouds
O let the earth bless the Lord – to him…
be highest glory and praise for evermore!
Mountains and hills
All plants of the earth
Fountains and springs *
Rivers and seas *
Sea-monsters and all that moves in the waters *
Every bird in the sky *
Wild beasts and tame *
Children of men *
O Israel, bless the Lord – to him…
be highest glory and praise for evermore.
Priests of the Lord *
Servants of the Lord *
Spirits and souls of the just *
Holy and humble of heart *
Ananias, Azarias, Mizael *
To him…
be highest glory and praise for evermore.
Let us praise the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.
To you be highest glory and praise for ever!
May you be blessed, O Lord, in the heavens.
To you be highest glory and praise for ever!
O bless the Lord.

Praise the Lord from the heavens:
praise him!
Praise him in the heights:
praise him!
Praise him, all his angels,
praise him, all his hosts.
Praise him, sun and moon,
praise him, all you shining stars.
Praise him, you highest of heavens,
and you waters above the heavens.
Let them praise the Name of the Lord,
for he commanded and they were created.
He has established them for ever,
he’s set a law that will never pass away.
Praise the Lord from the earth,
you sea-monsters and all the depths.
Fire and hail, snow and mist,
stormy winds that obey his Word.
Mountains and every hill,
fruit trees and every cedar.
Beasts, wild and tame,
reptiles and flying birds.
Kings of the earth and all peoples,
princes and rulers of the earth.
Young men and maidens,
old men together with children.
Let them praise the Name of the Lord,
for his Name alone is exalted,
his glory above heaven and earth,
he has raised up his people.
Let all his faithful praise the Lord,
Israel, the people that He loves.
Praise him!

It was a very hot day
when Abraham
was sitting by the entrance of his tent.
It was a very hot day
when Abraham
was sitting by the Oak of Mamre.
He looked up and there he saw
three men standing near him;
they stood in front of him.
As soon as he saw them
he bowed to the ground and said:
”O my Lord,
don't pass by, I beg you,
without stopping!”
”Without stopping,
don't pass by, I beg you,
without stopping,
without stopping.”
”I'll bring you a little water,
you'll wash your feet
and lie down under the tree.
I'll bring you a little bread,
you'll refresh yourselves
before going further.
Not by chance
have you passed today
near me.”
”O my Lord,
don't pass by, I beg you,
without stopping,
without stopping!
Without stopping,
don't pass by, I beg you,
without stopping,
without stopping!”

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…

When Israel came out of Egypt,
the house of Jacob from a foreign nation,
Judah became his sanctuary,
Israel his dominion.
Judah became his sanctuary,
Israel his dominion.
The sea fled at the sight,
and the Jordan turned back,
the mountains skipped like rams,
the hills like lambs.
Why, sea, do you flee,
and you, Jordan, turn back,
and you, mountains, skip like rams,
and you, hills, like lambs?
Tremble, earth, tremble
before God who is passing,
before the God of Jacob
who draws out water from the rock!
When Israel came out of Egypt,
the house of Jacob from a foreign nation;
Judah became his sanctuary,
Israel his dominion.
Judah became his sanctuary,
Israel his dominion.
The sea fled at the sight,
and the Jordan turned back,
the mountains skipped like rams,
the hills like lambs.
Why, sea, do you flee,
and you, Jordan, turn back,
and you, mountains, skip like rams,
and you, hills, like lambs?
Tremble, earth, tremble
before God who is passing,
before the God of Jacob
who draws out water from the rock!

The Lord is my shepherd,
I lack nothing;
in meadows of green grass
he lets me lie.
The Lord is my shepherd,
I lack nothing;
to the waters of life
he leads me.
He revives my strength
and guides me
in the way of love.
He revives my strength
and guides me
for the glory of his Name.
The Lord is my shepherd…
Though I pass
through a dark valley
I fear no harm
because you, because you,
because you are with me.
Your rod and your staff
console me,
look, they console me.
The Lord is my shepherd…
You prepare a banquet
before me
under the eyes of my enemies.
You anoint my head
with oil;
my cup brims over.
The Lord is my shepherd…
Yes, the joy of your love
will accompany me.
Yes, I shall live
in your house for ever.
The Lord is my shepherd…

Shout with joy,
for great in your midst
is the Holy One of Israel.
The Lord God is my salvation,
I will trust, I will not be afraid
for the Lord is my strength and my song;
he is my Saviour.
Shout with joy…
With joy you shall draw water
from the wells of salvation.
Praise the Lord, call upon his name,
manifest his marvels among the peoples.
Shout with joy…
Sing hymns to the Lord,
great things he has done for us.
Shout with joy,
all you people of Zion,
for God loves you.
Shout with joy…

O God, you are my God,
I seek you from the dawn;
for you my soul is thirsting.
For you my soul is thirsting,
my flesh is longing for you
like a dry weary land,
like a dry weary land without water.
O God, you are my God...
Your love is better than life,
my lips will speak your praise.
So I will bless you,
in your name I will lift up my hands.
O God, you are my God...
My soul clings to you,
your right hand holds me with strength;
on my bed I think of you,
on you I muse through the night.
O God, you are my God...
My soul shall be filled as with a banquet,
my mouth shall praise you with joy
for you have been my help;
in the shadow of your wings I rejoice.
O God, you are my God…

I have admitted to you my sin,
I have no longer concealed my guilt;
I said:
"I will confess to the Lord my faults;"
and you have pardoned the malice of my sin.
That’s why the faithful man prays to you
in times of anguish;
when great waters come rushing down
they will never reach him.
I have admitted…
Happy is the man,
whose fault is forgiven,
and whose sin is pardoned!
Happy is the man
to whom God imputes no evil,
and in whose spirit there is no deceit.
I have admitted…
I kept silent and my bones were wasting away,
while I groaned all the day long;
day and night your hand weighed upon me
and, like a summer drought, my strength was drying up.
But I have admitted to you my sin,
I have no longer concealed my guilt;
I said: "I will confess to the Lord my faults;"
and you have pardoned the malice of my sin.
I have admitted…

Woman!, behold your son,
woman! behold your son,
behold your son, behold your son!
Behold your mother, behold your mother.
Mary, my mother,
Mary, our mother;
come to live with me,
come to my house,
and teach us to love your son,
as you have loved him.
I thirst, I thirst,
all is accomplished,
all is accomplished,
all is accomplished!
Mary, my mother…
Then the soldiers came,
and seeing he was already dead,
they did not break his legs,
but one of the soldiers
pierced his side with a lance,
and at once there flowed out
blood and water, blood and water.
Mary, my mother,
Mary, our mother,
You are the mother of the Church,
which springs from the side of Christ,
his bride, the new Eve.
which springs from the side of Christ,
his bride, the new Eve.
Mary, my mother…

Mary, House of all blessing,
salvation of our age,
earthly abode of the Humble One.
You, as in Cana in Galilee,
have seen we were lacking wine,
that our feast was no feast,
that our life was no life,
because death reigned over us.
Mary, House of all blessing…
You have led us to your Son,
and have taught us to obey him,
and to do all that he tells us,
so as to change our water into new wine.
Victory! Victory!
Life Eternal in Christ risen!
Alleluia, allelu, alleluia!
Alleluia, allelu, alleluia!

Happy the man who follows not the counsel of the impious,
nor lingers in the way of sinners,
nor sits in the company of scorners.
But whose delight is the Word of the Lord,
whose Word he murmurs day and night.
He will be like a tree planted beside flowing waters.
He will be like a tree planted beside flowing waters.
That bears fruit in due season,
and its leaves shall never fall;
everything he undertakes will succeed,
all his works will flourish
Not so the impious, not so;
who are like chaff blown away by the wind.
At the judgement the impious will not stand,
nor sinners in the community of saints.
For the Lord watches over the way of his faithful,
but the way of the impious leads to doom, leads to doom.
Happy the man…
But whose delight…

I love you Lord, you are my rock,
you are my liberator, you are my God,
I love you, I love you, O Lord.
The waves of death were surrounding me,
I was frightened by the roarings of Belial,
I was entangled in the bonds of Sheol,
I was caught in the fetters of death.
I called to the Lord in my anguish,
to my God, to my God I cried out.
From his temple he heard my voice,
my cry came to his ear
and the earth quaked and shook,
the foundations of the mountains trembled,
for he lowered the heavens and came down.
And the bed of the sea appeared,
the foundations of the world were laid bare,
for he stretched out his hand and caught me,
he raised me from the depths of the waters.
I love you Lord…
The waves of death…

I will take you from the nations,
I will gather you from every land,
I will pour upon you clean water,
I will purify you.
I will give you a new heart,
I will put within you a new spirit
I will take away from you your heart of stone,
and I will give you a heart of flesh.
I will take you…
I will put my spirit
within you
and I will make you live according to my word
you will be my people and I will be your God.
I will take you…

Listen to me, remotest islands, all the nations,
thus speaks the Lord, the Holy One of Israel
to him whose life is despised,
whom the nations loathe,
to the slave of the oppressors:
"The kings shall see you, they will stand up,
the princes of the earth
they will bow down,
I have chosen you, I’ve chosen you."
At the time of favour I will hear you,
on the day of salvation I will help you,
I have set you as a Covenant for the peoples.”
"The kings shall see you…
"You will say to prisoners: 'Come out!;'
you will say to the blind: 'See!;'
you will guide the peoples to the waters of life."
"The kings shall see you…
But Zion says:
"The Lord has abandoned me,
the Lord has forgotten me."
"Can a mother forget
the baby at her breast?
Or fail to cherish
the son of her womb?
Even if a mother
forget her baby
I will not forget you.
Look at me, I have branded you
on the palms of my hands.
Look at me, I have branded you
on the palms of my hands."
"The kings shall see you…

When Israel gathers the assembly,
when the people offer themselves as volunteers:
Bless the Lord, bless the Lord,
bless the Lord, to the Lord I want to sing.
Awake, Deborah,
awake, Deborah,
strike up the song!
Awake, Deborah,
awake, Deborah,
arise Barak!
In the days of Shamgar, son of Anath,
in the days of Jael,
there were no caravans,
no one could walk the streets,
since Israel had gone after other gods
and war was at the gates.
No warrior could be found in Israel,
not one lance could be found among ten thousand men.
Bless the Lord…
When you came out of Seir, O Lord my God,
when you advanced over the fields of Edom,
the earth trembled, heaven shook,
the clouds dissolved into water,
before you the mountains melted,
before you, O God of Israel.
From heaven above the stars came out to fight.
From heaven above the stars came out to fight.
From heaven above they fought against Sisera.
From heaven above they fought against Sisera.
The Kishon torrent, the sacred torrent swept them away.
Bless the Lord…

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."

The Virgin Mary was betrothed to Joseph
when, before they came to live together,
she was found to be with child
through the Holy Spirit.
And Joseph, who was just,
did not want to repudiate her.
He decided to send her away in secret.
How bitter are the waters, Mary!
She-lamb of God, humble lamb,
you, who don’t resist evil,
Mother of Jesus and our Mother,
pray for us, pray for us!
And Mary gave birth to her son,
swaddled him and put him in a manger
because there was no room for them at the inn.
How bitter are the waters, Mary!
She-lamb of God…
Then Joseph woke up,
took with him the child and his mother,
and in the night fled to Egypt
because Herod was looking for the child
to kill him.
How bitter are the waters, Mary!
She-lamb of God…
A cry is heard in Ramah: "ay, ay, ay, ay, ay, ay"
– a cry and a great lamentation:
it is Rachel weeping for her children
and refusing to be consoled
because they are no more.
How bitter are the waters, Mary!
She-lamb of God…
And the angel of the Lord said to Joseph in Egypt:
"Get up and take with you the child and his mother
and go back to the land of Israel;
because from Egypt I have called my son."
She-lamb of God…

Who is she rising from the desert,
who is she rising from the desert,
leaning on her beloved, on her beloved,
leaning on her beloved?
Under the apple tree I awakened you,
there where your mother conceived you,
there where your mother gave birth to you,
there where your mother gave birth to you.
Who is she rising from the desert,
who is she rising from the desert,
leaning on her beloved, on her beloved,
leaning on her beloved?
Set me as a seal on your heart,
as a tattoo upon your arm,
because love is as strong as death,
a flame coming from the Lord,
and the waters cannot quench it.
To give all the wealth
of the house for love,
would be to despise it.
Who is she rising from the desert,
who is she rising from the desert,
leaning on her beloved, on her beloved,
leaning on her beloved?

Like honey flowing from the comb
and milk from the breast of a woman
who loves her babies,
as a spring pours out its peaceful waters,
so my heart pours out its praise.
And from my lips springs forth praise for him
and my mouth is full of the sweetness of his name
and my limbs delight in his songs.
Because his light eases my pain,
because his simple and loving gaze
heals my heart,
because immortal life
has made its home within us.
Alleluia, alleluia, allelu, allelu, alleluia!
Alleluia, alleluia, allelu, allelu, alleluia!
Like honey flowing from the comb
and milk from the breast of a woman
who loves her babies,
as a spring pours out its peaceful waters,
so my heart pours out its praise.
And my face lights up with his joy
and my spirit rejoices in his love
and my heart, filled with his serene light,
feels the love of his gaze.
Because in him fear becomes trust.
Because in him fear becomes trust.
Because in him salvation is secure.
Because in him salvation is secure.
Because immortal life
has made its home within us.
Alleluia, alleluia, allelu, allelu, alleluia!
Alleluia, alleluia, allelu, allelu, alleluia!

You have covered death with shame,
you have thrown hell into mourning,
you have struck iniquity,
you have deprived injustice of her children,
as Moses did to Pharaoh,
as Moses did to Pharaoh.
You have brought us from slavery to freedom,
from darkness to light, from death to life.
You are the passover of our salvation,
you are the lamb born of Mary.
Mary, she-lamb without blemish,
Mary, the innocent she-lamb.
You have been slain in Abel,
you have been bound in Isaac,
sold in Joseph,
abandoned on the waters in Moses,
persecuted in David,
mocked and despised in all the prophets.
You are the lamb who does not open his mouth,
you are the lamb born of Mary.
Mary, she-lamb without blemish…
You were taken from the flock,
led to sacrifice,
slaughtered in the evening,
buried in the night,
your blessed body did not experience corruption.
You rose from death,
and made mankind rise
from the depths of the tomb.
You are the lamb who does not open his mouth,
you are the lamb born of Mary.
Mary, she-lamb without blemish…

O Lord, help me, O Lord!
O Lord, help me, O Lord,
never to doubt you!
O Lord, help me, O Lord,
never to doubt your love!
The gift of your grace
has left my heart in blossom
with longings for love,
with longings for love;
I can do no more than suffer
and spend my life in sighs.
And in this flame of your love, this dark flame,
in this veil, that wraps my soul and stifles it,
I feel that my heart is displaced,
opening, pouring out,
like water flowing through your garden.
O Lord, help me, O Lord!
O Lord, help me, O Lord,
never to doubt you!
O Lord, help me, O Lord,
never to doubt your love!
And in this flame…