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STAND
Invitatory
Leader: Lord, + open my lips.
All: And my mouth will proclaim your praise.
Leader: Let us praise Christ the Lord as we celebrate the feast of Saint Joseph.
Psalm 95
A call to praise God
Encourage each other daily while it is still today (Hebrews 3:13).
Leader: Come, let us sing to the Lord
All: 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.
All: Let us praise Christ the Lord as we celebrate the feast of Saint Joseph.
All: 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.
All: Let us praise Christ the Lord as we celebrate the feast of Saint Joseph.
All: 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.
All: Let us praise Christ the Lord as we celebrate the feast of Saint Joseph.
All: 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.
All: Let us praise Christ the Lord as we celebrate the feast of Saint Joseph.
All: 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.”
All: Let us praise Christ the Lord as we celebrate the feast of Saint Joseph.
All: 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.
All: Let us praise Christ the Lord as we celebrate the feast of Saint Joseph.
Go to the HymnPsalm 24
The Lord’s entry into his temple
Christ opened heaven for us in the manhood he assumed (Saint Irenaeus).
The Lord’s is the earth and its fullness,
the world and all its peoples.
It is he who set it on the seas;
on the waters he made it firm.
Ant. Let us praise Christ the Lord as we celebrate the feast of Saint Joseph.
Who shall climb the mountain of the Lord?
Who shall stand in his holy place?
The man with clean hands and pure heart,
who desires not worthless things,
who has not sworn so as to deceive his neighbor.
Ant. Let us praise Christ the Lord as we celebrate the feast of Saint Joseph.
He shall receive blessings from the Lord
and reward from the God who saves him.
Such are the men who seek him,
seek the face of the God of Jacob.
Ant. Let us praise Christ the Lord as we celebrate the feast of Saint Joseph.
O gates, lift high your heads;
grow higher, ancient doors.
Let him enter, the king of glory!
Ant. Let us praise Christ the Lord as we celebrate the feast of Saint Joseph.
Who is the king of glory?
The Lord, the mighty, the valiant,
the Lord, the valiant in war.
Ant. Let us praise Christ the Lord as we celebrate the feast of Saint Joseph.
O gates, lift high your heads;
grow higher, ancient doors.
Let him enter, the king of glory!
Ant. Let us praise Christ the Lord as we celebrate the feast of Saint Joseph.
Who is he, the king of glory?
He, the Lord of armies,
he is the king of glory.
Ant. Let us praise Christ the Lord as we celebrate the feast of Saint Joseph.
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 us praise Christ the Lord as we celebrate the feast of Saint Joseph.
Go to the HymnPsalm 67
People of all nations will worship the Lord
You must know that God is offering his salvation to all the world (Acts 28:28).
O God, be gracious and bless us
and let your face shed its light upon us.
So will your ways be known upon earth
and all nations learn your saving help.
Ant. Let us praise Christ the Lord as we celebrate the feast of Saint Joseph.
Let the peoples praise you, O God;
let all the peoples praise you.
Ant. Let us praise Christ the Lord as we celebrate the feast of Saint Joseph.
Let the nations be glad and exult
for you rule the world with justice.
With fairness you rule the peoples,
you guide the nations on earth.
Ant. Let us praise Christ the Lord as we celebrate the feast of Saint Joseph.
Let the peoples praise you, O God;
let all the peoples praise you.
Ant. Let us praise Christ the Lord as we celebrate the feast of Saint Joseph.
The earth has yielded its fruit
for God, our God, has blessed us.
May God still give us his blessing
till the ends of the earth revere him.
Ant. Let us praise Christ the Lord as we celebrate the feast of Saint Joseph.
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 us praise Christ the Lord as we celebrate the feast of Saint Joseph.
Go to the HymnPsalm 100
The joyful song of those entering God’s temple
The Lord calls his ransomed people to sing songs of victory (Saint Athanasius).
Cry out with joy to the Lord, all the earth.
Serve the Lord with gladness.
Come before him, singing for joy.
Ant. Let us praise Christ the Lord as we celebrate the feast of Saint Joseph.
Know that he, the Lord, is God.
He made us, we belong to him,
we are his people, the sheep of his flock.
Ant. Let us praise Christ the Lord as we celebrate the feast of Saint Joseph.
Go within his gates, giving thanks.
Enter his courts with songs of praise.
Give thanks to him and bless his name.
Ant. Let us praise Christ the Lord as we celebrate the feast of Saint Joseph.
Indeed, how good is the Lord,
eternal his merciful love.
He is faithful from age to age.
Ant. Let us praise Christ the Lord as we celebrate the feast of Saint Joseph.
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 us praise Christ the Lord as we celebrate the feast of Saint Joseph.
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.Hymn
Joseph the praise and glory of the heavens,
Sure pledge of life, and safety of the wide world,
As in our joy we sing to thee, in kindness
Hear now our praises.
You were appointed by the world’s Creator,
Spouse of the Virgin; you He willed to honor
Naming you Father of the Word and guardian
Of our salvation.
You, your Redeemer, lying in a stable,
Whom long ago foretold the choir of Prophets,
Witnessed rejoicing, and your God adored there,
Humble in childhood.
God, King of kings, and Ruler of the ages,
He, at whose word the powers of hell do tremble,
He, whom the adoring heavens ever worship
Called you protector.
Praise to the Triune Godhead ever-lasting,
Who with such honor mightily has blessed you;
Now may He grant us at your blest petition
Joys everlasting.
Tune: Iste Confessor 11.11.11.5
Music: Paris Antiphoner, 1746
Text: Caelitum, Ioseph, decus, atque nostrae, Juan Escollar, +1700
Translation: Alan G. McDougall, 1895-1964, adaptedSIT
Psalmody
Leader: The shepherds went in haste and found Joseph and Mary, and the infant lying in the manger.
Psalm 63:2-9
A soul thirsting for God
Whoever has left the darkness of sin yearns for God.
Leader: O God, you are my God, for you I long;
Side 1: for you my soul is thirsting.
My body pines for you
like a dry, weary land without water.
So I gaze on you in the sanctuary
to see your strength and your glory.
Side 2: For your love is better than life,
my lips will speak your praise
So I will bless you all my life,
in your name I will lift up my hands.
My soul shall be filled as with a banquet,
my mouth shall praise you with joy.
Side 1: On my bed I remember you.
On you I muse through the night
for you have been my help;
in the shadow of your wings I rejoice.
My soul clings to you;
your right hand holds me fast.
Side 2: Glory to the Father, and to the Son,
and to the Holy Spirit:
All: as it was in the beginning, is now,
and will be for ever. Amen.
Leader: The shepherds went in haste and found Joseph and Mary, and the infant lying in the manger.
Leader: Joseph and Mary, the mother of Jesus, marveled at what was said of their child, and Simeon blessed them.
Canticle: Daniel 3:57-88, 56
Let all creatures praise the Lord
All you servants of the Lord, sing praise to him (Revelation 19:5).
Leader: Bless the Lord, all you works of the Lord.
Side 1: Praise and exalt him above all forever.
Angels of the Lord, bless the Lord.
You heavens, bless the Lord.
All you waters above the heavens, bless the Lord.
All you hosts of the Lord, bless the Lord.
Sun and moon, bless the Lord.
Stars of heaven, bless the Lord.
Side 2: Every shower and dew, bless the Lord.
All you winds, bless the Lord.
Fire and heat, bless the Lord.
Cold and chill, bless the Lord.
Dew and rain, bless the Lord.
Frost and chill, bless the Lord.
Ice and snow, bless the Lord.
Nights and days, bless the Lord.
Light and darkness, bless the Lord.
Lightnings and clouds, bless the Lord.
Side 1: Let the earth bless the Lord.
Praise and exalt him above all forever.
Mountains and hills, bless the Lord.
Everything growing from the earth, bless the Lord.
You springs, bless the Lord.
Seas and rivers, bless the Lord.
You dolphins and all water creatures, bless the Lord.
All you birds of the air, bless the Lord.
All you beasts, wild and tame, bless the Lord.
You sons of men, bless the Lord.
Side 2: O Israel, bless the Lord.
Praise and exalt him above all forever.
Priests of the Lord, bless the Lord.
Servants of the Lord, bless the Lord.
Spirits and souls of the just, bless the Lord.
Holy men of humble heart, bless the Lord.
Hananiah, Azariah, Mishael, bless the Lord.
Praise and exalt him above all forever.
Side 1: Let us bless the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
Let us praise and exalt him above all forever.
Blessed are you, Lord, in the firmament of heaven.
Praiseworthy and glorious and exalted above all forever.
Leader: Joseph and Mary, the mother of Jesus, marveled at what was said of their child, and Simeon blessed them.
Leader: Joseph rose in the night and took the child and his mother into Egypt. There they stayed until the death of Herod.
Psalm 149
The joy of God’s holy people.
Let the sons of the Church, the children of the new people, rejoice in Christ, their King (Hesychius).
Leader: Sing a new song to the Lord,
Side 2: his praise in the assembly of the faithful.
Let Israel rejoice in its maker,
let Zion’s sons exult in their king.
Let them praise his name with dancing
and make music with timbrel and harp.
Side 1: For the Lord takes delight in his people.
He crowns the poor with salvation.
Let the faithful rejoice in their glory,
shout for joy and take their rest.
Let the praise of God be on their lips
and a two-edged sword in their hand,
Side 2: to deal out vengeance to the nations
and punishment on all the peoples;
to bind their kings in chains
and their nobles in fetters of iron;
to carry out the sentence pre-ordained;
this honor is for all his faithful.
Side 1: Glory to the Father, and to the Son,
and to the Holy Spirit:
All: as it was in the beginning, is now,
and will be for ever. Amen.
Leader: Joseph rose in the night and took the child and his mother into Egypt. There they stayed until the death of Herod.Reading
2 Samuel 7:28-29
Lector: Lord God, you are God and your words are truth; you have made this generous promise to your servant. Do, then, bless the house of your servant that it may be before you forever; for you, Lord God, have promised, and by your blessing the house of your servant shall be blessed forever.Responsory
Lector: God made him the master of his household.
All: God made him the master of his household.
Lector: He gave him charge over all his possessions,
All: and made him the master of his household.
Lector: Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
All: God made him the master of his household.Gospel Canticle
Leader: Joseph lived in the town of Nazareth to fulfill what the prophets had foretold of Christ: He will be called a Nazarean.
Canticle of Zechariah
Luke 1:68-79
The Messiah and his forerunner
Leader: Blessed + be the Lord, the God of Israel;
All: 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:
All: as it was in the beginning, is now,
and will be for ever. Amen.
Leader: Joseph lived All: in the town of Nazareth to fulfill what the prophets had foretold of Christ: He will be called a Nazarean.Intercessions
Leader: The Lord is the giver of holiness. Let us turn to him and pray:
All: Holy God, raise us up to new life in holiness.
Leader: Lord our God, you called our fathers in faith to walk before you in holiness of heart,
may we follow in their footsteps, and obey your command to be perfect.
All: Holy God, raise us up to new life in holiness.
Leader: You chose Joseph the righteous to care for your Son in childhood and youth,
teach us to care for Christ’s body by caring for our brothers and sisters.
All: Holy God, raise us up to new life in holiness.
Leader: You entrusted the earth to mankind, to people it and make it prosper,
inspire us to work wholeheartedly in this world, seeking always to give you glory.
All: Holy God, raise us up to new life in holiness.
Leader: Father of all mankind, do not forget what your hands have made,
grant that all who work may have secure employment and a fitting standard of living.
All: Holy God, raise us up to new life in holiness.The Lord's Prayer
Leader: Gathering our prayer and praises into one, let us offer the prayer Christ himself taught us:
Leader: Our Father, All: 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.Concluding Prayer
Leader: Father,
you entrusted our Savior to the care of Saint Joseph.
By the help of his prayers
may your Church continue to serve its Lord, Jesus Christ,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever.
All: Amen.
Or:
Leader: Grant, we pray, almighty God,
that by Saint Joseph’s intercession
your Church may constantly watch over
the unfolding of the mysteries of human salvation,
whose beginnings you entrusted to his faithful care.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever.
All: Amen.Dismissal
If a priest or deacon presides, he dismisses the people:
Leader: The Lord be with you.
All: And with your spirit.
Leader: May almighty God bless you,
the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
All: Amen.
Leader: Go in peace.
All: Thanks be to God.
In the absence of a priest or deacon and in individual recitation, Morning Prayer concludes:
Leader: May the Lord + bless us,
protect us from all evil
and bring us to everlasting life.
All: Amen.