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February 1st is the Feast of St. Brigid of Kildare (451-525)
Invitation to Worship
Come, let us sing to Adonai, let us praise the God of all Creation!
We make the Sign of the Cross over our lips as we begin.
O Holy ONE + open my lips,
~And my mouth will proclaim your praise.
Let all creation praise the greatness of Adonai!
Let the universe extol the glory of God!
MORNING HYMN
All may sing or alternate the verses of any Morning Hymn .
When faith’s light of freedom to Ireland first came,
You, Lord, raised up Brigid to make known your name.
Her proud chieftain father’s wild rage she defied,
And followed your way, with the gospel for guide.
In silence of fields, while she tended her fold,
You spoke to her heart words more precious than gold.
White figure of peace, through the country she went,
In your loving service her whole life was spent.
With keen fiery arrow she set hearts aflame;
To live ‘neath her rule many monks and nuns came.
The poor and the hungry were fed from her store,
For open to all were her heart, hand and door.
For Brigid we praise you, our Abba and God,
We praise Christ your Son in whose footsteps she trod,
We praise your kind Spirit who guided her ways,
We praise you, blest Trinity, all of our days.
Text: Catholic Ireland Net. Tune: SIOBAN NI LAOGHAIRE, 11.11.D
PSALMODY
REFRAIN
Praise God and highly exalt God for ever!
Canticle of the Three Children (Dan 3:57-87)
You angels and all powers of Adonai,
O heavens and all waters above the heavens.
Sun and moon and stars of the sky,
glorify Adonai.
Praise God and highly exalt God for ever!
Every shower of rain and fall of dew,
all winds and fire and heat.
Winter and summer,
glorify Adonai.
Praise God and highly exalt God for ever!
O chill and cold,
drops of dew and flakes of snow.
Frost and cold, ice and sleet,
glorify Adonai.
Praise God and highly exalt God for ever!
O Mother Earth,
O mountains and hills and valleys.
All that grows upon the earth,
glorify Adonai.
Praise God and highly exalt God for ever!
O springs of water, seas and streams,
O whales and all that move in the waters.
All birds of the air,
glorify Adonai.
Praise God and highly exalt God for ever!
O beast of the wild,
and all you flocks and herds.
All women and men everywhere,
glorify Adonai.
Praise God and highly exalt God for ever!
Let us glorify the ONE, and the WORD
and exalt the HOLY BREATH.
In the firmament of God’s power and love,
glorify Adonai.
Praise God and highly exalt God for ever!
Setting: Howard Hughes, S.M., Praise God In Song (GIA, 1979), adpt.
READING Romans 12: 9-13
Let love be sincere; hate what is evil, hold on to what is good; love one another with mutual affection; anticipate one another in showing honor. Do not grow slack in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope, endure in affliction, persevere in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the holy ones, exercise hospitality.
Silent Prayer
Responsory
R. To you my heart has spoken * I long to see your face. V. Your face, Adonai, will I seek. *I long to see your face. V. Glory to the Abba and the Word, and the Breath of Love.
Canticle of Zachary– Luke 1:68-79
Antiphon
Blessed are those who hear the Word of God, and strive to live by it.
Blessed + be Adonai, the God of Israel,
Who visits this people to set us free
Raising for us a sign of salvation
In the house and family of David.
God promised throughout past ages
In words of holy prophets
To save us from our enemies,
And from the control of our oppressors.
Adonai favored our ancestors
And remembered the sacred covenant.
The pledge to Abraham and Sarah
Is now renewed for us;
That freed from the grip of our foes
We might worship without fear
And be both just and holy
For the rest of our days.
And you, child, called “prophet of the Most High,”
Will go ahead to prepare the way,
By teaching this people of salvation
Through forgiveness of their sins.
For the loving compassion of the Holy One
As the Rising Sun will shine upon us
To illumine the darkness and dispel death’s shadow
To Guide our feet on the way of peace.
Glory to the ONE and to the WORD
and to the BREATH of Love!
As always before,
so now and evermore. Amen.
Blessed are those who hear the Word of God, and strive to live by it.
Intercessory Prayer
You created all things and found everything you made to be very good;
help us to live as your image, loving and caring for all of creation.
You called St. Brigid to use her considerable gifts and talents to proclaim the Gospel,
and build up communities of service committed to the needy and the poor:
free us to use our gifts and talents as ministers of the Good News wherever you lead us.
On this day when Spring begins in Ireland and St. Brigid’s special care of land, plants and animals is remembered, renew our hope for the fertility of Earth and give us the grace to encourage all whom we meet today
Create new hearts in us, O God,
and fill us with your Holy Spirit.
Prayer of Jesus
Our Father …
Closing Prayer & Blessing
Holy One and God of endless Compassion, you are the praise of all your saints and the joy of all creation. We rejoice today in the fellowship of your blessed servant Brigid, and give you thanks for her life of devoted service and her legends which continue to delight and inspire us. Fill us with life and light, and give us perseverance to serve you all our days; For yours is the power and glory of love now and forever. Amen.
Prayer to Saint Brigid
You were a woman of peace.
You brought harmony where there was conflict.
You brought light to the darkness.
You brought hope to the downcast.
May the mantle of your peace cover those who are troubled and anxious,
and may peace be firmly rooted in our hearts and in our world.
Inspire us to act justly and to reverence all God has made.
Brigid you were a voice for the wounded and the weary.
Pray God will strengthen what is weak within us and calm us into a quietness that heals and listens. May we grow each day into greater wholeness in mind, body and spirit.
Amen.
May the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, + guard our hearts and our minds in Christ Jesus. ~Amen.
Let us bless Adonai.
~Thanks be to God.