Cross
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel;
he has come to his people and set them free.
He has raised up for us a mighty saviour,
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.
— Benedictus Dominus Deus, Luke 1:76-79◊
Invitatory
Prepare ye the way of the Lord.
Make his paths straight.
Every valley will be filled.
Every mountain and hill will be brought low.
The crooked will become straight,
and the rough ways smooth.
And all flesh will see God’s salvation.
— Luke 3:4-6†
Cruciform
Take off the garment of your mourning and affliction, O Jerusalem,
and put on forever the beauty of the glory from God.
Put on the robe of the righteousness from God.
Set on your head a diadem of the glory of the Everlasting.
— Baruch 5:1-2
Weeks
Behold, the messenger of the covenant,
the messenger whom you desire, is coming!
— Malachi 3:1†
Dimissory
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.
— Benedictus Dominus Deus, Luke 1:76-79◊
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.