Written by The Maronite Church

This liturgy is used on all the weekdays of the Fourth and Fifth weeks of Lent.

INTRODUCTORY RITES

Entrance Psalm or Hymn

As the ministers go in procession to the entrance of the sanctuary, the congregation stands and sings either the following Psalm (A) or Hymn (B):

(A) Psalm 9:2-3, 8-11

I will praise you, Lord, with all my heart;
I will declare all your wondrous deeds.

I will delight and rejoice in you;
I will sing hymn to your name, Most High.

The Lord rules for ever,
has set up a throne for judgement.

It is God who governs the world with justice,
who judges the peoples with fairness.

The Lord is a stronghold for the oppressed,
a stronghold in times of trouble.

Those who honor your name trust in you;
you never forsake those who seek you, Lord.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit,
now and for ever.

OR:

(B) Hymn

Entrance Dialogue

Cel: I have entered your house, O Lord, and have worshiped before your throne. O King of heaven, forgive all my sins.

Cong: O King of heaven, forgive all our sins.

Cel: Pray to the Lord for me.

Cong: May the Lord accept your offering and have mercy on us through your prayer.

Doxology

Cel: Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and for ever.

Cong: Amen.

Opening Prayer

Cel: O Lord, you are rich and abound in good gifts, make us worthy to praise and thank you for your wondrous and saving deeds on our behalf: You granted speech to those unable to speak, hearing to people unable to hear, sight to those who were blind, cleansing to people with leprosy, movement to those who were paralyzed, strength to the sick, and resurrection to the dead. Glory to you, O Christ our God, to your Father, and to your Holy Spirit, now and for ever.

Cong: Amen.

Greeting

Cel: Peace be with the Church and her children

Hymn of the Angels

Cong: Glory to God in the highest and peace on earth and good will to all.

PRAYER OF FORGIVENESS (HOOSOYO)

Proemion

Cel: To the praise and glory of the Most Holy Trinity.

Cel: May we praise, glorify, and honor the heavenly Physician, who healed our sufferings and visited us in his abundant love; the compassionate One, who had mercy on us and in his kindness, lifted us from the abyss of sin. To Christ, the good One, are due glory and honor, during this season of holy Lent and all days of our lives, now and for ever.

Cong: Amen.

Sedro

Cel: Glory to you, O heavenly Physician. With your remedy, you healed our wounds, for you are the source of healing and bestow your gifts upon all. You are the precious pearl: those in need traded it and became rich. You are a treasure of blessings: the poor found it and they rejoiced. You are a banquet of celebrations: the hungry ate at it and were satisfied. You are the vineyard: the withered were planted in it and they brought forth fruit. You are the light: those who were blind saw it and where enlightened. You are the incense: sinners inhaled it and were purified. You are sea of compassion: those with leprosy were immersed in it and were cleansed. You are a crying voice, which opens the ears of those unable to hear and they hear his words. You are the fountain of life and  you give life to the dead.

We implore you, O Lord, with the fragrance of our incense, and we ask your compassion: heal our sick and the oppressed among us. Sanctify our souls and bodies. Clothe us with the robe of glory. Make us worthy of your blissful company among your saints in your heavenly kingdom. Grant rest to our departed in your glorious dwellings. We glorify you, O Christ, now and for ever.

Cong: Amen.

Hymn

The congregation sits and the hymn is then sung.

Cong: O Christ who came to heal our sick, heed our petition and cure the sickness of our souls.

O Christ who brought peace to the heavenly and earthly beings, grant peace to  your Church, and by your wondrous deeds, shield her children.

O Christ,  you accepted the fasting of Moses and the fathers of old; accept our fasting and prayer and have mercy on us.

Exalt, O Lord, the memory of  your Mother and of your saints. Through their intercession, grant pardon to us and to our departed.

Etro

Cel: O heavenly Physician, accept our incense. May it be acceptable to your majesty for the salvation of your people and the protection of your inheritance. Grant us  your peace and strength. May we truly and faithfully live with  you and be  your witnesses all the days of our lives, that we may delight in the vision of your divine face, now and for ever.

Cong: Amen.

Trisagion

The congregation stands and the Trisagion is then sung three times.

Cel: Holy are you, O God. Holy are you, O Strong One. Holy are you, O Immortal One.

Cong: Have mercy on us.

Cel: O holy and immortal Lord, sanctify our minds and purify our consciences, that we praise you with pure hearts and listen to your Holy Scriptures. To you be glory, for ever.

Cong: Amen.

SERVICE OF THE WORD

Psalm of the Readings

All sit for the psalm of the readings.

Cong: In Cana of Galilee the good wine became the first sign of the new covenant.

Cel: O Lord, you manifested your glory, in this first sign, and your disciples believed in this wine of your wisdom.

Cong: May we dwell day and night on the miraculous signs of the Lord, throughout our lives.

Reading(s)

Reader: A reading from the ...

The reader then asks for the celebrant’s blessing:

Reader: Father, give your blessing.

The celebrant blesses the reader. The reader then continues:

Reader: Brothers and sisters ...

The reader concludes the reading by singing or saying:

Reader: Praise be to God always!

Alleluia

Meanwhile, the congregation stands and sings:

Cong: Alleluia! Alleluia!

Cantor: “I will praise you, Lord, with all my heart; I will declare all your wondrous deeds.” (Psalm 92-2)

Cong: Alleluia!

Gospel

Deacon: Before the good news of our Savior, announcing life to us all, let us offer this incense. O Lord, we ask for your mercy.

The celebrant burns incense while two subdeacons (servers) hold lighted candles on each side of the Book of Gospels.

Cel: Peace be with you.

Cong: And also with you.

Cel: Let us be attentive to the gospel of life and salvation of our Lord Jesus Christ as recorded by the (evangelist Mark/Luke) (apostle Matthew/John).

The celebrant incenses the Book of Gospels three times. Meanwhile, the deacon proclaims:

Deacon: Remain silent, O Listeners, for the holy gospel is about to be announced to you. Listen and give glory and thanks to the living Word of God.

The celebrant begins the gospel using one of the following:

A. When the words of the Lord begin the reading: The Lord Jesus said...

B. When the gospel is from Mark or Luke: The Evangelist said...

C. When the gospel is from Matthew or John: The Apostles said...

At the conclusion of the gospel, he sings or says:

Cel: This is the truth. Peace be with you.

Cong: Praise and blessings to Jesus Christ for his living word to us.

Homily

The congregation sits. The celebrant then gives a homily based on the readings and the liturgy of the day.

Creed

At the conclusion of the homily, the congregation stands and sings or says the Creed.

We believe in one God,
the Father, the Almighty,
maker of heaven and earth,
of all that is seen and unseen.

We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ,
the only Son of God,
eternally begotten of the Father,
God from God, light from light,
true God from true God,
begotten, not made, one in Being with the Father.
Through him all things were made.
For us men and for our salvation
he came down from heaven:
by the power of the Holy Spirit he was born of the Virgin Mary
and became man.
For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate;
he suffered, died, and ware buried.
On the third day he rose again
in fulfillment of the Scriptures;
he ascended into heaven
and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead,
and his kingdom will have no end.

We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life,
who proceeds from the Father and the Son,
with the Father and the Son he is worshiped and glorified,
He has spoken through the prophets.
We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church.
We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins.
We look for the resurrection of the dead,
and the life of the world to come.
Amen.

The liturgy continues with the Pre-Anaphora

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