Cantica Gaudia

Advent: Wednesday Compline

Confession: Heavenly Father,
you exalted the humble and meek:
give us humble and contrite hearts.
Lord, have mercy.

Lord Jesus,
you grew towards birth in the Virgin’s womb:
be planted also in our hearts and lives.
Christ, have mercy.

Holy Spirit,
you overshadowed Mary,
that she might become the God-bearer:
fill us with your heavenly gifts.
Lord, have mercy.

Almighty God,
who in Jesus Christ has given us
a kingdom that cannot be destroyed,
forgive us our sins,
open our eyes to God’s truth,
strengthen us to do God’s will
and give us the joy of his kingdom,
through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Canticle: In the days to come the mountain of the Lord’s house
Will be established as the highest of the mountains.
It will be raised above the hills
And all the nations will flock to it.
Many peoples will come and they will say:
“Let us go up to the mountain of the Lord,
To the house of the God of Jacob,
That we may be taught the ways of the Lord,
And may walk in the right paths.”
From the mountain of the Lord shall go forth the law,
And the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.
The Lord will judge between the nations
And settle disputes for many peoples.
They shall beat their swords into ploughshares,
And their spears into pruning hooks.
Nation shall not lift up sword against nation,
Nor ever again prepare for war.
Come, O house of Jacob,
Let us walk in the light of the Lord.

Reading: The word of God is a tree of life that offers us blessed fruit from each of its branches. It is like that rock which was struck open in the wilderness, from which all were offered spiritual drink. Be glad then that you are overwhelmed, and do not be saddened because he has overcome you. A thirsty person is happy when drinking, and not depressed, because the spring is inexhaustible. You can satisfy your thirst without exhausting the spring; then when you thirst again, you can drink from it once more.

The Lord’s Prayer:

Eternal Spirit, Earth-maker, Pain-bearer, Life-giver,
Source of all that is and that shall be,
Father and Mother of us all,
Loving God, in whom is heaven

The hallowing of your name echo through the universe!
The way of your justice be followed by the peoples of the world!
Your heavenly will be done by all created beings!
Your commonwealth of peace and freedom
Sustain our hope and come on earth.
With the bread we need for today, feed us.
In the hurts we absorb from one another, forgive us.
In times of temptation and test, strengthen us.
From trials too great to endure, spare us.
From the grip of all that is evil, free us.

For you reign in the glory of the power that is love,
Now and for ever.  Amen.

Prayer: Into the daily cycle of our lives
When all seems well
With us and with the world
When our yoke is easy
And the burden light 
You break in
And scatter our complacency

Into the daily cycle of our lives
When we are comfortable 
And at our ease
When the fire is lit
But eyes are closed
You break in
And challenge our dependency

You break into
Our daily prayers 
Humble hearts
Lay souls bare
You break in

You break in
When defences are down
With an angel's shout
Or the quietest sound
You break in

And we change
And all things change 
When you break in

Going forth: Blessing, light and glory surround us, and scatter the darkness of the long and lonely night. Amen.