Cantica Gaudia

Season of Epiphany: Saturday Compline

Confession:  

Lord Jesus, illuminate the darkness in our hearts:
Lord, have mercy.

Lord Jesus, open our eyes to your saving love:
Christ, have mercy.

Lord Jesus, unstop our ears to hear your living word:
Lord, have mercy

Canticle: My breath, my heart, my mind, my whole life fills with joy
Because of God, who’s not forgotten me, whose strength surrounds and lifts me up.
All through the centuries that have passed
God showed patience and forgiveness.
God makes the proud and pompous folks look foolish,
And cares for the simple ones who trust him.
God turns the rich and selfish into beggars
God feeds the hungry and the poor.
All through the centuries, God is faithful
To those who are promised friendship.
Your beauty fills the earth and sky;
The saints and angels sing to you:
God everlasting and everliving.

Reading: Silence is not God, nor speaking; fasting is not God, nor feasting; solitude is not God, nor company. He lies hidden between them and no work of yours can possibly discover him save only your heart's love. Reason cannot fully know him for he cannot be thought, possessed or discovered by the mind. But loved, he may be and chosen by the artless, affectionate longing of your heart. Choose him, then, and you will find that your speech is become silent, your silence eloquent, your fasting a feast, your feasting a fast.

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: Be present, O merciful God, and protect us through the hours of this night, so that we who are wearied by the changes and chances of this life, may rest in your eternal changelessness; through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.

Going forth: Let us go forth into rest and dreams, rejoicing in the power of the Spirit.