Opening
Lord, open my lips. And my mouth will proclaim your praise.
Hymn
In the stillness, one true Word Is enough to hold the soul. We do not come to master you; We come to be made whole. Open the book, open the heart. Where we have hurried, slow us down. Where we have feared, be near and kind Until your light is found.
Original – Prayer on Fire
Psalm I
Antiphon
Lord of hosts, send your holy messengers to guard our steps.
Psalm 72 (71):1–2, 12–13
Catholic Public Domain Version (public domain)
Psalm
Give your judgment, O God, to the king, and your justice to the king’s son, to judge your people with justice and your poor with judgment. For he will free the poor from the powerful, and the poor one who has no helper. He will spare the poor and the indigent, and he will bring salvation to the souls of the poor.
Glory Be
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
Antiphon
Lord of hosts, send your holy messengers to guard our steps.
Psalm II
Antiphon
In the presence of your angels, teach us reverence and courage.
Psalm 98 (97):1–3
Catholic Public Domain Version (public domain)
Psalm
Sing to the Lord a new song, for he has performed wonders. His right hand and his holy arm have accomplished salvation. The Lord has made known his salvation. He has revealed his justice in the sight of the nations. He has remembered his mercy and his truth toward the house of Israel. All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.
Glory Be
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
Antiphon
In the presence of your angels, teach us reverence and courage.
Silence
A moment of silence
First Reading
Revelation 12:7–12
Catholic Public Domain Version (public domain)
And there was a great battle in heaven. Michael and his Angels were battling with the dragon, and the dragon was fighting, and so were his angels. But they did not prevail, and a place for them was no longer found in heaven. And he was thrown out, that great dragon, that ancient serpent, who is called the devil and Satan, who seduces the whole world. And he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were cast down with him. And I heard a great voice in heaven, saying: “Now have arrived salvation and virtue and the kingdom of our God and the power of his Christ. For the accuser of our brothers has been cast down, he who accused them before our God day and night. And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of his testimony. And they loved not their own lives, even unto death. Because of this, rejoice, O heavens, and all who dwell within it. Woe to the earth and to the sea! For the devil has descended to you, holding great anger, knowing that he has little time.”
Responsory
This is the day the Lord has made. Let us rejoice and be glad in it. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Second Reading
From a homily of St. Gregory the Great on the Gospels
public domain
You should be aware that the word “angel” is the name of an office, not of a nature. For those holy spirits of the heavenly homeland are always spirits, but they cannot always be called angels. They are angels only when some message is conveyed through them. Those who make known the lesser things are called angels; those who make known the greater, archangels. Hence it is that to the Virgin Mary was sent not any angel, but the archangel Gabriel. For it was fitting that to this ministry, the greatest of all, should come the greatest among angels. These names are given them according to the service they perform. And we should know that whenever an angel is sent to us, he is sent from that hidden vision of God in which he always stands. He does not leave the presence of God when he comes to us; he who is sent brings God with him. Therefore, when we hear that angels are sent, let us understand that the Lord is near, and that the message is not theirs only, but His.
Intercessions
For the Church, that we may witness with courage and gentleness on this holy day.
R. Speak, Lord, we are listening.
For those who seek the Lord with tears, that they may hear their name spoken in love.
R. Speak, Lord, we are listening.
For the poor and the forgotten, that Christ’s friends may serve them with joy.
R. Speak, Lord, we are listening.
For our household and those we carry in prayer.
R. Speak, Lord, we are listening.
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name; thy kingdom come; thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen.
Closing prayer
Father of glory, you raised the lowly and crowned your saints. On this Saints Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael, Archangels, keep us faithful until you gather us into the same joy. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.