Liturgy Planning
Click the Sunday title to go to the USCCB readings.
If a recording is available, click the title of the song to listen.
Click here for a list of psalm responses for Years A, B, and C.
Solemnity of All Saints
| Entrance | Victor | "Once we were a nameless people / Once we were a hopeless cause / But Your love raised us from our grave" and "Hail to our Victor / Hail to our King" give voice to the great multitude of Revelation 7:9-10, "from every nation, race, people, and tongue... 'Salvation comes from our God, who is seated on the throne, and from the Lamb.'" The bridge, "You are worthy / God almighty / To receive / The praise and the glory," echoes the angels' cry in 7:12: "Blessing and glory, wisdom and thanksgiving, honor, power, and might be to our God forever and ever." | SongSelect | ONE LICENSE |
| Offertory | Frame | "I am seen in full / I am known completely / I am loved more than I can know" sets 1 John 3:1-2 to music: "See what love the Father has bestowed on us that we may be called the children of God... Beloved, we are God's children now." The saints are those who knew themselves to be seen and loved, and the assembly offers its gifts in that same identity. | SongSelect | ONE LICENSE |
| Communion | In That City | "There will be a place / Where we finally see His face / ... For our lamp will be the Lamb of God" answers the psalm refrain, "Lord, this is the people that longs to see your face," and Revelation 7:14, where the saints "have washed their robes and made them white in the Blood of the Lamb." Receiving the Lamb at the altar is a foretaste of the throne-room scene in the first reading. | SongSelect | ONE LICENSE |
| Sending | Hope of Heaven | "Oh I know / Though trials may come and go / You remain steady / I have the hope of heaven" carries 1 John 3:3 out the door: "Everyone who has this hope based on him makes himself pure, as he is pure." It also answers the last Beatitude, "Rejoice and be glad, for your reward will be great in heaven" (Matthew 5:12). | SongSelect | ONE LICENSE |
The Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed (All Souls)
| Entrance | Death Is Not The End | "He says leave hell behind / Claim new life / Death is not the end" is the answer to Wisdom 3:2-3: "They seemed, in the view of the foolish, to be dead... But they are in peace." The song proclaims the same hope, that the just are "in the hand of God" and "the Lord shall be their King forever" (Wisdom 3:1, 8). | SongSelect | ONE LICENSE |
| Offertory | Even Still | "Even still You came for me / My Savior killed by shame and greed / In my place You died for me" is a near-direct setting of Romans 5:8: "God proves his love for us in that while we were still sinners Christ died for us." Offering the gifts for the dead, the assembly trusts that same love ("Hope does not disappoint," Romans 5:5). | SongSelect | ONE LICENSE |
| Communion | Invitation | "So come come and rest a while / Come lay down your weary head now / ... Oh I'm calling you home" is Jesus' promise in John 6:37 sung back to us: "I will not reject anyone who comes to me." It is also a gentle fit for the Alleluia, "Come, you who are blessed by my Father; inherit the Kingdom prepared for you." | SongSelect | ONE LICENSE |
| Sending | Death to Life | "From death to life / Jesus You had me in mind / I know that You gave Your life / So I'd have mine" paraphrases Romans 6:4 (the optional second reading): "just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might live in newness of life." It also rests on John 6:40, "everyone who sees the Son and believes in him may have eternal life, and I shall raise him on the last day." | SongSelect | ONE LICENSE |
32nd Sunday in Ordinary Time
| Entrance | Looking | "All this time I've been looking / Searching all my days / For the well that will fill my soul" mirrors Psalm 63:2, "my soul thirsts like the earth, parched, lifeless and without water," and Wisdom 6:12, wisdom is "found by those who seek her." The chorus, "You never stop searching for me / Even when I stop looking," echoes Wisdom 6:13: "She hastens to make herself known in anticipation of their desire." | SongSelect | ONE LICENSE |
| Offertory | Alabaster | "We've come to anoint You / Our jars full of oil / Hold nothing back" lives out Matthew 25:4, "the wise brought flasks of oil with their lamps." The chorus, "We lay it all down," is the readiness of the wise virgins offered at the altar. | SongSelect | ONE LICENSE |
| Communion | Real Presence | "And You call us to Your table / To Your banquet wedding feast / And we respond in love for we believe" is Matthew 25:10 at the altar: "those who were ready went into the wedding feast with him." The chorus, "You're truly here fully alive," is the answer to Psalm 63:6, "As with the riches of a banquet shall my soul be satisfied." | SongSelect | ONE LICENSE |
| Sending | Even In The Silence | "Even in the waiting / Though I can't see / You are never hiding" speaks to the delayed bridegroom of Matthew 25:5 ("Since the bridegroom was long delayed") and to the Alleluia, "Stay awake and be ready!" It also consoles as 1 Thessalonians 4:13 does: "so that you may not grieve like the rest, who have no hope." | SongSelect | ONE LICENSE |
Feast of the Dedication of the Lateran Basilica in Rome
| Entrance | Joyful Noise | "Oh my Lord, there's a river flowing / Washed my blues with red / In the blood of the Lamb" meets Ezekiel 47:1, "water flowing out from beneath the threshold of the temple," and 47:9, "Wherever the river flows... every sort of living creature that can multiply shall live." It also sings the psalm refrain: "The waters of the river gladden the city of God, the holy dwelling of the Most High!" | SongSelect | ONE LICENSE |
| Offertory | On This Altar | "I'm laying down / Laying down to You on this altar / Take my heart it's Yours / To You alone it's poured" fits 1 Corinthians 3:16-17: "you are the temple of God, and... the Spirit of God dwells in you... the temple of God, which you are, is holy." The dedication of a church building calls its people to offer themselves as the living temple. | SongSelect | ONE LICENSE |
| Communion | Jesus You Are Here | "Face to face before Your altar / Jesus You are making all things clear" and "Jesus / You are here / Here with me now" speak to John 2:21, "he was speaking about the temple of his Body," and the Alleluia, "I have chosen and consecrated this house, says the Lord, that my name may be there forever." The altar is where the true temple is received. | SongSelect | ONE LICENSE |
| Sending | Wildfires | "Our hearts they burn for You / Like wildfires" is John 2:17 sung: "Zeal for your house will consume me." The bridge, "A city on the highest hill / Bearing light all will see," sends the Church out as the living temple of 1 Corinthians 3:9, "You are God's building." | SongSelect | ONE LICENSE |
33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time
| Entrance | In Your Light | "In Your light / I'm finally seeing clear enough to find / I am seen I am known I am found" and "Fear will never see the light of day" sing 1 Thessalonians 5:5: "all of you are children of the light and children of the day. We are not of the night or of darkness." | SongSelect | ONE LICENSE |
| Offertory | Greater Measure | "In greater measure my love will impart / ... In your abandon I find my delight" echoes the generous master of Matthew 25:21, "Since you were faithful in small matters, I will give you great responsibilities. Come, share your master's joy," and 25:29, "to everyone who has, more will be given." | SongSelect | ONE LICENSE |
| Communion | Behold The Mystery | "Make Your home in me / As I make my home in You" is the Alleluia, John 15:4-5, almost word for word: "Remain in me as I remain in you, says the Lord. Whoever remains in me bears much fruit." At Communion that abiding becomes literal. | SongSelect | ONE LICENSE |
| Sending | Ablaze | "You give us Your strength / You give us Your power / You give us Your love" matches the master who "entrusted his possessions to them... to each according to his ability" (Matthew 25:14-15), and "I will be a witness of Your love" is the faithful servant's response. It also carries the spirit of Proverbs 31:20: "She reaches out her hands to the poor, and extends her arms to the needy." | SongSelect | ONE LICENSE |
The Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe
| Entrance | Behold Him | "Behold Him / Your King is coming towards you" and "Hosanna / Hosanna in the highest" open the liturgy with the Alleluia, Mark 11:9-10: "Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Blessed is the kingdom of our father David that is to come!" The chorus's "our humble servant King" prepares us for a king who identifies with the least. | SongSelect | ONE LICENSE |
| Offertory | Gentle King | "With a love as tender as a shepherd / Who lost his sheep / And again and again and again / You bring me to your arms" is Ezekiel 34:16: "The lost I will seek out, the strayed I will bring back, the injured I will bind up." The king of this feast is first of all the shepherd who says, "I myself will look after and tend my sheep" (34:11). | SongSelect | ONE LICENSE |
| Communion | Come To The Feast | "You have come come to the table / You have come come to the feast / The bread has been broken / The wine has been blessed" fulfills Psalm 23:5, "You spread the table before me... my cup overflows," and gives the Eucharistic answer to the Gospel, "For I was hungry and you gave me food" (Matthew 25:35). "My life given for you" recalls that the King we receive is also the one who is served in "the least brothers of mine." | SongSelect | ONE LICENSE |
| Sending | Lord Of All | "Hell could not hold our Savior down... On the third day You conquered death" and "The Lamb of God on the throne / To rule with love forever more" give voice to 1 Corinthians 15:20-26: "Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits... he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. The last enemy to be destroyed is death." The chorus, "Lord of all Jesus Christ," is the assembly's final proclamation of the King. | SongSelect | ONE LICENSE |
1st Sunday of Advent
| Entrance | Come Thou Long Expected Jesus | "Come Thou long expected Jesus / Born to set thy people free / From our fears and sins release us" answers Isaiah 63:19, "Oh, that you would rend the heavens and come down," and the psalm refrain, "Lord, make us turn to you; let us see your face and we shall be saved." It also fits 1 Corinthians 1:7, "as you wait for the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ." | SongSelect | ONE LICENSE |
| Offertory | Renew Me | "Renew me Lord / Call me back to You" and "My scars and stains / Are healed and washed away" respond to Isaiah 63:17, "Why do you let us wander, O LORD, from your ways," and 64:7, "we are the clay and you the potter: we are all the work of your hands." The psalm's "Lord, make us turn to you" is the same prayer. | SongSelect | ONE LICENSE |
| Communion | Send Down Your Spirit | "Lord send down Your Spirit / Let me receive Your peace" and "Draw near to us / Come dwell in us / We invite You Jesus" echo Isaiah 64:1 ("rend the heavens and come down") and 1 Corinthians 1:3-7, "Grace to you and peace... so that you are not lacking in any spiritual gift as you wait." It is an Advent invitation prayed at the moment Christ does come down. | SongSelect | ONE LICENSE |
| Sending | Cast My Cares | "I will fix my eyes on You / I will place my hope in You / I will find my rest in You" is the posture the Gospel asks for: "Be watchful! Be alert!... Watch, therefore" (Mark 13:33, 35). It also matches Isaiah 64:3, God "doing such deeds for those who wait for him," and 1 Corinthians 1:9, "God is faithful." | SongSelect | ONE LICENSE |
2nd Sunday of Advent
| Entrance | Purify | "In the wilderness / Prepare a way... Every valley high / Every mountain low" is Isaiah 40:3-4: "In the desert prepare the way of the LORD!... Every valley shall be filled in, every mountain and hill shall be made low." The chorus, "Purify our hearts / As we wait upon Your coming Lord," matches 2 Peter 3:14, "be eager to be found without spot or blemish before him, at peace." | SongSelect | ONE LICENSE |
| Offertory | Prepare Our Hearts | "Prepare our hearts / Prepare our hearts oh Lord" is the Alleluia, Luke 3:4, "Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight his paths," and the Gospel's "Prepare the way of the Lord" (Mark 1:3). John the Baptist's call to "a baptism of repentance" becomes the assembly's prayer as it offers its gifts. | SongSelect | ONE LICENSE |
| Communion | You Never Tire | "And I'll return a thousand times / To the arms that won't let go / ... And never tires of welcoming me home" images Isaiah 40:11: "Like a shepherd he feeds his flock; in his arms he gathers the lambs, carrying them in his bosom." It also reflects the divine patience of 2 Peter 3:9, "he is patient with you, not wishing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance." | SongSelect | ONE LICENSE |
| Sending | Declare | "I'll declare it everywhere / In the valleys / From the mountains / In every season" is Isaiah 40:9 as a mission: "Go up on to a high mountain, Zion, herald of glad tidings; cry out at the top of your voice." The chorus, "Just to declare Your Name," sends the assembly out as John did, proclaiming "One mightier than I is coming after me" (Mark 1:7). | SongSelect | ONE LICENSE |
Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe
| Entrance | Hosanna | "Rejoice and exult Jerusalem / Do not fear for the Lord is in our midst" is Zechariah 2:14 in song: "Sing and rejoice, O daughter Zion! See, I am coming to dwell among you, says the LORD." It also anticipates the angel's words to Mary, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God" (Luke 1:30). | SongSelect | ONE LICENSE |
| Offertory | I Let Go | "Jesus I give into You / ... I'm all in / I'm all Yours" is Mary's fiat, Luke 1:38: "Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word." It is the perfect offertory posture: total surrender of self along with the gifts. | SongSelect | ONE LICENSE |
| Communion | Take And Receive | "We make ready our hearts to receive / Your Word Your Body this mystery" mirrors Mary receiving the Word: "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you" (Luke 1:35). "We take and receive O Lord" echoes the Elizabeth reading as well, "Blessed are you who believed that what was spoken to you by the Lord would be fulfilled" (Luke 1:45). | SongSelect | ONE LICENSE |
| Sending | Proclaim | "The heavens declare Your glory / The rocks cry out Your fame / The world proclaims Your Name" is the Magnificat of Luke 1:46, "My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord," set for the whole creation. It also fits Zechariah 2:15, "Many nations shall join themselves to the LORD on that day." | SongSelect | ONE LICENSE |
3rd Sunday of Advent
| Entrance | Open My Lips (Praise The Lord) | "Come let us sing / Come let us shout / With joy to the one who saves" is Gaudete Sunday in a line: "Rejoice always" (1 Thessalonians 5:16), "I rejoice heartily in the LORD, in my God is the joy of my soul" (Isaiah 61:10), and the psalm refrain, "My soul rejoices in my God." The ending, "Open my lips and I will praise You Lord," is the Magnificat's own posture. | SongSelect | ONE LICENSE |
| Offertory | Free | "Oh our God has set us free / Oh His love it rescues me" answers Isaiah 61:1, "to proclaim liberty to the captives and release to the prisoners." The verse, "Purify my heart and set my soul free," also prays 1 Thessalonians 5:23, "May the God of peace make you perfectly holy." | SongSelect | ONE LICENSE |
| Communion | My Bride | "Lock your eyes with mine my bride / And let me love you" is the other half of Isaiah 61:10: "he has clothed me with a robe of salvation... like a bridegroom adorned with a diadem, like a bride bedecked with her jewels." Communion is the nuptial meeting that the Advent joy anticipates. | SongSelect | ONE LICENSE |
| Sending | You Shine | "You are the light in the darkness / You are the God of Your promise / Oh You shine" sends the assembly out as John was sent: "to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. He was not the light, but came to testify to the light" (John 1:7-8). "I know You are faithful till the end" echoes 1 Thessalonians 5:24, "The one who calls you is faithful, and he will also accomplish it." | SongSelect | ONE LICENSE |
4th Sunday of Advent
| Entrance | So Good | "Who could stand against / Your unfailing faithfulness / O God of promises / So good so good so good" celebrates the promise of 2 Samuel 7:16, "Your house and your kingdom shall endure forever before me; your throne shall stand firm forever," and the psalm refrain, "For ever I will sing the goodness of the Lord." | SongSelect | ONE LICENSE |
| Offertory | Vessel | "Empty me of myself / May I not be what's left / Fill me up with Yourself / Fill me with Your presence" is Mary's emptiness and readiness in Luke 1:35: "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you." The offertory becomes the assembly's own "let it be." | SongSelect | ONE LICENSE |
| Communion | Stand In Awe | "Lord I'm speechless / In Your presence / But You remind me / That is enough" fits Mary, who "was greatly troubled at what was said and pondered what sort of greeting this might be" (Luke 1:29). "So I'll speak with my actions / And follow Your way Lord" then answers her "May it be done to me according to your word" (Luke 1:38, the Alleluia). | SongSelect | ONE LICENSE |
| Sending | Thorn To Throne | "When You rose from thorn to throne... I'm not afraid / I'm not alone" joins David's promised throne in 2 Samuel 7:16 with Gabriel's words in Luke 1:30-32: "Do not be afraid, Mary... the Lord God will give him the throne of David his father." The congregation leaves with the Child who is both the thorn and the throne in view. | SongSelect | ONE LICENSE |
The Nativity of the Lord (Christmas), Mass during the Day
| Entrance | Son Of Man | "Praise to the One who made me / Praise to the God who knows my name / Who came into the world / So that I can call Him friend" matches John 1:10-12, "He was in the world... to those who did accept him he gave power to become children of God." It also joins Psalm 98:1, "Sing to the LORD a new song," with "Great are You Lord." | SongSelect | ONE LICENSE |
| Offertory | You Left Heaven | "You left Your throne / To save me / Oh what joy / You left heaven for us / Emmanuel" is John 1:14, "the Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us." "Angels and shepherds / Sing glory to God" also fits Hebrews 1:6, "Let all the angels of God worship him." | SongSelect | ONE LICENSE |
| Communion | Draw Us In | "Through Him all things were made / For our salvation" mirrors John 1:3, "All things came to be through him," and Hebrews 1:2, "through whom he created the universe." "Draw us in / Draw us closer / To You Lord / To one another" fits John 1:16, "From his fullness we have all received, grace in place of grace." | SongSelect | ONE LICENSE |
| Sending | All God's People | "All God's people got a little power / They got power" lines up with John 1:12, "he gave power to become children of God." "Just Whose you are and who you're s'pposed to be" sends the assembly out carrying Isaiah 52:10: "all the ends of the earth will behold the salvation of our God." | SongSelect | ONE LICENSE |
The Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph
| Entrance | Leaning on the Everlasting Arms | "What a blessedness what a peace is mine / Leaning on the everlasting arms" matches the psalm refrain, "Blessed are those who fear the Lord and walk in his ways," and Colossians 3:15, "Let the peace of Christ control your hearts, the peace into which you were also called in one body." | SongSelect | ONE LICENSE |
| Offertory | Do Not Fear, My Love | "Trust in His ways / And see how the Father loves" with "Nothing should frighten / Nothing should grieve you" gives a parent's voice to Colossians 3:21, "Fathers, do not provoke your children, so they may not become discouraged." It also lines up with the optional first reading, "Fear not, Abram! I am your shield" (Genesis 15:1). | SongSelect | ONE LICENSE |
| Communion | Simeon | "Take these tired eyes / ... Let Your servant go in peace" is Simeon's canticle in Luke 2:29-30: "Now, Master, you may let your servant go in peace, according to your word, for my eyes have seen your salvation." Having just received the Child in the Eucharist, the assembly prays what Simeon prayed with the Child in his arms. | SongSelect | ONE LICENSE |
| Sending | Glory | "Somebody needs to hear it from you / ... Go on and shout it / Tell of His mighty deeds" is Anna in Luke 2:38: "she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were awaiting the redemption of Jerusalem." It also lives out Colossians 3:16, "singing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God." | SongSelect | ONE LICENSE |