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Arch Bishop Micheal Ralph Vendegna S.O.S.M.A.

Liturgy of the Hours

  • Morning Prayer (Lauds)

    If this is the first Hour that you are reciting today, you should precede it with the Invitatory Psalm.


    INTRODUCTION  
    O God, come to our aid.
      O Lord, make haste to help us.
    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. Alleluia.

    Hymn  
    Light’s glittering morn bedecks the sky,
    Heav’n thunders forth its victor cry:
    The glad earth shouts her triumph high,
    And groaning hell makes wild reply.
    While he, the King of sovereign might,
    Treads down death’s strength in death’s despite,
    And trampling hell by victor’s right,
    Brings forth his sleeping saints to light.
    Fast barred beneath the stone of late,
    In watch and ward where soldiers wait,
    Now shining in triumphant state,
    He rises victor from death’s gate.
    Hell’s pains are loosed and tears are fled:
    Captivity is captive led:
    The angel, crowned with light, hath said:
    ‘The Lord is risen from the dead.’
    Author of all, be thou our guide
    In this our joy of Eastertide;
    Whene’er assaults of death impend,
    Thy people strengthen and defend.
    To thee who, dead, again dost live,
    All glory, Lord, thy people give:
    All glory, as is ever meet,
    To Father and to Paraclete.

    Psalm 118 (119): 145-152
    The words I have spoken to you are spirit and they are life. Alleluia.
    I call on you with all my heart –
      answer me, Lord.
      I will obey your laws.
    I call on you –
      save me
      so that I can keep your decrees.
    At first light I cry to you,
      I put all my hope in your word.
    In the night I keep watch,
      pondering your sayings.
    In your mercy, Lord, hear my voice;
      in your justice, give me life.
    My persecutors come to do me harm:
      they are far from your law.
    But you, Lord, are near to me,
      and you are trustworthy in all your precepts.
    From the beginning I have known your decrees,
      how you have made them to last for ever.
    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.
    The words I have spoken to you are spirit and they are life. Alleluia.

    Canticle Wisdom 9 Lord, give me wisdom
    Lord, you have set up your temple and altar on your holy mountain. Alleluia.
    God of my fathers and Lord of mercy,
      who made all things by your word;
      who in your wisdom set man to rule over all that you created
     – to arrange the world in holiness and justice
     – to make right judgements according to the guidance of his heart:
    give me Wisdom, who stands by your throne,
      and let me not be unworthy to be your servant.
    For I am your slave and the son of your servant-girl,
      a man, weak, short-lived,
      slow to understand your judgements and laws.
    Even the highest of the children of men
     – if your wisdom is absent – counts for nothing.
    With you abides Wisdom, who knows your works.
      She was with you when you made the world.
      She knew what was pleasing to your eyes.
      She saw what was right according to your precepts.
    Send your Wisdom from the highest heaven;
      send her from the throne of your greatness;
      that she may abide with me and work with me,
      so that I may know what it is that pleases you.
    For Wisdom knows everything, and understands;
      she will lead me wisely in what I do,
      and protect me in her glory.
    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.
    Lord, you have set up your temple and altar on your holy mountain. Alleluia.

    Psalm 116 (117)
    Praise of the merciful Lord
    I am the Way, the Truth and the Life. Alleluia.
    Praise the Lord, all nations; all peoples, praise him.
    For his mercy is strong over us and his faithfulness is for ever.
    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.
    I am the Way, the Truth and the Life. Alleluia.

    Short Reading Romans 14:7-9 © Alive or dead, we belong to the Lord
    The life and death of each of us has its influence on others; if we live, we live for the Lord; and if we die, we die for the Lord, so that alive or dead we belong to the Lord. This explains why Christ both died and came to life: it was so that he might be Lord both of the dead and of the living.

    Short Responsory  
    The Lord has risen from the dead, alleluia, alleluia.
    The Lord has risen from the dead, alleluia, alleluia.
    For our sake he died on the cross, alleluia, alleluia.
    The Lord has risen from the dead, alleluia, alleluia.
    Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.
    The Lord has risen from the dead, alleluia, alleluia.

    Canticle Benedictus The Messiah and his forerunner
    Simon Peter said, ‘Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life, and we believe; we know that you are the Christ, the Son of God.’ Alleluia.
    Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel,
      for he has come to his people and brought about their redemption.
    He has raised up the sign of salvation
      in the house of his servant David,
    as he promised through the mouth of the holy ones,
      his prophets through the ages:
    to rescue us from our enemies
      and all who hate us,
    to take pity on our fathers,
      to remember his holy covenant
    and the oath he swore to Abraham our father,
      that he would give himself to us,
    that we could serve him without fear
     – freed from the hands of our enemies –
    in uprightness and holiness before him,
      for all of our days.
    And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High:
      for you will go before the face of the Lord to prepare his path,
    to let his people know their salvation,
      so that their sins may be forgiven.
    Through the bottomless mercy of our God,
      one born on high will visit us
    to give light to those who walk in darkness,
      who live in the shadow of death;
      to lead our feet in the path of peace.
    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.
    Simon Peter said, ‘Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life, and we believe; we know that you are the Christ, the Son of God.’ Alleluia.

    Prayers and intercessions  
    Christ is the bread of life and he will raise up on the last day those who are nourished by his word and his body.
    Lord, give us peace and joy.
    Son of God, risen from the dead, you are the Lord of life;
      bless all our brothers and make us holy.
    Lord, give us peace and joy.
    You are the peace and joy of all who believe in you;
      help us to live as children of light, rejoicing in your victory.
    Lord, give us peace and joy.
    May your pilgrim Church grow in faith;
      strengthen us to bear witness before the world to your resurrection.
    Lord, give us peace and joy.
    You underwent great sufferings to enter the Father’s glory;
      wipe away all tears and turn sorrow into joy.
    Lord, give us peace and joy.

    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.

    God our Father,
      by the waters of baptism
      you have given new life to those who believe in you.
    Protect these new-born members of Christ,
      help them to resist all false beliefs,
      and so keep intact the grace of your blessing.
    Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
      who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
      one God, for ever and ever.
    Amen.

    The Lord bless us, and keep us from all evil, and bring us to everlasting life.
      Amen.