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

Office Readings


  • Saturday 14 December 2019

    Saint John of the Cross, Priest, Doctor
     on Saturday of the 2nd week of Advent

    Office of Readings
    (combined with Lauds)

    This is the Office of Readings joined to another Hour, as described in §99 of the General Instruction. To see the Office of Readings on its own, use the menu button on the right.


    Introduction (without Invitatory)

    If this is the first Hour that you are reciting today, use the version with the Invitatory Psalm instead.


    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

    Who are these like stars appearing,
    these, before God’s throne who stand?
    Each a golden crown is wearing;
    who are all this glorious band?
    Alleluia! Hark, they sing,
    praising loud their heavenly King.

    Who are these of dazzling brightness,
    clothed in God’s own righteousness?
    These, whose robes of purest whiteness,
    shall their lustre still possess,
    still untouched by time’s rude hand?
    Whence came all this glorious band?

    These are they who have contended
    for their Saviour’s honour long,
    wrestling on till life was ended,
    following not the sinful throng;
    these who well the fight sustained,
    triumph through the Lamb have gained.

    These are they whose hearts were riven,
    sore with woe and anguish tried,
    who in prayer full oft have striven
    with the God they glorified;
    now, their painful conflict o’er,
    God has bid them weep no more.

    These, the Almighty contemplating,
    did as priests before him stand,
    soul and body always waiting
    day and night at his command:
    now in God’s most holy place
    blest they stand before his face.


    ________

    Psalm 105 (106)
    The Lord's goodness and his people's infidelity


    “These things were written down to be a lesson for us who are living at the end of the age” (1 Cor 10:11).

    O Lord, remember us: come to us with your help.

    O give thánks to the Lórd for he is góod; *
        for his lóve endúres for éver.
    Who can téll the Lórd’s mighty déeds? *
        Whó can recóunt all his práise?

    They are háppy who dó what is ríght, *
        who at áll times dó what is júst.
    O Lórd, remémber mé *
        out of the lóve you háve for your péople.

    Cóme to me, Lórd, with your hélp *
        that I may sée the jóy of your chósen ones
    and may rejóice in the gládness of your nátion *
        and sháre the glóry of your péople.

    Our sín is the sín of our fáthers; *
        we have done wróng, our déeds have been évil.
    Our fáthers when théy were in Égypt *
        paid no héed to your wónderful déeds.

    They forgót the gréatness of your lóve, *
        at the Réd Sea defíed the Most Hígh.
    Yet he sáved them for the sáke of his náme, *
        in órder to make knówn his pówer.

    He thréatened the Red Séa; it dried úp *
        and he léd them through the déep as through the désert.
    He sáved them from the hánd of the fóe; *
        he sáved them from the gríp of the énemy.

    The wáters cóvered their oppréssors; *
        not óne of them was léft alíve.
    Thén they belíeved in his wórds: *
        thén they sáng his práises.

    But they sóon forgót his déeds *
        and wóuld not wáit upon his wíll.
    They yíelded to their crávings in the désert *
        and put Gód to the tést in the wílderness.

    He gránted them the fávour they ásked *
        and sént diséase amóng them.
    Then they rebélled, énvious of Móses *
        and of Áaron, who was hóly to the Lórd.

    The earth ópened and swállowed up Dáthan *
        and búried the clán of Abíram.
    Fíre blazed úp against their clán *
        and flámes devóured the rébels.

    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.

    O Lord, remember us: come to us with your help.


    ________

    Psalm 105 (106)

    Take care you do not forget the covenant the Lord your God has made with you.

    They fáshioned a cálf at Hóreb *
        and wórshipped an ímage of métal,
    exchánging the Gód who was their glóry *
        for the ímage of a búll that eats gráss.

    They forgót the Gód who was their sáviour, *
        who had dóne such great thíngs in Égypt,
    such pórtents in the lánd of Hám, *
        such márvels at the Réd Séa.

    For thís he sáid he would destróy them, *
        but Móses, the mán he had chósen,
    stóod in the bréach befóre him, *
        to túrn back his ánger from destrúction.

    Then they scórned the lánd of prómise: *
        they hád no fáith in his wórd.
    They compláined insíde their ténts *
        and would not lísten to the vóice of the Lórd.

    So he ráised his hánd to swear an óath *
        that he would láy them lów in the désert;
    would scátter their sóns among the nátions *
        and dispérse them throughóut the lánds.

    They bówed before the Báal of Péor; *
        ate ófferings máde to lifeless góds.
    They róused him to ánger with their déeds *
        and a plágue broke óut amóng them.

    Then Phínehas stood úp and intervéned. *
        Thús the plágue was énded
    and thís was cóunted in his fávour *
        from áge to áge for éver.

    They provóked him at the wáters of Meríbah. *
        Through their fáult it went íll with Móses;
    for they máde his héart grow bítter *
        and he úttered wórds that were rásh.

    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.

    Take care you do not forget the covenant the Lord your God has made with you.


    ________

    Psalm 105 (106)

    O Lord, save us; gather us from among the nations.

    They fáiled to destróy the péoples *
        as the Lórd had gíven commánd,
    but instéad they míngled with the nátions *
        and léarned to áct as they díd.

    They wórshipped the ídols of the nátions *
        and thése became a snáre to entráp them.
    They éven óffered their own sóns *
        and their dáughters in sácrifice to démons.

    They shéd the blóod of the ínnocent, *
        the blóod of their sóns and dáughters
    whom they óffered to the ídols of Cánaan. *
        The lánd was pollúted with blóod.

    So they defíled themsélves by their déeds *
        and bróke their marriage bónd with the Lórd
    till his ánger blázed against his péople; *
        he was fílled with hórror at his chósen ones.

    So he gáve them into the hánd of the nátions *
        and their fóes becáme their rúlers.
    Their énemies becáme their oppréssors; *
        they were subdúed benéath their hánd.

    Tíme after tíme he réscued them, †
        but in their málice they dáred to defý him *
        and sank lów thróugh their gúilt.
    In spite of thís he paid héed to their distréss, *
        so óften as he héard their crý.

    For théir sake he remémbered his cóvenant. *
        In the gréatness of his lóve he relénted
    and he lét them be tréated with mércy *
        by áll who héld them cáptive.

    O Lórd, our Gód, sáve us! *
        Bring us togéther from amóng the nátions
    that we may thánk your hóly náme *
        and máke it our glóry to práise you.

    Bléssed be the Lórd, God of Ísrael, *
        for éver, from áge to áge.
    Let áll the péople cry óut: *
        ‘Amén! Amén! Allelúia!’

    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.

    O Lord, save us; gather us from among the nations.


    Psalm-prayer

    God, our Creator, how wonderfully you made man. You transformed dust into your own image, and gave it a share in your own nature; yet you are more wonderful in pardoning the man who has rebelled against you. Grant that where sin has abounded, grace may more abound, so that we can become holier through forgiveness and be more grateful to you.


    ________

    ℣. The Lord makes his word known to Jacob,
    ℟. To Israel his laws and decrees.


    ________

    First Reading
    Isaiah 29:1-8
    God’s judgement on Jerusalem


    Woe, Ariel, Ariel,
    city where David encamped.
    Let a year or two pass,
    let the feasts make their full round
    then I will lay siege to Ariel,
    and there will be moaning and bemoaning.

    You will be an Ariel for me,
    like David I will encamp against you,
    I will blockade you with palisades,
    and mount siege-works against you.

    Thrown down – you will speak from the ground,
    your words will come muffled by dust.
    Your voice will rise from the earth like a ghost’s,
    you will speak from the dust in a whisper.

    Suddenly, unexpectedly,
    you will be visited by the Lord of Hosts
    with thunder, earthquake, mighty din,
    hurricane, tempest, flame of devouring fire.

    The horde of your enemies shall be scattered like fine dust,
    the tyrant horde like flying chaff;
    the horde of all the nations at war with Ariel
    shall vanish like a dream, like a vision at night.

    And all those fighting against her,
    the entrenchments besieging her,
    shall be like the hungry man who dreams he eats,
    and wakes with an empty belly,

    like the thirsty man who dreams he drinks
    and wakes exhausted, his throat parched;
    so shall it be with the horde of all the nations
    making war on Mount Zion.


    Responsory
    Is 54:4, 29:5-6

    ℟. Fear not, Jerusalem, for you will not be put to shame* when you will be visited by the Lord of hosts.
    ℣. The multitude of all the nations that fight against you shall be like flying chaff,* when you will be visited by the Lord of hosts.


    ________

    Second Reading
    From a Spiritual Canticle of St John of the Cross
    Recognising the mystery hidden within Christ Jesus

    Though holy doctors have uncovered many mysteries and wonders, and devout souls have understood them in this earthly condition of ours, yet the greater part still remains to be unfolded by them, and even to be understood by them.
        We must then dig deeply in Christ. He is like a rich mine with many pockets containing treasures: however deep we dig we will never find their end or their limit. Indeed, in every pocket new seams of fresh riches are discovered on all sides.
        For this reason the apostle Paul said of Christ: In him are hidden all the treasures of the wisdom and knowledge of God. The soul cannot enter into these treasures, nor attain them, unless it first crosses into and enters the thicket of suffering, enduring interior and exterior labours, and unless it first receives from God very many blessings in the intellect and in the senses, and has undergone long spiritual training.
        All these are lesser things, disposing the soul for the lofty sanctuary of the knowledge of the mysteries of Christ: this is the highest wisdom attainable in this life.
        Would that men might come at last to see that it is quite impossible to reach the thicket of the riches and wisdom of God except by first entering the thicket of much suffering, in such a way that the soul finds there its consolation and desire. The soul that longs for divine wisdom chooses first, and in truth, to enter the thicket of the cross.
        Saint Paul therefore urges the Ephesians not to grow weary in the midst of tribulations, but to be steadfast and rooted and grounded in love, so that they may know with all the saints the breadth, the length, the height and the depth – to know what is beyond knowledge, the love of Christ, so as to be filled with all the fullness of God.
        The gate that gives entry into these riches of his wisdom is the cross; because it is a narrow gate, while many seek the joys that can be gained through it, it is given to few to desire to pass through it.


    Responsory

    ℟. What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, things beyond our imagining – all that God has prepared for those who love him:* these are the very things that God has revealed to us through the Spirit.
    ℣. The Spirit reaches the depths of everything, even the depths of God:* these are the very things that God has revealed to us through the Spirit.


    ________

    Psalm 91 (92)
    Praise of God, the Creator


    “The deeds of God’s only Son are praised” (St Athanasius).

    Lord, we proclaim your love in the morning and your truth in the watches of the night.

    It is góod to give thánks to the Lórd, *
        to make músic to your náme, O Most Hígh,
    to procláim your lóve in the mórning *
        and your trúth in the wátches of the níght,
    on the tén-stringed lýre and the lúte, *
        with the múrmuring sóund of the hárp.

    Your déeds, O Lórd, have made me glád; *
        for the wórk of your hánds I shout with jóy.
    O Lórd, how gréat are your wórks! *
        How déep are yóur desígns!
    The fóolish man cánnot knów this *
        and the fóol cánnot understánd.

    Though the wícked spring úp like gráss *
        and áll who do évil thríve,
    they are dóomed to be etérnally destróyed. *
        But yóu, Lord, are etérnally on hígh.
    Sée how your énemies pérish; *
        all dóers of évil are scáttered.

    To mé you give the wíld ox’s stréngth; *
        you anóint me with the púrest óil.
    My éyes looked in tríumph on my fóes; *
        my éars heard gládly of their fáll.
    The júst will flóurish like the pálm-tree *
        and grów like a Lébanon cédar.

    Plánted in the hóuse of the Lórd *
        they will flóurish in the cóurts of our Gód,
    stíll bearing frúit when they are óld, *
        stíll full of sáp, still gréen,
    to procláim that the Lórd is júst. *
        In hím, my róck, there is no wróng.

    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, we proclaim your love in the morning and your truth in the watches of the night.


    Psalm-prayer

    Take our shame away from us, Lord, and make us rejoice in your saving works. May all who have been chosen by your Son always abound in works of faith, hope and love in your service.


    Or:

    Lord Jesus Christ, you taught your disciples that the Father is glorified by good works. Uproot your enemies even if they should grow as thick as weeds, and make us flourish in your courts and always remain in you as you are in the Father. May we bring forth a rich harvest in the radiance of your light.


    ________

    Canticle
    Deuteronomy 32
    The things God has done for his people


    “How often have I longed to gather your children as a hen gathers her young under her wings!” (Mt 23:37).

    Proclaim the greatness of our God.

    Listen, O heavens, and I will speak, *
        let the earth hear the words on my lips.
    May my teaching fall like the rain, *
        my speech descend like the dew,
    like rain drops on the young green, *
        like showers falling on the grass.

    For I shall praise the name of the Lord. *
        O give glory to this God of ours!
    The Rock — his deeds are perfect, *
        and all his ways are just,
    a faithful God, without deceit, *
        a God who is right and just.

    Those whom he begot unblemished *
        have become crooked, false, perverse.
    Is it thus you repay the Lord, *
        O senseless and foolish people?
    Is he not your father who created you, *
        he who made you, on whom you depend?

    Remember the days of old, *
        consider the years that are past;
    ask your father and he will show you, *
        ask your elders and they will tell you.

    When the Most High gave the nations their heritage *
        and disposed men according to his plan,
    in fixing the boundaries of the nations *
        he thought first of Israel’s sons.
    For Israel was the Lord’s possession, *
        Jacob the one he had chosen.

    God found him in a wilderness, *
        in fearful, desolate wastes;
    he surrounded him, he lifted him up, *
        he kept him as the apple of his eye.

    Like an eagle that watches its nest, *
        that hovers over its young,
    so he spread his wings; he took him, *
        placed him on his outstretched wings.
    The Lord alone was his guide *
        and no other god was with him.

    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.

    Proclaim the greatness of our God.


    ________

    Psalm 8
    The greatness of God, the dignity of man


    “He has put all things under his feet, and appointed him to be the head of the whole Church” (Eph 1:22).

    How great is your name, Lord, through all the earth.

    How gréat is your náme, O Lórd our Gód, *
        through áll the éarth!

    Your májesty is práised above the héavens; *
        on the líps of chíldren and of bábes
    you have found práise to fóil your énemy, *
        to sílence the fóe and the rébel.

    When I see the héavens, the wórk of your hánds, *
        the móon and the stárs which you arránged,
    what is mán that you should kéep him in mínd, *
        mortal mán that you cáre for hím?

    Yet you have máde him little léss than a gód; *
        with glóry and hónour you crówned him,
    gave him pówer over the wórks of your hánd, *
        put áll things únder his féet.

    Áll of them, shéep and cáttle, *
        yes, éven the sávage béasts,
    bírds of the áir, and físh *
        that máke their wáy through the wáters.

    How gréat is your náme, O Lórd our Gód *
        through áll the éarth!

    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.

    How great is your name, Lord, through all the earth.


    Psalm-prayer

    Almighty Lord, how wonderful is your name. You have made every creature subject to you; make us worthy to give you service.


    Or:

    Lord, creator of all that is, you made your Son one of us, a little less than the angels. When you crowned him with honour and glory, you raised the dignity of man beyond the skies. Always care for us, your royal children in your Son, the new Adam, so that one day we may be radiant with his splendour.


    ________

    Short Reading
    Wisdom 7:13-14

    What I learned without self-interest, I pass on without reserve; I do not intend to hide her riches. For she is an inexhaustible treasure to men, and those who acquire her win God’s friendship, commended as they are to him by the benefits of her teaching.


    ________

    Short Responsory

    The people tell about the wisdom of the saints.
    – The people tell about the wisdom of the saints.
    The Church sings their praises.
    – The people tell about the wisdom of the saints.
    Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.
    – The people tell about the wisdom of the saints.


    ________

    Canticle
    Benedictus
    The Messiah and the one who was sent before him

    The learned will shine as brightly as the vault of heaven, and those who have instructed many in virtue will shine like stars for all eternity.

    Bléssed be the Lórd, the Gód of Ísrael! *
        He has vísited his péople and redéemed them.

    He has raised úp for ús a mighty sáviour *
        in the hóuse of Dávid his sérvant,
    as he prómised by the líps of holy mén, *
        thóse who were his próphets from of óld.

    A sáviour who would frée us from our fóes, *
        from the hánds of áll who háte us.
    So his lóve for our fáthers is fulfílled *
        and his hóly covenant remémbered.

    He swóre to Ábraham our fáther to gránt us, *
        that frée from féar, and sáved from the hánds of our fóes,
    we might sérve him in hóliness and jústice *
        all the dáys of our lífe in his présence.

    As for yóu, little chíld, *
        you shall be cálled a próphet of Gód, the Most Hígh.
    You shall go ahéad of the Lórd *
        to prépare his wáys befóre him,

    To make knówn to his péople their salvátion *
        through forgíveness of áll their síns,
    the loving-kíndness of the héart of our Gód *
        who vísits us like the dáwn from on hígh.

    He will give líght to those in dárkness, †
        those who dwéll in the shádow of déath, *
        and gúide us into the wáy of péace.

    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 learned will shine as brightly as the vault of heaven, and those who have instructed many in virtue will shine like stars for all eternity.


    ________

    Prayers and intercessions

    Christ, the good shepherd, laid down his life for his sheep. Let us praise him with grateful hearts, as we pray:
    – Lord, nourish the lives of your people.

    Christ our Lord, in the holy pastors you reveal your love for us;
        may we never be deprived of the care you show through them.
    – Lord, nourish the lives of your people.

    Through your sacred ministers you are present in our midst as the shepherd of our souls;
        never cease to guide us through their teaching and encouragement.
    – Lord, nourish the lives of your people.

    In the saints who lead your people, you manifest your power of healing souls and bodies;
        remain always with us to renew our lives in holiness.
    – Lord, nourish the lives of your people.

    By the example of the saints you instruct your faithful in the ways of wisdom and love;
        through our pastors, help us grow to the full stature of perfection.
    – Lord, nourish the lives of your people.


    ________

    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.


    ________


    Lord God, you gave Saint John of the Cross
        the grace of complete self-denial
        and an ardent love for the cross of Christ.
    Grant that by following always in his footsteps
        we may come to the eternal vision of your glory.
    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.


    Copyright © 1996-2019 Universalis Publishing Limited: see www.universalis.com. Scripture readings from the Jerusalem Bible are published and copyright © 1966, 1967 and 1968 by Darton, Longman & Todd, Ltd and Doubleday, a division of Random House, Inc, and used by permission of the publishers. Text of the Psalms: Copyright © 1963, The Grail (England). Used with permission of A.P. Watt Ltd.  All rights reserved.


    Copyright © 1996-2019 Universalis Publishing Limited: see www.universalis.com. Scripture readings from the Jerusalem Bible are published and copyright © 1966, 1967 and 1968 by Darton, Longman & Todd, Ltd and Doubleday, a division of Random House, Inc, and used by permission of the publishers. Text of the Psalms: Copyright © 1963, The Grail (England). Used with permission of A.P. Watt Ltd.  All rights reserved.