Monday 23 December 2019
23 December
Mid-Morning Prayer (Terce)
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.
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Hymn
Come, Holy Spirit, live in us
With God the Father and the Son,
And grant us your abundant grace
To sanctify and make us one.
May mind and tongue made strong in love
Your praise throughout the world proclaim,
And may that love within our hearts
Set fire to others with its flame.
Most blessèd Trinity of love,
For whom the heart of man was made,
To you be praise in timeless song,
And everlasting homage paid.
Stanbrook Abbey Hymnal
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PSALMS OF THE DAY
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Psalm 118(119): 129-136
Meditating the word of the Lord in the Law
“Love is the Law in all its fullness” (Rom 13:10).
The prophets foretold that the Saviour would be born of the Virgin Mary.
Your wíll is wónderful indéed; *
thérefore I obéy it.
The unfólding of your wórd gives líght *
and téaches the símple.
I ópen my móuth and I sígh *
as I yéarn for your commánds.
Túrn and shów me your mércy; *
show jústice to your fríends.
Let my stéps be gúided by your prómise; *
let no évil rúle me.
Redéem me from mán’s oppréssion *
and Í will keep your précepts.
Let your fáce shíne on your sérvant *
and téach me your decrées.
Téars stréam from my éyes *
because your láw is disobéyed.
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.
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Psalm 81 (82)
Against unjust judges
“Let there be no premature passing of judgement; leave that until the Lord comes” (1 Cor 4:5).
God stánds in the divíne assémbly. *
In the mídst of the góds he gives júdgement.
‘How lóng will you júdge unjústly *
and fávour the cáuse of the wícked?
Do jústice for the wéak and the órphan, *
defénd the afflícted and the néedy.
Réscue the wéak and the póor; *
set them frée from the hánd of the wícked.
‘Unpercéiving, they grópe in the dárkness *
and the órder of the wórld is sháken.
I have sáid to you: “Yóu are góds *
and áll of you, sóns of the Most Hígh.”
And yét, you shall díe like mén, *
you shall fáll like ány of the prínces.’
Aríse, O Gód, judge the éarth, *
for yóu rule áll the nátions.
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.
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Psalm 119 (120)
Longing for peace
“Show patience in times of trouble; never cease praying” (Rom 12:12).
To the Lórd in the hóur of my distréss *
I cáll and he ánswers me.
‘O Lórd, save my sóul from lying líps, *
from the tóngue of the decéitful.’
Whát shall he páy you in retúrn, *
O tréacherous tóngue?
The wárrior’s árrows shárpened *
and cóals, red-hot, blázing.
Alas, that I abíde a stránger in Méshech, *
dwell among the ténts of Kédar!
Long enóugh have Í been dwélling *
with thóse who hate péace.
Í am for péace, but when I spéak, *
théy are for fíghting.
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 prophets foretold that the Saviour would be born of the Virgin Mary.
Psalm-prayer
You declared peacemakers happy, Lord Jesus, since they will be called sons of God. Give us that peace which the world cannot give so that your Church may be freed from the schemes of arrogant men, and, devoted to works of peace, go forward joyfully to meet you, the King of Peace.
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Short Reading
Jeremiah 29:11,13
I know the plans I have in mind for you – it is the Lord who speaks – plans for peace, not disaster, reserving a future full of hope for you. When you seek me you shall find me, when you seek me with all your heart.
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℣. The nations shall fear your name, O Lord.
℟. And all the kings of the earth your glory.
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Let us pray.
Almighty God,
now that the birthday of your Son as man is drawing near,
we pray that your eternal Word,
who took flesh in the womb of the Virgin Mary and came to dwell among men,
will show your unworthy people the greatness of his love and mercy.
Who lives and reigns for ever and ever.
Amen.
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Let us praise the Lord.
– Thanks be to God.
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.