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

Office Readings


  • Monday 6 January 2020

    Monday after Epiphany Sunday
     or Saint André Bessette

    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

    O more than mighty cities known,
    Dear Bethlehem, in thee alone
    Salvation’s Lord from heaven took birth
    In human form upon the earth.

    And from a star that far outshone
    The radiant circle of the sun
    In beauty, swift the tidings ran
    Of God on earth in flesh of man.

    The wise men, seeing him, so fair,
    Bow low before him, and with prayer
    Their treasured eastern gifts unfold
    Of incense, myrrh, and royal gold.

    The fragrant incense which they bring,
    The gold, proclaim him God and King;
    The bitter spicy dust of myrrh
    Foreshadows his new sepulchre.

    All glory, Lord, to thee we pay
    For thine Epiphany today;
    All glory, as is ever meet,
    To Father and to Paraclete.


    ________

    Psalm 30 (31)
    Trustful prayer in time of adversity


    “Father, into your hands I commend my spirit” (Lk 23:46).

    Hear me, Lord, and come to rescue me.

    In yóu, O Lórd, I take réfuge. *
        Let me néver be pút to sháme.
    In your jústice, sét me frée, *
        héar me and spéedily réscue me.

    Be a róck of réfuge fór me, *
        a míghty strónghold to sáve me,
    for yóu are my róck, my strónghold. *
        For your náme’s sake, léad me and gúide me.

    Reléase me from the snáres they have hídden *
        for yóu are my réfuge, Lórd.
    Into your hánds I comménd my spírit. *
        It is yóu who will redéem me, Lórd.

    O Gód of trúth, you detést *
        those who wórship fálse and empty góds.
    As for mé, I trúst in the Lórd: *
        let me be glád and rejóice in your lóve.

    Yóu who have séen my afflíction *
        and taken héed of my sóul’s distréss,
    have not hánded me óver to the énemy, *
        but sét my féet at lárge.

    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.

    Hear me, Lord, and come to rescue me.


    ________

    Psalm 30 (31)

    Lord, let your face shine on your servant.

    Have mércy on mé, O Lórd, *
        for Í am in distréss.
    Téars have wásted my éyes, *
        my thróat and my héart.

    For my lífe is spént with sórrow *
        and my yéars with síghs.
    Afflíction has bróken down my stréngth *
        and my bónes waste awáy.

    In the fáce of áll my fóes *
        Í am a repróach,
    an óbject of scórn to my néighbours *
        and of féar to my fríends.

    Thóse who sée me in the stréet *
        run fár awáy from me.
    Í am like a déad man, forgótten, *
        like a thíng thrown awáy.

    I have héard the slánder of the crówd, *
        féar is all aróund me,
    as they plót togéther agáinst me, *
        as they plán to take my lífe.

    But as for mé, I trúst in you, Lórd; *
        I say: ‘Yóu are my Gód.
    My lífe is in your hánds, delíver me *
        from the hánds of those who háte me.

    Let your fáce shíne on your sérvant. *
        Sáve me in your lóve.’

    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, let your face shine on your servant.


    ________

    Psalm 30 (31)

    Blessed be the Lord, who has shown me the wonders of his love.

    How gréat is the góodness, Lórd, *
        that you kéep for those who féar you,
    that you shów to thóse who trúst you *
        in the síght of mén.

    You híde them in the shélter of your présence *
        from the plótting of mén;
    you kéep them sáfe within your tént *
        from dispúting tóngues.

    Bléssed be the Lórd who has shówn me †
        the wónders of his lóve *
        in a fórtified cíty.

    ‘I am fár remóved from your síght’ *
        I sáid in my alárm.
    Yet you héard the vóice of my pléa *
        when I críed for hélp.

    Lóve the Lórd, all you sáints. *
        He gúards his fáithful
    but the Lórd will repáy to the fúll *
        those who áct with príde.

    Be stróng, let your héart take cóurage, *
        all who hópe in the Lórd.

    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.

    Blessed be the Lord, who has shown me the wonders of his love.


    Psalm-prayer

    God of kindness and truth, you saved your Chosen One, Jesus Christ, and you gave your martyrs strength. Watch over your people who come to you here and strengthen the hearts of those who hope in you, that they may proclaim your saving acts of kindness in the eternal city.


    ________

    ℣. The skies proclaim his justice.
    ℟. All peoples see his glory.


    ________

    First Reading
    Isaiah 61:1-11
    The spirit of the Lord is upon his servant


    The spirit of the Lord has been given to me,
    for the Lord has anointed me.
    He has sent me to bring good news to the poor,
    to bind up hearts that are broken;

    to proclaim liberty to captives,
    freedom to those in prison;
    to proclaim a year of favour from the Lord,
    a day of vengeance for our God,

    to comfort all those who mourn and to give them
    for ashes a garland;
    for mourning robe the oil of gladness,
    for despondency, praise.
    They are to be called ‘terebinths of integrity’,
    planted by the Lord to glorify him.

    They will rebuild the ancient ruins,
    they will raise what has long lain waste,
    they will restore the ruined cities,
    all that has lain waste for ages past.

    Strangers will be there to feed your flocks,
    foreigners as your ploughmen and vinedressers;
    but you, you will be named ‘priests of the Lord’,
    they will call you ‘ministers of our God.’
    You will feed on the wealth of nations
    and array yourselves in their magnificence.

    For their shame was twofold,
    disgrace and spitting their lot.
    Twofold therefore shall they possess in their land,
    everlasting joy is theirs.

    For I, the Lord, love justice,
    I hate robbery and all that is wrong.
    I reward them faithfully
    and make an everlasting covenant with them.

    Their race will be famous throughout the nations,
    their descendants throughout the peoples.
    All who see them will admit
    that they are a race whom the Lord has blessed.

    ‘I exult for joy in the Lord,
    my soul rejoices in my God,
    for he has clothed me in the garments of salvation,
    he has wrapped me in the cloak of integrity,
    like a bridegroom wearing his wreath,
    like a bride adorned in her jewels.

    ‘For as the earth makes fresh things grow,
    as a garden makes seeds spring up,
    so will the Lord make both integrity and praise
    spring up in the sight of the nations.’


    Responsory
    Is 61:1; Jn 8:42

    ℟. The spirit of the Lord has been given to me, for the Lord has anointed me. He has sent me to bring good news to the poor,* to bind up hearts that are broken, to proclaim liberty to captives, freedom to those in prison.
    ℣. I have come from God; yes, I have come from him; not that I came because I chose, no, I was sent by him,* to bind up hearts that are broken, to proclaim liberty to captives, freedom to those in prison.


    ________

    Second Reading
    From a sermon by Saint Peter Chrysologus, bishop
    In choosing to be born for us, God chose to be known by us

    In the mystery of our Lord’s incarnation there were clear indications of his eternal Godhead. Yet the great events we celebrate today disclose and reveal in different ways the fact that God himself took a human body. Mortal man, enshrouded always in darkness, must not be left in ignorance, and so be deprived of what he can understand and retain only by grace.
        In choosing to be born for us, God chose to be known by us. He therefore reveals himself in this way, in order that this great sacrament of his love may not be an occasion for us of great misunderstanding.
        Today the Magi find, crying in a manger, the one they have followed as he shone in the sky. Today the Magi see clearly, in swaddling clothes, the one they have long awaited as he lay hidden among the stars.
        Today the Magi gaze in deep wonder at what they see: heaven on earth, earth in heaven, man in God, God in man, one whom the whole universe cannot contain now enclosed in a tiny body. As they look, they believe and do not question, as their symbolic gifts bear witness: incense for God, gold for a king, myrrh for one who is to die.
        So the Gentiles, who were the last, become the first: the faith of the Magi is the first fruits of the belief of the Gentiles.
        Today Christ enters the Jordan to wash away the sin of the world. John himself testifies that this is why he has come: Behold the Lamb of God, behold him who takes away the sins of the world. Today a servant lays his hand on the Lord, a man lays his hand on God, John lays his hand on Christ, not to forgive but to receive forgiveness.
        Today, as the psalmist prophesied: The voice of the Lord is heard above the waters. What does the voice say? This is my beloved son, in whom I am well pleased.
        Today the Holy Spirit hovers over the waters in the likeness of a dove. A dove announced to Noah that the flood had disappeared from the earth; so now a dove is to reveal that the world’s shipwreck is at an end for ever. The sign is no longer an olive-shoot of the old stock: instead, the Spirit pours out on Christ’s head the full richness of a new anointing by the Father, to fulfil what the psalmist had prophesied: Therefore God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of gladness above your fellows.
        Today Christ works the first of his signs from heaven by turning water into wine. But water has still to be changed into the sacrament of his blood, so that Christ may offer spiritual drink from the chalice of his body, to fulfil the psalmist’s prophecy: How excellent is my chalice, warming my spirit.


    Responsory

    ℟. On that day the Magi presented to the Lord three precious gifts, signifying divine mysteries:* gold, acknowledging his regal power; incense, his role of High Priest; and myrrh, his burial.
    ℣. The Magi paid homage to the author of our salvation as he lay in a manger, and from their treasures they offered him mystic gifts:* gold, acknowledging his regal power; incense, his role of High Priest; and myrrh, his burial.


    ________

    Psalm 41 (42)
    Longing for the Lord and his temple


    “Let all who are thirsty come; all who want it may have the water of life” (Rev 22:17).

    When can I enter and see the face of God?

    Líke the déer that yéarns *
        for rúnning stréams,
    só my sóul is yéarning *
        for yóu, my Gód.

    My sóul is thírsting for Gód, *
        the Gód of my lífe;
    whén can I énter and sée *
        the fáce of Gód?

    My téars have becóme my bréad, *
        by níght, by dáy,
    as I héar it sáid all the day lóng: *
        ‘Whére is your Gód?’

    Thése things will Í remémber *
        as I póur out my sóul:
    how I would léad the rejóicing crówd *
        into the hóuse of Gód,
    amid críes of gládness and thanksgíving, *
        the thróng wild with jóy.

    Whý are you cast dówn, my sóul, *
        why gróan withín me?
    Hope in Gód; I will práise him stíll, *
        my sáviour and my Gód.

    My sóul is cast dówn withín me *
        as I thínk of yóu,
    from the cóuntry of Jórdan and Mount Hérmon, *
        from the Híll of Mízar.

    Déep is cálling on déep, *
        in the róar of wáters;
    your tórrents and áll your wáves *
        swept óver mé.

    By dáy the Lórd will sénd *
        his lóving kíndness;
    by níght I will síng to hím, *
        praise the Gód of my lífe.

    I will sáy to Gód, my róck: *
        ‘Whý have you forgótten me?
    Whý do Í go móurning *
        oppréssed by the fóe?’

    With críes that píerce me to the héart, *
        my énemies revíle me,
    sáying to me áll the day lóng: *
        ‘Whére is your Gód?’

    Whý are you cast dówn, my sóul, *
        why gróan withín me?
    Hope in Gód; I will práise him stíll, *
        my sáviour and my Gód.

    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.

    When can I enter and see the face of God?


    Psalm-prayer

    Father in heaven, when your strength takes possession of us we no longer say: Why are you cast down, my soul? So now that the surging waves of your indignation have passed over us, let us feel the healing calm of your forgiveness. Inspire us to yearn for you always, like the deer for running streams, until you satisfy every longing in heaven.


    Or:

    Lord God, never-failing fountain of life eternal, by the saving waters of baptism you called us from the depths of sin, to the depths of mercy. Do not forget the trials of our exile, but from the wellspring of the Word, satisfy our thirst for you so we may come rejoicing to your holy mountain.


    ________

    Canticle
    Ecclesiasticus 36
    A prayer for Jerusalem, the holy city


    “This is eternal life: to know you, the one true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent” (Jn 17:3).

    Show us, Lord, the light of your mercy.

    Save us, God of all things, *
        strike all the nations with terror;
    raise your hand against foreign nations, *
        that they may see the greatness of your might.

    Our sufferings proved your holiness to them; *
        let their downfall prove your glory to us.
    Let them know, as we ourselves know, *
        that there is no other God but you.

    Give us signs again, work further wonders, *
        clothe your hand, your right arm in glory.

    Assemble all the tribes of Jacob, *
        as when they first received their inheritance.
    Pity the poor people called by your name, *
        pity Israel, chosen as your first-born.

    Have compassion on the holy city, *
        Jerusalem, the place of your rest.
    Let Sion ring with your praises, *
        let your temple be filled with your 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.

    Show us, Lord, the light of your mercy.


    ________

    Psalm 18 (19)
    Praise of God the creator


    “The Rising Sun has come to visit us to guide our feet in the way of peace” (Lk 1:78,79).

    Blessed are you, Lord, in the vault of heaven.

    The héavens procláim the glóry of Gód, *
        and the fírmament shows fórth the wórk of his hánds.
    Dáy unto dáy tákes up the stóry *
        and níght unto níght makes knówn the méssage.

    No spéech, no wórd, no vóice is héard †
        yet their spán exténds through áll the éarth, *
        their wórds to the útmost bóunds of the wórld.

    Thére he has pláced a tént for the sún; †
        it comes fórth like a brídegroom cóming from his tént, *
        rejóices like a chámpion to rún its cóurse.

    At the énd of the ský is the rísing of the sún; †
        to the fúrthest énd of the ský is its cóurse. *
        There is nóthing concéaled from its búrning héat.

    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.

    Blessed are you, Lord, in the vault of heaven.


    Psalm-prayer

    To enlighten the world, Father, you sent to us your Word as the sun of truth and justice shining upon mankind. Illumine our eyes that we may discern your glory in the many works of your hand.


    ________

    Short Reading
    Isaiah 9:5

    There is a child born for us, a son given to us and dominion is laid on his shoulders; and this is the name they give him: Wonder-Counsellor, Mighty-God, Eternal-Father, Prince-of-Peace.


    ________

    Short Responsory

    All the kings of the earth will adore him.
    – All the kings of the earth will adore him.
    All the peoples will serve him.
    – All the kings of the earth will adore him.
    Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.
    – All the kings of the earth will adore him.


    ________

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

    The Magi came to Bethlehem from the East to adore the Lord; they opened their treasures and offered him precious gifts: gold for a great king, frankincense for the true God, myrrh for his burial, alleluia.

    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 Magi came to Bethlehem from the East to adore the Lord; they opened their treasures and offered him precious gifts: gold for a great king, frankincense for the true God, myrrh for his burial, alleluia.


    ________

    Prayers and intercessions

    We praise you, Christ. Through you God’s salvation reaches to the boundaries of the earth.
    – Glory to you, Christ the Lord.

    Christ, our Redeemer, you have drawn all men to yourself;
        break down the walls of prejudice that separate man from man.
    – Glory to you, Christ the Lord.

    You came to live among us:
        help us to recognize all the ways you are present in the Church and in the lives of men and women.
    – Glory to you, Christ the Lord.

    In you God stands revealed:
        may our belief and good works be consistent with your teaching.
    – Glory to you, Christ the Lord.

    Immanuel, God with men, renew our lives completely;
        make us a people you can call your own.
    – Glory to you, Christ the Lord.


    ________

    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, may the radiance of your glory light up our hearts
        and bring us through the shadows of this world
        until we reach our homeland of everlasting light.
    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.