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

Liturgy of the Hours


  • Tuesday 21 January 2020

    Saint Agnes, Virgin, Martyr
     on Tuesday of week 2 in Ordinary Time


    Morning Prayer (Lauds)


    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

    All hail the power of Jesus’ name;
        Let Angels prostrate fall;
    Bring forth the royal diadem
        To crown him Lord of all.

    Crown him, ye Martyrs of your God,
        Who from his altar call;
    Praise him whose way of pain ye trod,
        And crown him Lord of all.

    Hail him, ye heirs of David’s line,
        Whom David Lord did call;
    The God Incarnate, Man Divine,
        And crown him Lord of all.

    Let every tribe and every tongue
        To him their hearts enthral,
    Lift high the universal song,
        And crown him Lord of all.


    ________

    Psalm 62 (63)
    Thirsting for God


    “Let the man who has put away the deeds of the night watch for God.”

    My Lord, Jesus Christ, has placed a ring on my finger; he has adorned me like a bride with a crown.

    O God, you are my God, for you I long;
        for you my soul is thirsting.
    My body pines for you
        like a dry, weary land without water.
    So I gaze on you in the sanctuary
        to see your strength and your glory.

    For your love is better than life,
        my lips will speak your praise.
    So I will bless you all my life,
        in your name I will lift up my hands.
    My soul shall be filled as with a banquet,
        my mouth shall praise you with joy.

    On my bed I remember you.
        On you I muse through the night
    for you have been my help;
        in the shadow of your wings I rejoice.
    My soul clings to you;
        your right hand holds me fast.

    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.

    My Lord, Jesus Christ, has placed a ring on my finger; he has adorned me like a bride with a crown.


    Psalm-prayer

    Father, creator of unfailing light, give that same light to those who call to you. May our lips praise you; our lives proclaim your goodness; our work give you honour, and our voices celebrate you for ever.


    Or:

    This morning, Lord, we lift up our hands to praise you. We thirst for you; we long for you. Help us to love you more than life itself and fill us with good gifts from your banquet table.


    ________

    Canticle
    Daniel 3:57-88,56
    All creatures, bless the Lord


    “Praise our God, all you his servants” (Rev 19:5).

    He who is the Lord of the angels is the one to whom I am betrothed. The sun and moon reflect his beauty.

    O all you works of the Lord, O bless the Lord.
        To him be highest glory and praise for ever.

    And you, angels of the Lord, O bless the Lord.
        To him be highest glory and praise for ever.

    And you, the heavens of the Lord, O bless the Lord.
        And you, clouds of the sky, O bless the Lord.
    And you, all armies of the Lord, O bless the Lord.
        To him be highest glory and praise for ever.

    And you, sun and moon, O bless the Lord.
        And you, the stars of the heavens, O bless the Lord.
    And you, showers and rain, O bless the Lord.
        To him be highest glory and praise for ever.

    And you, all you breezes and winds, O bless the Lord.
        And you, fire and heat, O bless the Lord.
    And you, cold and heat, O bless the Lord.
        To him be highest glory and praise for ever.

    And you, showers and dew, O bless the Lord.
        And you, frosts and cold, O bless the Lord.
    And you, frost and snow, O bless the Lord.
        To him be highest glory and praise for ever.

    And you, night-time and day, O bless the Lord.
        And you, darkness and light, O bless the Lord.
    And you, lightning and clouds, O bless the Lord.
        To him be highest glory and praise for ever.

    O let the earth bless the Lord.
        To him be highest glory and praise for ever.

    And you, mountains and hills, O bless the Lord.
        And you, all plants of the earth, O bless the Lord.
    And you, fountains and springs, O bless the Lord.
        To him be highest glory and praise for ever.

    And you, rivers and seas, O bless the Lord.
        And you, creatures of the sea, O bless the Lord.
    And you, every bird in the sky, O bless the Lord.
        And you, wild beasts and tame, O bless the Lord.
        To him be highest glory and praise for ever.

    And you, children of men, O bless the Lord.
        To him be highest glory and praise for ever.

    O Israel, bless the Lord, O bless the Lord.
        And you, priests of the Lord, O bless the Lord.
    And you, servants of the Lord, O bless the Lord.
        To him be highest glory and praise for ever.

    And you, spirits and souls of the just, O bless the Lord.
        And you, holy and humble of heart, O bless the Lord.
    Ananias, Azarias, Mizael, O bless the Lord.
        To him be highest glory and praise for ever.

    Let us praise the Father, the Son and Holy Spirit:
        To you be highest glory and praise for ever.
    May you be blessed, O Lord, in the heavens:
        To you be highest glory and praise for ever.

    He who is the Lord of the angels is the one to whom I am betrothed. The sun and moon reflect his beauty.


    ________

    Psalm 149
    The saints rejoice


    “The members of the Church, God’s new people, will rejoice in their king, who is Christ” (Hesychius).

    Rejoice with me and be glad, since I have taken my place with all the saints.

    Sing a new song to the Lord,
        his praise in the assembly of the faithful.
    Let Israel rejoice in its Maker,
        let Sion’s sons exult in their king.
    Let them praise his name with dancing
        and make music with timbrel and harp.

    For the Lord takes delight in his people.
        He crowns the poor with salvation.
    Let the faithful rejoice in their glory,
        shout for joy and take their rest.
    Let the praise of God be on their lips
        and a two-edged sword in their hand,

    to deal out vengeance to the nations
        and punishment on all the peoples;
    to bind their kings in chains
        and their nobles in fetters of iron;
    to carry out the sentence pre-ordained:
        this honour is for all his faithful.

    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.

    Rejoice with me and be glad, since I have taken my place with all the saints.


    Psalm-prayer

    Let Israel rejoice in you, Lord, and acknowledge you as creator and redeemer. We put our trust in your faithfulness and proclaim the wonderful truths of salvation. May your loving kindness embrace us now and for ever.


    Or:

    Lord Jesus, you came to your own people and gave to all who welcomed you power to become children of God. In your merciful love watch over the Church and through her ministry bring salvation to the meek and lowly. May we avoid the snares of the impious, and come to rejoice in glory with your saints.


    ________

    Short Reading
    2 Corinthians 1:3-5

    Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, a gentle Father and the God of all consolation, who comforts us in all our sorrows, so that we can offer others, in their sorrows, the consolation that we have received from God ourselves. Indeed, as the sufferings of Christ overflow to us, so, through Christ, does our consolation overflow.


    ________

    Short Responsory

    God is her help; she will not be moved.
    – God is her help; she will not be moved.
    The Lord is with her.
    – God is her help; she will not be moved.
    Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.
    – God is her help; she will not be moved.


    ________

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

    What I desired, I now see; what I hoped for, I now possess. I am united in heaven with the One I served on earth.

    Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel!
        He has visited his people and redeemed them.

    He has raised up for us a mighty saviour
        in the house of David his servant,
    as he promised by the lips of holy men,
        those who were his prophets from of old.

    A saviour who would free us from our foes,
        from the hands of all who hate us.
    So his love for our fathers is fulfilled
        and his holy covenant remembered.

    He swore to Abraham our father to grant us,
        that free from fear, and saved from the hands of our foes,
    we might serve him in holiness and justice
        all the days of our life in his presence.

    As for you, little child,
        you shall be called a prophet of God, the Most High.
    You shall go ahead of the Lord
        to prepare his ways before him,

    To make known to his people their salvation
        through forgiveness of all their sins,
    the loving-kindness of the heart of our God
        who visits us like the dawn from on high.

    He will give light to those in darkness,
        those who dwell in the shadow of death,
        and guide us into the way 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.

    What I desired, I now see; what I hoped for, I now possess. I am united in heaven with the One I served on earth.


    ________

    Prayers and intercessions

    Through the martyrs who were slain for God’s word, let us give glory to our Saviour, the faithful and true witness.
    – You redeemed us by your precious blood.

    Through the martyrs, who bore witness to your love,
        set us free to live for you.
    – You redeemed us by your precious blood.

    Through the martyrs, who proclaimed your saving death,
        give us a deep and constant faith.
    – You redeemed us by your precious blood.

    Through the martyrs, who took up your cross,
        grant us courage for every trial.
    – You redeemed us by your precious blood.

    Through the martyrs, washed in the blood of the Lamb,
        give us grace to conquer our weakness.
    – You redeemed us by your precious blood.


    ________

    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.


    ________


    Almighty, ever-living God,
        you choose what is weak in the world to shame what is strong.
    Grant that, as we celebrate the martyrdom of Saint Agnes,
        we may follow her example of steadfastness in faith.
    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 © 1996-2020 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.