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

Liturgy of the Hours


  • Tuesday 28 January 2020

    Saint Thomas Aquinas, Priest, Doctor
     on Tuesday of week 3 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

    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 84 (85)
    Our salvation is very near


    “When our Saviour came on earth God blessed his land” (Origen).

    Lord, you blessed your land; you forgave the guilt of your people.

    O Lord, you once favoured your land
        and revived the fortunes of Jacob,
    you forgave the guilt of your people
        and covered all their sins.
    You averted all your rage,
        you calmed the heat of your anger.

    Revive us now, God, our helper!
        Put an end to your grievance against us.
    Will you be angry with us for ever,
        will your anger never cease?

    Will you not restore again our life
        that your people may rejoice in you?
    Let us see, O Lord, your mercy
        and give us your saving help.

    I will hear what the Lord God has to say,
        a voice that speaks of peace,
    peace for his people and his friends
        and those who turn to him in their hearts.
    His help is near for those who fear him
        and his glory will dwell in our land.

    Mercy and faithfulness have met;
        justice and peace have embraced.
    Faithfulness shall spring from the earth
        and justice look down from heaven.

    The Lord will make us prosper
        and our earth shall yield its fruit.
    Justice shall march before him
        and peace shall follow his steps.

    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 blessed your land; you forgave the guilt of your people.


    Psalm-prayer

    Show us your mercy, Lord; our misery is known to us. May no evil desires prevail over us, for your glory and love dwell in our hearts.


    Or:

    God of love and fidelity, you loved the world enough to give your only Son as Saviour and from a virgin brought him forth to the world. May we receive him as both Lord and brother and freely celebrate him as our gracious redeemer.


    ________

    Canticle
    Isaiah 26
    Hymn after victory over the enemy


    “The city walls stood on twelve foundation stones” (cf. Rev 21:14).

    At night my soul longs for you; I watch for you at daybreak.

    We have a strong city;
        he sets up salvation as walls and bulwarks.
    Open the gates
        that the righteous nation which keeps faith may enter in.

    You keep him in perfect peace,
        whose mind is stayed on you,
        because he trusts in you.
    Trust in the Lord for ever,
        for the Lord God is an everlasting rock.

    The way of the righteous is level;
        you make smooth the path of the righteous.
    In the path of your judgements, O Lord,
        we wait for you.

    My soul yearns for you in the night,
        my spirit within me earnestly seeks you;
    for when your judgements are in the earth,
        the inhabitants of the world learn righteousness.

    O Lord, you will ordain peace for us;
        you have wrought for us all our works.

    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.

    At night my soul longs for you; I watch for you at daybreak.


    ________

    Psalm 66 (67)
    All peoples, praise the Lord


    “Let it be known to you that this salvation from God has been sent to all peoples” (Acts 28:28).

    Lord, let your face shed its light upon us.

    O God, be gracious and bless us
        and let your face shed its light upon us.
    So will your ways be known upon earth
        and all nations learn your saving help.

    Let the peoples praise you, O God;
        let all the peoples praise you.

    Let the nations be glad and exult
        for you rule the world with justice.
    With fairness you rule the peoples,
        you guide the nations on earth.

    Let the peoples praise you, O God;
        let all the peoples praise you.

    The earth has yielded its fruit
        for God, our God, has blessed us.
    May God still give us his blessing
        till the ends of the earth revere him.

    Let the peoples praise you, O God;
        let all the peoples praise you.

    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 shed its light upon us.


    Psalm-prayer

    Be gracious and bless us, Lord, and let your face shed its light on us, so that we can make you known with reverence and bring forth a harvest of justice.


    Or:

    All peoples praise you, Father, because through your kindly power the earth has brought forth its fruit, the tree of the cross. We ask that this cross unite all peoples in its embrace and feed them with its fruit, everlasting life.


    ________

    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

    Give praise to the Lord, for love of whom Saint Thomas studied and worked at all times.

    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.

    Give praise to the Lord, for love of whom Saint Thomas studied and worked at all times.


    ________

    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, our God, since it was by your gift that Saint Thomas became so great a saint and theologian,
        give us grace to understand his teaching and follow his way of life.
    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.