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

Liturgy of the Hours


  • Thursday 6 February 2020

    Saints Paul Miki and his Companions, Martyrs
     on Thursday of week 4 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 142 (143)
    A prayer in time of trouble


    “A man is made righteous not by obedience to the Law, but by faith in Jesus Christ” (Gal 2:16).

    In the morning let me know your love, O Lord.

    Lord, listen to my prayer:
        turn your ear to my appeal.
        You are faithful, you are just; give answer.
    Do not call your servant to judgement
        for no one is just in your sight.

    The enemy pursues my soul;
        he has crushed my life to the ground;
    he has made me dwell in darkness
        like the dead, long forgotten.
    Therefore my spirit fails;
        my heart is numb within me.

    I remember the days that are past:
        I ponder all your works.
    I muse on what your hand has wrought
        and to you I stretch out my hands.
        Like a parched land my soul thirsts for you.

    Lord, make haste and answer;
        for my spirit fails within me.
    Do not hide your face
        lest I become like those in the grave.

    In the morning let me know your love
        for I put my trust in you.
    Make me know the way I should walk:
        to you I lift up my soul.

    Rescue me, Lord, from my enemies;
        I have fled to you for refuge.
    Teach me to do your will
        for you, O Lord, are my God.
    Let your good spirit guide me
        in ways that are level and smooth.

    For your name’s sake, Lord, save my life;
        in your justice save my soul from distress.

    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.

    In the morning let me know your love, O Lord.


    Psalm-prayer

    Lord Jesus, early in the morning of your resurrection, you made your love known and brought the first light of dawn to those who dwell in darkness. Your death has opened a path for us. Do not enter into judgement with your servants; let your Holy Spirit guide us together into the land of justice.


    ________

    Canticle
    (Isaiah 66)
    Consolation and joy in the holy city


    “The Jerusalem which is above is free and is our mother” (Gal 4:26).

    The Lord will send peace flowing like a river upon Jerusalem.

    Rejoice with Jerusalem, and be glad for her,
        all you who love her;
    rejoice with her in joy,
        all you who mourn over her;

    That you may suck and be satisfied
        with her consoling breasts;
    that you may drink deeply with delight
        from the abundance of her glory.

    For thus says the Lord:
        Behold, I will extend prosperity to her like a river,
        and the wealth of the nations like an overflowing stream;
    and you shall suck, you shall be carried upon her hip,
        and dandled upon her knees.

    As one whom his mother comforts,
        so I will comfort you;
        you shall be comforted in Jerusalem.
    You shall see, and your heart shall rejoice;
        your bones shall flourish like the grass.

    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 Lord will send peace flowing like a river upon Jerusalem.


    ________

    Psalm 146 (147A)
    The Lord's goodness and power


    “You, O God, we worship; you, O Lord, we adore.”

    To our God be joyful praise.

    Praise the Lord for he is good;
        sing to our God for he is loving:
        to him our praise is due.

    The Lord builds up Jerusalem
        and brings back Israel’s exiles,
    he heals the broken-hearted,
        he binds up all their wounds.
    He fixes the number of the stars;
        he calls each one by its name.

    Our Lord is great and almighty;
        his wisdom can never be measured.
    The Lord raises the lowly;
        he humbles the wicked to the dust.
    O sing to the Lord giving thanks;
        sing psalms to our God with the harp.

    He covers the heavens with clouds;
        he prepares the rain for the earth,
    making mountains sprout with grass
        and with plants to serve man’s needs.
    He provides the beasts with their food
        and young ravens that call upon him.

    His delight is not in horses
        nor his pleasure in warriors’ strength.
    The Lord delights in those who revere him,
        in those who wait for his love.

    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.

    To our God be joyful praise.


    Psalm-prayer

    God our Father, great builder of the heavenly Jerusalem, you know the number of the stars and call each of them by name. Heal hearts that are broken, gather together those who have been scattered, and enrich us all from the plenitude of your eternal wisdom.


    Or:

    God, all-powerful and ever-living, from the beginning you have founded the holy Jerusalem. Gather the dispersed of Israel into your Church and heal the wounds our sins have caused. You clothe the lily with splendour and feed the birds of the air with your bounty. Grant to all who hope in you health of mind and body until the heights of heavenly Jerusalem rise before us.


    ________

    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

    These were holy men: they will live for ever!
    – These were holy men: they will live for ever!
    The Lord himself is their reward.
    – These were holy men: they will live for ever!
    Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.
    – These were holy men: they will live for ever!


    ________

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

    Blessed are those who are persecuted in the cause of right: theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

    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.

    Blessed are those who are persecuted in the cause of right: theirs is the kingdom of heaven.


    ________

    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.


    ________


    Lord God, source of strength to all the saints,
        you called your martyrs Paul and his companions to undergo the cross that they might enter into life.
        Let their prayer help us to keep the faith to the end of our days.
    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.