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

Liturgy of the Hours


  • Monday 16 March 2020

    Monday of the 3rd week of Lent


    Vespers (Evening Prayer)

    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.


    ________

    Hymn

    Sole hope of all the world and Lord,
    Bestower of the great reward,
    Receive the prayers thy servants raise
    Mixed with meet psalms and chants of praise.

    And though our conscience doth proclaim
    Our deep transgressions and our shame,
    Cleanse us, O God, we humbly plead,
    From sins of thought and word and deed.

    Our sins remember thou no more;
    Forgive: thou art of mighty pow’r:
    So take upon thee, Lord, our care
    That pure in heart we make our prayer.

    Therefore accept, O Lord, this tide
    Of fast which thou hast sanctified,
    That we may reach by mystic ways
    The sacraments of Easter days.


    ________

    Psalm 122 (123)
    The Lord guards his people


    “The two blind men cried out, ‘Lord, have pity on us, Son of David’” (Mt 20:30).

    Our eyes are turned to the Lord; we look for his mercy.

    To you have I lifted up my eyes,
        you who dwell in the heavens;
    my eyes, like the eyes of slaves
        on the hand of their lords.

    Like the eyes of a servant
        on the hand of her mistress,
    so our eyes are on the Lord our God
        till he show us his mercy.

    Have mercy on us, Lord, have mercy.
        We are filled with contempt.
    Indeed all too full is our soul
        with the scorn of the rich,
        with the proud man’s disdain.

    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.

    Our eyes are turned to the Lord; we look for his mercy.


    Psalm-prayer

    Father in heaven, we lift our eyes to you and pray: confound the scorn of the proud and graciously show us your mercy.


    Or:

    Lord Jesus Christ, you will wait on the servants who have kept faithful watch for you. Teach us to keep our eyes fixed on every trace of the work of your hands, so that we may watch for your coming and enter your home, our lamps radiant with light.


    ________

    Psalm 123 (124)
    Our help is in the name of the Lord


    “The Lord said to Paul, ‘Do not fear; for I am with you’” (Acts 18:9,10).

    Our help is in the name of the Lord, who made heaven and earth.

    ‘If the Lord had not been on our side,’
        this is Israel’s song.
    ‘If the Lord had not been on our side
        when men rose up against us,
    then would they have swallowed us alive
        when their anger was kindled.

    ‘Then would the waters have engulfed us,
        the torrent gone over us;
    over our head would have swept
        the raging waters.’

    Blessed be the Lord who did not give us
        a prey to their teeth!
    Our life, like a bird, has escaped
        from the snare of the fowler.

    Indeed the snare has been broken
        and we have escaped.
    Our help is in the name of the Lord,
        who made heaven and earth.

    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.

    Our help is in the name of the Lord, who made heaven and earth.


    Psalm-prayer

    Lord Jesus, you foretold that your disciples would be despised on account of your name, but that not a hair of their heads is ever forgotten. In times of persecution, defend and revive us by the power and comfort of the Holy Spirit, so that we can be freed from our enemies and praise your saving help.


    ________

    Canticle
    Ephesians 1
    God the Saviour

    God chose us in his Son and made us his adopted sons.

    Blessed be the God and Father
        of our Lord Jesus Christ,
    who has blessed us in Christ
        with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places.

    He chose us in him
        before the foundation of the world,
    that we should be holy
        and blameless before him.

    He destined us in love
        to be his sons through Jesus Christ,
    according to the purpose of his will,
        to the praise of his glorious grace
        which he freely bestowed on us in the Beloved.

    In him we have redemption through his blood,
        the forgiveness of our trespasses,
    according to the riches of his grace
        which he lavished upon us.

    He has made known to us
        in all wisdom and insight
        the mystery of his will,
    according to his purpose
        which he set forth in Christ.

    His purpose he set forth in Christ
        as a plan for the fullness of time,
    to unite all things in him,
        things in heaven and things on earth.

    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.

    God chose us in his Son and made us his adopted sons.


    ________

    Short Reading
    Romans 12:1-2

    Think of God’s mercy, my brothers, and worship him, I beg you, in a way that is worthy of thinking beings, by offering your living bodies as a holy sacrifice, truly pleasing to God. Do not model yourselves on the behaviour of the world around you, but let your behaviour change, modelled by your new mind. This is the only way to discover the will of God and know what is good, what it is that God wants, what is the perfect thing to do.


    ________

    Short Responsory

    I said: ‘Lord, have mercy on me.’
    – I said: ‘Lord, have mercy on me.’
    ‘Heal my soul, for I have sinned against you.’
    – I said: ‘Lord, have mercy on me.’
    Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.
    – I said: ‘Lord, have mercy on me.’


    ________

    Canticle
    Magnificat
    My soul rejoices in the Lord

    Jesus walked straight through them all, and went away.

    My soul glorifies the Lord,
        my spirit rejoices in God, my Saviour.
    He looks on his servant in her lowliness;
        henceforth all ages will call me blessed.

    The Almighty works marvels for me.
        Holy his name!
    His mercy is from age to age,
        on those who fear him.

    He puts forth his arm in strength
        and scatters the proud-hearted.
    He casts the mighty from their thrones
        and raises the lowly.

    He fills the starving with good things,
        sends the rich away empty.

    He protects Israel, his servant,
        remembering his mercy,
    the mercy promised to our fathers,
        to Abraham and his sons for ever.

    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.

    Jesus walked straight through them all, and went away.


    ________

    Prayers and intercessions

    Let us call on the name of the Lord Jesus, who saves his people from their sins.
    – Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on us.

    Christ our Lord, you gave yourself up for the Church to make her holy;
        renew her once more through the spirit of repentance.
    – Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on us.

    Good master, let young people discover that way of life which you have planned for each one of them;
        may they be faithful to your grace and fulfil your will for them.
    – Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on us.

    Give hope to the sick and make them well again;
        help us to comfort and take care of them.
    – Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on us.

    In baptism you made us sons of the Father;
        may we live for you now and always.
    – Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on us.

    Grant to the faithful departed peace and glory;
        let us reign with them one day in your heavenly kingdom.
    – Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on us.


    ________

    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.


    ________


    By your unfailing mercy, Lord,
        purify and guard your Church,
    and since without you she cannot stand fast,
        support and guide her always by your grace.
    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.