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

Liturgy of the Hours


  • Tuesday 19 May 2020

    Tuesday of the 6th week of Eastertide 


    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. Alleluia.


    ________

    Hymn

    O Christ, the heavens’ eternal King,
    Creator, unto thee we sing,
    With God the Father ever One,
    Co-equal, co-eternal Son.

    Thy hand, when first the world began,
    Made in thine own pure image man,
    And linked to fleshly form of earth
    A living soul of heavenly birth.

    And when the envious crafty foe
    Had marred thy noblest work below,
    Thou didst our ruined state repair
    By deigning flesh thyself to wear.

    Once of a virgin born to save,
    And now new born from death’s dark grave,
    O Christ, thou bidd’st us rise with thee
    From death to immortality.

    Eternal Shepherd, thou art wont
    To cleanse Thy sheep within the font,
    That mystic bath, that grave of sin,
    Where ransomed souls new life begin.

    Divine Redeemer, thou didst deign
    To bear for us the cross of pain,
    And freely pay the precious price
    Of all thy blood in sacrifice.

    Jesu, do thou to every heart
    Unceasing Paschal joy impart;
    From death of sin and guilty strife
    Set free the new born sons of life.

    All praise be thine, O risen Lord,
    From death to endless life restored;
    All praise to God the Father be
    And Holy Ghost eternally.


    ________

    Psalm 48 (49)
    The uselessness of riches


    “The rich man will find it very hard to enter the kingdom of heaven” (Mt 19:23).

    Look for the things of heaven, not for the things which are upon this earth. Alleluia.

    Hear this, all you peoples,
    give heed, all who dwell in the world,
    men both low and high,
    rich and poor alike!

    My lips will speak words of wisdom.
    My heart is full of insight.
    I will turn my mind to a parable,
    with the harp I will solve my problem.

    Why should I fear in evil days
    the malice of the foes who surround me,
    men who trust in their wealth,
    and boast of the vastness of their riches?

    For no man can buy his own ransom,
    or pay a price to God for his life.
    The ransom of his soul is beyond him.
    He cannot buy life without end,
    nor avoid coming to the grave.

    He knows that wise men and fools must both perish
    and leave their wealth to others.
    Their graves are their homes for ever,
    their dwelling place from age to age,
    though their names spread wide through the land.

    In his riches, man lacks wisdom;
    he is like the beasts that are destroyed.

    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.

    Look for the things of heaven, not for the things which are upon this earth. Alleluia.


    ________

    Psalm 48 (49)

    The Lord has saved my soul from the power of death, alleluia.

    This is the lot of those who trust in themselves,
    who have others at their beck and call.
    Like sheep they are driven to the grave,
    where death shall be their shepherd
    and the just shall become their rulers.

    With the morning their outward show vanishes
    and the grave becomes their home.
    But God will ransom me from death
    and take my soul to himself.

    Then do not fear when a man grows rich,
    when the glory of his house increases.
    He takes nothing with him when he dies,
    his glory does not follow him below.

    Though he flattered himself while he lived:
    ‘Men will praise me for all my success,’
    yet he will go to join his fathers,
    who will never see the light any more.

    In his riches, man lacks wisdom;
    he is like the beasts that are destroyed.

    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 has saved my soul from the power of death, alleluia.


    Psalm-prayer

    Make our mouths speak your wisdom, Lord Jesus, and help us to remember that you became man and redeemed us from death that we might merit the beauty of your light.


    Or:

    You condemned the rich, Lord Jesus, because they have already received their reward, and you proclaimed the poor blessed because the kingdom of heaven is theirs. Teach us to seek for imperishable goods and to have confidence in your blood, poured out as the price of our redemption.


    ________

    Canticle
    Apocalypse 4,5
    The song of the redeemed

    Yours, Lord, is the greatness and the power, the glory and the victory. Alleluia.

    Worthy are you, our Lord and God,
    to receive glory and honour and power,
    for you created all things,
    and by your will they existed and were created.

    Worthy are you, O Lord,
    to take the scroll and to open its seals,
    for you were slain,
    and by your blood you ransomed men for God
    from every tribe and tongue and people and nation.

    You have made us a kingdom and priests to our God,
    and we shall reign on earth.

    Worthy is the Lamb who was slain
    to receive power and wealth
    and wisdom and might
    and honour and glory and blessing.

    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.

    Yours, Lord, is the greatness and the power, the glory and the victory. Alleluia.


    ________

    Short Reading
    1 Peter 2:4-5

    The Lord is the living stone, rejected by men but chosen by God and precious to him; set yourselves close to him so that you too, the holy priesthood that offers the spiritual sacrifices which Jesus Christ has made acceptable to God, may be living stones making a spiritual house.


    ________

    Short Responsory

    The disciples rejoiced, alleluia, alleluia.
    – The disciples rejoiced, alleluia, alleluia.
    They saw the Lord, alleluia, alleluia.
    – The disciples rejoiced, alleluia, alleluia.
    Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.
    – The disciples rejoiced, alleluia, alleluia.


    ________

    Canticle
    Magnificat
    My soul rejoices in the Lord

    I tell you the truth: it is for your good that I am going because unless I go, the Advocate will not come to you. Alleluia.

    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.

    I tell you the truth: it is for your good that I am going because unless I go, the Advocate will not come to you. Alleluia.


    ________

    Prayers and intercessions

    Let us pray to Christ, who by his resurrection strengthens his people in hope.
    – Ever-living Christ, hear us.

    Lord Jesus, from your opened side there poured out blood and water;
    cleanse the Church, your bride, from every stain of sin.
    – Ever-living Christ, hear us.

    Good shepherd, risen from the dead, you gave to the apostle Peter the care of your flock;
    may Pope N., be ever strengthened in charity and zeal.
    – Ever-living Christ, hear us.

    Beside the lake of Galilee, you directed your disciples to a great catch of fish;
    direct the work of your disciples today, and give them your abundant blessing.
    – Ever-living Christ, hear us.

    On the shore of the lake you prepared food for your disciples;
    help us to find your joy in caring for others.
    – Ever-living Christ, hear us.

    Jesus, the last Adam, life-giving Spirit, conform the dead to your likeness;
    make their joy complete.
    – Ever-living Christ, hear 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.


    ________


    Lord God,
    grant your people constant joy
    in the renewed vigour of their souls.
    They rejoice because you have restored them
    to the glory of your adopted children:
    let them look forward gladly
    in the certain hope of resurrection.
    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.