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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 


    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

    Light’s glittering morn bedecks the sky,
    Heav’n thunders forth its victor cry:
    The glad earth shouts her triumph high,
    And groaning hell makes wild reply.

    While he, the King of sovereign might,
    Treads down death’s strength in death’s despite,
    And trampling hell by victor’s right,
    Brings forth his sleeping saints to light.

    Fast barred beneath the stone of late,
    In watch and ward where soldiers wait,
    Now shining in triumphant state,
    He rises victor from death’s gate.

    Hell’s pains are loosed and tears are fled:
    Captivity is captive led:
    The angel, crowned with light, hath said:
    ‘The Lord is risen from the dead.’

    Author of all, be thou our guide
    In this our joy of Eastertide;
    Whene’er assaults of death impend,
    Thy people strengthen and defend.

    To thee who, dead, again dost live,
    All glory, Lord, thy people give:
    All glory, as is ever meet,
    To Father and to Paraclete.


    ________

    Psalm 42 (43)
    Longing for the temple


    “I, the light, have come into the world” (Jn 12:46).

    You have come to Mount Sion, and the city of the living God. Alleluia.

    Defend me, O God, and plead my cause
    against a godless nation.
    From deceitful and cunning men
    rescue me, O God.

    Since you, O God, are my stronghold,
    why have you rejected me?
    Why do I go mourning
    oppressed by the foe?

    O send forth your light and your truth;
    let these be my guide.
    Let them bring me to your holy mountain,
    to the place where you dwell.

    And I will come to the altar of God,
    the God of my joy.
    My redeemer, I will thank you on the harp,
    O God, my God.

    Why are you cast down my soul,
    why groan within me?
    Hope in God; I will praise him still,
    my saviour and my God.

    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.

    You have come to Mount Sion, and the city of the living God. Alleluia.


    Psalm-prayer

    Almighty Father, source of everlasting light, send forth your truth into our hearts and pour over us the brightness of your light.


    Or:

    Father, your Son was condemned by reason of our sins, but on Easter morning you glorified him with the glory he always had with you. Do not leave us, his members, in the enemy’s hands, but bring us, through our joyful participation at your altar, to your eternal tabernacle on high to adore in spirit and truth.


    ________

    Canticle
    Isaiah 38
    The psalm of Hezekiah on recovering from sickness


    “I was dead and behold, I am alive and I hold the keys of death” (Rev 1:17-18).

    Lord, you have kept my soul from destruction. Alleluia.

    I said, In the noontide of my days I must depart;
    I am consigned to the gates of Sheol
    for the rest of my years.

    I said, I shall not see the Lord
    in the land of the living;
    I shall look upon man no more
    among the inhabitants of the world.

    My dwelling is plucked up and removed from me
    like a shepherd’s tent;
    like a weaver I have rolled up my life;
    he cuts me off from the loom.

    From day to night you bring me to an end;
    I cry for help until morning;
    like a lion he breaks all my bones;
    from day to night you bring me to an end.

    Like a swallow or a crane I clamour,
    I moan like a dove.
    My eyes are weary with looking upward.
    O Lord, I am oppressed; be my security.

    Lo, it was for my welfare
    that I had great bitterness;
    but you have held back my life
    from the pit of destruction,
    for you have cast all my sins
    behind your back.

    For Sheol cannot thank you,
    death cannot praise you;
    those who go down to the pit
    cannot hope for your faithfulness.

    The living, the living, he thanks you,
    as I do this day;
    the father makes known to the children your faithfulness.

    The Lord will save me,
    and we will sing to stringed instruments
    all the days of our life,
    at the house of the Lord.

    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 have kept my soul from destruction. Alleluia.


    ________

    Psalm 64 (65)
    A solemn thanksgiving


    “Sion is to be understood as the heavenly city” (Origen)

    You care for the earth, you give it water. Alleluia.

    To you our praise is due
    in Sion, O God.
    To you we pay our vows,
    you who hear our prayer.

    To you all flesh will come
    with its burden of sin.
    Too heavy for us, our offences,
    but you wipe them away.

    Blessed is he whom you choose and call
    to dwell in your courts.
    We are filled with the blessings of your house,
    of your holy temple.

    You keep your pledge with wonders,
    O God our saviour,
    the hope of all the earth
    and of far distant isles.

    You uphold the mountains with your strength,
    you are girded with power.
    You still the roaring of the seas,
    (the roaring of their waves)
    and the tumult of the peoples.

    The ends of the earth stand in awe
    at the sight of your wonders.
    The lands of sunrise and sunset
    you fill with your joy.

    You care for the earth, give it water,
    you fill it with riches.
    Your river in heaven brims over
    to provide its grain.

    And thus you provide for the earth;
    you drench its furrows;
    you level it, soften it with showers;
    you bless its growth.

    You crown the year with your goodness.
    Abundance flows in your steps,
    in the pastures of the wilderness it flows.

    The hills are girded with joy,
    the meadows covered with flocks,
    the valleys are decked with wheat.
    They shout for joy, yes they sing.

    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.

    You care for the earth, you give it water. Alleluia.


    Psalm-prayer

    Lord God, hope of all the earth, hear the humble prayer of your children as we sing your praises. Pour out your Spirit on us so that our lives may bear fruit abundantly.


    Or:

    Father, you created everything in and for your Son, not because you needed creation, but you wished to make your goodness the source of goodness for others. Abide with your Church and fill her to overflowing through your sacraments that she may give us more abundantly the fruits of your favour which bring fullness of life.


    ________

    Short Reading
    Acts 13:30-33

    God raised Jesus from the dead, and for many days he appeared to those who had accompanied him from Galilee to Jerusalem: and it is these same companions of his who are now his witnesses before our people. We have come here to tell you the Good News. It was to our ancestors that God made the promise but it is to us, their children, that he has fulfilled it, by raising Jesus from the dead. As scripture says in the second psalm: You are my son: today I have become your father.


    ________

    Short Responsory

    The Lord has risen from the dead, alleluia, alleluia.
    – The Lord has risen from the dead, alleluia, alleluia.
    For our sake he died on the cross, alleluia, alleluia.
    – The Lord has risen from the dead, alleluia, alleluia.
    Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.
    – The Lord has risen from the dead, alleluia, alleluia.


    ________

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

    In a short time the world will no longer see me; but you will see me, because I live and you will live. Alleluia.

    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.

    In a short time the world will no longer see me; but you will see me, because I live and you will live. Alleluia.


    ________

    Prayers and intercessions

    Let us pray to God the Father, whose Son became the Lamb without blemish to take away the sins of the world.
    – God of life, save us.

    Father, be mindful of your Son, who died on the cross and was raised again to life;
    hear him interceding for us now.
    – God of life, save us.

    Let us cast out the leaven of corruption and malice;
    let us celebrate Christ’s passover in purity and truth.
    – God of life, save us.

    May we overcome today all envy and dissension;
    help us to take care of our brothers in their every need.
    – God of life, save us.

    Place deep in our hearts the spirit of the gospel;
    may it inspire us to keep your commandments today and always.
    – God of life, save 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.