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

Liturgy of the Hours


  • Friday 24 July 2020

    Friday of week 16 in Ordinary Time 
    or Saint Charbel Makhlouf, Priest 


    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

    Breathe on me, breath of God
    fill me with life anew,
    that I may love what thou dost love,
    and do what thou wouldst do.

    Breathe on me, breath of God,
    until my heart is pure;
    until with thee I have one will,
    to do and to endure.

    Breathe on me, breath of God,
    till I am wholly thine;
    until this earthly part of me
    glows with thy fire divine.

    Breathe on me, breath of God:
    so shall I never die,
    but live with thee the perfect life
    of thine eternity.


    ________

    Psalm 50 (51)
    God, have mercy on me


    “You must be made new in mind and spirit, and put on the new nature of God’s creating” (Eph 4:23,24).

    A pure heart create for me, O God, put a steadfast spirit within me.

    Have mercy on me, God, in your kindness.
    In your compassion blot out my offence.
    O wash me more and more from my guilt
    and cleanse me from my sin.

    My offences truly I know them;
    my sin is always before me.
    Against you, you alone, have I sinned;
    what is evil in your sight I have done.

    That you may be justified when you give sentence
    and be without reproach when you judge,
    O see, in guilt I was born,
    a sinner was I conceived.

    Indeed you love truth in the heart;
    then in the secret of my heart teach me wisdom.
    O purify me, then I shall be clean;
    O wash me, I shall be whiter than snow.

    Make me hear rejoicing and gladness,
    that the bones you have crushed may revive.
    From my sins turn away your face
    and blot out all my guilt.

    A pure heart create for me, O God,
    put a steadfast spirit within me.
    Do not cast me away from your presence,
    nor deprive me of your holy spirit.

    Give me again the joy of your help;
    with a spirit of fervour sustain me,
    that I may teach transgressors your ways
    and sinners may return to you.

    O rescue me, God, my helper,
    and my tongue shall ring out your goodness.
    O Lord, open my lips
    and my mouth shall declare your praise.

    For in sacrifice you take no delight,
    burnt offering from me you would refuse,
    my sacrifice, a contrite spirit.
    A humbled, contrite heart you will not spurn.

    In your goodness, show favour to Sion:
    rebuild the walls of Jerusalem.
    Then you will be pleased with lawful sacrifice,
    holocausts offered on your altar.

    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.

    A pure heart create for me, O God, put a steadfast spirit within me.


    Psalm-prayer

    Father, he who knew no sin was made sin for us, to save us and restore us to your friendship. Look upon our contrite heart and afflicted spirit and heal our troubled conscience, so that in the joy and strength of the Holy Spirit we may proclaim your praise and glory before all the nations.


    ________

    Canticle
    Tobit 13
    Thanksgiving for the freeing of the people


    “He showed me the holy city of Jerusalem and it had all the radiant glory of God” (Rev 21:10-11).

    Rejoice, O Jerusalem, since through you all men will be gathered together to the Lord.

    Let all men speak,
    and give God thanks in Jerusalem.
    O Jerusalem, the holy city,
    he will afflict you for the deeds of your sons,
    but again he will show mercy to the sons of the righteous.

    Give thanks worthily to the Lord,
    and praise the King of the ages,
    that his tent may be raised for you again with joy.

    May he cheer those within you who are captives,
    and love those within you who are distressed,
    to all generations for ever.

    Many nations will come from afar
    to the name of the Lord God,
    bearing gifts in their hands,
    gifts for the King of heaven.
    Generations of generations
    will give you joyful praise.

    Rejoice and be glad
    for the sons of the righteous,
    for they will be gathered together,
    and will praise the Lord of the righteous.

    How blessed are those who love you!
    They will rejoice in your peace.
    Blessed are those who grieved
    over all your afflictions,
    for they will rejoice for you upon seeing all your glory,
    and they will be made glad for ever.

    Let my soul praise God, the great King!

    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.

    Rejoice, O Jerusalem, since through you all men will be gathered together to the Lord.


    ________

    Psalm 147 (147B)
    God, the foundation of Jerusalem


    “Come, and I will show you the bride that the Lamb has chosen” (Rev 21:9).

    Sion, praise your God, who has sent out his word to the earth.

    O praise the Lord, Jerusalem!
    Sion, praise your God!

    He has strengthened the bars of your gates
    he has blessed the children within you.
    He established peace on your borders,
    he feeds you with finest wheat.

    He sends out his word to the earth
    and swiftly runs his command.
    He showers down snow white as wool,
    he scatters hoar-frost like ashes.

    He hurls down hailstones like crumbs.
    The waters are frozen at his touch;
    he sends forth his word and it melts them:
    at the breath of his mouth the waters flow.

    He makes his word known to Jacob,
    to Israel his laws and decrees.
    He has not dealt thus with other nations;
    he has not taught them his decrees.

    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.

    Sion, praise your God, who has sent out his word to the earth.


    Psalm-prayer

    Lord, you established peace within the borders of Jerusalem. Give the fullness of peace now to your faithful people. May peace rule us in this life and possess us in eternal life. You are about to fill us with the best of wheat; grant that what we see dimly now as in a mirror, we may come to perceive clearly in the brightness of your truth.


    Or:

    All-powerful God, it is through your Church, generously endowed with gifts of grace and fortified by the Holy Spirit, that you send out your word to all nations. Strengthen your Church with the best of all food and make her dauntless in faith. Multiply her children to celebrate with one accord the mysteries of your love at the altar on high.


    ________

    Short Reading
    Galatians 2:19-20

    Through the Law I am dead to the Law, so that now I can live with God. I have been crucified with Christ, and I live now not with my own life but with the life of Christ who lives in me. The life I now live in this body I live in faith: faith in the Son of God who loved me and who sacrificed himself for my sake.


    ________

    Short Responsory

    I call to the Lord, the Most High, for he has been my help.
    – I call to the Lord, the Most High, for he has been my help.
    May he send from heaven and save me.
    – I call to the Lord, the Most High, for he has been my help.
    Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.
    – I call to the Lord, the Most High, for he has been my help.


    ________

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

    Through the loving mercy of our God, the Rising Sun has come to visit us.

    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.

    Through the loving mercy of our God, the Rising Sun has come to visit us.


    ________

    Prayers and intercessions

    Christ is the image of the unseen God, the first-born of all creation, and the first to be born from the dead. All things are to be reconciled through him because he made peace by his death on the cross. We pray to him:
    – Lord Jesus, come to us today.

    We have been baptized into your death:
    may we be cleansed of greed and envy, and clothed in the strength and gentleness of your love.
    – Lord Jesus, come to us today.

    We have been sealed with the Holy Spirit who has been given to us;
    confirm us in your service, and help us to bear witness to you in the society in which we live.
    – Lord Jesus, come to us today.

    Before you suffered, you longed to eat the passover with your disciples:
    as we take part in your eucharist, may we share in your resurrection.
    – Lord Jesus, come to us today.

    You continue to work in your faithful people:
    create through them a new world where injustice and destruction will give way to growth, freedom and hope.
    – Lord Jesus, come to us today.


    ________

    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,
    bestow a full measure of your grace on us
    who are gathered here in prayer.
    As you work within us to keep us in the path of your commandments,
    may we receive consolation in this present life
    and eternal joys in the next.
    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.