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

Liturgy of the Hours


  • Saturday 21 November 2020

    The Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary 
    on Saturday of week 33 in Ordinary Time


    (First Vespers of tomorrow, Christ the King)


    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

    To Christ the Lord of worlds we sing,
    The nations’ universal King.
    Hail, conquering Christ, whose reign alone
    Over our hearts and souls we own.

    Christ, who art known the prince of peace,
    Bid all rebellious tumults cease;
    Call home thy straying sheep, and hold
    For ever in one faithful fold.

    For this, thine arms, on Calvary,
    Were stretched across th’ empurpled tree,
    And the sharp spear that through thee ran
    Laid bare the heart that burned for man.

    For this, in forms of bread and wine
    Lies hid the plenitude divine,
    And from thy wounded body runs
    The stream of life to all thy sons.

    W. Shewring

    ________

    Psalm 112 (113)
    Praise of the Lord's name


    “He put down princes from their thrones and exalted the lowly” (Lk 1:52).

    He will be called the ‘Peacemaker’, and his throne will stand firm for ever.

    Praise, O servants of the Lord,
    praise the name of the Lord!
    May the name of the Lord be blessed
    both now and for evermore!
    From the rising of the sun to its setting
    praised be the name of the Lord!

    High above all nations is the Lord,
    above the heavens his glory.
    Who is like the Lord, our God,
    who has risen on high to his throne
    yet stoops from the heights to look down,
    to look down upon heaven and earth?

    From the dust he lifts up the lowly,
    from his misery he raises the poor
    to set him in the company of princes,
    yes, with the princes of his people.
    To the childless wife he gives a home
    and gladdens her heart with children.

    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.

    He will be called the ‘Peacemaker’, and his throne will stand firm for ever.


    Psalm-prayer

    Almighty Father, we praise and bless your name and ask you to join us together through your enduring love in the bosom of Mother Church.


    Or:

    Lord Jesus, Word of God, surrendering the brightness of your glory you became man so that we might be raised from the dust to share your very being. May there be innumerable children of the Church to offer homage to your name from the rising of the sun to its setting.


    ________

    Psalm 116 (117)
    Praise of the merciful Lord


    “I ask the nations to give praise to God for his mercy” (Rom 15:8,9).

    His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom; all kings will serve him and obey him.

    O praise the Lord, all you nations,
    acclaim him all you peoples!

    Strong is his love for us;
    he is faithful 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.

    His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom; all kings will serve him and obey him.


    Psalm-prayer

    God our Father, may all nations and peoples praise you. May Jesus, who is called faithful and true and who lives with you eternally, possess our hearts for ever.


    Or:

    Lord God, everything you have promised has been done to show your faithfulness; and you have revealed your kindness to all peoples. Gather all nations into your Church that in all the various tongues of this world one hymn of praise may be offered you.


    ________

    Canticle
    Apocalypse 4,5
    The song of the redeemed

    Christ has received the authority and glory of a king; every people, tribe and nation will serve him for ever.

    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.

    Christ has received the authority and glory of a king; every people, tribe and nation will serve him for ever.


    ________

    Short Reading
    (Ephesians 1:20-23)

    God raised Christ from the dead and made him sit at his right hand, in heaven, far above every Sovereignty, Authority, Power, or Domination, or any other name that can be named not only in this age but also in the age to come. He has put all things under his feet and made him, as the ruler of everything, the head of the Church; which is his body, the fullness of him who fills the whole creation.


    ________

    Short Responsory

    Yours are majesty and power; yours, Lord, is the sovereignty.
    – Yours are majesty and power; yours, Lord, is the sovereignty.
    You are ruler of all.
    – Yours are majesty and power; yours, Lord, is the sovereignty.
    Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.
    – Yours are majesty and power; yours, Lord, is the sovereignty.


    ________

    Canticle
    Magnificat
    My soul rejoices in the Lord

    The Lord God will give him the throne of David, his ancestor; he will reign in the House of Jacob for ever and his kingdom will know no end, 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.

    The Lord God will give him the throne of David, his ancestor; he will reign in the House of Jacob for ever and his kingdom will know no end, alleluia.


    ________

    Prayers and intercessions

    To Christ our King, who is first in all things and in whom all things exist, let us confidently pray:
    – Lord, may your kingdom come.

    Lord Jesus Christ, our king and our shepherd, gather your flock from every corner of the earth:
    set it to graze in your fresh and fertile pastures.
    – Lord, may your kingdom come.

    Jesus, our leader and Saviour, make all people your own; heal the sick, seek out the lost, preserve the strong:
    bring back the strayed, reunite those who are scattered and give new hope to the downhearted.
    – Lord, may your kingdom come.

    Jesus, eternal judge, when you hand over your kingdom to your Father, seat us at your right hand;
    and let us take possession of the kingdom prepared for us since the foundation of the world.
    – Lord, may your kingdom come.

    Jesus, prince of peace, destroy the weapons of war:
    speak words of peace to your people.
    – Lord, may your kingdom come.

    Jesus, heir of all nations, bring all mankind into the kingdom of your Church, which was entrusted to you by the Father:
    so that all may acknowledge you as the Head in the unity of the Holy Spirit.
    – Lord, may your kingdom come.

    Jesus, firstborn of the dead and first-fruits of those who sleep,
    bring all who have died to the glory of your resurrection.
    – Lord, may your kingdom come.


    ________

    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.


    ________


    Almighty, ever-living God,
    it is your will to unite the entire universe under your beloved Son,
    Jesus Christ, the King of heaven and earth.
    Grant freedom to the whole of creation,
    and let it praise and serve your majesty for ever.
    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.