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

Liturgy of the Hours


  • Thursday 3 December 2020

    Saint Francis Xavier, Priest 
    on Thursday of the 1st week of Advent


    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

    Who are these like stars appearing,
    these, before God’s throne who stand?
    Each a golden crown is wearing;
    who are all this glorious band?
    Alleluia! Hark, they sing,
    praising loud their heavenly King.

    Who are these of dazzling brightness,
    clothed in God’s own righteousness?
    These, whose robes of purest whiteness,
    shall their lustre still possess,
    still untouched by time’s rude hand?
    Whence came all this glorious band?

    These are they who have contended
    for their Saviour’s honour long,
    wrestling on till life was ended,
    following not the sinful throng;
    these who well the fight sustained,
    triumph through the Lamb have gained.

    These are they whose hearts were riven,
    sore with woe and anguish tried,
    who in prayer full oft have striven
    with the God they glorified;
    now, their painful conflict o’er,
    God has bid them weep no more.

    These, the Almighty contemplating,
    did as priests before him stand,
    soul and body always waiting
    day and night at his command:
    now in God’s most holy place
    blest they stand before his face.


    ________

    Psalm 56 (57)
    Morning prayer in time of affliction


    “This psalm celebrates the passion of Christ” (St Augustine).

    Awake, lyre and harp: I will awaken the dawn.

    Have mercy on me, God, have mercy
    for in you my soul has taken refuge.
    In the shadow of your wings I take refuge
    till the storms of destruction pass by.

    I call to God the Most High,
    to God who has always been my help.
    May he send from heaven and save me
    and shame those who assail me.
    May God send his truth and his love.

    My soul lies down among lions,
    who would devour the sons of men.
    Their teeth are spears and arrows,
    their tongue a sharpened sword.

    O God, arise above the heavens;
    may your glory shine on earth!

    They laid a snare for my steps,
    my soul was bowed down.
    They dug a pit in my path
    but fell in it themselves.

    My heart is ready, O God,
    my heart is ready.
    I will sing, I will sing your praise.
    Awake, my soul,
    awake, lyre and harp,
    I will awake the dawn.

    I will thank you, Lord, among the peoples,
    among the nations I will praise you
    for your love reaches to the heavens
    and your truth to the skies.

    O God, arise above the heavens;
    may your glory shine 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.

    Awake, lyre and harp: I will awaken the dawn.


    Psalm-prayer

    Lord, send your mercy and your truth to rescue us from the snares of the devil, and we will praise you among the peoples and proclaim you to the nations, happy to be known as companions of your Son.


    ________

    Canticle
    Jeremiah 31
    The joy of those whom God sets free


    “Jesus had to die to reunite the children of God who had been scattered” (Jn 11:51,52).

    Thus says the Lord: my people shall be filled with my good things.

    O nations, hear the word of the Lord,
    proclaim it to the far-off coasts.
    Say: ‘He who scattered Israel will gather him
    and guard him as a shepherd guards his flock.’
    For the Lord has ransomed Jacob,
    has saved him from an overpowering hand.

    They will come and shout for joy on Mount Sion,
    they will stream to the blessings of the Lord,
    to the corn, the new wine and the oil,
    to the flocks of sheep and the herds.
    Their life will be like a watered garden.
    They will never be weary again.

    Then the young girls will rejoice and will dance,
    the men, young and old, will be glad.
    I will turn their mourning into joy,
    I will console them, give gladness for grief.
    The priests I will again feed with plenty,
    and my people shall be filled with my blessings.

    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.

    Thus says the Lord: my people shall be filled with my good things.


    ________

    Psalm 47 (48)
    Thanksgiving for the safety of the people


    “He took me to the top of a great mountain, and showed me the holy city of Jerusalem” (Rev 21:10).

    The Lord is great and worthy to be praised in the city of our God.

    The Lord is great and worthy to be praised
    in the city of our God.
    His holy mountain rises in beauty,
    the joy of all the earth.

    Mount Sion, true pole of the earth,
    the Great King’s city!
    God, in the midst of its citadels,
    has shown himself its stronghold.

    For the kings assembled together,
    together they advanced.
    They saw; at once they were astounded;
    dismayed, they fled in fear.

    A trembling seized them there,
    like the pangs of birth.
    By the east wind you have destroyed
    the ships of Tarshish.

    As we have heard, so we have seen
    in the city of our God,
    in the city of the Lord of hosts
    which God upholds for ever.

    O God, we ponder your love
    within your temple.
    Your praise, O God, like your name
    reaches the ends of the earth.

    With justice your right hand is filled.
    Mount Sion rejoices;
    the people of Judah rejoice
    at the sight of your judgements.

    Walk through Sion, walk all round it;
    count the number of its towers.
    Review all its ramparts,
    examine its castles,

    that you may tell the next generation
    that such is our God,
    our God for ever and always.
    It is he who leads 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.

    The Lord is great and worthy to be praised in the city of our God.


    Psalm-prayer

    Father, the body of your risen Son is the temple not made by human hands and the defending wall of the new Jerusalem. May this holy city, built of living stones, shine with spiritual radiance and witness to your greatness in the sight of all nations.


    ________

    Short Reading
    Hebrews 13:7-9

    Remember your leaders, who preached the word of God to you, and as you reflect on the outcome of their lives, imitate their faith. Jesus Christ is the same today as he was yesterday and as he will be for ever. Do not let yourselves be led astray by all sorts of strange doctrines.


    ________

    Short Responsory

    I placed watchmen on your towers, Jerusalem.
    – I placed watchmen on your towers, Jerusalem.
    They will never cease to tell of the name of the Lord, by day and by night.
    – I placed watchmen on your towers, Jerusalem.
    Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.
    – I placed watchmen on your towers, Jerusalem.


    ________

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

    It is not you who speak: the Spirit of your Father speaks in you.

    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.

    It is not you who speak: the Spirit of your Father speaks in you.


    ________

    Prayers and intercessions

    Christ, the good shepherd, laid down his life for his sheep. Let us praise him with grateful hearts, as we pray:
    – Lord, nourish the lives of your people.

    Christ our Lord, in the holy pastors you reveal your love for us;
    may we never be deprived of the care you show through them.
    – Lord, nourish the lives of your people.

    Through your sacred ministers you are present in our midst as the shepherd of our souls;
    never cease to guide us through their teaching and encouragement.
    – Lord, nourish the lives of your people.

    In the saints who lead your people, you manifest your power of healing souls and bodies;
    remain always with us to renew our lives in holiness.
    – Lord, nourish the lives of your people.

    By the example of the saints you instruct your faithful in the ways of wisdom and love;
    through our pastors, help us grow to the full stature of perfection.
    – Lord, nourish the lives of your people.


    ________

    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, you won so many peoples to yourself
    by the preaching of Saint Francis Xavier.
    Give us the same zeal that he had for the faith,
    and let your Church rejoice
    and see the virtue and number of her children increase
    throughout the world.
    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.

     

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