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

Liturgy of the Hours


  • Wednesday 16 December 2020

    Wednesday of the 3rd week of Advent 


    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

    On Jordan’s bank the Baptist’s cry
    Announces that the Lord is nigh;
    Come then and hearken, for he brings
    Glad tidings from the King of kings.

    Then cleansed be every Christian breast,
    And furnished for so great a guest!
    Yea, let us each his heart prepare
    For Christ to come and enter there.

    For thou art our salvation, Lord,
    Our refuge and our great reward;
    Without thy grace our souls must fade,
    And wither like a flower decayed.

    Stretch forth thine hand, to heal our sore,
    And make us rise to fall no more;
    Once more upon thy people shine,
    And fill the world with love divine.

    All praise, eternal Son, to thee,
    Whose Advent sets thy people free,
    Whom, with the Father, we adore,
    And Holy Ghost, for evermore.


    ________

    Psalm 125 (126)
    Gladness and hope in the Lord


    “Just as you are sharing in our sufferings, so also will you share our consolations” (2 Cor 1:7).

    Those who were sowing in tears will sing when they reap.

    When the Lord delivered Sion from bondage,
    it seemed like a dream.
    Then was our mouth filled with laughter,
    on our lips there were songs.

    The heathens themselves said: ‘What marvels
    the Lord worked for them!’
    What marvels the Lord worked for us!
    Indeed we were glad.

    Deliver us, O Lord, from our bondage
    as streams in dry land.
    Those who are sowing in tears
    will sing when they reap.

    They go out, they go out, full of tears,
    carrying seed for the sowing:
    they come back, they come back, full of song,
    carrying their sheaves.

    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.

    Those who were sowing in tears will sing when they reap.


    Psalm-prayer

    Lord, you have raised us from the earth; may you let the seeds of justice, which we have sown in tears, grow and increase in your sight. May we reap in joy the harvest we hope for patiently.


    Or:

    Lord Jesus, our life and resurrection, the tears you sowed in the sorrow of Good Friday brought the earth to flower on Easter morning. May you renew the wonders of your power in the Church, that after the sorrows of our exile we may come home to you in gladness.


    ________

    Psalm 126 (127)
    Without the Lord, we labour in vain


    “You are God’s building” (1 Cor 3:9).

    The Lord will build a house for us; he will watch over our city.

    If the Lord does not build the house,
    in vain do its builders labour;
    if the Lord does not watch over the city,
    in vain does the watchman keep vigil.

    In vain is your earlier rising,
    your going later to rest,
    you who toil for the bread you eat,
    when he pours gifts on his beloved while they slumber.

    Truly sons are a gift from the Lord,
    a blessing, the fruit of the womb.
    Indeed the sons of youth
    are like arrows in the hand of a warrior.

    O the happiness of the man
    who has filled his quiver with these arrows!
    He will have no cause for shame
    when he disputes with his foes in the gateways.

    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 will build a house for us; he will watch over our city.


    Psalm-prayer

    You command the seed to rise, Lord God, though the farmer is unaware. Grant that those who labour for you may trust not in their own work but in your help. Remembering that the land is brought to flower not with human tears but with those of your Son, may the Church rely only upon your gifts.


    ________

    Canticle
    (Colossians 1)
    Christ, firstborn of all creatures and firstborn from the dead

    He is the first-born of all creation, he is supreme over all creatures.

    Let us give thanks to the Father,
    who has qualified us to share
    in the inheritance of the saints in light.

    He has delivered us from the dominion of darkness
    and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son,
    in whom we have redemption,
    the forgiveness of sins.

    He is the image of the invisible God,
    the firstborn of all creation,
    for in him all things were created, in heaven and on earth,
    visible and invisible.

    All things were created
    through him and for him.
    He is before all things,
    and in him all things hold together.

    He is the head of the body, the Church;
    he is the beginning,
    the firstborn from the dead,
    that in everything he might be pre-eminent.

    For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell,
    and through him to reconcile to himself all things,
    whether on earth or in heaven,
    making peace by the blood of his cross.

    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 is the first-born of all creation, he is supreme over all creatures.


    ________

    Short Reading
    1 Corinthians 4:5

    There must be no passing of premature judgement. Leave that until the Lord comes; he will light up all that is hidden in the dark and reveal the secret intentions of men’s hearts. Then will be the time for each one to have whatever praise he deserves, from God.


    ________

    Short Responsory

    Come to us and save us, Lord God almighty.
    – Come to us and save us, Lord God almighty.
    Let your face smile on us and we shall be safe.
    – Come to us and save us, Lord God almighty.
    Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.
    – Come to us and save us, Lord God almighty.


    ________

    Canticle
    Magnificat
    My soul rejoices in the Lord

    You are the one who is to come, Lord. We look to you to save your people.

    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.

    You are the one who is to come, Lord. We look to you to save your people.


    ________

    Prayers and intercessions

    Let us pray to God the Father who is Lord and Ruler of all.
    – Come and visit your people!

    Come as the shepherd to tend your flock;
    gather all men into the unity of the Church.
    – Come and visit your people!

    Lord, remember all the sons of Abraham,
    all who await your promise in faith.
    – Come and visit your people!

    We pray for those who seek to escape from life;
    Lord, give them hope to live by and courage to persevere.
    – Come and visit your people!

    Remember those who have died;
    show them the glory your Son has gained for them.
    – Come and visit 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.


    ________


    Almighty God and Father,
    by our celebration of the coming feast of your Son’s birth,
    heal our present ills
    and lead us to eternal joy.
    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.