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

Liturgy of the Hours


  • Saturday 19 December 2020

    19 December 


    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

    O come, O come, Emmanuel,
    And ransom captive Israel,
    That mourns in lonely exile here
    Until the Son of God appear.
    Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
    Shall come to you, O Israel!

    O come, now Wisdom from on high,
    Who orders all things mightily;
    To us the path of knowledge show,
    And teach us in her ways to go.
    Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
    Shall come to you, O Israel!

    O come, O come, now Lord of might,
    Who to your tribes on Sinai’s height
    In ancient times you gave the law,
    In cloud, and majesty, and awe.
    Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
    Shall come to you, O Israel!


    ________

    Psalm 118 (119): 145-152
    Meditating the word of the Lord in the Law


    “When anyone obeys what he has said, God’s love comes to perfection in him” (1 John 2:5)

    God will come from Lebanon and his splendour is like the light.

    I call with all my heart; Lord, hear me,
    I will keep your commands.
    I call upon you, save me
    and I will do your will.

    I rise before dawn and cry for help,
    I hope in your word.
    My eyes watch through the night
    to ponder your promise.

    In your love hear my voice, O Lord;
    give me life by your decrees.
    Those who harm me unjustly draw near;
    they are far from your law.

    But you, O Lord, are close,
    your commands are truth.
    Long have I known that your will
    is established 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.

    God will come from Lebanon and his splendour is like the light.


    Psalm-prayer

    Save us by the power of your hand, Father, for our enemies have ignored your words. May the fire of your word consume our sins and its brightness illumine our hearts.


    ________

    Canticle
    Wisdom 9
    Lord, give me wisdom


    “I myself will give you an eloquence and a wisdom that none of your opponents will be able to resist” (Lk 21:15).

    Send the Holy One like the dew, you heavens, and let the clouds rain down. Let the earth open for the Saviour to spring forth.

    O God of my fathers and Lord of mercy,
    who have made all things by your word;
    and by your wisdom have formed man
    to have dominion over the creatures you have made,
    and rule the world in holiness and righteousness,
    and pronounce judgement in uprightness of soul,
    give me the wisdom that sits by your throne,
    and do not reject me from among your servants.

    For I am your slave
    and the son of your maidservant,
    a man who is weak and short-lived,
    with little understanding of judgement and laws;
    for even if one is perfect among the sons of men,
    yet without the wisdom that comes from you
    he will be regarded as nothing.

    With you is wisdom, who knows your works
    and was present when you made the world,
    and who understands what is pleasing in your sight
    and what is right according to your commandments.

    Send her forth from the holy heavens,
    and from the throne of your glory send her,
    that she may be with me and toil,
    and that I may learn what is pleasing to you;
    for she knows and understands all things,
    and she will guide me wisely in my actions
    and guard me with her glory.

    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.

    Send the Holy One like the dew, you heavens, and let the clouds rain down. Let the earth open for the Saviour to spring forth.


    ________

    Psalm 116 (117)
    Praise of the merciful Lord


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

    Israel, be ready to meet the Lord, for he is coming.

    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.

    Israel, be ready to meet the Lord, for he is coming.


    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.


    ________

    Short Reading
    Isaiah 2:3

    Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the Temple of the God of Jacob that he may teach us his ways so that we may walk in his paths; since the Law will go out from Zion, and the oracle of the Lord from Jerusalem.


    ________

    Short Responsory

    The glory of the Lord will shine on you, Jerusalem. Like the sun he will rise over you.
    – The glory of the Lord will shine on you, Jerusalem. Like the sun he will rise over you.
    His glory will appear in your midst.
    – The glory of the Lord will shine on you, Jerusalem. Like the sun he will rise over you.
    Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.
    – The glory of the Lord will shine on you, Jerusalem. Like the sun he will rise over you.


    ________

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

    The Saviour of the world will rise like the sun; and he will come down into the womb of the Virgin like rain gently falling on the earth.

    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.

    The Saviour of the world will rise like the sun; and he will come down into the womb of the Virgin like rain gently falling on the earth.


    ________

    Prayers and intercessions

    As we pray together in the name of the Church, turn our minds and hearts back to you, Lord.
    – Send us your light and your truth.

    As we think and pray about your Son’s coming,
    help us to grasp its meaning in a way that is personal and profound.
    – Send us your light and your truth.

    May we never despise any of our fellow-men, since we are all your children.
    Help us rather to fight against their hurt or degradation.
    – Send us your light and your truth.

    Heal the broken bonds of human life:
    reconcile us in the sharing of our hope in Christ.
    – Send us your light and your truth.

    Help us to hear your voice
    through the situations in which we work today.
    – Send us your light and your truth.


    ________

    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.


    ________


    Deepen our faith, Lord God,
    as we celebrate the great mystery of the incarnation
    by which you revealed to the world the splendour of your glory
    through the Virgin Mary
    when she gave birth to 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.