Monday 29 March 2021
Monday of Holy Week
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.
________
Hymn
Sing my tongue, the glorious battle,
Sing the ending of the fray;
To the Cross, our noble trophy,
Here a fitting tribute pay,
Telling how the world’s Redeemer,
Slain as victim, won the day.
Tell how, when at length the fullness
Of the appointed time was come,
He, the Word, was born of woman,
Left for us his Father’s home,
Showed to men the perfect manhood,
Shone as light amidst the gloom.
Now the thirty years are ended
Which on earth he willed to see,
Willingly he meets his Passion,
Born to set his people free;
On the Cross the Lamb is lifted,
There the sacrifice to be.
Faithful Cross, above all other,
One and only noble Tree,
None in foliage, none in blossom,
None in fruit thy peer may be;
Sweet the wood and sweet the iron,
And the load, most sweet is he.
Unto God be praise and glory:
To the Father and the Son,
To the eternal Spirit, honour
Now and evermore be done;
Praise and glory in the highest,
While the timeless ages run.
________
Psalm 41 (42)
Longing for the Lord and his temple
“Let all who are thirsty come; all who want it may have the water of life” (Rev 22:17).
Jesus said: ‘My soul is sorrowful to the point of death. Wait here and keep awake with me.’
Like the deer that yearns
for running streams,
so my soul is yearning
for you, my God.
My soul is thirsting for God,
the God of my life;
when can I enter and see
the face of God?
My tears have become my bread,
by night, by day,
as I hear it said all the day long:
‘Where is your God?’
These things will I remember
as I pour out my soul:
how I would lead the rejoicing crowd
into the house of God,
amid cries of gladness and thanksgiving,
the throng wild with joy.
Why are you cast down, my soul,
why groan within me?
Hope in God; I will praise him still,
my saviour and my God.
My soul is cast down within me
as I think of you,
from the country of Jordan and Mount Hermon,
from the Hill of Mizar.
Deep is calling on deep,
in the roar of waters;
your torrents and all your waves
swept over me.
By day the Lord will send
his loving kindness;
by night I will sing to him,
praise the God of my life.
I will say to God, my rock:
‘Why have you forgotten me?
Why do I go mourning
oppressed by the foe?’
With cries that pierce me to the heart,
my enemies revile me,
saying to me all the day long:
‘Where is your God?’
Why are you cast down, my soul,
why groan within me?
Hope in God; I will praise him still,
my saviour and my God.
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.
Jesus said: ‘My soul is sorrowful to the point of death. Wait here and keep awake with me.’
Psalm-prayer
Father in heaven, when your strength takes possession of us we no longer say: Why are you cast down, my soul? So now that the surging waves of your indignation have passed over us, let us feel the healing calm of your forgiveness. Inspire us to yearn for you always, like the deer for running streams, until you satisfy every longing in heaven.
Or:
Lord God, never-failing fountain of life eternal, by the saving waters of baptism you called us from the depths of sin, to the depths of mercy. Do not forget the trials of our exile, but from the wellspring of the Word, satisfy our thirst for you so we may come rejoicing to your holy mountain.
________
Canticle
Ecclesiasticus 36
A prayer for Jerusalem, the holy city
“This is eternal life: to know you, the one true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent” (Jn 17:3).
Now sentence is being passed on this world; now the prince of this world is to be overthrown.
Save us, God of all things,
strike all the nations with terror;
raise your hand against foreign nations,
that they may see the greatness of your might.
Our sufferings proved your holiness to them;
let their downfall prove your glory to us.
Let them know, as we ourselves know,
that there is no other God but you.
Give us signs again, work further wonders,
clothe your hand, your right arm in glory.
Assemble all the tribes of Jacob,
as when they first received their inheritance.
Pity the poor people called by your name,
pity Israel, chosen as your first-born.
Have compassion on the holy city,
Jerusalem, the place of your rest.
Let Sion ring with your praises,
let your temple be filled with your 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.
Now sentence is being passed on this world; now the prince of this world is to be overthrown.
________
Psalm 18 (19):2-7
Praise of God the creator
“The Rising Sun has come to visit us to guide our feet in the way of peace” (Lk 1:78,79).
Jesus leads us in our faith and brings it to perfection: he endured the cross, disregarding the shamefulness of it, and has taken his seat at God’s right hand.
The heavens proclaim the glory of God,
and the firmament shows forth the work of his hands.
Day unto day takes up the story
and night unto night makes known the message.
No speech, no word, no voice is heard
yet their span extends through all the earth,
their words to the utmost bounds of the world.
There he has placed a tent for the sun;
it comes forth like a bridegroom coming from his tent,
rejoices like a champion to run its course.
At the end of the sky is the rising of the sun;
to the furthest end of the sky is its course.
There is nothing concealed from its burning heat.
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.
Jesus leads us in our faith and brings it to perfection: he endured the cross, disregarding the shamefulness of it, and has taken his seat at God’s right hand.
Psalm-prayer
To enlighten the world, Father, you sent to us your Word as the sun of truth and justice shining upon mankind. Illumine our eyes that we may discern your glory in the many works of your hand.
________
Short Reading
Jeremiah 11:19-20
I was like a trustful lamb being led to the slaughter-house, not knowing the schemes they were plotting against me, ‘Let us destroy the tree in its strength, let us cut him off from the land of the living, so that his name may be quickly forgotten!’ But you, Lord of Hosts, who pronounce a just sentence, who probe the loins and heart, let me see the vengeance you will take on them, for I have committed my cause to you.
________
Short Responsory
You have redeemed us, Lord, by your blood.
– You have redeemed us, Lord, by your blood.
From every tribe and tongue and people and nation.
– You have redeemed us, Lord, by your blood.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.
– You have redeemed us, Lord, by your blood.
________
Canticle
Benedictus
The Messiah and the one who was sent before him
Father, Righteous One, the world has not known you, but I have known you, because it was you that sent me.
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.
Father, Righteous One, the world has not known you, but I have known you, because it was you that sent me.
________
Prayers and intercessions
Let us pray earnestly to Christ our Saviour, who redeemed us by his death and resurrection.
– Lord, have mercy on us.
You went up to Jerusalem to endure the passion and enter into glory;
lead your Church into the paschal feast of eternal life.
– Lord, have mercy on us.
Your heart was pierced with a lance;
heal the wounds of our human weakness.
– Lord, have mercy on us.
You made your cross the tree of life;
share your victory with all the baptized.
– Lord, have mercy on us.
You gave salvation to the repentant thief;
pardon all our sins.
– Lord, have mercy on us.
________
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,
grant that we who are constantly betrayed by our own weakness
may draw the breath of new life
from the passion and death of your Only-Begotten Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God, for ever and ever.
Amen.
________
The Lord bless us, and keep us from all evil, and bring us to everlasting life.
Amen.
Copyright © 1996-2021 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.