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

Liturgy of the Hours


  • Monday 12 April 2021

    Monday of the 2nd week of Eastertide 


    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

    O Christ, the heavens’ eternal King,
    Creator, unto thee we sing,
    With God the Father ever One,
    Co-equal, co-eternal Son.

    Thy hand, when first the world began,
    Made in thine own pure image man,
    And linked to fleshly form of earth
    A living soul of heavenly birth.

    And when the envious crafty foe
    Had marred thy noblest work below,
    Thou didst our ruined state repair
    By deigning flesh thyself to wear.

    Once of a virgin born to save,
    And now new born from death’s dark grave,
    O Christ, thou bidd’st us rise with thee
    From death to immortality.

    Eternal Shepherd, thou art wont
    To cleanse Thy sheep within the font,
    That mystic bath, that grave of sin,
    Where ransomed souls new life begin.

    Divine Redeemer, thou didst deign
    To bear for us the cross of pain,
    And freely pay the precious price
    Of all thy blood in sacrifice.

    Jesu, do thou to every heart
    Unceasing Paschal joy impart;
    From death of sin and guilty strife
    Set free the new born sons of life.

    All praise be thine, O risen Lord,
    From death to endless life restored;
    All praise to God the Father be
    And Holy Ghost eternally.


    ________

    Psalm 44 (45):2-10
    The wedding of the King


    “Behold, the bridegroom is coming; go out to meet him” (Mt 25:6).

    Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Alleluia.

    My heart overflows with noble words.
    To the king I must speak the song I have made,
    my tongue as nimble as the pen of a scribe.

    You are the fairest of the children of men
    and graciousness is poured upon your lips:
    because God has blessed you for evermore.

    O mighty one, gird your sword upon your thigh;
    in splendour and state, ride on in triumph
    for the cause of truth and goodness and right.

    Take aim with your bow in your dread right hand.
    Your arrows are sharp, peoples fall beneath you.
    The foes of the king fall down and lose heart.

    Your throne, O God, shall endure for ever.
    A sceptre of justice is the sceptre of your kingdom.
    Your love is for justice; your hatred for evil.

    Therefore God, your God, has anointed you
    with the oil of gladness above other kings:
    your robes are fragrant with aloes and myrrh.

    From the ivory palace you are greeted with music.
    The daughters of kings are among your loved ones.
    On your right stands the queen in gold of Ophir.

    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.

    Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Alleluia.


    ________

    Psalm 44 (45):11-18
    The King's bride

    Blessed are those who are called to the wedding feast of the Lamb. Alleluia.

    Listen, O daughter, give ear to my words:
    forget your own people and your father’s house.
    So will the king desire your beauty:
    He is your lord, pay homage to him.

    And the people of Tyre shall come with gifts,
    the richest of the people shall seek your favour.
    The daughter of the king is clothed with splendour,
    her robes embroidered with pearls set in gold.

    She is led to the king with her maiden companions.
    They are escorted amid gladness and joy;
    they pass within the palace of the king.

    Sons shall be yours in place of your fathers:
    you will make them princes over all the earth.
    May this song make your name for ever remembered.
    May the peoples praise you from age to age.

    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.

    Blessed are those who are called to the wedding feast of the Lamb. Alleluia.


    Psalm-prayer

    When you took on flesh, Lord Jesus, you made a marriage of mankind with God. Help us to be faithful to your word and endure our exile bravely, until we are called to the heavenly marriage feast, to which the Virgin Mary, exemplar of your Church, has preceded us.


    ________

    Canticle
    Ephesians 1
    God the Saviour

    From his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. Alleluia.

    Blessed be the God and Father
    of our Lord Jesus Christ,
    who has blessed us in Christ
    with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places.

    He chose us in him
    before the foundation of the world,
    that we should be holy
    and blameless before him.

    He destined us in love
    to be his sons through Jesus Christ,
    according to the purpose of his will,
    to the praise of his glorious grace
    which he freely bestowed on us in the Beloved.

    In him we have redemption through his blood,
    the forgiveness of our trespasses,
    according to the riches of his grace
    which he lavished upon us.

    He has made known to us
    in all wisdom and insight
    the mystery of his will,
    according to his purpose
    which he set forth in Christ.

    His purpose he set forth in Christ
    as a plan for the fullness of time,
    to unite all things in him,
    things in heaven and things 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.

    From his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. Alleluia.


    ________

    Short Reading
    Hebrews 8:1-3

    Our High Priest has his place at the right of the throne of divine Majesty in the heavens, and he is the minister of the sanctuary and of the true Tent of Meeting which the Lord, and not any man, set up. It is the duty of every high priest to offer gifts and sacrifices.


    ________

    Short Responsory

    The disciples rejoiced, alleluia, alleluia.
    – The disciples rejoiced, alleluia, alleluia.
    They saw the Lord, alleluia, alleluia.
    – The disciples rejoiced, alleluia, alleluia.
    Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.
    – The disciples rejoiced, alleluia, alleluia.


    ________

    Canticle
    Magnificat
    My soul rejoices in the Lord

    What is born of the flesh is flesh; what is born of the Spirit is spirit, 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.

    What is born of the flesh is flesh; what is born of the Spirit is spirit, alleluia.


    ________

    Prayers and intercessions

    Rejoicing, let us pray to Christ the Lord, who sheds glory on the universe through his resurrection.
    – Christ, our life, hear us.

    Lord Jesus, you joined your disciples on the way to Emmaus;
    accompany your Church on her journey through life.
    – Christ, our life, hear us.

    May we, your faithful, not be slow to believe;
    give us the courage to proclaim your victory over death.
    – Christ, our life, hear us.

    Look upon those who have not recognized your presence in their lives;
    let their hearts rejoice in the knowledge of their Saviour.
    – Christ, our life, hear us.

    You are the judge of the living and the dead;
    grant to the faithful departed forgiveness of their sins.
    – Christ, our life, hear 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, ever-living God,
    we confidently call you Father as well as Lord.
    Renew your Spirit in our hearts:
    make us ever more perfectly your children,
    so that we may enter upon the inheritance you have promised us.
    Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your 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.