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

Liturgy of the Hours


  • Thursday 13 May 2021

    Thursday before Ascension Sunday 
    or Our Lady of Fátima 


    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 71 (72):1-11
    The Messiah's royal power


    “They opened their treasures and offered him gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh” (Mt 2:11).

    God has appointed him to judge all men, both living and dead. Alleluia.

    O God, give your judgement to the king,
    to a king’s son your justice,
    that he may judge your people in justice
    and your poor in right judgement.

    May the mountains bring forth peace for the people
    and the hills, justice.
    May he defend the poor of the people
    and save the children of the needy
    and crush the oppressor.

    He shall endure like the sun and the moon
    from age to age.
    He shall descend like rain on the meadow,
    like raindrops on the earth.

    In his days justice shall flourish
    and peace till the moon fails.
    He shall rule from sea to sea,
    from the Great River to earth’s bounds.

    Before him his enemies shall fall,
    his foes lick the dust.
    The kings of Tharsis and the sea coasts
    shall pay him tribute.

    The kings of Sheba and Seba
    shall bring him gifts.
    Before him all kings shall fall prostrate,
    all nations shall serve him.

    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 has appointed him to judge all men, both living and dead. Alleluia.


    ________

    Psalm 71 (72):12-19

    Every tribe shall be blessed in him. Alleluia.

    For he shall save the poor when they cry
    and the needy who are helpless.
    He will have pity on the weak
    and save the lives of the poor.

    From oppression he will rescue their lives,
    to him their blood is dear.
    Long may he live,
    may the gold of Sheba be given him.
    They shall pray for him without ceasing
    and bless him all the day.

    May corn be abundant in the land
    to the peaks of the mountains.
    May its fruit rustle like Lebanon;
    may men flourish in the cities
    like grass on the earth.

    May his name be blessed for ever
    and endure like the sun.
    Every tribe shall be blessed in him,
    all nations bless his name.

    Blessed be the Lord, God of Israel,
    who alone works wonders,
    ever blessed his glorious name.
    Let his glory fill the earth.
    Amen! Amen!

    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.

    Every tribe shall be blessed in him. Alleluia.


    Psalm-prayer

    We call upon your name, Father, and pronounce it blessed above the earth. Give your people the fullness of peace and justice in your kingdom.


    Or:

    Almighty God, you gave the kingdom of justice and peace to David and his descendant, our Lord Jesus Christ. Extend this kingdom to every family of nations so that through your Son all men may obtain true peace, the poor receive justice, the destitute relief, and the people of earth find a blessing in his name.


    ________

    Canticle
    Apocalypse 11
    The Judgement

    Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and for ever, alleluia.

    We give thanks to you, Lord God Almighty,
    who are and who were,
    that you have taken your great power
    and begun to reign.

    The nations raged,
    but your wrath came,
    and the time for the dead to be judged,
    for rewarding your servants, the prophets and saints,
    and those who fear your name,
    both small and great.

    Now the salvation and the power
    and the kingdom of our God
    and the authority of his Christ have come,
    for the accuser of our brethren has been thrown down,
    who accuses them day and night before our God.

    And they have conquered him
    by the blood of the Lamb
    and by the word of their testimony,
    for they loved not their lives even unto death.
    Rejoice, then, O heaven,
    and you that dwell therein.

    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 Christ is the same yesterday, today and for ever, alleluia.


    ________

    Short Reading
    1 Peter 3:18,21-22

    Christ himself, innocent though he was, had died once for sins, died for the guilty, to lead us to God. In the body he was put to death, in the spirit he was raised to life. And now you are saved, not by the washing off of physical dirt but by a pledge made to God from a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who has entered heaven and is at God’s right hand, now that he has made the angels and Dominations and Powers his subjects.


    ________

    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

    Your sorrow will be turned into joy, and that joy no one will take from you. 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.

    Your sorrow will be turned into joy, and that joy no one will take from you. Alleluia.


    ________

    Prayers and intercessions

    Let us pray to Christ, who is our living hope of rising from the dead.
    – King of glory, hear us.

    Lord Jesus, by shedding your blood and rising from death you entered into your glory;
    let us go with you into the presence of your Father.
    – King of glory, hear us.

    You sent your disciples into the world, their faith made strong by the resurrection;
    grant that bishops and priests may be faithful ministers of your gospel.
    – King of glory, hear us.

    Through your resurrection you united the faithful in one hope and love;
    may we share in your ministry of peace and reconciliation.
    – King of glory, hear us.

    Through your resurrection you healed the cripple who begged at the entrance to the temple;
    look with pity on the sick and display in them your glory.
    – King of glory, hear us.

    You are the first to rise from the dead, the first of many brothers;
    share your glory with those who have hoped in you.
    – King of glory, 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.


    ________


    God the Father,
    you have given a saviour to your people:
    fill our hearts with constant thanks and praise
    that Christ the Lord is risen from the dead.
    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.