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

Liturgy of the Hours


  • Friday 17 December 2021

    17 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 50 (51)
    God, have mercy on me


    “You must be made new in mind and spirit, and put on the new nature of God’s creating” (Eph 4:23,24).

    The one who is to rule will come from Sion: ‘The Lord, Immanuel’ is his great name.

    Have mercy on me, God, in your kindness.
    In your compassion blot out my offence.
    O wash me more and more from my guilt
    and cleanse me from my sin.

    My offences truly I know them;
    my sin is always before me.
    Against you, you alone, have I sinned;
    what is evil in your sight I have done.

    That you may be justified when you give sentence
    and be without reproach when you judge,
    O see, in guilt I was born,
    a sinner was I conceived.

    Indeed you love truth in the heart;
    then in the secret of my heart teach me wisdom.
    O purify me, then I shall be clean;
    O wash me, I shall be whiter than snow.

    Make me hear rejoicing and gladness,
    that the bones you have crushed may revive.
    From my sins turn away your face
    and blot out all my guilt.

    A pure heart create for me, O God,
    put a steadfast spirit within me.
    Do not cast me away from your presence,
    nor deprive me of your holy spirit.

    Give me again the joy of your help;
    with a spirit of fervour sustain me,
    that I may teach transgressors your ways
    and sinners may return to you.

    O rescue me, God, my helper,
    and my tongue shall ring out your goodness.
    O Lord, open my lips
    and my mouth shall declare your praise.

    For in sacrifice you take no delight,
    burnt offering from me you would refuse,
    my sacrifice, a contrite spirit.
    A humbled, contrite heart you will not spurn.

    In your goodness, show favour to Sion:
    rebuild the walls of Jerusalem.
    Then you will be pleased with lawful sacrifice,
    holocausts offered on your altar.

    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 one who is to rule will come from Sion: ‘The Lord, Immanuel’ is his great name.


    Psalm-prayer

    Father, he who knew no sin was made sin for us, to save us and restore us to your friendship. Look upon our contrite heart and afflicted spirit and heal our troubled conscience, so that in the joy and strength of the Holy Spirit we may proclaim your praise and glory before all the nations.


    ________

    Canticle
    Jeremiah 14
    Lamentation of the people in the time of famine and war


    “The Kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel” (Mk 1:15).

    Stand steadfast. You will see the helping power of the Lord.

    Let my eyes run down with tears night and day,
    and let them not cease,
    for the virgin daughter of my people is smitten with a great wound,
    with a very grievous blow.

    If I go out into the field,
    behold, those slain by the sword!
    And if I enter the city,
    behold, the diseases of famine!
    For both prophet and priest ply their trade through the land,
    and have no knowledge.

    Have you utterly rejected Judah?
    Does your soul loathe Sion?
    Why have you smitten us
    so that there is no healing for us?

    We looked for peace,
    but no good came;
    for a time of healing,
    but behold, terror.

    We acknowledge our wickedness, O Lord,
    and the iniquity of our fathers,
    for we have sinned against you.
    Do not spurn us, for your name’s sake,
    do not dishonour your glorious throne;
    remember and do not break your covenant with 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.

    Stand steadfast. You will see the helping power of the Lord.


    ________

    Psalm 99 (100)
    Enter the Temple with joy


    “The Lord calls all those he has redeemed to sing a hymn of victory” (St Athanasius).

    I look to the Lord; I will await the God who saves me.

    Cry out with joy to the Lord, all the earth.
    Serve the Lord with gladness.
    Come before him, singing for joy.

    Know that he, the Lord, is God.
    He made us, we belong to him,
    we are his people, the sheep of his flock.

    Go within his gates, giving thanks.
    Enter his courts with songs of praise.
    Give thanks to him and bless his name.

    Indeed, how good is the Lord,
    eternal his merciful love.
    He is faithful 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.

    I look to the Lord; I will await the God who saves me.


    Psalm-prayer

    With joy and gladness we cry out to you, Lord, and ask you: open our hearts to sing your praises and announce your goodness and truth.


    Or:

    God, devoted to us as a Father, you created us as a sign of your power and elected us your people to show your goodness. Accept the thanks your children offer that all men may enter your courts praising you in song.


    ________

    Short Reading
    Isaiah 11:1-3

    A shoot springs from the stock of Jesse, a scion thrusts from his roots: on him the spirit of the Lord rests, a spirit of wisdom and insight, a spirit of counsel and power, a spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord. The fear of the Lord is his delight.


    ________

    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

    Know that the kingdom of God is at hand; be sure that he will not delay.

    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.

    Know that the kingdom of God is at hand; be sure that he will not delay.


    ________

    Prayers and intercessions

    The Lord, our God, is coming: let us put aside fear, and look forward to the future with courage.
    – Your kingdom come!

    Lord, you make all things and renew them:
    all creation displays your work.
    – Your kingdom come!

    You have given us dominion over the earth:
    may our work have a share of your creative power.
    – Your kingdom come!

    We pray for those who work for the relief of suffering in others;
    may they also know comfort and understanding.
    – Your kingdom come!

    Bless us as we work;
    give us faith until the end, when our labours will receive their reward.
    – Your kingdom come!


    ________

    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.


    ________


    Father,
    by your will your Son took upon himself
    that human nature which you fashioned and redeemed.
    Grant that the Word who took flesh
    in the womb of the ever-virgin Mary
    and became a man like us
    may share with us his godhead.
    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.