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

Liturgy of the Hours


  • Tuesday 29 March 2022

    Tuesday of the 4th week of Lent 


    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.


    ________

    Hymn

    Sole hope of all the world and Lord,
    Bestower of the great reward,
    Receive the prayers thy servants raise
    Mixed with meet psalms and chants of praise.

    And though our conscience doth proclaim
    Our deep transgressions and our shame,
    Cleanse us, O God, we humbly plead,
    From sins of thought and word and deed.

    Our sins remember thou no more;
    Forgive: thou art of mighty pow’r:
    So take upon thee, Lord, our care
    That pure in heart we make our prayer.

    Therefore accept, O Lord, this tide
    Of fast which thou hast sanctified,
    That we may reach by mystic ways
    The sacraments of Easter days.


    ________

    Psalm 136 (137)
    By the rivers of Babylon


    “This bodily captivity of the people must be understood as pointing to their spiritual captivity” (St Hilary).

    If I forget you, Jerusalem, let my right hand wither!

    By the rivers of Babylon
    there we sat and wept,
    remembering Sion;
    on the poplars that grew there
    we hung up our harps.

    For it was there that they asked us,
    our captors, for songs,
    our oppressors, for joy.
    ‘Sing to us,’ they said,
    ‘one of Sion’s songs.’

    O how could we sing
    the song of the Lord
    on alien soil?
    If I forget you, Jerusalem,
    let my right hand wither!

    O let my tongue
    cleave to my mouth
    if I remember you not,
    if I prize not Jerusalem
    above all my joys!

    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.

    If I forget you, Jerusalem, let my right hand wither!


    Psalm-prayer

    Lord, remember your pilgrim Church. We sit weeping at the streams of Babylon. Do not let us be drawn into the current of the passing world, but free us from every evil and raise our thoughts to the heavenly Jerusalem.


    Or:

    Our Father in heaven, you willed to make us citizens of your country and singers of your kind mercy. Do not abandon us in the land of exile to weep at the streams of an earthly Babylon, but bring us to the heavenly Jerusalem chanting your songs.


    ________

    Psalm 137 (138)
    Thanksgiving


    “The kings of the earth will bring glory and honour to the holy city” (cf Rev 21:24).

    Before the angels I will bless you, my God.

    I thank you, Lord, with all my heart:
    you have heard the words of my mouth.
    In the presence of the angels I will bless you.
    I will adore before your holy temple.

    I thank you for your faithfulness and love,
    which excel all we ever knew of you.
    On the day I called, you answered;
    you increased the strength of my soul.

    All earth’s kings shall thank you
    when they hear the words of your mouth.
    They shall sing of the Lord’s ways:
    ‘How great is the glory of the Lord!’

    The Lord is high yet he looks on the lowly
    and the haughty he knows from afar.
    Though I walk in the midst of affliction
    you give me life and frustrate my foes.

    You stretch out your hand and save me,
    your hand will do all things for me.
    Your love, O Lord, is eternal,
    discard not the work of your hands.

    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.

    Before the angels I will bless you, my God.


    Psalm-prayer

    Look down from your holy temple, Lord, and we will proclaim you with all our heart. Listen to the words of our lips and pardon the sins of your people.


    Or:

    Listen to the prayers of your Church, Lord God; in the presence of the angels we praise your name. You keep the proud at a distance and look upon the lowly with favour. Stretch out your hand to us in our suffering, perfect in us the work of your love and bring us to life.


    ________

    Canticle
    Apocalypse 4,5
    The song of the redeemed

    Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive glory and honour.

    Worthy are you, our Lord and God,
    to receive glory and honour and power,
    for you created all things,
    and by your will they existed and were created.

    Worthy are you, O Lord,
    to take the scroll and to open its seals,
    for you were slain,
    and by your blood you ransomed men for God
    from every tribe and tongue and people and nation.

    You have made us a kingdom and priests to our God,
    and we shall reign on earth.

    Worthy is the Lamb who was slain
    to receive power and wealth
    and wisdom and might
    and honour and glory and blessing.

    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.

    Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive glory and honour.


    ________

    Short Reading
    James 2:14,17,18

    Take the case, my brothers, of someone who has never done a single good act but claims that he has faith. Will that faith save him? Faith is like that: if good works do not go with it, it is quite dead. I will prove to you that I have faith by showing you my good deeds – now you prove to me that you have faith without any good deeds to show.


    ________

    Short Responsory

    I said: ‘Lord, have mercy on me.’
    – I said: ‘Lord, have mercy on me.’
    ‘Heal my soul, for I have sinned against you.’
    – I said: ‘Lord, have mercy on me.’
    Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.
    – I said: ‘Lord, have mercy on me.’


    ________

    Canticle
    Magnificat
    My soul rejoices in the Lord

    Now you are well again: leave your sinful ways, or something worse may happen to you.

    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.

    Now you are well again: leave your sinful ways, or something worse may happen to you.


    ________

    Prayers and intercessions

    When the Lord Jesus was lifted up on the cross, he drew all things to himself. Let us glorify him in our prayer.
    – Lord, draw all men to yourself.

    Lord, may your cross light up the darkness of the world;
    may it lead every man to you, the way, the truth and the life.
    – Lord, draw all men to yourself.

    Give the true and living water to all who thirst for you;
    let it well up to eternal life.
    – Lord, draw all men to yourself.

    Shed the light of your knowledge on scientists and artists;
    let their work make men more open to the coming of your kingdom.
    – Lord, draw all men to yourself.

    Look on those who no longer walk with you because of scandal or sin;
    may they return to you and remain in your love.
    – Lord, draw all men to yourself.

    Grant our dead a place in heaven;
    let them share the happiness of Mary and the saints.
    – Lord, draw all men to yourself.


    ________

    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.


    ________


    By our Lenten prayer and observance, Lord,
    prepare our hearts to welcome the mystery of Easter
    and to proclaim the good news of salvation.
    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 © 1996-2022 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.