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

Liturgy of the Hours


  • Wednesday 11 May 2022

    Wednesday of the 4th 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 138 (139):1-12
    The Lord knows all things


    “Who could ever know the mind of the Lord? Who could ever be his counsellor?” (Rom 11:34).

    Night will be as clear as the day. Alleluia.

    O Lord, you search me and you know me,
    you know my resting and my rising,
    you discern my purpose from afar.
    You mark when I walk or lie down,
    all my ways lie open to you.

    Before ever a word is on my tongue
    you know it, O Lord, through and through.
    Behind and before you besiege me,
    your hand ever laid upon me.
    Too wonderful for me this knowledge,
    too high, beyond my reach.

    O where can I go from your spirit,
    or where can I flee from your face?
    If I climb the heavens, you are there.
    If I lie in the grave, you are there.

    If I take the wings of the dawn
    and dwell at the sea’s furthest end,
    even there your hand would lead me,
    your right hand would hold me fast.

    If I say: ‘Let the darkness hide me
    and the light around me be night,’
    even darkness is not dark for you
    and the night is as clear as the day.

    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.

    Night will be as clear as the day. Alleluia.


    ________

    Psalm 138 (139):13-18,23-24

    I know my sheep, and they know me. Alleluia.

    For it was you who created my being,
    knit me together in my mother’s womb.
    I thank you for the wonder of my being,
    for the wonders of all your creation.

    Already you knew my soul,
    my body held no secret from you
    when I was being fashioned in secret
    and moulded in the depths of the earth.

    Your eyes saw all my actions,
    they were all of them written in your book;
    every one of my days was decreed
    before one of them came into being.

    To me, how mysterious your thoughts,
    the sum of them not to be numbered!
    If I count them, they are more than the sand;
    to finish, I must be eternal, like you.

    O search me, God, and know my heart.
    O test me and know my thoughts.
    See that I follow not the wrong path
    and lead me in the path of life eternal.

    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 know my sheep, and they know me. Alleluia.


    Psalm-prayer

    You watch over heaven and earth, Lord Jesus. Your death brought light to the dead; your resurrection gave joy to the saints; your ascension made the angels rejoice. Your power exceeds all power. Lead us to life eternal, and watch over us with your love. May your friends be filled with honour and join you in heaven.


    Or:

    Lord Jesus Christ, when you descended among the dead, you brought them the light of day; when you ascended into heaven, you brought it new radiance. May you remain with us and lead us along the paths of life until we come to rest with your friends in your holy dwelling place.


    ________

    Canticle
    (Colossians 1)
    Christ, firstborn of all creatures and firstborn from the dead

    His majesty covers the heavens, the earth is filled with his praise. Alleluia.

    Let us give thanks to the Father,
    who has qualified us to share
    in the inheritance of the saints in light.

    He has delivered us from the dominion of darkness
    and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son,
    in whom we have redemption,
    the forgiveness of sins.

    He is the image of the invisible God,
    the firstborn of all creation,
    for in him all things were created, in heaven and on earth,
    visible and invisible.

    All things were created
    through him and for him.
    He is before all things,
    and in him all things hold together.

    He is the head of the body, the Church;
    he is the beginning,
    the firstborn from the dead,
    that in everything he might be pre-eminent.

    For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell,
    and through him to reconcile to himself all things,
    whether on earth or in heaven,
    making peace by the blood of his cross.

    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.

    His majesty covers the heavens, the earth is filled with his praise. Alleluia.


    ________

    Short Reading
    Hebrews 7:24-27

    Jesus, because he remains for ever, can never lose his priesthood. It follows, then, that his power to save is utterly certain, since he is living for ever to intercede for all who come to God through him. To suit us, the ideal high priest would have to be holy, innocent and uncontaminated, beyond the influence of sinners, and raised up above the heavens; one who would not need to offer sacrifices every day, as the other high priests do for their own sins and then for those of the people, because Jesus Christ our Lord has done this once and for all by offering himself.


    ________

    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

    God sent his Son into the world not to condemn the world, but so that the world might be saved through him. 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.

    God sent his Son into the world not to condemn the world, but so that the world might be saved through him. Alleluia.


    ________

    Prayers and intercessions

    In Christ, who was raised from the dead, the Father has opened for us the way to eternal life. Let us pray to him:
    – Save your people through the victory of Christ.

    God of our fathers, in the resurrection you glorified your Son;
    grant us true repentance that we may walk in newness of life.
    – Save your people through the victory of Christ.

    You have brought us to Christ, the shepherd and guardian of our souls;
    keep us faithful to him, under the guidance of our pastors.
    – Save your people through the victory of Christ.

    From the Jewish people you chose Christ’s first disciples;
    show the children of Israel that your promises are fulfilled.
    – Save your people through the victory of Christ.

    Remember the orphans, the widows and the homeless of our world;
    your Son has reconciled men with God, do not abandon them now.
    – Save your people through the victory of Christ.

    You called Stephen to yourself as he bore witness to Jesus;
    welcome the faithful departed who have loved and desired you.
    – Save your people through the victory of Christ.


    ________

    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.


    ________


    Lord God, life of those who believe in you,
    glory of the humble and happiness of the saints,
    listen kindly to our prayer.
    We long for what you promise;
    fill us from your abundance.
    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.