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

Liturgy of the Hours


  • Friday 13 May 2022

    Friday of the 4th week of Eastertide 
    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 144 (145):1-13
    The greatness and goodness of God


    “You, O Lord, are the One who was and who is, the Just One” (Rev 16:5)

    God so loved the world that he gave his only Son. Alleluia.

    I will give you glory, O God my King,
    I will bless your name for ever.

    I will bless you day after day
    and praise your name for ever.
    The Lord is great, highly to be praised,
    his greatness cannot be measured.

    Age to age shall proclaim your works,
    shall declare your mighty deeds,
    shall speak of your splendour and glory,
    tell the tale of your wonderful works.

    They will speak of your terrible deeds,
    recount your greatness and might.
    They will recall your abundant goodness;
    age to age shall ring out your justice.

    The Lord is kind and full of compassion,
    slow to anger, abounding in love.
    How good is the Lord to all,
    compassionate to all his creatures.

    All your creatures shall thank you, O Lord,
    and your friends shall repeat their blessing.
    They shall speak of the glory of your reign
    and declare your might, O God,

    to make known to men your mighty deeds
    and the glorious splendour of your reign.
    Yours is an everlasting kingdom;
    your rule lasts 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.

    God so loved the world that he gave his only Son. Alleluia.


    ________

    Psalm 144 (145):13-21

    To the eternal King, the undying, invisible and only God, be all honour and glory. Alleluia.

    The Lord is faithful in all his words
    and loving in all his deeds.
    The Lord supports all who fall
    and raises all who are bowed down.

    The eyes of all creatures look to you
    and you give them their food in due time.
    You open wide your hand,
    grant the desires of all who live.

    The Lord is just in all his ways
    and loving in all his deeds.
    He is close to all who call him,
    who call on him from their hearts.

    He grants the desires of those who fear him,
    he hears their cry and he saves them.
    The Lord protects all who love him;
    but the wicked he will utterly destroy.

    Let me speak the praise of the Lord,
    let all mankind bless his holy name
    for ever, for ages unending.

    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.

    To the eternal King, the undying, invisible and only God, be all honour and glory. Alleluia.


    Psalm-prayer

    Lord, be near to all who call upon you in truth and increase the dedication of those who revere you. Hear their prayers and save them, that they may always love you and praise your holy name.


    Or:

    Lord Jesus Christ, you have revealed to the sons of men the wonders of your love and your Father’s faithfulness from all time. Listen to our hymn of joy: we praise you for all the things you have done; give all men bread at the right season, give them food for this life, and the mystery of eternal life.


    ________

    Canticle
    Apocalypse 15
    A hymn of adoration

    The Lord is my strength and protection: he is my salvation. Alleluia.

    Great and wonderful are your deeds,
    O Lord God the Almighty!
    Just and true are your ways,
    O King of the ages!

    Who shall not fear and glorify your name, O Lord?
    For you alone are holy.
    All nations shall come and worship you,
    for your judgements have been revealed.

    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 Lord is my strength and protection: he is my salvation. Alleluia.


    ________

    Short Reading
    Hebrews 5:8-10

    Christ, although he was Son, learnt to obey through suffering; but having been made perfect, he became for all who obey him the source of eternal salvation and was acclaimed by God with the title of high priest of the order of Melchizedek.


    ________

    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

    The good shepherd lays down his life for his sheep. 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.

    The good shepherd lays down his life for his sheep. Alleluia.


    ________

    Prayers and intercessions

    Let us pray to Christ, the fount of life and the source of virtue.
    – Lord, restore your kingdom in the world.

    Jesus, our Saviour, in the body you were put to death, in the Spirit you were raised to life:
    grant that we may die to sin, and live in the power of your resurrection.
    – Lord, restore your kingdom in the world.

    You sent your disciples to proclaim throughout the world the gospel of salvation:
    may all who preach your word be alive with the Holy Spirit.
    – Lord, restore your kingdom in the world.

    You received all power in heaven and on earth to bear witness to the truth:
    guide in the spirit of truth the plans of governments and rulers.
    – Lord, restore your kingdom in the world.

    Keep our eyes fixed on the new heaven and the new earth:
    make us care more deeply for our world and its future.
    – Lord, restore your kingdom in the world.

    You descended into hell to bring the dead good news:
    let the faithful departed come to you, their joy, their hope, their glory.
    – Lord, restore your kingdom in the world.


    ________

    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, source of our freedom and salvation,
    listen to our humble prayer.
    You redeemed us by the shedding of your Son’s blood:
    enable us to live by your grace,
    and grant us at all times
    the joy of your safe keeping.
    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.