Lauds
INVITATORY
The Invitatory may be said for the first ëhourí recited in the day.
Lord,
+ open my lips.
ñ And my mouth will proclaim your praise.
Ant. Let us approach the Lord with praise and thanksgiving.
Psalm 95A call to praise God
Encourage each other daily while it is still today (Hebrews 3:13).
Come, let us sing to the Lord
* and shout with joy to the Rock who saves us.
Let us approach him with praise and thanksgiving
* and sing joyful songs to the Lord.
Ant. Let us approach the Lord with praise and thanksgiving.
The Lord is God, the mighty God,
* the great king over all the gods.
He holds in his hands the depths of the earth
* and the highest mountains as well.
He made the sea; it belongs to him,
* the dry land, too, for it was formed by his hands.
Ant. Let us approach the Lord with praise and thanksgiving.
Come, then, let us bow down and worship
* bending the knee before the Lord, our maker.
For he is our God and we are his people,
* the flock he shepherds.
Ant. Let us approach the Lord with praise and thanksgiving.
Today, listen to the voice of the Lord:
ÜDo not grow stubborn, as your fathers did
in the wilderness,
*when at Meriba and Massah
they challenged me and provoked me,
*Although they had seen all of my works.
Ant. Let us approach the Lord with praise and thanksgiving.
Forty years I endured that generation. *
I said, ìThey are a people whose hearts go astray
and they do not know my ways.î
So I swore in my anger, *
ìThey shall not enter into my rest.î
Ant. Let us approach the Lord with praise and thanksgiving.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, *
and to the Holy Spirit:
as it was in the beginning, is now, *
and will be for ever. Amen.
Ant. Let us approach the Lord with praise and thanksgiving.
If the Invitatory is not said, then the following is used:
God, + come to my assistance.
ñ Lord, make haste to help me.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:
ñ as it was in the beginning, is now, will be for ever. Amen. Alleluia.
HYMN
I sing the mighty power of God,
That made the mountains rise;
That spread the flowing seas abroad,
And built the lofty skies.
I sing the wisdom that ordained
The sun to rule the day;
The moon shines full at his command,
And all the stars obey.
I sing the goodness of the Lord,
That filled the earth with food;
He formed the creatures with his word,
And then pronounced them good.
Lord, how your wonders are displayed,
Where eíer I turn my eye:
If I survey the ground I tread,
Or gaze upon the sky!
Thereís not a plant or flower below,
But makes your glories known;
And clouds arise, and tempests blow,
By order from thy throne;
While all that borrows life from thee
Is ever in thy care,
And everywhere that man can be,
You, God are present there.
Melody: Ellacombe C.M.D.
Music: Wurtemberg Gesangbuch, 1784, adapted in the Mainz Gesangbuch, 1833, and further adapted in the St. Gall Gesangbuch, 1863
Text: Isaac Watts, 1715
Or:
O splendor of Godís glory bright,
O Thou that bringest light from light;
O Light of Light, lightís living spring;
O Day, all days illumining.
O Thou true Sun, on us thy glance
Let fall in royal radiance;
The Spiritís sanctifying beam
Upon our earthly senses stream.
The Father, too, our prayers implore,
Father of glory evermore,
The Father of all grace and might,
To banish sin from our delight.
To guide whateíer we nobly do;
With love all envy to subdue;
To make ill fortune turn to fair;
And give us grace our wrongs to bear.
Our mind be in his keeping placed,
Our body true to him and chaste,
Where only faith her fire shall feed
To burn the tares of Satanís seed.
And Christ to us for food shall be,
From him our drink that welleth free,
The Spiritís wine, that maketh whole,
And, mocking not, exalts the soul.
Now let the day in joy pass on:
Or modesty like early dawn,
Our faith like noontide splendor glow,
Our souls the twilight never know.
See! morn pursues her shining way:
True Morning, all thy beams display!
Son with the mighty Father one,
The Father wholly in the Son.
All laud to God the Father be;
All praise, eternal Son, to thee;
All glory, as is ever meet,
To God the Holy Paraclete. Amen.
Melody: Puer Nobis Nascitur L. M.
Music: Michael Praetorius, 1609
Text: Splendor Paternae gloriae, Saint Ambrose of Milan, 337?-397
Translatoion: Robert S. Bridges, 1844-1930, and John M. Neale, 1818-1866
PSALMODY
Ant. 1 Blessed are they who dwell in your house, O Lord.
Psalm 84
Longing for Godís Temple
Here we do not have a lasting city; we seek a home that is yet to come (Hebrews 13:14).
How lovely is your dwelling place,
*Lord, God of hosts.
My soul is longing and yearning,
*is yearning for the courts of the Lord.
My heart and my soul ring out their joy
*to God, the living God.
The sparrow herself finds a home
*and the swallow a nest for her brood;
she lays her young by your altars,
*Lord of hosts, my king and my God.
They are happy, who dwell in your house,
*for ever singing your praise.
They are happy, whose strength is in you,
*in whose hearts are the roads to Zion.
As they go through the Bitter Valley
Üthey make it a place of springs,
*the autumn rain covers it with blessings.
They walk with ever growing strength,
*they will see the God of gods in Zion.
O Lord God of hosts, hear my prayer,
*give ear, O God of Jacob.
Turn your eyes, O God, our shield,
*look on the face of your anointed.
One day within your courts
*is better than a thousand elsewhere.
The threshold of the house of God
*I prefer to the dwellings of the wicked.
For the Lord God is a rampart, a shield;
*he will give us his favor and glory.
The Lord will not refuse any good
*to those who walk without blame.
Lord, God of hosts,
*happy the man who trusts in you!
Glory to the Father, and to the Son,
*and to the Holy Spirit:
as it was in the beginning, is now,
*and will be for ever. Amen.
Psalm Prayer
Bless your people, Lord. You have given us the law that we may walk from strength to strength and raise our minds to you from this valley of tears. May we receive the gifts you have gained for us.
Ant. Blessed are they who dwell in your house, O Lord.
Ant. 2 Come, let us climb the mountain of the Lord.
Canticle: Isaiah 2:2-5
The mountain of the Lordís dwelling towers above every mountain
All peoples shall come and worship in your presence (Revelation 15:4).
In days to come,
*the mountain of the Lordís house
shall be established as the highest mountain
*and raised above the hills.
All nations shall stream toward it;
*many peoples shall come and say:
ìCome, let us climb the Lordís mountain,
*to the house of the God of Jacob,
that he may instruct us in his ways,
*and we may walk in his paths.î
For from Zion shall go forth instruction,
*and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.
He shall judge between the nations,
*and impose terms on many peoples.
They shall beat their swords into plowshares
*and their spears into pruning hooks;
one nation shall not raise the sword against another,
*nor shall they train for war again.
O house of Jacob, come,
*let us walk in the light of the Lord!
Glory to the Father, and to the Son,
*and to the Holy Spirit:
as it was in the beginning, is now,
*and will be for ever. Amen.
Ant. Come, let us climb the mountain of the Lord.
Ant. 3 Sing to the Lord and bless his name.
Psalm 96
The Lord, king and judge of the world
A new theme now inspires their praise of God; they belong to the Lamb (see Revelation 14:3).
O sing a new song to the Lord,
Üsing to the Lord, all the earth.
*O sing to the Lord, bless his name.
Proclaim his help day by day,
Ütell among the nations his glory
*and his wonders among all the peoples.
The Lord is great and worthy of praise,
Üto be feared above all gods;
*the gods of the heathens are naught.
It was the Lord who made the heavens,
Ühis are majesty and state and power
*and splendor in his holy place.
Give the Lord, you families of peoples,
Ügive the Lord glory and power,
*give the Lord the glory of his name.
Bring an offering and enter his courts,
Üworship the Lord in his temple.
*O earth, tremble before him.
Proclaim to the nations: ìGod is king.î
ÜThe world he made firm in its place;
*he will judge the peoples in fairness.
Let the heavens rejoice and earth be glad,
*let the sea and all within it thunder praise,
let the land and all it bears rejoice,
*all the trees of the wood shout for joy
at the presence of the Lord for he comes,
*he comes to rule the earth.
With justice he will rule the world,
*he will judge the peoples with his truth.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son,
*and to the Holy Spirit:
as it was in the beginning, is now,
*and will be for ever. Amen.
Psalm Prayer
Lord, you have renewed the face of the earth. Your Church throughout the world sings you a new song, announcing your wonders to all. Through a virgin, you have brought forth a new birth in our world; through your miracles, a new power; through your suffering, a new patience; in your resurrection, a new hope, and in your ascension, new majesty.
Ant. Sing to the Lord and bless his name.
READING
James 2:12-13
Always speak and act as men destined for judgment under the law of freedom. Merciless is the judgment on the man who has not shown mercy; but mercy triumphs over judgment.
RESPONSORY
Blessed be the Lord our God, blessed from age to age.
ñ Blessed be the Lord our God, blessed from age to age.
His marvelous works are beyond compare,
ñ blessed from age to age.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
ñ Blessed be the Lord our God, blessed from age to age.
GOSPEL CANTICLE
Ant. Blessed be the Lord our God.
Luke 1:68-79The Messiah and his forerunner
Blessed
+ be the Lord, the God of Israel;
*he has come to his people and set them free.
He has raised up for us a mighty savior, *
born of the house of his servant David.
Through his holy prophets he promised of old Ü
that he would save us from our enemies, *
from the hands of all who hate us.
He promised to show mercy to our fathers *
and to remember his holy covenant.
This was the oath he swore to our father Abraham: *
to set us free from the hands of our enemies,
free to worship him without fear, *
holy and righteous in his sight
all the days of our life.
You, my child, shall be called the prophet of the Most High; *
for you will go before the Lord to prepare his way,
to give his people knowledge of salvation *
by the forgiveness of their sins.
In the tender compassion of our God *
the dawn from on high shall break upon us,
to shine on those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death, *
and to guide our feet into the way of peace.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, *
and to the Holy Spirit:
as it was in the beginning, is now, *
and will be for ever. Amen.
Ant. Blessed be the Lord our God.
INTERCESSIONS
Man was created to glorify God through his deeds. Let us earnestly pray:
May we give glory to your name, Lord.
We bless you, Creator of all things,
ñ for you have given us the goods of the earth and brought us to this day.
May we give glory to your name, Lord.
Look with favor on us as we begin our daily work,
ñ let us be fellow workers with you.
May we give glory to your name, Lord.
Make our work today benefit our brothers and sisters,
ñ that with them and for them we may build an earthly city, pleasing to you.
May we give glory to your name, Lord.
Grant joy and peace to us,
ñ and to all we meet this day.
May we give glory to your name, Lord.
THE LORDíS PRAYER
(Remember us, Lord, when you come to your kingdom and teach us how to pray:
)
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.
CONCLUDING PRAYER
Lord God,
king of heaven and earth,
direct our minds and bodies throughout this day,
and make us holy.
Keep us faithful to your law in thought, word and deed.
Be our helper now and always,
free us from sin,
and bring us to salvation in that kingdom
where you live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever.
ñ Amen.
DISMISSAL
May the Lord
+ bless us,
protect us from all evil
and bring us to everlasting life.
ñ Amen.
Daytime Prayer
INTRODUCTION
God,
+ come to my assistance.
ñ Lord, make haste to help me.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:
ñ as it was in the beginning, is now, will be for ever. Amen. Alleluia.
HYMN
At Midmorning
Breathe on me, breath of God,
Fill me with life anew,
That I may love the things you love,
And do what you would do.
Breathe on me, breath of God,
Until my heart is pure,
Until with you I have one will,
To live and to endure.
Breathe on me, breath of God,
My soul with grace refine,
Until this earthly part of me
Glows with your fire divine.
Breathe on me, breath of God,
So I shall never die,
But live with you the perfect life
In your eternity.
Melody: Yattendon 64.66.86Music: H. E. Woodbridge, 1845-1917Text: Edwin Hatch, 1835-1889, adapted by Anthony G. Petti
At Midday
Almighty Ruler, God of truth,
Who guide and master all,
The rays with which you gild the dawn
With noonday heat now fall.
O quench the fires of hatred, Lord,
Of anger and of strife;
Bring health to every mind and heart
That peace may enter life.
Most holy Father, grant our prayer
Through Christ your only Son,
That in your Spirit we may live
And praise you ever one.
Melody: Ballerma C.M.Music: F. Barthelemon, 1774-1808Text: Ralph Wright, O.S.B.
At Midafternoon
Lord God and Maker of all things,
Creation is upheld by you.
While all must change and know decay,
You are unchanging, always new.
You are manís solace and his shield
His rock secure on which to build;
You are the spiritís tranquil home;
In you alone is hope fulfilled.
To God the Father, and the Son
And Holy Spirit render praise,
Blest Trinity, from age to age
The strength of all our living days.
Melody: Auctoritate Saeculi L.M.Music: Poitiers Antiphoner, 1746Text: © Stanbrook Abbey, used with permission.
PSALMODY
Ant 1. Lord, I have sought to do your will, through which you give me life.
Psalm 119:89-96
XII (Lamed)
A meditation on Godís law
I give you a new commandment: love one another as I have loved you (John 13:34).
Your word, O Lord, for ever *
stands firm in the heavens:
your truth lasts from age to age, *
like the earth you created.
By your decree it endures to this day; *
for all things serve you.
Had your law not been my delight *
I would have died in my affliction.
I will never forget your precepts *
for with them you give me life.
Save me, for I am yours *
since I seek your precepts.
Though the wicked lie in wait to destroy me *
yet I ponder on your will.
I have seen that all perfection has an end *
but your command is boundless.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, *
and to the Holy Spirit:
as it was in the beginning, is now, *
and will be for ever. Amen.
Psalm Prayer
Lord, your Word, which stands firm for ever in heaven, dwells in your Church; may his presence bring lasting light to your temple.
Ant. Lord, I have sought to do your will, through which you give me life.
Ant. 2 I have trusted in you, O Lord, from my youth.
Psalm 71
You have stood by me, Lord, from my youth
Let hope be your joy; be patient in trials (Romans 12:12).
I
In you, O Lord, I take refuge; *
let me never be put to shame.
In your justice rescue me, free me: *
pay heed to me and save me.
Be a rock where I can take refuge, Ü
a mighty stronghold to save me; *
for you are my rock, my stronghold.
Free me from the hand of the wicked, *
from the grip of the unjust, of the oppressor.
It is you, O Lord, who are my hope, *
my trust, O Lord, since my youth.
On you I have leaned from my birth, Ü
from my motherís womb you have been my help. *
My hope has always been in you.
My fate has filled many with awe *
but you are my strong refuge.
My lips are filled with your praise, *
with your glory all the day long.
Do not reject me now that I am old; *
when my strength fails do not forsake me.
For my enemies are speaking about me; *
those who watch me take counsel together.
They say: ìGod has forsaken him; follow him, *
seize him; there is no one to save him.î
O God, do not stay far off: *
my God, make haste to help me!
Let them be put to shame and destroyed, *
all those who seek my life.
Let them be covered with shame and confusion, *
all those who seek to harm me.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, *
and to the Holy Spirit:
as it was in the beginning, is now, *
and will be for ever. Amen.
Ant. I have trusted in you, O Lord, from my youth.
Ant. 3 Do not abandon me, my God, when I am old.
II
But as for me, I will always hope *
and praise you more and more.
My lips will tell of your justice Ü
and day by day of your help *
though I can never tell it all.
I will declare the Lordís mighty deeds, *
proclaiming your justice, yours alone.
O God, you have taught me from my youth *
and I proclaim your wonders still.
Now that I am old and grey-headed, *
do not forsake me, God.
Let me tell of your power to all ages, *
praise your strength and justice to the skies,
tell of you who have worked such wonders. *
O God, who is like you?
You have burdened me with bitter troubles *
but you will give me back my life.
You will raise me from the depths of the earth; *
you will exalt me and console me again.
So I will give you thanks on the lyre *
for your faithful love, my God.
To you will I sing with the harp, *
to you, the Holy One of Israel.
When I sing to you my lips shall rejoice *
and my soul, which you have redeemed.
And all the day long my tongue *
shall tell the tale of your justice:
for they are put to shame and disgraced, *
all those who seek to harm me.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, *
and to the Holy Spirit:
as it was in the beginning, is now, *
and will be for ever. Amen..
Psalm Prayer
Lord, God of the living, you give us lasting youth through the waters of rebirth, and happiness through the bread of life. Do not desert us when we are old, but help us to follow your will in both good times and bad, so that we may for ever praise your faithfulness.
Ant. Do not abandon me, my God, when I am old.
At the other hours, the complimentary psalmody from Series I and III is used.
MIDMORNING
READING
2 Corinthians 13:11
Brothers, I must say good-bye. Mend your ways. Encourage one another. Live in harmony and peace, and the God of love and peace will be with you.
The Lord looks on those who love him.
ñ He hears their cry.
CONCLUDING PRAYER
Let us pray.
God our Father,
work is your gift to us,
a call to reach new heights
by using our talents for the good of all.
Guide us as we work and teach us to live
in the spirit that made us your sons and daughters,
in the love that has made us brothers and sisters.
Grant this through Christ our Lord.
ñ Amen.
ACCLAMATION
Let us praise the Lord.
ñ And give him thanks.
MIDDAY
READINGRomans 6:22
Now that you are freed from sin and have become slaves of God, your benefit is sanctification as you tend toward eternal life.
O God, turn back, and bring us to life.
ñ Then your people will rejoice in you.
CONCLUDING PRAYER
Let us pray.
Father,
yours is the harvest
and yours is the vineyard:
you assign the task
and pay a wage that is just.
Help us to meet this dayís responsibilities,
and let nothing separate us from your love.
Grant this through Christ our Lord.
ñ Amen.
ACCLAMATION
Let us praise the Lord.
ñ And give him thanks.
MIDAFTERNOON
READINGColossians 1:21-22
You yourselves were once alienated from him; you nourished hostility in your hearts because of your evil deeds. But now Christ has achieved reconciliation for you in his mortal body by dying, so as to present you to God holy, free of reproach and blame.
All you who love the Lord, sing his praises.
ñ Celebrate the beauty of his holiness.
CONCLUDING PRAYER
Let us pray.
Lord,
you call us to worship you
at the hour when the apostles went to pray in the temple.
We offer our prayer in the name of Jesus:
may his saving power come to all
who call upon his name.
Grant this through Christ our Lord.
ñ Amen.
ACCLAMATION
Let us praise the Lord.
ñ And give him thanks.