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From: 1 Thessalonians 1:1-5, 8b-10

Greetings

[1] Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy, To the church of the Thessalonians in God the
Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace.

Thanksgiving for the Thessalonians’ Fidelity

[2] We give thanks to God always for you all, constantly mentioning you in our
prayers, [3] remembering before our God and Father your work of faith and labor
of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ. [4] For we know
brethren beloved by God, that he has chosen you; [5] for our gospel came to you
not only in word, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction.
You know what kind of men we proved to be among you for your sake.

[8b] but your faith in God has gone forth everywhere, so that we need not say
anything. [9] For they themselves report concerning us what a welcome we had
among you, and how you turned to God from idols, to serve a living and true God,
[10] and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, Jesus
who delivers us from the wrath to come.

*********************************************************************************************
Commentary:

1. The heading is in keeping with the style of the period: it identifies the writer
and the addressees and contains a greeting. The names of Silvanus and Timo-
thy, co-workers of St Paul, appears alongside his own. The heading is affectio-
nate in tone but it is not the kind of opening typical of a simple family letter.
This is an official letter, which is why two witnesses vouch for its content (in
line with legal requirements: cf. Deut 17:6).

As in certain other letters (cf. 2 Thess, Phil, Philem), St Paul does not describe
himself as an Apostle; the mention of his name is enough to convey his authority.
Silvanus is the same person as Silas whom Acts describes as “prophet” and one
of the “leading men among the brethren” in Jerusalem (cf. Acts 15 :22, 32); here
the Latin transcription of his name is used. He had worked alongside St Paul in
the evangelization of Thessalonica, so he would have been well known to the be-
lievers in that city (cf. Acts 17:4). Timothy was son of Gentile father and a Jewish
mother (his mother was a Christian convert); Paul gave him instruction in the faith
when he passed through Lystra during his second missionary journey, and ever
since then he had always been a faithful helper of the Apostle. When St Paul
was writing this letter, Timothy had just arrived in Corinth from Thessalonica with
good reports of the spiritual health of that church (cf. 1 Thess 3:6).

The letter is addressed to “the church of the Thessalonians”. The Greek word
“ekklesia”, meaning “assembly, gathering of the people”, was used from the apo-
stolic age onwards to describe the Church, the new people of God. St Thomas
Aquinas used this verse for his definition of the Church as “the assembly of the
faithful brought together in God the Father and in the Lord Jesus Christ, through
faith in the Trinity and in the divinity and humanity of Christ” (”Commentary on 1
Thess, ad loc.”). “All those, who in faith look toward Jesus, the author of salvation
and the principle of unity and peace, God had gathered together and established
as the Church, that it may be for each and everyone the visible sacrament of this
saving unity” (Vatican II, Lumen Gentium, 9).

“Grace to you and peace”: a favorite greeting of St Paul’s, expressing the wish
that they will attain the fullness of heavenly good things. See the note on Rom
1:7).

3. The spiritual life of the Christian is based on the practice of the theological vir-
tues, for “faith encourages men to do good, charity to bear pain and effort, and
hope to resist patiently” (Severian of Gabala, “Commentary on 1 Thess, ad loc.”).

Faith needs to be reflected in one’s conduct, for “faith apart from works is dead”
(Jas 2:26). As St John Chrysostom teaches, “belief and faith are proved by works
-not by simply saying that one believes, but by real actions, which are kept up,
and by a heart burning with love” (”Hom. on I Thess, ad loc.”).

The service of others for God’s sake is a proof of charity. A person who practices
this virtue always rises to the occasion and does not try to dodge sacrifice or
effort.

Hope is a virtue which “enables one to endure adversity” (St Thomas, “Commen-
tary on 1 Thess, ad loc.”). St Paul encourages us to rejoice in hope and be pa-
tient in tribulation (cf. Rom 12:12), for hope fills the soul with joy and gives it the
strength to bear every difficulty for love of God.

4. All men are “beloved by God” and, as St Thomas points out, this is the case
“not just in the ordinary sense of having received natural existence from him, but
particularly because he has called them to eternal good things” (”Commentary
on I Thess, ad loc.”). Man’s last end is happiness, and happiness cannot be
found (other than in a relative sense) in wealth, honors, health or sensual satis-
faction; it can only be found in knowing and loving God. By raising man to the
supernatural order, God gave him a supernatural goal or end, which consists in
“seeing God himself, triune and one, as he is, clearly” (Council of Florence,
“Laetentur Coeli”).

Deprived as he was of sanctifying grace on account of original sin and his per-
sonal sins, man was unable to attain any end exceeding his natural powers. But
God loved us so much that he deigned to enable 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” (Col 1:12-13). Therefore, those
who have been given the preaching of the Gospel and the fruits of Redemption
through Baptism and the other sacraments are the object of a special divine
“choice”. This “choice” or election is not the same as “salvation”; it is an initia-
tive on God’s part prior to the attainment of salvation. To be saved one must
second this action of God by responding freely to grace.

5. St Paul reminds them that what he preached was the “gospel” foretold by the
prophets (cf. Is 40:9; 52:7; 60:6; 61:1) and fulfilled by the Incarnation of the Word
and by his work of salvation. The Apostle was pressed into service by the Holy
Spirit to forward his work of sanctification. The Thessalonians were not won over
by mere human words but by the “power” of God, who made those words effective.
The term “power” refers not only to miraculous actions but also to the Holy Spirit
moving the souls of those who heard Paul’s preaching.

It is true that this activity, like all actions of God outside himself, is something
done by all three Persons of the Blessed Trinity; but in the language of Scripture
and of the Church it is customary “to attribute to the Father those works of the
Divinity in which power excels; to attribute to the Son, those in which wisdom
excels; and to the Holy Spirit, those in which love excels” (Leo XIII, “Divinum Illud
Munus”, 5).

In the early years of the Church the proclamation of the Gospel was often marked
by special graces of the Holy Spirit, such as prophecy, miracles, or the gift of
tongues (cf. Acts 2:8). This profusion of gifts made it clear that the messianic era
had begun (cf. Acts 2:16), for it meant the fulfillment of the ancient prophecies: “I
will pour out my spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,
your old men shall dream dreams, and your young men shall see visions. Even
upon the menservants and maidservants in those days, I will pour out my spirit”
(Joel 3:1-3).

“In power and in the Holy Spirit”: in line with the divine plan of salvation, the time
of the Old Testament, which prepared the way for the coming of the Messiah, has
reached its end, and a new era has begun, the Christian era, the key feature of
which is the activity of the Spirit of God: “It must be said that the Holy Spirit is
the principal agent of evangelization: it is he who impels each individual to pro-
claim the Gospel, and it is he who in the depths of consciences causes the word
of salvation to be accepted and understood” (Paul VI, “Evangelii Nuntiandi”, 75).

6. St Paul rejoices at the effect God has had on the Thessalonians. It is true that
Christ is “the” model to be imitated, but the Apostle’s own example played its part
in leading them to Christ (cf. 1 Cor 11:1). “To follow Christ: that is the secret. We
must accompany him so closely that we come to live with him, as the first Twelve
did; so closely, that we become identified with him. Soon we will be able to say,
provided we have not put obstacles in the way of grace, that we have put on, have
clothed ourselves with, our Lord Jesus Christ (cf. Rom 13:14). Our Lord is then
reflected in our behavior, as in a mirror. If the mirror is as it ought to be, it will
capture our Savior’s most lovable face without distorting it or making a caricature
of it; and then other people will have an opportunity of admiring him and following
him” (St. J. Escriva, “Friends of God”, 299).

“Joy”, which is one of the fruits of the Holy Spirit (cf. Gal 5:22-23), is linked to
unconditional acceptance of the word of God, and helps a person to overcome
any obstacle he or she may meet on his way (cf. Acts 5:41). “One can be joyful
despite lashes and blows, when these are accepted in the cause of Christ”, St
John Chrysostom comments. “A feature of the joy of the Holy Spirit is that it
causes an uncontainable happiness to grow even out of affliction and sorrow [...].
In the natural course of events afflictions do not produce joy: joy is the privilege
of those who accept sufferings for Jesus Christ’s sake; it is one of the good
things bestowed by the Holy Spirit” (”Hom. on 1 Thess, ad loc.”).

7-8. Thessalonica was an important center of trade and a hub of communications
for all Greece. The Christians in the city included a number of important people
and even some women of the aristocracy (cf. Acts 17:4). The social standing of
the converts and the prestige of the city partly explain the rapid spread of Chris-
tian teaching throughout the region.

What the Apostle says here only goes to show that when the Christian life is
given full rein it spreads far and wide. This should give us every encouragement
“always to act in public in accordance with our holy faith” (St. J. Escriva, “Fur-
row”, 46).

9. We can see how happy the Apostle is to learn that the work of evangelization
has borne fruit of conversion to God—which is the whole purpose of Gospel prea-
ching. “For the Church, evangelization means bringing the Good News into all
the strata of humanity, and through its influence transforming humanity from
within and making it new” (Paul VI, “Evangelii Nuntiandi”, 18).

It is moving to see the way good news spread among the early Christian com-
munities. Obviously anecdotes about the apostolate would go from church to
church; this gave them an occasion to praise God while at the same time pro-
viding encouragement to stay true to Christ and to spread the Gospel.

10. The Christian message has this feature which differentiates it from Judaism—
hope in Christ and expectation of Christ. Two central points of Christian teaching
emerge from this verse: Jesus Christ is the Son of God, who rose from the dead,
and he will come again to judge all. St John Chrysostom observes that “in a sin-
gle text St Paul brings together a number of different mysteries concerning Jesus
Christ—his glorious resurrection, his victorious ascension, his future coming, the
judgment, the reward promised to the righteous, and the punishment reserved for
evildoers” (”Hom. on 1 Thess, ad loc.”).

This verse probably contains a form of words used in oral preaching, and perhaps
a profession of faith belonging to early Christian liturgy.

“To wait for his son (to come) from heaven”: that Jesus Christ will come again is
a truth of faith professed in the Creed: “He will come again in glory to judge the
living and the dead.” Christ will be the Judge of all mankind. Everyone will be
personally judged by God twice: “The first judgment takes place when each one
of us departs this life; for then he is instantly placed before the judgment-seat
of God, where all that he has ever done or spoken or thought during life shall be
subjected to the most rigid scrutiny. This is called the particular judgment. The
second occurs when on the same day and in the same place all men shall stand
together before the tribunal of their Judge, that in the presence and hearing of all
human beings of all time each may know his final doom and sentence [...]. This
is called the general judgment” (”St Pius V Catechism”, I, 8, 3).

The “wrath to come” is a metaphor referring to the just punishment of sinners.
Our Lord Jesus Christ will exempt from it those who have consistently tried to
live in the state of grace and fellowship with God. St Teresa of Avila warns that
“it will be a great thing at the hour of death to know that we are going to be
judged by him whom we have loved above all things. We can approach this trial
with confidence. It will not be like going into a strange land but into our own land,
for it is the land that belongs to him whom we love so much and who loves us”
(”Way of Perfection”, 70, 3).

*********************************************************************************************
Source: “The Navarre Bible: Text and Commentaries”. Biblical text from the
Revised Standard Version and New Vulgate. Commentaries by members of
the Faculty of Theology, University of Navarre, Spain.

Published by Four Courts Press, Kill Lane, Blackrock, Co. Dublin, Ireland, and
by Scepter Publishers in the United States.

From: Matthew 23:13-22

Jesus Indicts the Scribes and Pharisees

(Jesus said to the scribes and Pharisees,) [13] “But woe to you, scribes and
Pharisees, hypocrites! because you shut the Kingdom of Heaven against men;
for you neither enter yourselves, nor allow those who would enter to go in. [15]
Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for you traverse sea and land to
make a single proselyte, and when he becomes proselyte, you make him twice
as much a child of Hell as yourselves.

[16] “Woe to you, blind guides, who say, ‘If any one swears by the temple, it is
nothing; but if any one swears by the gold of the temple, he is bound by his oath.’
[17] You blind fools! For which is greater, the gold or the temple that has made
the gold sacred? [18] And you say, ‘If any one swears by the altar, it is nothing;
but if one swears by the gift that is on the altar, he is bound by his oath.’ [19]
You blind men! For which is greater, the gift or the altar that makes the gift sa-
cred? [20] So he who swears by the altar, swears by it and everything on it; [21]
and he who swears by the temple, swears by it and by him who dwells in it; [22]
and he who swears by Heaven, swears by the throne of God and by Him who
sits upon it.”

*********************************************************************************************
Commentary:

13. Here comes our Lord’s invective against the behavior of the scribes and Pha-
risees: His “woes” condemn their past conduct and threaten them with punish-
ment if they do not repent and mend their ways.

14. As RSV points out, “other authorities add here (or after verse 12) verse 14,
“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you devour widows’ houses
and for a pretense you make long prayers; therefore you will receive greater con-
demnation.” Our Lord is not reproaching them for praying long prayers but for their
hypocrisy and cupidity. By going in for a lot of external religious practices, the
Pharisees wanted to be recognized as devout men and then trade on that reputa-
tion particularly with vulnerable people. Widows, for example, would ask them to
say prayers; the Pharisees in turn would ask for alms. What Jesus means here
is that prayer should always come from an upright heart and a generous spirit.

15. “Proselyte”: a pagan convert to Judaism. The root of the word means “he
who comes”, he who—coming from idolatry—joins the chosen people in response
to a calling from God. The Pharisees spared no effort to gain converts. Our Lord
reproaches them not for this, but because they were concerned only about hu-
man success, their motivation being vainglory.

The sad thing about these proselytes was that, after receiving the light of Old
Testament revelation, they remained under the influence of scribes and Phari-
sees, who passed on to them their own narrow outlook.

22. Our Lord’s teaching about taking oaths is given in the Sermon on the Mount
(Matthew 5:33-37). Jesus does away with the nitpicking casuistry of the Phari-
sees by focusing directly on the uprightness of the intention of the oath-taker
and by stressing the respect due to God’s majesty and dignity. What Jesus
wants is a pure heart, with no element of deceit.

Our Lord particularly reproves any tendency to undermine the content of an oath,
as the Doctors of the Law tended to do, thereby failing to respect holy things and
especially the holy name of God. He therefore draws attention to the command-
ment of the Law which says, ‘You shall not take the name of the Lord your God
in vain” (Exodus 20:7; Leviticus 19:12; Deuteronomy 5:11).

*********************************************************************************************
Source: “The Navarre Bible: Text and Commentaries”. Biblical text from the
Revised Standard Version and New Vulgate. Commentaries by members of
the Faculty of Theology, University of Navarre, Spain.

Published by Four Courts Press, Kill Lane, Blackrock, Co. Dublin, Ireland, and
by Scepter Publishers in the United States.

Mass Readings

First reading	1 Thessalonians 1:1-5,8-10 ©

From Paul, Silvanus and Timothy, to the Church in Thessalonika which is in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ; wishing you grace and peace.

We always mention you in our prayers and thank God for you all, and constantly remember before God our Father how you have shown your faith in action, worked for love and persevered through hope, in our Lord Jesus Christ.

We know, brothers, that God loves you and that you have been chosen, because when we brought the Good News to you, it came to you not only as words, but as power and as the Holy Spirit and as utter conviction. And you observed the sort of life we lived when we were with you, which was for your instruction, since it was from you that the word of the Lord started to spread – and not only throughout Macedonia and Achaia, for the news of your faith in God has spread everywhere. We do not need to tell other people about it: other people tell us how we started the work among you, how you broke with idolatry when you were converted to God and became servants of the real, living God; and how you are now waiting for Jesus, his Son, whom he raised from the dead, to come from heaven to save us from the retribution which is coming.

Psalm	Psalm 149:1-6,9

Gospel	Matthew 23:13-22 ©

Jesus said, ‘Alas for you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You who shut up the kingdom of heaven in men’s faces, neither going in yourselves nor allowing others to go in who want to.

‘Alas for you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You who travel over sea and land to make a single proselyte, and when you have him you make him twice as fit for hell as you are.

‘Alas for you, blind guides! You who say, “If a man swears by the Temple, it has no force; but if a man swears by the gold of the Temple, he is bound.” Fools and blind! For which is of greater worth, the gold or the Temple that makes the gold sacred? Or else, “If a man swears by the altar it has no force; but if a man swears by the offering that is on the altar, he is bound.” You blind men! For which is of greater worth, the offering or the altar that makes the offering sacred? Therefore, when a man swears by the altar he is swearing by that and by everything on it. And when a man swears by the Temple he is swearing by that and by the One who dwells in it. And when a man swears by heaven he is swearing by the throne of God and by the One who is seated there.’

Prayers for The Religion Forum (Ecumenical)

Continue to Pray for Pope Benedict [Ecumenical]

Jesus, High Priest

We thank you, God our Father, for those who have responded to your call to priestly ministry.

Accept this prayer we offer on their behalf: Fill your priests with the sure knowledge of your love.

Open their hearts to the power and consolation of the Holy Spirit.

Lead them to new depths of union with your Son.

Increase in them profound faith in the Sacraments they celebrate as they nourish, strengthen and heal us.

Lord Jesus Christ, grant that these, your priests, may inspire us to strive for holiness by the power of their example, as men of prayer who ponder your word and follow your will.

O Mary, Mother of Christ and our mother, guard with your maternal care these chosen ones, so dear to the Heart of your Son.

Intercede for our priests, that offering the Sacrifice of your Son, they may be conformed more each day to the image of your Son, our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.

Saint John Vianney, universal patron of priests, pray for us and our priests

This icon shows Jesus Christ, our eternal high priest.

The gold pelican over His heart represents self-sacrifice.

The border contains an altar and grapevines, representing the Mass, and icons of Melchizedek and St. Jean-Baptiste Vianney.

Melchizedek: king of righteousness (left icon) was priest and king of Jerusalem. He blessed Abraham and has been considered an ideal priest-king.

St. Jean-Baptiste Vianney is the patron saint of parish priests.

Aug 22, Invitatory for Queenship of Mary

Lord, open my lips.
– And my mouth will proclaim your praise.

Ant. Come, let us worship Christ who crowned his mother as Queen of heaven and earth.

Psalm 95

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.

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.

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.

Today, listen to the voice of the Lord:
Do 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.

Forty years I endured that generation.
I said, “They are a people whose hearts go astray
and they do not know my ways.”
So I swore in my anger,
“They shall not enter into my rest.”

Ant.

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 worship Christ who crowned his mother as Queen of heaven and earth.

Aug 22, Office of Readings – Memorial for Queenship of Mary

Ribbon Placement:
Liturgy of the Hours Vol. IV:
Ordinary: 615
Psalter: Monday, Week I, Page 666
Common of the Blessed Virgin Mary: (verse before the readings)
Proper of Seasons: 155 (first reading)
Proper of Saints: (Second reading, concluding prayer)

Christian Prayer:
Does not contain Office of Readings.

Office of Readings for Monday in Ordinary Time, for the Memorial of Queenship of Mary

God, come to my assistance.
– Lord, make haste to help 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.

HYMN

Virgin-born, we bow before thee:
blessed was the womb that bore thee;
Mary, Mother meek and mild,
blessed was she in her Child.
Blessed was the breast that fed thee;
blessed was the hand that led thee;
blessed was the parent’s eye
that watched thy slumbering infancy.

Blessed she by all creation,
who brought forth the world’s salvation,
and blessed they, for ever blest,
who love thee most and serve thee best.
Virgin-born, we bow before thee;
blessed was the womb that bore thee;
Mary, Mother meek and mild,
blessed was she in her Child.

Words: Reginald Heber, 1827; Music: Genevan Psalm 86 (Mon Dieu, Prete-moi l’Oreille), Urquell aller Seligkeiten; Meter: 88 77 D
Virgin-born, we bow before thee by Wakefield Cathedral Choir is available from Amazon.com

PSALMODY

Ant. 1 Show me your mercy, Lord, and keep me safe.

Psalm 6
A suffering man cries to God for mercy
I am filled with dismay…. Father, save me from this hour ( John 12:27).

Lord, do not reprove me in your anger:
punish me not in your rage.
Have mercy on me, Lord, I have no strength;
Lord, heal me, my body is racked;
my soul is racked with pain.

But you, O Lord…how long?
Return, Lord, rescue my soul.
Save me in your merciful love,
for in death no one remembers you;
from the grave, who can give you praise?

I am exhausted with my groaning;
every night I drench my pillow with tears;
I bedew my bed with weeping.
My eye wastes away with grief;
I have grown old surrounded by my foes.

Leave me, all who do evil;
for the Lord has heard my weeping.
The Lord has heard my plea;
The Lord will accept my prayer.
All my foes will retire in confusion,
foiled and suddenly confounded.

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, you love mercy and tenderness; you give life and overcome death. Look upon the many wounds of your Church; restore it to health by your risen Son, so that it may sing a new song in your praise.

Ant. Show me your mercy, Lord, and keep me safe.

Ant. 2 The poor are not alone in their distress; God is here to help them.

Psalm 9A
Thanksgiving for victory
You will come again to judge the living and the dead.

I

I will praise you, Lord, with all my heart;
I will recount all your wonders.
I will rejoice in you and be glad,
and sing psalms to your name, O Most High.

See how my enemies turn back,
how they stumble and perish before you.
You upheld the justice of my cause;
you sat enthroned, judging with justice.

You have checked the nations, destroyed the wicked;
you have wiped out their name for ever and ever.
The foe is destroyed, eternally ruined.
You uprooted their cities: their memory has perished.

But the Lord sits enthroned for ever.
He has set up his throne for judgment;
he will judge the world with justice,
he will judge the people with his truth.

For the oppressed let the Lord be a stronghold,
a stronghold in times of distress.
Those who know your name will trust you:
you will never forsake those who seek 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.

Ant. The poor are not alone in their distress; God is here to help them.

Ant. 3 I will be the herald of your praises, Lord, where the people of Zion gather.

II

Sing psalms to the Lord who dwells in Zion.
Proclaim his mighty works among the peoples;
for the Avenger of blood has remembered them,
has not forgotten the cry of the poor.

Have pity on me, Lord, see my sufferings,
you who save me from the gates of death;
that I may recount all your praise
at the gates of the city of Zion
and rejoice in your saving help.

The nations have fallen in the pit which they made,
their feet caught in the snare they laid.
The Lord has revealed himself, and given judgment.
The wicked are snared in the works of their own hands.

Let the wicked go down among the dead,
all the nations forgetful of God.
For the needy shall not always be forgotten
nor the hopes of the poor be in vain.

Arise, Lord, let men not prevail!
Let the nations be judged before you.
Lord, strike them with terror,
let the nations know they are but men.

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, when you judge, do not be deaf to the shouts of the poor, bring havoc to the madness of oppressors. Look at our wounds and save us from the gates of death, so that we may always rejoice in your help and speak your praise in the gates of Zion.

Ant. I will be the herald of your praises, Lord, where the people of Zion gather.

Sacred Silence (indicated by a bell) – a moment to reflect and receive in our hearts the full resonance of the voice of the Holy Spirit and to unite our personal prayer more closely with the word of God and public voice of the Church.

Blessed are those who hear the word of God.
– And cherish it in their hearts.

READINGS

First reading
From the book of the prophet Zephaniah
3:8-20
Redemption is promised to Israel’s poor

Wait for me, says the Lord,
against the day when I arise as accuser;
For it is my decision to gather together the nations,
to assemble the kingdoms,
In order to pour out upon them my wrath,
all my blazing anger;
For in the fire of my jealousy
shall all the earth be consumed.

For then I will change and purify
the lips of the peoples,
That they all may call upon the name of the Lord,
to serve him with one accord;
From beyond the rivers of Ethiopia
and as far as the recesses of the North,
they shall bring me offerings.

On that day
You need not be ashamed
of all your deeds,
your rebellious actions against me;
For then will I remove from your midst
the proud braggarts,
And you shall no longer exalt yourself
on my holy mountain.
But I will leave as a remnant in your midst
a people humble and lowly,
Who shall take refuge in the name of the Lord:
the remnant of Israel.
They shall do no wrong and speak no lies;
Nor shall there be found in their mouths
a deceitful tongue;
They shall pasture and couch their flocks
with none to disturb them.

Shout for joy, O daughter Zion!
sing joyfully, O Israel!
Be glad and exult with all your heart,
O daughter Jerusalem!
The Lord has removed the judgment against you,
he has turned away your enemies;
The King of Israel, the Lord, is in your midst,
you have no further misfortune to fear.

On that day, it shall be said to Jerusalem:
Fear not, O Zion, be not discouraged!
The Lord, your God, is in your midst,
a mighty savior;
He will rejoice over you with gladness,
and renew you in his love,
He will sing joyfully because of you,
as one sings at festivals.

I will remove disaster from among you,
so that none may recount your disgrace.
Yes, at that time I will deal
with all who oppress you;
I will save the lame,
and assemble the outcasts;
I will give them praise and renown
in all the earth, when I bring about their restoration.

At that time I will bring you home,
and at that time I will gather you;
For I will give you renown and praise,
among all the peoples of the earth,
When I bring about your restoration
before your very eyes, says the Lord.

RESPONSORY Zephaniah 3:12, 13, 9

In your midst I shall leave a poor and lowly people,
– and the remnant in Israel will take refuge in the name of the Lord.

I shall purify the lips of the peoples so that all of them may call on the name of the Lord.
– And the remnant in Israel will take refuge in the name of the Lord.

Second reading
From a homily by Saint Amadeus of Lausanne, bishop
Queen of the world and of peace

Observe how fitting it was that even before her assumption the name of Mary shone forth wondrously throughout the world. Her fame spread everywhere even before she was raised above the heavens in her magnificence. Because of the honor due her Son, it was indeed fitting for the Virgin Mother to have first ruled upon earth and then be raised up to heaven in glory. It was fitting that her fame be spread in this world below, so that she might enter the heights of heaven in overwhelming blessedness. Just as she was borne from virtue to virtue by the Spirit of the Lord, she was transported from earthly renown to heavenly brightness.

So it was that she began to taste the fruits of her future reign while still in the flesh. At one moment she withdrew to God in ecstasy; at the next she would bend down to her neighbors with indescribable love. In heaven angels served her, while here on earth she was venerated by the service of men. Gabriel and the angels waited upon her in heaven. The virgin John, rejoicing that the Virgin Mother was entrusted to him at the cross, cared for her with the other apostles here below. The angels rejoiced to see their queen; the apostles rejoiced to see their lady, and both obeyed her with loving devotion.

Dwelling in the loftiest citadel of virtue, like a sea of divine grace or an unfathomable source of love that has everywhere overflowed its banks, she poured forth her bountiful waters on trusting and thirsting souls. Able to preserve both flesh and spirit from death she bestowed health-giving salve on bodies and souls. Has anyone ever come away from her troubled or saddened or ignorant of the heavenly mysteries? Who has not returned to everyday life gladdened and joyful because his request had been granted by the Mother of God?

She is a bride, so gentle and affectionate, and the mother of the only true bridegroom. In her abundant goodness she has channeled the spring of reason’s garden, the well of living and life-giving waters that pour forth in a rushing stream from divine Lebanon and flow down from Mount Zion until they surround the shores of every far-flung nation. With divine assistance she has redirected these waters and made them into streams of peace and pools of grace. Therefore, when the Virgin of virgins was led forth by God and her Son, the King of kings, amid the company of exulting angels and rejoicing archangels, with the heavens ringing with praise, the prophecy of the psalmist was fulfilled, in which he said to the Lord: At your right hand stands the queen, clothed in gold of Ophir.

RESPONSORY Acts 11:23-24

A great sign appeared in the heavens: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet,
– and upon her head a crown of twelve stars.

The queen clothed in cloth of gold, stood on your right hand.
– And upon her head a crown of twelve stars.

CONCLUDING PRAYER

Father,
you have given us the mother of your Son
to be our queen and mother.
With the support of her prayers
may we come to share the glory of your children
in the kingdom of heaven.
We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever.
– Amen.

ACCLAMATION (only added when praying in community)

Let us praise the Lord.
– And give him thanks.

Aug 22, Morning Prayer – Memorial for Queenship of Mary

Ribbon Placement:
Liturgy of the Hours Vol. III:
Ordinary: 654
Psalter: Monday, Week I, Page 706
Common of the Blessed Virgin Mary: (Reading, Ant. for Canticle of Zechariah, Intercessions)
Proper of Saints: (Concluding prayer)

Christian Prayer (single volume):
Ordinary: 689
Psalter: Monday, Week I, Page 718
Common of the Blessed Virgin Mary: (Reading, Ant. for Canticle of Zechariah, Intercessions)
Proper of Saints: (Concluding prayer)

Morning Prayer for Monday in Ordinary Time, for the Memorial of Queenship of Mary

God, come to my assistance.
– Lord, make haste to help 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.

HYMN

Mary the dawn, Christ the Perfect Day;
Mary the gate, Christ the Heavenly Way!
Mary the root, Christ the Mystic Vine;
Mary the grace, Christ the Sacred Wine!
Mary the wheat, Christ the Living Bread;
Mary the stem, Christ the Rose blood-red!
Mary the font, Christ the Cleansing Flood;
Mary the cup, Christ the Saving Blood!
Mary the temple, Christ the temple’s Lord;
Mary the shrine, Christ the God adored!
Mary the beacon, Christ the Haven’s Rest;
Mary the mirror, Christ the Vision Blest!
Mary the mother, Christ the mother’s Son
By all things blest while endless ages run.
Amen.

“Mary the Dawn” Words: anonymous poet; The poem now exists in its edited form by the Dominican Sisters of Summit (1972).
Mary the Dawn by Kathleen Lundquiest is available from Amazon.com

PSALMODY

Ant. I lift up my heart to you, O Lord, and you will hear my morning prayer.

Psalm 5
A morning prayer asking for help
Those who welcome the Word as the guest of their hearts will have abiding joy.

To my words give ear, O Lord,
give heed to my groaning.
Attend to the sound of my cries,
my King and my God.

It is you whom I invoke, O Lord.
In the morning you hear me;
in the morning I offer you my prayer,
watching and waiting.

You are no God who loves evil;
no sinner is your guest.
The boastful shall not stand their ground
before your face.

You hate all who do evil;
you destroy all who lie.
The deceitful and bloodthirsty man
the Lord detests.

But I through the greatness of your love
have access to your house.
I bow down before your holy temple,
filled with awe.

Lead me, Lord, in your justice,
because of those who lie in wait;
make clear your way before me.

No truth can be found in their mouths,
their heart is all mischief,
their throat a wide-open grave,
all honey their speech.

All those you protect shall be glad
and ring out their joy.
You shelter them; in you they rejoice,
those who love your name.

It is you who bless the just man, Lord:
you surround him with favor as with a shield.

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, all justice and all goodness come from you; you hate evil and abhor lies. Lead us, your servants, in the path of your justice, so that all who hope in you may rejoice with the Church and in Christ.

Ant. I lift up my heart to you, O Lord, and you will hear my morning prayer.

Ant. 2 We praise your glorious name, O Lord, our God.

Canticle: 1 Chronicles 29:10-13
Glory and honor are due to God alone
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ (Ephesians 1:3).

Blessed may you be, O Lord,
God of Israel our father,
from eternity to eternity.

Yours, O Lord, are grandeur and power,
majesty, splendor, and glory.

For all in heaven and on earth is yours;
yours, O Lord, is the sovereignty:
you are exalted as head over all.

Riches and honor are from you,
and you have dominion over all.
In your hand are power and might;
it is yours to give grandeur and strength to all.

Therefore, our God, we give you thanks
and we praise the majesty of your name.

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. We praise your glorious name, O Lord, our God.

Ant. 3 Adore the Lord in his holy court.

Psalm 29
A tribute of praise to the Word of God
The Father’s voice proclaimed: “This is my beloved Son” (Matthew 3:17)

O give the Lord, you sons of God,
give the Lord glory and power;
give the Lord the glory of his name.
Adore the Lord in his holy court.

The Lord’s voice resounding on the waters,
the Lord on the immensity of waters;
the voice of the Lord, full of power,
the voice of the Lord, full of splendor.

The Lord’s voice shattering the cedars,
the Lord shatters the cedars of Lebanon;
he makes Lebanon leap like a calf
and Sirion like a young wild ox.

The Lord’s voice flashes flames of fire.

The Lord’s voice shaking the wilderness,
the Lord shakes the wilderness of Kadesh;
the Lord’s voice rending the oak tree
and stripping the forest bare.

The God of glory thunders.
In his temple they all cry: Glory!
The Lord sat enthroned over the flood;
the Lord sits as king for ever.

The Lord will give strength to his people,
the Lord will bless his people with 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.

Psalm-prayer

You live for ever, Lord and King. All things of the earth justly sing your glory and honor. Strengthen your people against evil that we may rejoice in your peace and trust in your eternal promise.

Ant. Adore the Lord in his holy court.

READING: See Isaiah 61:10

I rejoice heartily in the Lord,
in my God is the joy of my soul;
For he has clothed me with a robe of salvation,
and wrapped me in a mantle of justice,
like a bride bedecked with her jewels.

Sacred Silence (indicated by a bell) – a moment to reflect and receive in our hearts the full resonance of the voice of the Holy Spirit and to unite our personal prayer more closely with the word of God and public voice of the Church.

RESPONSORY

The Lord has chosen her,
his loved one from the beginning.
– The Lord has chosen her,
his loved one from the beginning.

He has taken her to live with him,
– his loved one from the beginning.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit,
– The Lord has chosen her,
his loved one from the beginning.

CANTICLE OF ZECHARIAH

Ant. Mary, ever-virgin, most honored Queen of the world, you gave birth to our Savior, Christ the Lord.

Luke 1:68 – 79
The 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
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. Mary, ever-virgin, most honored Queen of the world, you gave birth to our Savior, Christ the Lord.

INTERCESSIONS

Let us glorify our Savior, who chose the Virgin Mary for his mother. Let us ask him:
– May your mother intercede for us, Lord.

Sun of Justice, the immaculate Virgin was the white dawn announcing your rising,
grant that we may always live in the light of your coming.
– May your mother intercede for us, Lord.

Eternal Word, you chose Mary as the uncorrupted ark of your dwelling place,
free us from the corruption of sin.
– May your mother intercede for us, Lord.

Savior of mankind, your mother stood at the foot of your cross,
grant, through her intercession, that we may rejoice to share in your passion.
– May your mother intercede for us, Lord.

With ultimate generosity and love, you gave Mary as a mother to your beloved disciple,
help us to live as worthy sons of so noble a mother.
– May your mother intercede for us, Lord.

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

Father,
you have given us the mother of your Son
to be our queen and mother.
With the support of her prayers
may we come to share the glory of your children
in the kingdom of heaven.
We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever.
– Amen.

DISMISSAL

May the Lord bless us,
protect us from all evil and bring us to everlasting life.
– Amen.

Aug 22, Daytime Prayer for Monday of the 21st week of Ordinary Time

Ribbon Placement:
Liturgy of the Hours Vol. III:
Ordinary: Page 659
All from the Psalter: Monday, Week I, Page 711 (Midday)

Liturgy of the Hours Vol. IV:
Ordinary: Page 623
All from the Psalter: Monday, Week I, Page 675 (Midday)

Christian Prayer:
All from the Psalter: Page 998 (Midday)

Daytime Prayer for Monday in Ordinary Time

God, come to my assistance.
– Lord, make haste to help 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. Alleluia.

HYMN

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 man’s solace and his shield,
His rock secure on which to build,
You are the spirit’s 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, 1746; Text: Stanbrook Abbey

PSALMODY

Ant. 1 The will of God gives joy to the heart; we see all things in its light.

Psalm 19B
Praise of God who gave us the law of love
You must be perfect as your heavenly Father is perfect (Matthew 5:48).

The law of the Lord is perfect,
it revives the soul.
The rule of the Lord is to be trusted,
it gives wisdom to the simple.

The precepts of the Lord are right,
they gladden the heart.
The command of the Lord is clear,
it gives light to the eyes.

The fear of the Lord is holy,
abiding for ever.
The decrees of the Lord are truth
and all of them just.

They are more to be desired than gold,
than the purest of gold,
and sweeter are they than honey,
than honey from the comb.

So in them your servant finds instruction;
great reward is in their keeping.
But who can detect all his errors?
From hidden faults acquit me.

From presumption restrain your servant
and let it not rule me.
Then shall I be blameless,
clean from grave sin.

May the spoken words of my mouth,
the thoughts of my heart,
win favor in your sight, O Lord,
my rescuer, my rock!

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

May our words in praise of your commandments find favor with you, Lord. May our faith prove we are not slaves, but sons, not so much subjected to your law as sharing your power.

Ant. The will of God gives joy to the heart; we see all things in its light.

Ant. 2 God comes in power to give his people justice.

Psalm 7
Prayer of a God-fearing man who is being calumniated
Here stands the Judge, at our very door ( James 5:9).

I

Lord God, I take refuge in you.
From my pursuer save me and rescue me,
lest he tear me to pieces like a lion
and drag me off with no one to rescue me.

Lord God, if my hands have done wrong,
if I have paid back evil for good,
I who saved my unjust oppressor:
then let my foe pursue me and seize me,
let him trample my life to the ground
and lay my soul in the dust.

Lord, rise up in your anger,
rise against the fury of my foes;
my God, awake! You will give judgment.
Let the company of nations gather round you,
taking your seat above them on high.
The Lord is judge of the peoples.

Give judgment for me, Lord; I am just
and innocent of heart.
Put an end to the evil of the wicked!
Make the just stand firm,
you who test mind and heart, O just God!

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

Father, you weigh what is in our hearts. Free us from oppressors, and, as we wait for your day of judgment, set a firm guard on our thoughts, so that while we return good for evil, we may still praise your kind of justice.

Ant. God comes in power to give his people justice.

Ant. 3 God is our judge, strong and just; he saves the upright of heart.

II

God is the shield that protects me,
who saves the upright of heart.
God is a just judge
slow to anger;
but he threatens the wicked every day,
men who will not repent.

God will sharpen his sword;
he has braced his bow and taken aim.
For them he has prepared deadly weapons;
he barbs his arrows with fire.
Here is one who is pregnant with malice,
conceives evil and brings forth lies.

He digs a pitfall, digs it deep;
and in the trap he has made he will fall.
His malice will recoil on himself;
on his own head his violence will fall.

I will thank the Lord for his justice:
I will sing to the Lord, the Most High.

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

You know our hearts, Lord, but you are slow to anger and merciful in judging. Come, examine your Church, wash her clean of sin and great crowds will surround you with songs of praise.

Ant. God is our judge, strong and just; he saves the upright of heart.

READING James 1:19b-20, 26

Let every man be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; for a man’s anger does not fulfill God’s justice. If a man who does not control his tongue imagines that he is devout, he is self-deceived; his worship is pointless.

I will bless the Lord all my life long.
– With a song of praise ever on my lips.

CONCLUDING PRAYER

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 day’s responsibilities,
and let nothing separate us from your love.
Grant this through Christ our Lord.
– Amen.

ACCLAMATION (only added when praying in community)

Let us praise the Lord.
– And give him thanks.

Aug 22, Evening Prayer – Memorial for Queenship of Mary

Ribbon Placement:
Liturgy of the Hours Vol. III:
Ordinary: 668
Psalter: Monday, Week I, Page 716
Common of the Blessed Virgin Mary: (Reading, Ant. for Canticle of Mary, Intercessions)
Proper of Saints: (Concluding prayer)

Christian Prayer (single volume)
Ordinary: 694
Psalter: Monday, Week I, Page 723
Common of the Blessed Virgin Mary: (Reading, Ant. for Canticle of Mary, Intercessions)
Proper of Saints: (Concluding prayer)

Evening Prayer for Monday in Ordinary Time, for the Memorial of Queenship of Mary

God, come to my assistance.
– Lord, make haste to help 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.

HYMN

Mary, crowned with living light,
Temple of the Lord,
Place of peace and holiness,
Shelter of the Word.
Mystery of sinless life
In our fallen race,
Free from shadow, you reflect
Plenitude of grace.

Virgin-mother of our God,
Lift us when we fall,
Who were named upon the
Cross Mother of us all.
Father, Son and Holy Ghost,
Heaven sings your praise;
Mary Magnifies your name
Through eternal days.

Title: Mary, crowned with living light; Music: Gossner’s Choralbuch, Leipzig, 1832; Text: Stanbrook Abbey;
“Mary, crowned with living light” Sung by The Cistercian Nuns of St. Mary’s Abbey Glencairn is available from Amazon.com

PSALMODY

Ant. 1 The Lord looks tenderly on those who are poor.

Psalm 11
God is the unfailing support of the just
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for justice; they shall be satisfied (Matthew 5:6).

In the Lord I have taken my refuge.
How can you say to my soul:
“Fly like a bird to its mountain.

See the wicked bracing their bow;
they are fixing their arrows on the string
to shoot upright men in the dark.
Foundations once destroyed, what can the just do?”

The Lord is in his holy temple,
the Lord, whose throne is in heaven.
His eyes look down on the world;
his gaze tests mortal men.

The Lord tests the just and the wicked;
the lover of violence he hates.
He sends fire and brimstone on the wicked;
he sends a scorching wind as their lot.

The Lord is just and loves justice;
the upright shall see his face.

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, you search the hearts of all, both the good and the wicked. May those who are in danger for love of you, find security in you now, and, in the day of judgment, may they rejoice in seeing you face to face.

Ant. The Lord looks tenderly on those who are poor.

Ant. 2 Blessed are the pure of heart, for they shall see God.

Psalm 15
Who is worthy to stand in God’s presence?
You have come to Mount Zion, to the city of the living God (Hebrews 12:22).

Lord, who shall be admitted to your tent
and dwell on your holy mountain?

He who walks without fault;
he who acts with justice
and speaks the truth from his heart;
he who does not slander with his tongue;

He who does no wrong to his brother,
who casts no slur on his neighbor,
who holds the godless in disdain,
but honors those who fear the Lord;

he who keeps his pledge, come what may;
who takes no interest on a loan
and accepts no bribes against the innocent.
Such a man will stand firm forever.

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

Make our lives blameless, Lord. Help us to do what is right and to speak what is true, that we may dwell in your tent and find rest on your holy mountain.

Ant. Blessed are the pure of heart, for they shall see God.

Ant. 3 God chose us in his Son to be his adopted children.

Canticle — Ephesians 1:3-10
God our Savior

Praised be the God and Father
of our Lord Jesus Christ,
who has bestowed on us in Christ
every spiritual blessing in the heavens.

God chose us in him
before the world began
to be holy
and blameless in his sight.

He predestined us
to be his adopted sons through Jesus Christ,
such was his will and pleasure,
that all might praise the glorious favor
he has bestowed on us in his beloved.

In him and through his blood, we have been redeemed,
and our sins forgiven,
so immeasurably generous
is God’s favor to us.

God has given us the wisdom
to understand fully the mystery,
the plan he was pleased
to decree in Christ.

A plan to be carried out
in Christ, in the fulness of time,
to bring all things into one in him,
in the heavens and on earth.

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. God chose us in his Son to be his adopted children.

READING Galatians 4:4-5

When the designated time had come, God sent forth his Son born of a woman, born under the law, to deliver from the law those who were subjected to it, so that we might receive our status as adopted sons.

Sacred Silence (indicated by a bell) – a moment to reflect and receive in our hearts the full resonance of the voice of the Holy Spirit and to unite our personal prayer more closely with the word of God and public voice of the Church.

RESPONSORY

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with you.
– Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with you.

Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb.
– The Lord is with you.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit,
– Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with you.

CANTICLE OF MARY

Ant. Blessed are you, Virgin Mary, because you believed that the Lord’s words to you would be fulfilled; now you reign with Christ for ever.

Luke 1:46-55
The soul rejoices in the Lord

My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord,
my spirit rejoices in God my Savior
for he has looked with favor on his lowly servant.

From this day all generations will call me blessed:
the Almighty has done great things for me,
and holy is his Name.

He has mercy on those who fear him
in every generation.

He has shown the strength of his arm,
he has scattered the proud in their conceit.

He has cast down the mighty from their thrones,
and has lifted up the lowly.

He has filled the hungry with good things,
and the rich he has sent away empty.

He has come to the help of his servant Israel
for he has remembered his promise of mercy,
the promise he made to our fathers,
to Abraham and his children for ever.

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 are you, Virgin Mary, because you believed that the Lord’s words to you would be fulfilled; now you reign with Christ for ever.

INTERCESSIONS

Let us praise God our almighty Father, who wished that Mary, his Son’s mother, be celebrated by each generation. Now in need we ask:
– Mary, full of grace, intercede for us.

O God, worker of miracles, you made the immaculate Virgin Mary share, body and soul, in your Son’s glory in heaven,
direct the hearts of your children to that same glory.
– Mary, full of grace, intercede for us.

You made Mary our mother. Through her intercession grant strength to the weak, comfort to the sorrowing, pardon to sinners,
salvation and peace to all.
– Mary, full of grace, intercede for us.

You made Mary full of grace,
grant all men the joyful abundance of your grace.
– Mary, full of grace, intercede for us.

Make your Church of one mind and one heart in love,
and help all those who believe to be one in prayer with Mary, the mother of Jesus.
– Mary, full of grace, intercede for us.

You crowned Mary queen of heaven,
may all the dead rejoice in your kingdom with the saints for ever.
– Mary, full of grace, intercede for us.

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

Father,
you have given us the mother of your Son
to be our queen and mother.
With the support of her prayers
may we come to share the glory of your children
in the kingdom of heaven.
We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever.
– Amen.

DISMISSAL

May the Lord bless us,
protect us from all evil and bring us to everlasting life.
– Amen.

Aug 22, Night Prayer for Monday of the 21st week of Ordinary Time

Ribbon Placement:
Liturgy of the Hours:
Vol I, page 1175
Vol II, Page 1632
Vol III, Page 1275
Vol IV, Page 1239

Christian Prayer:
Page 1041

General instruction:
Please pray with us actively, especially by joining with us in saying antiphons and responses, most of which are indicated in this highlight.

Consider an examination of your own conscience before beginning to best make use of our time together in prayer.

Night Prayer for Monday

God, come to my assistance.
– Lord, make haste to help 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. Alleluia.

Examination of conscience:
We are called to have a clear conscience toward God and toward men, in our hearts and in our minds, in our actions and inactions. To do so, it is vital that we examine our conscience daily and to ask for God’s mercy as we fall short and to ask for His strength to do better.

Lord Jesus,
you came to reconcile us to one another and to the Father:
Lord, have mercy.
– Lord, have mercy.

Lord Jesus,
you heal the wounds of sin and division:
Christ, have mercy.
– Christ, have mercy.

Lord Jesus,
you intercede for us with your Father:
Lord, have mercy.
– Lord, have mercy.

HYMN

The day Thou gavest, Lord, is ended,
The darkness falls at Thy behest;
To Thee our morning hymns ascended,
Thy praise shall sanctify our rest.

We thank Thee that Thy church, unsleeping,
While earth rolls onward into light,
Through all the world her watch is keeping,
And rests not now by day or night.

As o’er each continent and island
The dawn leads on another day,
The voice of prayer is never silent,
Nor dies the strain of praise away.

The sun that bids us rest is waking
Our brethren ’neath the western sky,
And hour by hour fresh lips are making
Thy wondrous doings heard on high.

So be it, Lord; Thy throne shall never,
Like earth’s proud empires, pass away:
Thy kingdom stands, and grows forever,
Till all Thy creatures own Thy sway.

“The Day Thou Gavest” by The Choir of St. Mary’s Episcopal Cathedral; Words: John Ellerton, 1870; Music: Clement Scholefield, 1874
“The Day Thou Gavest” by The Choir of St. Mary’s Episcopal Cathedral is available from Amazon.com

PSALMODY

Ant. 1 O Lord, our God, unwearied is your love for us.

Psalm 86
Poor man’s prayer in trouble
Blessed be God who comforts us in all our trials (2 Corinthians 1:3, 4).

Turn your ear, O Lord, and give answer
for I am poor and needy.
Preserve my life, for I am faithful;
save the servant who trusts in you.

You are my God, have mercy on me, Lord,
for I cry to you all day long.
Give joy to your servant, O Lord,
for to you I lift up my soul.

O Lord, you are good and forgiving,
full of love to all who call.
Give heed, O Lord, to my prayer
and attend to the sound of my voice.

In the day of distress I will call
and surely you will reply.
Among the gods there is none like you, O Lord;
nor work to compare with yours.

All the nations shall come to adore you
and glorify your name, O Lord:
for you are great and do marvelous deeds,
you who alone are God.

Show me, Lord, your way
so that I may walk in your truth.
Guide my heart to fear your name.

I will praise you, Lord my God, with all my heart
and glorify your name for ever;
for your love to me has been great:
you have saved me from the depths of the grave.

The proud have risen against me;
ruthless men seek my life;
to you they pay no heed.

But you, God of mercy and compassion,
slow to anger, O Lord,
abounding in love and truth,
turn and take pity on me.

O give your strength to your servant
and save your handmaid’s son.
Show me the sign of your favor
that my foes may see to their shame
that you console me and give me your help.

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. O Lord, our God, unwearied is your love for us.

READING 1 Thessalonians 5:9-10

God has destined us for acquiring salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. He died for us, that all of us, whether awake or asleep, together might live with him.

RESPONSORY

Into your hands, Lord, I commend my spirit.
– Into your hands, Lord, I commend my spirit.

You have redeemed us, Lord God of truth.
– I commend my spirit.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit,
– Into your hands, Lord, I commend my spirit.

CANTICLE OF SIMEON

Ant. Protect us, Lord, as we stay awake; watch over us as we sleep, that awake, we may keep watch with Christ, and asleep, rest in his peace.

Luke 2:29-32
Christ is the light of the nations and the glory of Israel

Lord, now you let your servant go in peace;
your word has been fulfilled:

my own eyes have seen the salvation
which you have prepared in the sight of every people:

a light to reveal you to the nations
and the glory of your people Israel.

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. Protect us, Lord, as we stay awake; watch over us as we sleep, that awake, we may keep watch with Christ, and asleep, rest in his peace.

Concluding Prayer

Lord,
give our bodies restful sleep
and let the work we have done today
bear fruit in eternal life.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.
– Amen.

BLESSING

May the all-powerful Lord grant us a restful night and a peaceful death.
– Amen.

Antiphon or song in honor of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Hail, holy Queen, Mother of Mercy!
Our life, our sweetness, and our hope!
To you do we cry, poor banished
children of Eve, to you do we send
up our sighs, mourning and weeping
in this valley, of tears.
Turn, then, most gracious advocate,
your eyes of mercy toward us; and
after this our exile show unto us the
blessed fruit of your womb, Jesus;
O clement, O loving, O sweet virgin Mary.

Sorry for the delay in posting the LOTH. Storm-related power failure the entire evening yesterday.

The Queen of Heaven says to us: "Do whatever He tells you"

On this, the Memorial of the Queenship of the Blessed Virgin Mary, a couple of passages from Pope Pius XII's 1954 encyclical, Ad Caeli Reginam, which proclaimed the Queenship of Mary. First, remarks on some of the theological reasons, drawn from Scripture and Tradition, that Mary is recognized as Queen of heaven and earth:

But the Blessed Virgin Mary should be called Queen, not only because of her Divine Motherhood, but also because God has willed her to have an exceptional role in the work of our eternal salvation. "What more joyful, what sweeter thought can we have" - as Our Predecessor of happy memory, Pius XI wrote - "than that Christ is our King not only by natural right, but also by an acquired right: that which He won by the redemption? Would that all men, now forgetful of how much we cost Our Savior, might recall to mind the words, 'You were redeemed, not with gold or silver which perishes, . . . but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a Lamb spotless and undefiled. We belong not to ourselves now, since Christ has bought us 'at a great price'."
Now, in the accomplishing of this work of redemption, the Blessed Virgin Mary was most closely associated with Christ; and so it is fitting to sing in the sacred liturgy: "Near the cross of Our Lord Jesus Christ there stood, sorrowful, the Blessed Mary, Queen of Heaven and Queen of the World." Hence, as the devout disciple of St. Anselm (Eadmer, ed.) wrote in the Middle Ages: "just as . . . God, by making all through His power, is Father and Lord of all, so the blessed Mary, by repairing all through her merits, is Mother and Queen of all; for God is the Lord of all things, because by His command He establishes each of them in its own nature, and Mary is the Queen of all things, because she restores each to its original dignity through the grace which she merited.
For "just as Christ, because He redeemed us, is our Lord and king by a special title, so the Blessed Virgin also (is our queen), on account of the unique manner in which she assisted in our redemption, by giving of her own substance, by freely offering Him for us, by her singular desire and petition for, and active interest in, our salvation." (par. 35-37)

And from the conclusion, remarks about the importance of recognizing and embracing the unique role of Mary in the saving work of her Son:

Let all, therefore, try to approach with greater trust the throne of grace and mercy of our Queen and Mother, and beg for strength in adversity, light in darkness, consolation in sorrow; above all let them strive to free themselves from the slavery of sin and offer an unceasing homage, filled with filial loyalty, to their Queenly Mother. Let her churches be thronged by the faithful, her feast-days honored; may the beads of the Rosary be in the hands of all; may Christians gather, in small numbers and large, to sing her praises in churches, in homes, in hospitals, in prisons. May Mary's name be held in highest reverence, a name sweeter than honey and more precious than jewels; may none utter blasphemous words, the sign of a defiled soul, against that name graced with such dignity and revered for its motherly goodness; let no one be so bold as to speak a syllable which lacks the respect due to her name.
All, according to their state, should strive to bring alive the wondrous virtues of our heavenly Queen and most loving Mother through constant effort of mind and manner. Thus will it come about that all Christians, in honoring and imitating their sublime Queen and Mother, will realize they are truly brothers, and with all envy and avarice thrust aside, will promote love among classes, respect the rights of the weak, cherish peace. No one should think himself a son of Mary, worthy of being received under her powerful protection, unless, like her, he is just, gentle and pure, and shows a sincere desire for true brotherhood, not harming or injuring but rather helping and comforting others.
In some countries of the world there are people who are unjustly persecuted for professing their Christian faith and who are deprived of their divine and human rights to freedom; up till now reasonable demands and repeated protests have availed nothing to remove these evils. May the powerful Queen of creation, whose radiant glance banishes storms and tempests and brings back cloudless skies, look upon these her innocent and tormented children with eyes of mercy; may the Virgin, who is able to subdue violence beneath her foot, grant to them that they may soon enjoy the rightful freedom to practice their religion openly, so that, while serving the cause of the Gospel, they may also contribute to the strength and progress of nations by their harmonious cooperation, by the practice of extraordinary virtues which are a glowing example in the midst of bitter trials.
By this Encyclical Letter We are instituting a feast so that all may recognize more clearly and venerate more devoutly the merciful and maternal sway of the Mother of God. We are convinced that this feast will help to preserve, strengthen and prolong that peace among nations which daily is almost destroyed by recurring crises. Is she not a rainbow in the clouds reaching towards God, the pledge of a covenant of peace? "Look upon the rainbow, and bless Him that made it; surely it is beautiful in its brightness. It encompasses the heaven about with the circle of its glory, the hands of the Most High have displayed it." Whoever, therefore, reverences the Queen of heaven and earth--and let no one consider himself exempt from this tribute of a grateful and loving soul--let him invoke the most effective of Queens, the Mediatrix of peace; let him respect and preserve peace, which is not wickedness unpunished nor freedom without restraint, but a well-ordered harmony under the rule of the will of God; to its safeguarding and growth the gentle urgings and commands of the Virgin Mary impel us.
Earnestly desiring that the Queen and Mother of Christendom may hear these Our prayers, and by her peace make happy a world shaken by hate, and may, after this exile show unto us all Jesus, Who will be our eternal peace and joy, to you, Venerable Brothers, and to your flocks, as a promise of God's divine help and a pledge of Our love, from Our heart We impart the Apostolic Benediction. (par. 48-52)

And here is a passage from The Way of the Disciple, by Erasmo Leiva-Merikakis, about the Scriptural foundations for the Queenship of Mary:

A major aspect of the mystery of the Incarnation is that, starting from the central doctrine of Christ's true, full, and irreversible humanization, we may then infer a number of important truths that need not be explicitly spelled out in Scripture, since they are really contained within the fullness of the already revealed central Mystery of Christ. For instance, the normality of Jesus' hidden life and childhood: by their nearly total silence concerning this part of Jesus' earthly life, the Gospels are in fact telling us that Jesus lived a very ordinary human life for nearly thirty years, almost the whole of his earthly existence.

Something similar may be said about his relationships. Scripture nowhere calls Mary explicitly either "Lady" or "Queen", titles which the Catholic tradition has joyfully ascribed to her since very ancient times. But Scripture is full of allusions to queens who are mothers of kings, and Scripture also tells us that Mary is the Mother of Christ who is eternal King of the ages. Therefore, if Mary is the Mother of our Lord (Dominus), then she is truly "our Lady" (Domina), and if Christ is King, then she, too, must be Queen, for this is required by the very nature of these biblical titles, which are relational in nature. What are we to call the mother of a king if not the "queen mother", and what would be the point of calling Jesus a king at all if, although he very much has a mother, we oddly want to limit the implications of that title by applying it only in one direction, that is, by stressing the fact that a king has subjects who must obey and serve him, but not as well that he has a mother to whom he owes his human life and who stands by his side, always supporting him and loving him in all his works and decrees?
And Christ does not disdain so to share his lordship and kingship, because he did not disdain to lay aside even his divine glory in order to share our nature. if he had, he would not have become man in the first place and entered this necessary nexus of relationships. Christ is not a sealed eternal capsule fallen to earth ready-made from heaven. Christ is the seed of the Word planted by the Father in the womb of Mary, that fertile earth that gave nourishment and growth to the seed of the Word, that we may eventually eat of the fruit of the Tree of the Cross.

When the time had fully come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons, And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, 'Abba! Father!' So through God you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son then an heir.... So, brethren, we are not children of the slave [Hagar, but also Eve, the "mother of all the living"] but of the free woman [Sara, but above all Mary, the "woman" at the head of the text]. Twice in Luke (1:38 and 48) Mary calls herself the maidservant, the handmaid, the slave of the Lord. To be the Lord's slave is the essence of Mary's being a freeborn woman, in keeping with her Son's manner of reigning as King by serving. The Mother of the King who is a suffering servant reigns, like her Son, by serving as the sorrowful Mother: "And Simeon ... said to Mary his Mother: 'Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising Of many in Israel, and for a sign that is spoken against (and a sword will pierce through your own soul also)." When and where, we may ask, will this momentous prophecy be fulfilled? Surely at the foot of the Cross, at the crucial hour when every disciple becomes Mary's son, by the will of her Son, and she becomes the Mother of all believers.

We Christians are indeed "children of the promise" made to Mary: "You will conceive ... and bear a son.... Of his kingdom there will be no end. . . . And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfilment of what was spoken to her from the Lord." Mary's deepest identity as perfect believer, in the infancy narrative in Luke, should be seen in connection with the explicit mention at the beginning of Acts, after the Resurrection, at the other end of the work of redemption, of her presence among those who believed. The Holy Spirit who descends upon the whole Body of the Church at Pentecost, with Mary present, had first descended upon her singly at the Annunciation. Thus, Mary is the living archetype, the living link, historically and mystically, between the mystery of the Incarnation arid the mystery of Pentecost.

In giving her fiat at the outset of the work of redemption, she is both accepting God's gift of redemption for herself and prefiguring-and hence making possible-the act of faith of the whole Church still to come.

Now, if being God's servant is the very essence of Mary's identity as first among believers and as Mother of the Church, is this servant, the Mother of the King and hence herself Queen by divine appointment, going to be left with nothing to do in the Kingdom of Heaven? Mary, an idle heavenly Queen? Or is she not rather going to spend her eternity of bliss interceding for her children, having learned such fidelity toward mankind from the eternal Father himself? Indeed, for as long as there is one soul to be redeemed on earth, Mary will spend herself saying to Jesus what she said to him at Cana, "They have no wine", and to us, "Do whatever he tells you."

August 22, 2011

Memorial of the Queenship of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Reading 1 1 Thes 1:1-5, 8b-10

Responsorial Psalm Ps 149:1b-2, 3-4, 5-6a and 9b

Gospel Mt 23:13-22

Mass Readings

The Queen of Heaven says to us: "Do whatever He tells you"