Ecclesial
Plan- Office of Readings
- Morning Prayer
- Evening Prayer I
OFFICE OF READINGS
WEEK I
FIRST SATURDAY OF ADVENT
The Sign of the Cross on the lips is made as we say:
†Lord, open my lips
—and my mouth will proclaim your praise.Ant. Come, let us worship the Lord, the King who is to come.
Invitatory
(For psalm 95 on may substitute psalm 100 or 67 or 24 (If this is the first Hour that you are reciting today, you should precede it with the Invitatory psalm)
Psalm 95
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 LordThe 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 handsCome, 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.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.Forty year 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”Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,
—as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen.Ant. Come, let us worship the Lord, the King who is to come.
Office of Readings
(This verse and response are omitted when the hour begins with the invitatory.)
†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 forever. Amen. Alleluia [Alleluia is omitted in Lent.]
HYMN
Lord Jesus, once you spoke to men
Upon the mountain, in the plain;
O help us listen now, as then,
And wonder at your words again.We all have secret fears to face,
Our minds and motives to amend;
We seek your truth, we need your grace,
Our living Lord and present Friend.The Gospel speaks, and we receive
Your light, your love, your own command.
O help us live what we believe
In daily work of heart and hand.
Melody: O Jesu, mi dulcissime Music: Clausener Gesangbuch,
L.M. 1653 Text: H.C.A. Gaunt, 1902—PSALMODY
Ant. 1 Sing praise to the Lord; remember the wonders he has wrought
Psalm 105
The Lord is faithful to his promisesThe apostles proclaim to the nations the wonders which God wrought when he came among us (Saint Athanasius).
I
Give thanks to the Lord, tell his name,
make known his deeds among the peoples.O sing to him, sing his praise;
tell all his wonderful works!
Be proud of his holy name,
let the hearts that seek the Lord rejoice.Consider the Lord and his strength;
constantly seek his face.
Remember the wonders he has done,
his miracles, the judgments he spoke.O children of Abraham, his servant,
O sons of the Jacob he chose.
He, the Lord, is. our God:
his judgments prevail in all the earth.He remembers his covenant for ever,
his promise for a thousand generations,
the covenant he made with Abraham,
the oath he swore to Isaac.He confirmed it for Jacob as a law,
for Israel as a covenant for ever.
He said: "lam giving you a land,
Canaan, your appointed heritage."When they were few in number,
a handful of strangers in the land,
when they wandered from country to country
and from one kingdom and nation to another,
he allowed no one to oppress them;
he admonished kings on their account:
"Do not touch those I have anointed;
do no harm to any of my prophets."Ant. Sing praise to the Lord; remember the wonders he has wrought.
Ant. 2 The Lord did not abandon the good man who was sold into slavery, but freed him from the power of sinners.II
But he called down a famine on the land;
he broke the staff that supported them.
He had sent a man before them,
Joseph, sold as a slave.His feet were put in chains,
his neck was bound with iron,
until what he said came to pass
and the word of the Lord proved him true.Then the king sent and released him;
the ruler of the peoples set him free,
making him master of his house
and ruler of all he possessed,to instruct his princes as he pleased
and to teach his elders wisdom.
Ant. The Lord did not abandon the good man who was sold into slavery, but freed him from the power of sinners.Ant. 3 The Lord was true to his sacred promise; he led his people to freedom and joy.
III
So Israel came into Egypt,
Jacob lived in the country of Ham.He gave his people increase;
he made them stronger than their foes
whose hearts he turned to hate his people
and to deal deceitfully with his servants.
Then he sent Moses his servant
and Aaron the man he had chosen.
Through them he showed his marvels.
And his wonders in the country of Ham.He sent darkness, and dark was made
but Egypt resisted his words.
He turned the waters into blood
and caused their fish to die.Their land was alive with frogs,
even in the halls of their kings.
He spoke; the dog-fly came
and gnats covered the land.He sent hail-stones in place of the rain
and flashing fire in their land.
He struck their vines and fig-trees;
he shattered the trees through their land.He spoke; the locusts came,
young locusts, too many to be counted.
They ate up every blade in the land;
they ate up all the fruit of their fields.He struck all the first-born in their land,
the finest flower of their sons.
He led out Israel with silver and gold.
In his tribes were none who fell behind.Egypt rejoiced when they left
for dread had fallen upon them.
He spread a cloud as a screen
and fire to give light in the darkness.
When they asked for food he sent quails;
he filled them with bread from heaven.
He pierced the rock to give them water;
it gushed forth in the desert like a river.For he remembered his holy word,
which he gave to Abraham his servant.
So he brought out his people with joy,
his chosen ones with shouts of rejoicing.And he gave them the land of the nations.
They took the fruit of other men's toil,
that thus they might keep his precepts,
that thus they might observe his laws.Psalm-prayer
Abraham, Joseph and Moses prefigured your plan, Father, to redeem mankind from slavery and to lead them into the land of promise. Through the death and resurrection of your Son, your Church fulfills these promises. Grant us living water from the rock and bread from heaven, that we may survive our desert pilgrimage and thank you eternally for your kindness.Ant. The Lord was true to his sacred promise; he led his people to freedom and joy.
(Verse, reading and prayer, as in the Proper of Seasons)
The Lord proclaims his word to Jacob,
—His laws and decrees to Israel.FIRST READING
From the book of the prophet Isaiah 21:6-12
The watchman announces·the ruin of Babylon
Thus says my Lord to me:
Go, station a watchman,
let him tell what he sees.
If he sees a chariot,
a pair of horses,
Someone riding an ass,
someone riding a camel,Then let him pay heed,
very close heed.Then the watchman cried,
"On the watchtower, O my Lord,
I stand constantly by day;
And I stay at my post
through all the watches of the night."Here he comes now:
a single chariot,
a pair of horses;
He calls out and says,
'Fallen, fallen is Babylon,
And all the images of her gods
are smashed to the ground.' "O my people who have been threshed,
beaten on my threshing floor!
What I have heard
from the Lord of hosts,
The God of Israel,
I have announced to you.Oracle on Edom:
They call to me from Seir,
"Watchman, how much longer the night?
Watchman, how much longer the night?"
The watchman replies,
"Morning has come, and again night.
If you will ask, ask; come back again."
RESPONSORY Revelation 18:2,4,5An angel cried in a voice like thunder:
Babylon the great is fallen!
Then I heard another voice from heaven:
—Come out, my people, come out from her;
you must not take part in her sins.
High as heaven her iniquities pile up; the Lord has the record in hand.
—Come out, my people, come out from her; you must not take part in her sins
Babylon the great is fallen!
Then I heard another voice from heaven:
—Come out, my people, come out from her;you must not take part in her sins.
High as heaven her iniquities pile up; the Lord has the record in hand.
—Come out, my people, come out from her; you must not take part in her sins.SECOND READING
From a treatise On the Value of Patience by Saint Cyprian, bishop and martyr
(Nn. 13 et 15: CSEL 3, 406-408)We hope for what we do not see
Patience is a precept for salvation given us by our Lord, our teacher: Whoever endures to the end will be saved. And again: If you persevere in my word, you will truly be my disciples; you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.
Dear brethren, we must endure and persevere if we are to attain the truth and freedom we have been allowed to hope for; faith and hope are the very meaning of our being Christians, but if faith and hope are to bear their fruit, patience is necessary.
We do not seek glory now, in the present, but we look for future glory, as Saint Paul instructs us when he says: By hope we were saved. Now hope which is seen is not hope; how can a man hope for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it in patience. Patient waiting is necessary if we are to be perfected in what we have begun to be, and if we are to receive from God what we hope for and believe.
In another place the same Apostle instructs and teaches the just, and those active in good works, and those who store up for themselves treasures in heaven through the reward God gives them. They are to be patient also, for he says: Therefore while we have time, let us do good to all, but especially to those who are of the household of the faith. But let us not grow weary in doing good, for we shall reap our reward in due season.Paul warns us not to grow weary in good works through impatience, not to be distracted or overcome by temptations and so give up in the midst of our pilgrimage of praise and glory, and allow our· past good deeds to count for nothing because what was begun falls short of completion.
Finally the Apostle, speaking of charity, unites it with endurance and patience. Charity, he says, is always patient and kind; it is not jealous, is not boastful, is not given to anger, does not think evil, loves all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. He shows that charity can be steadfast and persevering because it has learned how to endure all things.
And in another place he says: Bear with one another lovingly, striving to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. He shows that neither unity nor peace can be maintained unless the brethren cherish each other with mutual forbearance and preserve the bond of harmony by means of patience.RESPONSORY Habakkuk 2:3; Hebrews 10:37
He will appear at last: he is true to his word;
—keep watching for him, he will surely come without delay.
A little while longer, a very little while, and the promised one will come.
—Keep for him, he will surely come without delay.Prayer
God our Father,
you loved the world so much you gave your only Son to free us
from the ancient power of sin and death. Help us who wait for his coming,
and lead us to true liberty.
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.
MORNING PRAYER
WEEK I
FIRST SATURDAY OF ADVENT
(The Sign of the Cross is made as we say)
†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
(This verse and response are omitted when the hour begins with the invitatory).
HYMN
Praise, my soul, the King of heaven;
To his feet your tribute bring;
Ransomed, healed, restored, forgiven,
Evermore his praises sing:
Alleluia! Alleluia!
Praise the everlasting King.Praise him for his grace and favor
To his children in distress;
Praise him still the same as ever,
Slow to chide and swift to bless:
Alleluia! Alleluia!
Glorious in his faithfulness.Father-like he tends and spares us;
Well our feeble frame he knows;
In his hand he gently bears us,
Rescues us from all our foes.
Alleluia! Alleluia!
Widely yet his mercy flows.Angels, help us to adore him;
You behold him face to face;
Sun and moon, bow down before him,
Join the praises of our race:
Alleluia! Alleluia!
Praise with us the God of grace.Melody: Lauda Anima 87.87.87 Music John Goss, 1869 Text: H. F. Lyte, 1834, alt.
PSALMODY
Ant. 1 Dawn finds me ready to welcome you, my God.
Psalm 119: 145-152
XIX (Koph)
I call with all my heart; Lord, hear me,
I will keep your commands.
I call upon you, save me
and I will do your will.I rise before dawn and cry for help,
hope in your word.
My eyes watch through the night
to ponder your promise.In your love hear my voice, O Lord;
give me life by your decrees.
Those who harm me unjustly draw near:
they are far from your law.But you, O Lord, are close:
your commands are truth.
Long have I known that your will
is established 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 forever. Amen.Psalm-prayer
Save us by the power of your hand, Father, for our enemies have ignored your words. May the fire of your' word consume our sins and its brightness illumine our hearts.
Ant. Dawn finds me ready to welcome you, my God. Ant. 2 The Lord is my strength, and I shall sing his praise, for he has become my Savior.Ant. Dawn finds me ready to welcome you, my God.
Ant. 2 The Lord is my strength, and I shall sing his praise, for he has become my savior.
Canticle Exodus 15:1-4a, 8-13, 17-18
Hymn of victory after the crossing of the Red Sea
Those who had conquered the beast were singing the song of Moses, God's servant (see Revelation 15:2-3).
I will sing to the Lord, for he is gloriously triumphant;
horse and chariot he has cast into the sea.
My strength and my courage is the Lord,
and he has been my savior.
He is my God, I praise him;
the God of my father, I extol him.
The Lord is a warrior,
Lord is his name!
Pharaoh's chariots and army he hurled into the sea.
At a breath of your anger the waters piled up,
the flowing waters stood like a mound,
the flood waters congealed in the midst of the sea.The enemy boasted, "I will pursue and overtake them;
I will divide the spoils and have my fill of them;
I will draw my sword; my hand shall despoil them!"
When your wind blew, the sea covered them;
like lead they sank in the mighty waters.Who is like to you among the gods, O Lord?
Who is like to you, magnificent in holiness?
O terrible in renown, worker of wonders,
when you stretched out your right hand, he earth swallowed them!
In your mercy you led the people you redeemed;
in your strength you guided them to your holy dwelling.
And you brought them in and planted them on the mountain of your inheritance―
the place where you made your seat, O Lord,
the sanctuary, O Lord, which your hands established.
The Lord shall reign forever and 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 forever. Amen.Ant. The Lord is my strength, and I shall sing his praise, for he has become my savior.
Ant. 3 O praise the Lord, all you nations.
Psalm 117
Praise for God's loving compassion
I affirm that ... the Gentile peoples are to praise God because of his mercy (Romans 15:8-9)
O praise the Lord, all you nations,
acclaim him, all you peoples!Strong is his love for us;
he is faithful 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 forever. Amen.Psalm-prayer
God our Father, may all nations and peoples praise you. May Jesus, who is called faithful and true and who lives with you eternally, possess our hearts for ever.
Ant. O praise the Lord, all you nations.
READING Isaiah 11: 1-2
A shoot shall sprout from the stump of Jesse,
and from his roots a bud shall blossom.
The spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him:
a spirit of wisdom and of understanding, A spirit of counsel and of strength,
a spirit of knowledge and of fear of the Lord, and his delight shall be the fear of the Lord.RESPONSORY
Y our light will come, Jerusalem;
the Lord will dawn on you in radiant beauty.
—Your light will come, Jerusalem;
the Lord will dawn on you in radiant beauty.
You will see his glory within you;
—the Lord will dawn on you in radiant beauty.
Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,
—Your light will come, Jerusalem; the Lord will dawn on you in radiant beauty.CANTICLE OF ZACHARIAH
Ant. Banish your fears, O people of Zion; God, your own God, is coming to you, alleluia.
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 forever. Amen.Ant. Banish your fears, O people of Zion; God, your own God, is coming to you, alleluia.
INTERCESSIONS
Let us pray to God our Father, who from of old has called his people to salvation:
Lord, protect your people.
You promised to plant the seed of justice among your people,
—protect the holiness of your Church.
Lord, teach all men and women to listen to your word,
—and help believers to persevere in holiness.Keep us in the love of your Spirit,
—that we may receive the mercy of your Son who is tocome.
Father most merciful, strengthen us to the last,
— until the day of the coming of Jesus Christ our 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. Amen.Prayer
God our Father,
you loved the world so much you gave your only Son to free us
from the ancient power of sin and death. Help us who wait for his coming,
and lead us to true liberty.
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.
EVENING PRAYER I
WEEK II
SECOND SUNDAY OF ADVENT
†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 forever. Amen. Alleluia [omitted in Lent.]HYMN
At the name of Jesus
Ev'ry knee shall bow,
Ev'ry tongue confess him
King of glory now;
'Tis the Father's pleasure,
We should call him Lord,
Who from the beginning
Was the mighty Word.Humbled for a reason,
To receive a name
From the lips of sinners,
Unto whom he carne,
Faithfully he bore it,
Spotless to the last,
Brought it back victorious,
When from death he passed.Bore it up triumphant,
With its human light,
Through all ranks of creatures,
To the central height,
To the throne of Godhead,
To the Father's breast;
Filled it with the glory
Of that perfect rest.In your hearts enthrone him;
There, let him subdue
All that is not holy,
All that is not true;
May your voice entreat him
In temptation's hour;
Let his will enfold you
In its light and power.Brothers, this Lord Jesus
Shall return again,
With his Father's glory,
O'er the earth to reign;
He is God the Savior,
He is Christ the Lord,
Ever to be worshiped,
Always blest, adored.Melody: King's Weston Music: R. Vaughan Williams, d. 1958
65.65.D Text: C. Noel, d. 1877, alt.
PSALMODYAnt. 1 New city of Zion, let your heart singf for joy; see how humbly your King come to save you.
Psalm 119:105-112
XIV (Nun)
A meditation on God's lawThis is my commandment: that you should love one another (John 15: 12).
Your word is a lamp for my steps
and a light for my path.
I have sworn and have made up my mind
to obey your decrees.Lord, I am deeply afflicted:
by your word give me life.
Accept, Lord, the homage of my lips
and teach me your decrees.Though I carry my life in my hands,
I remember your law.
Though the wicked try to ensnare me
I do not stray from your precepts.Your will is my heritage for ever,
the joy of my heart.
I set myself to carry out your will
in fullness, 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 forever. Amen.Psalm-prayer
Let your Word, Father, be a lamp for our feet and a light to our path, so that we may understand what you wish to teach us and follow the path your light marks out
for us.
Ant. New city of Zion, let your heart singf for joy; see how humbly your King come to save you.Ant. 2 Have courage, all of you, lost and fearful; take heart and say; Our God will come to save us, alleluia.
Psalm 16
The Lord himself is my heritageThe Father raised up Jesus, freeing him from the grip of death (Acts 2:24).
Preserve me, God, I take refuge in you.
I say to the Lord: "You are my God.
My happiness lies in you alone."He has put into my heart a marvellous love
for the faithful ones who dwell in his land.
Those who choose other gods increase their sorrows.
Never will I offer their offerings of blood.
Never will I take their name upon my lips.O Lord, it is you who are my portion and cup;
it is you yourself who are my prize.
The lot marked out for me is my delight:
welcome indeed the heritage that falls to me!I will bless the Lord who gives me counsel,
who even at night directs my heart.
I keep the Lord ever in my sight:
since he is at my right hand, I shall stand firm.And so my heart rejoices, my soul is glad;
even my body shall rest in safety.
For you will not leave my soul among the dead,
nor let your beloved know decay.You will show me the path of life,
the fullness of joy in your presence,
at your right hand happiness 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 forever. Amen.Psalm-prayer
Lord Jesus, uphold those who hope in you and give us your counsel, so that we may know the joy of your resurrection and deserve to be among the saints at your right hand.
Ant. Have courage, all of you, lost and fearful; take heart and say; Our God will come to save us, alleluia.
Ant. 3 The law was given to Moses, but grace and truth come through Jesus Christ.
Canticle Philippians 2: 6-11
Christ, God's holy servant
Though he was in the form of God,
Jesus did not deem equality with God
something to be grasped at.Rather, he emptied himself
and took the form of a slave,
being born in the likeness of men.He was known to be of human estate
and it was thus that he humbled himself
obediently accepting even death,
death on a cross!Because of this,
God highly exalted him
and bestowed on him the name
above every other name,So that at Jesus' name
every knee must bend
in the heavens, on the earth,
and under the earth,
and every tongue proclaim
to the glory of God the Father:
JESUS CHRIST IS 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 forever. Amen.Ant. The law was given to Moses, but grace and truth come through Jesus Christ.
READING 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24
May the God of peace make you perfect in holiness. May he preserve you whole and entir, spirit, soul, and body, irreproachable at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He who calls us is trustworthy, therefore he will do it.
RESPONSORY
Lord, show us your mercy and love.
—Lord, show us your mercy and love.And grant us your salvation,
—Your mercy and love.Glory to the Father ...
—Lord, show us your mercy and love..CANTICLE OF MARY
Ant. Come to us, Lord, and may your presence be our peace; with hearts made perfect we shall rejoice in your companionship for ever.
† My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord, (Sign of Cross as the Canticle begins)
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 forever. Amen.Ant. Come to us, Lord, and may your presence be our peace; with hearts made perfect we shall rejoice in your companionship for ever.
INTERCESSIONS
Jesus is Lord, born of the Virgin Mary. Let us pray to him with joyful hearts:
Come, Lord Jesus!
Son of God, you will come again as the true messenger of the covenant,
—help the world to recognize and accept you.
Born in your Father’s heart, you became man in the womb of Virgin Mary,
—free us from the tyranny of change and decay,
In your life on earth, you came to die as a man,
—save us from everlasting death.
When you come to judge, show us your loving mercy,
—and forgive us our weaknesses.
Lord Jesus, by your death you have given hope to those who have died,
—be merciful to those for whom we now 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. Amen.Prayer
God of power and mercy,
Open our hearts in welcome.
Remove the things that hinder us from receiving Christ with joy, so that we may share his wisdom and become one with him when he comes in glory, for he lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.