Psalmody
Psalm 11
Ant. This good Master, who inspires will not abandon us. (1832 letter to Fr. Guigues)
In the LORD I have taken refuge.
How can you say to my soul,
“Fly like a bird to the mountain!
“Look, the wicked are bending their bow!
They are fixing their arrow on the string,
to shoot the upright of heart in the dark.
Foundations once destroyed,
what can the righteous do?”
The LORD is in his holy temple;
in heaven is the throne of the LORD,
whose eyes behold the world,
whose gaze inspects the human race.
The LORD inspects the righteous and the wicked,
and hates the lover of violence,
sending fire and brimstone on the wicked,
a scorching wind to fill their cup.
For the LORD is righteous and loves righteous deeds;
the upright shall behold the face of God.
Glory to the Father…
Ant. This good Master, who inspires will not abandon us.
Psalm 15
Ant. The good Lord will take our goodwill into consideration.
(1840 letter to Fr. Courtès)
LORD, who may abide in your tent,
and dwell on your holy mountain?
Whoever walks without fault;
who does what is righteous,
and speaks with heartfelt truth.
Whoever does not slander with the tongue;
who does no wrong to a neighbour,
who casts no slur on a friend,
who looks with scorn on the wicked,
but honours those who fear the LORD.
Whoever keeps an oath, whatever the cost,
who lends no money at interest,
and accepts no bribes against the innocent.
Such a one shall never be shaken.
Glory to the Father…
Ant. The good Lord will take our goodwill into consideration.
Canticle (Eph 1:3-10)
Ant. Let us urge one another on to do good; God knows how long we will be able for it. Life is short. Who knows how long we have to live. (1813 letter to M. Charles de Forbin-Janson)
Praise be the God
of our Lord Jesus Christ,
who has blessed us in Christ
with every spiritual blessing in the heavens.
God chose us in him
before the foundation of the world,
that we should be holy
and blameless in God’s sight.
We have been predestined
to be God’s children through Jesus Christ,
such was the purpose of God’s will
that all might praise the glorious favour
bestowed on us in Christ.
In Christ and through his blood
we have redemption,
the forgiveness of our sins,
according to the riches of God’s grace lavished upon us.
For God has made known to us
in all wisdom and insight,
the mystery of the plan set forth in Christ.
A plan to be carried out in Christ,
in the fullness of time,
to unite all things in Christ,
things in heaven and things on earth.
Glory to the Father…
Ant. Let us urge one another on to do good; God knows how long we will be able for it. Life is short. Who knows how long we have to live.
Reading
Therefore, since the day we heard about you, we’ve been praying for you unceasingly and asking that you attain full knowledge of God’s will, in perfect wisdom and spiritual understanding. Then you’ll lead a life worthy and pleasing to our God in every way. You’ll multiply good works of every sort and grow in the knowledge of God. And by the might of God’s glory you’ll be endowed with the strength needed to stand fast and endure joyfully whatever may happen. Thanks be to God for having made you worthy to share in the inheritance of the holy ones in light! God rescued us from the authority of darkness and brought us into the reign of Jesus, God’s Only Begotten. And it is through Jesus that we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.
(Colossians 1:9-14)
Responsory
We shall always look on Mary as our mother
-We shall always look on Mary as our mother
in the joys and sorrows of our missionary life
-as our mother
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit
-We shall always look on Mary as our mother
Canticle of Mary
Ant. Whatever the demands of our ministry, one of the more intense moments in the life of an apostolic community is the time spent praying together. (Constitution 40)
My heart is radiant, overflowing with joy,
for you have loved my lowliness.
You have shown me great favour;
all people will call me blest.
Your mercy extends throughout the ages
toward those who revere your holy name.
You have revealed your strength,
scattering the proud of heart.
You dethrone the powerful
and lift up the lowly.
The famished are filled;
the rich sent empty away.
Your people Israel you have remembered,
true to your loving kindness,
just as you have promised long ago
to Sarah and Abraham.
Glory to the Father…
Ant. Whatever the demands of our ministry, one of the more intense moments in the life of an apostolic community is the time spent praying together.
Intercessions
May the Holy Spirit renew us with the spirit of perfect love for others, so that we may overcome evil with good.
May we know and experience the gift of forgiveness in our lives, so that we in turn may become more forgiving.
That the sick and the homebound in our community may feel that our God will never forget God’s children.
Lord’s Prayer
Concluding Prayer
Pour down your blessing, O God, upon your Church, upon our Holy Father the Pope and our Bishop, upon our Superior General and Provincial, upon all our brothers and sisters, our relatives, friends and benefactors. Protect those to whom you have given authority, spiritual or temporal. Assist the poor and prisoners, the afflicted and travellers, the sick and dying. We ask this through Christ, our Lord. Amen.
Novitiate Liturgy of the Hours 