Psalmody
Psalm 57
Ant. Let us turn to God with fervour and we shall not be deceived.
(1807 letter to Emmnuel Gaultier de Claubry)
Have mercy on me, God, have mercy,
for in you my soul has taken refuge.
In the shadow of your wings I take refuge,
till the storms of destruction pass by.
I call to you, God the Most High,
to God who provides for me.
O send from heaven and save me,
and put to shame those who assail me.
O send your loving mercy and faithfulness.
My soul lies down among lions,
who would devour human prey.
Their teeth are spears and arrows,
their tongue a sharpened sword.
Be exalted, O God, above the heavens,
your glory over all the earth!
They laid down a net for my steps;
my soul was bowed down.
They dug a pit in my path,
but fell in it themselves.
My heart is ready, O God;
my heart is ready.
I will sing, I will sing your praise.
Awake, my soul!
Awake, O lyre and harp!
I will awake the dawn.
I will praise you, Lord, among the peoples,
among the nations sing psalms to you,
for your mercy reaches to the heavens,
and your truth to the skies.
Be exalted, O God, above the heavens;
may your glory shine on all the earth!
Glory to the Father…
Ant. Let us turn to God with fervour and we shall not be deceived.
Canticle (Jer 31:10-14)
Ant. Let us have confidence that the Gospel seed will produce its fruit to become ministers of the mercy of God. (1855 letter to Bishop Allard).
Hear the word of God, O nations,
proclaim it on distant coasts and say:
God who scattered Israel, now gathers them together,
and guards them as shepherds guard their flocks.
God will ransom the chosen people
and redeem them from the hands of their conquerors.
Shouting, they shall mount the heights of Zion,
they shall come streaming to God’s blessings:
the grain, the wine, and the oil,
the sheep and the oxen:
they themselves shall be like watered gardens,
never again shall they languish.
Then the young shall make merry and dance,
old men and women as well.
I will turn their mourning into joy,
I will console and gladden them after their sorrows.
I will lavish choice portions upon them,
and my people shall be filled with my blessings,
says our God.
Glory to the Father…
Ant. Let us have confidence that the Gospel seed will produce its fruit to become ministers of the mercy of God.
Psalm 48
Ant. As for myself, My Lord, I am in God’s hands.
(1861 letter to Cardinal Donnet)
Great is the LORD and highly to be praised
in the city of our God,
whose holy mountain rises in beauty,
the joy of all the earth.
Mount Zion, in the heart of the North,
the city of the Mighty King!
God, in the midst of her citadels,
is shown to be her stronghold.
Behold! the kings assembled;
together they advanced.
They saw; at once they marvelled;
dismayed, they fled in fear.
A trembling seized them there,
anguish, like pangs in giving birth,
As when the east wind shatters
the ships of Tarshish.
As we have heard, so we have seen
in the city of our God,
in the city of the LORD of hosts,
which God establishes forever.
Your faithful love, O God,
we ponder in your temple.
Your praise, O God, like your name,
reaches the ends of the earth.
Your right hand is filled with saving justice.
Mount Zion rejoices.
The daughters of Judah rejoice
at the sight of your judgments.
Walk through Zion, walk all around her;
count the number of her towers.
Consider all her ramparts;
examine her castles,
That you may tell the next generation
that such is our God,
Our God forever and always,
who will guide us forever.
Glory to the Father…
Ant. As for myself, My Lord, I am in God’s hands.
Reading
Everyone who struggles for justice, everyone who makes just claims in unjust surroundings, is working for God’s reign even though they may not be all Christians. The Church does not comprise all of God’s reign; God’s reign goes beyond the Church boundaries.
(Saint Oscar Romero, El Salvador)
Responsory
From the depths of my heart I cry to you; hear me, O Lord
- From the depths of my heart I cry to you; hear me, O Lord
I will do what you desire;
- hear me, O Lord
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit
- From the depths of my heart I cry to you; hear me, O Lord
Canticle of Zachariah
Ant. Formation involves us in an ever-renewed conversion to the Gospel and a readiness to learn and to change in response to new demands. (Constitution 47)
O God, you have come and freed your people;
from David’s house you have sent a Saviour.
Through ages the prophets have told us
that we would be saved from hatred.
You have shown to us your great mercy
by the promise to Sarah and Abraham
that we should be freed from all fear
to serve you in justice and holiness.
And you, John, are called prophet of God,
for you will prepare the way
to lead people to salvation
through the awareness and knowledge of God.
Praise to you, God of Israel.
The bright dawn will break upon us.
You give light to those in darkness.
You guide us to ways of peace.
Glory to the Father…
Ant. Formation involves us in an ever-renewed conversion to the Gospel and a readiness to learn and to change in response to new demands.
Intercessions
That those suffering from injustice, poverty and sickness, may find generous heart who will assist them in their need.
For those who work to mediate conflicts and to reconcile the estranged, that they may find strength in Christ who reconciled us to God.
Jesus, beloved of God, you were inspired by the Spirit throughout your mission; teach us to follow that same Spirit on our way through life.
Lord’s Prayer
Concluding Prayer
O God, who gives to those who ask, provide for each of us in your way, a special gift to be used for your glory, and for the good of our sisters and brothers. O God, who reveals to those who seek, show us this day what these gifts are, and how they may be used. O God, who opens to those who knock, help us to step forward, now, into your gracious presence, knowing that we are each and all blessed with something special to share. We pray all this in the name of the One who asks for the voiceless, who seeks out the lost, who stands at the door and knocks, Jesus Christ. Amen.
Novitiate Liturgy of the Hours 