Psalmody
Psalm 27 (1-6)
Ant. I earnestly ask God for this grace in his goodness. (1833 letter to Bishop Yenni)
The LORD is my light and my salvation;
whom shall I fear?
The LORD is the stronghold of my life;
whom should I dread?
When those who do evil draw near
to devour my flesh,
it is they, my enemies and foes,
who stumble and fall.
Though an army encamp against me,
my heart would not fear.
Though war break out against me,
even then would I trust.
There is one thing I ask of the LORD,
only this do I seek:
to live in the house of the LORD
all the days of my life,
to gaze on the beauty of the LORD,
to inquire at his temple.
For there I am safely sheltered
in the day of evil;
God hides me under cover of a tent;
setting me high upon a rock.
And now my head shall be raised
above my foes who surround me,
and I shall offer within God’s tent
sacrifices full of exultation.
I will sing and make music for the LORD.
Glory to the Father…
Ant. I earnestly ask God for this grace in his goodness.
Psalm 27 (7-14)
Ant. It truly seems that the good God wills me to pursue my task while united to him. (1826 letter to Fr. Tempier)
O LORD, hear my voice when I call;
have mercy and answer me.
Of you my heart has spoken,
“Seek the face of God.”
It is your face, O LORD, that I seek;
hide not your face from me.
Dismiss not your servant in anger;
you have been my help.
Do not abandon or forsake me,
O God, my Saviour!
Though father and mother forsake me,
the LORD will receive me.
Instruct me, LORD, in your way;
on an even path lead me
because of my enemies.
Do not leave me to the will of my foes,
for false witnesses rise up against me,
and they breathe out violence.
I believe I shall see the goodness of the LORD
in the land of the living.
Wait for the LORD; be strong;
be stout-hearted, and wait for the LORD!
Glory to the Father…
Ant. It truly seems that the good God wills me to pursue my task while united to him.
Canticle (Col 1:12-20)
Ant. Providence knows what is needed and what is good for us. (1829 letter to Fr. Guibert)
Let us give thanks to God
for having made us worthy
to share in the inheritance of the saints in light.
God has delivered us
from the power of darkness
and transferred us
into the kingdom of God’s beloved Son, Jesus,
in whom we have redemption,
the forgiveness of our sins.
Jesus is the image of the invisible God,
the firstborn of all creation;
in him all things were created,
in heaven and on earth,
things invisible and visible.
All things were created through him;
all were created for him.
He is before all else that is.
In him all things hold together.
He is the head of the body, the church!
He is the beginning,
the firstborn from the dead,
that in everything, he might be above all others.
In him the fullness of God was pleased to dwell,
and through him, to reconcile all things to himself,
whether on earth or in heaven,
making peace by the blood of his cross.
Glory to the Father…
Ant. Providence knows what is needed and what is good for us.
Reading
But act on this word – because if all you do is listen to it, you’ve deceived yourselves. Those who listen to God’s word but don’t put it into practice are like those who look into mirrors at their own faces; they look at themselves, then go off and promptly forget what they looked like. But those who look steadily at the perfect law of freedom and make it their habit – not listening and then forgetting, but actively putting it into practice – will be blessed in all that they do.
(James 1:22-25)
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. Inspired by the example of Mary, we live in creative and ongoing fidelity our personal commitment to Jesus Christ, while serving the Church and God’s Kingdom. (Constitution 46)
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. Inspired by the example of Mary, we live in creative and ongoing fidelity our personal commitment to Jesus Christ, while serving the Church and God’s Kingdom.
Intercessions
We pray for the church, that it may show the compassionate face of Christ to people everywhere.
That Church leaders may have the heart of Christ, the Good Shepherd, and attend to all who are weary and who hunger for the Word of God.
For Oblates, Associates and our family members who have passed away, may they see God face to face.
Lord’s Prayer
Concluding Prayer
We praise you, our compassionate and loving God. You have been faithful and true, through good times and bad. Forgive us for doubting when we have not seen your hand at work, believing that you are too distant to care or too weak to act. Open our eyes, our ears, our minds, our hearts to the glory of what you are about in this world. Open our hands to both receive from you and to reach out to others. Breathe into us the new life of your Holy Spirit, that we might breathe out your good news. This we pray in the name of the One who is our foundation: Jesus Christ. Amen.
Novitiate Liturgy of the Hours 