Psalmody
Psalm 51
Ant. Let us ask God for patience and surrender. (1854 letter to Fr. Mouchette)
Have mercy on me, O God,
according to your merciful love;
according to your great compassion,
blot out my transgressions.
O wash me completely from my guilt,
and cleanse me from my sin.
My transgressions, truly I know them;
my sin is always before me.
Against you, you alone, have I sinned;
what is evil in your sight I have done.
So you are just in your sentence,
without reproach in your judgment.
Behold, in guilt I was born,
a sinner when my mother conceived me.
Behold, you delight in sincerity of heart;
in secret you teach me wisdom.
Cleanse me with hyssop, and I shall be pure;
wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
Let me hear rejoicing and gladness,
that the bones you have crushed may exult.
Turn away your face from my sins,
and blot out all my guilt.
Create a pure heart for me, O God;
renew a steadfast spirit within me.
Do not cast me away from your presence;
take not your holy spirit from me.
Restore in me the joy of your salvation;
sustain in me a willing spirit.
I will teach transgressors your ways,
that sinners may return to you.
Rescue me from bloodshed, O God,
O God of my salvation,
and then my tongue shall ring out your righteousness.
O Lord, open my lips
and my mouth shall proclaim your praise.
For in sacrifice you take no delight;
burnt offering from me would not please you.
My sacrifice to God, a broken spirit:
a broken and humbled heart,
you will not spurn, O God.
In your good pleasure, show favour to Zion;
rebuild the walls of Jerusalem.
Then you will delight in righteous sacrifice,
burnt offerings wholly consumed.
Then you will be offered young bulls on your altar.
Glory to the Father…
Ant. Let us ask God for patience and surrender.
Canticle (Hab 3:2-4, 13a, 15-19)
Ant. To be truly useful to others, pray much, adopt the habit of reflecting before giving advice. (1826 letter to Fr. Tempier)
O God, I have heard your renown,
and your work, O God, do I revere.
In the course of the years renew it;
In the course of the years make it known;
in your wrath remember mercy!
God came from Teman,
and the Holy One from Mount Paran.
Your glory covered the heavens, O God,
and the earth was full of your praise.
Your brightness was like the light,
rays flashed forth from your hand;
there you veiled your power.
You went forth to save your people,
for the salvation of your anointed.
You trampled the sea with your horses,
the surging of mighty waters.
I hear, and my body trembles,
my lips quiver at the sound.
Decay enters my bones,
My legs totter beneath me.
I wait for the day of trouble to
come on those who oppress us.
Glory to the Father…
Ant. To be truly useful to others, pray much, adopt the habit of reflecting before giving advice. (1826 letter to Fr. Tempier)
Psalm 147 (12-20)
Ant. I pray that God enlighten you and bless you once again. (1853 letter to Fr. Gondrand)
O Jerusalem, glorify the LORD!
O Zion, praise your God,
who has strengthened the bars of your gates,
and has blessed your children within you;
who established peace on your borders,
and gives you your fill of finest wheat.
The Lord sends out his word to the earth;
the divine command runs swiftly.
God showers down snow like wool,
and scatters hoarfrost like ashes.
The Lord hurls down hailstones like crumbs;
before such cold, who can stand?
God sends forth a word and it melts them;
at the blowing of God’s breath the waters flow.
The Lord reveals a word to Jacob;
to Israel, decrees and judgments.
God has not dealt thus with other nations,
has not taught them heaven’s judgments.
Glory to the Father…
Ant. I pray that God enlighten you and bless you once again.
Reading
We shall speak in such a way that everyone, even the most unlettered, may comprehend. Like the father of a family, we shall gather together our children and reveal a treasure to them. But courage and perseverance are needed to acquire it.
(Leflon Vol. 1, p. 409)
Responsory
They will bear with one another in much patience and meekness
-They will bear with one another in much patience and meekness
and strive to outdo one another
-in much patience and meekness
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit
-They will bear with one another in much patience and meekness
Canticle of Zachariah
Ant. Among yourselves practice charity, charity, charity – and outside, zeal for the salvation of souls. (Eugene de Mazenod)
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. Among yourselves practice charity, charity, charity – and outside, zeal for the salvation of souls. (Eugene de Mazenod)
Intercessions
Let us pray for all who live in darkness, that through the good example of others they may see the light of faith.
May we “put out into the deep,” proclaim the liberating message of the Gospel and bring men and women to the Light of Christ.
On the cross, blood and water flowed from your side, may this saving stream wash away our sins and weaknesses.
Lord’s Prayer
Concluding Prayer
Most gracious God, as we begin this day we ask you to bless us. May it be a day of prayer and growth in our love for you and for each other. May St. Eugene de Mazenod’s charism give us light for our journey illuminating that which is unknown and untapped in our lives. Guided by your light may we find room in our lives for the poor. Inspired by Mary, your Mother, may the lifting up of the oppressed be our constant preoccupation. Filled with Your love, may we be eager to praise you with all the saints. We make this prayer in the name of Jesus Christ who is One with you, and the Holy Spirit forever and ever. Amen.
Novitiate Liturgy of the Hours 