Psalmody
Psalm 45 (2-10)
Ant. Place all your confidence in God, Oraison, and the daily examens will serve you as a beacon, mirror, compass. Tell yourself: I alone can do nothing, I and God can do everything. (1841 letter to Fr. Vincens)
My heart overflows with noble words.
To the king I address the song I have made,
my tongue as nimble as the pen of a scribe.
You are the most handsome of the sons of men,
and graciousness is poured out upon your lips,
for God has blessed you forevermore.
Gird your sword upon your thigh, O mighty one,
with your splendour and your majesty.
In your majesty ride on in triumph
for the cause of faithfulness and clemency and righteousness.
May your right hand show your wondrous deeds.
Your arrows are sharp
in the heart of the foes of the king.
Peoples fall beneath you.
Your throne, O God, shall endure forever.
A sceptre of justice is the sceptre of your kingdom.
Your love is for righteousness; your hatred for evil.
Therefore God, your God, has anointed you
with the oil of gladness above your companions:
all your robes are fragrant with aloes, myrrh, and cassia.
From the ivory palace you are gladdened with music.
The daughters of kings are those whom you favour.
At your right stands the queen in gold of Ophir.
Glory to the Father…
Ant. Place all your confidence in God, Oraison, and the daily examens will serve you as a beacon, mirror, compass. Tell yourself: I alone can do nothing, I and God can do everything.
Psalm 45 (11-18)
Ant. Entrust these thoughts to your heart to use according to how God may inspire you. (1850 letter to Bishop Barnabo).
Listen, O daughter; pay heed and give ear:
forget your own people and your father’s house.
So will the king desire your beauty.
He is your lord, pay homage to him.
And the daughter of Tyre shall come with gifts;
the richest of the people shall seek your favour.
The daughter of the king is clothed with splendour;
her robes are threaded with gold.
In fine clothing she is led to the king;
behind her, her maiden companions follow.
They are escorted amid gladness and joy;
they pass within the palace of the king.
Children will be yours to succeed your ancestors;
you will make them rulers over all the earth.
I will make your name forever remembered.
Thus the peoples will praise you from age to age.
Glory to the Father…
Ant. Entrust these thoughts to your heart to use according to how God may inspire you.
Canticle (Eph 1:3-10)
Ant. Give them good example, and then good advice to whoever may need some. (1854 letter to Fr. Fabre)
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. Give them good example, and then good advice to whoever may need some.
Reading
To aim at elegance of style rather than solidity of doctrine would go counter to the spirit of our Rule… Our only aim should be to instruct the people – not only to break the bread of the Word for them but to chew it for them as well; in a word, to insure that when our discourses are over they are not tempted to heap foolish praise on what they have not understood but instead, that they go home edified, touched, instructed, able to repeat in their own family circle what they have learned from our mouth.
(1818 Rules)
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. God, your love is radiant and our hearts overflow with joy.
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. God, your love is radiant and our hearts overflow with joy.
Intercessions
O God, you invite us to let light shine out of darkness; give us the courage to embrace darkness and walk with you toward the light.
You hear the prayers of those in need; give us the grace to open our hearts, our homes, and our spaces of worship to those who are in distress.
May we realize that life itself is a blessing; comfort those who are preparing for the blessings of eternal life.
Lord’s Prayer
Concluding Prayer
O God, you brought growth to your Church through the Christian zeal and apostolic labours of so many missionaries, by the help of their prayers may we flourish always in faith and holiness. Grant this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God for ever and ever. Amen.
Novitiate Liturgy of the Hours 