Psalmody
Psalm 80
Ant. Call fervently on the Lord and our good Mother, and then use all your skill to ensure success. (1851 letter to Fr. Dassy)
O shepherd of Israel, hear us,
you who lead Joseph like a flock:
enthroned on the cherubim, shine forth
upon Ephraim, Benjamin, Manasseh.
Rouse up your might and come to save us.
Bring us back, O God;
let your face shine forth, that we might be saved.
How long, O LORD, God of hosts,
will you be angry at the prayer of your people?
You have fed them with tears for their bread,
an abundance of tears for their drink.
You have made us the taunt of our neighbours;
our foes mock us among themselves.
Bring us back, O God;
let your face shine forth, that we might be saved.
You brought a vine out of Egypt;
you drove out the nations and planted it.
Before it you cleared the ground;
it took root and filled the land.
The mountains were covered with its shadow,
the cedars of God with its boughs.
It stretched out its branches to the sea;
to the River it stretched out its shoots.
Then why have you broken down its walls?
It is plucked by all who pass by the way.
It is ravaged by the boar of the forest,
devoured by the beasts of the field.
God of hosts, turn again, we implore;
look down from heaven and see.
Visit this vine and protect it,
the stock your right hand has planted,
the one you have claimed for yourself.
They have burnt it with fire and cut it down.
May they perish at the frown of your face.
May your hand be on the one at your right hand,
the one you have confirmed as your own.
And we shall never forsake you again;
give us life that we may call upon your name.
Bring us back, O LORD God of hosts;
let your face shine forth, that we might be saved.
Glory to the Father…
Ant. Call fervently on the Lord and our good Mother, and then use all your skill to ensure success.
Canticle (Isa 12:1-6)
Ant. With God, reward is not measured by success. Continue to plant and to water; the increase will come when it pleases the Lord to grant it. (1860 letter to Fr. Barret)
I will give thanks to you, O God;
For though you were angry with me,
Your anger turned away,
And you did comfort me.
Behold, you are my saviour;
I will trust, and will not be afraid;
You are my strength and my song,
You have become my salvation.
With joy we will draw water from the wells of salvation.
We will say on that day:
“We give you thanks and call upon your name;
Make known your deeds among the nations,
Proclaim how exalted is your name.”
“We sing our praise to you,
For all your glorious deeds;
Let this be known in all the Earth.”
Shout, and sing for joy, O people of Zion,
For great in your midst
Are the holy ones of Israel.
Glory to the Father…
Ant. With God, reward is not measured by success. Continue to plant and to water; the increase will come when it pleases the Lord to grant it.
Psalm 81
Ant. Let us place our confidence in the Lord. (1847 letter to Fr. Leonard)
Sing joyfully to God our strength,
shout in triumph to the God of Jacob.
Raise a song and sound the timbrel,
the sweet-sounding lyre with the harp;
blow the trumpet at the new moon,
when the moon is full, on our feast.
For this is a statute in Israel,
a command of the God of Jacob,
who made it a decree for Joseph,
when they went out from the land of Egypt.
A voice I did not know said to me:
“I freed your shoulder from the burden;
your hands were freed from the builder’s basket.
You called in distress and I delivered you.
“I answered, concealed in the thunder;
at the waters of Meribah I tested you.
Listen, my people, as I warn you.
O Israel, if only you would heed!
“Let there be no strange god among you,
nor shall you worship a foreign god.
I am the LORD your God,
who brought you up from the land of Egypt.
Open wide your mouth, and I will fill it.
“But my people did not heed my voice,
and Israel would not obey me.
So I left them in their stubbornness of heart,
to follow their own designs.
“O that my people would heed me,
that Israel would walk in my ways!
At once I would subdue their foes,
turn my hand against their enemies.
“Those who hate the LORD would cringe,
and their fate would last forever.
But Israel I would feed with finest wheat,
and satisfy with honey from the rock.”
Glory to the Father…
Ant. Let us place our confidence in the Lord.
Reading
Reflecting on the vows helps us to understand the freedom we gain from them – freedom to love, to go where we are called, and to live simply. Our faith and trust in God are directly reflected in how we live our vows. Authentic and fraternal growth can spring forth by living the vows daily, recognizing our human frailties, and persevering in our efforts at conversion. We look to Mary as our model and rely on her help for the strength to overcome obstacles we encounter along the way.
(Acts of the 37th General Chapter)
Responsory
Like the Apostle, we preach Jesus Christ
-Like the Apostle, we preach Jesus Christ
and him crucified
-Jesus Christ
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
-Like the Apostle, we preach Jesus Christ
Canticle of Zachariah
Ant. We are pilgrims, walking with Jesus in faith, hope and love. (Constitution 31)
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. We are pilgrims, walking with Jesus in faith, hope and love. (Constitution 31)
Intercessions
For all of us, that our continued service will bear great fruit. We pray
May the poor, the oppressed, the outcast, the powerless, and the misunderstood of our society experience Christ’s healing presence through our participation in the saving mission of Jesus. We pray
For those who suffer from physical, emotional and mental illness; may they be healed through God’s infinite mercy and be comforted by those who care for them. We pray
Lord’s Prayer
Concluding Prayer
O God, to whom all hearts are open, all desires known, and from whom no secrets are hidden, cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the outpouring of your Holy Spirit, that every thought and word of ours may begin from you, and in you may be perfectly completed. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Novitiate Liturgy of the Hours 