Psalmody
Psalm 84
Ant. What is essential is to have confidence in the Lord and to ask him for his light. (1843 letter to Fr. Guigues)
How lovely is your dwelling place,
O LORD of hosts.
My soul is longing and yearning
for the courts of the LORD.
My heart and my flesh cry out
to the living God.
Even the sparrow finds a home,
and the swallow a nest for herself
in which she sets her young, at your altars,
O LORD of hosts, my king and my God.
Blessed are they who dwell in your house,
forever singing your praise.
Blessed the people whose strength is in you,
whose hearts are set on the pilgrimage.
As they go through the Baca Valley,
they make it a place of springs;
the autumn rain covers it with pools.
They walk with ever-growing strength;
the God of gods will appear in Zion.
O LORD, God of hosts, hear my prayer;
give ear, O God of Jacob.
Behold our shield, O God;
look on the face of your anointed.
One day within your courts
is better than a thousand elsewhere.
The threshold of the house of my God
I prefer to the tents of the wicked.
For the LORD God is a sun, a shield;
the LORD will give us favour and glory,
And will not withhold any good
from those who walk without blame.
O LORD of hosts, how blessed
is the one who trusts in you!
Glory to the Father…
Ant. What is essential is to have confidence in the Lord and to ask him for his light.
Canticle (Isa 2:2-5)
Ant. We recognize that we are inadequate and so we count only on the powerful help of God who never abandons those who place their full trust in him. (1821 letter to Madame Roux)
It shall come to pass in the days to come,
that the mountain of the house of God
shall be established as the highest mountain,
and be raised above the hills.
All nations shall flow to it;
many peoples shall come and say:
“Come, let us go up to the mountain of God,
to the house of the God of Jacob;
that we may be taught in God’s ways,
and walk in God’s paths”
For from Zion shall go forth the law,
and the word of the Most High from Jerusalem.
God shall judge between the nations,
and shall decide for many peoples;
they shall beat their swords into plowshares,
and their spears into pruning hooks,
nation shall not lift up sword against nation,
nor shall they learn war any more.
O house of Jacob, come,
let us walk in the light of our God.
Glory to the Father…
Ant. We recognize that we are inadequate and so we count only on the powerful help of God who never abandons those who place their full trust in him.
Psalm 96
Ant. Never forget the gratitude you owe the Lord for the miracles he worked to bring about your happiness. (1809 letter to his sister)
O sing a new song to the LORD;
sing to the LORD, all the earth.
O sing to the LORD; bless God’s name.
Proclaim divine salvation day by day.
Tell among the nations God’s glory,
divine wonders among all the peoples.
For the LORD is great and highly to be praised,
to be feared above all gods.
For the idols of the nations are naught.
It was the LORD who made the heavens.
Greatness and splendour abound in God’s presence,
strength and honour in the holy place.
Ascribe to the LORD, you families of peoples,
Ascribe to the LORD glory and power;
Ascribe to the LORD the glory of God’s name.
Bring an offering and enter God’s courts;
worship the LORD in holy splendour.
O tremble before God, all the earth.
Say to the nations, “The LORD is king,”
who made firm the world in its place,
and who will judge the peoples in fairness.
Let the heavens rejoice and earth be glad;
let the sea and all within it thunder praise.
Let the field and all it bears rejoice.
Then all the trees of the wood will shout for joy
at the presence of the LORD who comes;
God comes to judge the earth.
The Lord will judge the world with righteousness,
and the peoples with faithfulness.
Glory to the Father…
Ant. Never forget the gratitude you owe the Lord for the miracles he worked to bring about your happiness.
Reading
Going back to our roots affirms the Church as she goes forward proclaiming the Gospel. We do not live in the past or outside of the world; we live in today’s world with the people we serve. Our roots do not bind us to one moment in time but continue to spread and grow as we keep in mind our constant call to respond to the “most urgent needs of the Church.” Being nourished anew by our roots as Oblates calls us to renew our apostolic religious life.
(Acts of the 37th General Chapter)
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. We are called to be the Saviour’s co-workers, the co-redeemers of humankind. (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. We are called to be the Saviour’s co-workers, the co-redeemers of humankind.
Intercessions
Let us pray for the Church, government and civil leaders; may they listen to the prophets of our times who appeal to our conscience and challenge us to grow.
Make our work today benefit our sisters and brothers, that with them and for them we may build an earthly city, pleasing to you.
Grant joy and peace to us, and to all we meet this day.
Lord’s Prayer
Concluding Prayer
Creating God, you have created us to be free. Only through the power of your love do you reign over us. Help us to be worthy of the gift of freedom, and teach us to respect all creation as the work of your hands. We ask this, giver of all good gifts, through Jesus who taught us the way. Amen.
Novitiate Liturgy of the Hours 