Psalmody
Psalm 119 (145-152)
Ant. Yes, Lord, you will give me the strength for this, for you have deigned to inspire my heart with this desire. (1809 Spiritual conference)
I call with all my heart; LORD, answer me.
I will observe your statutes.
I call upon you; save me,
and I will keep your decrees.
I rise before dawn and cry for help;
I have hoped in your word.
My eyes awaken before dawn,
to ponder your promise.
In your mercy, hear my voice, O LORD;
give me life by your decrees.
Those who pursue me with malice draw near;
they are far from your law.
But you, O LORD, are close;
all your commands are truth.
From of old I have known that your decrees
are established forever.
Glory to the Father…
Ant. Yes, Lord, you will give me the strength for this, for you have deigned to inspire my heart with this desire.
Canticle (Wis 9:1-6, 9-11)
Ant. We must make the best of everything that happens. (1851 letter to Fr. Etienne Semeria)
God of our ancestors, God of mercy,
you who have made all things by your word
and in your wisdom have established us
to care for the creatures produced by you
to govern the world in holiness and justice,
and to render judgement in integrity of heart.
Give us Wisdom, the attendant at your throne,
and reject us not from among your children:
For we are your servants; weak and short-lived
and lacking in comprehension
of judgement and of laws.
Indeed, though some be perfect
among all the peoples of this earth,
if Wisdom, who comes from you,
be not with them,
they shall be held in no esteem.
Now with you is Wisdom,
who knows your works
and was present when you made the world;
who understands what is pleasing in your eyes
and what is comfortable with your commands.
Send her forth from your holy heavens
and from your glorious throne dispatch her
that she may be with us,
that we may know what is your pleasure.
For she knows and understands all things,
and will guide us discreetly in our affairs
and safeguard us by her glory.
Glory to the Father…
Ant. We must make the best of everything that happens.
Psalm 117
Ant. May God’s will be done! (1861 letter to Archbishop Donnet)
O praise the LORD, all you nations;
acclaim God, all you peoples!
For God’s faithful love toward us is great;
the LORD remains faithful forever.
Alleluia!
Glory to the Father…
Ant. May God’s will be done!
Reading
Like Jesus walking along the borders of Samaria, we too are standing before different understandings of culture, ethnicity, religion, and gender, invited into a new conversation. The world no longer works in the same way. Old borders are breaking down even as new boundaries are emerging. Our task is to be missionaries in this new pluralistic, sensitive, and complex reality where, like Jesus, we are invited to “cross over” and imitate his self-emptying so as to enter more fully into the life of the other, particularly the lives of the poor. The God we proclaim must be the humble, kenotic God that Jesus incarnated.
(Acts of the 34th 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. Teach us your ways to free us from hatred.
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. Teach us your ways to free us from hatred.
Intercessions
O God, you bow to our weakness and need; deliver us from temptation and guide us in the way of truth. We pray
Jesus Christ you drew your disciples to yourself and taught them eternal truths, bless the young people who must live in our streets, jobless and tempted to crime and despair. We pray
For ourselves that the Holy Spirit might stir us to become better examples of Christ to the world. We pray
For all the Oblates, that they may continue to be on fire for souls and serve Christ and his flock. We pray
Lord’s Prayer
Concluding Prayer
God, our Father, through the life, death and resurrection of Christ your Son, you bring together in your Spirit, from all nations, a people to be your own. Keep the Church faithful to its mission: may it be a leaven in the world, renewing us in Christ and transforming us into your family. Through the same Christ our Lord. Amen.
Novitiate Liturgy of the Hours 