Psalmody
Psalm 93
Ant. God will bless you for the good you have done for souls. (1854 letter to Fr. Berne)
The LORD is king, with majesty enrobed.
The LORD is robed with might,
and girded round about with power.
The world you made firm, not to be moved;
your throne has stood firm from of old.
From all eternity, O LORD, you are.
The floods have lifted up, O LORD,
the floods have lifted up their voice;
the floods have lifted up their thunder.
Greater than the roar of mighty waters,
mightier than the surgings of the sea,
the LORD is mighty on high.
Truly your decrees are to be trusted.
Holiness is fitting to your house,
O LORD, until the end of time.
Glory to the Father…
Ant. God will bless you for the good you have done for souls.
Canticle of the Three (Dan 3:58-88, 56)
Ant. One can count on seeing the work of God go forward. (1847 letter to Bishop Blanchet)
All you works of God, praise our God.
Praise and exalt God above all forever.
All you angels, sing God’s praise,
you heavens and waters above.
Sun and moon, and stars of heaven,
sing praise with the heavenly hosts.
Every shower and dew, praise our God.
Give praise all you winds.
Praise our God, you fire heat,
Cold and chill – dew and rain.
Frost and chill, praise our God.
Praise God, ice and snow.
Nights and days, sing hymns of praise,
light and darkness,
lightnings and clouds.
Let all the earth bless our God.
Praise and exalt God above all forever.
Let all that grows from the earth give praise
together with mountains and hills.
Give praise you springs,
you seas and rivers,
dolphins and all water creatures.
Let birds of the air,
beasts wild and tame,
together with all living peoples,
praise and exalt God above all forever.
O Israel praise our God.
Praise and exalt God above all forever.
Give praise, you priests,
servants of the Most High,
spirits and souls of the just.
Holy ones of humble heart,
sing your hymns of praise.
Hananiah, Azariah, Mishael, praise our God.
Praise and exalt God above all forever.
Let us bless our God, Holy Mystery,
Source of all Being, Word, and Spirit.
Let us praise and exalt God above all forever.
Blessed are you, O God, in the firmament of heaven.
Praiseworthy and glorious and exalted above all forever.
Ant. One can count on seeing the work of God go forward.
Psalm 148
Ant. God will be my sole reward, as he is already my sole strength, my only hope. (1856 letter to Bishop Frezza)
Praise the LORD from the heavens;
praise the Lord in the heights.
Praise the Lord, all his angels;
praise the Lord, all his hosts.
Praise the Lord, sun and moon;
praise the Lord, all shining stars.
Praise the Lord, highest heavens,
and the waters above the heavens.
Let them praise the name of the LORD,
who commanded, and they were created.
God established them forever and ever,
gave a law which shall not pass away.
Praise the LORD from the earth,
sea creatures and all ocean depths,
fire and hail, snow and mist,
stormy winds that fulfil the command;
Mountains and all hills,
fruit trees and all cedars,
beasts, both wild and tame,
creeping things and birds on the wing;
Rulers of the earth and all peoples,
sovereigns and all judges of the earth,
young men and maidens as well,
the old and the young together.
Let them praise the name of the LORD,
for God’s name alone is exalted,
whose splendour rises above heaven and earth.
The Lord exalts the strength of the people,
and is the praise of all the faithful,
the praise of the children of Israel,
of the people to whom our God is close.
Glory to the Father…
Ant. God will be my sole reward, as he is already my sole strength, my only hope.
Reading
We are called to be signs of hope, witness, and artisans of the Kingdom in these difficult times for the Church and the world. The General Chapter has given us new energy and a new vision to look forward with joy and confidence and to commit ourselves for a better world.
(Acts of the 37th General Chapter)
Responsory
Whoever wishes to be one of us must have an ardent desire for his own perfection and be enflamed with love
-Whoever wishes to be one of us must have an ardent desire for his own perfection and be enflamed with love
for our Lord Jesus Christ and his Church and a burning zeal for the salvation of souls
-and be enflamed with love
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit
-Whoever wishes to be one of us must have an ardent desire for his own perfection and be enflamed with love
Canticle of Zachariah
Ant. It is as missionaries that we worship in the various ways the Spirit suggests to us. We come before him bearing with us the daily pressures of our anxiety for those to whom he sends us. (Constitution 32)
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. It is as missionaries that we worship in the various ways the Spirit suggests to us. We come before him bearing with us the daily pressures of our anxiety for those to whom he sends us.
Intercessions
Jesus, you chose labourers, and tax collectors, to be your companions; preserve us from deciding what people are by what they do, and let us see the worth of every person and the value in every kind of work.
Our hearts are torn by the realization of the sufferings of others; grant we may never be a stumbling block to others or culpable in causing their pain.
O God, we are one in you, and all that we do affects the whole; make us aware of our power to seed the world with good or ill by every thought, word, and deed.
Lord’s Prayer
Concluding Prayer
God of mercy, your goodness encompasses the great and the small. Help us to know your presence in the most hidden suffering, the most secret pain. Remind us again of your unfailing love and give us new hope. This we ask through the intercession of all who suffered in hope and now live with you. Amen.
Novitiate Liturgy of the Hours 