Psalmody
Psalm 87
Ant. My heart overflows with gratitude towards God. (1854 letter to Fr. Marchal)
Founded by God on the holy mountain,
the LORD loves the gates of Zion,
more than all the dwellings of Jacob.
Of you are told glorious things,
you, O city of God!
“Rahab and Babylon I will count
among those who know me;
Of Tyre, Philistia, Ethiopia, it is told,
‘There was this one born.’
But of Zion it shall be said,
‘Each one was born in her.’”
God, the Most High, will establish her.
In the register of peoples the LORD writes,
“Here was this one born.”
The singers cry out in chorus,
“All my wellsprings are in you.”
Glory to the Father…
Ant. My heart overflows with gratitude towards God.
Canticle (Isa 40:10-17)
Ant. Have no regrets, ask God for the strength. Don’t reserve anything for yourself except the consolation of having fulfilled your duty. (1840 letter to Fr. Mille)
Behold, you come with power,
O God, the Almighty,
ruling with your strong arm;
behold, your reward is with you,
and your recompense before you.
You will feed your flock like a shepherd,
you will gather the lambs in your arms,
carrying them in your bosom,
gently leading the ewes with young.
Who else had measured the waters
in the hollows of their hands,
and marked off the heavens with a span,
enclosed the dust of the earth in a measure
weighed the mountains in scales
and the hills in a balance?
Who has directed your spirit,
or who has been your counsellor?
Whom did you consult for enlightenment,
who taught you the path of justice,
or showed you the path of justice,
or showed you the way of understanding?
Behold, the nations are like a drop from a bucket,
accounted as dust on the scales
you take up the isles like powder.
Lebanon would not suffice for fuel,
nor its beasts be enough for burnt offering.
All the nations are as nothing before you,
as nothing and void are they accounted.
Glory to the Father…
Ant. Have no regrets, ask God for the strength. Don’t reserve anything for yourself except the consolation of having fulfilled your duty.
Psalm 99
Ant. Place your trust in God. God makes use of every kind of instrument to achieve his ends. (1851 letter to Fr. Richard)
The LORD is king; the peoples tremble.
God is enthroned on the cherubim; earth quakes.
The LORD is great in Zion,
exalted over all the peoples.
Let them praise your great and awesome name,
for the Lord our God is holy!
O mighty Ruler, lover of justice,
you have established what is upright;
you have made justice and right in Jacob.
Exalt the LORD our God;
bow down before God’s footstool,
for the Lord our God is holy!
Among God’s priests were Aaron and Moses;
among those who invoked God’s name was Samuel.
They cried out to the LORD, who answered.
To them the Lord spoke in the pillar of cloud.
They obeyed the decrees and the statutes
which the Lord had given them.
O LORD our God, you answered them.
For them you were a God who forgives,
and yet you punished their offenses.
Exalt the LORD our God;
bow down before the holy mountain,
for the LORD our God is holy.
Glory to the Father…
Ant. Place your trust in God. God makes use of every kind of instrument to achieve his ends.
Reading
I do not know where Jesus will lead me, but when He sanctifies, he does not lead us by the way we had imagined. … Jesus, when he decided to make me holy, took the whole world around me, with all its defects, and he took me all together … I must love Jesus with my whole life.
(Mario Borzaga, Diary of a Happy Man)
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. The missionaries ought, as far as the weakness of human nature allows, to imitate in everything the example of our Lord Jesus Christ. (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. The missionaries ought, as far as the weakness of human nature allows, to imitate in everything the example of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Intercessions
For political leaders and economists; may they plan and organize a just society where everyone will have an equitable share in the riches of this earth.
For all those suffering religious persecution and endure suffering; may we be the revelation of loving God to them.
For all those discerning a call to religious life; may we encourage them by our example and our way of life.
Lord’s Prayer
Concluding Prayer
God Our Father, we thank you for calling us, through your Spirit, to live our Christian life in the footsteps of Saint Eugene, Founder of the Missionary Oblates of Mary immaculate. Strengthen our desire to live our Baptismal commitment. Enlighten us to understand better the gift of the Oblate Charism which we have inherited from Saint Eugene. Grant us the spirit of the Mazenodian Family in sharing the same Oblate spirituality and the same missionary mandate to bring the Good News to the poor. Grant us also to be worthy sons and daughters of Mary, our Mother and Model. May we follow her in our Discipleship of Jesus, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, forever and ever. Amen.
Novitiate Liturgy of the Hours 