Psalmody
Psalm 86
Ant. We accept all things from the hand of God. He will give us the strength to support the trials which are in store for us. (1848 letter to Fr. Gaudet)
Turn your ear, O LORD, and answer me,
for I am poor and needy.
Preserve my soul, for I am faithful;
save the servant who trusts in you, my God.
Have mercy on me, O Lord,
for I cry to you all the day long.
Gladden the soul of your servant,
for I lift up my soul to you, O Lord.
O Lord, you are good and forgiving,
full of mercy to all who call to you.
Give ear, O LORD, to my prayer,
and attend to my voice in supplication.
In the day of distress, I will call to you,
and surely you will answer me.
Among the gods there is none like you, O Lord,
nor works to compare with yours.
All the nations you have made shall come;
they will bow down before you, O Lord,
and glorify your name,
for you are great and do marvellous deeds,
you who alone are God.
Teach me, O LORD, your way,
so that I may walk in your truth,
single-heartedly revering your name.
I will praise you, Lord my God, with all my heart,
and glorify your name forever.
Your faithful love to me has been great;
you have saved me from the depths of Sheol.
The proud have risen against me, O God;
a band of the ruthless seeks my life.
To you they pay no heed.
But you, O God, are compassionate and gracious,
slow to anger, O Lord,
abundant in love and fidelity;
turn and take pity on me.
O give your strength to your servant,
and save the child of your handmaid.
Show me the sign of your favour,
that my foes may see to their shame
that you, O LORD, give me comfort and help.
Glory to the Father…
Ant. We accept all things from the hand of God. He will give us the strength to support the trials which are in store for us.
Canticle (Isa 33:13-16)
Ant. Draw up good plans, well thought out. Take advantage of journeys to meditate. (1828 letter to Fr. Touche)
Hear, who are far off,
what I have done;
you who are near,
acknowledge my might.
The sinners in Zion are afraid;
trembling grips the impious;
“Who of us can live with the devouring fire?
Who of us can live with the everlasting flames?”
Those who walk justly and speak honestly,
who spurn what is gained by oppression,
who shake their hands,
free of contact with a bribe;
who stop their ears,
lest they hear of bloodshed,
who close their eyes,
lest they look on evil.
They shall dwell on the heights;
their place of refuge
shall be the rocky fortress;
their food will be given,
their water will be sure.
Glory to the Father…
Ant. Draw up good plans, well thought out. Take advantage of journeys to meditate.
Psalm 98
Ant. I thank the good God unceasingly for having brought us together and I pray God fill you more and more with his spirit. (1822 letter Fr. Tempier)
O sing a new song to the LORD,
who has worked such wonders,
whose right hand and holy arm
have brought salvation.
The LORD has made known salvation,
has shown deliverance to the nations.
God has remembered faithful love
and truth for the house of Israel.
All the ends of the earth have seen
the salvation of our God.
Shout to the LORD, all the earth;
break forth into joyous song,
and sing out your praise.
Sing psalms to the LORD with the harp,
with the harp and the sound of song.
With trumpets and the sound of the horn,
raise a shout before the King, the LORD.
Let the sea and all within it thunder;
the world, and those who dwell in it.
Let the rivers clap their hands,
and the hills ring out their joy
at the presence of the LORD who comes,
who comes to judge the earth.
The Lord will judge the world with righteousness,
and the peoples with fairness.
Glory to the Father…
Ant. I thank the good God unceasingly for having brought us together and I pray God fill you more and more with his spirit.
Reading
The violence we preach is not the violence of the sword, the violence of hatred. It is the violence of love, of brotherhood and sisterhood, the violence that wills to beat weapons into sickles for work.
(St. Oscar Romero, Violence of Love, p. 14)
Responsory
The crucifix will serve as the credentials of their embassy
-The crucifix will serve as the credentials of their embassy
to the different peoples to whom they are sent
-the credentials of their embassy
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit
-The crucifix will serve as the credentials of their embassy
Canticle of Zachariah
Ant. In all our ministries, prophetic voices must not be stifled. When they arise, they will be heard, tested, and supported. (Rule 9b)
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. In all our ministries, prophetic voices must not be stifled. When they arise, they will be heard, tested, and supported.
Intercessions
For grace to recognize the good in people with whom we share our lives. We pray to the Lord.
For those who are engaged in prison ministry, that they may never tire of their efforts to bring the healing comfort of Christ to all those under their care.
You are the Good Shepherd who has given life and light today, make us grateful for these gifts in sharing them with people we meet today.
For our Mazenodian Family, may we remain rooted in Jesus Christ and draw strength, support and companionship from each other.
Lord’s Prayer
Concluding Prayer
Bountiful God, you nourish us daily with the bread of life and the bread that is the work of our hands. May all the peoples and creatures of this earth have the nourishment they need to live their lives fully. Help us to reach out to one another in generosity and compassion so that all may share in the banquet you have prepared for us. We ask this through Jesus, the Bread of Life. Amen.
Novitiate Liturgy of the Hours 