Psalmody
Psalm 51
Ant. God gives us too many consolations for us to attribute too much importance to the suffering which is part and parcel of life. (1854 letter to Fr. Bellon)
Have mercy on me, O God,
according to your merciful love;
according to your great compassion,
blot out my transgressions.
O wash me completely from my guilt,
and cleanse me from my sin.
My transgressions, truly I know them;
my sin is always before me.
Against you, you alone, have I sinned;
what is evil in your sight I have done.
So you are just in your sentence,
without reproach in your judgment.
Behold, in guilt I was born,
a sinner when my mother conceived me.
Behold, you delight in sincerity of heart;
in secret you teach me wisdom.
Cleanse me with hyssop, and I shall be pure;
wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
Let me hear rejoicing and gladness,
that the bones you have crushed may exult.
Turn away your face from my sins,
and blot out all my guilt.
Create a pure heart for me, O God;
renew a steadfast spirit within me.
Do not cast me away from your presence;
take not your holy spirit from me.
Restore in me the joy of your salvation;
sustain in me a willing spirit.
I will teach transgressors your ways,
that sinners may return to you.
Rescue me from bloodshed, O God,
O God of my salvation,
and then my tongue shall ring out your righteousness.
O Lord, open my lips
and my mouth shall proclaim your praise.
For in sacrifice you take no delight;
burnt offering from me would not please you.
My sacrifice to God, a broken spirit:
a broken and humbled heart,
you will not spurn, O God.
In your good pleasure, show favour to Zion;
rebuild the walls of Jerusalem.
Then you will delight in righteous sacrifice,
burnt offerings wholly consumed.
Then you will be offered young bulls on your altar.
Glory to the Father…
Ant. God gives us too many consolations for us to attribute too much importance to the suffering which is part and parcel of life.
Canticle (Tobit 13:8-11, 13-15)
Ant. I know that in all affairs, there are ups and downs, happy moments, shocks and setbacks…Redouble your prayers. (1826 letter to Fr. Tempier)
Let all speak of your majesty, O God,
and sing your praises in Jerusalem.
O Jerusalem, holy city,
God scourged you for the works of your hands,
but will again pity the children of the righteous.
Praise the goodness of God,
and bless the Sovereign of the ages,
so that the holy tent may be rebuilt
in you with joy.
May God gladden within you
all who were captives;
cherishing within you all who were ravaged
for all generations to come.
A bright light will shine to all parts of the earth;
many nations shall come to you from afar,
and the inhabitants of all the limits of the earth,
drawn to you by the name of the Most High God,
bearing in their hands their gifts for the Almighty.
Every generation shall give joyful praise to you,
and shall call you the chosen one,
through all ages forever.
Go, then, rejoice over the children of the righteous,
who shall all be gathered together
and shall bless the God of the ages.
Happy are those who love you,
and happy those who rejoice in your prosperity.
Happy are they who shall grieve over you,
over all your chastisements,
for they shall rejoice in you
as they behold your joy forever.
My spirit blesses you, my God.
Glory to the Father…
Ant. I know that in all affairs, there are ups and downs, happy moments, shocks and setbacks…Redouble your prayers.
Psalm 147 (12-20)
Ant. I considered the thoughts in my heart. Evidently, God’s grace was helping me at that moment. (1838 diary entry)
O Jerusalem, glorify the LORD!
O Zion, praise your God,
who has strengthened the bars of your gates,
and has blessed your children within you;
who established peace on your borders,
and gives you your fill of finest wheat.
The Lord sends out his word to the earth;
the divine command runs swiftly.
God showers down snow like wool,
and scatters hoarfrost like ashes.
The Lord hurls down hailstones like crumbs;
before such cold, who can stand?
God sends forth a word and it melts them;
at the blowing of God’s breath the waters flow.
The Lord reveals a word to Jacob;
to Israel, decrees and judgments.
God has not dealt thus with other nations,
has not taught them heaven’s judgments.
Glory to the Father…
Ant. I considered the thoughts in my heart. Evidently, God’s grace was helping me at that moment.
Reading
In our JPIC ministry, as in all other ministries, we are acting as Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate, i.e., as religious missionaries. We are called to witness in this world of ours as consecrated persons and as apostolic communities. As consecrated persons we will act with a religious motivation and purpose, we will work for the coming of God’s Reign. And as members of apostolic communities, we will opt for team work rather than for individual commitments. The attention to issues of Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation is a dimension of all our ministries. It has to be integrated and expressed in our preaching, our catechesis, our sacramental celebrations, our presence to people, our solidarity of compassion, our life style, individually and in community.
(Kennedy Katongo, Oblatio of March 2016 )
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. They will strive to become other Christs, radiating everywhere the fragrance of his lovable virtues. (Eugene de Mazenod 1818)
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. They will strive to become other Christs, radiating everywhere the fragrance of his lovable virtues.
Intercessions
We trust in God’s concern for every person He has created and redeemed through Jesus Christ. Let us, therefore, renew our prayer to him; fulfill the good work you have begun in us Lord.
Compassionate God, encourage us on our journey, especially in difficult moments.
For the leaders of nations. That they inspire us to use our resources to feed the hungry.
Lord’s Prayer
Concluding Prayer
Gracious God, open our hearts and our eyes to the wonders of your presence among us. May we see the signs of your beauty within and about us and ever be in awe of the simple gifts of life. Help us to reach beyond ourselves and to give thanks for all your creation that shares this universe with us: peoples of every nation, animals of every species, all forms of vegetation, the planets, stars, and all the elements. We pray this in union with the incarnate Word of God in whose image all was created. May you be blessed throughout the ages and for all eternity. Amen.
Novitiate Liturgy of the Hours 