Psalmody
Psalm 90
Ant. On trust in God – it should be boundless. (1818 retreat notes)
O Lord, you have been our refuge,
from generation to generation.
Before the mountains were born,
or the earth or the world were brought forth,
you are God, from age to age.
You turn human beings back to dust,
and say, “Return, O children of Adam.”
To your eyes a thousand years
are like yesterday, come and gone,
or like a watch in the night.
You sweep them away like a dream,
like grass which is fresh in the morning.
In the morning it sprouts and is fresh;
by evening it withers and fades.
Indeed, we are consumed by your anger;
we are struck with terror at your fury.
You have set our guilt before you,
our secret sins in the light of your face.
All our days pass away in your anger.
Our years are consumed like a sigh.
Seventy years is the span of our days,
or eighty if we are strong.
And most of these are toil and pain.
They pass swiftly and we are gone.
Who understands the power of your anger?
Your fury matches the fear of you.
Then teach us to number our days,
that we may gain wisdom of heart.
Turn back, O LORD! How long?
Show pity to your servants.
At dawn, fill us with your faithful love;
we shall exult and rejoice all our days.
Give us joy for the days of our affliction,
for the years when we looked upon evil.
Let your deed be seen by your servants,
and your glorious power by their children.
Let the favour of the LORD our God be upon us;
give success to the work of our hands.
O give success to the work of our hands.
Glory to the Father…
Ant. On trust in God – it should be boundless.
Canticle (Isa 42:10-16)
Ant. Rejoice over these happy beginnings; thank God for success in your work and care. (1841 letter to Fr. Vincens)
Sing to our God a new song,
sing praise from the ends of the earth!
Let the sea and what fills it resound,
the coastlands and their inhabitants.
Let the desert and its cities cry out,
the villages where Kedar dwells.
Let the inhabitants of Sela exults,
let them shout from the top of the mountains.
Let them give glory to the Most High,
and declare God’s praise in the coastlands.
You go forth, O God, like a hero,
like a warrior you stir up your fury;
crying loud and shouting aloud,
against the oppression of your poor.
For a long time I held my peace,
I kept still and restrained myself;
now, I will cry like a woman in labour,
Gasping and panting.
I will lay waste mountains and hills,
and dry up all their herbage;
I will turn the rivers into islands,
and dry up all the streams.
I will lead the blind on their journey,
in a way that they know not,
in unknown paths I will guide them.
I will turn darkness before them into light,
and rough places into level ground.
Glory to the Father…
Ant. Rejoice over these happy beginnings; thank God for success in your work and care.
Psalm 135 (1-12)
Ant. You are right to bless the Lord … I deeply share this gratitude with you. (1860 letter to Fr. Vincens)
Praise the name of the LORD;
give praise, O servants of the LORD,
who stand in the house of the LORD,
in the courts of the house of our God.
Praise the LORD, for the LORD is good.
Sing a psalm to God’s name, who is gracious.
For the LORD has chosen Jacob,
and Israel as a treasured possession.
For I know that the LORD is great,
that our Lord is high above all gods.
Whatever the LORD wills is accomplished,
in heaven, and on earth,
in the seas, and in all the depths.
God summons clouds from the ends of the earth,
makes lightning produce the rain,
sends forth the wind from heaven’s treasuries.
The Lord smote the firstborn of the Egyptians,
human beings and beasts alike.
God sent signs and wonders in your midst, O Egypt,
against Pharaoh and all his servants.
Nations in great numbers were struck,
and kings in their might were subdued:
Sihon, king of the Amorites,
Og, the king of Bashan,
and all the kingdoms of Canaan.
God gave their land as a heritage,
a heritage to Israel, God’s people.
Glory to the Father…
Ant. You are right to bless the Lord … I deeply share this gratitude with you.
Reading
On that day, it will be said to Jerusalem, ‘Have no fear, O Zion, do not let your hands fall limp. Adonai your God is in your midst—a mighty Saviour! Your God will delight over you with joy. Your God will quiet you with love. Your God will dance for joy over you with singing.’
(Zephaniah 3:16-17)
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. The crucifix will serve as the credentials of their embassy to the different peoples to whom they are sent. (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. The crucifix will serve as the credentials of their embassy to the different peoples to whom they are sent.
Intercessions
Jesus, you preached the gospel of love and forgiveness; may we share your message with people we meet today.
You healed those who could not hear or speak; may we close our ears to falsehood and endeavour the truth in love.
You desire our good, and you have compassion on all who suffer; be mindful to those who are in constant pain; comfort and sustain them.
Lord’s Prayer
Concluding Prayer
God of power and compassion, in Christ you reveal your will to heal and to save. Open our ears to your redeeming word and move our hearts by the strength of your love, so that our every word and work may proclaim you as Messiah Jesus the Lord, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God for ever and ever. Amen.
Novitiate Liturgy of the Hours 