Psalmody
Psalm 118
Ant. They leave with joy in their hearts, happy to have been chosen. (1849 diary entry)
Give thanks to the LORD, who is good,
whose faithful love endures forever.
Let the house of Israel say,
“God’s faithful love endures forever.”
Let the house of Aaron say,
“God’s faithful love endures forever.”
Let those who fear the LORD say,
“God’s faithful love endures forever.”
I called to the LORD in my distress;
the LORD has answered and freed me.
The LORD is at my side; I do not fear.
What can anyone do against me?
The LORD is at my side as my helper;
I shall look in triumph on my foes.
It is better to take refuge in the LORD
than to trust in human beings;
it is better to take refuge in the LORD
than to trust in rulers.
The nations all encircled me;
in the name of the LORD I cut them off.
They encircled me all around;
in the name of the LORD I cut them off.
They encircled me about like bees;
they blazed like a fire among thorns.
In the name of the LORD I cut them off.
They pushed me, pushed me hard to knock me down,
but the LORD was my helper.
The LORD is my strength and my song,
and has been my saviour.
There are shouts of joy and salvation
in the tents of the righteous.
“The LORD’s right hand has done mighty deeds;
The LORD’s right hand is exalted.
The LORD’s right hand has done mighty deeds.”
I shall not die, I shall live
and recount the deeds of the LORD.
The LORD has punished me severely,
but did not hand me over to death.
Open to me the gates of righteousness:
I will enter and thank the LORD.
This is the gate of the LORD,
where the just may enter.
I will thank you, for you have answered,
and you are my saviour.
The stone that the builders rejected
has become the cornerstone.
By the LORD has this been done,
a marvel in our eyes.
This is the day the LORD has made;
let us rejoice in it and be glad.
We beseech you, O LORD, grant salvation;
We beseech you, O LORD, grant success.
Blest is he who comes
in the name of the LORD.
We bless you from the house of the LORD;
the LORD is God, and has given us light.
Go forward in procession with branches,
as far as the horns of the altar.
You are my God, I thank you.
My God, I praise you.
Give thanks to the LORD, who is good,
whose faithful love endures forever.
Glory to the Father…
Ant. They leave with joy in their hearts, happy to have been chosen.
Canticle (Dan 3:58-88, 56)
Ant. It is a work of charity to provide for the needs of God’s servants. (1809 letter to Madame de Mazenod, his mother)
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. It is a work of charity to provide for the needs of God’s servants.
Psalm 150
Ant. If you leave the present opportunity go by, you will regret it when it will be too late. (1859 letter to Fr. Courtes)
Praise God in the holy temple;
praise the Lord in the mighty firmament.
Praise God for powerful deeds;
for boundless grandeur, praise God.
O praise the Lord with sound of trumpet;
give praise with lute and harp.
Praise God with timbrel and dance;
give praise with strings and pipes.
O praise God with resounding cymbals;
give praise with clashing of cymbals.
Let everything that breathes praise the LORD!
Glory to the Father…
Ant. If you leave the present opportunity go by, you will regret it when it will be too late.
Reading
Remember that Jesus Christ, a descendant of David, was raised from the dead. This is the Gospel I preach; in preaching it I suffer as a criminal – even to the point of being thrown into chains – but there is no chaining the word of God! Therefore I bear with all of this for the sake of those whom God has chosen, in order that they may obtain salvation in Christ. You can depend on this: if we have died with Christ, we will also live with Christ; if we hold out to the end, we will also reign with Christ. If we deny Christ, Christ will deny us. If we remain faithful, Christ will remain faithful, for Christ can never be unfaithful.
(2 Timothy 2:8,11-13)
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. We are all involved in a process of mutual evangelization, supporting one another in a healing and empowering way. (Constitution 48)
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. We are all involved in a process of mutual evangelization, supporting one another in a healing and empowering way.
Intercessions
Let us pray that the church may speak the truth in love, with an authority born of faithful witness and loving service.
Let us pray that God may raise up prophets in every land, and put in their mouths the challenging words of justice and peace.
Spirit of God, lead us to wholesome recreations that delight and nourish us; keep us grateful for the gift of community.
Lord’s Prayer
Concluding Prayer
You have blessed all generations, O God most high, in Jesus, our compassionate Saviour, for through him you invite us to your kingdom, welcome us to your table, and provide us with nourishment in abundance. Teach us to imitate your unfailing kindness and to build up Christ’s body, the Church, by generously handing on to others the gifts we have received from your bounty. We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God for ever and ever. Amen.
Novitiate Liturgy of the Hours 