Psalmody
Psalm 137 (1-6)
Ant. As for all the rest, don’t worry about it. There must be a beginning to everything. (1849 letter to Fr. Berne)
By the rivers of Babylon
there we sat and wept,
remembering Zion;
on the poplars that grew there
we hung up our harps.
For it was there that they asked us,
our captors, for songs,
our oppressors, for joy.
“Sing to us,” they said,
“one of Zion’s songs.”
O how could we sing
the song of the LORD
on foreign soil?
If I forget you, Jerusalem,
let my right hand wither!
O let my tongue hold fast to my palate
if I remember you not,
if I prize not Jerusalem, the first of my joys!
Glory to the Father…
Ant. As for all the rest, don’t worry about it. There must be a beginning to everything.
Psalm 138
Ant. Thanks be to God there has not been the slightest inconvenience to prevent me from adhering faithfully to the abstinence and fast. (1849 diary entry)
I thank you, LORD, with all my heart;
you have heard the words of my mouth.
In the presence of the angels I praise you.
I bow down toward your holy temple.
I give thanks to your name
for you have exalted over all
your name and your promise.
On the day I called, you answered me;
you increased the strength of my soul.
All earthly rulers shall thank you, O LORD,
when they hear the words of your mouth.
They shall sing of the ways of the LORD,
“How great is the glory of the LORD!”
The LORD is high, yet looks on the lowly,
and the haughty God knows from afar.
You give me life though I walk amid affliction;
you stretch out your hand against the anger of my foes.
With your right hand you save me;
the LORD will accomplish this for me.
O LORD, your merciful love is eternal;
discard not the work of your hands.
Glory to the Father…
Ant. Thanks be to God there has not been the slightest inconvenience to prevent me from adhering faithfully to the abstinence and fast.
Canticle (Rev 4:11; 5:9,10, 12)
Ant. For now…await without commotion for the good God to show us his plans. (1830 letter to Fr. Tempier)
Worthy are you, O God, our God,
to receive glory and honour and power.
For you have created all things;
by your will they came to be and were made.
Worthy are you to take the scroll
and open its seals,
For you were slain, and by your blood,
you purchased for God
saints of every race and tongue,
of every people and nation.
You have made of them a kingdom,
and priests to serve our God,
and they shall reign on the earth.
Worthy is the Lamb who was slain
to receive power and riches,
wisdom and strength,
honour and glory and praise.
Glory to the Father…
Ant. For now…await without commotion for the good God to show us his plans.
Reading
Let Christ’s peace reign in your heart since, as members of one body, you have been called to that peace. Dedicate yourselves to thankfulness. Let the Word of Christ, rich as it is, dwell in you. Instruct and admonish one another wisely. Sing gratefully to God from your hearts in psalms, hymns and songs of the Spirit. And whatever you do, whether in speech or in action, do it in the name of Jesus our Saviour, giving thanks to God through Christ.
(Colossians 3:16-17)
Responsory
We will let our lives be enriched by the poor and the marginalized as we work with them
-We will let our lives be enriched by the poor and the marginalized as we work with them
for they can make us hear in new ways the Gospel we proclaim
-the poor and the marginalized
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit
-We will let our lives be enriched by the poor and the marginalized as we work with them
Canticle of Mary
Ant. Blessed are the poor in spirit, the reign of God is theirs.
My heart is radiant, overflowing with joy,
for you have loved my lowliness.
You have shown me great favour;
all people will call me blest.
Your mercy extends throughout the ages
toward those who revere your holy name.
You have revealed your strength,
scattering the proud of heart.
You dethrone the powerful
and lift up the lowly.
The famished are filled;
the rich sent empty away.
Your people Israel you have remembered,
true to your loving kindness,
just as you have promised long ago
to Sarah and Abraham.
Glory to the Father…
Ant. Blessed are the poor in spirit, the reign of God is theirs.
Intercessions
Jesus, you knew the sweetness of friendship, you gave new life to those who received you; keep us faithful to you and to one another.
O God, your love is greater than our guilt; have mercy on those who are sentenced to death.
Too often our faith exists only in our minds and words; awaken us to new and practical ways to enflesh our commitment to your will.
Lord’s Prayer
Concluding Prayer
In the beginning, O God, your Word subdued the chaos; in the fullness of time you sent Jesus, your Son, to rebuke the forces of evil and bring forth a new creation. By that same power, transform all our fear into faith and awe in your saving presence. 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 