Invitatorium: A Liturgy of the Hours Player

Purple

Ordinary Time

The Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed (All Soul’s Day)

Monday · Solemnity · Psalter Week 3

The Hours

Invitatorium

Now

Invitatory · 1:31

0:00 1:31

Lord, open my lips.

And my mouth will proclaim your praise.

Ant. Come, let us worship the Lord, all things live for him.

Come, let us sing to the Lord

and shout with joy to the Rock who saves us.

Let us approach him with praise and thanksgiving

and sing joyful songs to the Lord.

The Lord is God, the mighty God,

the great king over all the gods.

He holds in his hands the depths of the earth

and the highest mountains as well.

He made the sea; it belongs to him,

the dry land, too, for it was formed by his hands.

Come, then, let us bow down and worship,

bending the knee before the Lord, our maker.

For he is our God and we are his people,

the flock he shepherds.

Today, listen to the voice of the Lord:

Do not grow stubborn, as your fathers did

in the wilderness,

when at Meriba and Massah

they challenged me and provoked me,

Although they had seen all of my works.

Forty years I endured that generation.

I said, “They are a people whose hearts go astray

and they do not know my ways.”

So I swore in my anger,

“They shall not enter into my rest.”

Glory to the Father, and to the Son,

and to the Holy Spirit:

as it was in the beginning, is now,

and will be for ever. Amen.

Ant. Come, let us worship the Lord, all things live for him.

Matins

Now

Office of Readings · 14:02

0:00 14:02

God, come to my assistance.

Lord, make haste to help me.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:

as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen. Alleluia.

HYMN

O God, beyond the dawn of time

you live, the only font of life;

with loving kindness look on us,

whom sin and guilt exposed to death.

O Father, you permitted death,

the price we pay for human sin,

that dust be given back to dust

and sin by death may be undone.

And yet you gave the breath of life,

imparted by your loving care,

the seed of immortality,

unfading and abiding pledge.

This is our comfort, this our hope:

that we, O Lord, shall live again,

that Christ, first fruits of those who rise,

shall take us swiftly to your throne.

May these departed servants, Lord,

enjoy your Kingdom filled with life,

for faith in Christ has marked their souls,

anointed with the Spirit’s love.

Make haste to grant us, Lord, your reign,

that after we have left this earth,

together we may sing your praise,

the true Beginning and the End. Amen.

Psalm 40:2-14

Ant. From the earth you formed me, with flesh you clothed me; Lord, my Redeemer, raise me up again at the last day.

I waited, I waited for the Lord

and he stooped down to me;

he heard my cry.

He drew me from the deadly pit,

from the miry clay.

He set my feet upon a rock

and made my footsteps firm.

He put a new song into my mouth,

praise of our God.

Many shall see and fear

and shall trust in the Lord.

Happy the man who has placed

his trust in the Lord

and has not gone over to the rebels

who follow false gods.

How many, O Lord my God,

are the wonders and designs

that you have worked for us;

you have no equal.

Should I proclaim and speak of them,

they are more than I can tell!

You do not ask for sacrifice and offerings,

but an open ear.

You do not ask for holocaust and victim.

Instead, here am I.

In the scroll of the book it stands written

that I should do your will.

My God, I delight in your law

in the depth of my heart.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son,

and to the Holy Spirit:

as it was in the beginning, is now,

and will be for ever. Amen.

Ant. From the earth you formed me, with flesh you clothed me; Lord, my Redeemer, raise me up again at the last day.

Ant. Lord, may it please you to rescue me; look upon me and help me.

Your justice I have proclaimed

in the great assembly.

My lips I have not sealed;

you know it, O Lord.

I have not hidden your justice in my heart

but declared your faithful help.

I have not hidden your love and your truth

from the great assembly.

O Lord, you will not withhold

your compassion from me.

Your merciful love and your truth

will always guard me.

For I am beset with evils

too many to be counted.

My sins have fallen upon me

and my sight fails me.

They are more than the hairs of my head

and my heart sinks.

O Lord, come to my rescue.

Lord, come to my aid.

O let there be rejoicing and gladness

for all who seek you.

Let them ever say: “The Lord is great,”

who love your saving help.

As for me, wretched and poor,

the Lord thinks of me.

You are my rescuer, my help,

O God, do not delay.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son,

and to the Holy Spirit:

as it was in the beginning, is now,

and will be for ever. Amen.

Ant. Lord, may it please you to rescue me; look upon me and help me.

Psalm 42

Ant. My soul is thirsting for the living God; when shall I see him face to face?

Like the deer that yearns

for running streams,

so my soul is yearning

for you, my God.

My soul is thirsting for God,

the God of my life;

when can I enter and see

the face of God?

My tears have become my bread,

by night, by day,

as I hear it said all the day long:

“Where is your God?”

These things will I remember

as I pour out my soul:

how I would lead the rejoicing crowd

into the house of God,

amid cries of gladness and thanksgiving,

the throng wild with joy.

Why are you cast down, my soul,

why groan within me?

Hope in God; I will praise him still,

my savior and my God.

My soul is cast down within me

as I think of you,

from the country of Jordan and Mount Hermon,

from the Hill of Mizar.

Deep is calling on deep,

in the roar of waters:

your torrents and all your waves

swept over me.

By day the Lord will send

his loving kindness;

by night I will sing to him,

praise the God of my life.

I will say to God, my rock:

“Why have you forgotten me?”

Why do I go mourning,

oppressed by the foe?"

With cries that pierce me to the heart,

my enemies revile me,

saying to me all the day long:

“Where is your God?”

Why are you cast down, my soul,

why groan within me?

Hope in God; I will praise him still,

my savior and my God.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son,

and to the Holy Spirit:

as it was in the beginning, is now,

and will be for ever. Amen.

Ant. My soul is thirsting for the living God; when shall I see him face to face?

Lord, countless are your mercies.

Give me life according to your word.

From the first letter of the apostle Paul to the Corinthians

If Christ is preached as raised from the dead, how can some among you say there is no resurrection of the dead? If there is no resurrection of the dead, then neither has Christ been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, then empty too is our preaching; empty, too, your faith. Then we are also false witnesses to God, because we testified against God that he raised Christ, whom he did not raise if in fact the dead are not raised. For if the dead are not raised, neither has Christ been raised, and if Christ has not been raised, your faith is vain; you are still in your sins. Then those who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. If for this life only we have hoped in Christ, we are the most pitiable people of all.

But now Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since death came through a human being, the resurrection of the dead came also through a human being. For just as in Adam all die, so too in Christ shall all be brought to life, but each one in proper order: Christ the firstfruits; then, at his coming, those who belong to Christ; then comes the end, when he hands over the kingdom to his God and Father, when he has destroyed every sovereignty and every authority and power.

For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. The last enemy to be destroyed is death, for “he subjected everything under his feet.” But when it says that everything has been subjected, it is clear that it excludes the one who subjected everything to him. When everything is subjected to him, then the Son himself will also be subjected to the one who subjected everything to him, so that God may be all in all.

Otherwise, what will people accomplish by having themselves baptized for the dead? If the dead are not raised at all, then why are they having themselves baptized for them? Moreover, why are we endangering ourselves all the time? Every day I face death; I swear it by the pride in you brothers that I have in Christ Jesus our Lord. If at Ephesus I fought with beasts, so to speak, what benefit was it to me? If the dead are not raised: “Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die.” Do not be led astray: “Bad company corrupts good morals.” Become sober as you ought and stop sinning. For some have no knowledge of God; I say this to your shame.

1 Corinthians 15:25-26; see Revelation 20:13, 14

Christ must reign until God had brought all enemies under his feet.

And the last enemy to be destroyed is death.

Then death and Sheol will give up their dead,

death and Sheol will be cast into the fiery lake.

And the last enemy to be destroyed is death.

From a book on the death of his brother Satyrus, by Saint Ambrose, bishop

We see that death is gain, life is loss. Paul says:

For me life is Christ, and death a gain.

What does “Christ” mean but to die in the body, and receive the breath of life? Let us then die with Christ, to live with Christ. We should have a daily familiarity with death, a daily desire for death. By this kind of detachment our soul must learn to free itself from the desires of the body. It must soar above earthly lusts to a place where they cannot come near, to hold it fast. It must take on the likeness of death, to avoid the punishment of death. The law of our fallen nature is at war with the law of our reason and subjects the law of reason to the law of error. What is the remedy?

Who will set me free from this body of death? The grace of God, through Jesus Christ, our Lord.

We have a doctor to heal us; let us use the remedy he prescribes. The remedy is the grace of Christ, the dead body our own. Let us then be exiles from our body, so as not to be exiles from Christ. Though we are still in the body, let us not give ourselves to the things of the body. We must not reject the natural rights of the body, but we must desire before all else the gifts of grace.

What more need be said? It was by the death of one man that the world was redeemed. Christ did not need to die if he did not want to, but he did not look on death as something to be despised, something to be avoided, and he could have found no better means to save us than by dying. Thus his death is life for all. We are sealed with the sign of his death; when we pray we preach his death; when we offer sacrifice we proclaim his death. His death is victory; his death is a sacred sign; each year his death is celebrated with solemnity by the whole world.

What more should we say about his death since we use this divine example to prove that it was death alone that won freedom from death, and death itself was its own redeemer? Death is then no cause for mourning, for it is the cause of mankind’s salvation. Death is not something to be avoided, for the Son of God did not think it beneath his dignity, nor did he seek to escape it.

Death was not part of nature; it became part of nature. God did not decree death from the beginning; he prescribed it as a remedy. Human life was condemned because of sin to unremitting labor and unbearable sorrow and so began to experience the burden of wretchedness. There had to be a limit to its evils; death had to restore what life had forfeited. Without the assistance of grace, immortality is more of a burden than a blessing.

The soul has to turn away from the aimless paths of this life, from the defilement of an earthly body; it must reach out to those assemblies in heaven (though it is given only to the saints to be admitted to them) to sing the praises of God. We learn from Scripture how God’s praise is sung to the music of the harp:

Great and wonderful are your deeds, Lord God Almighty; just and true are your ways, King of the nations. Who will not revere and glorify your nature? You alone are holy; all nations will come and worship before you.

The soul must also desire to witness your nuptials, Jesus, and to see your bride escorted from earthly to heavenly realities, as all rejoice and sing:

All flesh will come before you.

No longer will the bride be held in subjection to this passing world but will be made one with the spirit.

Above all else, holy David prayed that he might see and gaze on this:

One thing I have asked of the Lord, this I shall pray for: to dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, and to see how gracious is the Lord.

See 2 Maccabees 12:45; Matthew 13:43

There are some who have died a godly death;

they shall receive the splendid reward which awaits them.

Then the just will shine like the sun in the kingdom of the Father.

They shall receive the splendid reward which awaits them.

CONCLUDING PRAYER

Let us pray.

O God, who willed that your Only Begotten Son,

having conquered death,

should pass over into the realm of heaven,

grant, we pray, to your departed servants

that, with the mortality of this life overcome,

they may gaze eternally on you,

their Creator and Redeemer.

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.

ACCLAMATION

Let us praise the Lord.

And give him thanks.

Lauds

Now

Morning Prayer · 11:51

0:00 11:51

God, come to my assistance.

Lord, make haste to help me.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:

as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen. Alleluia.

HYMN

O Christ, our pardon and our hope,

the Resurrection and the Life,

when grief in death descends on us

we raise our hearts and eyes to you.

You also bore the sting of death,

its sorrow, dread, and weariness,

and humbly bowed your head and gave

your spirit to the Father’s care.

For surely you have borne our ills,

O loving Shepherd of your flock,

that we who suffer death with you

may die within your Father’s love.

With arms outstretched upon the Cross

you drew unto your wounded heart

those soon to die and sorely tried

by illness or by anxious grief.

You harrowed hell, broke down its doors,

and opened wide the heav’nly gates;

now raise us up who weep and mourn,

and after death restore our life.

So let our brethren live for you,

whose bodies sleep in peaceful rest,

to wake within your blessed love

and sing your praises evermore. Amen.

Psalm 51

Ant. The bones that were crushed shall leap for joy before the Lord.

Have mercy on me, God, in your kindness.

In your compassion blot out my offense.

O wash me more and more from my guilt

and cleanse me from my sin.

My offenses 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.

That you may be justified when you give sentence

and be without reproach when you judge.

O see, in guilt I was born,

a sinner was I conceived.

Indeed you love truth in the heart;

then in the secret of my heart teach me wisdom.

O purify me, then I shall be clean;

O wash me, I shall be whiter than snow.

Make me hear rejoicing and gladness,

that the bones you have crushed may revive.

From my sins turn away your face

and blot out all my guilt.

A pure heart create for me, O God,

put a steadfast spirit within me.

Do not cast me away from your presence,

nor deprive me of your holy spirit.

Give me again the joy of your help;

with a spirit of fervor sustain me,

that I may teach transgressors your ways

and sinners may return to you.

O rescue me, God, my helper,

and my tongue shall ring out your goodness.

O Lord, open my lips

and my mouth shall declare your praise.

For in sacrifice you take no delight,

burnt offering from me you would refuse,

my sacrifice, a contrite spirit

A humbled, contrite heart you will not spurn.

In your goodness, show favor to Zion:

rebuild the walls of Jerusalem.

Then you will be pleased with lawful sacrifice,

holocausts offered on your altar.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son,

and to the Holy Spirit:

as it was in the beginning, is now,

and will be for ever. Amen.

Ant. The bones that were crushed shall leap for joy before the Lord.

Isaiah 38:10-14

Ant. At the very threshold of death, rescue me, Lord.

Once I said,

“In the noontime of life I must depart!

To the gates of the nether world I shall be consigned

for the rest of my years.”

I said, “I shall see the Lord no more

in the land of the living.

No longer shall I behold my fellow men

among those who dwell in the world.”

My dwelling, like a shepherd’s tent,

is struck down and borne away from me;

You have folded up my life, like a weaver

who severs the last thread.

Day and night you give me over to torment;

I cry out until the dawn.

Like a lion he breaks all my bones;

day and night you give me over to torment.

Like a swallow I utter shrill cries;

I moan like a dove.

My eyes grow weak, gazing heavenward:

O Lord, I am in straits; be my surety!

You have preserved my life

from the pit of destruction,

When you cast behind your back

all my sins.

For it is not the nether world that gives you thanks,

nor death that praises you;

Neither do those who go down into the pit

await your kindness.

The living, the living give you thanks,

as I do today.

Fathers declare to their sons,

O God, your faithfulness.

The Lord is our savior;

we shall sing to stringed instruments

in the house of the Lord

all the days of our life.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son,

and to the Holy Spirit:

as it was in the beginning, is now,

and will be for ever. Amen.

Ant. At the very threshold of death, rescue me, Lord.

Psalm 146

Ant. I will praise my God all the days of my life.

My soul, give praise to the Lord;

I will praise the Lord all my days,

make music to my God while I live.

Put no trust in princes,

in mortal men in whom there is no help.

Take their breath, they return to clay

and their plans that day come to nothing.

He is happy who is helped by Jacob’s God,

whose hope is in the Lord his God,

who alone made heaven and earth,

the seas and all they contain.

It is he who keeps faith for ever,

who is just to those who are oppressed.

It is he who gives bread to the hungry,

the Lord, who sets prisoners free,

the Lord who gives sight to the blind,

who raises up those who are bowed down,

the Lord, who protects the stranger

and upholds the widow and orphan.

It is the Lord who loves the just

but thwarts the path of the wicked.

The Lord will reign for ever,

Zion’s God, from age to age.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son,

and to the Holy Spirit:

as it was in the beginning, is now,

and will be for ever. Amen.

Ant. I will praise my God all the days of my life.

Psalm 150

Ant. Let everything that breathes give praise to the Lord.

Praise God in his holy place,

praise him in his mighty heavens.

Praise him for his powerful deeds,

praise his surpassing greatness.

O praise him with sound of trumpet,

praise him with lute and harp.

Praise him with timbrel and dance,

praise him with strings and pipes.

O praise him with resounding cymbals,

praise him with clashing of cymbals.

Let everything that lives and that breathes

give praise to the Lord.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son,

and to the Holy Spirit:

as it was in the beginning, is now,

and will be for ever. Amen.

Ant. Let everything that breathes give praise to the Lord.

1 Thessalonians 4:14

If we believe that Jesus died and rose, God will bring forth with him from the dead those also who have fallen asleep believing in him.

RESPONSORY

I will praise you, Lord, for you have rescued me.

You turned my sorrow into joy,

you have rescued me.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.

I will praise you, Lord, for you have rescued me.

Canticle of Zechariah

Ant. I am the Resurrection, I am the Life; to believe in me means life, in spite of death, and all who believe and live in me shall never die.

Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel;

he has come to his people and set them free.

He has raised up for us a mighty savior,

born of the house of his servant David.

Through his holy prophets he promised of old

that he would save us from our enemies,

from the hands of all who hate us.

He promised to show mercy to our fathers

and to remember his holy covenant.

This was the oath he swore to our father Abraham:

to set us free from the hands of our enemies,

free to worship him without fear,

holy and righteous in his sight

all the days of our life.

You, my child, shall be called the prophet of the Most High;

for you will go before the Lord to prepare his way,

to give his people knowledge of salvation

by the forgiveness of their sins.

In the tender compassion of our God

the dawn from on high shall break upon us,

to shine on those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death,

and to guide our feet into the way of peace.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son,

and to the Holy Spirit:

as it was in the beginning, is now,

and will be for ever. Amen.

Ant. I am the Resurrection, I am the Life; to believe in me means life, in spite of death, and all who believe and live in me shall never die.

INTERCESSIONS

Let us pray to the all-powerful Father who raised Jesus from the dead and gives new life to our mortal bodies, and say to him:

Lord, give us new life in Christ.

Father, through baptism we have been buried with your Son, and have risen with him in his resurrection,

grant that we may walk in newness of life so that when we die, we may live with Christ for ever.

Lord, give us new life in Christ.

Provident Father, you have given us the living bread that has come down from heaven and which should always be eaten worthily,

grant that we may eat this bread worthily and be raised up to eternal life on the last day.

Lord, give us new life in Christ.

Lord, you sent an angel to comfort your Son in his agony,

give us the hope of your consolation when death draws near.

Lord, give us new life in Christ.

You delivered the three youths from the fiery furnace,

free your faithful ones from the punishment they suffer for their sins.

Lord, give us new life in Christ.

God of the living and the dead, you raised Jesus from the dead,

raise up those who have died and grant that we may share eternal glory with them.

Lord, give us new life in Christ.

THE LORD’S PRAYER

Gathering our prayer and praises into one, let us offer the prayer that Christ himself taught us:

Our Father, who art in heaven,

hallowed be thy name;

thy kingdom come;

thy will be done on earth

as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread;

and forgive us our trespasses

as we forgive those who trespass against us;

and lead us not into temptation,

but deliver us from evil.

CONCLUDING PRAYER

O God, who willed that your Only Begotten Son,

having conquered death,

should pass over into the realm of heaven,

grant, we pray, to your departed servants

that, with the mortality of this life overcome,

they may gaze eternally on you,

their Creator and Redeemer.

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.

DISMISSAL

May the Lord bless us, protect us from all evil and bring us to everlasting life. Amen.

Terce

Now

Midmorning Prayer · 9 AM · 6:09

0:00 6:09

INTRODUCTION

God, come to my assistance.

Lord, make haste to help me.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:

as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen. Alleluia.

HYMN

O Lord, who wept for Lazarus

and with his sisters mourned his death,

with mighty pow’r you brought him forth

and gave him to their loving care.

You sought in mercy from the Cross

forgiveness for the guilty crowd,

and with compassion you consoled

the thief condemned with you to die.

You gave to your disciple John

your Virgin Mother as you died,

that she might tend with loving care

your faithful at the hour of death.

O Christ our Lord, grant us, we pray,

that those you ransomed by your blood

may find the bitter grief of death

transformed into the joy of life.

And now call forth your servants, Lord,

departed from this earthly life,

that they may sing when death shall cease

and praise you as the Prince of life. Amen.

Psalm 70

Ant. Look on me with love, O Lord, and rescue me.

O God, make haste to my rescue,

Lord, come to my aid!

Let there be shame and confusion

on those who seek my life.

O let them turn back in confusion,

who delight in my harm,

let them retreat, covered with shame,

who jeer at my lot.

Let there be rejoicing and gladness

for all who seek you.

Let them say for ever: “God is great,”

who love your saving help.

As for me, wretched and poor,

come to me, O God.

You are my rescuer, my help,

O Lord, do not delay.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son,

and to the Holy Spirit:

as it was in the beginning, is now,

and will be for ever. Amen.

Psalm 85

O Lord, you once favored your land

and revived the fortunes of Jacob,

you forgave the guilt of your people

and covered all their sins.

You averted all your rage,

you calmed the heat of your anger.

Revive us now, God, our helper!

Put an end to your grievance against us.

Will you be angry with us for ever,

will your anger never cease?

Will you not restore again our life

that your people may rejoice in you?

Let us see, O Lord, your mercy

and give us your saving help.

I will hear what the Lord God has to say,

a voice that speaks of peace,

peace for his people and his friends

and those who turn to him in their hearts.

His help is near for those who fear him

and his glory will dwell in our land.

Mercy and faithfulness have met;

justice and peace have embraced.

Faithfulness shall spring from the earth

and justice look down from heaven.

The Lord will make us prosper

and our earth shall yield its fruit.

Justice shall march before him

and peace shall follow his steps.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son,

and to the Holy Spirit:

as it was in the beginning, is now,

and will be for ever. Amen.

Psalm 86

Turn your ear, O Lord, and give answer

for I am poor and needy.

Preserve my life, for I am faithful:

save the servant who trusts in you.

You are my God, have mercy on me, Lord,

for I cry to you all the day long.

Give joy to your servant, O Lord,

for to you I lift up my soul.

O Lord, you are good and forgiving,

full of love to all who call.

Give heed, O Lord, to my prayer

and attend to the sound of my voice.

In the day of distress I will call

and surely you will reply.

Among the gods there is none like you, O Lord;

nor work to compare with yours.

All the nations shall come to adore you

and glorify your name, O Lord:

for you are great and do marvelous deeds,

you who alone are God.

Show me, Lord, your way

so that I may walk in your truth.

Guide my heart to fear your name.

I will praise you, Lord my God, with all my heart

and glorify your name for ever;

for your love to me has been great:

you have saved me from the depths of the grave.

The proud have risen against me;

ruthless men seek my life:

to you they pay no heed.

But you, God of mercy and compassion,

slow to anger, O Lord,

abounding in love and truth,

turn and take pity on me.

O give your strength to your servant

and save your handmaid’s son.

Show me a sign of your favor

that my foes may see to their shame

that you console me and give me your help.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son,

and to the Holy Spirit:

as it was in the beginning, is now,

and will be for ever. Amen.

Ant. Look on me with love, O Lord, and rescue me.

Job 19:25-26a

I know that my Vindicator lives,

and that he will at last stand forth upon the dust;

And from my flesh I shall see God;

Why are you heavy, my heart, why are you so anxious?

Put your hope in God, for I will praise him still.

CONCLUDING PRAYER

Let us pray.

O God, who willed that your Only Begotten Son,

having conquered death,

should pass over into the realm of heaven,

grant, we pray, to your departed servants

that, with the mortality of this life overcome,

they may gaze eternally on you,

their Creator and Redeemer.

Through Christ our Lord.

Amen.

ACCLAMATION

Let us praise the Lord.

And give him thanks.

Sext

Now

Midday Prayer · 12 PM · 6:09

0:00 6:09

INTRODUCTION

God, come to my assistance.

Lord, make haste to help me.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:

as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen. Alleluia.

HYMN

O Lord, who wept for Lazarus

and with his sisters mourned his death,

with mighty pow’r you brought him forth

and gave him to their loving care.

You sought in mercy from the Cross

forgiveness for the guilty crowd,

and with compassion you consoled

the thief condemned with you to die.

You gave to your disciple John

your Virgin Mother as you died,

that she might tend with loving care

your faithful at the hour of death.

O Christ our Lord, grant us, we pray,

that those you ransomed by your blood

may find the bitter grief of death

transformed into the joy of life.

And now call forth your servants, Lord,

departed from this earthly life,

that they may sing when death shall cease

and praise you as the Prince of life. Amen.

Psalm 70

Ant. Lord, lay your healing hands on the wounds of my sins.

O God, make haste to my rescue,

Lord, come to my aid!

Let there be shame and confusion

on those who seek my life.

O let them turn back in confusion,

who delight in my harm,

let them retreat, covered with shame,

who jeer at my lot.

Let there be rejoicing and gladness

for all who seek you.

Let them say for ever: “God is great,”

who love your saving help.

As for me, wretched and poor,

come to me, O God.

You are my rescuer, my help,

O Lord, do not delay.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son,

and to the Holy Spirit:

as it was in the beginning, is now,

and will be for ever. Amen.

Psalm 85

O Lord, you once favored your land

and revived the fortunes of Jacob,

you forgave the guilt of your people

and covered all their sins.

You averted all your rage,

you calmed the heat of your anger.

Revive us now, God, our helper!

Put an end to your grievance against us.

Will you be angry with us for ever,

will your anger never cease?

Will you not restore again our life

that your people may rejoice in you?

Let us see, O Lord, your mercy

and give us your saving help.

I will hear what the Lord God has to say,

a voice that speaks of peace,

peace for his people and his friends

and those who turn to him in their hearts.

His help is near for those who fear him

and his glory will dwell in our land.

Mercy and faithfulness have met;

justice and peace have embraced.

Faithfulness shall spring from the earth

and justice look down from heaven.

The Lord will make us prosper

and our earth shall yield its fruit.

Justice shall march before him

and peace shall follow his steps.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son,

and to the Holy Spirit:

as it was in the beginning, is now,

and will be for ever. Amen.

Psalm 86

Turn your ear, O Lord, and give answer

for I am poor and needy.

Preserve my life, for I am faithful:

save the servant who trusts in you.

You are my God, have mercy on me, Lord,

for I cry to you all the day long.

Give joy to your servant, O Lord,

for to you I lift up my soul.

O Lord, you are good and forgiving,

full of love to all who call.

Give heed, O Lord, to my prayer

and attend to the sound of my voice.

In the day of distress I will call

and surely you will reply.

Among the gods there is none like you, O Lord;

nor work to compare with yours.

All the nations shall come to adore you

and glorify your name, O Lord:

for you are great and do marvelous deeds,

you who alone are God.

Show me, Lord, your way

so that I may walk in your truth.

Guide my heart to fear your name.

I will praise you, Lord my God, with all my heart

and glorify your name for ever;

for your love to me has been great:

you have saved me from the depths of the grave.

The proud have risen against me;

ruthless men seek my life:

to you they pay no heed.

But you, God of mercy and compassion,

slow to anger, O Lord,

abounding in love and truth,

turn and take pity on me.

O give your strength to your servant

and save your handmaid’s son.

Show me a sign of your favor

that my foes may see to their shame

that you console me and give me your help.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son,

and to the Holy Spirit:

as it was in the beginning, is now,

and will be for ever. Amen.

Ant. Lord, lay your healing hands on the wounds of my sins.

Wisdom 1:13-14a, 15

God did not make death,

nor does he rejoice in the destruction of the living.

For he fashioned all things that they might have being;

For justice is undying.

Though I walk in the valley of darkness, I fear no evil.

For you are with me, Lord.

CONCLUDING PRAYER

Let us pray.

O God, who willed that your Only Begotten Son,

having conquered death,

should pass over into the realm of heaven,

grant, we pray, to your departed servants

that, with the mortality of this life overcome,

they may gaze eternally on you,

their Creator and Redeemer.

Through Christ our Lord.

Amen.

ACCLAMATION

Let us praise the Lord.

And give him thanks.

None

Now

Midafternoon Prayer · 3 PM · 6:13

0:00 6:13

INTRODUCTION

God, come to my assistance.

Lord, make haste to help me.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:

as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen. Alleluia.

HYMN

O Lord, who wept for Lazarus

and with his sisters mourned his death,

with mighty pow’r you brought him forth

and gave him to their loving care.

You sought in mercy from the Cross

forgiveness for the guilty crowd,

and with compassion you consoled

the thief condemned with you to die.

You gave to your disciple John

your Virgin Mother as you died,

that she might tend with loving care

your faithful at the hour of death.

O Christ our Lord, grant us, we pray,

that those you ransomed by your blood

may find the bitter grief of death

transformed into the joy of life.

And now call forth your servants, Lord,

departed from this earthly life,

that they may sing when death shall cease

and praise you as the Prince of life. Amen.

Psalm 70

Ant. Be my salvation, Lord, true to your name, and by your mighty power set me free.

O God, make haste to my rescue,

Lord, come to my aid!

Let there be shame and confusion

on those who seek my life.

O let them turn back in confusion,

who delight in my harm,

let them retreat, covered with shame,

who jeer at my lot.

Let there be rejoicing and gladness

for all who seek you.

Let them say for ever: “God is great,”

who love your saving help.

As for me, wretched and poor,

come to me, O God.

You are my rescuer, my help,

O Lord, do not delay.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son,

and to the Holy Spirit:

as it was in the beginning, is now,

and will be for ever. Amen.

Psalm 85

O Lord, you once favored your land

and revived the fortunes of Jacob,

you forgave the guilt of your people

and covered all their sins.

You averted all your rage,

you calmed the heat of your anger.

Revive us now, God, our helper!

Put an end to your grievance against us.

Will you be angry with us for ever,

will your anger never cease?

Will you not restore again our life

that your people may rejoice in you?

Let us see, O Lord, your mercy

and give us your saving help.

I will hear what the Lord God has to say,

a voice that speaks of peace,

peace for his people and his friends

and those who turn to him in their hearts.

His help is near for those who fear him

and his glory will dwell in our land.

Mercy and faithfulness have met;

justice and peace have embraced.

Faithfulness shall spring from the earth

and justice look down from heaven.

The Lord will make us prosper

and our earth shall yield its fruit.

Justice shall march before him

and peace shall follow his steps.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son,

and to the Holy Spirit:

as it was in the beginning, is now,

and will be for ever. Amen.

Psalm 86

Turn your ear, O Lord, and give answer

for I am poor and needy.

Preserve my life, for I am faithful:

save the servant who trusts in you.

You are my God, have mercy on me, Lord,

for I cry to you all the day long.

Give joy to your servant, O Lord,

for to you I lift up my soul.

O Lord, you are good and forgiving,

full of love to all who call.

Give heed, O Lord, to my prayer

and attend to the sound of my voice.

In the day of distress I will call

and surely you will reply.

Among the gods there is none like you, O Lord;

nor work to compare with yours.

All the nations shall come to adore you

and glorify your name, O Lord:

for you are great and do marvelous deeds,

you who alone are God.

Show me, Lord, your way

so that I may walk in your truth.

Guide my heart to fear your name.

I will praise you, Lord my God, with all my heart

and glorify your name for ever;

for your love to me has been great:

you have saved me from the depths of the grave.

The proud have risen against me;

ruthless men seek my life:

to you they pay no heed.

But you, God of mercy and compassion,

slow to anger, O Lord,

abounding in love and truth,

turn and take pity on me.

O give your strength to your servant

and save your handmaid’s son.

Show me a sign of your favor

that my foes may see to their shame

that you console me and give me your help.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son,

and to the Holy Spirit:

as it was in the beginning, is now,

and will be for ever. Amen.

Ant. Be my salvation, Lord, true to your name, and by your mighty power set me free.

Isaiah 25:8

God will destroy death forever.

The Lord will wipe away

the tears from all faces;

The reproach of his people he will remove

from the whole earth;

for the Lord has spoken.

O God, hear my prayer

To you all flesh must come.

CONCLUDING PRAYER

Let us pray.

O God, who willed that your Only Begotten Son,

having conquered death,

should pass over into the realm of heaven,

grant, we pray, to your departed servants

that, with the mortality of this life overcome,

they may gaze eternally on you,

their Creator and Redeemer.

Through Christ our Lord.

Amen.

ACCLAMATION

Let us praise the Lord.

And give him thanks.

Vespers

Now

Evening Prayer · 8:56

0:00 8:56

INTRODUCTION

God, come to my assistance.

Lord, make haste to help me.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:

as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen. Alleluia.

HYMN

O Christ the King of wondrous pow’r,

you broke the sharpened spears of death

to glorify the Father’s name

and bring us honor evermore.

Assuming our infirmities,

you sought the great and bloody duel;

you crushed, victorious in your death,

the death by which the serpent reigned.

You rose triumphant from the tomb

and by your Paschal Mystery

you ever bring us life anew

who once were lost and dead in sin.

Bestow on us the life of grace,

that when as Bridegroom you return,

you find us with our lamps well trimmed,

prepared and fit for heaven’s feast.

With peace and kindness, Christ our Judge,

receive into your light and rest

those bound by charity and faith

to the most holy Three in One.

Now bid your servants come to you,

whose souls are freed from bonds of flesh,

to marvel at the Father’s reign

and sing your praise for evermore. Amen.

Psalm 121

Ant. The Lord will keep you from all evil. He will guard your soul.

I lift up my eyes to the mountains:

from where shall come my help?

My help shall come from the Lord

who made heaven and earth.

May he never allow you to stumble!

Let him sleep not, your guard.

No, he sleeps not nor slumbers,

Israel’s guard.

The Lord is your guard and your shade;

at your right side he stands.

By day the sun shall not smite you

nor the moon in the night.

The Lord will guard you from evil,

he will guard your soul.

The Lord will guard your going and coming

both now and for ever.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son,

and to the Holy Spirit:

as it was in the beginning, is now,

is now, and will be for ever. Amen.

Ant. The Lord will keep you from all evil. He will guard your soul.

Psalm 130

Ant. If you kept a record of our sins, Lord, who could escape condemnation?

Out of the depths I cry to you, O Lord,

Lord, hear my voice!

O let your ears be attentive

to the voice of my pleading.

If you, O Lord, should mark our guilt,

Lord, who would survive?

But with you is found forgiveness:

for this we revere you.

My soul is waiting for the Lord,

I count on his word.

My soul is longing for the Lord

more than watchman for daybreak.

Let the watchman count on daybreak

and Israel on the Lord.

Because with the Lord there is mercy

and fullness of redemption,

Israel indeed he will redeem

from all its iniquity.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son,

and to the Holy Spirit:

as it was in the beginning, is now,

and will be for ever. Amen.

Ant. If you kept a record of our sins, Lord, who could escape condemnation?

Philippians 2:6-11

Ant. As the Father raises the dead and gives them life, so the Son gives life to whom he wills.

Though he was in the form of God,

Jesus did not deem equality with God

something to be grasped at.

Rather, he emptied himself

and took the form of a slave,

being born in the likeness of men.

He was known to be of human estate,

and it was thus that he humbled himself,

obediently accepting even death,

death on a cross!

Because of this,

God highly exalted him

and bestowed on him the name

above every other name,

So that at Jesus’ name

every knee must bend

in the heavens, on the earth,

and under the earth,

and every tongue proclaim

to the glory of God the Father:

JESUS CHRIST IS LORD!

Glory to the Father, and to the Son,

and to the Holy Spirit:

as it was in the beginning, is now,

and will be for ever. Amen.

Ant. As the Father raises the dead and gives them life, so the Son gives life to whom he wills.

1 Corinthians 15:55-57

O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting? The sting of death is sin, and sin gets its power from the law. But thanks be to God who has given us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

RESPONSORY

In you Lord is our hope. We shall never hope in vain.

We shall dance and rejoice in your mercy.

We shall never hope in vain.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.

In you Lord is our hope. We shall never hope in vain.

Canticle of Mary

Ant. All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I shall not turn away.

My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord,

my spirit rejoices in God my Savior

for he has looked with favor on his lowly servant.

From this day all generations will call me blessed:

the Almighty has done great things for me,

and holy is his Name.

He has mercy on those who fear him

in every generation.

He has shown the strength of his arm,

he has scattered the proud in their conceit.

He has cast down the mighty from their thrones,

and has lifted up the lowly.

He has filled the hungry with good things,

and the rich he has sent away empty.

He has come to the help of his servant Israel

for he has remembered his promise of mercy,

the promise he made to our fathers,

to Abraham and his children for ever.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son,

and to the Holy Spirit:

as it was in the beginning, is now,

and will be for ever. Amen.

Ant. All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I shall not turn away.

INTERCESSIONS

We acknowledge Christ the Lord through whom we hope that our lowly bodies will be made like his in glory, and we say:

Lord, you are our life and resurrection.

Christ, Son of the living God, who raised up Lazarus, your friend, from the dead,

raise up to life and glory the dead whom you have redeemed by your precious blood.

Lord, you are our life and resurrection.

Christ, consoler of those who mourn, you dried the tears of the family of Lazarus, of the widow’s son, and the daughter of Jairus,

comfort those who mourn for the dead.

Lord, you are our life and resurrection.

Christ, Savior, destroy the reign of sin in our earthly bodies, so that just as through sin we deserved punishment,

so through you we may gain eternal life.

Lord, you are our life and resurrection.

Christ, Redeemer, look on those who have no hope because they do not know you,

may they receive faith in the resurrection and in the life of the world to come.

Lord, you are our life and resurrection.

You revealed yourself to the blind man who begged for the light of his eyes,

show your face to the dead who are still deprived of your light.

Lord, you are our life and resurrection.

When at last our earthly home is dissolved,

give us a home, not of earthly making, but built of eternity in heaven.

Lord, you are our life and resurrection.

THE LORD’S PRAYER

Gathering our prayer and praises into one, let us offer the prayer Christ himself taught us:

Our Father, who art in heaven,

hallowed be thy name;

thy kingdom come;

thy will be done on earth

as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread;

and forgive us our trespasses

as we forgive those who trespass against us;

and lead us not into temptation,

but deliver us from evil.

CONCLUDING PRAYER

O God, who willed that your Only Begotten Son,

having conquered death,

should pass over into the realm of heaven,

grant, we pray, to your departed servants

that, with the mortality of this life overcome,

they may gaze eternally on you,

their Creator and Redeemer.

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.

DISMISSAL

May the Lord bless us, protect us from all evil and bring us to everlasting life. Amen.

Compline

Now

Night Prayer · 5:09

0:00 5:09

Examination of conscience

An examination of conscience is a traditional, optional part of Night Prayer, commended in the General Instruction of the Liturgy of the Hours (86), and the Church leaves its form free: a quiet review of the day, a familiar prayer of sorrow, or something longer. If you would like to be led, here are two to listen to and pray along with. Afterwards, return to Night Prayer.

Coptic act of contrition

11th Hour

If the righteous one is hardly saved, where shall I, a sinner, appear?! The burden and the heat of the day I could not bear because of the weakness of my human nature. But, O merciful God, count me among the laborers of the eleventh hour. For behold, I was brought forth in iniquities, and in sin my mother conceived me. Therefore, I dare not lift my eyes unto heaven. But rather I rely on the abundance of Your mercy and love-of-mankind, crying to You and saying, “Lord, forgive me, a sinner, and have mercy on me.”

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.

O my Savior, hasten to open Your fatherly bosom to me. For I have wasted my life in worldly desires and pleasures, whereas the day has been consumed and far spent. Therefore, now I rely on the abundance of Your infinite compassion. So, then, do not disregard my revering heart which is exceedingly in need of Your mercy. For I cry out to You, O Lord, with reverence, saying, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and in Your sight, and am no longer worthy to be called Your son, make me like one of Your hired servants.”

As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

With full awareness and enthusiasm did I pursue every transgression, with all eagerness and diligence did I commit every sin, and of all judgment and torment I deserve. Hence, I beseech you, our Lady the Virgin, to lead me to repentance. For to you I plead and through you I seek intercession, and upon you I call to help me that I should not be put to shame. And when my soul departs from my body, please be present and attend to me, and defeat the conspiracies of the enemies, and shut the gates of Hades, lest they might swallow my soul. O you bride without blemish of the true Bridegroom.

12th Hour

Behold, I am about to stand before the just and righteous Judge, terrified and trembling because of my numerous sins. For a life wasted in worldly pleasures deserves condemnation. So repent therefore, O my soul, as long as you dwell on this earth. For the dust in the grave cannot offer any praise, and among the dead no one can remember, nor can anyone in Hades give thanks. Therefore, arise O my soul from the slumber of your laziness, and implore the Savior in repentance saying, “O God have mercy on me and save me.”

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.

Were this life on earth everlasting, and this world ever-existing, you would have had an excuse, O my soul. But now, if your wicked deeds and repulsive evils were to be exposed before the righteous Judge, what answer would you be giving while you are lying on the bed of sins and negligent in disciplining your body?! O Christ our God, before Your awesome seat of judgment I am terrified, and before Your counsel of judgment I am dreadful, and from the radiant light of Your divinity I tremble. For I am a wretched and defiled person who lies in bed, careless of the ways of my life. Yet, I take example of the tax collector’s penance, beating my chest and saying, “O God be merciful to me, a sinner.”

As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

O pure Virgin, overshadow your servant speedily with your help, keep the waves of evil thoughts away from me, and raise my ailing soul to pray and watch, for it has gone into deep slumber. For you are a capable and compassionate helper, the Mother of the Fountain of life, my King and my God, Jesus Christ my hope.

The Prayer of the Veil

O Lord, You know the alertness of my enemies, and You understand the weakness of my nature, O my Creator. For behold, into Your hands I place my spirit that You may shield me under the wings of Your goodness, lest I sleep unto death. Enlighten my eyes with the greatness of Your sayings, and raise me up to glorify You at all times, for You alone are the Good One and Lover of Mankind.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.

O Lord, Your judgment is fearful, when people shall be gathered, the angels standing, the books opened, the deeds revealed, and thoughts examined. What will be my judgment, I who am entangled by sin?! Who will quench the flames of fire around me?! Who will enlighten my darkness except You, O Lord?! Have mercy on me, for You are kind towards mankind.

As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

O Theotokos, because we have put our trust in you, we shall not be put to shame; And because we have attained your help and intercessions, O holy and perfect one, we shall not fear, but shall drive out our enemies and disperse them. And, in everything, we take your great help to protect us as if with a shield. We ask and entreat you, proclaiming “O Theotokos” to save us by your intercessions, and raise us up from the darkness of sleep, in order to glorify through the power of God who was incarnate from you.

The Absolution

O Lord, all our sins we have committed against You in this day, whether in deed or in words or in thoughts or through any of our senses, please do forgive and pardon us, for the sake of Your holy name, O good Lord, Lover of Mankind.

Grant us a peaceful night and a sleep free of all worry and anxiety. Send us the guardian angel to protect us from all evil and every affliction and temptation of the enemy.

Through the grace, compassion and love-of-mankind, of Your only-begotten Son, our Lord, God and Savior, Jesus Christ. Through whom the glory, the honor, the dominion, and the adoration are due unto You, O Father, with Him, and the Holy Spirit, the Life-Giver, who is of one essence with You, now and at all times, and unto the age of all ages. Amen.

The Thanksgiving Prayer

Let us give thanks to the beneficent and merciful God, the Father of our Lord, God and Savior, Jesus Christ, for He has covered us, helped us, guarded us, accepted us to Him, had compassion on us, supported us, and has brought us to this hour. Let us also ask Him, the Lord our God, the Pantocrator, to guard us in all peace this holy day and all the days of our life.

O Master, Lord, God the Pantocrator, the Father of our Lord, God, and Savior, Jesus Christ, we thank You for every condition, concerning every condition, and in every condition. For You have covered us, helped us, guarded us, accepted us to You, had compassion on us, supported us, and brought us to this hour.

Therefore, we ask and entreat Your goodness, O Lover of Mankind. Grant us to complete this holy day, and all the days of our life, in all peace in Your fear. All envy, all temptation, all the work of Satan, the counsel of wicked men and the rising up of enemies, hidden and manifest, take them away from us and from all Your people and from this holy place that is Yours. But those things which are good and profitable do provide for us. For it is You who have given us the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and upon all the power of the enemy.

And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one, by the grace, compassion and love-of-mankind, of Your only-begotten Son, our Lord, God and Savior, Jesus Christ. Through whom the glory, the honor, the dominion, and the adoration are due unto You, with Him, and the Holy Spirit, the Life-Giver, who is of one essence with You, now and at all times, and unto the age of all ages. Amen.

From the Agpeya, the Coptic Orthodox Book of Hours (St. Mark Coptic Orthodox Church, Jersey City; text as published on copticchurch.net).

INTRODUCTION

God, come to my assistance.

Lord, make haste to help me.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:

as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen. Alleluia.

Examination of Conscience

A brief moment of silent reflection is made to examine one’s conscience and recall God’s mercy throughout the day.

I confess to almighty God and to you, my brothers and sisters, that I have greatly sinned, in my thoughts and in my words, in what I have done and in what I have failed to do, through my fault, through my fault, through my most grievous fault; therefore I ask blessed Mary ever-Virgin, all the Angels and Saints, and you, my brothers and sisters, to pray for me to the Lord our God.

May almighty God have mercy on us, forgive us our sins, and bring us to everlasting life. Amen.

HYMN

To you before the close of light,

Creator of all things, we pray:

Be our protector, keep us safe

in your unfailing clemency.

Incline our hearts to dream of you,

to sense your presence as we sleep;

as light returns, so let us sing

your praise and glory evermore.

Grant us the grace of health and strength,

renew our warmth and joy of life;

and let your radiant light dispel

the dreaded darkness of the night.

Almighty Father, grant our prayer

through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord,

who reigns with you from age to age,

one with the Spirit, ever blest. Amen.

Psalm 86

Ant. O Lord, our God, unwearied is your love for us.

Turn your ear, O Lord, and give answer

for I am poor and needy.

Preserve my life, for I am faithful:

save the servant who trusts in you.

You are my God; have mercy on me, Lord,

for I cry to you all day long.

Give joy to your servant, O Lord,

for to you I lift up my soul.

O Lord, you are good and forgiving,

full of love to all who call.

Give heed, O Lord, to my prayer

and attend to the sound of my voice.

In the day of distress I will call

and surely you will reply.

Among the gods there is none like you, O Lord;

nor work to compare with yours.

All the nations shall come to adore you

and glorify your name, O Lord:

for you are great and do marvelous deeds,

you who alone are God.

Show me, Lord, your way

so that I may walk in your truth.

Guide my heart to fear your name.

I will praise you, Lord my God, with all my heart

and glorify your name for ever;

for your love to me has been great:

you have saved me from the depths of the grave.

The proud have risen against me;

ruthless men seek my life:

to you they pay no heed.

But you, God of mercy and compassion,

slow to anger, O Lord,

abounding in love and truth,

turn and take pity on me.

O give your strength to your servant

and save your handmaid’s son.

Show me the sign of your favor

that my foes may see to their shame

that you console me and give me your help.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son,

and to the Holy Spirit:

as it was in the beginning, is now,

and will be for ever. Amen.

Ant. O Lord, our God, unwearied is your love for us.

1 Thessalonians 5:9-10

God has destined us for acquiring salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. He died for us, that all of us, whether awake or asleep, together might live with him.

RESPONSORY

Into your hands, Lord, I commend my spirit.

You have redeemed us, Lord God of truth.

I commend my spirit.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.

Into your hands, Lord, I commend my spirit.

Canticle of Simeon

Ant. Protect us, Lord, as we stay awake; watch over us as we sleep, that awake, we may keep watch with Christ, and asleep, rest in his peace.

Lord, now you let your servant go in peace;

your word has been fulfilled:

my own eyes have seen the salvation

which you have prepared in the sight of every people:

a light to reveal you to the nations

and the glory of your people Israel.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son,

and to the Holy Spirit:

as it was in the beginning, is now,

and will be for ever. Amen.

Ant. Protect us, Lord, as we stay awake; watch over us as we sleep, that awake, we may keep watch with Christ, and asleep, rest in his peace.

CONCLUDING PRAYER

Let us pray.

Lord, give our bodies restful sleep

and let the work we have done today

bear fruit in eternal life.

We ask this through Christ our Lord.

Amen.

DISMISSAL

May the all-powerful Lord grant us a restful night and a peaceful death. Amen.

MARIAN ANTIPHON

Hail, holy Queen, mother of mercy,

our life, our sweetness, and our hope.

To you do we cry,

poor banished children of Eve.

To you do we send up our sighs

mourning and weeping in this vale of tears.

Turn then, most gracious advocate,

your eyes of mercy toward us,

and after this exile

show us the blessed fruit of your womb, Jesus.

O clement, O loving,

O sweet Virgin Mary.

Also for today

Yesterday Compline

Now

Yesterday Night Prayer · 5:14

0:00 5:14

Examination of conscience

Coptic act of contrition

11th Hour

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.

As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

12th Hour

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.

As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

The Prayer of the Veil

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.

As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

The Absolution

Grant us a peaceful night and a sleep free of all worry and anxiety. Send us the guardian angel to protect us from all evil and every affliction and temptation of the enemy.

The Thanksgiving Prayer

From the Agpeya, the Coptic Orthodox Book of Hours (St. Mark Coptic Orthodox Church, Jersey City; text as published on copticchurch.net).

INTRODUCTION

God, come to my assistance.

Lord, make haste to help me.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:

as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen. Alleluia.

Examination of Conscience

A brief moment of silent reflection is made to examine one’s conscience and recall God’s mercy throughout the day.

May almighty God have mercy on us, forgive us our sins, and bring us to everlasting life. Amen.

HYMN

To you before the close of light,

Creator of all things, we pray:

Be our protector, keep us safe

in your unfailing clemency.

Incline our hearts to dream of you,

to sense your presence as we sleep;

as light returns, so let us sing

your praise and glory evermore.

Grant us the grace of health and strength,

renew our warmth and joy of life;

and let your radiant light dispel

the dreaded darkness of the night.

Almighty Father, grant our prayer

through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord,

who reigns with you from age to age,

one with the Spirit, ever blest. Amen.

Psalm 91

Ant. Night holds no terrors for me sleeping under God’s wings.

He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High

and abides in the shade of the Almighty

says to the Lord: “My refuge,

my stronghold, my God in whom I trust!”

It is he who will free you from the snare

of the fowler who seeks to destroy you;

he will conceal you with his pinions

and under his wings you will find refuge.

You will not fear the terror of the night

nor the arrow that flies by day,

nor the plague that prowls in the darkness

nor the scourge that lays waste at noon.

A thousand may fall at your side,

ten thousand fall at your right,

you, it will never approach;

his faithfulness is buckler and shield.

Your eyes have only to look

to see how the wicked are repaid,

you who have said: “Lord, my refuge!”

and have made the Most High your dwelling.

Upon you no evil shall fall,

no plague approach where you dwell.

For you has he commanded his angels,

to keep you in all your ways.

They shall bear you upon their hands

lest you strike your foot against a stone.

On the lion and the viper you will tread

and trample the young lion and the dragon.

Since he clings to me in love, I will free him;

protect him for he knows my name.

When he calls I shall answer: “I am with you,”

I will save him in distress and give him glory.

With length of life I will content him;

I shall let him see my saving power.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son,

and to the Holy Spirit:

as it was in the beginning, is now,

and will be for ever. Amen.

Ant. Night holds no terrors for me sleeping under God’s wings.

Revelation 22:4-5

They shall see the Lord face to face and bear his name on their foreheads. The night shall be no more. They will need no light from lamps or the sun, for the Lord God shall give them light, and they shall reign forever.

RESPONSORY

Into your hands, Lord, I commend my spirit.

You have redeemed us, Lord God of truth.

I commend my spirit.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.

Into your hands, Lord, I commend my spirit.

Canticle of Simeon

Ant. Protect us, Lord, as we stay awake; watch over us as we sleep, that awake, we may keep watch with Christ, and asleep, rest in his peace.

Lord, now you let your servant go in peace;

your word has been fulfilled:

my own eyes have seen the salvation

which you have prepared in the sight of every people:

a light to reveal you to the nations

and the glory of your people Israel.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son,

and to the Holy Spirit:

as it was in the beginning, is now,

and will be for ever. Amen.

Ant. Protect us, Lord, as we stay awake; watch over us as we sleep, that awake, we may keep watch with Christ, and asleep, rest in his peace.

CONCLUDING PRAYER

Let us pray.

Lord, we have celebrated today

the mystery of the rising of Christ to new life.

May we now rest in your peace,

safe from all that could harm us,

and rise again refreshed and joyful,

to praise you throughout another day.

We ask this through Christ our Lord.

Amen.

DISMISSAL

May the all-powerful Lord grant us a restful night and a peaceful death. Amen.

MARIAN ANTIPHON

Hail, holy Queen, mother of mercy,

our life, our sweetness, and our hope.

To you do we cry,

poor banished children of Eve.

To you do we send up our sighs

mourning and weeping in this vale of tears.

Turn then, most gracious advocate,

your eyes of mercy toward us,

and after this exile

show us the blessed fruit of your womb, Jesus.

O clement, O loving,

O sweet Virgin Mary.

Mass Readings

Now

Readings of the Day's Mass · 3:51

0:00 3:51

First Reading

Wis 3:1-9

The souls of the just are in the hand of God,

and no torment shall touch them.

They seemed, in the view of the foolish, to be dead;

and their passing away was thought an affliction

and their going forth from us, utter destruction.

But they are in peace.

For if before men, indeed, they be punished,

yet is their hope full of immortality;

chastised a little, they shall be greatly blessed,

because God tried them

and found them worthy of himself.

As gold in the furnace, he proved them,

and as sacrificial offerings he took them to himself.

In the time of their visitation they shall shine,

and shall dart about as sparks through stubble;

they shall judge nations and rule over peoples,

and the LORD shall be their King forever.

Those who trust in him shall understand truth,

and the faithful shall abide with him in love:

because grace and mercy are with his holy ones,

and his care is with his elect.

Responsorial Psalm

Ps 23:1-3a, 3b-4, 5, 6

℟. The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.

Second Reading

Rom 5:5-11

Brothers and sisters:

Hope does not disappoint,

because the love of God has been poured out into our heart

through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us.

For Christ, while we were still helpless,

died at the appointed time for the ungodly.

Indeed, only with difficulty does one die for a just person,

though perhaps for a good person

one might even find courage to die.

But God proves his love for us

in that while we were still sinners Christ died for us.

How much more then, since we are now justified by his Blood,

will we be saved through him from the wrath.

Indeed, if, while we were enemies,

we were reconciled to God through the death of his Son,

how much more, once reconciled,

will we be saved by his life.

Not only that,

but we also boast of God through our Lord Jesus Christ,

through whom we have now received reconciliation.

Gospel Acclamation

Mt 25:14

℟. Alleluia, alleluia.

Come, you who are blessed by my Father;

inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.

℟. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel

Jn 6:37-40

Everyone who believes in the Son will have eternal life and I shall raise him up on the last day.

Jesus said to the crowds:

“Everything that the Father gives me will come to me,

and I will not reject anyone who comes to me,

because I came down from heaven not to do my own will

but the will of the one who sent me.

And this is the will of the one who sent me,

that I should not lose anything of what he gave me,

but that I should raise it on the last day.

For this is the will of my Father,

that everyone who sees the Son and believes in him

may have eternal life,

and I shall raise him on the last day.”

Devotional Prayers

The words of the prayers

Prayer Before the Office

Lord, open my lips, to praise Your Holy Name. Cleanse my heart of any worthless, evil, or distracting thoughts. Give me the wisdom and love necessary to pray this Office with attention, reverence, and devotion. Father, let this prayer be heard in Your Presence, for it is offered through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Lord, in union with that intention with which you offered praises to God when on earth, I offer this Hour to You.

I offer this Hour in union with all of the Masses being said throughout the world, and I offer it for the following intention: ____.

Prayer After the Office

Blessed be forever the most loving Hearts and the sweet Names of our Lord Jesus Christ and of the most glorious Virgin Mary, His Mother.

O most merciful Jesus, I thank you with all my heart. Be merciful to me, a miserable sinner. I offer this action to your Divine Heart to be amended and perfected, to the praise and glory of your most holy Name and of your most blessed Mother, and for the salvation of my soul and of your whole Church. Amen.

To the Most Holy and Undivided Trinity, to the Manhood of Our Lord Jesus Christ Crucified, to the Fruitful Virginity of the Most Blessed and Most Glorious Mary, Ever Virgin, and to the Congregation of all the Saints be ascribed everlasting praise, honor, power and glory by every creature, and to us be granted the forgiveness of all our sins, world without end. Amen.

Blessed be the Womb of the Virgin Mary, which bore the Son of the Eternal Father.

And blessed be the Breasts which gave suck to Christ our Lord.

Our Father

Hail Mary