Invitatorium

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Ordinary Time

Monday of the thirty-third week of Ordinary Time

Monday · Weekday · Psalter Week 1

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The Hours

Now

Invitatory

The audio for this hour isn’t ready. The prayers are here to read: tap Read above.

Lord, open my lips.

And my mouth will proclaim your praise.

Ant. Let us approach the Lord with praise and thanksgiving.

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. Let us approach the Lord with praise and thanksgiving.

Matins

Now

Office of Readings

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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

With weary limbs refreshed once more,

we turn from sleep and rise from bed;

O Father, hear our earnest prayer,

be present to us as we sing.

So let our tongues first sing of you,

let hearts with ardor long for you,

that you, Most Holy One, may be

the font from which our actions flow.

Let darkness yield to dawning light

and night give way to morning sun,

that sin occasioned by the dark

surrender to the gift of light.

We beg you, Lord, with humble prayer

to prune away all harmful things,

that you may be for ever praised

by those who raise their voice in song.

Most loving Father, hear our prayer,

and you, O Christ coequal Son,

who with the Spirit Paraclete

now reign for all eternity. Amen.

Psalm 6

Ant. Show me your mercy, Lord, and keep me safe.

Lord, do not reprove me in your anger:

punish me not in your rage.

Have mercy on me, Lord, I have no strength;

Lord, heal me, my body is racked;

my soul is racked with pain.

But you, O Lord . . . how long?

Return, Lord, rescue my soul.

Save me in your merciful love;

for in death no one remembers you;

from the grave, who can give you praise?

I am exhausted with my groaning;

every night I drench my pillow with tears;

I bedew my bed with weeping.

My eye wastes away with grief;

I have grown old surrounded by my foes.

Leave me, all you who do evil;

for the Lord has heard my weeping.

The Lord has heard my plea;

the Lord will accept my prayer.

All my foes will retire in confusion,

foiled and suddenly confounded.

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. Show me your mercy, Lord, and keep me safe.

Psalm 9

Ant. The poor are not alone in their distress; God is here to help them.

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

I will recount all your wonders.

I will rejoice in you and be glad,

and sing psalms to your name, O Most High.

See how my enemies turn back,

how they stumble and perish before you.

You upheld the justice of my cause;

you sat enthroned, judging with justice.

You have checked the nations, destroyed the wicked;

you have wiped out their name for ever and ever.

The foe is destroyed, eternally ruined.

You uprooted their cities; their memory has perished.

But the Lord sits enthroned for ever.

He has set up his throne for judgment;

he will judge the world with justice,

he will judge the peoples with his truth.

For the oppressed let the Lord be a stronghold,

a stronghold in times of distress.

Those who know your name will trust you;

you will never forsake those who seek you.

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 poor are not alone in their distress. God is here to help them.

Ant. I will be the herald of your praises, Lord, where the people of Zion gather.

Sing psalms to the Lord who dwells in Zion.

Proclaim his mighty works among the peoples,

for the Avenger of blood has remembered them,

has not forgotten the cry of the poor.

Have pity on me, Lord, see my sufferings,

you who save me from the gates of death;

that I may recount all your praise

at the gates of the city of Zion

and rejoice in your saving help.

The nations have fallen in the pit which they made,

their feet caught in the snare they laid.

The Lord has revealed himself, and given judgment.

The wicked are snared in the work of their own hands.

Let the wicked go down among the dead,

all the nations forgetful of God.

For the needy shall not always be forgotten

nor the hopes of the poor be in vain.

Arise, Lord, let men not prevail!

Let the nations be judged before you.

Lord, strike them with terror,

let the nations know they are but men.

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 be the herald of your praises, Lord, where the people of Zion gather.

Give me insight, Lord, to know your will.

Then I will cherish it with all my heart.

From the book of the prophet Joel

Thus says the Lord:

Yes, in those days, and at that time,

when I would restore the fortunes of Judah and Jerusalem,

I will assemble all the nations

and bring them down to the Valley of Jehoshaphat,

And I will enter into judgment with them there

on behalf of my people and my inheritance, Israel;

Because they have scattered them among the nations,

and divided my land.

Over my people they have cast lots;

they gave a boy for a harlot,

and sold a girl for the wine they drank.

Declare this among the nations:

proclaim a war, rouse the warriors to arms!

Let all the soldiers

report and march!

Beat your plowshares into swords,

and your pruning hooks into spears;

let the weak man say, “I am a warrior!”

Hasten and come, all you neighboring peoples,

assemble there!

[Bring down, O Lord, your warriors!]

Let the nations bestir themselves and come up

to the Valley of Jehoshaphat;

For there I will sit in judgment

upon all the neighboring nations.

Apply the sickle,

for the harvest is ripe;

Come and tread, for the wine press is full;

The vats overflow,

for great is their malice.

Crowd upon crowd

in the valley of decision;

For near is the day of the Lord

in the valley of decision.

Sun and moon are darkened,

and the stars withhold their brightness.

The Lord roars from Zion,

and from Jerusalem raises his voice;

The heavens and the earth quake,

but the Lord is a refuge to his people,

a stronghold to the men of Israel.

Then shall you know that I, the Lord, am your God,

dwelling on Zion, my holy mountain;

Jerusalem shall be holy,

and strangers shall pass through her no more.

And then, on that day,

the mountains shall drip new wine,

and the hills shall flow with milk;

And the channels of Judah

shall flow with water:

A fountain shall issue from the house of the Lord,

to water the Valley of Shittim.

Egypt shall be a waste,

and Edom a desert waste,

Because of violence done to the people of Judah,

because they shed innocent blood in their land.

But Judah shall abide forever,

and Jerusalem for all generations.

I will avenge their blood,

and not leave it unpunished.

The Lord dwells in Zion.

Joel 4:18; Revelation 22:17, 1

The mountains shall run with sweet wine,

and all the riverbeds of Judah shall flow with water.

A fountain shall spring from the house of the Lord.

If anyone is thirsty, come forward

and receive the water of life,

freely given to all who desire it.

The angel showed me the river and water of life,

bright as crystal,

which flowed from the throne of God and of the Lamb.

If anyone is thirsty, come forward

and receive the water of life,

freely given to all who desire it.

From a treatise on Forgiveness by Fulgentius of Ruspe, bishop

In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye as the final trumpet sounds, for the trumpet shall indeed sound, the dead shall rise incorruptible and we shall be changed.

In saying “we,” Paul is indicating that the gift of that future change will also be given to those who during their time on earth are united to him and his companions by upright lives within the communion of the Church. He hints at the nature of the change when he says:

This corruptible body must put on incorruptibility, this mortal body immortality.

In order, then, that men may obtain the transformation which is the reward of the just, they must first undergo here on earth a change which is God’s free gift. Those who in this life have been changed from evil to good are promised that future change as a reward.

Through justification and the spiritual resurrection, grace now effects in them an initial change that is God’s gift. Later on, through the bodily resurrection, the transformation of the just will be brought to completion, and they will experience a perfect, abiding, unchangeable glorification. The purpose of this change wrought in them by the gifts of both justification and glorification is that they may abide in an eternal, changeless state of joy.

Here on earth they are changed by the first resurrection, in which they are enlightened and converted, thus passing from death to life, sinfulness to holiness, unbelief to faith, and evil actions to holy life. For this reason the second death has no power over them. It is of such men that the Book of Revelation says:

Happy the man who shares in the first resurrection; over such as he the second death has no power.

Elsewhere the same book says:

He who overcomes shall not be harmed by the second death.

As the first resurrection consists of the conversion of the heart, the second death consists of unending torment.

Let everyone, therefore, who does not wish to be condemned to the endless punishment of the second death now hasten to share in the first resurrection. For if any during this life are changed out of fear of God and pass from an evil life to a good one, they pass from death to life and later they shall be transformed from a shameful state to a glorious one.

Colossians 3:3-4; Romans 6:11

You have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.

When Christ who is your life appears,

you will appear with him in glory.

You must consider yourselves dead to sin,

but alive to God in Jesus Christ our Lord.

When Christ who is your life appears,

you will appear with him in glory.

CONCLUDING PRAYER

Let us pray.

Grant us, we pray, O Lord our God,

the constant gladness of being devoted to you,

for it is full and lasting happiness

to serve with constancy

the author of all that is good.

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

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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 Splendor of the Father’s light,

emitting glorious Light from Light,

true Light of light and source of light,

the Day illuminating day,

Descend into our soul, true Sun,

resplendent with eternal ray;

pour out upon our mind and heart

the Holy Spirit’s radiant beam.

And to the Father let us pray,

the Father of all majesty,

the Father of all pow’r and grace:

may he remove the lure of sin.

May he imbue our acts with strength

and blunt the teeth of envious strife,

in harsh misfortune bring us good,

and grant the grace to persevere.

May he direct and rule our minds,

in bodies faithful, chaste, and pure;

may faith enkindled never know

the deadly poison of deceit.

Let Christ himself become our food,

our faith in him become our drink;

let us imbibe with deepest joy

the Spirit’s sober drunkenness.

Then let this day proceed with joy:

our modesty be like the dawn,

our faith resplendent as the noon,

our soul untouched by dusk and night.

The dawn rides forth along her course;

so let our perfect dawn arise:

both Son in Father wholly one,

and Father wholly in his Word. Amen.

Psalm 5:2-10

Ant. I lift up my heart to you, O Lord, and you will hear my morning prayer.

To my words give ear, O Lord,

give heed to my groaning.

Attend to the sound of my cries,

my King and my God.

It is you whom I invoke, O Lord.

In the morning you hear me;

in the morning I offer you my prayer,

watching and waiting.

You are no God who loves evil;

no sinner is your guest.

The boastful shall not stand their ground

before your face.

You hate all who do evil;

you destroy all who lie.

The deceitful and bloodthirsty man

the Lord detests.

But I through the greatness of your love

have access to your house.

I bow down before your holy temple,

filled with awe.

Lead me, Lord, in your justice,

because of those who lie in wait;

make clear your way before me.

No truth can be found in their mouths,

their heart is all mischief,

their throat a wide-open grave,

all honey their speech.

All those you protect shall be glad

and ring out their joy.

You shelter them; in you they rejoice,

those who love your name.

It is you who bless the just man, Lord:

you surround him with favor as with a shield.

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 lift up my heart to you, O Lord, and you will hear my morning prayer.

1 Chronicles 29:10-13

Ant. We praise your glorious name, O Lord, our God.

Blessed may you be, O Lord,

God of Israel our father,

from eternity to eternity.

Yours, O Lord, are grandeur and power,

majesty, splendor, and glory.

For all in heaven and on earth is yours;

yours, O Lord, is the sovereignty:

you are exalted as head over all.

Riches and honor are from you,

and you have dominion over all.

In your hand are power and might;

it is yours to give grandeur and strength to all.

Therefore, our God, we give you thanks

and we praise the majesty of your name.

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. We praise your glorious name, O Lord our God.

Psalm 29

Ant. Adore the Lord in his holy court.

O give the Lord, you sons of God,

give the Lord glory and power;

give the Lord the glory of his name.

Adore the Lord in his holy court.

The Lord’s voice resounding on the waters,

the Lord on the immensity of waters;

the voice of the Lord, full of power,

the voice of the Lord, full of splendor.

The Lord’s voice shattering the cedars,

the Lord shatters the cedars of Lebanon;

he makes Lebanon leap like a calf

and Sirion like a young wild-ox.

The Lord’s voice flashes flames of fire.

The Lord’s voice shaking the wilderness,

the Lord shakes the wilderness of Kadesh;

the Lord’s voice rending the oak tree

and stripping the forest bare.

The God of glory thunders.

In his temple they all cry: “Glory!”

The Lord sat enthroned over the flood;

the Lord sits as king for ever.

The Lord will give strength to his people,

the Lord will bless his people with 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. Adore the Lord in his holy court.

2 Thessalonians 3:10b-13

Anyone who would not work should not eat. We hear that some of you are unruly, not keeping busy but acting like busy-bodies. We enjoin all such, and we urge them strongly in the Lord Jesus Christ to earn the food they eat by working quietly. You must never grow weary of doing what is right, brothers.

RESPONSORY

Blessed be the Lord our God, blessed from age to age.

His marvelous works are beyond compare,

blessed from age to age.

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

Blessed be the Lord our God, blessed from age to age.

Canticle of Zechariah

Ant. Blessed be the Lord our God.

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 forever. Amen.

Ant. Blessed be the Lord our God.

INTERCESSIONS

We esteem Christ above all men, for he was filled with grace and the Holy Spirit. In faith let us implore him:

Give us your Spirit, Lord.

Grant us a peaceful day,

when evening comes we will praise you with joy and purity of heart.

Give us your Spirit, Lord.

Let your splendor rest upon us today,

direct the work of our hands.

Give us your Spirit, Lord.

May your face shine upon us and keep us in peace,

may your strong arm protect us.

Give us your Spirit, Lord.

Look kindly on all who put their trust in our prayers,

fill them with every bodily and spiritual grace.

Give us your Spirit, Lord.

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

Father, may everything we do

begin with your inspiration

and continue with your saving help.

Let our work always find its origin in you

and through you reach completion.

We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,

who lives and reigns with you and 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

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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

Now, Holy Spirit, come, descend,

one with the Father and the Son;

come swiftly in and fill our hearts

with your full flood of holiness.

In mind and mouth, with heart and tongue,

with strength and sense, may praise resound,

May charity with ardor blaze

and kindle others with its flame.

Now through your presence may we know

and love the Father and the Son,

and you, the Spirit of them both,

may we profess throughout all time. Amen.

Psalm 19

Ant. The will of God gives joy to the heart; we see all things in its light.

The law of the Lord is perfect,

it revives the soul.

The rule of the Lord is to be trusted,

it gives wisdom to the simple.

The precepts of the Lord are right,

they gladden the heart.

The command of the Lord is clear,

it gives light to the eyes.

The fear of the Lord is holy,

abiding for ever.

The decrees of the Lord are truth

and all of them just.

They are more to be desired than gold,

than the purest of gold,

and sweeter are they than honey,

than honey from the comb.

So in them your servant finds instruction;

great reward is in their keeping.

But who can detect all his errors?

From hidden faults acquit me.

From presumption restrain your servant

and let it not rule me.

Then shall I be blameless,

clean from grave sin.

May the spoken words of my mouth,

the thoughts of my heart,

win favor in your sight, O Lord,

my rescuer, my rock!

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 will of God gives joy to the heart; we see all things in its light.

Psalm 7

Ant. God comes in power to give his people justice.

Lord God, I take refuge in you.

From my pursuer save me and rescue me,

lest he tear me to pieces like a lion

and drag me off with no one to rescue me.

Lord God, if my hands have done wrong,

if I have paid back evil for good,

I who saved my unjust oppressor:

then let my foe pursue me and seize me,

let him trample my life to the ground

and lay my soul in the dust.

Lord, rise up in your anger,

rise against the fury of my foes;

my God, awake! You will give judgment.

Let the company of nations gather round you,

taking your seat above them on high.

The Lord is judge of the peoples.

Give judgment for me, Lord; I am just

and innocent of heart.

Put an end to the evil of the wicked!

Make the just stand firm,

you who test mind and heart,

O just 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. God comes in power to give his people justice.

Ant. God is our judge, strong and just; he saves the upright of heart.

God is the shield that protects me,

who saves the upright of heart.

God is a just judge

slow to anger; but he threatens the wicked every day,

men who will not repent.

God will sharpen his sword;

he has braced his bow and taken aim.

For them he has prepared deadly weapons;

he barbs his arrows with fire.

Here is one who is pregnant with malice,

who conceives evil and brings forth lies.

He digs a pitfall, digs it deep;

and in the trap he has made he will fall.

His malice will recoil on himself;

on his own head his violence will fall.

I will thank the Lord for his justice:

I will sing to the Lord, the Most High.

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. God is our judge, strong and just; he saves the upright of heart.

Romans 13:8, 10

Owe no debt to anyone, except the debt that binds us to love one another. He who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law. Love never wrongs the neighbor, hence, love is the fulfillment of the law.

Stand by me, God, do not forsake me.

Do not abandon me, my Savior.

CONCLUDING PRAYER

Let us pray.

God our Father,

work is your gift to us,

a call to reach new heights

by using our talents for the good of all.

Guide us as we work and teach us to live

in the spirit that has made us your sons and daughters,

in the love that has made us brothers and sisters.

Grant this through Christ our Lord.

Amen.

DISMISSAL

Let us praise the Lord.

And give him thanks.

Sext

Now

Midday Prayer · 12 PM

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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 mighty Ruler, God of truth,

for days and seasons setting bounds,

you clothe with splendor morning light

and midday skies with brilliant heat.

Extinguish flames of bitter strife,

all harmful passion take away,

grant health unto our mortal frame,

and on our hearts bestow true peace.

Most loving Father, hear our prayer,

and you, O Christ coequal Son,

who with the Spirit Paraclete

now reign for all eternity. Amen.

Psalm 19

Ant. The will of God gives joy to the heart; we see all things in its light.

The law of the Lord is perfect,

it revives the soul.

The rule of the Lord is to be trusted,

it gives wisdom to the simple.

The precepts of the Lord are right,

they gladden the heart.

The command of the Lord is clear,

it gives light to the eyes.

The fear of the Lord is holy,

abiding for ever.

The decrees of the Lord are truth

and all of them just.

They are more to be desired than gold,

than the purest of gold,

and sweeter are they than honey,

than honey from the comb.

So in them your servant finds instruction;

great reward is in their keeping.

But who can detect all his errors?

From hidden faults acquit me.

From presumption restrain your servant

and let it not rule me.

Then shall I be blameless,

clean from grave sin.

May the spoken words of my mouth,

the thoughts of my heart,

win favor in your sight, O Lord,

my rescuer, my rock!

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 will of God gives joy to the heart; we see all things in its light.

Psalm 7

Ant. God comes in power to give his people justice.

Lord God, I take refuge in you.

From my pursuer save me and rescue me,

lest he tear me to pieces like a lion

and drag me off with no one to rescue me.

Lord God, if my hands have done wrong,

if I have paid back evil for good,

I who saved my unjust oppressor:

then let my foe pursue me and seize me,

let him trample my life to the ground

and lay my soul in the dust.

Lord, rise up in your anger,

rise against the fury of my foes;

my God, awake! You will give judgment.

Let the company of nations gather round you,

taking your seat above them on high.

The Lord is judge of the peoples.

Give judgment for me, Lord; I am just

and innocent of heart.

Put an end to the evil of the wicked!

Make the just stand firm,

you who test mind and heart,

O just 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. God comes in power to give his people justice.

Ant. God is our judge, strong and just; he saves the upright of heart.

God is the shield that protects me,

who saves the upright of heart.

God is a just judge

slow to anger; but he threatens the wicked every day,

men who will not repent.

God will sharpen his sword;

he has braced his bow and taken aim.

For them he has prepared deadly weapons;

he barbs his arrows with fire.

Here is one who is pregnant with malice,

who conceives evil and brings forth lies.

He digs a pitfall, digs it deep;

and in the trap he has made he will fall.

His malice will recoil on himself;

on his own head his violence will fall.

I will thank the Lord for his justice:

I will sing to the Lord, the Most High.

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. God is our judge, strong and just; he saves the upright of heart.

James 1:19-20, 26

Let every man be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; for a man’s anger does not fulfill God’s justice. If a man who does not control his tongue imagines that he is devout, he is self-deceived; his worship is pointless.

I will bless the Lord all my life long.

With a song of praise ever on my lips.

CONCLUDING PRAYER

Let us pray.

Father,

yours is the harvest

and yours is the vineyard:

you assign the task

and pay a wage that is just.

Help us to meet this day’s responsibilities,

and let nothing separate us from your love.

Grant this through Christ our Lord.

Amen.

DISMISSAL

Let us praise the Lord.

And give him thanks.

None

Now

Midafternoon Prayer · 3 PM

The audio for this hour isn’t ready. The prayers are here to read: tap Read above.

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 God, our firm and steadfast strength,

remaining in yourself unmoved,

you rule the span of daily light

and guide the course of all the hours.

Bestow at eventide a light

by which our life may never fail;

may endless glory be the crown

that follows on a holy death.

Most loving Father, hear our prayer,

and you, O Christ, coequal Son,

who with the Spirit Paraclete

now reign for all eternity. Amen.

Psalm 19

Ant. The will of God gives joy to the heart; we see all things in its light.

The law of the Lord is perfect,

it revives the soul.

The rule of the Lord is to be trusted,

it gives wisdom to the simple.

The precepts of the Lord are right,

they gladden the heart.

The command of the Lord is clear,

it gives light to the eyes.

The fear of the Lord is holy,

abiding for ever.

The decrees of the Lord are truth

and all of them just.

They are more to be desired than gold,

than the purest of gold,

and sweeter are they than honey,

than honey from the comb.

So in them your servant finds instruction;

great reward is in their keeping.

But who can detect all his errors?

From hidden faults acquit me.

From presumption restrain your servant

and let it not rule me.

Then shall I be blameless,

clean from grave sin.

May the spoken words of my mouth,

the thoughts of my heart,

win favor in your sight, O Lord,

my rescuer, my rock!

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 will of God gives joy to the heart; we see all things in its light.

Psalm 7

Ant. God comes in power to give his people justice.

Lord God, I take refuge in you.

From my pursuer save me and rescue me,

lest he tear me to pieces like a lion

and drag me off with no one to rescue me.

Lord God, if my hands have done wrong,

if I have paid back evil for good,

I who saved my unjust oppressor:

then let my foe pursue me and seize me,

let him trample my life to the ground

and lay my soul in the dust.

Lord, rise up in your anger,

rise against the fury of my foes;

my God, awake! You will give judgment.

Let the company of nations gather round you,

taking your seat above them on high.

The Lord is judge of the peoples.

Give judgment for me, Lord; I am just

and innocent of heart.

Put an end to the evil of the wicked!

Make the just stand firm,

you who test mind and heart,

O just 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. God comes in power to give his people justice.

Ant. God is our judge, strong and just; he saves the upright of heart.

God is the shield that protects me,

who saves the upright of heart.

God is a just judge

slow to anger; but he threatens the wicked every day,

men who will not repent.

God will sharpen his sword;

he has braced his bow and taken aim.

For them he has prepared deadly weapons;

he barbs his arrows with fire.

Here is one who is pregnant with malice,

who conceives evil and brings forth lies.

He digs a pitfall, digs it deep;

and in the trap he has made he will fall.

His malice will recoil on himself;

on his own head his violence will fall.

I will thank the Lord for his justice:

I will sing to the Lord, the Most High.

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. God is our judge, strong and just; he saves the upright of heart.

1 Peter 1:17b-19

Conduct yourselves reverently during your sojourn in a strange land. Realize that you were delivered, not by any diminishable sum of silver or gold, but by Christ’s blood beyond all price: the blood of a spotless, unblemished lamb.

Claim me once more as your own, Lord, and have mercy on me.

And I will give thanks where your people gather in prayer.

CONCLUDING PRAYER

Let us pray.

Lord,

you call us to worship you

at the hour when the apostles went to pray in the temple.

We offer our prayer in the name of Jesus:

may his saving power come to all

who call upon his name.

Grant this through Christ our Lord.

Amen.

DISMISSAL

Let us praise the Lord.

And give him thanks.

Vespers

Now

Evening Prayer

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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, will be for ever. Amen. Alleluia.

HYMN

O wondrous Maker of the sky,

dividing waters, stream from stream,

you stem their tide with heaven’s dome,

to curb the mixed, chaotic flow.

You fix a place for sun and stars

and trace the paths for streams on earth,

that waters temper scorching rays

and so preserve the fertile land.

Pour forth on us, Most Holy One,

the gift of everlasting grace,

lest by a stroke of fresh deceit

the ancient sin should wear us down.

Let faith search out and find the light

and such a beam of light bring forth,

that all vain idols flee in dread

and falsehood never cloud its ray.

Most loving Father, hear our prayer,

and you, O Christ coequal Son,

who with the Spirit Paraclete

now reign for all eternity. Amen.

Psalm 11

Ant. The Lord looks tenderly on those who are poor.

In the Lord I have taken my refuge.

How can you say to my soul:

“Fly like a bird to its mountain.

See the wicked bracing their bow;

they are fixing their arrows on the string

to shoot upright men in the dark.

Foundations once destroyed, what can the just do?”

The Lord is in his holy temple,

the Lord, whose throne is in heaven.

His eyes look down on the world;

his gaze tests mortal men.

The Lord tests the just and the wicked:

the lover of violence he hates.

He sends fire and brimstone on the wicked;

he sends a scorching wind as their lot.

The Lord is just and loves justice:

the upright shall see his face.

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 Lord looks tenderly on those who are poor.

Psalm 15

Ant. Blessed are the pure of heart, for they shall see God.

Lord, who shall be admitted to your tent

and dwell on your holy mountain?

He who walks without fault:

he who acts with justice

and speaks the truth from his heart;

he who does not slander with his tongue;

he who does no wrong to his brother,

who casts no slur on his neighbor,

who holds the godless in disdain,

but honors those who fear the Lord;

he who keeps his pledge, come what may;

who takes no interest on a loan

and accepts no bribes against the innocent.

Such a man will stand firm 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. Blessed are the pure of heart, for they shall see God.

Ephesians 1:3-10

Ant. God chose us in his Son to be his adopted children.

Praised be the God and Father

of our Lord Jesus Christ,

who has bestowed on us in Christ

every spiritual blessing in the heavens.

God chose us in him

before the world began

to be holy and blameless in his sight.

He predestined us

to be his adopted sons through Jesus Christ,

such was his will and pleasure,

that all might praise the glorious favor

he has bestowed on us in his beloved.

In him and through his blood, we have been redeemed,

and our sins forgiven,

so immeasurably generous

is God’s favor to us.

God has given us the wisdom

to understand fully the mystery,

the plan he was pleased

to decree in Christ.

A plan to be carried out

in Christ, in the fullness of time,

to bring all things into one in him,

in the heavens and on earth.

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. God chose us in his Son to be his adopted children.

Colossians 1:9b-11

May you attain full knowledge of God’s will through perfect wisdom and spiritual insight. Then you will lead a life worthy of the Lord and pleasing to him in every way. You will multiply good works of every sort and grow in the knowledge of God. By the might of his glory you will be endowed with the strength needed to stand fast, even to endure joyfully whatever may come.

RESPONSORY

Lord, you alone can heal me, for I have grieved you by my sins.

Once more I say: O Lord, have mercy on me,

for I have grieved you by my sins.

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

Lord, you alone can heal me, for I have grieved you by my sins.

Canticle of Mary

Ant. My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord, for he has looked with favor on his lowly servant.

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. My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord, for he has looked with favor on his lowly servant.

INTERCESSIONS

God has made an everlasting covenant with his people, and he never ceases to bless them. Grateful for these gifts, we confidently direct our prayer to him:

Lord, bless your people.

Save your people, Lord,

and bless your inheritance.

Lord, bless your people.

Gather into one body all who bear the name of Christian,

that the world may believe in Christ whom you have sent.

Lord, bless your people.

Give our friends and our loved ones a share in divine life,

let them be symbols of Christ before men.

Lord, bless your people.

Show your love to those who are suffering,

open their eyes to the vision of your revelation.

Lord, bless your people.

Be compassionate to those who have died,

welcome them into the company of the faithful departed.

Lord, bless your people.

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

Father, may this evening pledge of our service to you

bring you glory and praise.

For our salvation you looked with favor,

on the lowliness of the Virgin Mary;

lead us to the fullness of the salvation

you have prepared for us.

We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,

who lives and reigns with you and 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

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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.

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