Saint Catherine of Alexandria

Prayer for the Morning

Let us bless the Lord at all times,

God’s praise always on our lips!

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

This day God sends me

Strength as my steersman,

Might to uphold me,

Wisdom as guide.

Your eyes are watchful,

Your ears are listening,

Your lips are speaking,

Friend at my side.

God’s way is my way,

God’s shield is round me,

God’s host defends me,

Saving from ill.

Angels of heaven,

Drive from me always

All that would harm me,

Stand by me still.

PSALM 34:2-5, 8-9

The angel of God, who had been leading Israel’s camp, now moved and went around behind them. (Ex 14:19)

The Psalmist refers here to the angel of the Lord who stood between the fleeing Israelites and their Egyptian pursuers during the exodus, and hid them from sight. God goes with us, guards us, and guides us today with the same protective love.

I will bless the Lord at all times,

his praise always on my lips;

in the Lord my soul shall make its boast.

The humble shall hear and be glad.

Glorify the Lord with me.

Together let us praise his name.

I sought the Lord and he answered me;

from all my terrors he set me free.

The angel of the Lord is encamped

around those who revere him, to rescue them.

Taste and see that the Lord is good.

He is happy who seeks refuge in him.

Glory to the Father….

Word of God (Isaiah 30:20-21)

The Lord will give you the bread you need/ and the water for which you thirst./ No longer will your Teacher hide himself,/ but with your own eyes you shall see your Teacher,/ While from behind, a voice shall sound in your ears:/ “This is the way; walk in it,”/ when you would turn to the right or to the left.

He will be gracious to you when you cry out. (Is 30:19)

CANTICLE OF ZECHARIAH

O Lord, you are my God,/ I will extol you and praise your name;/ For you have fulfilled your wonderful plans of old,/ faithful and true. (Is 25:1)

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…

INTERCESSIONS

Let us pray in Christ for all those who are in need of God’s care and protection today:

R/Lord, answer those who seek you!

For those who are in flight from any kind of danger:

– be their protection. R/

For those who live in terror or in want:

– set them free. R/

For those who seek to know your will and do it:

– show them the way. R/

(Personal intentions)

Our Father….

Almighty God, you are the help and protection of your people. Give us this day the daily bread of your Word; guide us in your ways; bring us safely to evening, that we may give you thanks and praise, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Saint Andrew Dũng-Lac and Companions

Prayer for the Morning

Jesus Christ is the glory of all martyrs:

on this feast of the Vietnamese martyrs,

let us adore him!

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

Sing praise for all the martyrs

who carried Jesus’ cross.

They followed in his footsteps;

they counted gain as loss.

Our heroines and heroes,

their blood the Church’s seed,

Whose witness to the Gospel

led to their dying deed.

We praise you for the strength’ning

of Andrew at the last,

Who bravely bore his torments

and to the truth held fast.

Lord, grant our Church for ever

the grace to turn to you,

To follow in your footsteps

with courage ever new.

All praise to God the Father,

who made the martyrs be,

And praise the Holy Spirit,

their fount of charity.

All praises to Christ Jesus,

let crowns before him fall,

Exemplar of the martyrs:

their Joy, their Love, their All.

CANTICLE (Wisdom 3:1-6)

In God’s hand is the soul of every living thing,/ and the life breath of all mankind. (cf. Jb 12:10)

The martyrs bear witness to the core of Christ’s sacrifice: they ­surrender their lives into God’s hands to do with as he wills. To them, the present cost of their offering counts as nothing in comparison to life with the Lord who awaits them.

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.

Glory to the Father….

Word of God (2 Corinthians 4:16-18)

We are not discouraged; rather, although our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this momentary light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to what is seen but to what is unseen; for what is seen is transitory, but what is unseen is eternal.

Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake,

and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking

in the afflictions of Christ on behalf of his body,

which is the church. (Col 1:24)

CANTICLE OF ZECHARIAH

The crucible for silver, and the furnace for gold,/ but the tester of hearts is the Lord. (Prv 17:3)

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…

INTERCESSIONS

The martyrs bear witness to the cost and the reward of living according to the Gospel. Through their intercession, let us pray:

R/Make your people steadfast in faith, O Lord.

For the Church throughout the world:

– that we may live the Gospel faith for which the martyrs died. R/

For those who suffer persecution for the Gospel’s sake:

– that they may find strength in the example of the martyrs. R/

For the Vietnamese Catholic communities who have remained faithful in the midst of war, exile, and hardship:

– that their lives may be a light to their neighbors. R/

(Personal intentions)

Our Father….

O God of all glory, the genuineness of the martyrs’ faith, more precious than gold that is perishable even though tested by fire, proved to be for the praise, glory, and honor of Jesus Christ. Through their intercession, grant to all your Church the fortitude of faith, the joy of love, and the determination born of hope through the same Christ our Lord. Amen.

Saint Clement I; Saint Columban; Blessed Miguel Agustín Pro

Prayer for the Morning

God’s are grandeur and power:

come, let us adore!

Glory to the Father…. Alleluia!

Hymn

O God beyond all praising,

We worship you today

And sing the love amazing

That songs cannot repay;

For we can only wonder

At every gift you send,

At blessings without number

And mercies without end:

We lift our hearts before you

And wait upon your word,

We honor and adore you,

Our great and mighty Lord.

Then hear, O gracious Savior,

Accept the love we bring,

That we who know your favor

May serve you as our King;

And whether our tomorrows

Be filled with good or ill,

We’ll triumph through our sorrows

And rise to bless you still:

To marvel at your beauty

And glory in your ways,

And make a joyful duty

Our sacrifice of praise.

Canticle (1 Chronicles 29:10-13)

Blessed be the name of God forever and ever,/ for wisdom and power are his. (Dn 2:20)

What return can we make to God except our prayer of grateful praise? Though he needs nothing, he rejoices in this gift of our love.

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….

Word of God (1 Chronicles 16:25-27)

Great is the Lord and highly to be praised;/ and awesome is he, beyond all gods./ For all the gods of the nations are things of nought,/ but the Lord made the heavens./ Splendor and majesty go before him;/ praise and joy are in his holy place.

Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel. (1 Kgs 1:48)

Canticle of Zechariah

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavens. (Eph 1:3)

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…

Intercessions

In gratitude to the God who gives us every blessing, we pray:

R/Blessed be the God of our salvation!

You have brought all things into being:

– we, your creatures, pray: R/

You have made us in your image and redeemed us in your love:

– we, your children, pray: R/

You have destined us for everlasting life in your ­presence:

– we, your people, pray: R/

(Personal intentions)

Our Father….

O God, the giver of all good gifts, our desire to praise you is itself a blessing you have bestowed upon us. We can offer you nothing that you do not already have except our love, which we render to you in worship and in service to all those whom you redeem in Jesus Christ. Grant us glad gratitude in him, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe

Prayer for the Morning

O worship the King!

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

Glorious from the field of strife,

Lo! the Victor mounts his throne;

Lord of death and King of life,

His the triumph, his alone—

Glorious from the field of strife,

Christ, immortal King of life.

Wake to gladness, sons of men!

Heav’n, your gates eternal raise!

Welcome to your bliss again

Him, the worthiest of praise—

Glorious from the field of strife,

Christ, immortal King of life.

Sin and death—the twain assailed,

And the Christ expiring fell;

But the Death o’er death prevailed,

And the might of sin and hell;

Victor from the field of strife,

Hail! immortal King of life.

PSALM 146

He went around all of Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, ­proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom, and curing every disease and illness among the people. (Mt 4:23)

Christ’s reign is a conquest not over political enemies but over the powers of sin and death. His rule is redemption.

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….

Word of God (Luke 7:21-22)

At that time he cured many of their diseases, sufferings, and evil spirits; he also granted sight to many who were blind. And he said to them in reply, “Go and tell John what you have seen and heard: the blind regain their sight, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, the poor have the good news proclaimed to them.”

Then the righteous will shine like the sun

in the kingdom of their Father. (Mt 13:43)

CANTICLE OF ZECHARIAH

Seek first the kingdom [of God] and his righteousness, and all these things will be given you besides. (Mt 6:33)

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…

INTERCESSIONS

Let us pray to Christ our King, that the fruits of his reign may abound upon earth:

R/Thy kingdom come!

Upon those who labor under the illusion of power and who cause others to suffer: R/

Upon those who are imprisoned in poverty, hunger, addiction, or disease: R/

Upon those who are blind of eye or of heart: R/

Upon those who are deaf of ear or of understanding: R/

(Personal intentions)

Our Father….

Lord Jesus Christ, you reign for ever. Rule over all the world in peace, and fill our hearts and households with the power of your love, who live and reign with God the Father in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.