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Prayer for the Morning (Tuesday, November 23)

raphael

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November 23, 2021

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Saint Clement I; Saint Columban; Blessed Miguel Agustín Pro

Prayer for the Morning

Let us sing to the Lord all our life!

Glory to the Father…. Alleluia!

HYMN

O God, creation’s secret force,

Yourself unmoved, all motion’s source,

Who from the morn till evening ray

Through all its changes guide the day:

Grant us, when this short life is past,

The glorious evening that shall last;

That, by a holy death attained,

Eternal glory may be gained.

Canticle. Exodus 15:3-13

Who shut within doors the sea,/ when it burst forth from the womb? (Jb 38:8)

The ancient Israelites, who had a fear of the sea, stood in awe of the Creator’s power to govern the ocean waters—a sign of chaos and death. To them, only one who is truly God could give orders to the seas and domesticate them. For all the wonders of our technology, we are no more able than they to make the seas do our bidding. Only God is God.

The Lord is a warrior,

Lord is his name!

Pharaoh’s chariots and army he hurled into the sea;

the elite of his officers was submerged in the Red Sea.

The floodwaters covered them,

they sank into the depths like a stone.

Your right hand, O Lord, magnificent in power,

your right hand, O Lord, has shattered the enemy.

In your great majesty, you overthrew your adversaries;

you loosed your wrath to consume them like stubble.

At a breath of your anger the waters piled up,

the flowing waters stood like a mound,

the floodwaters congealed in the midst of the sea.

The enemy boasted, “I will pursue and overtake them;

I will divide the spoils and have my fill of them;

I will draw my sword; my hand shall despoil them!”

When your wind blew, the sea covered them;

like lead, they sank in the mighty waters.

Who is like to you among the gods, O Lord?

Who is like to you, magnificent in holiness?

O terrible in renown, worker of wonders,

when you stretched out your right hand, the earth swallowed them!

In your mercy you led the people you redeemed;

in your strength you guided them to your holy dwelling.

Glory to the Father….

Word of God. Jeremiah 5:22

Should you not fear me, says the Lord,/ should you not tremble before me?/ I made the sandy shore the sea’s limit,/ which by eternal decree it may not overstep./ Toss though it may, it is to no avail;/ though its billows roar, they cannot pass.

Jesus rebuked the wind and said to the sea, “Quiet!

Be still!” The wind ceased and there was great calm. (cf. Mk 4:39)

CANTICLE OF ZECHARIAH

They were filled with great awe and said to one another, “Who then is this whom even wind and sea obey?” (Mk 4:41)

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 turn to the God of power and of love and say:

R/Lord, how great you are!

You separated the waters and drew forth the dry land:

– protect all coast dwellers from the rampages of the sea. R/

You filled the oceans with teeming life:

– sustain all those who make their living from the sea. R/

You water the earth and bring forth food:

– send rain to those places that suffer drought and famine. R/

(Personal intentions)

Our Father….

Lord God of earth and sea, yours is the dry land and yours the water. Have mercy on us, who so easily forget that we are not gods but God’s creatures and beloved children. We worship you in all humility as the source of all life. Receive our prayer with loving kindness through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Prayer for the Evening

Let us hope in God

and praise him still!

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

Let all the people join to raise

Their sweetest songs of love and praise.

The solemn festal crowd combines

While in the heav’ns this virgin shines.

This virgin, resolute and strong,

Stayed free for Christ her whole life long.

She spent her life in praise and prayer

And joins the saints in glory fair.

She conquered weak and fleshly sins:

Her chastity the victory wins.

The flattery of earth she spurned

And to the steps of Christ, she turned.

Through her, O Christ, watch where we go,

Protecting us from every foe.

Correct our sins, save us from wrong,

And in the virtues make us strong.

O Jesus, Virgin-born, to you

Be glory, as is ever due,

Whom with the Father we adore

And loving Spirit evermore.

PSALM 42:1-4, 6, 9

My whole being will say:/ “Lord, who is like you/ who rescue the weak from the strong/ and the poor from the oppressor?” (Ps 35:10)

In the Church of Saint Cecilia in Rome, there is a touching sculpture by Stefano Maderno (1599) of the young martyr Cecilia lying where she fell under the executioner’s sword. In her utter helplessness, and yet her utter victory, she challenges us to remember where true power lies.

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?”

Why are you cast down, my soul,

why groan within me?

Hope in God; I will praise him still,

my savior and my God.

By day the Lord will send

his loving-kindness;

by night I will sing to him,

praise the God of my life.

Glory to the Father….

Word of God. 1 Corinthians 1:27-28

God chose the foolish of the world to shame the wise, and God chose the weak of the world to shame the strong, and God chose the lowly and despised of the world, those who count for nothing, to reduce to nothing those who are something.

Sing to the Lord,

for he is gloriously triumphant. (Ex 15:21)

CANTICLE OF MARY

Sing out, O heavens, and rejoice O earth,/ break forth into song, you mountains./ For the Lord comforts his people/ and shows mercy to his afflicted. (Is 49:13)

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…

INTERCESSIONS

With confidence in God’s power displayed in our weakness, we pray:

R/You are our rock, O God!

In the martyrs, faith is victorious over force:

– strengthen our faith in daily life. R/

In the martyrs, love is victorious over violence:

– deepen our love for those who oppose and oppress us. R/

In the martyrs, life is victorious over death:

– bring to everlasting life all those who have died in modern persecutions. R/

(Personal intentions)

Our Father….

May the Lord be kind and faithful to us. Amen. (cf. 2 Sm 2:6)

Marian Antiphon

Medieval Antiphon

Rejoice, O Mother of God, O Virgin Immaculate;

[rejoice], you who received joy from an angel;

rejoice, you who bore the glory of the light everlasting;

[rejoice], O Mother, rejoice,

O holy Virgin Mother of God;

you alone a maiden Mother,

all creation praises you, the Mother of light;

may you be for us, we beseech you,

a perpetual intercessor.

Salve Regina

Salve, Regina, mater misericordiae;

vita, dulcedo, et spes nostra, salve.

Ad te clamamus, exsules filii Evae.

Ad te suspiramus, gementes et flentes

in hac lacrimarum valle.

Eia ergo, advocata nostra,

illos tuos misericordes oculos

ad nos converte.

Et Iesum, benedictum fructum ventris tui,

nobis post hoc exsilium ostende.

O clemens, O pia, O dulcis Virgo Maria.

Hail Holy Queen

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 valley of tears.

Turn then, O most gracious advocate,

your eyes of mercy toward us,

and after this our exile

show unto us the blessed fruit of your womb, Jesus.

O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary.

V/ Pray for us, O holy Mother of God,

R/ That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

Alma Redemptoris Mater

Alma Redemptoris Mater, quae pervia caeli

porta manes, et stella maris, succurre cadenti,

surgere qui curat, populo: tu quae genuisti,

natura mirante, tuum sanctum Genitorem,

Virgo prius ac posterius, Gabrielis ab ore

sumens illud Ave, peccatorum miserere.

Loving mother of the Redeemer

Loving mother of the Redeemer,

gate of heaven, star of the sea,

assist your people who have fallen yet strive

to rise again.

To the wonderment of nature, you bore your Creator,

yet remained a virgin after as before.

You who received Gabriel’s joyful greeting,

have pity on us, poor sinners.

V/ Pray for us, O holy Mother of God,

R/ That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

When the world turns to shades of black and gray, say this prayer to St Jude for hope

Depression affects everyone at some point during their lives. Whether it is severe depression or something milder, we all know that feeling of loneliness and being forgotten. It can take us down a dark path, one where there is little light at the end of the tunnel. That is the moment to say a prayer to St Jude.

The good news is that God wants to lift you out of that rut and bring you into the glorious light of day. Prayer, matched with proper medical attention, can be a powerful aid in bringing a person out of the depths of depression into a new life of Christian joy. Below is a powerful prayer to St. Jude, a saint who was often forgotten throughout history because of his name (in Latin his name is “Judas,” but he is not the same person as Judas Iscariot). St Jude is a constant intercessor for all hopeless causes and wants to help you in your need.

St Jude, friend to those in need, I am weary from grief, without joy, without hope, struggling to find the light I know is in my soul. I turn to you, my most trusted intercessor. Take away this emptiness and the pain of my broken heart. In your compassion, help my tears to lead me to a place of peace in my heart. Too long have I forgotten the goodness of God’s world. Heal me. I yearn to feel light, to feel joy. Envelop me in brightness, and do not hold back. And I promise, if I receive these gifts, I will share them always in your name. Amen.

Prayer for the Morning

God will never forsake those who seek him:

let us give thanks and praise!

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

Let the deep organ swell the lay

In honor of this festive day;

Let the harmonious choirs proclaim

Cecilia’s ever blessed name.

Rome gave the virgin martyr birth,

Whose holy name has filled the earth;

And from the early dawn of youth,

She fixed her heart on God and truth.

Then from the world’s bewildering strife,

In peace, she spent her holy life—

Teaching the organ to combine

With voice, to praise the Lord divine.

Cecilia, with a twofold crown

Adorned in heav’n, we pray look down

Upon thy fervent votaries here,

And hearken to their humble prayer.

PSALM 9:2-11

Let me sing to the Lord for his goodness to me. (Ps 13:7)

A line from the 15th-century story of Saint Cecilia explains how she became the Western patron of music. Faced with a forced marriage, despite her desire to dedicate her virginity to Christ, “she sang in her heart only to God” for protection—and received it. This early Christian martyr’s song of faith has certainly outlived the military and political power of her Roman oppressors.

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 people 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….

Word of God. Isaiah 38:18-20

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./… The Lord is our savior;/ we shall sing to stringed instruments/ In the house of the Lord/ all the days of our life.

Sing to the Lord,/ praise the Lord,/ For he has rescued the life of the poor/ from the power of the wicked! (Jer 20:13)

CANTICLE OF ZECHARIAH

Hear, O kings! Give ear, O princes!/ I to the Lord will sing my song,/ my hymn to the Lord, the God of Israel. (Jgs 5:3)

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

Through the intercession of Saint Cecilia, let us pray:

R/Be a stronghold, O Lord!

For those who are depressed by the burden of their suffering:

– grant them the faith that enabled Saint Cecilia to sing the song of faith in her heart. R/

For those who have lost the gift of joy in the daily round of life:

– grant them gladness of heart. R/

For those who serve the Church at worship through the medium of music:

– grant them rejoicing. R/

(Personal intentions)

Our Father….

O Lord, you inspired Saint Cecilia with a courageous trust in your power to prevail over impossible circumstances. Fill your people with her song of faith, that our lives may proclaim your goodness for ever, through Christ our Lord. Amen.

When visiting the tomb of Saint André Bessette, John Paul II offered this short and beautiful prayer.

Saint John Paul II made an apostolic visit to Canada, in 1984. During the visit, he made a short stop at the tomb of Saint André Bessette in Saint Joseph’s Oratory in Montreal.

There he remembered the inspiring example of Saint André Bessette and his devotion to Saint Joseph. Before leaving, he prayed the following prayer at his tomb.

Saint John Paul II’s wonderful prayer to Saint Joseph

Saint Joseph, with you, for you,

we bless the Lord.

He chose you among all men

to be the chaste spouse of Mary,

the one who would remain at the threshold of the mystery

of her divine maternity,

and who, after her, would accept it in faith

as the work of the Holy Spirit.

You gave to Jesus legal paternity in the line of David.

You constantly watched over

the Mother and the Child with affectionate concern,

in order to protect their lives

and to allow them to accomplish their destiny.

The Savior Jesus deigned to submit himself to you, as to a father,

throughout his childhood and adolescence

and to receive from you an apprenticeship in human life,

while you shared his life in the adoration of his mystery.

You remain at his side.

Continue to protect the whole church,

the family born of the salvation of Jesus.

See the spiritual and material needs

of all those who beg your intercession,

particularly families and those who are poor, in every sense;

through you, they are certain to find Mary’s maternal face

and the hand of Jesus to assist them.

Amen.

Prayer for the Evening

May the name of the Lord

be blessed 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. Alleluia!

HYMN

The head that once was crowned with thorns

Is crowned with glory now;

A royal diadem adorns

The mighty victor’s brow.

The highest place that heav’n affords

Belongs to him by right;

The King of kings and Lord of lords,

And heaven’s eternal Light.

The cross he bore is life and health,

Though shame and death to him,

His people’s hope, his people’s wealth,

Their everlasting theme.

PSALM 21:2-9, 14

The Lord is our king! (cf. Is 33:22)

The desire of Christ’s heart is eternal life for all people. That desire has been fulfilled through his Death and Resurrection. All he asks, as he holds open for us the door of his eternal kingdom, is that we put our lives in his hands and live according to his kingdom’s law of love, so that all time may come to its completion in him.

O Lord, your strength gives joy to the king;

how your saving help makes him glad!

You have granted him his heart’s desire;

[you] have not refused the prayer of his lips.

You came to meet him with the blessings of success,

[you] have set on his head a crown of pure gold.

He asked you for life and this you have given,

days that will last from age to age.

Your saving help has given him glory.

You have laid upon him majesty and splendor,

[you] have granted your blessings to him for ever.

You have made him rejoice with the joy of your

presence.

The king has put his trust in the Lord:

through the mercy of the Most High he shall stand firm.

His hand will seek and find all his foes,

his right hand find out those that hate him.

O Lord, arise in your strength;

we shall sing and praise your power.

Glory to the Father….

Word of God. Mark 1:14-15

After John had been arrested, Jesus came to Galilee proclaiming the gospel of God: “This is the time of fulfillment. The kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel.”

Jesus said to them,

“Today this scripture passage is fulfilled

in your hearing.” (cf. Lk 4:21)

TE DEUM

Come, you who are blessed by my Father. Inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. (Mt 25:34)

You are God: we praise you;

[You] are the Lord: we acclaim you;

You are the eternal Father:

All creation worships you.

To you all angels, all the powers of heaven,

Cherubim and Seraphim, sing in endless praise:

Holy, holy, holy, Lord, God of power and might,

heaven and earth are full of your glory.

The glorious company of apostles praise you.

The noble fellowship of prophets praise you.

The white-robed army of martyrs praise you.

Throughout the world the holy Church acclaims you:

Father, of majesty unbounded,

your true and only Son, worthy of all worship,

and the Holy Spirit, advocate and guide.

You, Christ, are the king of glory,

the eternal Son of the Father.

When you became man to set us free

you did not spurn the Virgin’s womb.

You overcame the sting of death,

and opened the kingdom of heaven to all believers.

You are seated at God’s right hand in glory.

We believe that you will come, and be our judge.

Come then, Lord, and help your people,

bought with the price of your own blood,

and bring us with your saints

to glory everlasting.

INTERCESSIONS

In humble supplication, let us come before our Lord and King:

R/Thy kingdom come!

You reign now over every power in heaven and earth:

– deliver all those who lie in the power of injustice. R/

You reign now over every nation:

– spread the Good News of your Resurrection into every land. R/

You reign now over sin and death:

– bring into your glorious presence all our beloved dead. R/

(Personal intentions)

Our Father….

The kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours! Amen.

Marian Antiphon

Medieval Antiphon

Rejoice, O Mother of God, O Virgin Immaculate;

[rejoice], you who received joy from an angel;

rejoice, you who bore the glory of the light everlasting;

[rejoice], O Mother, rejoice,

O holy Virgin Mother of God;

you alone a maiden Mother,

all creation praises you, the Mother of light;

may you be for us, we beseech you,

a perpetual intercessor.

SALVE REGINA

Salve, Regina, mater misericordiae;

vita, dulcedo, et spes nostra, salve.

Ad te clamamus, exsules filii Evae.

Ad te suspiramus, gementes et flentes

in hac lacrimarum valle.

Eia ergo, advocata nostra,

illos tuos misericordes oculos

ad nos converte.

Et Iesum, benedictum fructum ventris tui,

nobis post hoc exsilium ostende.

O clemens, O pia, O dulcis Virgo Maria.

HAIL HOLY QUEEN

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 valley of tears.

Turn then, O most gracious advocate,

your eyes of mercy toward us,

and after this our exile

show unto us the blessed fruit of your womb, Jesus.

O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary.

V/ Pray for us, O holy Mother of God,

R/ That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

ALMA REDEMPTORIS MATER

Alma Redemptoris Mater, quae pervia caeli

porta manes, et stella maris, succurre cadenti,

surgere qui curat, populo: tu quae genuisti,

natura mirante, tuum sanctum Genitorem,

Virgo prius ac posterius, Gabrielis ab ore

sumens illud Ave, peccatorum miserere.

LOVING MOTHER OF THE REDEEMER

Loving mother of the Redeemer,

gate of heaven, star of the sea,

assist your people who have fallen yet strive

to rise again.

To the wonderment of nature you bore your Creator,

yet remained a virgin after as before.

You who received Gabriel’s joyful greeting,

have pity on us, poor sinners.

V/ Pray for us, O holy Mother of God,

R/ That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

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, God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Prayer for the Evening

Vigil of the Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ,

King of the Universe

Christ is our peace:

let us give thanks and praise!

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

Hail, Redeemer, King divine!

Priest and Lamb, the throne is thine;

King whose reign shall never cease,

Prince of everlasting peace.

Angels, saints, and nations sing:

“Praised be Jesus Christ, our King;

Lord of earth and sky and sea,

King of love on Calvary.”

Christ, thou King of truth and might,

Be to us eternal light,

Till in peace each nation rings

With thy praises, King of kings.

Angels, saints, and nations sing:

“Praised be Jesus Christ, our King;

Lord of earth and sky and sea,

King of love on Calvary.”

PSALM 72:1-4, 7, 12-14, 18-19

I will appoint peace your governor,/ and justice your ruler. (Is 60:17)

When we pray “Thy kingdom come,” we commit ourselves to serve its coming by living in peace and by seeking peace and justice for all who suffer in our homes, our workplaces, our neighborhoods, our world.

O God, give your judgment to the king,

to a king’s son your justice,

that he may judge your people in justice

and your poor in right judgment.

May the mountains bring forth peace for the people

and the hills, justice.

May he defend the poor of the people

and save the children of the needy

and crush the oppressor.

In his days justice shall flourish

and peace till the moon fails.

For he shall save the poor when they cry

and the needy who are helpless.

He will have pity on the weak

and save the lives of the poor.

From oppression he will rescue their lives,

to him their blood is dear.

Blessed be the Lord, God of Israel,

who alone works wonders,

ever blessed his glorious name.

Let his glory fill the earth.

Glory to the Father….

Word of God. Matthew 13:44-45

The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure buried in a field, which a person finds and hides again, and out of joy goes and sells all that he has and buys that field. Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant searching for fine pearls.

He shall be peace. (Mi 5:4)

TE DEUM

Blessed are the peacemakers,/ for they will be called children of God. (Mt 5:9)

You are God: we praise you;

[You] are the Lord: we acclaim you;

You are the eternal Father:

All creation worships you.

To you all angels, all the powers of heaven,

Cherubim and Seraphim, sing in endless praise:

Holy, holy, holy, Lord, God of power and might,

heaven and earth are full of your glory.

The glorious company of apostles praise you.

The noble fellowship of prophets praise you.

The white-robed army of martyrs praise you.

Throughout the world the holy Church acclaims you:

Father, of majesty unbounded,

your true and only Son, worthy of all worship,

and the Holy Spirit, advocate and guide.

You, Christ, are the king of glory,

the eternal Son of the Father.

When you became man to set us free

you did not spurn the Virgin’s womb.

You overcame the sting of death,

and opened the kingdom of heaven to all believers.

You are seated at God’s right hand in glory.

We believe that you will come, and be our judge.

Come then, Lord, and help your people,

bought with the price of your own blood,

and bring us with your saints

to glory everlasting.

Intercessions

Ours were the sufferings Christ bore; by his death we are healed. Trusting in his love, we pray:

R/Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world; grant us peace.

In the name of the poor, we pray: R/

[In] the name of the children of the needy, we pray: R/

In the name of the weak and oppressed, we pray: R/

(Personal intentions)

Our Father….

May the peace of God which surpasses all understanding guard our hearts in Christ Jesus our Lord. Amen. (cf. Phil 4:7)

Marian Antiphon

Medieval Antiphon

Rejoice, O Mother of God, O Virgin Immaculate;

[rejoice], you who received joy from an angel;
rejoice, you who bore the glory of the light everlasting;
[rejoice], O Mother, rejoice,
O holy Virgin Mother of God;
you alone a maiden Mother,
all creation praises you, the Mother of light;
may you be for us, we beseech you,
a perpetual intercessor.

SALVE REGINA

Salve, Regina, mater misericordiae;

vita, dulcedo, et spes nostra, salve.

Ad te clamamus, exsules filii Evae.

Ad te suspiramus, gementes et flentes

in hac lacrimarum valle.

Eia ergo, advocata nostra,

illos tuos misericordes oculos

ad nos converte.

Et Iesum, benedictum fructum ventris tui,

nobis post hoc exsilium ostende.

O clemens, O pia, O dulcis Virgo Maria.

HAIL HOLY QUEEN

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 valley of tears.

Turn then, O most gracious advocate,

your eyes of mercy toward us,

and after this our exile

show unto us the blessed fruit of your womb, Jesus.

O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary.

V/ Pray for us, O holy Mother of God,

R/ That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

ALMA REDEMPTORIS MATER

Alma Redemptoris Mater, quae pervia caeli

porta manes, et stella maris, succurre cadenti,

surgere qui curat, populo: tu quae genuisti,

natura mirante, tuum sanctum Genitorem,

Virgo prius ac posterius, Gabrielis ab ore

sumens illud Ave, peccatorum miserere.

LOVING MOTHER OF THE REDEEMER

Loving mother of the Redeemer,

gate of heaven, star of the sea,

assist your people who have fallen yet strive

to rise again.

To the wonderment of nature you bore your Creator,

yet remained a virgin after as before.

You who received Gabriel’s joyful greeting,

have pity on us, poor sinners.

V/ Pray for us, O holy Mother of God,

R/ That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

Prayer for the Morning

In company with the Blessed Virgin Mary,

let us offer our prayers and praises to 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. Alleluia!

Hymn

O Queen of heaven and of earth,

Weighed down by sin we cry to you,

The hope of those who refuge seek,

Hear now our lowly prayer for aid.

Dear Mother of our Lord and King,

Implore for us the grace of life,

That we may strive to make amends

For all the faults of bygone years.

Most holy Mary, when you pray

The saints in heaven intercede;

A word from you as suppliant

Will reconcile us with the Lord.

Our Mother and most pow’rful Queen,

Fulfill your children’s chief desire,

And bring us when this life is done

To everlasting joy and peace.

Canticle of Sirach 39:13-16a

Like cinnamon, or fragrant balm, or precious myrrh,/ I give forth perfume;/ Like galbanum and onycha and sweet spices,/ like the odor of incense in the holy place. (Sir 24:15)

On earth, the Blessed Virgin Mary offered her life in that obedient service that is true worship of God. In heaven, she leads the song of eternal praise that rises like incense before the throne of God.

Listen, my faithful children: open up your petals,

like roses planted near running waters;

send up the sweet odor of incense,

break forth in blossoms like the lily.

Send up the sweet odor of your hymn of praise;

bless the Lord for all he has done!

Proclaim the greatness of his name,

loudly sing his praises,

with music on the harp and all stringed instruments;

sing out with joy as you proclaim:

The works of God are all of them good.

Glory to the Father….

Word of God. Exodus 40:25-27

He set up the lamps before the Lord, as the Lord had commanded him. He placed the golden altar in the meeting tent, in front of the veil, and on it he burned fragrant incense, as the Lord had commanded him.

You shall worship the Lord, your God,/

and him alone shall you serve. (Lk 4:8)

Canticle of Zechariah

Be imitators of God, as beloved children, and live in love, as Christ loved us and handed himself over for us as a sacrificial offering to God for a fragrant aroma. (Eph 5:1-2)

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 offer the incense of our prayer to God, praying:

R/We praise you, O Lord!

You chose the Blessed Virgin Mary to bear your Son, the Eternal Word:

– instill in us her willingness to take our place in the work of redemption. R/

You inspired the Blessed Virgin Mary to sing a hymn of praise to your name:

– teach us so to live that we might pray without ceasing. R/

You sustained the Blessed Virgin Mary with the faith and courage to stand beneath the cross:

– grant us the patience to accept our sufferings in service to your glory. R/

You made of the Blessed Virgin Mary a worthy sacrifice of praise for your glory and our good:

– shape our lives into an offering fit to bring before you at the hour of our death. R/

Personal intentions

Our Father….

O God, worthy of all praise, the Mother of your Word sings for all eternity the hymn of your praise that she began on earth. By her example and intercession, lead all the Church so to live in this world that we may praise you for ever with her in the next. 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.

Prayer for the Evening

Jesus Christ has opened the gates of heaven:

come, let us adore him!

Glory to the Father…. Alleluia!

HYMN

The strife is o’er, the battle done;

Now is the Victor’s triumph won;

O let the song of praise be sung: R/

R/Alleluia, Alleluia! Alleluia!

Death’s mightiest pow’rs have done their worst;

And Jesus has his foes dispersed;

Let shouts of praise and joy outburst: R/

He closed the yawning gates of hell;

The bars from heaven’s high portals fell;

Let hymns of praise his triumphs tell! R/

Lord, by the stripes which wounded thee,

From death’s dread sting thy servants free,

That we may live, and sing to thee: R/

Canticle. Isaiah 25:6-9

Our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we also await a savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. He will change our lowly body to conform with his glorified body by the power that enables him also to bring all things into subjection to himself. (Phil 3:20-21)

The “faithful departed” are all who have left this earth in God’s friendship, who are being purified in the fires of purgatory so that they can enjoy his presence in heaven forever. As we look in hope toward the promised rewards of heaven, we pray today for all our beloved dead.

On this mountain the Lord of hosts

will provide for all peoples

A feast of rich food and choice wines,

juicy, rich food and pure, choice wines.

On this mountain he will destroy

the veil that veils all peoples,

The web that is woven over all nations;

he will destroy death forever.

The Lord God 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.

On that day it will be said:

“Behold our God, to whom we looked to save us!

This is the Lord for whom we looked;

let us rejoice and be glad that he has saved us!”

Glory to the Father….

Word of God. John 14:1-3

Do not let your hearts be troubled. You have faith in God; have faith also in me. In my Father’s house there are many dwelling places. If there were not, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back again and take you to myself, so that where I am you also may be.

Remain faithful until death, and I will give you

the crown of life. (Rv 2:10)

Canticle of Mary

Beloved, we are God’s children now; what we shall be has not yet been revealed. We do know that when it is revealed we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. (1 Jn 3:2)

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…

Intercessions

With trust in God’s promises, we ask mercy for ourselves and for the holy souls in purgatory:

R/Christ our life, hear our prayer.

Grant us the grace of perseverance in prayer and in virtue,

– that, in growing closer to you in this life, we may prepare for life eternal. R/

Through your sorrowful Passion and glorious Resurrection,

– rescue our souls and theirs from suffering hereafter. R/

May the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God,

– rest in peace. R/

Personal intentions

Our Father….

May the choir of Angels receive us and, with Lazarus, who was once poor, may we enjoy eternal rest. Amen. (In Paradisum)

Marian Antiphon

Medieval Antiphon

Rejoice, O Mother of God, O Virgin Immaculate;

[rejoice], you who received joy from an angel;

rejoice, you who bore the glory of the light everlasting;

[rejoice], O Mother, rejoice,

O holy Virgin Mother of God;

you alone a maiden Mother,

all creation praises you, the Mother of light;

may you be for us, we beseech you,

a perpetual intercessor.

Salve Regina

Salve, Regina, mater misericordiae;

vita, dulcedo, et spes nostra, salve.

Ad te clamamus, exsules filii Evae.

Ad te suspiramus, gementes et flentes

in hac lacrimarum valle.

Eia ergo, advocata nostra,

illos tuos misericordes oculos

ad nos converte.

Et Iesum, benedictum fructum ventris tui,

nobis post hoc exsilium ostende.

O clemens, O pia, O dulcis Virgo Maria.

Hail Holy Queen

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 valley of tears.

Turn then, O most gracious advocate,

your eyes of mercy toward us,

and after this our exile

show unto us the blessed fruit of your womb, Jesus.

O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary.

V/ Pray for us, O holy Mother of God,

R/ That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

Alma Redemptoris Mater

Alma Redemptoris Mater, quae pervia caeli

porta manes, et stella maris, succurre cadenti,

surgere qui curat, populo: tu quae genuisti,

natura mirante, tuum sanctum Genitorem,

Virgo prius ac posterius, Gabrielis ab ore

sumens illud Ave, peccatorum miserere.

Loving mother of the Redeemer

Loving mother of the Redeemer,

gate of heaven, star of the sea,

assist your people who have fallen yet strive

to rise again.

To the wonderment of nature you bore your Creator,

yet remained a virgin after as before.

You who received Gabriel’s joyful greeting,

have pity on us, poor sinners.

V/ Pray for us, O holy Mother of God,

R/ That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

sharing the faith received

sharing the faith received

Recent Comments

Articles

Prayers

Exhortations

Saints and More

Recent Comments

Articles

Prayers

Exhortations

Saints and More

Prayer for the Morning

HYMN

Canticle. Exodus 15:3-13

Word of God. Jeremiah 5:22

CANTICLE OF ZECHARIAH

INTERCESSIONS

READ MORE

Prayer for the Evening

HYMN

PSALM 42:1-4, 6, 9

Word of God. 1 Corinthians 1:27-28

CANTICLE OF MARY

INTERCESSIONS

Marian Antiphon

Medieval Antiphon

Salve Regina

Hail Holy Queen

Alma Redemptoris Mater

Loving mother of the Redeemer

READ MORE

When the world turns to shades of black and gray, say this prayer to St Jude for hope

Read More

Prayer for the Morning

HYMN

PSALM 9:2-11

Word of God. Isaiah 38:18-20

CANTICLE OF ZECHARIAH

INTERCESSIONS

READ MORE

When visiting the tomb of Saint André Bessette, John Paul II offered this short and beautiful prayer.

Saint John Paul II’s wonderful prayer to Saint Joseph

Read More

Prayer for the Evening

HYMN

PSALM 21:2-9, 14

Word of God. Mark 1:14-15

TE DEUM

INTERCESSIONS

Marian Antiphon

Medieval Antiphon

SALVE REGINA

HAIL HOLY QUEEN

ALMA REDEMPTORIS MATER

LOVING MOTHER OF THE REDEEMER

READ MORE

Prayer for the Morning

HYMN

PSALM 146

Word of God. Luke 7:21-22

CANTICLE OF ZECHARIAH

INTERCESSIONS

Read More

Prayer for the Evening

HYMN

PSALM 72:1-4, 7, 12-14, 18-19

Word of God. Matthew 13:44-45

TE DEUM

Intercessions

Marian Antiphon

Medieval Antiphon

SALVE REGINA

HAIL HOLY QUEEN

ALMA REDEMPTORIS MATER

LOVING MOTHER OF THE REDEEMER

READ MORE

Prayer for the Morning

Hymn

Canticle of Sirach 39:13-16a