Prayer for the Morning
God’s will is our heritage for ever:
with joy, 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
O raise your voices! Wake the world!
And let your songs of praise be heard!
For both in town and desert waste
God’s glory finds a dwelling place.
This servant heard within his heart
A call to leave his fam’ly hearth.
He heard, he answered, left his home
And gave away the goods he owned.
He gave his life to hear God’s word
And then proclaim it to the world.
He listened, fasted, suffered, prayed
And stood in darkness undismayed.
O praise the Father, wake the world!
And let the Son’s own praise be heard!
And praise in town or desert waste
The Spirit glorified in grace.
Psalm 119:105-112
Jesus said to him, “If you wish to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to [the] poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” (Mt 19:21)
Upon hearing the Gospel story of the rich young man read in church one day, Saint Anthony sold all he had and abandoned a comfortable life for the solitude of the desert. He inspired countless men and women to follow his example of prayer and asceticism, to attune the heart to hear the Word of God and live it intensely.
Your word is a lamp for my steps
and a light for my path.
I have sworn and have made up my mind
to obey your decrees.
Lord, I am deeply afflicted:
by your word give me life.
Accept, Lord, the homage of my lips
and teach me your decrees.
Though I carry my life in my hands,
I remember your law.
Though the wicked try to ensnare me
I do not stray from your precepts.
Your will is my heritage for ever,
the joy of my heart.
I set myself to carry out your will
in fullness, for ever.
Glory to the Father….
Word of God. Mark 8:34-37
[Jesus] summoned the crowd with his disciples and said to them, “Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and that of the gospel will save it. What profit is there for one to gain the whole world and forfeit his life? What could one give in exchange for his life?”
Whoever has ears ought to hear. (Mt 11:15)
Canticle of Zechariah
Blessed are the poor in spirit,/ for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. (Mt 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
With Saint Anthony, let us pray for ears to hear and hearts to keep God’s Word and will:
R/Your Word is a lamp for our steps.
You called Saint Anthony to abandon home and heritage to follow your Word:
– grant us the wisdom to seek first the kingdom of God and trust that all else will be given us besides. R/
You called Saint Anthony to wrestle with the choice of good over evil:
– grant us the courage to persevere in keeping your Word. R/
You called Saint Anthony to lead others to holiness:
– grant us the faith to live as beacons of light for
others. R/
(Personal intentions)
Our Father….
Lord God of wilderness and city, you call men and women in every age to follow in the footsteps of your Son. Keep all disciples faithful to the Gospel in the walk of life to which you have appointed them, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Read More
Why is Saint Anthony depicted holding the Child Jesus?
This prayer to St. Anthony is called the “Miracle Prayer”
