Saint Paulinus of Nola;
Saints John Fisher and Thomas More
Prayer for the Morning
Christ is our glory and our shield:
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
Glory to you who safe have kept
And have refreshed me while I slept:
Grant, Lord, when I from death shall wake,
I may of endless light partake.
Lord, I renew my vows to you;
Scatter my foes as morning dew;
Guard my first springs of thought and will,
And with yourself my spirit fill.
CANTICLE OF ISAIAH 33:2, 5-6
The One who rules over men in justice/ Is like the morning light at sunrise/ on a cloudless morning,/ making the greensward sparkle after rain. (cf. 2 Sm 23:3-4)
Every morning we arise afresh in Christ our light. Ancient Christian writers warn against “morning demons”: yesterday’s worries and grievances returning to poison the new day.
O Lord, have pity on us, for you we wait.
Be our strength every morning,
our salvation in time of trouble!
The Lord is exalted, enthroned on high;
he fills Zion with right and justice.
That which makes her seasons lasting,
the riches that save her, are wisdom and knowledge;
the fear of the Lord is her treasure.
Glory to the Father….
Word of God (Ephesians 5:14-15)
Everything that becomes visible is light. Therefore, it says:/ “Awake, O sleeper,/ and arise from the dead,/ and Christ will give you light.”/ Watch carefully then how you live, not as foolish persons but as wise.
In the morning you will see the glory of the LORD.
(Ex 16:7)
CANTICLE OF ZECHARIAH
The favors of the Lord are not exhausted,/ his mercies are not spent;/ They are renewed each morning,/ so great is his faithfulness. (Lam 3:22-23)
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
Jesus Christ is our light and our life. To him we pray:
R/O Lord of salvation, bless your people!
Grant us fresh hope at the beginning of this day:
– that we may live it for your glory and our neighbor’s good. R/
Relieve us of the burden of old worries and stored grievances:
– that we may pass through the narrow gate that leads to the Kingdom. R/
Protect us from recurring fears:
– that we may serve you in freedom and in peace. R/
Heal all those who labor under the pain of depression, scrupulosity, and anxiety:
– that all may know the joy of your love. R/
(Personal intentions)
Our Father….
Lord Jesus Christ, you have brought us safely to this new day, as you have promised to bring us safely to dwell with you one day in your Kingdom of light. Defend us against all that would weigh us down and slow our steps, so that we may run with delight in the way of your Gospel, who live and reign with the Father in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
