PRAYER FOR THIS MORNING (THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 3)

Saint Gregory the Great

Prayer for the Morning

Jesus Christ is the power of God

and the wisdom of God:

come, 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

The Molder of the turning world

Whose pow’r no mortal mind can know

Dispelling chaos holds apart

The swirling waters’ massive flow.

The sky is fashioned for the clouds,

The earth is veined in myriad streams,

To staunch the sun’s corrosive heat

And cool the harshness of her flames.

Good Father, send in time of need

The calming gift of silent grace,

Lest in our hearts deceit should tear

The quiet fabric of your peace.

In this great darkness make our faith

A light to be our constant guide

That we may choose the narrow way

And not the way of wounded pride.

CANTICLE OF SIRACH 14:20; 15:3-6

Jesus said, “Everyone who listens to these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on rock.” (cf. Mt 7:24)

Saint Gregory the Great prayed, lived, and taught the wisdom of God’s Word. On that rock he sought to build up the faith of the Church, which he served through his labors as pope.

Happy the man who meditates on wisdom,

and reflects on knowledge.

She will nourish him with the bread of understanding,

and give him the water of learning to drink.

He will lean upon her and not fall,

he will trust in her and not be put to shame.

She will exalt him above his fellows;

in the assembly she will make him eloquent.

Joy and gladness he will find,

an everlasting name inherit.

Glory to the Father….

Word of God (Sirach 45:7, 17)

[God] made him perpetual in his office/ when he bestowed on him the priesthood of his people;/ He established him in honor/ and crowned him with lofty majesty./ He gave to him his laws,/ and authority to ­prescribe and to judge:/ To teach the precepts to his ­people,/ and the ritual to the descendants of Israel.

He was filled with the spirit of understanding.

(cf. Sir 39:6)

CANTICLE OF ZECHARIAH 

He poured forth his words of wisdom/ and in prayer gave thanks to the Lord,/ Who directed his knowledge and his counsel. (cf. Sir 39:6-7)

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 Jesus Christ, God’s Wisdom and Word, through the intercession of Saint Gregory:

R/Let your Spirit come to us.

O Wisdom of God, through you all things were made:

– remake the human race in God’s own image. R/

O Wisdom of God, you are the truth by which we live:

– pour out upon us all the gift of true discernment. R/

O Wisdom of God, you speak through all the wise:

– make wise all those who study, preach, and teach your Word. R/

O Wisdom of God, you inspire all good works:

– lead in faithful labor all those who labor in your

name. R/

(Personal intentions)

Our Father….

God our Father, you inspired in Saint Gregory an ­abiding love for word and worship. Through his intercession, continue to nourish your people from this fountain of life, which rises from the heart of Jesus Christ, our Rock, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.