PRAYER FOR THIS MORNING (WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 30)
Saint Jerome
Prayer for the Morning
The Word of the Lord endures for ever:
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
Jerome the ardent, strong and keen ascetic,
Eminent scholar, steeped in erudition,
Greatly we praise him since all ages profit
By his wide knowledge.
Learned and tireless, nothing could deter him
From patient study, though when critics pressed him,
Fierce as a lion, he would swiftly answer
In refutation.
Sparing no labor, he explored with relish
Scripture’s green pastures, digging for its treasure,
That in its pages many should find graces
Rich and abundant.
Seeking the silence of the lonely desert
Christ’s lowly birthplace won his predilection;
There to his labors and his prayer he added
Penance and fasting.
PSALM 119:105-112
Now indeed I know that you are a man of God. The word of the Lord comes truly from your mouth. (cf. 1 Kgs 17:24)
Saint Jerome lived intensely by the light of God’s Word through study, prayer, and the painstaking work of translating it into the vernacular, which was Latin at the time, and writing commentaries on it.
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 (2 Timothy 3:14-17)
Remain faithful to what you have learned and believed, because you know from whom you learned it, and that from infancy you have known [the] sacred scriptures, which are capable of giving you wisdom for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching, for refutation, for correction, and for training in righteousness, so that one who belongs to God may be competent, equipped for every good work.
Behold, I make my words/ in your mouth, a fire.
(Jer 5:14)
CANTICLE OF ZECHARIAH
Jesus answered and said to him, “Whoever loves me will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our dwelling with him.” (Jn 14:23)
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
God speaks his Word to all peoples. In gratitude, let us pray:
R/Speak, Lord; your servants are listening!
For all students and teachers of your Word:
– fill them with the spirit of wisdom and understanding. R/
For all translators of your Word:
– grant them patience and perseverance at their difficult task. R/
For all who pray your Word:
– fill us with love for you and for the gift of the Scriptures. R/
(Personal intentions)
Our Father….
O God, you illumined Saint Jerome with love for your Word and for the task of proclaiming it to others. Shine on your people’s path, that we may walk always in the light of your Word toward your heavenly Kingdom, through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
