Morning Prayer (Lauds)

If this is the first Hour that you are reciting today, you should precede it with the Invitatory Psalm.

Introduction

O God, come to my aid.

O Lord, make haste to help me.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,

as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,

world without end.

Amen. Alleluia.

Hymn

The wingèd herald of the day

Proclaims the morn’s approaching ray:

And Christ the Lord our souls excites,

And so to endless life invites.

‘Take up thy bed,’ to each he cries

Who sick, or wrapped in slumber lies:

‘And chaste, and just, and sober stand

And watch; my coming is at hand.’

With earnest cry, with tearful care,

Call we the Lord to hear our prayer:

While supplications, pure and deep,

Forbid each chastened heart to sleep.

Do thou, O Christ, our slumbers wake;

Do thou the chains of darkness break:

Purge thou our former sins away,

And in our souls new light display.

All laud to God the Father be;

All praise, eternal Son, to thee;

All glory, as is ever meet,

To God the Holy Paraclete.

Psalm 23 (24) The Lord comes to his temple

Who will climb the mountain of the Lord? The one who is pure of heart and innocent of wrongdoing.

The Lord’s is the earth and its fullness,

the world and all who live in it.

He himself founded it upon the seas

and set it firm over the waters.

Who will climb the mountain of the Lord?

Who will stand in his holy place?

The one who is innocent of wrongdoing and pure of heart,

who has not given himself to vanities or sworn falsely.

He will receive the blessing of the Lord

and be justified by God his saviour.

This is the way of those who seek him,

seek the face of the God of Jacob.

Gates, raise your heads. Stand up, eternal doors,

and let the king of glory enter.

Who is the king of glory?

The Lord of might and power.

The Lord, strong in battle.

Gates, raise your heads. Stand up, eternal doors,

and let the king of glory enter.

Who is the king of glory?

The Lord of hosts

– he is the king of glory.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,

as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,

world without end.

Amen.

Who will climb the mountain of the Lord? The one who is pure of heart and innocent of wrongdoing.

Canticle	Tobit 13

God punishes and God saves

Exalt the King of eternity in everything you do.

Blessed be God who lives for ever,

whose kingdom is eternal:

for he both punishes and takes pity,

he leads down to the underworld,

and rescues from perdition;

no one can escape him.

Give thanks to him before all nations, children of Israel:

he scattered you among them,

and there he has made known his greatness.

Give glory to him before all who live:

he is our Lord, our father,

and our God for ever.

He will punish you for your transgressions;

but he will take pity on all your sufferings,

and gather you together from all the nations

among whom he scattered you.

If you turn back to him

with all your heart and soul

– if you keep faithful to him –

he will turn back to you

and hide his face no longer.

So now look at what he has done with you,

and praise him with all your might.

Bless the Lord of justice,

and glorify the eternal King.

In the land of my captivity I trust in him;

I show his power and majesty to the sinful people.

Turn back, sinners,

and be upright in his presence

– perhaps he will forgive you and show you his favour.

I will rejoice in the Lord with all my soul,

my soul will rejoice as long as it lives.

Bless the Lord, all his chosen ones:

all people, praise his greatness.

Fill your days with joy

and proclaim his glory.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,

as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,

world without end.

Amen.

Exalt the King of eternity in everything you do.

Psalm 32 (33) The Lord provides

It is good for the upright to praise the Lord.

Rejoice in the Lord, you just:

it is good for the upright to praise him.

Proclaim the Lord on the lyre,

play his song on the ten-stringed harp.

Sing a new song to the Lord,

sing out your cries of triumph,

for the word of the Lord is truly just,

and all his actions are faithful.

The Lord loves justice and right judgement;

the earth is full of his loving kindness.

By the Lord’s word the heavens were made,

and all their array by the breath of his mouth.

He gathered the seas as if in a bag,

he stored up the depths in his treasury.

Let every land fear the Lord,

let all the world be awed at his presence.

For he spoke, and they came into being;

he commanded, and they were made.

The Lord confounds the counsel of the nations,

throws the thoughts of the peoples into confusion.

But the Lord’s own counsel stands firm for ever,

his thoughts last for all generations.

Happy the nation whose lord is God,

the people he has chosen as his inheritance.

The Lord looks down from the heavens

and sees all the children of men.

From his dwelling-place he looks

upon all who inhabit the earth.

He moulded each one of their hearts,

he understands all that they do.

The king will not be saved by his forces;

the abundance of his strength will not set the strong man free.

Do not trust a horse to save you,

whatever its swiftness and strength.

For see, the eyes of the Lord are on those who fear him,

upon those who trust in his mercy,

hoping he will save their souls from death

and their bodies from hunger.

Our souls praise the Lord,

for he is our help and our protector,

for our hearts rejoice in him,

and we trust in his holy name.

Lord, show us your loving kindness,

just as we put our hope in you.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,

as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,

world without end.

Amen.

It is good for the upright to praise the Lord.

Short reading	Romans 13:11,12-13 ©

You must wake up now: the night is almost over, it will be daylight soon. Let us give up all the things we prefer to do under cover of the dark; let us arm ourselves and appear in the light. Let us live decently as people do in the daytime.

Short Responsory

God is my helper and I will put my trust in him.

– God is my helper and I will put my trust in him.

He is my refuge and my liberator.

– God is my helper and I will put my trust in him.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.

– God is my helper and I will put my trust in him.

Canticle	Benedictus

The Messiah and his forerunner

The Lord has raised up the sign of salvation, as he promised through his prophets.

Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel,

for he has come to his people and brought about their redemption.

He has raised up the sign of salvation

in the house of his servant David,

as he promised through the mouth of the holy ones,

his prophets through the ages:

to rescue us from our enemies

and all who hate us,

to take pity on our fathers,

to remember his holy covenant

and the oath he swore to Abraham our father,

that he would give himself to us,

that we could serve him without fear

– freed from the hands of our enemies –

in uprightness and holiness before him,

for all of our days.

And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High:

for you will go before the face of the Lord to prepare his path,

to let his people know their salvation,

so that their sins may be forgiven.

Through the bottomless mercy of our God,

one born on high will visit us

to give light to those who walk in darkness,

who live in the shadow of death;

to lead our feet in the path of peace.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,

as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,

world without end.

Amen.

The Lord has raised up the sign of salvation, as he promised through his prophets.

Prayers and Intercessions

We are called to heaven, beloved brethren, so let us bless Jesus, high priest of our faith, and call on him:

– Lord, you are our God and our saviour.

Almighty King, through our baptism you have made us a royal priesthood:

may we offer you a constant sacrifice of praise.

– Lord, you are our God and our saviour.

Help us to keep your commandments

so that through the Holy Spirit we may dwell in you, and you in us.

– Lord, you are our God and our saviour.

Give us your eternal wisdom

so that it may be with us today and work with us.

– Lord, you are our God and our saviour.

Grant that today we may bring sadness to no-one

but on the contrary, give happiness to all we meet.

– Lord, you are our God and our saviour.

Our Father, who art in Heaven,

hallowed be thy name.

Thy kingdom come,

thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread,

and forgive us our trespasses

as we forgive those who trespass against us,

and lead us not into temptation,

but deliver us from evil.

Lord, look with favour on our morning prayers.

Brighten the inmost places of our hearts with your love so that no dark desires can hide there:

heal us with the light of your heavenly grace.

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.

May the Lord bless us and keep us from all harm; and may he lead us to eternal life.

AMEN

The Word Among Us

Meditation: Jeremiah 14:17-22

“Let my eyes stream with tears.” (Jeremiah 14:17)

It’s always easier to hear a message of hope than a message of woe. That’s why the people of Jerusalem found it hard to accept many of Jeremiah’s prophecies. He warned them that unless they turned back to God, their land would suffer the consequences. Unfortunately, everything Jeremiah said came to pass: drought, famine, an invading army, and finally exile. What can possibly inspire us about this tragic tale?

If we look around, we can see at least as many problems today as existed in Jeremiah’s time. In fact, if we think about it long enough, we may also be moved to tears. What of all the pain caused by abortion, drug addiction, and domestic violence? What of the poor who live in unimaginable squalor? As God’s people, we must surely empathize with all of the sadness, loss, and suffering.

But our response doesn’t have to end there. In fact, it would be unchristian to let it stay there. Many critics of religion point to suffering as a reason not to believe in God, but we can say exactly the opposite. God’s will is not to cause suffering but to stop it. That’s why he sent his Son! Jesus came to free us from sin and to give us the “ministry of reconciliation” (2 Corinthians 5:18). He came to bring heaven down to earth and he now calls all of us to build that kingdom here and now.

We shouldn’t just sit around and watch things get worse. We all share in Jesus’ office of priest, prophet, and king. Sometimes we’re called to be like priests and minister his healing and his salvation to those who are hurting and alone. At other times we can act as prophets, speaking the word of the Lord to those who have lost hope or don’t know if they can trust in God. And we can exercise kingly gifts: providing food, shelter, and justice for the marginalized, the, poor, and the neglected.

Yes, our eyes should “stream with tears.” But at the same time our hands and feet should be just as busy, bringing hope and healing to all God’s people.

“Lord, give me compassion for the wounded people you have placed in my path. Give me the courage to reach out to them and the wisdom to help them as best I can.”

Psalm 79:8-9,11,13; Matthew 13:36-43

Secret Harbor ~ Portus Secretioris

27 July 2010

Be Simple as Doves

God would not be infinite Goodness and Wisdom if, seeking and even demanding our love, He had not at the same time made it possible for us to enter into this intimacy with Himself. The means He has provided, and of which we can be absolutely certain, to enter into immediate contact with Him, are the theological virtues and the gifts which accompany them.

By faith we adhere to the truth of the divine life offered to us. By charity this life becomes ours. By hope we are certain, with the help of grace, to live this life more and more, and finally to possess it forever in eternity.

This is the essence of all true and real prayer. Instead of frittering away our time of prayer on various points; instead of philosophizing about God, multiplying acts of the intellect, of the will and the imagination, in order to conjure up ‘pictures’ of what we are thinking about, how simpler it is to go to God directly in our hearts. Seek Him in simplicity of heart ~ Wisdom 1:1. It is Our Lord Himself Who gives us the invitation. Be simple as doves ~ Saint Matthew 10:16. Man is a complex being, but it would be a pity if he introduced his complications into his relations with God. God, on the contrary, is simplicity itself. The more complicated we are, therefore, the farther we stray from Him; the simpler we are, on the other hand, the closer we come to Him.

We have seen that God, our Father, is present in us. When a child wants to talk to his father he does not make use of a manual of etiquette or a code of manners: he speaks in a simple and unaffected way, without formality; and we must do the same with our heavenly Father. He Himself said: Unless you become as little children, you shall not enter into the Kingdom of heaven ~ Saint Matthew 18:3. A mother never grows tired of hearing her little one say: ‘Mother, I love you’. It is the same with God. The more childlike our prayer, the more it is pleasing to Him. After all it was He Who chose for Himself the name of Father. It is the Holy Spirit Who cries in us: Abba, Pater ~ Galatians 4:6. It is the Holy Spirit also Who places on our lips the inspired words of Scripture and of other liturgical texts.

Our prayer, then, must be quite simple – as simple as possible. All we have to do is to place ourselves on our knees, and with complete sincerity make our acts of faith, hope and love. There is no method of prayer more certain, more elevated, and more salutary than this.

~ Dom Jean-Baptiste Porion ~

Vespers -- Evening Prayer

Vespers (Evening Prayer)

Introduction

O God, come to my aid.

O Lord, make haste to help me.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,

as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,

world without end.

Amen. Alleluia.

Hymn

O God, Creator of the world,

And King of heaven, sending light

Most beautiful to clothe the day,

And grace of sleep to come by night.

That so in rest our slackened limbs

Grow strong for work as dawns the day,

And wearied minds be fresh again,

As light drives anxious care away.

With bounden thanks, with offered vows,

With prayers and hymns our debt we pay,

Beseeching thee to keep us safe

As night draws nigh, as ends the day.

Psalm 19 (20) Prayer for victory

The Lord will grant victory to his Anointed One.

May the Lord hear your prayer in the day of tribulation,

may the name of the God of Jacob protect you.

May he send you help from his holy place;

from Zion, may he extend his protection.

May he remember every one of your sacrifices

and find merit in your burnt-offerings.

May he deal with you as your heart desires

and bring all your plans to fulfilment.

We will rejoice in your salvation,

we will raise our banners in the name of God;

may the Lord grant all your prayers.

Now I know that the Lord keeps his anointed one safe:

in his sanctuary in heaven he hears his prayer,

and lends the support of his strong right hand.

Some put their faith in chariots

and some in horses,

but we invoked the name of the Lord our God.

They stumbled and fell,

but we rose and we stand upright.

Lord, keep the king safe,

and hear our prayer whenever we call upon you.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,

as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,

world without end.

Amen.

The Lord will grant victory to his Anointed One.

Psalm 20 (21) Thanksgiving for victory

We shall sing of your power.

Lord, the king will rejoice in your strength,

he will triumph in your saving power.

You have granted him his heart’s desire,

you have not denied the wish that he spoke.

For you showered him with blessings

even before he asked for them.

You have placed a crown of purest gold upon his head.

He asked you for life,

and you granted it to him,

length of days for ever and for ever.

Great is his glory through your help:

you cover him with splendour and majesty.

You lay a blessing upon him that will last for ever,

you make him rejoice in joy before you.

For the king hopes in the Lord,

and through the kindness of the Most High he will not be shaken.

Stand high above us, Lord, in your power;

and we will sing and celebrate your might.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,

as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,

world without end.

Amen.

We shall sing of your power.

Canticle	Apocalypse 4,5

The song of the redeemed

Lord, you have made us a kingdom and a priesthood for our God.

You are worthy, our Lord and our God,

to receive glory and honour and power;

for you made all things,

and it is by your will that they exist and were created.

You are worthy, Lord,

to receive the book and open its seals,

for you were killed,

and with your blood you have ransomed people

from every tribe and language and people and nation,

and made them rulers and priests for God;

and they will rule over the earth.

The Lamb is worthy, who was killed,

to receive power and riches and wisdom,

strength and honour, glory and blessing.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,

as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,

world without end.

Amen.

Lord, you have made us a kingdom and a priesthood for our God.

Short reading	1 John 3:1,2 ©

Think of the love that the Father has lavished on us,

by letting us be called God’s children;

and that is what we are.

My dear people, we are already the children of God

but what we are to be in the future has not yet been revealed;

all we know is, that when it is revealed

we shall be like him

because we shall see him as he really is.

Short Responsory

Your word, O Lord, will last for ever.

– Your word, O Lord, will last for ever.

Your truth endures from age to age.

– Your word, O Lord, will last for ever.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.

– Your word, O Lord, will last for ever.

Canticle	Magnificat

My soul rejoices in the Lord

My soul rejoices in God my saviour.

My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord,

and my spirit rejoices in God, my salvation.

For he has shown me such favour –

me, his lowly handmaiden.

Now all generations will call me blessed,

because the mighty one has done great things for me.

His name is holy,

his mercy lasts for generation after generation

for those who revere him.

He has put forth his strength:

he has scattered the proud and conceited,

torn princes from their thrones;

but lifted up the lowly.

He has filled the hungry with good things;

the rich he has sent away empty.

He has come to the help of his servant Israel,

he has remembered his mercy as he promised to our fathers,

to Abraham and his children for ever.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,

as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,

world without end.

Amen.

My soul rejoices in God my saviour.

Prayers and Intercessions

Christ the Lord lives among us and we are his adopted people. Let us praise him and offer him our prayers:

– Lord, listen to us and show your greatness.

Lord, king and ruler of the nations, guide all peoples and all who exercise power

that they may work together for the common good, according to your laws.

– Lord, listen to us and show your greatness.

You conquered our captivity and took it prisoner:

restore to freedom our brethren who are captive in body or in soul.

– Lord, listen to us and show your greatness.

May our young grow up irreproachable in your sight

and may they wholeheartedly follow you when you call.

– Lord, listen to us and show your greatness.

Make children follow your example

and move steadily forward in wisdom and grace.

– Lord, listen to us and show your greatness.

Take up the dead into your eternal kingdom

where we hope one day to rule at your side.

– Lord, listen to us and show your greatness.

Our Father, who art in Heaven,

hallowed be thy name.

Thy kingdom come,

thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread,

and forgive us our trespasses

as we forgive those who trespass against us,

and lead us not into temptation,

but deliver us from evil.

Lord God almighty, we thank you that you have brought us through the day to this evening.

We lift our hands to you in thanks:

accept this as our sacrifice to you.

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.

May the Lord bless us and keep us from all harm; and may he lead us to eternal life.

AMEN

Regnum Christi

God’s Final Harvest

INTERNATIONAL | SPIRITUAL LIFE | SPIRITUALITY

Tuesday, 17th Week in Ordinary Time

July 27, 2010
Tuesday of the Seventeenth Week in Ordinary Time
Father Ernest Daly, LC

Matthew 13: 36-43

Jesus dismissed the crowds and went into the house. His disciples approached him and said, "Explain to us the parable of the weeds in the field." He said in reply, "He who sows good seed is the Son of Man, the field is the world, the good seed the children of the Kingdom. The weeds are the children of the Evil One, and the enemy who sows them is the Devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the harvesters are angels. Just as weeds are collected and burned up with fire, so will it be at the end of the age. The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will collect out of his Kingdom all who cause others to sin and all evildoers. They will throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth. Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the Kingdom of their Father. Whoever has ears ought to hear."

Introductory Prayer: Lord, thank you for this new day. I believe that you are present in my heart. I believe that you want to give me your wisdom to live this life fruitfully. I trust that your mercy will protect me as I struggle against evil. I love you because you have overcome evil by your cross and resurrection. I want to live this moment of prayer as an intense moment to be transformed by you.

Petition: Lord, help me to look forward to your triumph with hope.

1. He is Watching Us The difference between good and evil is not lost for God. He knows the struggles we have to live goodness in this world that is often so impregnated with evil. He assures us that he sees the good that is done and will give recompense for it. I should strive to live each day knowing that I am seen by God and consistently try to sow goodness in my life.

2. The Limit of Evil When sometimes it seems like evil can triumph in the world, we need to recognize that God has the last say over evil. He mysteriously allows evil to exist so that good can become purified. There will be a moment when evil will be judged and will no longer have power over our lives. If we have sowed goodness with our lives and if we are living in God’s grace, he will free us from the domain of evil forever. Let us build up our confidence in the coming of his kingdom. Let us use the struggle against evil as a way to show the sincerity of our love.

3. We Reap What We Sow The assurance of Christ that there will be a final judgment gives Christians both soberness and joy in living their lives. We know our efforts are not in vain. We realize that this life is the short opportunity the Father gives us to do good and prepare for our great destiny with him. When I am tempted to lose patience in the fight, I must remember that the struggles will soon be over, and God will more than recompense for the sacrifices I have made in following his will and promoting goodness in the world.

Conversation with Christ: Lord, I believe that you are in charge of my life. I renew my trust in the triumph of your holiness in my life. When I feel the pull of evil in my heart, I will remember that this life is short and that my struggle is precious in your eyes. Help me to keep my eyes on the happiness you are preparing for me.

Resolution: I will speak about the joy of receiving the sacrament of reconciliation with someone I meet today, planting in that person’s heart the seed of the desire to receive this sacrament.

Homily of the Day

Don’t Shoot from the Hip!

July 27th, 2010 by Monsignor Dennis Clark Print This Article ·

Jer 14:17-22 / Mt 13:36-43

Experience teaches us that things are not always as they seem, and it often takes considerable time to discern what is good and true and what is not. How fleeting are so many of our friendships, our political beliefs, our values and preferences. Our “deeply-held” convictions can sometimes have a half-life of mere days or weeks.

Growing in wisdom involves a winnowing and sorting process which takes time. And the taking of that time is what Jesus is urging upon us in today’s gospel. How can we know what is really a “weed” or really good “grain?” We can’t in the beginning. We have to let them grow to maturity and bear fruit. “By their fruits you shall know them,” and those fruits are often a surprise.

So take your time before passing judgment. Don’t “shoot from the hip.” Too many good things have died that way!c

One Bread, One Body

<< Tuesday, July 27, 2010 >>

Saint of the Day

Jeremiah 14:17-22
View Readings

Psalm 79:8-9, 11, 13

Matthew 13:36-43

APOSTATES

"The Son of Man will dispatch His angels to collect from His kingdom all who draw others to apostasy." —Matthew 13:41

At the end of the world, the Lord will hurl into hell those who have drawn others to apostasy (Mt 13:42). After they've done their "dirty work", then God puts them out of business! Why doesn't God deal with those who confuse His people before they do their damage? It's because He wants to give them maximum time to repent. Therefore, we all have to suffer while waiting for those who draw others to apostasy to be drawn to Jesus.

While we wait in the midst of confusion, lies, and apostasy, the Lord protects us by sending the Holy Spirit to the Church. The Spirit:

raises up teachers who interpret the Bible rightly,
works through the Pope infallibly in matters of faith and morals, and
gives to members of the Church the gift of discernment of spirits (1 Cor 12:10). Because the Spirit works through the Church, we will not apostatize and will even reject the mass apostasy at the end of the world (2 Thes 2:3).

At this point in time, the Lord is not stopping the spirit of the antichrist but rather is pouring forth the Spirit of Truth (see Jn 16:13). The Lord desires to convert His enemies, not defeat them. While guarding us from apostasy, the Lord keeps apostates alive so that all will "be saved and come to know the truth" (1 Tm 2:4).

Prayer: Jesus, thank You for delaying Your Second Coming so that as many as possible will be saved.

Promise: "Is it not You alone, O Lord, our God, to Whom we look? You alone have done all these things." —Jer 14:22

Praise: For more than fifty years Matthew not only resisted but fought the Church, until he finally accepted the grace of repentance and accepted Christ.

Compline -- Night Prayer

Compline (Night Prayer)

Introduction

O God, come to my aid.

O Lord, make haste to help me.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,

as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,

world without end.

Amen. Alleluia.

This is an excellent moment for an examination of conscience. In a communal celebration of Compline, one of the penitential acts given in the Missal may be recited.

Hymn

Now that the daylight dies away,

By all thy grace and love,

Thee, Maker of the world, we pray

To watch our bed above.

Let dreams depart and phantoms fly,

The offspring of the night,

Keep us, like shrines, beneath thine eye,

Pure in our foe’s despite.

This grace on thy redeemed confer,

Father, co-equal Son,

And Holy Ghost, the Comforter,

Eternal Three in One.

Psalm 142 (143) A prayer in time of trouble

Lord, I trust you: do not hide your face from me.

Lord, listen to my prayer:

in your faithfulness turn your ear to my pleading;

in your justice, hear me.

Do not judge your servant:

nothing that lives can justify itself before you.

The enemy has hounded my spirit,

he has crushed my life to the ground,

he has shut me in darkness, like the dead of long ago.

So my spirit trembles within me,

my heart turns to stone.

I remind myself of the days of old,

I reflect on all your works,

I meditate once more on the work of your hands.

I stretch out my arms to you,

I stretch out my soul, like a land without water.

Come quickly and hear me, O Lord,

for my spirit is weakening.

Do not hide your face from me,

do not let me be like the dead,

who go down to the underworld.

Show me your mercy at daybreak,

because of my trust in you.

Tell me the way I should follow,

for I lift up my soul towards you.

Rescue me from my enemies:

Lord, I flee to you for refuge.

Teach me to do your will,

for you are my God.

Your good spirit will lead me to the land of justice;

for your name’s sake, Lord, you will give me life.

In your righteousness you will lead my soul

away from all tribulation.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,

as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,

world without end.

Amen.

Lord, I trust you: do not hide your face from me.

Reading	1 Peter 5:8-9 ©

Be calm and vigilant, because your enemy the devil is prowling round like a roaring lion, looking for someone to eat. Stand up to him, strong in faith.

Short Responsory

Into your hands, Lord, I commend my spirit.

– Into your hands, Lord, I commend my spirit.

You have redeemed us, Lord, God of faithfulness.

– Into your hands, Lord, I commend my spirit.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.

– Into your hands, Lord, I commend my spirit.

Canticle	Nunc Dimittis

Keep us safe, Lord, while we are awake, and guard us as we sleep, so that we can keep watch with Christ and rest in peace.

Now, Master, you let your servant go in peace.

You have fulfilled your promise.

My own eyes have seen your salvation,

which you have prepared in the sight of all peoples.

A light to bring the Gentiles from darkness;

the glory of your people Israel.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,

as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,

world without end.

Amen.

Keep us safe, Lord, while we are awake, and guard us as we sleep, so that we can keep watch with Christ and rest in peace.

Let us pray.

Of your kindness, Lord, dispel the darkness of this night, so that we your servants may go to sleep in peace and wake to the light of the new day, rejoicing in your name.

Through Christ our Lord, Amen.

May the almighty Lord grant us a quiet night and a perfect end.

AMEN

	Salve Regina

Hail to you, O Queen, mother of loving kindness,

our life, our happiness, our hope.

Hear us cry out to you,

children of Eve in our exile.

Hear as we sigh, with groaning and weeping

in this life, this valley of tears.

Come then, our Advocate, turn towards us

the gaze of your kind and loving eyes.

And show us Jesus, the blessed fruit of your womb,

when at last our exile here is ended.

O gentle, O loving, O sweet virgin Mary.

Salve, Regina, mater misericordiae;

vita, dulcedo et spes nostra, salve.

Ad te clamamus, exsules filii Hevae.

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.

Matthew
	English: Douay-Rheims	Latin: Vulgata Clementina	Greek NT: Byzantine/Majority Text (2000)
	Matthew 13
36.	Then having sent away the multitudes, he came into the house, and his disciples came to him, saying: Expound to us the parable of the cockle of the field.	Tunc, dimissis turbis, venit in domum : et accesserunt ad eum discipuli ejus, dicentes : Edissere nobis parabolam zizaniorum agri.	τοτε αφεις τους οχλους ηλθεν εις την οικιαν ο ιησους και προσηλθον αυτω οι μαθηται αυτου λεγοντες φρασον ημιν την παραβολην των ζιζανιων του αγρου
37.	Who made answer and said to them: He that soweth the good seed, is the Son of man.	Qui respondens ait illis : Qui seminat bonum semen, est Filius hominis.	ο δε αποκριθεις ειπεν αυτοις ο σπειρων το καλον σπερμα εστιν ο υιος του ανθρωπου
38.	And the field, is the world. And the good seed are the children of the kingdom. And the cockle, are the children of the wicked one.	Ager autem est mundus. Bonum vero semen, hi sunt filii regnum. Zizania autem, filii sunt nequam.	ο δε αγρος εστιν ο κοσμος το δε καλον σπερμα ουτοι εισιν οι υιοι της βασιλειας τα δε ζιζανια εισιν οι υιοι του πονηρου
39.	And the enemy that sowed them, is the devil. But the harvest is the end of the world. And the reapers are the angels.	Inimicus autem, qui seminavit ea, est diabolus. Messis vero, consummatio sæculi est. Messores autem, angeli sunt.	ο δε εχθρος ο σπειρας αυτα εστιν ο διαβολος ο δε θερισμος συντελεια του αιωνος εστιν οι δε θερισται αγγελοι εισιν
40.	Even as cockle therefore is gathered up, and burnt with fire: so shall it be at the end of the world.	Sicut ergo colliguntur zizania, et igni comburuntur : sic erit in consummatione sæculi.	ωσπερ ουν συλλεγεται τα ζιζανια και πυρι καιεται ουτως εσται εν τη συντελεια του αιωνος τουτου
41.	The Son of man shall send his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all scandals, and them that work iniquity.	Mittet Filius hominis angelos suos, et colligent de regno ejus omnia scandala, et eos qui faciunt iniquitatem :	αποστελει ο υιος του ανθρωπου τους αγγελους αυτου και συλλεξουσιν εκ της βασιλειας αυτου παντα τα σκανδαλα και τους ποιουντας την ανομιαν
42.	And shall cast them into the furnace of fire: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.	et mittent eos in caminum ignis. Ibi erit fletus et stridor dentium.	και βαλουσιν αυτους εις την καμινον του πυρος εκει εσται ο κλαυθμος και ο βρυγμος των οδοντων
43.	Then shall the just shine as the sun, in the kingdom of their Father. He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.	Tunc justi fulgebunt sicut sol in regno Patris eorum. Qui habet aures audiendi, audiat.	τοτε οι δικαιοι εκλαμψουσιν ως ο ηλιος εν τη βασιλεια του πατρος αυτων ο εχων ωτα ακουειν ακουετω

36. Then Jesus sent the multitude away, and went into the house: and his disciples came to him saying, Declare to us the parable of the tares of the field.
37. He answered and said to them, He that sows the good seed is the Son of man;
38. The field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one;
39. The enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels.
40. As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire, so shall it be in the end of this world.
41. The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity;
42. And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.
43. Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Who has ears to hear, let him hear.

CHRYS; The Lord had spoken to the multitude in parable that He might induce them to ask Him of their meaning yet, though He had spoken so many things in parables no man had yet asked Him anything, and therefore He sends them away; Then Jesus sent the multitude away, and went into the house. None of the Scribes followed Him here, from which it is clear that they followed Him for no other purpose than that they might catch Him in His discourse.

JEROME; The Lord sends away the multitude, and enters the house that His disciples might come to Him and ask Him privately of those things which the people neither deserved to hear, nor were able.

RABAN; Figuratively; Having sent away the multitude of unquiet Jews, He enters the Church of the Gentiles, and there expounds to believers heavenly sacraments, whence it follows, And his disciples came to him, saying, Explain to us the parable of the tares of the field.

CHRYS; Before, though desirous to learn, they had feared to ask; but now they ask freely and confidently because they had heard, To you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of heaven; and therefore they ask when alone, not envying the multitude to whom it was not so given. They pass over the parables of the leaven and the mustard seed as plain; and ask concerning the parable of the tares, which has some agreement with the foregoing parable concerning the seed, and shows somewhat more than that. And accordingly the Lord expounds it to them, as it follows, He answered and said to them, He that sows the good seed is the Son of man.

REMIG. The Lord styles Himself the Son of Man, that in that title He might set an example of humility; or perhaps because it was to come to pass that certain heretics would deny Him to be really man; or that through belief in His Humanity we might ascend to knowledge of His Divinity.

CHRYS; The field is the world. Seeing it is He that sows His own field, it is plain that this present world is His. It follows, The good seed are the children of the kingdom.

REMIG; That is, the saints, and elect men, who are counted as sons.

AUG; The tares the Lord expounds to mean, not as Manichaeus interprets, certain spurious parts inserted among the true Scriptures, but all the children of the Evil one, that is, the imitators of the fraud of the Devil. As it follows, The tares are the children of the evil one, by whom He would have us understand all the wicked and impious.

ID; For all weeds among corn are called tares. It follows, The enemy who sowed this is the Devil.

CHRYS; For this is part of the wiles of the Devil, to be ever mixing up truth with error. The harvest is the end of the world. In another place He says, speaking of the Samaritans, Lift up your eyes, and consider the fields that they are already white for the harvest; and again, The harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few, in which words He speaks of the harvest as being already present. How then does He here speak of it as something yet to come? Because He has used the figure of the harvest in two significations, as He says there that it is one that sows, and another that reaps; but here it is the same who both sows and reaps indeed there He brings forward the Prophets, not to distinguish them from Himself, but from the Apostles, for Christ Himself by His Prophets sowed among the Jews and Samaritans. The figure of harvest is thus applied to two different things. Speaking of first conviction and turning to the faith, He calls that the harvest, as that in which the whole is accomplished; but when He inquires into the fruits ensuing upon the hearing the word of God, then He calls the end of the world the harvest, as here.

REMIG; By the harvest is denoted the day of judgment, in which the good are to he separated from the evil; which will be done by the ministry of Angels, as it is said below, that the Son of Man shall come to judgment with His Angels. As then the tares are gathered and burned in the fire, so shall it be in the end of this world.

The Son of man shall send forth his Angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all offenses, and them which do iniquity.

AUG; Out of that kingdom in which are no offenses? The kingdom then is His kingdom which is here, namely, the Church.

ID; That the tares are first separated, signifies that by tribulation the wicked shall be separated from the righteous; and this is understood to be performed by good Angels, because the good can discharge duties of punishment with a good spirit, as a judge, or as the Law, but the wicked cannot fulfill offices of mercy.

CHRYS; Or we may understand it of the kingdom of the heavenly Church; and then there will be held out here a two-fold punishment; first that they fall from glory as that is said, And they shall gather out of his kingdom all offenses, to the end, that no offenses should be seen in His kingdom; and then that they burned. And they shall cast them into a furnace of fire.

JEROME; The offenses are to be referred to the tares.

GLOSS; The offenses, and, them that do iniquity, are to be distinguished as heretics and schismatics; the offenses referring to heretics; while by them that do iniquity are to be understood Schismatics. Otherwise; By offenses may be understood those that give their neighbor an occasion of falling, by those that do iniquity all other sinners.

RABAN; Observe, He says, Those that do iniquity, not, those who have done; because not they who have turned to penitence, but they only that abide in their sins are to be delivered to eternal torments.

CHRYS; Behold the unspeakable love of God towards men! He is ready to show mercy, slow to punish; when He sows, He sows Himself; when He punishes, He punishes by others, sending His Angels to that. It follows, There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

REMIG; In these words is shown the reality of the resurrection of the body; and further, the twofold pains of hell, extreme heat, and extreme cold. And as the offenses are referred to the tares, so the righteous are reckoned among the children of the kingdom; concerning whom it follows, Then the righteous shall shine as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. For in the present world the light of the saints shines before men, but after the consummation of all things, the righteous themselves shall shine as the sun in the kingdom of their Father.

CHRYS; Not that they shall not shine with higher brightness, but because we know no degree of brightness that surpasses that of the sun, therefore He uses an example adapted to our understanding.

REMIG; That He says, Then shall they shine, implies that they now shine for an example to others, but they shall then shine as the sun to the praise of God. He that has ears to hear, let him hear.

RABAN; That is, Let him understand who has understanding, because all these things are to be understood mystically, and not literally.

Catena Aurea Matthew 13

Last Judgment

c. 1080
Fresco
Sant'Angelo, Formi