Catholic Caucus: Daily Mass Readings, 05-02-12, Mem, St. Athanasius, Bishop/Doctor of the Church

USCCB.org/RNAB ^ | 05-02-12 | Revised New American Bible

[Salvation]

May 2, 2012

 

Memorial of Saint Athanasius, Bishop and Doctor of the Church

 

Reading 1 Acts 12:24?13:5a

The word of God continued to spread and grow.

After Barnabas and Saul completed their relief mission,
they returned to Jerusalem,
taking with them John, who is called Mark.

Now there were in the Church at Antioch prophets and teachers:
Barnabas, Symeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene,
Manaen who was a close friend of Herod the tetrarch, and Saul.
While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said,
"Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul
for the work to which I have called them."
Then, completing their fasting and prayer,
they laid hands on them and sent them off.

So they, sent forth by the Holy Spirit,
went down to Seleucia
and from there sailed to Cyprus.
When they arrived in Salamis,
they proclaimed the word of God in the Jewish synagogues.

Responsorial Psalm Ps 67:2-3, 5, 6 and 8

R. (4) O God, let all the nations praise you!
or:
R. Alleluia.
May God have pity on us and bless us;
may he let his face shine upon us.
So may your way be known upon earth;
among all nations, your salvation.
R. O God, let all the nations praise you!
or:
R. Alleluia.
May the nations be glad and exult
because you rule the peoples in equity;
the nations on the earth you guide.
R. O God, let all the nations praise you!
or:
R. Alleluia.
May the peoples praise you, O God;
may all the peoples praise you!
May God bless us,
and may all the ends of the earth fear him!
R. O God, let all the nations praise you!
or:
R. Alleluia.

Gospel Jn 12:44-50

Jesus cried out and said,
"Whoever believes in me believes not only in me
but also in the one who sent me,
and whoever sees me sees the one who sent me.
I came into the world as light,
so that everyone who believes in me might not remain in darkness.
And if anyone hears my words and does not observe them,
I do not condemn him,
for I did not come to condemn the world but to save the world.
Whoever rejects me and does not accept my words
has something to judge him: the word that I spoke,
it will condemn him on the last day,
because I did not speak on my own,
but the Father who sent me commanded me what to say and speak.
And I know that his commandment is eternal life.
So what I say, I say as the Father told me."

[Salvation]

For your reading, reflection, faith-sharing, comments, questions, discussion.

[Salvation]

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[Salvation]

From: Acts 12:24-13:5a

Barnabas and Saul Return to Antioch

---

[25] And Barnabas and Saul returned from Jerusalem when they had fulfilled their
mission, bringing with them John whose other name was Mark.

The Mission of Barnabas and Paul

---

[1] Now in the Church at Antioch there were prophets and teachers, Barnabas,
Symeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen, a member of the court
of Herod the Tetrarch, and Saul. [2] While they were worshipping the Lord and
fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to
which I have called them.” [3] Then after fasting and praying they laid their hands
on them and sent them off.

They Arrive in Cyprus

---

[4] So, being sent out by the Holy Spirit, they went down to Seleucia; and from
there they sailed to Cyprus. [5a] When they arrived at Salamis, they proclaimed
the Word of God in the synagogues of the Jews.

*********************************************************************************************
Commentary:

24. St Luke contrasts the failure and downfall of the Church’s persecutors with
the irresistible progress of the Word of God.

25. They “returned from Jerusalem”: following the best Greek manuscripts, the
reading accepted by the New Vulgate is “returned to Jerusalem” (cf. RSV note).
However, it does not seem to fit in with the end of Chapter 11 and the beginning
of Chapter 13. Therefore, from very early on many Greek manuscripts and trans-
lations (including the Sixto-Clementine edition of the Vulgate) read “returned from
Jerusalem”. It is not clear which is correct; the Navarre Spanish follows the New
Vulgate.

1. From this point onwards Luke’s account centers on the Church of Antioch.
This was a flourishing community, with members drawn from all sectors of so-
ciety. In some respects its organization structure was like that of the Jerusalem
Church; in others, not. It clearly had ordained ministers who were responsible
for its government, who preached and administered the Sacraments; along these
we find prophets (cf. 11:28) and teachers, specially trained members of the com-
munity.

In the early Church “teachers” were disciples well versed in Sacred Scripture
who were given charge of catechesis. They instructed the catechumens and
other Christians in the basic teaching of the Gospel as passed on by the Apos-
tles, and some of them had a capacity for acquiring and communicating to
others an extensive and profound knowledge of the faith.

Teachers do not necessarily have to be priests or preachers. Preaching was u-
sually reserved to ordained ministers; teachers had an important position in the
Church: they were responsible for on-going doctrinal and moral education and
were expected faithfully to hand on the same teaching as they themselves had
received. A virtuous life and due learning would have protected them against any
temptation to invent new teachings or go in for mere speculation not based on
the Gospel (cf. 1 Timothy 4:7; 6:20; Titus 2:1).

The “Letter to Diognetus” describes the ideal Christian teacher: “I do not speak
of passing things nor do I go in search of new things, but, like the disciple of the
Apostles that I am, I become a teacher of peoples. I do nothing but hand on what
was given me by those who made themselves worthy disciples of the truth” (XI,
1).

2-3. “Worship” of the Lord includes prayer, but it refers primarily to the celebra-
tion of the Blessed Eucharist, which is at the center of all Christian ritual. This
text indirectly establishes a parallel between the Mass and the sacrificial rite of
the Mosaic Law. The Eucharist provides a Christian with the nourishment he
needs, and its celebration “causes the Church of God to be built up and grow in
stature” (Vatican II, “Unitatis Redintegratio”, 15). Significantly, the Eucharist is
associated with the start of this new stage in the expansion of the Church.

Paul and Barnabas receive a missionary task directly from the Holy Spirit, and
by an external sign — the laying on of hands — the Antiochene community prays
to God to go with them and bless them. In His promotion of the spread of the
Church the Holy Spirit does not act at a distance, so to speak. Every step in the
progress of the Church in the world is rightly attributed to the initiative of the Pa-
raclete. It is as if God were repeatedly ratifying His salvific plans to make it per-
fectly plain that He is ever-faithful to His promises. “The mission of the Church is
carried out by means of that activity through which, in obedience to Christ’s com-
mand and moved by the grace and love of the Holy Spirit, the Church makes it-
self fully present to all men and people” (Vatican II, “Ad Gentes”, 5).

The dispatch of Paul and Barnabas is inspired by the Holy Spirit, but it is also
an ecclesial act: the Church gives them this charge, specifying God’s plans and
activating the personal vocation of the two envoys.

The Lord, “who had set me apart before I was born and had called me by his
grace [sent me] in order that I might preach Him among the Gentiles” (Galatians
1:15-16), now arranges, through the Church, for this mission to begin.

Fasting and prayer are the best preparation for the spiritual enterprise on which
Paul and Barnabas are about to embark. “First, prayer; then, atonement; in the
third place, very much ‘in the third place’, action” (St. J. Escriva, “The Way”, 82).
They know very well that their mission is not man-made and that it will produce
results only with God’s help. The prayer and penance which accompany aposto-
late are not just aimed at obtaining graces from God for others: the purpose of
this prayer and fasting is to purify hearts and lips, so that the Lord will be at their
side and ensure that none of their words “fall to the ground” (1 Samuel 3:19).

13:4-14:28. This first missionary journey took Paul, accompanied by Barnabas,
to Cyprus and central Galatia, in Asia Minor. He left Antioch in the spring of 45
and returned almost four years later, after preaching Christ to both Jews and
Gentiles wherever he went.

St. Luke’s account, which covers Chapters 13 and 14, is sketchy but accurate.
At Seleucia (the port of Antioch, about 35 kilometers or 22 miles from the city)
they embarked for Cyprus, the largest island in the eastern Mediterranean,
where Barnabas came from. They disembarked at Salamis, the island’s main
city and port. There they went to the Jewish synagogues on a series of sab-
baths.

In verse 6 it says that they crossed to the island to Paphos, which is on the ex-
treme west. This would have taken them several months because, although it is
only 150 kilometers as the crow flies, there were many towns with Jewish com-
munities, and since they had to stay in each for a number of sabbaths their pro-
gress would have been slow. We are told nothing about the result of this work
of evangelizing en route from Salamis to Paphos, but the indications are that it
was fruitful, because Barnabas will later go back to Cyprus, accompanied by
Mark (cf. 15:39), to consolidate the work done on this first mission. New Pa-
phos was where the proconsul resided.

From there they went on board ship again and travelled north, probably disem-
barking, after a short crossing, at Attalia. After a few miles they reached Perga
in Pamphylia, a barren, inhospitable region at the base of the Taurus mountains,
where Mark took leave of his companions.

Going from Perga to Pisidian Antioch (verse 14) meant a difficult journey of about
160 kilometers over mountain roads. This other Antioch was 1,200 meters above
sea level and would have had a sizeable Jewish community, connected with the
trade in hides. The busy commercial life of the region helped the spread of the
Christian message (verse 49). Paul addressed his preaching to the Gentiles be-
cause of the hospitality of many Jews.

The Apostles were expelled and they headed for Iconium, about 130 kilometers
south east, where they stayed some months and then left because of disturban-
ces created by both Gentiles and Jews: they had to flee to the region of Lycao-
nia, to two minor cities, Lystra and Derbe. There were very few Jews in Lystra,
and no synagogue, and therefore Paul preached to the local people, in the open
air; but some Jews, who had arrived from Antioch and Iconium, stoned him and
left him for dead. Possibly with the help of Timothy (cf. 16:1) they managed to
reach Derbe, where they made many disciples, and then set out on the journey
home, retracing their steps through Lystra, Iconium and Pisidian Antioch. Things
had quieted down, the local magistrates were new, and with a little prudence
everything worked out quite well. The new disciples were confirmed in the faith,
and priest, elders, were appointed to each local church. Paul and Barnabas then
went back to Pamphylia and Attalia, where they took ship for Antioch, arriving
probably well into the year 49.

5. In each city he visits, Paul usually begins his preaching of the Gospel in the
local synagogue. This is not simply a tactic: it is in line with what he knows is
God’s plan for salvation. Like Jesus, he feels obliged to proclaim the Kingdom
first to “Israelites [for] to them belong the sonship, the glory, the covenants, the
giving of the Law, the worship, and the promises; to them belong the patriarchs,
and of their race, according to the flesh, is the Christ” (Romans 9:4-5). The Jews
have a right to be the first to have the Gospel preached to them, for they were
the first to receive the divine promises (cf. 13:46).

Although many Jews chose not to listen to or understand the Word of God, there
have been many who accepted the Gospel for what it is — the fullness of the Old
Testament. All over the Diaspora thousands of men and women like Simeon and
Anna, who were awaiting the Kingdom and serving the God of their forefathers
with fasting and prayer (cf. Luke 2:25, 367), will receive the light of the Holy Spirit
enabling them to recognize and accept Paul’s preaching as coming from God.

It is true that the many Jewish communities established in the main cities of the
Roman empire often hindered the spread of the Gospel; yet their very existence
played a providential part in its progress.

*********************************************************************************************
Source: “The Navarre Bible: Text and Commentaries”. Biblical text from the
Revised Standard Version and New Vulgate. Commentaries by members of
the Faculty of Theology, University of Navarre, Spain.

Published by Four Courts Press, Kill Lane, Blackrock, Co. Dublin, Ireland, and
by Scepter Publishers in the United States.

[Salvation]

From: John 12:44-50

The Unbelief of the Jews

---

[44] And Jesus cried out and said, “He who believes in Me, believes not in Me,
but in Him who sent Me. [45] And he who sees Me sees Him who sent Me.
[46] I have come as light into the world, that whoever believes in Me may not
remain in darkness. [47] If any one hears My sayings and does not keep them,
I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world but to save the world.
[48] He who rejects Me and does not receive My sayings has a judge; the word
that I have spoken will be his judge on the last day. [49] For I have not spoken
on My own authority; the Father who sent Me has Himself given Me command-
ment what to say and what to speak. [50] And I know that His commandment
is eternal life. What I say, therefore, I say as the Father has bidden Me.”

*********************************************************************************************
Commentary:

44-50. With these verses St. John brings to an end his account of our Lord’s pub-
lic ministry. He brings together certain fundamental themes developed in previous
chapters—the need for faith in Christ (verse 44); the Father and the Son are one
yet distinct (cf. 45); Jesus is Light and Life of the world (verses 46, 50); men will
be judged in accordance with whether they accept or reject the Son of God (ver-
ses 47-49). The chapters which follow contain Jesus’ teaching to His Apostles at
the Last Supper, and the accounts of the Passion and Resurrection.

45. Christ, the Word Incarnate, is one with the Father (cf. John 10:30); “He re-
flects the glory of God” (Hebrews 1:3); “He is the image of the invisible God” (Co-
lossians 1:15). In John 14:9 Jesus expresses Himself in almost the same words:
“He who has seen Me has seen the Father”. At the same time as He speaks of
His oneness with the Father, we are clearly shown the distinction of persons —
the Father who sends, and the Son who is sent.

In Christ’s holy human nature His divinity is, as it were, hidden, that divinity which
He possesses with the Father in the unity of the Holy Spirit (cf. John 14:7-11). In
theology “circumincession” is the word usually used for the fact that, by virtue of
the unity among the three Persons of the Blessed Trinity, “the Father is wholly in
the Son and wholly in the Holy Spirit; the Son wholly in the Father and wholly in
the Holy Spirit; the Holy Spirit wholly in the Father and wholly in the Son” (Coun-
cil of Florence, “Decree Pro Jacobitis, Dz-Sch”, 1331).

47. Christ has come to save the world by offering Himself in sacrifice for our sins
and bringing us supernatural life (cf. John 3:17). But He has also been made
Judge of the living and the dead (cf. Acts 10:42): He passes sentence at the Par-
ticular Judgment which happens immediately after death, and at the end of the
world, at His Second Coming or Parousia, at the universal judgment (cf. John 5:
22; 8:15-16).

*********************************************************************************************
Source: “The Navarre Bible: Text and Commentaries”. Biblical text from the
Revised Standard Version and New Vulgate. Commentaries by members of
the Faculty of Theology, University of Navarre, Spain.

Published by Four Courts Press, Kill Lane, Blackrock, Co. Dublin, Ireland, and
by Scepter Publishers in the United States.

[Salvation]

Scripture readings taken from the Jerusalem Bible, published and copyright © 1966, 1967 and 1968 by Darton, Longman & Todd

Mass Readings

---

First reading	Acts 12:24-13:5 ©

The word of God continued to spread and to gain followers. Barnabas and Saul completed their task and came back from Jerusalem, bringing John Mark with them.

  In the church at Antioch the following were prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen, who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. One day while they were offering worship to the Lord and keeping a fast, the Holy Spirit said, ‘I want Barnabas and Saul set apart for the work to which I have called them.’ So it was that after fasting and prayer they laid their hands on them and sent them off.

  So these two, sent on their mission by the Holy Spirit, went down to Seleucia and from there sailed to Cyprus. They landed at Salamis and proclaimed the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews; John acted as their assistant.

---

Psalm	Psalm 66:2-3,5-6,8 ©

Let the peoples praise you, O God; let all the peoples praise you.

or

Alleluia!

O God, be gracious and bless us

  and let your face shed its light upon us.

So will your ways be known upon earth

  and all nations learn your saving help.

Let the peoples praise you, O God; let all the peoples praise you.

or

Alleluia!

Let the nations be glad and exult

  for you rule the world with justice.

With fairness you rule the peoples,

  you guide the nations on earth.

Let the peoples praise you, O God; let all the peoples praise you.

or

Alleluia!

Let the peoples praise you, O God;

  let all the peoples praise you.

May God still give us his blessing

  till the ends of the earth revere him.

Let the peoples praise you, O God; let all the peoples praise you.

or

Alleluia!

---

Gospel Acclamation	Jn20:29

Alleluia, alleluia!

‘You believe, Thomas, because you can see me.

Happy are those who have not seen and yet believe.

Alleluia!

Or	Jn8:12

Alleluia, alleluia!

I am the light of the world, says the Lord;

anyone who follows me will have the light of life.

Alleluia!

---

Gospel	John 12:44-50 ©

Jesus declared publicly:

‘Whoever believes in me

believes not in me

but in the one who sent me,

and whoever sees me,

sees the one who sent me.

I, the light, have come into the world,

so that whoever believes in me

need not stay in the dark any more.

If anyone hears my words and does not keep them faithfully,

it is not I who shall condemn him,

since I have come not to condemn the world,

but to save the world.

He who rejects me and refuses my words has his judge already:

the word itself that I have spoken will be his judge on the last day.

For what I have spoken does not come from myself;

no, what I was to say,

what I had to speak,

was commanded by the Father who sent me,

and I know that his commands mean eternal life.

And therefore what the Father has told me

is what I speak.’

[Salvation]

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[Salvation]

			PRAYERS AFTER HOLY MASS AND COMMUNION Leonine Prayers Complete Prayer to St. Michael Prayer Before the Crucifix Anima Christi Prayer Prayer for Vocations Leonine Prayers Following are the Prayers after Low Mass which were prescribed by Pope Leo XIII who composed the Prayer to Saint Michael the Archangel, and were reinforced by Pope Pius XI and Pope Pius XII to pray for the conversion of Russia. These prayers were in effect until after Vatican II. A decade later Paul VI said, "satan has entered the sanctuary." Could the elimination of these powerful prayers with a ten year indulgence have played a huge part in allowing the devil such easy access? The answer is obvious. Below the normal Leonine Prayers is the longer version of the Prayer to St. Michael, composed by His Excellency Pope Leo XIII to defend against The Great Apostasy.

Latin Ave Maria, gratia plena, Dominus tecum, benedicta tu in mulieribus et benedictus fructis ventris tui, Jesus. Sancta Maria, Mater Dei, ora pro nobis peccatoribus, nunc et in hora mortis nostrae. Amen. (Said 3 times)     Salve Regina, Mater misericordiae, vita, dulcedo, et spes nostra, salve. Ad te clamamus, exsules filii Evae. Ad te suspiramus gementes et fientes in hac lacrymarum valle. Eia ergo, Advocata nostra, illos tuos misericordes oculos ad nos converte. Et Jesum, benedictum fructum ventris tui, nobis, post hoc exilium, ostende. O clemens, o pia, o dulcis Virgo Maria. Ora pro nobis, sancta Dei Genitrix. Ut digni efficiamur promissionibus Christi.     Oremus. Deus, refugium nostrum et virtus, populum ad te clamantem propitius respice; et intercedente gloriosa, et immaculata Virgine Dei Genitrice Maria, cum beato Joseph, ejus Sponso, ac beatis Apostolis tuis Petro et Paulo, et omnibus Sanctis, quas pro conversione peccatorum, pro libertate et exaltatione sanctae Matris Ecclesiae, preces effundimus, misericors et benignus exaudi. Per eundum Christum Dominum nostrum. Amen. Sancte Michael Archangele, defende nos in proelio; contra nequitiam et insidias diaboli esto praesidium. Imperet illi Deus, supplices deprecamur: tuque, Princeps militiae Caelestis, satanam aliosque spiritus malignos, qui ad perditionem animarum pervagantur in mundo, divina virtute in infernum detrude. Amen. Cor Jesu sacratissimum. Miserere nobis. Cor Jesu sacratissimum. Miserere nobis. Cor Jesu sacratissimum. Miserere nobis.			Vernacular    Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee; blessed art thou amongst women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen. (Said 3 times)    Hail, Holy Queen, Mother of Mercy, our life, our sweetness, and our hope. To thee to we cry, poor banished children of Eve. To thee do we send up our sighs, mouring and weeping in this valley of tears. Turn then, most gracious advocate, thine eyes of mercy toward us, and after this exile, show unto us the blessed Fruit of thy womb, Jesus. O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary. Pray for us, O holy Mother of God. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.    Let us pray. O God, our refuge and our strength, look down with mercy upon the people who cry to Thee; and by the intercession of the glorious and immaculate Virgin Mary, Mother of God, of Saint Joseph her spouse, of the blessed Apostles Peter and Paul, and of all the saints, in Thy mercy and goodness hear our prayers for the conversion of sinners, and for the liberty and exaltation of the Holy Mother the Church. Through the same Christ Our Lord. Amen.    Saint Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle; be our protection against the wickedness and snares of the devil. May God rebuke him, we humbly pray: and do thou, O Prince of the heavenly host, by the power of God, thrust into hell satan and all the evil spirits who prowl about the world seeking the ruin of souls. Amen. Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, Have mercy on us. Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, Have mercy on us. Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, Have mercy on us.

---

Complete Prayer to Saint Michael

The following is the longer version of the vital prayer composed by Pope Leo XIII in 1888 after his startling vision as to the future of the Church. This prayer was dedicated for the Feast of St. Michael 1448 years from the date of the election of the first Leo - Pope Saint Leo the Great. Everyone is familiar with the first prayer below which was mandated by His Holiness as part of the Leonine Prayers after Low Mass. After Vatican II, in legion with the devil Giovanni Montini outlawed this necessary prayer and then one wonders how "the smoke of satan" got into the sanctuary? The conciliarists wanted to make sure the words in bold below would never see the light of day again for in it Leo foretold what would happen: The shepherd would be struck, the sheep scattered. Below are both the short and longer versions of this poignant prayer which should never be forgotten.

    Saint Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle, be our defense against the wickedness and snares of the devil. May God rebuke him we humbly pray, and do thou, O heavenly hosts, by the power of God, thrust into hell satan and all the evil spirits who prowl about the world for the ruin of souls. Amen.

O glorious Archangel Saint Michael, Prince of the heavenly host, be our defense in the terrible warfare which we carry on against principalities and powers, against the rulers of this world of darkness, spirits of evil. Come to the aid of man, whom God created immortal, made in His own image and likeness, and redeemed at a great price from the tyranny of the devil. Fight this day the battle of our Lord, together with the holy angels, as already thou hast fought the leader of the proud angels, Lucifer, and his apostate host, who were powerless to resist thee, nor was there place for them any longer in heaven. That cruel, that ancient serpent, who is called the devil or Satan who seduces the whole world, was cast into the abyss with his angels. Behold this primeval enemy and slayer of men has taken courage. Transformed into an angel of light, he wanders about with all the multitude of wicked spirits, invading the earth in order to blot out the Name of God and of His Christ, to seize upon, slay, and cast into eternal perdition, souls destined for the crown of eternal glory. That wicked dragon pours out. as a most impure flood, the venom of his malice on men of depraved mind and corrupt heart, the spirit of lying, of impiety, of blasphemy, and the pestilent breath of impurity, and of every vice and iniquity. These most crafty enemies have filled and inebriated with gall and bitterness the Church, the spouse of the Immaculate Lamb, and have laid impious hands on Her most sacred possessions. In the Holy Place itself, where has been set up the See of the most holy Peter and the Chair of Truth for the light of the world, they have raised the throne of their abominable impiety with the iniquitous design that when the Pastor has been struck the sheep may be scattered. Arise then, O invincible Prince, bring help against the attacks of the lost spirits to the people of God, and give them the victory. They venerate thee as their protector and patron; in thee holy Church glories as her defense against the malicious powers of hell; to thee has God entrusted the souls of men to be established in heavenly beatitude. Oh, pray to the God of peace that He may put Satan under our feet, so far conquered that he may no longer be able to hold men in captivity and harm the Church. Offer our prayers in the sight of the Most High, so that they may quickly conciliate the mercies of the Lord; and beating down the dragon, the ancient serpent, who is the devil and Satan, do thou again make him captive in the abyss, that he may no longer seduce the nations. Amen.

V: Behold the Cross of the Lord; be scattered ye hostile powers.
R: The Lion of the Tribe of Juda has conquered the root of David.
V: Let Thy mercies be upon us, O Lord.
R: As we have hoped in Thee.
V: O Lord hear my prayer.
R: And let my cry come unto Thee.

V: Let us pray. O God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, we call upon Thy holy Name, and as suppliants, we implore Thy clemency, that by the intercession of Mary, ever Virgin, immaculate and our Mother, and of the glorious Archangel Saint Michael, Thou wouldst deign to help us against Satan and all other unclean spirits, who wander about the world for the injury of the human race and the ruin of our souls. Amen.

---

Prayer Before the Crucifix

   Look down upon me, O good and gentle Jesus, while before Thy face I humbly kneel, and with burning soul pray and beseech Thee to fix deep in my heart lively sentiments of faith, hope and charity, true contrition for my sins, and a firm purpose of amendment; the while I contemplate with great love and tender pity Thy five most precious wounds, pondering over them within me, calling to mind the words which David Thy prophet said of Thee, my good Jesus: "They have pierced My hands and My feet; they have numbered all My bones."

Indulgence of ten years; a plenary indulgence if recited after devout reception of Holy Communion, Raccolta 201)

---

Anima Christi - Soul of Christ

Soul of Christ, sanctify me.
Body of Christ, save me.
Blood of Christ, inebriate me.
Water from the side of Christ, wash me.
Passion of Christ, strengthen me.
O Good Jesus, hear me.
Within Thy wounds, hide me.
Suffer me not to be separated from Thee.
From the malignant enemy, defend me.
In the hour of my death, call me.
And bid me come to Thee, that with
Thy saints I may praise Thee for ever and ever. Amen.

Indulgence of 300 days; if recited after devout reception of Holy Communion, seven years Raccolta 131)

---

Prayer for Vocations

   O Lord Jesus Christ, Who didst take to Thyself a body and soul like ours, to teach us the glory of self-sacrifice and service, mercifully deign to instill in other hearts the desire to dedicate their lives to Thee. Give us PRIESTS to stand before Thine Altar and to preach the words of Thy Gospel; BROTHERS to assist the priests and to reproduce in themselves Thy humility; SISTERS to teach the young and nurse the sick and to minister Thy charity to all; LAY PEOPLE to imitate Thee in their homes and families. Amen.

[Salvation]

Prayers for The Religion Forum (Ecumenical)

[Salvation]

Continue to Pray for Pope Benedict [Ecumenical]

[Salvation]

 

Jesus, High Priest

 

We thank you, God our Father, for those who have responded to your call to priestly ministry.

Accept this prayer we offer on their behalf: Fill your priests with the sure knowledge of your love.

Open their hearts to the power and consolation of the Holy Spirit.

Lead them to new depths of union with your Son.

Increase in them profound faith in the Sacraments they celebrate as they nourish, strengthen and heal us.

Lord Jesus Christ, grant that these, your priests, may inspire us to strive for holiness by the power of their example, as men of prayer who ponder your word and follow your will.

O Mary, Mother of Christ and our mother, guard with your maternal care these chosen ones, so dear to the Heart of your Son.

Intercede for our priests, that offering the Sacrifice of your Son, they may be conformed more each day to the image of your Son, our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.

Saint John Vianney, universal patron of priests, pray for us and our priests

This icon shows Jesus Christ, our eternal high priest.

The gold pelican over His heart represents self-sacrifice.

The border contains an altar and grapevines, representing the Mass, and icons of Melchizedek and St. Jean-Baptiste Vianney.

Melchizedek: king of righteousness (left icon) was priest and king of Jerusalem.  He blessed Abraham and has been considered an ideal priest-king.

St. Jean-Baptiste Vianney is the patron saint of parish priests.

[Salvation]

Pray a Rosary each day for our nation.

1.  Sign of the Cross:  In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.  Amen.

2.  The Apostles Creed:  I BELIEVE in God, the Father almighty, Creator of heaven and earth. I believe in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord. He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended to the dead. On the third day He rose again. He ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of God, the Father Almighty. From thence He shall come to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.

3.  The Lord's Prayer:  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. Amen.

4. (3) Hail Mary:  HAIL Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou amongst women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now, and in the hour of our death. Amen. (Three times)

5. Glory Be:  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.

Fatima Prayer: Oh, my Jesus, forgive us our sins, save us from the fires of hell, lead all souls to heaven, especially those in most need of your mercy.

Announce each mystery, then say 1 Our Father, 10 Hail Marys, 1 Glory Be and 1 Fatima prayer.  Repeat the process with each mystery.

End with the Hail Holy Queen:

Hail, Holy Queen, Mother of Mercy, our life, our sweetness and our hope! To thee do we cry, poor banished children of Eve! To thee do we send up our sighs, mourning and weeping in this vale of tears! Turn then, most gracious advocate, thine eyes of mercy towards us; and after this, our exile, show unto us the blessed fruit of thy womb, Jesus!

O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary! Pray for us, O holy Mother of God, that we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

Final step -- The Sign of the Cross

 

The Mysteries of the Rosary

By tradition, Catholics meditate on these Mysteries during prayers of the Rosary.
The biblical references follow each of the Mysteries below.

The Glorious Mysteries
(Wednesdays and Sundays)
1.The Resurrection (Matthew 28:1-8, Mark 16:1-18, Luke 24:1-12, John 20:1-29) [Spiritual fruit - Faith]
2. The Ascension (Mark 16:19-20, Luke 24:50-53, Acts 1:6-11) [Spiritual fruit - Christian Hope]
3. The Descent of the Holy Ghost (Acts 2:1-13) [Spiritual fruit - Gifts of the Holy Spirit]
4. The Assumption [Spiritual fruit - To Jesus through Mary]
5. The Coronation [Spiritual fruit - Grace of Final Perseverance]

[Salvation]

~ PRAYER ~

St. Michael, the Archangel, defend us in battle
 Be our protection against the wickedness
and snares of the devil;
May God rebuke him, we  humbly pray,
 and do thou, O Prince of the heavenly host,
 by the power of God,
 Cast into hell Satan and all the evil spirits
who prowl through the world seeking the ruin of souls.
 Amen
+

[Salvation]

God Save Our Country web site (prayer warriors)
Prayer Chain Request for the United States of America
Pray for Nancy Pelosi
Prayer and fasting will help defeat health care reform (Freeper Prayer Thread)
Prayer Campaign Started to Convert Pro-Abortion Catholic Politicians to Pro-Life
[Catholic Caucus] One Million Rosaries
Non-stop Rosary vigil to defeat ObamaCare

From an Obama bumper sticker on a car:

"Pray for Obama.  Psalm 109:8"

Psalm 109:8

    "Let his days be few; and let another take his place of leadership."

PLEASE JOIN US -

Evening Prayer
Someone has said that if people really understood the full extent of the power we have available through prayer, we might be speechless.
Did you know that during WWII there was an advisor to Churchill who organized a group of people who dropped what they were doing every day at a prescribed hour for one minute to collectively pray for the safety of England, its people and peace?  

There is now a group of people organizing the same thing here in America. If you would like to participate: Every evening at 9:00 PM Eastern Time (8:00 PM Central) (7:00 PM Mountain) (6:00 PM Pacific), stop whatever you are doing and spend one minute praying for the safety of the United States, our troops, our citizens, and for a return to a Godly nation. If you know anyone else who would like to participate, please pass this along. Our prayers are the most powerful asset we have.    Please forward this to your praying friends.

[Salvation]

May Devotion: Blessed Virgin Mary

Since the 16th century Catholic piety has assigned entire months to special devotions. Toward the end of the eighteenth century a zealous Jesuit priest, Father Lalomia, started among the students of the Roman college of his Society the practice of dedicating May to Our Lady. The devotion, which others had promoted in a small way, soon spread to other Jesuit Colleges and to the entire Latin church and since that time it has been a regular feature of Catholic life.

INVOCATIONS

Thou who wast a virgin before thy delivery, pray for us. Hail Mary, etc.
Thou who wast a virgin in thy delivery, pray for us. Hail Mary, etc.
Thou who wast a virgin after thy delivery, pray for us. Hail Mary, etc.

My Mother, deliver me from mortal sin.
Hail Mary (three times).

Mother of love, of sorrow and of mercy, pray for us.

Remember, O Virgin Mother of God, when thou shalt stand before the face of the Lord, that thou speak favorable things in our behalf and that He may turn away His indignation from us.
Roman Missal

Thou art my Mother, O Virgin Mary: keep me safe lest I ever offend thy dear Son, and obtain for me the grace to please Him always and in all things.

FOR THE HELP OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY

May we be assisted, we beseech Thee, 0 Lord, by the worshipful intercession of Thy glorious Mother, the ever-Virgin Mary; that we, who have been enriched by her perpetual blessings, may be delivered from all dangers, and through her loving kindness made to be of one heart and mind: who livest and reignest world without end. Amen.
Roman Missal

THE SALVE REGINA

Hail, holy Queen, Mother of mercy, hail, our life, our sweetness, and our hope! To thee do we cry, poor banished children of Eve! To thee do we send up our sighs, mourning and weeping in this vale of tears! Turn then, most gracious advocate, thine eyes of mercy towards us; and after this, our exile, show unto us the blessed fruit of thy womb, Jesus! O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary!
Roman Breviary

PRAYER TO THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY

O blessed Virgin Mary, who can worthily repay thee thy just dues of praise and thanksgiving, thou who by the wondrous assent of thy will didst rescue a fallen world? What songs of praise can our weak human nature recite in thy honor, since it is by thy intervention alone that it has found
the way to restoration? Accept, then, such poor thanks as we have here to offer, though they be unequal to thy merits; and, receiving our vows, obtain by thy prayers the remission of our offenses. Carry thou our prayers within the sanctuary of the heavenly audience, and bring forth from it the antidote of our reconciliation. May the sins we bring before Almighty God through thee, become pardonable through thee; may what we ask for with sure confidence, through thee be granted. Take our offering, grant us our requests, obtain pardon for what we fear, for thou art the sole hope of sinners. Through thee we hope for the remission of our sins, and in thee, 0 blessed Lady, is our hope of reward. Holy Mary, succour the miserable, help the fainthearted, comfort the sorrowful, pray for thy people, plead for the clergy, intercede for all women consecrated to God; may all who keep thy holy commemoration feel now thy help and protection. Be thou ever ready to assist us when we pray, and bring back to us the answers to our prayers. Make it thy continual care to pray for the people of God, thou who, blessed by God, didst merit to bear the Redeemer of the world, who liveth and reigneth, world without end. Amen.
Saint Augustine

PETITION TO MARY

Most holy Virgin Immaculate, my Mother Mary, to thee who art the Mother of my Lord, the queen of the universe, the advocate, the hope, the refuge of sinners, I who am the most miserable of all sinners, have recourse this day. I venerate thee, great queen, and I thank thee for the many graces thou hast bestowed upon me even unto this day; in particular for having delivered me from the hell which I have so often deserved by my sins. I love thee, most dear Lady; and for the love I bear thee, I promise to serve thee willingly for ever and to do what I can to make thee loved by others also. I place in thee all my hopes for salvation; accept me as thy servant and shelter me under thy mantle, thou who art the Mother of mercy. And since thou art so powerful with God, deliver me from all temptations, or at least obtain for me the strength to overcome them until death. From thee I implore a true love for Jesus Christ. Through thee I hope to die a holy death. My dear Mother, by the love thou bearest to Almighty God, I pray thee to assist me always, but most of all at the last moment of my life. Forsake me not then, until thou shalt see me safe in heaven, there to bless thee and sing of thy mercies through all eternity. Such is my hope. Amen.
Saint Alphonsus Liguori

Magnificat Prayer My being proclaims the greatness of the Lord, my spirit finds joy in God my savior, For he has looked upon his servant in her lowliness; all ages to come shall call me blessed. God who is mighty has done great things for me, holy is his name; His mercy is from age to age on those who fear him. He has shown might with his arm; he has confused the proud in their inmost thoughts. He has deposed the mighty from their thrones and raised the lowly to high places. The hungry he has given every good thing, while the rich he has sent empty away. He has upheld Israel his servant, ever mindful of his mercy; Even as he promised our fathers, promised Abraham and his descendants forever. (Lk 1:46-55)

Seen above is the Blessed Virgin Mary, portrayed as Our Lady of Perpetual Help.
It was she who was chosen by God, to provide His Son with His Sacred Humanity.
She did so in humble and total cooperation with the Holy Spirit and the Divine will of the Holy Trinity; providing God's Son with the Blood He shed for us on the Cross.

TO MARY, REFUGE OF SINNERS
Hail, most gracious Mother of mercy, hail, Mary, for whom we fondly yearn, through whom we obtain forgiveness! Who would not love thee? Thou art our light in uncertainty, our comfort in sorrow, our solace in the time of trial, our refuge from every peril and temptation. Thou art our sure hope of salvation, second only to thy only-begotten Son; blessed are they who love thee, our Lady! Incline, I beseech thee, thy ears of pity to the entreaties of this thy servant, a miserable sinner; dissipate the darkness of my sins by the bright beams of thy holiness, in order that I may be acceptable in thy sight.

FOR THE GRACE OF LOVE
O Mary, my dear Mother, how much I love thee! And yet in reality how little! Thou dost teach me what I ought to know, for thou teachest me what Jesus is to me and what I ought to be for Jesus. Dearly beloved Mother, how close to God thou art, and how utterly filled with Him! In the measure that we know God, we remind ourselves of thee. Mother of God, obtain for me the grace of loving my Jesus; obtain for me the grace of loving thee!
Cardinal Merry del Val

TO THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY FOR MAY

O most august and blessed Virgin Mary! Holy Mother of God! glorious Queen of heaven and earth! powerful protectress of those who love thee, and unfailing advocate of all who invoke thee! look down, I beseech thee, from thy throne of glory on thy devoted child; accept the solemn offering I present thee of this month, specially dedicated to thee, and receive my ardent, humble desire, that by my love and fervor I could worthily honor thee, who, next to God, art deserving of all honor. Receive me, 0 Mother of Mercy, among thy best beloved children; extend to me thy maternal tenderness and solicitude; obtain for me a place in the Heart of Jesus, and a special share in the gifts of His grace. 0 deign, I beseech thee, to recognize my claims on thy protection, to watch over my spiritual and temporal interests, as well as those of all who are dear to me; to infuse into my soul the spirit of Christ, and to teach me thyself to become meek, humble, charitable, patient, and submissive to the will of God.

May my heart bum with the love of thy Divine Son, and of thee, His blessed Mother, not for a month alone, but for time and eternity; may I thirst for the promotion of His honor and thine, and contribute, as far as I can, to its extension. Receive me, 0 Mary, the refuge of sinners! Grant me a Mother's blessing and a Mother's care, now, and at the hour of my death. Amen.

TO OUR LADY

Saint John Vianney, better known as the Cure of Ars, when asked how long he had loved Mary, said: "I loved her almost before I could know her." In this prayer he expresses that love.
O thou most holy virgin Mary, who dost evermore stand before the most holy Trinity, and to whom it is granted at all times to pray for us to thy most beloved Son; pray for me in all my necessities; help me, combat for me, and obtain for me the pardon of all my sins. Help me especially at my last hour; and when I can no longer give any sign of the use of reason, then do thou encourage me, make the sign of the cross for me, and fight for me against the enemy. Make in my name a profession of faith; favor me with a testimony of my salvation, and never let me despair of the mercy of God. Help me to overthrow the wicked enemy. When I can no longer say: "Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, I place my soul in your hands," do thou say it for me; when I can no longer hear human words of consolation, do thou comfort me. Leave me not before I have been judged; and if I have to expiate my sins in purgatory, oh! pray for me earnestly; and admonish my friends to procure for me a speedy enjoyment of the blessed sight of God. Lessen my sufferings, deliver me speedily, and lead my soul into heaven with thee: that, united with all the elect, I may there bless and praise my God and thee for all eternity. Amen.
Saint John Vianney

ACT OF REPARATION

O blessed Virgin, Mother of God, look down in mercy from heaven, where thou art enthroned as Queen, upon me, a miserable sinner, thine unworthy servant. Although I know full well my own unworthiness, yet in order to atone for the offenses that are done to thee by impious and blasphemous
tongues, from the depths of my heart I praise and extol thee as the purest, the fairest, the holiest creature of all God's handiwork. I bless thy holy name, I praise thine exalted privilege of being truly Mother of God, ever virgin, conceived without stain of sin, co-redemptrix of the human race. I bless the Eternal Father who chose thee in an especial way for His daughter; I bless the Word Incarnate who took upon Himself our nature in thy bosom and so made thee His Mother; I bless the Holy Spirit who took thee as His bride. All honor, praise and thanksgiving to the ever-blessed Trinity, who predestined thee and loved thee so exceedingly from all eternity as to exalt thee above all creatures to the most sublime heights. 0 Virgin, holy and merciful, obtain for all who offend thee the grace of repentance, and graciously accept this poor act of homage from me thy servant, obtaining likewise for me from thy divine Son the pardon and remission of all my sins. Amen.

Prayer Source: Prayer Book, The by Reverend John P. O'Connell, M.A., S.T.D. and Jex Martin, M.A., The Catholic Press, Inc., Chicago, Illinois, 1954

Memorare of the Blessed Virgin Mary

 

Remember O Most Gracious Virgin Mary! 

That never was it known
That anyone who fled to thy protection,
Implored thy help or sought thy intercession
Was left unaided. 

Inspired by this confidence, I fly unto Thee!
O Virgin of virgins, My Mother!

To Thee I come before Thee I stand,
Sinful and Sorrowful,
Oh Mother of the Word Incarnate,
Despise not my petitions, but in thy mercy,
Hear and answer me.

Amen

A Mother’s Love, The Blessed Virgin Mary Saying YES To God
Chesterton on devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary [Ecumenical]
The Perpetual Virginity of Blessed Mary
A Comparison is Instituted Between the Disobedient and Sinning Eve and the Virgin Mary..

Magnificat: The Hymn of the Blessed Virgin Mary [Catholic Caucus]
The Blessed Virgin Mary's Role in the Celibate Priest's Spousal... (Pt 2) (CATHOLIC CAUCUS)
The Blessed Virgin Mary's Role in the Celibate Priest's Spousal and Paternal Love (CATHOLIC CAUCUS)
Discovering Mary [Excellent New Book For Converts]
Beginning Our Lady's Month [Catholic Caucus]
Give it all to Mary [Catholic Caucus]
JESUS LIVING IN MARY: HANDBOOK, SPIRITUALITY OF ST. LOUIS DE MONTFORT, ROSARY [Ecumenical]
Mary, Tabernacle of the Lord By Archbishop Fulton Sheen(Catholic Caucus)
A Protestant Discovers Mary
Mary is our Mother and Queen of the New Davidic Kingdom (Scriptures Agree With Catholic Church)

Hail Mary
Holy Water Silhouette (Virgin Mary -video))
How could Mary be the Mother of God?
Mary, the Mother of God (a defense)
Calling Mary “Mother of God” Tells Us Who Jesus Is
The Holy Spirit And Mary (Catholic Caucus)
Mary, Our Cause of Rejoicing
Mary in Byzantine Doctrine and Devotion (Catholic / Orthodox Caucus)
Radio Replies First Volume - Devotion to Mary
The Blessed Virgin Mary and the Catholic Discovery of America(Catholic Caucus)

Mary is the star that guides us to holiness, says Holy Father during Angelus [Catholic Caucus]
The Efficacy and Power of One Hail Mary [Ecumenical]
When Did Belief in the Virgin Birth Begin?
Mary, Motherhood, and the Home BY Archbishop Fulton Sheen
On Mary, Mother of Priests
Benedict reflects on Mary and the priesthood [Catholic Caucus]
Radio Replies First Volume - Mary
Scholar says Baptists neglect lessons from Virgin Mary
Mary and the Sword Continued Part #2 by Bishop Fulton J. Sheen
Mary and the Sword by Bishop Fulton J. Sheen(Catholic Caucus)

Why Did Mary Offer a Sin Offering? [Ecumenical]
Mary and Intercessory Prayer
Mary: Holy Mother
Mary not just for Catholics anymore
Pope concludes Month of Mary in the Vatican Gardens
Consecration to Mary(Catholic Caucus)
Mary’s Marching Orders
Praying the Hail Mary Like Never Before [Ecumenical]
Our Lady of the Most Blessed Sacrament [Catholic Caucus]
Catholic Caucus: The Catechism of St. Thomas Aquinas - THE HAIL MARY

Our Jewish Roots: The Immaculate Conception [Ecumenical]
The Blessed Virgin in the History of Christianity [Ecumenical]
Archbishop Sheen Today! -- Mary and the Moslems
Mary Immaculate: Patroness of the United States [Catholic/Orthodox Caucus]
"The Woman He Loved": Fulton Sheen and the Blessed Mother(Catholic Caucus)
September 12: The Most Holy Name of Mary and Militant Islam
Catholic Devotional: Feast of the Holy Name of Mary
A Homily on the Feast of the Most Holy Name of Mary
May Devotion: Blessed Virgin Mary
Catholic Caucus: Mary, The Power of Her Name [The Most Holy Name of the Blessed Virgin Mary]

[Salvation]

May 2012

Pope's intentions

General Intention: The Family. That initiatives which defend and uphold the role of the family may be promoted within society. .

Missionary Intention: Mary, Guide of Missionaries. That Mary, Queen of the World and Star of Evangelization, may accompany all missionaries in proclaiming her Son Jesus.

[Salvation]

Wednesday, May 02, 2012
St. Athanasius, Bishop, Doctor of the Church (Memorial)

First Reading: Psalm: Gospel:

Acts 12:24 -- 13:5 Psalm 67:2-3, 5, 6, 8 John 12:44-50 Love the poor tenderly, regarding them as your masters and yourselves as their servants. -- St. John of God

[Salvation]

Regina Coeli

 

This prayer, which dates from the twelfth century, is substituted for the Angelus during Easter Season.

In Latin

In English

Regina coeli, laetare, alleluia: Quia quem meruisti portare, alleluia. Resurrexit sicut dixit, alleluia. Ora pro nobis Deum, alleluia.   V. Gaude et laetare, Virgo Maria, Alleluia, R. Quia surrexit Dominus vere, alleluia.   Oremus: Deus qui per resurrectionem Filii tui, Domini nostri Iesu Christi, mundum laetificare dignatus es: praesta, quaesumus, ut per eius Genetricem Virginem Mariam, perpetuae capiamus gaudia vitae. Per eundem Christum Dominum nostrum. R. Amen.

Queen of Heaven rejoice, alleluia: For He whom you merited to bear, alleluia, Has risen as He said, alleluia. Pray for us to God, alleluia.   V. Rejoice and be glad, O Virgin Mary, alleluia. R. Because the Lord is truly risen, alleluia.   Let us pray: O God, who by the Resurrection of Thy Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, granted joy to the whole world: grant we beseech Thee, that through the intercession of the Virgin Mary, His Mother, we may lay hold of the joys of eternal life. Through the same Christ our Lord. R. Amen.

[sayuncledave]

Office of Readings

INVITATORY

The Invitatory may be said for the first ëhourí recited in the day.

Lord, + open my lips.
ñ And my mouth will proclaim your praise.

Ant. Come, let us worship the Lord, fount of all wisdom, alleluia.
Or: Come, let us worship Christ, chief shepherd of the flock, alleluia.

Psalm 95
A call to praise God

Encourage each other daily while it is still today (Hebrews 3:13).

Come, let us sing to the Lord *
  and shout with joy to the Rock who saves us.
Let us approach him with praise and thanksgiving *
  and sing joyful songs to the Lord.

Ant. Come, let us worship the Lord, fount of all wisdom, alleluia.
Or: Come, let us worship Christ, chief shepherd of the flock, alleluia.

The Lord is God, the mighty God, *
  the great king over all the gods.
He holds in his hands the depths of the earth *
  and the highest mountains as well.
He made the sea; it belongs to him, *
  the dry land, too, for it was formed by his hands.

Ant. Come, let us worship the Lord, fount of all wisdom, alleluia.
Or: Come, let us worship Christ, chief shepherd of the flock, alleluia.

Come, then, let us bow down and worship *
  bending the knee before the Lord, our maker.
For he is our God and we are his people, *
  the flock he shepherds.

Ant. Come, let us worship the Lord, fount of all wisdom, alleluia.
Or: Come, let us worship Christ, chief shepherd of the flock, alleluia.

Today, listen to the voice of the Lord: Ü
Do not grow stubborn, as your fathers did
  in the wilderness, *
when at Meriba and Massah
  they challenged me and provoked me, *
Although they had seen all of my works.

Ant. Come, let us worship the Lord, fount of all wisdom, alleluia.
Or: Come, let us worship Christ, chief shepherd of the flock, alleluia.

Forty years I endured that generation. *
I said, ìThey are a people whose hearts go astray
  and they do not know my ways.î 
So I swore in my anger, *
  ìThey shall not enter into my rest.î

Ant. Come, let us worship the Lord, fount of all wisdom, alleluia.
Or: Come, let us worship Christ, chief shepherd of the flock, alleluia.

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.

Ant. Come, let us worship the Lord, fount of all wisdom, alleluia.
Or: Come, let us worship Christ, chief shepherd of the flock, alleluia.

If the Invitatory is not said, then the following is used:

God, + come to my assistance.
ñ Lord, make haste to help me.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:
ñ as it was in the beginning, is now, will be for ever. Amen. Alleluia.

HYMN

This is the feast day of the Lordís true witness,
Whom through the ages all have held in honor;
Now let us praise him and his deeds of glory
     With exultation.

So now in chorus, giving God the glory,
We sing his praises and his mighty triumph,
That in his glory we may all be sharers
     Here and hereafter.

Praise to the Father and the Son most holy,
Praise to the Spirit, with them coeternal,
Who give examples in the lives of all saints,
     That we may follow.

Melody: Herr Deinen Zorn 11.11.11.5
Music: Johann Cr¸ger, 1653
Text: Iste Confessor, eighth century.
Translation: Composite.

Or:

Eternal Sun, true Light Divine,
Whose wisdom fills creationís plan,
We sing to you with joy this day,
The Light supreme of evíry soul.

Your Holy Spiritís ardent fire
Inspired some chosen master minds,
To shed bright rays upon the world
And open up salvationís way.

Both inspiration from on high,
And efforts of deep human thought,
Have worked in harmony of grace
Developing our holy Faith.

This saint and doctor whom we praise,
Shines out with luster all his own,
A jewel in the favored crown
Of those who spread true doctrineís light.

May his assistance help us now,
Unswerving path of truth to tread,
That we at last may gaze on you,
Our God, for all eternity.

Most tender Father, hear our prayer,
Whom we adore, with Christ the Lord,
And Holy Spirit of them both,
Bless us who praise your Trinity. Amen.

Melody: Angelus, L.M.
Music: Georg Joseph, 1657
Text: ∆terne Sol
Translation: © the Benedictines of Saint Ceciliaís Abbey, Ryde, UK. Used with permission.

Or:

The day of resurrection!
Earth spread the news abroad;
The Paschal feast of gladness,
The Paschal feast of God.
From death to life eternal,
From earth to heavenís height
Our Savior Christ has brought us,
The glorious Lord of Light.

Our hearts be free from evil
That we may see aright
The Savior resurrected
In his eternal light;
And hear his message plainly,
Delivered calm and clear:
ìRejoice with me in triumph,
Be glad and do not fear.î

Now let the heavíns be joyful,
And earth her song begin,
The whole world keep high triumph
And all that is therein;
Let all things in creation
Their notes of gladness blend,
For Christ the Lord has risen,
Our joy that has no end.

Melody: Ellacombe or Aurelia 76.76.D
Music: (Ellacombe) Wurtemburg Gesangbuch, 1784, adapted in the Mainz Gesangbuch, 1833, and further adapted in the St. Gall Gesangbuch, 1863; (Aurelia) S. S. Wesley, 1810-1876
Text: John Mason Neale, 1818-1866, adapted by Anthony G. Petti

PSALMODY

Ant. 1 Bless the Lord, my soul; never forget all he has done for you, alleluia.

Psalm 103
Praise for Godís tender compassion

In the tender compassion of our God, the dawn from on high shall break upon us (see Luke 1:78).

I

My soul, give thanks to the Lord *
all my being, bless his holy name.
My soul, give thanks to the Lord *
and never forget all his blessings.

It is he who forgives all your guilt, *
who heals every one of your ills,
who redeems your life from the grave, *
who crowns you with love and compassion,
who fills your life with good things, *
renewing your youth like an eagleís.

The Lord does deeds of justice, *
gives judgment for all who are oppressed.
He made known his ways to Moses *
and his deeds to Israelís sons.

Glory be 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.

Ant. Bless the Lord, my soul; never forget all he has done for you, alleluia.

Ant. 2 As a father is gentle with his children, so is the Lord with those who revere him, alleluia.

II

The Lord is compassion and love, *
slow to anger and rich in mercy.
His wrath will come to an end; *
he will not be angry for ever.
He does not treat us according to our sins *
nor repay us according to our faults.

For as the heavens are high above the earth *
so strong is his love for those who fear him.
As far as the east is from the west *
so far does he remove our sins.

As a father has compassion on his sons, *
the Lord has pity on those who fear him;
for he knows of what we are made, *
he remembers that we are dust.

As for man, his days are like grass; *
he flowers like the flower of the field;
the wind blows and he is gone *
and his place never sees him again.

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.

Ant. As a father is gentle with his children, so is the Lord with those who revere him, alleluia.

Ant. 3 Bless the Lord, all you his works, alleluia.

III

But the love of the Lord is everlasting *
upon those who hold him in fear;
his justice reaches out to childrenís children Ü
when they keep his covenant in truth, *
when they keep his will in their mind.

The Lord has set his sway in heaven *
and his kingdom is ruling over all.
Give thanks to the Lord, all his angels, Ü
mighty in power, fulfilling his word, *
who heed the voice of his word.

Give thanks to the Lord, all his hosts, *
his servants who do his will.
Give thanks to the Lord, all his works, Ü
in every place where he rules. *
My soul, give thanks to the Lord!

Glory be 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.

Psalm Prayer

You have compassion for the sinner, Lord, as a father has compassion for his children. Heal the weakness of your people and save us from lasting death, that we may praise and glorify you for ever.

Ant. Bless the Lord, all you his works, alleluia.

God raised up Christ from the dead, alleluia.
ñ so that all our faith and hope might be in God, alleluia.

READINGS

FIRST READING

From the book of Revelation
14:14-15:4

The harvest at the end of time

As I, John, watched, a white cloud appeared, and on the cloud sat One like a Son of Man wearing a gold crown on his head and holding a sharp sickle in his hand. Another angel came out of the temple and in a loud voice cried out to him who sat on the cloud, ìUse your sickle and cut down the harvest, for now is the time to reap; the earthís harvest is fully ripe.î So the one sitting on the cloud wielded his sickle over all the earth and reaped the earthís harvest.

Then out of the temple in heaven came another angel, who likewise held a sharp sickle. A second angel, who was in charge of the fire at the altar of incense, cried out in a loud voice to the one who held the sharp sickle, ìUse your sharp sickle and gather the grapes from the vines of the earth, for the clusters are ripe.î So the angel wielded his sickle over the earth and gathered the grapes of the earth. He threw them into the huge winepress of Godís wrath. The winepress was trodden outside the city, and so much blood poured out of the winepress that for two hundred miles around, it reached as high as a horseís bridle.

I saw in heaven another sign, great and awe-inspiring: seven angels holding the seven final plagues which would bring Godís wrath to a climax.

I then saw something like a sea of glass mingled with fire. On the sea of glass were standing those who had won the victory over the beast and its image, and also the number that signified its name. They were holding the harps used in worshiping God, and they sang the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb:

   ìMighty and wonderful are your works,
      Lord God Almighty!
   Righteous and true are your ways,
      O King of the nations!
   Who would dare refuse you honor,
      or the glory due your name, O Lord?
   Since you alone are holy,
      all nations shall come
      and worship in your presence.
   Your mighty deeds are clearly seen.î

RESPONSORY
Revelation 15:3; Exodus 15:11

They sang the song of the Lamb:
How wonderful and great are your works,
Lord God Almighty!
ñ Just and true are your ways,
O King of the nations, alleluia.

O Lord, you have performed wonderful deeds.
Who is your equal among all the gods?
Who is like you, majestic in holiness?
ñ Just and true are your ways,
O King of the nations, alleluia.

SECOND READING

From a discourse by Saint Athanasius, bishop
(Oratio de Incarnatione Verbi, 8-9, PG 25, 110-111)

On the incarnation of the Word

The Word of God, incorporeal, incorruptible and immaterial, entered our world. Yet it was not as if he had been remote from it up to that time. For there is no part of the world that was ever without his presence; together with his Father, he continually filled all things and places.

Out of his loving-kindness for us he came to us, and we see this in the way he revealed himself openly to us. Taking pity on mankindís weakness, and moved by our corruption, he could not stand aside and see death have the mastery over us; he did not want creation to perish and his Fatherís work in fashioning man to be in vain. He therefore took to himself a body, no different from our own, for he did not wish simply to be in a body or only to be seen.

If he had wanted simply to be seen, he could indeed have taken another, and nobler, body. Instead, he took our body in its reality.

Within the Virgin he built himself a temple, that is, a body; he made it his own instrument in which to dwell and to reveal himself. In this way he received from mankind a body like our own, and, since all were subject to the corruption of death, he delivered this body over to death for all, and with supreme love offered it to the Father. He did so to destroy the law of corruption passed against all men, since all died in him. The law, which had spent its force on the body of the Lord, could no longer have any power over his fellowmen. Moreover, this was the way in which the Word was to restore mankind to immortality, after it had fallen into corruption, and summon it back from death to life. He utterly destroyed the power death had against mankindóas fire consumes chaffóby means of the body he had taken and the grace of the resurrection.

This is the reason why the Word assumed a body that could die, so that this body, sharing in the Word who is above all, might satisfy deathís requirement in place of all. Because of the Word dwelling in that body, it would remain incorruptible, and all would be freed for ever from corruption by the grace of the resurrection.

In death the Word made a spotless sacrifice and oblation of the body he had taken. by dying for others, he immediately banished death for all mankind.

In this way the Word of God, who is above all, dedicated and offered his temple, the instrument that was his body, for us all, as he said, and so paid by his own death the debt that was owed. The immortal Son of God, united with all men by likeness of nature, thus fulfilled all justice in restoring mankind to immortality by the promise of the resurrection.

The corruption of death no longer holds any power over mankind, thanks to the Word, who has come to dwell among them through his one body.

RESPONSORY
Jeremiah 15:19, 20; 2 Peter 2:1

You will be my spokeman.
I will make you a solid wall of brass to these people.
ñ They will fight against you,
but they shall not prevail,
for I am with you, alleluia.

False teachers will arise.
They will secretly bring in destructive heresies
and deny the master who saved them.
ñ They will fight against you,
but they shall not prevail,
for I am with you, alleluia.

CONCLUDING PRAYER

Let us pray.

Father,
you raised up Saint Athanasius
to be an outstanding defender
of the truth of Christís divinity.
By his teaching and protection
may we grow in your knowledge and love.
Grant this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, forever and ever.
ñ Amen.

Or:

Almighty, ever-living God,
who raised up the Bishop Saint Athanasius
as an outstanding example of your Sonís divinity,
mercifully grant,
that, rejoicing in his teaching and protection,
we may never cease to grow in knowledge and love of you.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of  the Holy Spirit,
one God, forever and ever.
ñ Amen.

ACCLAMATION

Let us praise the Lord.
ñ And give him thanks.

[sayuncledave]

Lauds

INVITATORY

The Invitatory may be said for the first ëëhourí recited in the day.

Lord, + open my lips.
ó And my mouth will proclaim your praise.

Ant. Come, let us worship the Lord, fount of all wisdom, alleluia.
Or: Come, let us worship Christ, chief shepherd of the flock, alleluia.

Psalm 95
A call to praise God

Encourage each other daily while it is still today (Hebrews 3:13).

Come, let us sing to the Lord *
  and shout with joy to the Rock who saves us.
Let us approach him with praise and thanksgiving *
  and sing joyful songs to the Lord.

Ant. Come, let us worship the Lord, fount of all wisdom, alleluia.
Or: Come, let us worship Christ, chief shepherd of the flock, alleluia.

The Lord is God, the mighty God, *
  the great king over all the gods.
He holds in his hands the depths of the earth *
  and the highest mountains as well.
He made the sea; it belongs to him, *
  the dry land, too, for it was formed by his hands.

Ant. Come, let us worship the Lord, fount of all wisdom, alleluia.
Or: Come, let us worship Christ, chief shepherd of the flock, alleluia.

Come, then, let us bow down and worship *
  bending the knee before the Lord, our maker.
For he is our God and we are his people, *
  the flock he shepherds.

Ant. Come, let us worship the Lord, fount of all wisdom, alleluia.
Or: Come, let us worship Christ, chief shepherd of the flock, alleluia.

Today, listen to the voice of the Lord: Ü
Do not grow stubborn, as your fathers did
  in the wilderness, *
when at Meriba and Massah
  they challenged me and provoked me, *
Although they had seen all of my works.

Ant. Come, let us worship the Lord, fount of all wisdom, alleluia.
Or: Come, let us worship Christ, chief shepherd of the flock, alleluia.

Forty years I endured that generation. *
I said, ìThey are a people whose hearts go astray
  and they do not know my ways.î 
So I swore in my anger, *
  ìThey shall not enter into my rest.î

Ant. Come, let us worship the Lord, fount of all wisdom, alleluia.
Or: Come, let us worship Christ, chief shepherd of the flock, alleluia.

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.

Ant. Come, let us worship the Lord, fount of all wisdom, alleluia.
Or: Come, let us worship Christ, chief shepherd of the flock, alleluia.

If the Invitatory is not said, then the following is used:

God, + come to my assistance.
ñ Lord, make haste to help me.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:
ñ as it was in the beginning, is now, will be for ever. Amen. Alleluia.

HYMN

Rise up, O men of God! 
Have done with lesser things. 
Give heart, and soul, and mind, and strength 
To serve the King of kings. 

Rise up, O men of God! 
His kingdom tarries long:
Bring in the day of brotherhood 
And end the night of wrong. 

Rise up, O men of God! 
The Church for you does wait:
Sent forth to serve the needs of men;
In Christ, our strength is great.

Lift high the cross of Christ! 
Tread where his feet have trod. 
As brothers of the Son of Man, 
Rise up, O men of God!

Melody: Festal Song S.M.
Music: William H. Walter, 1894
Text: William Pierson Merrill, 1911

Or:

Christ the Lord is risen today, Alleluia!
Sons of men and angels say: Alleluia!
Raise your joys and triumphs high: Alleluia!
Sing, ye heavens, and earth reply, Alleluia!

Vain the stone, the watch, the seal; Alleluia!
Christ has burst the gates of hell: Alleluia!
Death in vain forbids his rise; Alleluia!
Christ has opened paradise, Alleluia!

Lives again our glorious King, Alleluia!
Where, O death, is now thy sting? Alleluia!
Once he died, our souls to save; Alleluia!
Where thy victory, O grave? Alleluia!

Soar we now where Christ hath led, Alleluia!
Following our exalted Head, Alleluia!
Made like him, like him we rise; Alleluia!
Ours the cross, the grave, the skies, Alleluia!

Hail, the Lord of earth and heaven! Alleluia!
Praise to thee by both be given; Alleluia!
Thee we greet triumphant now; Alleluia!
Hail, the resurrection Thou! Alleluia! Amen.

Melody: Llanfair 7.7.7.7 with Alleluias
Music: Robert Williams, 1781-1821
Text: Charles Wesley, 1707-1788, alt.

PSALMODY

Ant. 1 O God, arise above the heavens, alleluia.

Psalm 108
Praise of God and a plea for help

Since the Son of God has been exalted above the heavens, his glory is proclaimed through all the earth (Arnobius).

My heart is ready, O God; *
I will sing, sing your praise.
Awake, my soul; Ü
awake, lyre and harp. *
I will awake the dawn.

I will thank you, Lord, among the peoples, *
among the nations I will praise you,
for your love reaches to the heavens *
and your truth to the skies.
O God, arise above the heavens; *
may your glory shine on earth!

O come and deliver your friends; *
help with your right hand and reply.
From his holy place God has made this promise: Ü
ìI will triumph and divide the land of Shechem; *
I will measure out the valley of Succoth.

Gilead is mine and Manasseh. *
Ephraim I take for my helmet,
Judah for my commanderís staff. *
Moab I will use for my washbowl,
on Edom I will plant my shoe. *
Over the Philistines I will shout in triumph.î

But who will lead me to conquer the fortress? *
Who will bring me face to face with Edom?
Will you utterly reject us, O God, *
and no longer march with our armies?

Give us help against the foe: *
for the help of man is vain.
With God we shall do bravely *
and he will trample down our foes.

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.

Psalm Prayer

Accept the prayers of your servants, Lord, and prepare our hearts to praise your holy name. Come to our aid in time of trouble, and make us worthy to sing you songs of thanksgiving.

Ant. O God, arise above the heavens, alleluia.

Ant. 2 The Lord will make praise and justice blossom before all the nations, alleluia.

Canticle: Isaiah 61:10-62:5
The prophetís joy in the vision of a new Jerusalem

I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, with the beauty of a bride adorned for her husband (Revelation 21:2).

I rejoice heartily in the Lord, *
in my God is the joy of my soul;
for he has clothed me with a robe of salvation, *
and wrapped me in a mantle of justice,
like a bridegroom adorned with a diadem, *
like a bride bedecked with her jewels.

As the earth brings forth its plants, *
and a garden makes its growth spring up,
so will the Lord God make justice and praise *
spring up before all the nations.

For Zionís sake I will not be silent, *
for Jerusalemís sake I will not be quiet,
until her vindication shines forth like the dawn *
and her victory like a burning torch.

Nations shall behold your vindication, *
and all kings your glory;
you shall be called by a new name *
pronounced by the mouth of the Lord.
You shall be a glorious crown in the hand of the Lord, *
a royal diadem held by your God.

No more shall men call you ìForsaken,î *
or your land ìDesolate,î
but you shall be called ìMy Delight,î *
and your land ìEspoused.î
For the Lord delights in you, *
and makes your land his spouse.

As a young man marries a virgin, *
your Builder shall marry you;
and as a bridegroom rejoices in his bride *
so shall your God rejoice in you.

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.

Ant. The Lord will make praise and justice blossom before all the nations, alleluia.

Ant. 3 Zion, the Lord, your God, will reign for ever, alleluia.

Psalm 146
Those who trust in God know what it is to be happy

To praise God in our lives means all we do must be for his glory (Arnobius).

My soul, give praise to the Lord; Ü
I will praise the Lord all my days, *
make music to my God while I live.

Put no trust in princes, *
in mortal men in whom there is no help.
Take their breath, they return to clay *
and their plans that day come to nothing.

He is happy who is helped by Jacobís God, *
whose hope is in the Lord his God,
who alone made heaven and earth, *
the seas and all they contain.

It is he who keeps faith for ever, *
who is just to those who are oppressed.
It is he who gives bread to the hungry, *
the Lord, who sets prisoners free,

the Lord who gives sight to the blind, *
who raises up those who are bowed down,
the Lord, who protects the stranger *
and upholds the widow and orphan.

It is the Lord who loves the just *
but thwarts the path of the wicked.
The Lord will reign for ever, *
Zionís God, from age to age.

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.

Psalm Prayer

God of glory and power, those who have put all their trust in you are happy indeed. Shine the brightness of your light on us, that we may love you always with a pure heart.

Ant. Zion, the Lord, your God, will reign for ever, alleluia.

READING
Wisdom 7:13-14

Simply I learned about Wisdom, and ungrudgingly do I shareó
   her riches I do not hide away;
For to men she is an unfailing treasure;
   those who gain this treasure win the friendship of God,
   to whom the gifts they have from discipline commend them.

RESPONSORY

Let the peoples proclaim the wisdom of the saints, alleluia, alleluia.
ñ Let the peoples proclaim the wisdom of the saints, alleluia, alleluia.

With joyful praise let the Church tell forth,
ñ  alleluia, alleluia.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
ñ Let the peoples proclaim the wisdom of the saints, alleluia, alleluia.

Or:

READING

Hebrews 13:7-9a

Remember your leaders who spoke the word of God to you; consider how their lives ended, and imitate their faith. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Do not be carried away by all kinds of strange teaching.

RESPONSORY

On your walls, Jerusalem, I have set my watchmen to guard you, alleluia, alleluia.
ñ On your walls, Jerusalem, I have set my watchmen to guard you, alleluia, alleluia.

Day or night, they will not cease to proclaim the name of the Lord.
ñ Alleluia, alleluia.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
ñ On your walls, Jerusalem, I have set my watchmen to guard you, alleluia, alleluia.

CANTICLE OF ZECHARIAH

Ant. Those who are learned will be radiant as the sky in all its beauty; those who instruct the people in goodness will shine like the stars for all eternity, alleluia.

Luke 1:68-79
The Messiah and his forerunner

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 Ü
  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, and to the Son, *
and to the Holy Spirit:
as it was in the beginning, is now, *
and will be for ever. Amen.

Ant. Those who are learned will be radiant as the sky in all its beauty; those who instruct the people in goodness will shine like the stars for all eternity, alleluia.

INTERCESSIONS

Christ is the Good Shepherd who laid down his life for his sheep. Let us praise and thank him as we pray:
Nourish your people, Lord.

Christ, you decided to show your merciful love through your holy shepherds,
ñ let your mercy always reach us through them.
Nourish your people, Lord.

Through your vicars you continue to perform the ministry of shepherd of souls,
ñ direct us always through our leaders.
Nourish your people, Lord.

Through your holy ones, the leaders of your people, you served as physician of our bodies and our spirits,
ñ continue to fulfill your ministry of life and holiness in us.
Nourish your people, Lord.

You taught your flock through the prudence and love of your saints,
ñ grant us continual growth in holiness under the direction of our pastors.
Nourish your people, Lord.

THE LORDíS PRAYER

(Gathering our prayer and praises into one, let us offer the prayer Christ himself taught us:)

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.

CONCLUDING PRAYER

Father,
you raised up Saint Athanasius
to be an outstanding defender
of the truth of Christ's divinity.
By his teaching and protection
may we grow in your knowledge and love.
Grant this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, forever and ever.
ñ Amen.

Or:

Almighty, ever-living God,
who raised up the Bishop Saint Athanasius
as an outstanding example of your Sonís divinity,
mercifully grant,
that, rejoicing in his teaching and protection,
we may never cease to grow in knowledge and love of you.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of  the Holy Spirit,
one God, forever and ever.
ñ Amen.

DISMISSAL

May the Lord + bless us,
protect us from all evil
and bring us to everlasting life.
ñ Amen.

[sayuncledave]

Daytime Prayer

INTRODUCTION

God, + come to my assistance.
ñ Lord, make haste to help me.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:
ñ as it was in the beginning, is now, will be for ever. Amen.

HYMN

Come, Christians, join to sing
Alleluia! Amen!
Loud praise to Christ our King;
Alleluia! Amen!
Let all, with heart and voice,
Before his throne rejoice;
Praise is his gracious choice:
Alleluia! Amen!

Come, lift your hearts on high;
Alleluia! Amen!
Let praises fill the sky;
Alleluia! Amen!
He is our guide and friend;
Our cry he will attend;
His love will never end:
Alleluia! Amen!

Praise yet our Christ again;
Alleluia! Amen!
Life shall not end the strain;
Alleluia! Amen!
On heavenís joyful shore
His goodness weíll adore,
Singing forevermore:
Alleluia! Amen!

Tune: Madrid 66.66 D
Music: Anonymous, Philadelphia, 1826
Text: Christian Henry Bateman, 1813-1889

PSALMODY

Ant. Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.

119:145-152
XIX (Koph)

A mediation on Godís law

Loving God means keeping his commandments (1 John 5:3).

I call with all my heart; Lord, hear me, *
I will keep your commands.
I call upon you, save me *
and I will do your will.

I rise before dawn and cry for help, *
I hope in your word.
My eyes watch through the night *
to ponder your promise.

In your love hear my voice, O Lord; *
give me life by your decrees.
Those who harm me unjustly draw near; *
they are far from your law.

But you, O Lord, are close; *
your commands are truth.
Long have I known that your will*
is established for ever.

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.

Psalm Prayer

Save us by the power of your hand, Father, for our enemies have ignored your words. May the fire of your word consume our sins and its brightness illumine our hearts.

Psalm 94
The Lord will avenge the just

God punishes wicked conduct; he has called you to share his holiness. You must have nothing to do with impurity (1 Thessalonians 4:6-7).

I

O Lord, avenging God, *
avenging God, appear!
Judge of the earth, arise, *
give the proud what they deserve!

How long, O Lord, shall the wicked, *
how long shall the wicked triumph?
They bluster with arrogant speech; *
the evil-doers boast to each other.

They crush your people, Lord, *
they afflict the ones you have chosen
They kill the widow and the stranger *
and murder the fatherless child.

And they say: ìThe Lord does not see; *
the God of Jacob pays no heed.î
Mark this, most senseless of people; *
fools, when will you understand?

Can he who made the ear, not hear? *
Can he who formed the eye, not see?
Will he who corrects nations not punish? *
Will he who teaches men not have knowledge?

The Lord knows the thoughts of men. *
He knows they are no more than a breath.

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.

II

Happy the man whom you teach, O Lord, *
whom you train by means of your law:
to him you give peace in evil days *
while the pit is being dug for the wicked.

The Lord will not abandon his people *
nor forsake those who are his own;
for judgment shall again be just *
and all true hearts shall uphold it.

Who will stand up for me against the wicked? *
Who will defend me from those who do evil?
If the Lord were not to help me, *
I would soon go down into the silence.

When I think: ìI have lost my foothold,î *
your mercy, Lord, holds me up.
When cares increase in my heart *
your consolation calms my soul.

Can judges who do evil be your friends? *
They do injustice under cover of law;
they attack the life of the just *
and condemn innocent blood.

As for me, the Lord will be a stronghold; *
my God will be the rock where I take refuge.
He will repay them for their wickedness, Ü
destroy them for their evil deeds. *
The Lord, our God, will destroy them.

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.

Psalm Prayer

Lord Jesus, you taught your disciples not to fear the world. Do not abandon your inheritance to sinners, nor ignore the power of the enemy against the Church. Grant us always to seek the wisdom of the cross and the blessing of those who suffer for the sake of justice. May we always be filled with your happiness.

Ant. Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.

At the other hours, the complementary psalmody is used.

MIDMORNING

READING
See Romans 4:24-25

We believe in him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead, the Jesus who was handed over to death for our sins and raised up for our justification.

The Lord is risen, alleluia.
ñ He has appeared to Simon, alleluia.

CONCLUDING PRAYER

Let us pray.

God our Father,
life of the faithful,
glory of the humble,
happiness of the just,
hear our prayer.
Fill our emptiness
with the blessing of the eucharist,
the foretaste of eternal joy.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.
ñ Amen.

Or:

O God, life of the faithful,
glory of the humble, blessedness of the just,
listen kindly to the prayers
of those who call on you,
that they who thirst for what you generously promise
may always have their fill of your plenty.
Through Christ our Lord.
ñ Amen.

ACCLAMATION

Let us praise the Lord.
ñ And give him thanks.

MIDDAY

READING
1 John 5:5-6a

Who is conqueror of the world?
The one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.
Jesus Christ it is who came through water and bloodó
not in water only,
but in water and in blood.

The disciples rejoiced, alleluia.
ñ When they saw the risen Lord, alleluia.

CONCLUDING PRAYER

Let us pray.

God our Father,
life of the faithful,
glory of the humble,
happiness of the just,
hear our prayer.
Fill our emptiness
with the blessing of the eucharist,
the foretaste of eternal joy.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.
ñ Amen.

Or:

O God, life of the faithful,
glory of the humble, blessedness of the just,
listen kindly to the prayers
of those who call on you,
that they who thirst for what you generously promise
may always have their fill of your plenty.
Through Christ our Lord.
ñ Amen.

ACCLAMATION

Let us praise the Lord.
ñ And give him thanks.

MIDAFTERNOON

READING
Ephesians 4:23-24

Acquire a fresh, spiritual way of thinking. You must put on that new man created in Godís image, whose justice and holiness are born of truth.

Stay with us, Lord, alleluia.
ñ For evening draws near, alleluia.

CONCLUDING PRAYER

Let us pray.

God our Father,
life of the faithful,
glory of the humble,
happiness of the just,
hear our prayer.
Fill our emptiness
with the blessing of the eucharist,
the foretaste of eternal joy.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.
ñ Amen.

Or:

O God, life of the faithful,
glory of the humble, blessedness of the just,
listen kindly to the prayers
of those who call on you,
that they who thirst for what you generously promise
may always have their fill of your plenty.
Through Christ our Lord.
ñ Amen.

ACCLAMATION

Let us praise the Lord.
ñ And give him thanks.