INVITATORY
The Invitatory is said when this is the first ‘hour’ of the day.
Lord, + open my lips.
— And my mouth will proclaim your praise.
Ant. Come, let us worship the Lord, our mighty God.
The antiphon is repeated. In individual recitation, the antiphon may be said only at the beginning of the psalm; it need not be repeated after each strophe.
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, our mighty God.
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, our mighty God.
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, our mighty God.
Today, listen to the voice of the Lord: †
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, our mighty God.
Forty years I endured that generation. *
I said, “They are a people whose hearts go astray
and they do not know my ways.”
So I swore in my anger, *
“They shall not enter into my rest.”
Ant. Come, let us worship the Lord, our mighty God.
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, our mighty God.
If the Invitatory is not said, then the following is used:
God, + come to my assistance.
— Lord, make haste to help me.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:
— as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen. Alleluia.
HYMN
During the night or at dawn:
Waking in darkness, let us all keep vigil,
ever reflecting on the psalms we utter;
firm and wholehearted, let us sing with sweetness
hymns to our Savior,
That as we praise him, Lord and King most loving,
we may be worthy with his saints to enter
courts of high heaven and enjoy for ever
life blest and happy.
Grant this, we ask you, Godhead ever blessed,
equal and holy Father, Son, and Spirit,
through all creation, age to age reechoes
your wondrous glory. Amen.
Tune: ISTE CONFESSOR (ROUEN/POITIERS) 11 11 11 5
Music: from the Poitiers Antiphoner, 1746
or Mode I, melody 9; Liber Hymnarius, Solesmes, 1983
Text: Nocte surgens vigilemus omnes, 8-9th c., © 2023 ICEL
During the day:
God, we beseech you, let your tender mercy:
Listen with favor to our supplications,
heed the petitions of your lowly servants,
as we implore you.
Gazing serenely from your throne most holy,
look down in kindness on the oil we offer;
keep our lamps burning, chase away the shadows
from hearts in darkness.
In your great mercy, free us from our failings,
cleanse our defilement, break apart our fetters,
pardon transgressions, with your right hand raising
all who have fallen.
Glory and power to the eternal Father,
praise to you always, Son and Sole-begotten,
with whom the Spirit, in all things your equal,
reigns through the ages. Amen.
Tune: As above
Text: Ad preces nostras deitatis aures, ca. 10th c., © 2023 ICEL
PSALMODY
Ant. 1 Surrender to God, and he will do everything for you.
Psalm 37
The lot of the wicked and the good
Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth (Matthew 5:5).
I
Do not fret because of the wicked; *
do not envy those who do evil:
for they wither quickly like grass *
and fade like the green of the fields.
If you trust in the Lord and do good, *
then you will live in the land and be secure.
If you find your delight in the Lord, *
he will grant your heart’s desire.
Commit your life to the Lord, *
trust in him and he will act,
so that your justice breaks forth like the light, *
your cause like the noon-day sun.
Be still before the Lord and wait in patience; *
do not fret at the man who prospers;
a man who makes evil plots *
to bring down the needy and the poor.
Calm your anger and forget your rage; *
do not fret, it only leads to evil.
For those who do evil shall perish; *
the patient shall inherit the land.
A little longer—and the wicked shall have gone. *
Look at his place, he is not there.
But the humble shall own the land *
and enjoy the fullness 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. Surrender to God, and he will do everything for you.
Ant. 2 Turn away from evil and learn to do God’s will; the Lord will strengthen you if you obey him.
II
The wicked man plots against the just *
and gnashes his teeth against him;
but the Lord laughs at the wicked *
for he sees that his day is at hand.
The sword of the wicked is drawn, *
his bow is bent to slaughter the upright.
Their sword shall pierce their own hearts *
and their bows shall be broken to pieces.
The just man’s few possessions *
are better than the wicked man’s wealth;
for the power of the wicked shall be broken *
and the Lord will support the just.
He protects the lives of the upright, *
their heritage will last for ever.
They shall not be put to shame in evil days, *
in time of famine their food shall not fail.
But all the wicked shall perish *
and all the enemies of the Lord.
They are like the beauty of the meadows, *
they shall vanish, they shall vanish like smoke.
The wicked man borrows without repaying, *
but the just man is generous and gives.
Those blessed by the Lord shall own the land, *
but those he has cursed shall be destroyed.
The Lord guides the steps of a man *
and makes safe the path of one he loves.
Though he stumble he shall never fall *
for the Lord holds him by the hand.
I was young and now I am old, †
but I have never seen the just man forsaken *
nor his children begging for bread.
All the day he is generous and lends *
and his children become a blessing.
Then turn away from evil and do good *
and you shall have a home for ever;
for the Lord loves justice *
and will never forsake his friends.
The unjust shall be wiped out for ever *
and the children of the wicked destroyed.
The just shall inherit the land; *
there they shall live 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.
Ant. Turn away from evil and learn to do God’s will; the Lord will strengthen you if you obey him.
Ant. 3 Wait for the Lord to lead, then follow in his way.
III
The just man’s mouth utters wisdom *
and his lips speak what is right;
the law of his God is in his heart, *
his steps shall be saved from stumbling.
The wicked man watches for the just *
and seeks occasion to kill him.
The Lord will not leave him in his power *
nor let him be condemned when he is judged.
Then wait for the Lord, keep to his way. *
It is he who will free you from the wicked,
raise you up to possess the land *
and see the wicked destroyed.
I have seen the wicked triumphant, *
towering like a cedar of Lebanon.
I passed by again; he was gone. *
I searched; he was nowhere to be found.
See the just man, mark the upright, *
for the peaceful man a future lies in store,
but sinners shall all be destroyed. *
No future lies in store for the wicked.
The salvation of the just comes from the Lord, *
their stronghold in time of distress.
The Lord helps them and delivers them *
and saves them: for their refuge is in him.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, *
and to the Holy Spirit:
as it was in the beginning, is now, *
and will be for ever. Amen.
Psalm Prayer
You proclaimed the poor to be blessed, Lord Jesus, for the kingdom of heaven is given to them. Fill us generously with your gifts. Teach us to put our trust in the Father and to seek his kingdom first of all rather than imitate the powerful and envy the rich.
Ant. Wait for the Lord to lead, then follow in his way.
Teach me goodness, and holy wisdom.
— For I have put my trust in your guidance.
READINGS
FIRST READING
From the book of the prophet Jeremiah
20:7-18
The prophet’s anxieties
You duped me, O Lord, and I let myself be duped;
you were too strong for me, and you triumphed.
All the day I am an object of laughter;
everyone mocks me.
Whenever I speak, I must cry out,
violence and outrage is my message;
The word of the Lord has brought me
derision and reproach all the day.
I say to myself, I will not mention him,
I will speak in his name no more.
But then it becomes like fire burning in my heart,
imprisoned in my bones;
I grow weary holding it in,
I cannot endure it.
Yes, I hear the whisperings of many:
“Terror on every side!
Denounce! let us denounce him!”
All those who were my friends
are on the watch for any misstep of mine.
“Perhaps he will be trapped; then we can prevail,
and take our vengeance on him.”
But the Lord is with me, like a mighty champion:
my persecutors will stumble, they will not triumph.
In their failure they will be put to utter shame,
to lasting, unforgettable confusion.
O Lord of hosts, you who test the just,
who probe mind and heart,
Let me witness the vengeance you take on them,
for to you I have entrusted my cause.
Sing to the Lord,
praise the Lord,
For he has rescued the life of the poor
from the power of the wicked!
Cursed be the day
on which I was born!
May the day my mother gave me birth
never be blessed!
Cursed be the man who brought the news
to my father, saying,
“A child, a son, has been born to you!”
filling him with great joy.
Let that man be like the cities
which the Lord relentlessly overthrew;
Let him hear war cries in the morning,
battle alarms at noonday,
because he did not dispatch me in the womb!
Then my mother would have been my grave,
her womb confining me forever.
Why did I come forth from the womb,
to see sorrow and pain,
to end my days in shame?
RESPONSORY
Jeremiah 20:10-11; Psalm 31:14
I hear the whispered threats of those who were my friends;
now they watch for my downfall and say:
Perhaps we can deceive him,
and then we shall have him in our power
and take our revenge.
— But you, Lord, are a mighty warrior,
always at my side.
I hear the whisperings of the crowd,
threats from every side as they plot to take my life.
— But you, Lord, are a mighty warrior,
always at my side.
SECOND READING
From the Imitation of Christ
(Lib. 3, 14)
The truth of the Lord endures for ever
You thunder your judgments upon me, O Lord; you shake all my bones with fear and dread, and my soul becomes severely frightened. I am bewildered when I realize that even the heavens are not pure in your sight.
If you discovered iniquity in the angels and did not spare them, what will become of me? The stars fell from heaven, and I, mere dust, what should I expect? Those whose works seemed praiseworthy fell to the depths, and I have seen those who once were fed with the bread of angels delighting in the husks of swine.
There is no holiness where you have withdrawn your hand, O Lord; no profitable wisdom if you cease to rule over it; no helpful strength if you cease to preserve it. For if you forsake us, we sink and perish; but if you visit us, we rise up and live again. We are unstable, but you make us firm; we grow cool, but you inflame us.
All superficial glory has been swallowed up in the depths of your judgment upon me.
What is all flesh in your sight? Can the clay be glorified in opposition to its Maker?
How can anyone be aroused by empty talk if his heart is subject in the truth to God?
The whole world cannot swell with pride the man who is subject to truth; nor will he be swayed by the flattery of all his admirers, if he has established all his trust in God.
For those who do all the talking amount to nothing; they fail with their din of words, but the truth of the Lord endures for ever.
RESPONSORY
Psalm 119:114-115, 113
Lord, you are my refuge and my shield;
I hope in your word.
— Go away from me, you evildoers,
and I will observe the commandments of my God.
I hate a divided heart;
I love your law.
— Go away from me, you evildoers,
and I will observe the commandments of my God.
CONCLUDING PRAYER
Let us pray.
Almighty God,
every good thing comes from you.
Fill our hearts with love for you,
increase our faith,
and by your constant care
protect the good you have given us.
We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
God, for ever and ever.
— Amen.
Or:
God of might, giver of every good gift,
put into our hearts the love of your name,
so that, by deepening our sense of reverence,
you may nurture in us what is good
and, by your watchful care,
keep safe what you have nurtured.
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.
ACCLAMATION
Let us praise the Lord.
— And give him thanks.
******
Psalm 24
The Lord’s entry into his temple
Christ opened heaven for us in the manhood he assumed (Saint Irenaeus).
The Lord’s is the earth and its fullness, *
the world and all its peoples.
It is he who set it on the seas; *
on the waters he made it firm.
Ant. Come, let us worship the Lord, our mighty God.
Who shall climb the mountain of the Lord? *
Who shall stand in his holy place?
The man with clean hands and pure heart, †
who desires not worthless things, *
who has not sworn so as to deceive his neighbor.
Ant. Come, let us worship the Lord, our mighty God.
He shall receive blessings from the Lord *
and reward from the God who saves him.
Such are the men who seek him, *
seek the face of the God of Jacob.
Ant. Come, let us worship the Lord, our mighty God.
O gates, lift high your heads; †
grow higher, ancient doors. *
Let him enter, the king of glory!
Ant. Come, let us worship the Lord, our mighty God.
Who is the king of glory? †
The Lord, the mighty, the valiant, *
the Lord, the valiant in war.
Ant. Come, let us worship the Lord, our mighty God.
O gates, lift high your heads; †
grow higher, ancient doors. *
Let him enter, the king of glory!
Ant. Come, let us worship the Lord, our mighty God.
Who is he, the king of glory? †
He, the Lord of armies, *
he is the king of glory.
Ant. Come, let us worship the Lord, our mighty God.
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, our mighty God.
Psalm 67
People of all nations will worship the Lord
You must know that God is offering his salvation to all the world (Acts 28:28).
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.
Ant. Come, let us worship the Lord, our mighty God.
Let the peoples praise you, O God; *
let all the peoples praise you.
Ant. Come, let us worship the Lord, our mighty God.
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.
Ant. Come, let us worship the Lord, our mighty God.
Let the peoples praise you, O God; *
let all the peoples praise you.
Ant. Come, let us worship the Lord, our mighty God.
The earth has yielded its fruit *
for God, our God, has blessed us.
May God still give us his blessing *
till the ends of the earth revere him.
Ant. Come, let us worship the Lord, our mighty God.
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, our mighty God.
Psalm 100
The joyful song of those entering God’s temple
The Lord calls his ransomed people to sing songs of victory (Saint Athanasius).
Cry out with joy to the Lord, all the earth. †
Serve the Lord with gladness. *
Come before him, singing for joy.
Ant. Come, let us worship the Lord, our mighty God.
Know that he, the Lord, is God. †
He made us, we belong to him, *
we are his people, the sheep of his flock.
Ant. Come, let us worship the Lord, our mighty God.
Go within his gates, giving thanks. †
Enter his courts with songs of praise. *
Give thanks to him and bless his name.
Ant. Come, let us worship the Lord, our mighty God.
Indeed, how good is the Lord, †
eternal his merciful love. *
He is faithful from age to age.
Ant. Come, let us worship the Lord, our mighty God.
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, our mighty God.
Immortal, invisible, God only wise,
In light inaccessible hid from our eyes,
Most blessed, most glorious, the Ancient of Days,
Almighty, victorious, your great name we praise.
Unresting, unhasting, and silent as light,
Nor wanting, nor wasting, you rule day and night;
Your justice like mountains high soaring above
Your clouds, which are fountains of goodness and love.
Life-giving Creator, of both great and small;
Of all life the maker, the true life of all;
We blossom, then wither, as leaves on a tree,
But you live for ever, who is and will be.
Great Father of glory, pure Father of light,
Your angels adoring, all veiling their sight;
We too, God invisible, offer our praise;
O light inaccessible, Ancient of Days!
Tune: St. Denio 11.11.11.11
Music: Roberts’ Canaidau y Cyssegr, 1839
Text: Walter C. Smith, 1824-1908, alt.