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. Cry out with joy to the Lord, all the earth; serve the Lord with gladness.
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. Cry out with joy to the Lord, all the earth; serve the Lord with gladness.
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. Cry out with joy to the Lord, all the earth; serve the Lord with gladness.
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. Cry out with joy to the Lord, all the earth; serve the Lord with gladness.
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. Cry out with joy to the Lord, all the earth; serve the Lord with gladness.
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. Cry out with joy to the Lord, all the earth; serve the Lord with gladness.
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. Cry out with joy to the Lord, all the earth; serve the Lord with gladness.
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:
Christ our Creator, who restore all ages,
Judge awe-inspiring, King of kings eternal,
hear our petitions and receive our praises
in your compassion.
Through the night watches, grant that we may please you
with prayers and anthems, Source of light eternal;
hearten and guide us, grant us true devotion
and lasting concord.
Send days of blessing, born of righteous virtue,
that all our actions may reflect your glory;
grant us your wisdom, life that knows no dying,
now and for ever.
Lovingly kindle, stir the depths within us,
make our hearts watchful, filled with fire from heaven,
that we may ever hold with hands uplifted
lamps burning brightly.
Let equal praises honor God the Father
and you our Savior, loving King eternal;
through all creation let the Spirit’s glory
echo for ever. 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: O sator rerum, reparatur ævi, ca. 10th c., © 2023 ICEL
During the day:
Christ, life and goodness, light of truth most holy,
joy of creation, source of boundless mercy,
who by your life-blood have redeemed and saved us
from death unending,
Lord, we implore you: Plant your love within us,
fill us with greater charity and mercy;
pour faith upon us, mind and heart infusing
with light eternal.
Guard and protect us from the wiles of Satan,
that proud deceiver shattered by your power;
send down the Spirit from your throne of mercy,
Lord, to assist us.
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: Christe, lux vera, bonitas et vita, ca. 10th c., © 2023 ICEL
PSALMODY
Ant. 1 Bless the Lord, my soul; never forget all he has done for you.
Psalm 103
Praise for God’s 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 eagle’s.
The Lord does deeds of justice, *
gives judgment for all who are oppressed.
He made known his ways to Moses *
and his deeds to Israel’s sons.
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. Bless the Lord, my soul; never forget all he has done for you.
Ant. 2 As a father is gentle with his children, so is the Lord with those who revere him.
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.
Ant. 3 Bless the Lord, all you his works!
III
But the love of the Lord is everlasting *
upon those who hold him in fear;
his justice reaches out to children’s children †
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, †
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, †
in every place where he rules. *
My soul, give thanks to the Lord!
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 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!
Lord, make me understand the way of your precepts.
— And I will marvel at your wisdom.
READINGS
FIRST READING
From the first letter of the apostle Paul to the Thessalonians
5:1-28
The life of the children of light
As regards specific times and moments, brothers, we do not need to write you; you know very well that the day of the Lord is coming like a thief in the night. Just when people are saying, “Peace and security,” ruin will fall on them with the suddenness of pains overtaking a woman in labor, and there will be no escape.
You are not in the dark, brothers, that the day should catch you off guard, like a thief. No, all of you are children of light and of the day. We belong neither to darkness nor to night.
Therefore let us not be asleep like the rest, but awake and sober! Sleepers sleep by night and drunkards drink by night. We who live by day must be alert, putting on faith and love as a breastplate and the hope of salvation as a helmet. God has not destined us for wrath but for acquiring salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. He died for us, that all of us, whether awake or asleep, together might live with him. Therefore, comfort and upbuild one another, as indeed you are doing.
We beg you, brothers, respect those among you whose task it is to exercise authority in the Lord and admonish you; esteem them with the greatest love because of their work. Remain at peace with one another.
We exhort you to admonish the unruly; cheer the fainthearted; support the weak; be patient toward all. See that no one returns evil to any other; always seek one another’s good and, for that matter, the good of all.
Rejoice always, never cease praying, render constant thanks; such is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
Do not stifle the Spirit. Do not despise prophecies. Test everything; retain what is good. Avoid any semblance of evil.
May the God of peace make you perfect in holiness. May he preserve you whole and entire, spirit, soul, and body, irreproachable at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He who calls us is trustworthy, therefore he will do it.
Brothers, pray for us too.
Greet all the brothers with a holy embrace. I adjure you by the Lord that this letter be read to them all.
May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.
RESPONSORY
1 Thessalonians 5:9; Colossians 1:13
God has not destined us to endure his wrath
but to win salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ,
— who died for us, so that we might live in him.
God rescued us from the power of darkness
and brought us into the kingdom of his own beloved Son.
— Who died for us, so that we might live in him.
SECOND READING
From the treatise On Spiritual Perfection by Diadochus of Photice, bishop
(Cap. 6, 26. 27. 30: PG 65, 1169. 1175-1176)
The mind has a spiritual sense which teaches us to distinguish between good and evil
The light of true knowledge makes it possible to discern without error the difference between good and evil. Then the path of justice, which leads to the Sun of Justice, brings the mind into the limitless light of knowledge, since it never fails to seek the love of God with all confidence.
Therefore, we must maintain great stillness of mind, even in the midst of our struggles. We shall then be able to distinguish between the different types of thoughts that come to us: those that are good, those sent by God, we will treasure in our memory; those that are evil and inspired by the devil we will reject. A comparison with the sea may help us. A tranquil sea allows the fisherman to gaze right to its depths. No fish can hide there and escape his sight. The stormy sea, however, becomes murky when it is agitated by the winds. The very depths that it revealed in its placidness, the sea now hides. The skills of the fisherman are useless.
Only the Holy Spirit can purify the mind: unless the strong man enters and robs the thief, the booty will not be recovered. So by every means, but especially by peace of soul, we must try to provide the Holy Spirit with a resting place. Then we shall have the light of knowledge shining within us at all times, and it will show up for what they are all the dark and hateful temptations that come from demons, and not only will it show them up: exposure to this holy and glorious light will also greatly diminish their power.
This is why the Apostle says: Do not stifle the Spirit. The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of goodness: do not grieve him by your evil actions and thoughts, and so deprive yourself of the defense his light affords you. In his own being, which is eternal and life-giving, he is not stifled, but when he is grieved he turns away and leaves the mind in darkness, deprived of the light of knowledge.
The mind is capable of tasting and distinguishing accurately whatever is presented to it. Just as when our health is good we can tell the difference between good and bad food by our bodily sense of taste and reach for what is wholesome, so when our mind is strong and free from all anxiety, it is able to taste the riches of divine consolation and to preserve, through love, the memory of this taste. This teaches us what is best with absolute certainty. As Saint Paul says: My prayer is that your love may increase more and more in knowledge and insight, and so enable you to choose what is best.
RESPONSORY
See Tobit 4:19; 14:8, 9
Bless the Lord God at all times;
and ask him to guide you in his paths,
— so that all you do may be rooted in him.
Ask God to guide you that you may do what is pleasing to him
in sincerity and with all your strength.
— So that all you do may be rooted in him.
CONCLUDING PRAYER
Let us pray.
Lord our God,
help us to love you with all our hearts
and to love all men as you love them.
Grant 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:
Grant us, Lord our God,
that we may honor you with all our mind,
and love everyone in truth of heart.
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. Cry out with joy to the Lord, all the earth; serve the Lord with gladness.
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. Cry out with joy to the Lord, all the earth; serve the Lord with gladness.
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. Cry out with joy to the Lord, all the earth; serve the Lord with gladness.
O gates, lift high your heads; †
grow higher, ancient doors. *
Let him enter, the king of glory!
Ant. Cry out with joy to the Lord, all the earth; serve the Lord with gladness.
Who is the king of glory? †
The Lord, the mighty, the valiant, *
the Lord, the valiant in war.
Ant. Cry out with joy to the Lord, all the earth; serve the Lord with gladness.
O gates, lift high your heads; †
grow higher, ancient doors. *
Let him enter, the king of glory!
Ant. Cry out with joy to the Lord, all the earth; serve the Lord with gladness.
Who is he, the king of glory? †
He, the Lord of armies, *
he is the king of glory.
Ant. Cry out with joy to the Lord, all the earth; serve the Lord with gladness.
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. Cry out with joy to the Lord, all the earth; serve the Lord with gladness.
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. Cry out with joy to the Lord, all the earth; serve the Lord with gladness.
Let the peoples praise you, O God; *
let all the peoples praise you.
Ant. Cry out with joy to the Lord, all the earth; serve the Lord with gladness.
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. Cry out with joy to the Lord, all the earth; serve the Lord with gladness.
Let the peoples praise you, O God; *
let all the peoples praise you.
Ant. Cry out with joy to the Lord, all the earth; serve the Lord with gladness.
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. Cry out with joy to the Lord, all the earth; serve the Lord with gladness.
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. Cry out with joy to the Lord, all the earth; serve the Lord with gladness.
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. Cry out with joy to the Lord, all the earth; serve the Lord with gladness.
Know that he, the Lord, is God. †
He made us, we belong to him, *
we are his people, the sheep of his flock.
Ant. Cry out with joy to the Lord, all the earth; serve the Lord with gladness.
Go within his gates, giving thanks. †
Enter his courts with songs of praise. *
Give thanks to him and bless his name.
Ant. Cry out with joy to the Lord, all the earth; serve the Lord with gladness.
Indeed, how good is the Lord, †
eternal his merciful love. *
He is faithful from age to age.
Ant. Cry out with joy to the Lord, all the earth; serve the Lord with gladness.
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. Cry out with joy to the Lord, all the earth; serve the Lord with gladness.
Praise to the Lord, the Almighty, the King of creation:
O my soul, praise him, for he is thy health and salvation.
All ye who hear,
Now to his altar draw near,
Joining in glad adoration.
Praise to the Lord who doth prosper thy work and defend thee;
Surely his goodness and mercy shall daily attend thee.
Ponder anew
What the Almighty can do,
Who with his love doth befriend thee.
Praise to the Lord, O let all that is in me adore him!
All that has life and breath come now in praises before him!
Let the Amen
Sound from his people again:
Now as we worship before him.
Tune: Lobe Den Herren 14.14.478
Music: Stralsund Gesangbuch, 1665
Text: J. Neander, 1650-1680
Translation: Catherine Winkworth, 1829-1878