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, the King who is to come.
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, the King who is to come.
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, the King who is to come.
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, the King who is to come.
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, the King who is to come.
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, the King who is to come.
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, the King who is to come.
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
Behold a voice resounding, clear,
rebuking hidden fears and deeds:
Let dreams be driven far away,
for Christ shines forth from heaven’s height.
Now let the weary soul arise,
infirm and wounded by her sin;
a new star now sends forth its light
to rid the world of ev’ry harm.
The Lamb is sent from realms on high
to free us from our mortal debt.
Let ev’ry voice give thankful praise
and weep for tender mercy shown,
That when he comes like lightning flash
and terror grips the world in dread,
he need not punish us for guilt
but with compassion shield us then.
Praise to the Father, God most high,
all vict’ry to his only Son,
due honor to the Spirit blest,
through endless ages evermore. Amen.
Tune: WINCHESTER NEW, 8 8 8 8
Music: adapted from a chorale in Musicalisches Hand-Buch, Hamburg, 1690
or Mode D, melody 127;Liber Hymnarius, Solesmes, 1983*
Text: Vox clara ecce intonat, 10th c., © 2023 ICEL
PSALMODY
Ant. 1 I lift up my heart to you, O Lord, and you will hear my morning prayer.
Psalm 5:2-10, 12-13
A morning prayer asking for help
Those who welcome the Word as the guest of their hearts will have abiding joy.
To my words give ear, O Lord, *
give heed to my groaning.
Attend to the sound of my cries, *
my King and my God.
It is you whom I invoke, O Lord. *
In the morning you hear me;
in the morning I offer you my prayer, *
watching and waiting.
You are no God who loves evil; *
no sinner is your guest.
The boastful shall not stand their ground *
before your face.
You hate all who do evil; *
you destroy all who lie.
The deceitful and bloodthirsty man *
the Lord detests.
But I through the greatness of your love *
have access to your house.
I bow down before your holy temple, *
filled with awe.
Lead me, Lord, in your justice, †
because of those who lie in wait; *
make clear your way before me.
No truth can be found in their mouths, *
their heart is all mischief,
their throat a wide-open grave, *
all honey their speech.
All those you protect shall be glad *
and ring out their joy.
You shelter them; in you they rejoice, *
those who love your name.
It is you who bless the just man, Lord: *
you surround him with favor as with a shield.
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, all justice and all goodness come from you; you hate evil and abhor lies. Lead us, your servants, in the path of your justice, so that all who hope in you may rejoice with the Church and in Christ.
Ant. I lift up my heart to you, O Lord, and you will hear my morning prayer.
Ant. 2 We praise your glorious name, O Lord, our God.
Canticle: 1 Chronicles 29:10-13
Glory and honor are due to God alone
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord, Jesus Christ (Ephesians 1:3).
Blessed may you be, O Lord, †
God of Israel our father, *
from eternity to eternity.
Yours, O Lord, are grandeur and power, *
majesty, splendor, and glory.
For all in heaven and on earth is yours; †
yours, O Lord, is the sovereignty: *
you are exalted as head over all.
Riches and honor are from you, *
and you have dominion over all.
In your hand are power and might; *
it is yours to give grandeur and strength to all.
Therefore, our God, we give you thanks *
and we praise the majesty of your name.
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. We praise your glorious name, O Lord our God.
Ant. 3 Adore the Lord in his holy court.
Psalm 29
A tribute of praise to the Word of God
The Father’s voice proclaimed: “This is my beloved Son” (Matthew 3:17).
O give the Lord, you sons of God, *
give the Lord glory and power;
give the Lord the glory of his name. *
Adore the Lord in his holy court.
The Lord’s voice resounding on the waters, *
the Lord on the immensity of waters;
the voice of the Lord, full of power, *
the voice of the Lord, full of splendor.
The Lord’s voice shattering the cedars, *
the Lord shatters the cedars of Lebanon;
he makes Lebanon leap like a calf *
and Sirion like a young wild-ox.
The Lord’s voice flashes flames of fire.
The Lord’s voice shaking the wilderness, *
the Lord shakes the wilderness of Kadesh;
the Lord’s voice rending the oak tree *
and stripping the forest bare.
The God of glory thunders. *
In his temple they all cry: “Glory!”
The Lord sat enthroned over the flood; *
the Lord sits as king for ever.
The Lord will give strength to his people, *
the Lord will bless his people with 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.
Psalm Prayer
You live for ever, Lord and King. All things of the earth justly sing your glory and honor. Strengthen your people against evil that we may rejoice in your peace and trust in your eternal promise.
Ant. Adore the Lord in his holy court.
READING
Isaiah 2:2-4
Come, let us climb the Lord’s mountain,
to the house of the God of Jacob,
That he may instruct us in his ways,
and we may walk in his paths.
For from Zion shall go forth instruction,
and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.
RESPONSORY
Your light will come, Jerusalem;
the Lord will dawn on you in radiant beauty.
— Your light will come, Jerusalem;
the Lord will dawn on you in radiant beauty.
You will see his glory within you;
— the Lord will dawn on you in radiant beauty.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
— Your light will come, Jerusalem;
the Lord will dawn on you in radiant beauty.
GOSPEL CANTICLE
Ant. Lift up your eyes, Jerusalem, and see the great power of your King; your Savior comes to set you free.
Canticle of Zechariah
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 †
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 forever. Amen.
Ant. Lift up your eyes, Jerusalem, and see the great power of your King; your Savior comes to set you free.
INTERCESSIONS
Christ the Lord, Son of the living God, light from light, leads us into the light and reveals the holiness of God. With confidence we make our prayer:
Come, Lord Jesus.
Light that never fades, dispel the mists about us,
— awaken our faith from sleep.
Come, Lord Jesus.
Guard us from all harm today,
— may your glory fill us with joy.
Come, Lord Jesus.
Give us unfailing gentleness at all times,
— toward everyone we meet.
Come, Lord Jesus.
Come to create a new earth for us,
— where there will be justice and peace.
Come, Lord Jesus.
THE LORD’S PRAYER
(With longing for the coming of God’s kingdom, let us offer our prayer to the Father:)
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
Lord our God,
help us to prepare
for the coming of Christ your Son.
May he find us waiting,
eager in joyful prayer.
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:
Keep us alert, we pray, O Lord our God,
as we await the advent of Christ your Son,
so that, when he comes and knocks,
he may find us watchful in prayer
and exultant in his praise.
Who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God, for ever and ever.
— Amen.
DISMISSAL
If a priest or deacon presides, he dismisses the people:
The Lord be with you.
— And with your spirit.
May almighty God bless you,
the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
— Amen.
Another form of the blessing may be used, as at Mass.
Then he adds:
Go in peace.
— Thanks be to God.
In the absence of a priest or deacon and in individual recitation, Morning Prayer concludes:
May the Lord + bless us,
protect us from all evil
and bring us to everlasting life.
— Amen.
******
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, the King who is to come.
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, the King who is to come.
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, the King who is to come.
O gates, lift high your heads; †
grow higher, ancient doors. *
Let him enter, the king of glory!
Ant. Come, let us worship the Lord, the King who is to come.
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, the King who is to come.
O gates, lift high your heads; †
grow higher, ancient doors. *
Let him enter, the king of glory!
Ant. Come, let us worship the Lord, the King who is to come.
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, the King who is to come.
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, the King who is to come.
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, the King who is to come.
Let the peoples praise you, O God; *
let all the peoples praise you.
Ant. Come, let us worship the Lord, the King who is to come.
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, the King who is to come.
Let the peoples praise you, O God; *
let all the peoples praise you.
Ant. Come, let us worship the Lord, the King who is to come.
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, the King who is to come.
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, the King who is to come.
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, the King who is to come.
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, the King who is to come.
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, the King who is to come.
Indeed, how good is the Lord, †
eternal his merciful love. *
He is faithful from age to age.
Ant. Come, let us worship the Lord, the King who is to come.
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, the King who is to come.
Lift up your heads, you mighty gates;
Behold, the King of glory waits;
The King of kings is drawing near;
The Savior of the world is here!
Fling wide the portals of your heart;
Make it a temple, set apart
From earthly use for heaven’s employ,
Adorned with prayer and love and joy.
Redeemer, come, with us abide;
To you our hearts we open wide;
Let us your inner presence feel;
Your grace and love in us reveal.
Your Holy Spirit lead us on
Until our glorious goal is won;
Eternal praise, eternal fame
Be offered, Savior, to your name!
Tune: Truro L.M.
Music: Psalmodia Evangelica
Text: Georg Weissel, 1590-1635
Translation: Catherine Winkworth, 1827-1878, alt.
Or:
The King shall come when morning dawns
And light triumphant breaks,
When beauty gilds the eastern hills
And life to joy awakes.
Not as of old, a little child,
To suffer and to die,
But crowned with glory like the sun
That lights the morning sky.
The King shall come when morning dawns
And earth’s dark night is past;
O haste the rising of that morn
Whose day shall ever last.
And let the endless bliss begin,
By weary saints foretold,
When right shall triumph over wrong,
And truth shall be extolled,
The King shall come when morning dawns
And light and beauty brings.
Hail, Christ, the Lord! Your people pray:
Come quickly, King of kings.
Tune: Morning Song C.M.
Music: John Wyeth, 1770-1858
Text: John Brownlie, 1857-1925
Or:
Come, O long-expected Jesus,
Born to set thy people free;
From our fears and sins release us,
Let us find our rest in thee.
Israel’s strength and consolation,
Hope of all the earth thou art;
Dear desire of every nation,
Joy of every longing heart.
Born thy people to deliver,
Born a child, and yet a king,
Born to reign in us for ever,
Now thy gracious kingdom bring.
By thine own eternal Spirit
Rule in all our hearts alone;
By thine all-sufficient merit
Raise us to thy glorious throne.
Tune: Stuttgart 87.87
Music: adapted from C. F. Witt, 1660-1716
Text: Charles Wesley, 1707-1788
Or:
Hear the herald voice resounding:
“Christ is near,” it seems to say,
“Cast away the dreams of darkness,
Welcome Christ, the light of day!”
Wakened by this solemn warning,
Let the earthbound soul arise;
Christ her sun, all sloth dispelling,
Shines upon the morning skies.
See the Lamb so long expected,
Comes with pardon down from heav’n;
Hasten now, with tears of sorrow,
One and all to be forgiv’n.
So when next he comes with glory,
Shrouding all the earth in fear,
May he then as our defender
On the clouds of heav’n appear.
Honor, glory, virtue, merit,
To the Father and the Son,
With the co-eternal Spirit,
While eternal ages run.
Tune: Merton 87.87
Music. W. H. Monk, 1823-1889
Text: Vox clara ecce intonas, sixth century
Translation: F. Caswall, 1814-1878, adapted by Anthony G. Petti