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. Today you will know the Lord is coming, and in the morning you will see his glory.
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. Today you will know the Lord is coming, and in the morning you will see his glory.
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. Today you will know the Lord is coming, and in the morning you will see his glory.
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. Today you will know the Lord is coming, and in the morning you will see his glory.
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. Today you will know the Lord is coming, and in the morning you will see his glory.
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. Today you will know the Lord is coming, and in the morning you will see his glory.
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. Today you will know the Lord is coming, and in the morning you will see his glory.
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
With mighty voice the prophets cry
that Christ the Lord is drawing near;
rejoicing, they foresee the grace
by which he saves us and redeems.
And so our morning sun shines forth,
our hearts ablaze with radiant joy;
we hear the faithful voice resound,
precursor of God’s glorious gift.
At that first Advent Christ our God
came forth not to condemn the world,
but came to cleanse our gaping wound,
to seek and save what had been lost.
Christ’s Second Coming warns us all
that he is standing at the gates
to give to saints their glorious crowns
and open wide the heav’nly realm.
Eternal light is now foretold,
the saving star is shining forth,
its radiant splendor summons us
and calls us to the heav’nly court.
Christ Jesus, you alone we seek
to see you face to face as God;
may this unending vision be
an everlasting hymn of praise. 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: Magnis prophetæ vocibus, unknown author, © 2023 ICEL.
PSALMODY
Ant. 1 MBethlehem in Judah’s land, how glorious your future! The king who will rule my people comes from you.
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; †
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: †
“I 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 commander’s staff. *
Moab I will use for my washbowl,
on Edom I will plant my shoe. *
Over the Philistines I will shout in triumph.”
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. Bethlehem in Judah’s land, how glorious your future! The king who will rule my people comes from you.
Ant. 2 Lift up your heads and see; your redemption is now at hand.
Canticle: Isaiah 61:10—62:5
The prophet’s 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 Zion’s sake I will not be silent, *
for Jerusalem’s 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 “Forsaken,” *
or your land “Desolate,”
but you shall be called “My Delight,” *
and your land “Espoused.”
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. Lift up your heads and see; your redemption is now at hand.
Ant. 3 The day has come at last when Mary will bring forth her firstborn Son.
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; †
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 Jacob’s 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, *
Zion’s 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. The day has come at last when Mary will bring forth her firstborn Son.
READING
Isaiah 11:1-3a
A shoot shall sprout from the stump of Jesse,
and from his roots a bud shall blossom.
The spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him:
a spirit of wisdom and of understanding,
A spirit of counsel and of strength,
a spirit of knowledge and of fear of the Lord,
and his delight shall be the fear of the Lord.
RESPONSORY
Tomorrow will be the day of your salvation,
the sinfulness of earth will be destroyed.
— Tomorrow will be the day of your salvation,
the sinfulness of earth will be destroyed.
The Savior of the world will be our king;
— the sinfulness of earth will be destroyed.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
— Tomorrow will be the day of your salvation,
the sinfulness of earth will be destroyed.
GOSPEL CANTICLE
Ant. The time has come for Mary to give birth to her firstborn Son.
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 for ever. Amen.
Ant. The time has come for Mary to give birth to her firstborn Son.
INTERCESSIONS
To Jesus Christ, our Redeemer, who will come again in glory with great power, let us make our humble prayer:
Come, Lord Jesus!
Lord Jesus, you will come with great power,
— look on our lowliness and make us worthy of your gifts.
Come, Lord Jesus!
You came to be the good news for mankind,
— may we always proclaim your saving work.
Come, Lord Jesus!
You are worthy of praise, for you have life and rule all things,
— help us to wait in joyful hope for the coming of your glory.
Come, Lord Jesus!
We long for the grace of your coming,
— console us with the gift of your own divine life.
Come, Lord Jesus!
THE LORD’S PRAYER
(And now let us pray with confidence as Christ our Lord asked:)
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
Come, Lord Jesus,
do not delay;
give new courage to your people who trust in your love.
By your coming, raise us to the joy of your kingdom,
where you live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit,
God, for ever and ever.
— Amen.
Or:
Come quickly, we pray, Lord Jesus,
and do not delay,
that those who trust in your compassion
may find solace and relief in your coming.
Who live and reign with God the Father
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.
******
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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. Today you will know the Lord is coming, and in the morning you will see his glory.
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. Today you will know the Lord is coming, and in the morning you will see his glory.
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. Today you will know the Lord is coming, and in the morning you will see his glory.
O gates, lift high your heads; †
grow higher, ancient doors. *
Let him enter, the king of glory!
Ant. Today you will know the Lord is coming, and in the morning you will see his glory.
Who is the king of glory? †
The Lord, the mighty, the valiant, *
the Lord, the valiant in war.
Ant. Today you will know the Lord is coming, and in the morning you will see his glory.
O gates, lift high your heads; †
grow higher, ancient doors. *
Let him enter, the king of glory!
Ant. Today you will know the Lord is coming, and in the morning you will see his glory.
Who is he, the king of glory? †
He, the Lord of armies, *
he is the king of glory.
Ant. Today you will know the Lord is coming, and in the morning you will see his glory.
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. Today you will know the Lord is coming, and in the morning you will see his glory.
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. Today you will know the Lord is coming, and in the morning you will see his glory.
Let the peoples praise you, O God; *
let all the peoples praise you.
Ant. Today you will know the Lord is coming, and in the morning you will see his glory.
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. Today you will know the Lord is coming, and in the morning you will see his glory.
Let the peoples praise you, O God; *
let all the peoples praise you.
Ant. Today you will know the Lord is coming, and in the morning you will see his glory.
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. Today you will know the Lord is coming, and in the morning you will see his glory.
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. Today you will know the Lord is coming, and in the morning you will see his glory.
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. Today you will know the Lord is coming, and in the morning you will see his glory.
Know that he, the Lord, is God. †
He made us, we belong to him, *
we are his people, the sheep of his flock.
Ant. Today you will know the Lord is coming, and in the morning you will see his glory.
Go within his gates, giving thanks. †
Enter his courts with songs of praise. *
Give thanks to him and bless his name.
Ant. Today you will know the Lord is coming, and in the morning you will see his glory.
Indeed, how good is the Lord, †
eternal his merciful love. *
He is faithful from age to age.
Ant. Today you will know the Lord is coming, and in the morning you will see his glory.
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. Today you will know the Lord is coming, and in the morning you will see his glory.
Hark, the glad sound! The Savior comes,
The Savior promised long!
Let ev’ry heart prepare a throne,
And ev’ry voice a song.
He comes the pris’ners to release,
In Satan’s bondage held;
The gates of brass before Him burst,
The iron fetters yield.
He comes the broken heart to bind,
The bleeding soul to cure,
And with the treasures of His grace
Enrich the humbled poor.
Our glad Hosannas, Prince of Peace,
Thy welcome shall proclaim;
And heav’n’s eternal arches ring
With Thy beloved Name.
Tune: Chesterfield, CM
Music: Thomas Haweis, 1734-1820
Text: Philip Doddridge, 1705-1751 in Hymns, 1755, alt
Or:
Of the Father’s love begotten
Ere the worlds began to be,
He is Alpha and Omega,
He the Source, the Ending he,
Of the things that are, that have been,
And that future years shall see
Evermore and evermore.
O, that birth forever blessed
When the Virgin, full of grace,
By the Holy Ghost conceiving,
Bore the Savior of our race,
And the Babe, the world’s Redeemer,
First revealed his sacred face
Evermore and evermore.
O you heights of heaven, adore him;
Angel hosts, his praises sing;
Powers, dominions, bow before him
And extol our God and King.
Let no tongue on earth be silent,
Every voice in concert ring
Evermore and evermore.
This is he whom Heaven-taught singers
Sang of old with one accord;
Whom the Scriptures of the prophets
Promised in their faithful word.
Now he shines, the Long-expected;
Let creation praise its Lord
Evermore and evermore.
Christ, to you, with God the Father,
And the Holy Paraclete,
Hymn and chant and high thanksgiving
And unending praises be,
Honor, glory, and dominion,
And eternal victory
Evermore and evermore.
Tune: Divinum mysterium 87.87.887
Music: Mode V, twelfth century plainsong
Text: Aurelius C. Prudentius, 413
Translation: John Mason Neale, 1854 and Henry W. Baker, 1861
Or:
Praise we the Lord this day,
This day so long foretold,
Whose promise shone with cheering ray
On waiting saints of old.
The prophets gave the sign
That those with faith might read;
A virgin born of David’s line
Shall bear the promised seed.
Ask not how this should be,
But worship and adore;
Like her whom heaven’s majesty
Came down to shadow o’er.
She meekly bowed her head
To hear the gracious word,
Mary, the pure and lowly maid,
The favored of the Lord.
Blessed shall be her name
In all the Church on earth,
Through whom that wondrous mercy came,
The incarnate Spirit’s birth.
Jesus, the virgin’s son,
We praise you and adore,
Who are with God the Father one
And Spirit evermore.
Tune: Sandys, SM
Music: Traditional English Carol; William Sandys’ Christmas Carols, Ancient and Modern, London, 1833.
Text: Anonymous, Hymns for the Festivals and Saints’ Days of the Church of England, 1846, alt.