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 Lord, you have blessed your land; you have forgiven the sins of your people.
Psalm 85
Our salvation is near
God blessed the land when our Savior came to earth (Origen).
O Lord, you once favored your land *
and revived the fortunes of Jacob,
you forgave the guilt of your people *
and covered all their sins.
You averted all your rage, *
you calmed the heat of your anger.
Revive us now, God, our helper! *
Put an end to your grievance against us.
Will you be angry with us for ever, *
will your anger never cease?
Will you not restore again our life *
that your people may rejoice in you?
Let us see, O Lord, your mercy *
and give us your saving help.
I will hear what the Lord God has to say, *
a voice that speaks of peace,
peace for his people and his friends *
and those who turn to him in their hearts.
His help is near for those who fear him *
and his glory will dwell in our land.
Mercy and faithfulness have met; *
justice and peace have embraced.
Faithfulness shall spring from the earth *
and justice look down from heaven.
The Lord will make us prosper *
and our earth shall yield its fruit.
Justice shall march before him *
and peace shall follow his steps.
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
Show us your mercy, Lord; our misery is known to us. May no evil desires prevail over us, for your glory and love dwell in our hearts.
Ant. Lord, you have blessed your land; you have forgiven the sins of your people.
Ant. 2 My soul has yearned for you in the night, and as morning breaks I watch for your coming.
Canticle: Isaiah 26:1-4, 7-9, 12
Hymn after the defeat of the enemy
The city wall had twelve foundation stones (see Revelation 21:14).
A strong city have we; *
he sets up walls and ramparts to protect us.
Open up the gates †
to let in a nation that is just, *
one that keeps faith.
A nation of firm purpose you keep in peace; *
in peace, for its trust in you.
Trust in the Lord forever! *
For the Lord is an eternal Rock.
The way of the just is smooth; *
the path of the just you make level.
Yes, for your way and your judgments, O Lord, *
we look to you;
your name and your title *
are the desire of our souls.
My soul yearns for you in the night, *
yes, my spirit within me keeps vigil for you;
when your judgment dawns upon the earth, *
the world’s inhabitants learn justice.
O Lord, you mete out peace to us, *
for it is you who have accomplished all we have done.
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. My soul has yearned for you in the night, and as morning breaks I watch for your coming.
Ant. 3 Lord, let the light of your face shine upon us.
When Psalm 67 is used as the invitatory psalm, psalm 95, above, is used as the second psalm at Morning Prayer.
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.
Let the peoples praise you, O God; *
let all the peoples praise you.
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.
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.
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
Be gracious and bless us, Lord, and let your face shed its light on us, so that we can make you known with reverence and bring forth a harvest of justice.
Ant. Lord, let the light of your face shine upon us.
READING
Genesis 49:10
The scepter shall never depart from Judah,
or the mace from between his legs,
While tribute is brought to him,
and he receives the people’s homage.
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. Arise, arise! Wake from your slumber, Jerusalem; shake the chain from your neck, captive daughter Zion.
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. Arise, arise! Wake from your slumber, Jerusalem; shake the chain from your neck, captive daughter Zion.
INTERCESSIONS
God the almighty Father stretches forth his hand again to take possession of the remnant of his people. Let us make our prayer to him:
Lord, may your kingdom come.
Lord, grant that our works of penance may please you,
— and that we may be ready for your kingdom which is so near.
Lord, may your kingdom come.
Prepare a path in our hearts for the coming of your Word,
— and let his glory be revealed among us.
Lord, may your kingdom come.
Bring low the mountains of our pride,
— and fill up the valleys of our weakness.
Lord, may your kingdom come.
Break down the wall of hatred that divides the nations,
— and make level for mankind the paths to peace.
Lord, may your kingdom come.
THE LORD’S PRAYER
(Now let us offer together the prayer our Lord Jesus Christ 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 of love,
you made a new creation
through Jesus Christ your Son.
May his coming free us from sin
and renew his life within us,
for he lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
God, for ever and ever.
— Amen.
Or:
O God, who through your Only Begotten Son
have made us a new creation,
look kindly, we pray,
on the handiwork of your mercy,
and at your Son’s coming
cleanse us from every stain of the old way of life.
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.
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.
******
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