May 18th, 2026 – Midmorning Prayer – Divine Office: Liturgy of the Hours

May 18th, 2026 – Invitatory – Divine Office: Liturgy of the Hours

Invitatory from Ascension to Pentecost Lord, open my lips. — And my mouth will proclaim your praise. Ant. Come, let us adore Christ the Lord who promised to send the Holy Spirit on his people, alleluia. Psalm 100 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 adore Christ the Lord who promised to send the Holy Spirit on his people, alleluia. 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 adore Christ the Lord who promised to send the Holy Spirit on his people, alleluia. 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 adore Christ the Lord who promised to send the Holy Spirit on his people, alleluia. Indeed, how good is the Lord, eternal his merciful love. He is faithful from age to age. Ant. Come, let us adore Christ the Lord who promised to send the Holy Spirit on his people, alleluia. 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 adore Christ the Lord who promised to send the Holy Spirit on his people, alleluia.

May 18th, 2026 – Office of Readings – Divine Office: Liturgy of the Hours

Ribbon Placement: Liturgy of the Hours Vol. II: Ordinary: 1045 Proper of Seasons: 965 Psalter: Monday, Week III, 1379 Office of Readings for Monday in Week 7 of Easter 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 Most ancient of all mysteries, before your throne we lie; have mercy now, most merciful, most Holy Trinity. When heaven and earth were still unmade, when time was yet unknown, you in your radiant majesty did live and love alone. You were not born; there was no source from which your being flowed; there is no end which you can reach: for you are simply God. How wonderful creation is, the work which you did bless! what then must you be like dear God, eternal Loveliness! Most ancient of all mysteries, before your throne we lie; have mercy now and ever more, most Holy Trinity. 𝄞"Most Ancient of all Mysteries" by Rebecca Hincke • Musical Score [https://divineoffice.org/wp-content/uploads/Most-Ancient-of-all-Mysteries.pdf] • Words: Frederick William Faber, 1849; Music: St. Flavian; Artist: Rebecca Hincke; Copyright 2016 Surgeworks • Albums that contain this Hymn: Divine Office PSALMODY Ant. 1 Our God will be made manifest; he will not come in silence, alleluia. Psalm 50 Genuine love of God I have come not to abolish the law but to bring it to perfection (see Matthew 5:17) I The God of gods, the Lord, has spoken and summoned the earth, from the rising of the sun to its setting. Out of Zion’s perfect beauty he shines. Our God comes, he keeps silence no longer. Before him fire devours, around him tempest rages. He calls on the heavens and the earth to witness his judgment of his people. “Summon before me my people who made covenant with me by sacrifice.” The heavens proclaim his justice, for God himself is the judge. 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. Our God will be made manifest; he will not come in silence, alleluia. Ant. 2 Offer to God the sacrifice of praise, alleluia. II “Listen, my people, I will speak; Israel, I will testify against you, for I am God your God. I accuse you, lay the charge before you. I find no fault with your sacrifices, your offerings are always before me. I do not ask more bullocks from your farms, nor goats from among your herds. For I own all the beasts of the forest, beasts in their thousands on my hills. I know all the birds in the sky, all that moves in the field belongs to me. Were I hungry, I would not tell you, for I own the world and all it holds. Do you think I eat the flesh of bulls, or drink the blood of goats? Pay your sacrifice of thanksgiving to God and render him your votive offerings. Call on me in the day of distress. I will free you and you shall honor 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. Ant. Offer to God the sacrifice of praise, alleluia. Ant. 3 I want a loving heart more than sacrifice, knowledge of my ways more than holocausts, alleluia. III But God says to the wicked: “But how can you recite my commandments and take my covenant on your lips, you who despise my law and throw my words to the winds, you who see a thief and go with him; who throw in your lot with adulterers, who unbridle your mouth for evil and whose tongue is plotting crime, you who sit and malign your brother and slander your own mother’s son. You do this, and should I keep silence? Do you think that I am like you? Mark this, you who never think of God, lest I seize you and you cannot escape; a sacrifice of thanksgiving honors me and I will show God’s salvation to the upright.” 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 Father, accept us as a sacrifice of praise, so that we may go through life unburdened by sin, walking in the way of salvation, and always giving thanks to you. Ant. I want a loving heart more than sacrifice, knowledge of my ways more than holocausts, alleluia. Sacred Silence (indicated by a bell) – a moment to reflect and receive in our hearts the full resonance of the voice of the Holy Spirit and to unite our personal prayer more closely with the word of God and public voice of the Church. My heart and my flesh, alleluia. — Rejoice in the living God, alleluia. READINGS First reading From the first letter of the apostle John 4:1-10 God has loved us first Beloved, do not trust every spirit, but put the spirits to a test to see if they belong to God, because many false prophets have appeared in the world. This is how you can recognize God’s Spirit: every spirit that acknowledges Jesus Christ come in the flesh belongs to God, while every spirit that fails to acknowledge him does not belong to God. Such is the spirit of the antichrist which, as you have heard, is to come; in fact, it is in the world already. You are of God, you little ones, and thus you have conquered the false prophets. For there is One greater in you than there is in the world. Those others belong to the world; that is why theirs is the language of the world and why the world listens to them. We belong to God and anyone who has knowledge of God gives us a hearing, while anyone who is not of God refuses to hear us. Thus do we distinguish the spirit of truth from the spirit of deception. Beloved, let us love one another because love is of God; everyone who loves is begotten of God and has knowledge of God. The man without love has known nothing of God, for God is love. God’s love was revealed in our midst in this way: he sent his only Son to the world that we might have life through him. Love, then, consists in this: not that we have loved God but that he has loved us and has sent his Son as an offering for our sins. RESPONSORY 1 John 4:9; John 3:16 God showed his love for us by sending his only Son into the world — so that all who believe in him may have eternal life, alleluia. God so loved the world that he gave us his only Son. — So that all who believe in him may have eternal life, alleluia. Second reading From a catechetical instruction by Saint Cyril of Jerusalem, bishop The living water of the Holy Spirit The water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of living water, welling up into eternal life. This is a new kind of water, a living, leaping water, welling up for those who are worthy. But why did Christ call the grace of the Spirit water? Because all things are dependent on water; plants and animals have their origin in water. Water comes down from heaven as rain, and although it is always the same in itself, it produces many different effects, one in the palm tree, another in the vine, and so on throughout the whole of creation. It does not come down, now as one thing, now as another, but while remaining essentially the same, it adapts itself to the needs of every creature that receives it. In the same way the Holy Spirit, whose nature is always the same, simple and indivisible, apportions grace to each man as he wills. Like a dry tree which puts forth shoots when watered, the soul bears the fruit of holiness when repentance has made it worthy of receiving the Holy Spirit. Although the Spirit never changes, the effects of this action, by the will of God and in the name of Christ, are both many and marvelous. The Spirit makes one man a teacher of divine truth, inspires another to prophesy, gives another the power of casting out devils, enables another to interpret holy Scripture. The Spirit strengthens one man’s self-control, shows another how to help the poor, teaches another to fast and lead a life of asceticism, makes another oblivious to the needs of the body, trains another for martyrdom. His action is different in different people, but the Spirit himself is always the same. In each person, Scripture says, the Spirit reveals his presence in a particular way for the common good. The Spirit comes gently and makes himself known by his fragrance. He is not felt as a burden, for he is light, very light. Rays of light and knowledge stream before him as he approaches. The Spirit comes with the tenderness of a true friend and protector to save, to heal, to teach, to counsel, to strengthen, to console. The Spirit comes to enlighten the mind first of the one who receives him, and then, through him, the minds of others as well. As light strikes the eyes of a man who comes out of darkness into the sunshine and enables him to see clearly things he could not discern before, so light floods the soul of the man counted worthy of receiving the Holy Spirit and enables him to see things beyond the range of human vision, things hitherto undreamed of. RESPONSORY 1 Corinthians 12:6-7, 27 There are different ministries but the same God who accomplishes all of them in everyone. — The manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one in a singular way for the good of all, alleluia. You are the body of Christ and all of you are members of it. — The manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one in a singular way for the good of all, alleluia. CONCLUDING PRAYER May the power of the Holy Spirit come to us, we pray, O Lord, that we may keep your will faithfully in mind and express it in a devout 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. ACCLAMATION (at least in the communal celebration) Let us praise the Lord. — And give him thanks.

May 18th, 2026 – Morning Prayer – Divine Office: Liturgy of the Hours

Ribbon Placement: Liturgy of the Hours Vol. II: Ordinary: 1049 Proper of Seasons: 968 Psalter: Monday, Week III, 1382 Christian Prayer: Ordinary: 689 Proper of Seasons: 583 Psalter: Monday, Week III, 867 Morning Prayer for Monday in Week 7 of Easter 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 Blessing and honor and glory and power, Wisdom and riches and strength evermore, Give we to God who our battle has won, Whose are the kingdom, the crown, and the throne. Hear through the heavens the sound of God's name, While rings the earth with God's glory and fame; Ocean and mountain, stream, forest, and flower Echo God's praises and tell of God's power. Ever ascending the song and the prayer; Ever descending the love that we share; Blessing and honor and glory and praise-- This is the theme of the hymns that we raise. Let us give glory and praise to the Lamb; Taking the robe and the harp and the palm; Singing the song of the Lamb that was slain, Dying in weakness but rising to reign. 𝄞"Blessing and Honor and Glory and Power" by Rebecca Hincke • Available for Purchase [https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08NQ2LY98/ref=dm_ws_tlw_trk13] • Musical Score [https://traffic.libsyn.com/secure/divineoffice/Blessing_and_Honor_and_Glory_and_Power.pdf] • Title: Blessing and honor and glory and power; Text: Horatius Bonar (1858); Tune: O QUANTA QUALIA; Artist: Rebecca Hincke; (c) 2017 Surgeworks, Inc. • Albums that contain this Hymn: The Hymns and Chants of Divine Office, Vol. 1 PSALMODY Ant. 1 My heart and my flesh rejoice in the living God, alleluia. Psalm 84 Longing for God’s Temple Here we do not have a lasting city; we seek a home that is yet to come (Hebrews 13:14). How lovely is your dwelling place, Lord, God of hosts. My soul is longing and yearning, is yearning for the courts of the Lord. My heart and my soul ring out their joy to God, the living God. The sparrow herself finds a home and the swallow a nest for her brood; she lays her young by your altars, Lord of hosts, my king and my God. They are happy, who dwell in your house, for ever singing your praise. They are happy, whose strength is in you, in whose hearts are the roads to Zion. As they go through the Bitter Valley they make it a place of springs, the autumn rain covers it with blessings. They walk with ever growing strength, they will see the God of gods in Zion. O Lord God of hosts, hear my prayer, give ear, O God of Jacob. Turn your eyes, O God, our shield, look on the face of your anointed. One day within your courts is better than a thousand elsewhere. The threshold of the house of God I prefer to the dwellings of the wicked. For the Lord God is a rampart, a shield; he will give us his favor and glory. The Lord will not refuse any good to those who walk without blame. Lord, God of hosts, happy the man who trusts 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. Psalm-prayer Bless your people, Lord. You have given us the law that we may walk from strength to strength and raise our minds to you from this valley of tears. May we receive the gifts you have gained for us. Ant. My heart and my flesh rejoice in the living God, alleluia. Ant.2 The house of the Lord has been raised on high, and all the nations will go up to it, alleluia. Canticle – Isaiah 2:2-5 The mountain of the Lord’s dwelling towers above every mountain All peoples shall come and worship in your presence (Revelation 15:4). In days to come, the mountain of the Lord’s house shall be established as the highest mountain and raised above the hills. All nations shall stream toward it; many peoples shall come and say: “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. He shall judge between the nations, and impose terms on many peoples. They shall beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks; one nation shall not raise the sword against another, nor shall they train for war again. O house of Jacob, come, let us walk in the light of 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. Ant. The house of the Lord has been raised on high, and all the nations will go up to it, alleluia. Ant. 3 Proclaim this among the nations: the Lord is king, alleluia. Psalm 96 The Lord, king and judge of the world A new theme now inspires their praise of God; they belong to the Lamb (see Revelation 14:3). O sing a new song to the Lord, sing to the Lord all the earth. O sing to the Lord, bless his name. Proclaim his help day by day, tell among the nations his glory and his wonders among all the peoples. The Lord is great and worthy of praise, to be feared above all gods; the gods of the heathens are naught. It was the Lord who made the heavens, his are majesty and state and power and splendor in his holy place. Give the Lord, you families of peoples, give the Lord glory and power; give the Lord the glory of his name. Bring an offering and enter his courts, worship the Lord in his temple. O earth, tremble before him. Proclaim to the nations: “God is king.” The world he made firm in its place; he will judge the people in fairness. Let the heavens rejoice and earth be glad, let the sea and all within it thunder praise, let the land and all it bears rejoice, all the trees of the wood shout for joy at the presence of the Lord for he comes, he comes to rule the earth. With justice he will rule the world, he will judge the peoples with his truth. 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, you have renewed the face of the earth. Your Church throughout the world sings you a new song, announcing your wonders to all. Through a virgin, you have brought forth a new birth in our world; through your miracles, a new power; through your suffering, a new patience; in your resurrection, a new hope, and in your ascension, new majesty. Ant. Proclaim this among the nations: the Lord is king, alleluia. READING Romans 10:8b-10 The word is near you, on your lips and in your heart (that is, the word of faith which we preach). For if you confess with your lips that Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. Faith in the heart leads to justification, confession on the lips to salvation. Sacred Silence (indicated by a bell) – a moment to reflect and receive in our hearts the full resonance of the voice of the Holy Spirit and to unite our personal prayer more closely with the word of God and public voice of the Church. RESPONSORY The Lord is risen from the tomb, alleluia, alleluia. — The Lord is risen from the tomb, alleluia, alleluia. He hung upon the cross for us, — alleluia, alleluia. Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, — The Lord is risen from the tomb, alleluia, alleluia. CANTICLE OF ZECHARIAH Ant. The world will persecute you, but have courage, I have overcome the world, alleluia. 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 world will persecute you, but have courage, I have overcome the world, alleluia. INTERCESSIONS Christ promised to send the Holy Spirit from the Father in his name, to be our helper and guide. Let us bless him and ask him: Lord Jesus, give us your Spirit. Lord Jesus, we thank you, and through you the Father also, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, — may everything we say and do today be in your name. Lord Jesus, give us your Spirit. Give us the Holy Spirit to dwell within us, — that we may be living members in your body. Lord Jesus, give us your Spirit. Grant that we may never condemn or despise others, — for we shall all one day face you as our judge. Lord Jesus, give us your Spirit. Fill us with the fullness of joy and peace in believing, — that we may be rich in hope and in the power of the Holy Spirit. Lord Jesus, give us your Spirit. 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 May the power of the Holy Spirit come to us, we pray, O Lord, that we may keep your will faithfully in mind and express it in a devout 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 May the Lord bless us, protect us from all evil and bring us to everlasting life. — Amen.

May 18th, 2026 – Midmorning Prayer – Divine Office: Liturgy of the Hours

Ribbon Placement: Liturgy of the Hours Vol. II: Ordinary: 1054 Complementary Psalmody: 1651 (Midmorning) Proper of Seasons: 970 (antiphon, reading, concluding prayer) Midmorning Prayer for Monday in Week 7 of Easter, using the Complementary Psalmody 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 According to Thy gracious word, In meek humility, This will I do, my dying Lord, I will remember Thee. Thy body, broken for my sake, My bread from heaven shall be; Thy testamental cup I take, And thus remember Thee. 𝄞"According to Thy Gracious Word" by Rebecca Hincke • Available for Purchase [https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08NR5TD21/ref=dm_ws_tlw_trk1] • Title: According to Thy Gracious Word; Text: James Montgomery; Tune: TALLIS' ORDINAL by Thomas Tallis, ca. 1567; Artist: Rebecca Hincke; (c) 2017 Surgeworks, Inc. • Albums that contain this Hymn: The Hymns and Chants of Divine Office, Vol. 1 PSALMODY Ant. 1 Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia. Psalm 120 Longing for peace To the Lord in the hour of my distress I call and he answers me. “O Lord, save my soul from lying lips, from the tongue of the deceitful.” What shall he pay you in return, O treacherous tongue? The warrior’s arrows sharpened and coals, red-hot, blazing. Alas, that I abide a stranger in Meshech, dwell among the tents of Kedar! Long enough have I been dwelling with those who hate peace. I am for peace, but when I speak, they are for fighting. 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 121 Guardian of his people Never again will they hunger and thirst, never again know scorching heat (Revelation 7:16) I lift up my eyes to the mountains; from where shall come my help? My help shall come from the Lord who made heaven and earth. May he never allow you to stumble! Let him sleep not, your guard. No, he sleeps not nor slumbers, Israel’s guard. The Lord is your guard and your shade; at your right side he stands. By day the sun shall not smite you nor the moon in the night. The Lord will guard you from evil, he will guard your soul. The Lord will guard your going and coming both now and 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. Psalm 122 The holy city, Jerusalem You have come to Mount Zion, to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem (Hebrews 12:22) I rejoiced when I heard them say: Let us go to God’s house. And now our feet are standing within your gates, O Jerusalem. Jerusalem is built as a city strongly compact. It is there that the tribes go up, the tribes of the Lord. For Israel’s law it is, there to praise the Lord’s name. There were set the thrones of judgment of the house of David. For the peace of Jerusalem pray: “Peace be to your homes! May peace reign in your walls, in your palaces, peace!” For love of my brethren and friends I say: Peace upon you. For love of the house of the Lord I will ask for your good. 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. Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia. READING Revelation 1:17c-18 I saw the Son of Man, who said to me: I am the First and the Last and the One who lives. Once I was dead but now I live — forever and ever. I hold the keys of death and the nether world. Sacred Silence (indicated by a bell) A moment to reflect and receive in our hearts the full resonance of the voice of the Holy Spirit and to unite our personal prayer more closely with the word of God and public voice of the Church. The Lord is risen, alleluia. — He has appeared to Simon, alleluia. CONCLUDING PRAYER May the power of the Holy Spirit come to us, we pray, O Lord, that we may keep your will faithfully in mind and express it in a devout 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. ACCLAMATION (only added when praying in community) Let us praise the Lord. — And give him thanks.

May 18th, 2026 – Midday Prayer – Divine Office: Liturgy of the Hours

Ribbon Placement: Liturgy of the Hours Vol. II: Ordinary: 1054 (Midday) Proper of Seasons: 970 Psalter: Monday, Week III, 1388 Midday Prayer for Monday in Week 7 of Easter, using the Current Psalmody 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 Almighty Ruler, God of Truth, Who guide and master all, The rays with which you gild the dawn With noonday heat now fall. O quench the fires of hatred, Lord, Of anger and of strife, Bring health to every mind and heart That peace may enter life. Most holy Father, grant our prayer Through Christ your only Son That in your Spirit we may live And praise you ever one. 𝄞"Almighty Ruler, God of Truth" by Rebecca Hincke • Available for Purchase [https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08NR95M83/ref=dm_ws_tlw_trk5] • Ralph Wright, 1808; Melody: St. Anne; Artist: Rebecca Hincke; Copyright 2016 Surgeworks • Albums that contain this Hymn: The Hymns and Chants of Divine Office, Vol. 1 PSALMODY Ant. Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia. Psalm 119:89-96 XII (Lamed) A meditation on God’s law I give you a new commandment: love one another as I have loved you (John 13:34). Your word, O Lord, for ever stands firm in the heavens: your truth lasts from age to age, like the earth you created. By your decree it endures to this day; for all things serve you. Had your law not been my delight I would have died in my affliction. I will never forget your precepts for with them you give me life. Save me, for I am yours since I seek your precepts. Though the wicked lie in wait to destroy me yet I ponder on your will. I have seen that all perfection has an end but your command is boundless. 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, your Word, which stands firm for ever in heaven, dwells in your Church; may his presence bring lasting light to your temple. Psalm 71 You have stood by me, Lord, from my youth Let hope be your joy; be patient in trials (Romans 12:12). I In you, O Lord, I take refuge; let me never be put to shame. In your justice rescue me, free me: pay heed to me and save me. Be a rock where I can take refuge, a mighty stronghold to save me; for you are my rock, my stronghold. Free me from the hand of the wicked, from the grip of the unjust, of the oppressor. It is you, O Lord, who are my hope, my trust, O Lord, since my youth. On you I have leaned from my birth, from my mother’s womb you have been my help. My hope has always been in you. My fate has filled many with awe but you are my strong refuge. My lips are filled with your praise, with your glory all the day long. Do not reject me now that I am old; when my strength fails do not forsake me. For my enemies are speaking about me; those who watch me take counsel together. They say: “God has forsaken him; follow him, seize him; there is no one to save him.” O God, do not stay far off: my God, make haste to help me! Let them be put to shame and destroyed, all those who seek my life. Let them be covered with shame and confusion, all those who seek to harm 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. II But as for me, I will always hope and praise you more and more. My lips will tell of your justice and day by day of your help though I can never tell it all. I will declare the Lord’s mighty deeds, proclaiming your justice, yours alone. O God, you have taught me from my youth and I proclaim your wonders still. Now that I am old and grey-headed, do not forsake me, God. Let me tell of your power to all ages, praise your strength and justice to the skies, tell of you who have worked such wonders. O God, who is like you? You have burdened me with bitter troubles but you will give me back my life. You will raise me from the depths of the earth; you will exalt me and console me again. So I will give you thanks on the lyre for your faithful love, my God. To you will I sing with the harp, to you, the Holy One of Israel. When I sing to you my lips shall rejoice and my soul, which you have redeemed. And all the day long my tongue shall tell the tale of your justice: for they are put to shame and disgraced, all those who seek to harm 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. Psalm-prayer Lord, God of the living, you give us lasting youth through the waters of rebirth, and happiness through the bread of life. Do not desert us when we are old, but help us to follow your will in both good times and bad, so that we may for ever praise your faithfulness. Ant. Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia. READING Colossians 2:9, 12 In Christ the fullness of deity resides in bodily form. Yours is a share of this fullness. In baptism you were not only buried with him but also raised to life with him because you believed in the power of God who raised him from the dead. Sacred Silence (indicated by a bell) A moment to reflect and receive in our hearts the full resonance of the voice of the Holy Spirit and to unite our personal prayer more closely with the word of God and public voice of the Church. The disciples rejoiced, alleluia. — When they saw the risen Lord, alleluia. CONCLUDING PRAYER May the power of the Holy Spirit come to us, we pray, O Lord, that we may keep your will faithfully in mind and express it in a devout 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. ACCLAMATION (only added when praying in community) Let us praise the Lord. — And give him thanks.