May 6th, 2026 – Midday Prayer – Divine Office: Liturgy of the Hours

May 6th, 2026 – Invitatory – Divine Office: Liturgy of the Hours

Lord, open my lips. — And my mouth will proclaim your praise. Ant. The Lord is risen, alleluia. Psalm 95 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. The Lord is risen, alleluia. 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. The Lord is risen, alleluia. 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. The Lord is risen, alleluia. 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. The Lord is risen, alleluia. 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. The Lord is risen, 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. The Lord is risen, alleluia.

May 6th, 2026 – Office of Readings – Divine Office: Liturgy of the Hours

Ribbon Placement: Liturgy of the Hours Vol. II: Ordinary: 1045 Proper of Seasons: 839 Psalter: Wednesday, Week I, 1140 Office of Readings for Wednesday in Week 5 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 Praise to the Lord, the almighty, the king of creation! O my soul, praise him, for he is your health and salvation! Let all who hear, now to his temple draw near; Joining in glad adoration. Praise to the Lord, who over all things is wondrously reigning; And, as on wings of an eagle, uplifting, sustaining. Have you not seen all that is needful has been Sent by his gracious ordaining? Praise to the Lord, who will prosper your work and defend you; Surely his goodness and mercy shall daily attend you. Ponder anew what the Almighty can do As with his love he befriends you. Praise to the Lord, O let all that is in me adore him! All that has life and breath, come now with praises before him. Let the Amen sound from his people again, Gladly forever adore Him. 𝄞"Praise to the Lord, the Almighty" by Rebecca Hincke • Musical Score [https://divineoffice.org/wp-content/uploads/Praise-to-the-Lord-the-Almighty.pdf] • Title: Praise to the Lord, the Almighty; Text: Lobe den Herren, den machtigen Konig der Ehren, Joachim Neunter; Translation: Catherine Winkworth; Tune: 17th c. German; Artist: Rebecca Hincke; Copyright 2016 Surgeworks • Albums that contain this Hymn: Divine Office PSALMODY Ant. 1 I love you, Lord; you are my strength, alleluia. Psalm 18 Thanksgiving for salvation and victory At that time there was a violent earthquake (Revelation 11:13) I I love you, Lord, my strength, my rock, my fortress, my savior. My God is the rock where I take refuge; my shield, my mighty help, my stronghold. The Lord is worthy of all praise; when I call I am saved from my foes. The waves of death rose about me; the torrents of destruction assailed me; the snares of the grave entangled me; the traps of death confronted me. In my anguish I called to the Lord; I cried to my God for help. From his temple he heard my voice; my cry came to his ears. 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. I love you, Lord; you are my strength, alleluia. Ant. 2 The Lord has saved me; he wanted me for his own, alleluia. II Then the earth reeled and rocked; the mountains were shaken to their base: they reeled at his terrible anger. Smoke came forth from his nostrils and scorching fire from his mouth: coals were set ablaze by its heat. He lowered the heavens and came down, a black cloud under his feet. He came enthroned on the cherubim, he flew on the wings of the wind. He made the darkness his covering, the dark waters of the clouds, his tent. A brightness shone out before him with hailstones and flashes of fire. The Lord thundered in the heavens; the Most High let his voice be heard. He shot his arrows, scattered the foe, flashed his lightnings and put them to flight. The bed of the ocean was revealed; the foundations of the world were laid bare at the thunder of your threat, O Lord, at the blast of the breath of your anger. From on high he reached down and seized me; he drew me forth from the mighty waters. He snatched me from my powerful foe, from my enemies whose strength I could not match. They assailed me in the day of my misfortune, but the Lord was my support. He brought me forth into freedom, he saved me because he loved 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. The Lord has saved me; he wanted me for his own, alleluia. Ant. 3 Lord, kindle a light for my guidance and scatter my darkness, alleluia. III He rewarded me because I was just, repaid me, for my hands were clean, for I have kept the way of the Lord and have not fallen away from my God. For his judgments are all before me: I have never neglected his commands. I have always been upright before him; I have kept myself from guilt. He repaid me because I was just and my hands were clean in his eyes. You are loving with those who love you: you show yourself perfect with the perfect. With the sincere you show yourself sincere, but the cunning you outdo in cunning. For you save a humble people but humble the eyes that are proud. You, O Lord, are my lamp, my God who lightens my darkness. With you I can break through any barrier, with my God I can scale any wall. 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, our strength and salvation, put in us the flame of your love and make our love for you grow to a perfect love which reaches to our neighbor. Ant. 3 Lord, kindle a light for my guidance and scatter my darkness, 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. God raised up Christ from the dead, alleluia. — So that all our faith and hope might be in God, alleluia. READINGS First reading From the Book of Revelation 21:1-8 The new Jerusalem I, John, saw new heavens and a new earth. The former heavens and the former earth had passed away, and the sea was no longer. I also saw a new Jerusalem, the holy city, coming down out of heaven from God, beautiful as a bride prepared to meet her husband. I heard a loud voice from the throne cry out: “This is God’s dwelling among men. He shall dwell with them and they shall be his people and he shall be their God who is always with them. He shall wipe every tear from their eyes, and there shall be no more death or mourning, crying out or pain, for the former world has passed away.” The One who sat on the throne said to me, “See, I make all things new!” Then he said, “Write these matters down, for the words are trustworthy and true!” He went on to say: “These words are already fulfilled! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To anyone who thirsts I will give to drink without cost from the spring of life-giving water. He who wins the victory shall inherit these gifts; I will be his God and he shall be my son. As for the cowards and traitors to the faith, the depraved and murderers, the fornicators and sorcerers, the idol-worshipers and deceivers of every sort—their lot is the fiery pool of burning sulphur, the second death!” RESPONSORY Revelation 21:3, 4 See the place where God lives among men; there he will make his home among them, — and he will wipe every tear from their eyes, alleluia. Death shall be no more; grief, tears and sorrow will be forgotten, for the former world has passed away. — And he will wipe every tear from their eyes, alleluia. Second Reading From a letter to Diognetus The Christian in the world Christians are indistinguishable from other men either by nationality, language or customs. They do not inhabit separate cities of their own, or speak a strange dialect, or follow some outlandish way of life. Their teaching is not based upon reveries inspired by the curiosity of men. Unlike some other people, they champion no purely human doctrine. With regard to dress, food and manner of life in general, they follow the customs of whatever city they happen to be living in, whether it is Greek or foreign. And yet there is something extraordinary about their lives. They live in their own countries as though they were only passing through. They play their full role as citizens, but labor under all the disabilities of aliens. Any country can be their homeland, but for them their homeland, wherever it may be, is a foreign country. Like others, they marry and have children, but they do not expose them. They share their meals, but not their wives. They live in the flesh, but they are not governed by the desires of the flesh. They pass their days upon earth, but they are citizens of heaven. Obedient to the laws, they yet live on a level that transcends the law. Christians love all men, but all men persecute them. Condemned because they are not understood, they are put to death, but raised to life again. They live in poverty, but enrich many; they are totally destitute, but possess an abundance of everything. They suffer dishonor, but that is their glory. They are defamed, but vindicated. A blessing is their answer to abuse, deference their response to insult. For the good they do they receive the punishment of malefactors, but even then they rejoice, as though receiving the gift of life. They are attacked by the Jews as aliens, they are persecuted by the Greeks, yet no one can explain the reason for this hatred. To speak in general terms, we may say that the Christian is to the world what the soul is to the body. As the soul is present in every part of the body, while remaining distinct from it, so Christians are found in all the cities of the world, but cannot be identified with the world. As the visible body contains the invisible soul, so Christians are seen living in the world, but their religious life remains unseen. The body hates the soul and wars against it, not because of any injury the soul has done it, but because of the restriction the soul places on its pleasures. Similarly, the world hates the Christians, not because they have done it any wrong, but because they are opposed to its enjoyments. Christians love those who hate them just as the soul loves the body and all its members despite the body’s hatred. It is by the soul, enclosed within the body, that the body is held together, and similarly, it is by the Christians, detained in the world as in a prison, that the world is held together. The soul, though immortal, has a mortal dwelling place; and Christians also live for a time amidst perishable things, while awaiting the freedom from change and decay that will be theirs in heaven. As the soul benefits from the deprivation of food and drink, so Christians flourish under persecution. Such is the Christian’s lofty and divinely appointed function, from which he is not permitted to excuse himself. RESPONSORY John 8:11; Sirach 24:25 I am the light of the world. — No one who follows me will ever walk in darkness; but he will have the light of life, alleluia. I am the source of all grace of the way and the truth; in me rests all hope for life and for strength. — No one who follows me will ever walk in darkness; but he will have the light of life, alleluia. CONCLUDING PRAYER O God, restorer and lover of innocence, direct the hearts of your servants towards yourself, that those you have set free from the darkness of unbelief may never stray from the light of your truth. 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 6th, 2026 – Morning Prayer – Divine Office: Liturgy of the Hours

Ribbon Placement: Liturgy of the Hours Vol. II: Ordinary: 1049 Proper of Seasons: 842 Psalter: Wednesday, Week I, 1144 Christian Prayer: Ordinary: 689 Proper of Seasons: 531 Psalter: Wednesday, Week I, 738 Morning Prayer for Wednesday in Week 5 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 Crown Him with many crowns, the Lamb upon His throne. Hark! How the heavenly anthem drowns all music but its own. Awake, my soul, and sing of Him who died for thee, And hail Him as thy matchless King through all eternity. Crown Him the Lord of love, behold His hands and side, Those wounds, yet visible above, in beauty glorified. No angel in the sky can fully bear that sight, But downward bends his burning eye at mysteries so bright. Crown Him the Lord of Heaven, enthroned in worlds above, Crown Him the King to Whom is given the wondrous name of Love. Crown Him with many crowns, as thrones before Him fall; Crown Him, ye kings, with many crowns, for He is King of all. 𝄞"Crown Him with Many Crowns" by Rebecca Hincke • Available for Purchase [https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08NTQPMSN/ref=dm_ws_tlw_trk6] • Musical Score [https://traffic.libsyn.com/secure/divineoffice/Crown_Him_with_Many_Crowns.pdf] • Title: Crown Him with Many Crowns; Text: Matthew Bridges, 1852 and Godfrey Thring, 1874; Music: Diademata, George J. Elvey, 1868; Artist: Rebecca Hincke; (c) 2016 Surgeworks, Inc. • Albums that contain this Hymn: Hymns and Chants of Divine Office, Vol. 3 PSALMODY Ant. 1 You, O Lord, are the source of life, alleluia. Psalm 36 The malice of sinners and God’s goodness No follower of mine wanders in the dark; he shall have the light of life (John 8:12). Sin speaks to the sinner in the depths of his heart. There is no fear of God before his eyes. He so flatters himself in his mind that he knows not his guilt. In his mouth are mischief and deceit. All wisdom is gone. He plots the defeat of goodness as he lies on his bed. He has set his foot on evil ways, he clings to what is evil. Your love, Lord, reaches to heaven; your truth to the skies. Your justice is like God’s mountain, your judgments like the deep. To both man and beast you give protection. O Lord, how precious is your love. My God, the sons of men find refuge in the shelter of your wings. They feast on the riches of your house; they drink from the stream of your delight. In you is the source of life and in your light we see light. Keep on loving those who know you, doing justice for upright hearts. Let the foot of the proud not crush me nor the hand of the wicked cast me out. See how the evildoers fall! Flung down, they shall never arise. 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 are the source of unfailing light. Give us true knowledge of your mercy so that we may renounce our pride and be filled with the riches of your house. Ant. You, O Lord, are the source of life, alleluia. Ant.2 You sent forth your Spirit, O Lord, and all things were created, alleluia. Canticle – Judith 16:2-3a, 13-15 God who created the world takes care of his people They were singing a new song (Revelation 5:9). Strike up the instruments, a song to my God with timbrels, chant to the Lord with cymbals; Sing him a new song, exalt and acclaim his name. A new hymn I will sing to my God. O Lord, great are you and glorious, wonderful in power and unsurpassable. Let your every creature serve you; for you spoke, and they were made, You sent forth your spirit, and they were created; no one can resist your word. The mountains to their bases, and the seas, are shaken; the rocks, like wax, melt before your glance. But to those who fear you, you are very merciful. 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. You sent forth your Spirit, O Lord, and all things were created, alleluia. Ant. 3 God is King over all the earth; make music for him with all your skill, alleluia. Psalm 47 The Lord Jesus is King of all He is seated at the right hand of the Father, and his kingdom will have no end. All peoples, clap your hands, cry to God with shouts of joy! For the Lord, the Most High, we must fear, great king over all the earth. He subdues peoples under us and nations under our feet. Our inheritance, our glory, is from him, given to Jacob out of love. God goes up with shouts of joy; the Lord goes up with trumpet blast. Sing praise for God, sing praise, sing praise to our king, sing praise. God is king of all the earth, sing praise with all your skill. God is king over the nations; God reigns on his holy throne. The princes of the people are assembled with the people of Abraham’s God. The rulers of the earth belong to God, to God who reigns over all. 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, King of all peoples and all ages, it is your victory we celebrate as we sing with all the skill at our command. Help us always to overcome evil by good, that we may rejoice in your triumph for ever. Ant. God is King over all the earth; make music for him with all your skill, alleluia. READING Romans 6:8-11 If we have died with Christ, we believe that we are also to live with him. We know that Christ, once raised from the dead, will never die again; death has no more power over him. His death was death to sin, once for all; his life is life for God. In the same way, you must consider yourselves dead to sin but alive for God in Christ Jesus. 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. I am the true vine, alleluia; you are the branches, 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. I am the true vine, alleluia; you are the branches, alleluia. INTERCESSIONS Christ was given up for our sins and rose again to make us righteous. Let us cry out to him, saying: Save us, Lord, by your victory. Christ our Savior, in conquering death you brought us joy, in rising again you raised us up and filled us with the abundance of your gifts, — stir up our hearts, and sanctify this day through the gift of your Holy Spirit. Save us, Lord, by your victory. You are glorified by the angels in heaven and adored by mankind on earth; as we celebrate your resurrection, — accept our worship in spirit and in truth. Save us, Lord, by your victory. Lord Jesus, save us; show your great mercy to your people, as we look forward to our own resurrection, — have mercy on us, and protect us today from every evil. Save us, Lord, by your victory. King of glory, source of our life, — grant that, when you come again, we may be one with you in glory. Save us, Lord, by your victory. 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 O God, restorer and lover of innocence, direct the hearts of your servants towards yourself, that those you have set free from the darkness of unbelief may never stray from the light of your truth. 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 6th, 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: 844 (antiphon, reading, concluding prayer) Midmorning Prayer for Wednesday in Week 5 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 1 Christ, whose glory fills the skies, Christ, the true and only Light, Sun of Righteousness, arise, triumph o'er the shade of night; Day-spring from on high, be near; Day-star, in my heart appear. 2 Dark and cheerless is the morn unaccompanied by thee; joyless is the day's return till thy mercy's beams I see, till they inward light impart, glad my eyes and warm my heart. 3 Visit, then, this soul of mine, pierce the gloom of sin and grief; fill me, Radiancy divine, scatter all my unbelief; more and more thyself display, shining to the perfect day! 𝄞"Christ, Whose Glory Fills the Skies" by Johanna Montealto • Musical Score [https://divineoffice.org/wp-content/uploads/Christ-Whose-Glory-Fills-the-Skies.pdf] • Title: Christ Who's Glory Fills the Skies; Text: Charles Wesley, 1740; Tune: RATISBON; J. G. Werner's Choralbuch, 1815; harm. William H. Havergal, 1861; Meter: 77 77 77; Artist: Johanna Montealto; Copyright 2016 Surgeworks • Albums that contain this Hymn: Divine Office 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 See Romans 4:24-25 We believe in him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead, the Jesus who was handed over to death for our sins and raised up for our justification. 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 O God, restorer and lover of innocence, direct the hearts of your servants towards yourself, that those you have set free from the darkness of unbelief may never stray from the light of your truth. 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 6th, 2026 – Midday Prayer – Divine Office: Liturgy of the Hours

Ribbon Placement: Liturgy of the Hours Vol. II: Ordinary: 1054 Proper of Seasons: 844 Psalter: Wednesday, Week I, 1150 Midday Prayer for Wednesday in Week 5 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 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. Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia. Psalm 119:9-16 II (Beth) How shall the young remain sinless? By obeying your word. I have sought you with all my heart: let me not stray from your commands. I treasure your promise in my heart lest I sin against you. Blessed are you, O Lord; teach me your statutes. With my tongue I have recounted the decrees of your lips. I rejoiced to do your will as though all riches were mine. I will ponder all your precepts and consider your paths. I take delight in your statutes; I will not forget your word. 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, may we treasure your commandments as the greatest of all riches; never let us fear that anything will be wanting to us while you are at our side. Psalm 17 Save me, Lord, from those who hate you During his life on earth… Jesus prayed to his Father and was heard (Hebrews 5:7). I Lord, hear a cause that is just, pay heed to my cry. Turn your ear to my prayer: no deceit is on my lips. From you may my judgment come forth. Your eyes discern the truth. You search my heart, you visit me by night. You test me and you find in me no wrong. My words are not sinful as are men’s words. I kept from violence because of your word, I kept my feet in your paths; there was no faltering in my steps. I am here and I call, you will hear me, O God. Turn your ear to me; hear my words. Display your great love, you whose right hand saves your friends from those who rebel against them. Guard me as the apple of your eye. Hide me in the shadow of your wings from the violent attack of the wicked. 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 My foes encircle me with deadly intent. Their hearts tight shut, their mouths speak proudly. They advance against me, and now they surround me. Their eyes are watching to strike me to the ground as though they were lions ready to claw or like some young lion crouched in hiding. Lord, arise, confront them, strike them down! Let your sword rescue my soul from the wicked; let your hand, O Lord, rescue me from men, from men whose reward is in this present life. You give them their fill of your treasures; they rejoice in abundance of offspring and leave their wealth to their children. As for me, in my justice I shall see your face and be filled, when I awake, with the sight of your 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. Psalm-prayer Turn our eyes to see the truth of your judgments, Lord, that, when our spirits are tried by fire, the anticipation of seeing you may make us rejoice in your justice. Ant. Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia. READING 1 John 5:5-6a Who is conqueror of the world? The one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God. Jesus Christ it is who came through water and blood‚ not in water only, but in water and in blood. 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 O God, restorer and lover of innocence, direct the hearts of your servants towards yourself, that those you have set free from the darkness of unbelief may never stray from the light of your truth. 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.