INVITATORY
The Invitatory is said when this is the first ‘hour’ of the day.
Psalm 95
Come, let us sing to the LORD; *
let us shout for joy to the Rock of our salvation.
Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving *
and raise a loud shout to him with psalms.
For the LORD is a great God, *
and a great King above all gods.
In his hand are the caverns of the earth, *
and the heights of the hills are his also.
The sea is his, for he made it, *
and his hands have molded the dry land.
Come, let us bow down, and bend the knee, *
and kneel before the LORD our Maker.
For he is our God, and we are the people of his pasture and the sheep of his hand. *
Oh, that today you would hearken to his voice!
Harden not your hearts,
as your forebears did in the wilderness, *
at Meribah, and on that day at Massah,
when they tempted me.
They put me to the test, *
though they had seen my works.
Forty years long I detested that generation and said, *
“This people are wayward in their hearts;
they do not know my ways.”
So I swore in my wrath, *
“They shall not enter into my rest.”
INTRODUCTION
If the Invitatory is not said, then the following is used:
HYMN – Exsultemus et Laetemur
PSALMODY
Ant. 1. Give joy to your servant, Lord; to you I lift up my heart.
Psalm 86
Bow down your ear, O LORD, and answer me, *
for I am poor and in misery.
Keep watch over my life, for I am faithful; *
save your servant who puts his trust in you.
Be merciful to me, O LORD, for you are my God; *
I call upon you all the day long.
Gladden the soul of your servant, *
for to you, O LORD, I lift up my soul.
For you, O LORD, are good and forgiving, *
and great is your love toward all who call upon you.
Give ear, O LORD, to my prayer, *
and attend to the voice of my supplications.
In the time of my trouble I will call upon you, *
for you will answer me.
Among the gods there is none like you, O LORD, *
nor anything like your works.
All nations you have made will come and
worship you, O LORD, *
and glorify your Name.
For you are great;
you do wondrous things; *
and you alone are God.
Teach me your way, O LORD,
and I will walk in your truth; *
knit my heart to you that I may fear your Name.
I will thank you, O LORD my God, with all my heart, *
and glorify your Name for evermore.
For great is your love toward me; *
you have delivered me from the nethermost Pit.
The arrogant rise up against me, O God,
and a band of violent men seeks my life; *
they have not set you before their eyes.
But you, O LORD, are gracious and full of compassion, *
slow to anger, and full of kindness and truth.
Turn to me and have mercy upon me; *
give your strength to your servant;
and save the child of your handmaid.
Show me a sign of your favor,
so that those who hate me may see it and be ashamed; *
because you, O LORD, have helped me and comforted 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 forever. Amen.
Psalm Prayer
God of mercy and goodness, when Christ called out to you in torment, you heard him and gave him victory over death because of his love for you. We already know the affection you have for us; fill us with a greater love of your name and we will proclaim you more boldly before men and happily lead them to celebrate your glory.
Ant. 1. Give joy to your servant, Lord; to you I lift up my heart.
Ant. 2. Blessed is the upright man, who speaks the truth.
Canticle: Isaiah 33:13-16
Thorn and brier will rise up, over the soil of my people.
How much more over all the houses of gladness, over the city of exultation?
For the house has been forsaken.
The multitude of the city has been abandoned.
A darkness and a covering have been placed over its dens, even unto eternity.
It will be the gladness of wild donkeys and the pasture of flocks, until the Spirit is poured out from on high.
And the desert will be a fruitful field,
and the fruitful field will be considered as a forest.
And judgment will live in solitude,
and justice will be seated in a fruitful place.
Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,
As is was in the beginning is now and will be forever, Amen.
Ant. 2. Blessed is the upright man, who speaks the truth.
Ant. 3. Let us celebrate with joy in the presence of our Lord and King.
Psalm 98
Sing to the LORD a new song, *
for he has done marvelous things.
With his right hand and his holy arm *
has he won for himself the victory.
The LORD has made known his victory; *
his righteousness has he openly shown in
the sight of the nations.
He remembers his mercy and faithfulness to
the house of Israel, *
and all the ends of the earth have seen the
victory of our God.
Shout with joy to the LORD, all you lands; *
lift up your voice, rejoice, and sing.
Sing to the LORD with the harp, *
with the harp and the voice of song.
With trumpets and the sound of the horn *
shout with joy before the King, the LORD.
Let the sea make a noise and all that is in it, *
the lands and those who dwell therein.
Let the rivers clap their hands, *
and let the hills ring out with joy before the LORD,
when he comes to judge the earth.
In righteousness shall he judge the world *
and the peoples with equity.
Glory to the Father and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit;
As it was in the beginning, is now and will be forever. Amen.
Psalm Prayer
Lord Jesus, you have revealed your justice to all nations. We stood condemned, and you came to be judged in our place. Send your saving power on us and, when you come in glory, bring your mercy to those for whom you were condemned.
Ant. 3. Let us celebrate with joy in the presence of our Lord and King.
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.
Ant. 4. Show us your mercy, Lord; remember your holy covenant.
CANTICLE OF ZECHARIAH
Luke 1:68-79
The Messiah and his forerunner.
Blessed be the Lord God of Israel; for he hath visited and redeemed his people;
And hath raised up a mighty salvation for us, in the house of his servant David;
As he spake by the mouth of his holy Prophets, which have been since the world began;
That we should be saved from our enemies, and from the hand of all that hate us.
To perform the mercy promised to our forefathers, and to remember his holy covenant;
To perform the oath which he swore to our forefather Abraham, that he would give us;
That we being delivered out of the hand of our enemies might serve him without fear;
In holiness and righteousness before him, in all the days of our life.
And thou, child shalt be called the prophet of the Highest: for thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways;
To give knowledge of salvation unto his people for the remission of their sins,
Through the tender mercy of our God; whereby the dayspring from on high hath visited us;
To give light to them that sit in darkness, and in the shadow of death, and to guide our feet into the way of peace.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, *
and to the Holy Spirit:
as it was in the beginning, is now, *
and ever shall be world without end. Amen.
Ant. 4. Show us your mercy, Lord; remember your holy covenant.
INTERCESSIONS
Christ nourishes and supports the Church for which he gave himself up to death. Let us ask him:
Remember your Church, Lord.
You are the Good Shepherd who has given life and light today,
– make us grateful for these gifts.
Remember your Church, Lord.
Look with mercy on the flock you have gathered together in your name,
– let no one whom the Father has given you perish.
Remember your Church, Lord.
Lead your Church in the way of your commandments,
– may your Holy Spirit keep her faithful.
Remember your Church, Lord.
Nourish the Church at the banquet of your Word and Bread,
– strengthened by this food may she follow you in joy.
Remember your Church, Lord.
THE LORD’S PRAYER
(And now let us pray as the Lord told 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
Lord our God, help us to prepare for the coming of Christ your Son.
May he find us waiting, eager in joyful prayer.
We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.
Amen
DISMISSAL
May the Lord + bless us,
protect us from all evil
and bring us to everlasting life.
– Amen.