Breviary

Morning Prayer

INVITATORY

The Invitatory is said when this is the first ‘hour’ of the day.

Go to the Hymn

Go to the Psalmody

Lord, + open my lips.
And my mouth will proclaim your praise.

Ant. Come, let us worship Christ, the Son of God, who redeemed us with his blood.

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 24

Psalm 67

Psalm 100

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 Christ, the Son of God, who redeemed us with his blood.

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 Christ, the Son of God, who redeemed us with his blood.

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 Christ, the Son of God, who redeemed us with his blood.

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 Christ, the Son of God, who redeemed us with his blood.

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 Christ, the Son of God, who redeemed us with his blood.

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 Christ, the Son of God, who redeemed us with his blood.

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.

HYMN

Alternate Hymns

No disgrace was too abhorrent:
nailed and mocked and parched he died;
blood and water, double warrant,
issue from his wounded side,
washing in a mighty torrent
earth and stars and oceantide.

Faithful Cross the saints rely on,
noble tree beyond compare!
Never was there such a scion,
never leaf or flow’r so rare.
Sweet the timber, sweet the iron,
sweet the burden that they bear!

Lofty timber, smooth your roughness,
flex your boughs for blossoming;
let your fibers lose their toughness,
gently let your tendrils cling;
lay aside your native gruffness,
clasp the body of your King!

Noblest tree of all created,
richly jeweled and embossed:
post by Lamb’s blood consecrated;
spar that saves the tempest tossed;
scaffold beam which, elevated,
carries what the world has cost!

Wisdom, pow’r, and adoration
to the blessed Trinity
for redemption and salvation
through the Paschal Mystery,
now, in ev’ry generation,
and for all eternity. Amen.

Tune: PICCARDY 8 7 8 7 8 7
Music: from Julien Tiersot’s Mélodies populaires des provinces de France, 1887
or Mode I, melody 12; Liber Hymnarius, Solesmes, 1983*
Text: En acetum, fel, arundo, Venantius Fortunatus, ca. 530-600, © 2023 ICEL

PSALMODY

Ant. 1 God did not spare his own Son, but gave him up to suffer for our sake.

Psalm 51
O God, have mercy on me


Your inmost being must be renewed, and you must put on the new man (Ephesians 4:23-24).

Have mercy on me, God, in your kindness. *
In your compassion blot out my offense.
O wash me more and more from my guilt *
and cleanse me from my sin.

My offenses truly I know them; *
my sin is always before me
Against you, you alone, have I sinned; *
what is evil in your sight I have done.

That you may be justified when you give sentence *
and be without reproach when you judge.
O see, in guilt I was born, *
a sinner was I conceived.

Indeed you love truth in the heart; *
then in the secret of my heart teach me wisdom.
O purify me, then I shall be clean; *
O wash me, I shall be whiter than snow.

Make me hear rejoicing and gladness, *
that the bones you have crushed may revive.
From my sins turn away your face *
and blot out all my guilt.

A pure heart create for me, O God, *
put a steadfast spirit within me.
Do not cast me away from your presence, *
nor deprive me of your holy spirit.

Give me again the joy of your help; *
with a spirit of fervor sustain me,
that I may teach transgressors your ways *
and sinners may return to you.

O rescue me, God, my helper, *
and my tongue shall ring out your goodness.
O Lord, open my lips *
and my mouth shall declare your praise.

For in sacrifice you take no delight, *
burnt offering from me you would refuse,
my sacrifice, a contrite spirit.*
A humbled, contrite heart you will not spurn.

In your goodness, show favor to Zion: *
rebuild the walls of Jerusalem.
Then you will be pleased with lawful sacrifice,
Holocausts offered on your altar.

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, he who knew no sin was made sin for us, to save us and restore us to your friendship. Look upon our contrite heart and afflicted spirit and heal our troubled conscience, so that in the joy and strength of the Holy Spirit we may proclaim your praise and glory before all the nations.

Ant. God did not spare his own Son, but gave him up to suffer for our sake.

Ant. 2 Jesus Christ loved us, and poured out his own blood for us to wash away our sins.

Canticle: Habakkuk 3:2-4, 13a, 15-19
God comes to judge


Lift up your heads for your redemption is at hand (Luke 21:28).

O Lord, I have heard your renown, *
and feared, O Lord, your work.
In the course of the years revive it,
in the course of the years make it known; *
in your wrath remember compassion!

God comes from Teman, *
the Holy One from Mount Paran.
Covered are the heavens with his glory, *
and with his praise the earth is filled.

His splendor spreads like the light;
rays shine forth from beside him, *
where his power is concealed.
You come forth to save your people, *
to save your anointed one.

You tread the sea with your steeds *
amid the churning of the deep waters.
I hear, and my body trembles; *
at the sound, my lips quiver.

Decay invades my bones, *
my legs tremble beneath me.
I await the day of distress *
that will come upon the people who attack us.

For though the fig tree blossom not *
nor fruit be on the vines,
though the yield of the olive fail *
and the terraces produce no nourishment,

though the flocks disappear from the fold *
and there be no herd in the stalls,
yet will I rejoice in the Lord *
and exult in my saving God.

God, my Lord, is my strength;
he makes my feet swift as those of hinds *
and enables me to go upon the heights.

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. Jesus Christ loved us, and poured out his own blood for us to wash away our sins.

Ant. 3 We worship your cross, O Lord, and we praise and glorify your holy resurrection, for the wood of the cross has brought joy to the world.

Psalm 147:12-20
The restoration of Jerusalem


Come, I will show you the bride of the Lamb (Revelation 21:9).

O praise the Lord, Jerusalem! *
Zion, praise your God!

He has strengthened the bars of your gates, *
he has blessed the children within you.
He established peace on your borders, *
he feeds you with finest wheat.

He sends out his word to the earth *
and swiftly runs his command.
He showers down snow white as wool, *
he scatters hoar-frost like ashes.

He hurls down hailstones like crumbs. *
The waters are frozen at his touch;
he sends forth his word and it melts them: *
at the breath of his mouth the waters flow.

He makes his word known to Jacob, *
to Israel his laws and decrees.
He has not dealt thus with other nations; *
he has not taught them his decrees.

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 established peace within the borders of Jerusalem. Give the fullness of peace to your faithful people. May peace rule us in this life and possess us in eternal life. You are about to fill us with the best of wheat; grant that what we see dimly now as in a mirror, we may come to perceive clearly in the brightness of your truth.

Ant. We worship your cross, O Lord, and we praise and glorify your holy resurrection, for the wood of the cross has brought joy to the world.

READING
Isaiah 52:13-15

See, my servant shall prosper,
   he shall be raised high and greatly exalted.
Even as many were amazed at him—
   so marred was his look beyond that of man,
   and his appearance beyond that of mortals—
So shall he startle many nations,
   because of him kings shall stand speechless;
For those who have not been told shall see,
   those who have not heard shall ponder it.

In place of the responsory the following is said:

Ant. For our sake Christ was obedient, accepting even death, death on a cross.

GOSPEL CANTICLE

Ant. Over his head they hung their accusation: Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews.

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. Over his head they hung their accusation: Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews.

INTERCESSIONS

For our sake our Redeemer suffered death and was buried, and rose again. With heartfelt love let us adore him, and pray:
Lord, have mercy on us.

Christ our teacher, for our sake you were obedient even to accepting death,
teach us to obey the Father’s will in all things.
Lord, have mercy on us.

Christ our life, by your death on the cross you destroyed the power of evil and death,
may we die with you, to rise with you in glory.
Lord, have mercy on us.

Christ our King, you became an outcast among us, a worm and no man,
teach us the humility by which you saved the world.
Lord, have mercy on us.

Christ our salvation, you gave yourself up to death out of love for us,
help us to show your love to one another.
Lord, have mercy on us.

Christ our Savior, on the cross you embraced all time with your outstretched arms,
unite God’s scattered children in your kingdom of salvation.
Lord, have mercy on us.

THE LORD’S PRAYER

(Remember us, Lord, when you come to your kingdom and teach us how to pray:)

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,
look with love upon your people,
the love which our Lord Jesus Christ showed us
when he delivered himself to evil men
and suffered the agony of the cross,
for he lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
God, for ever and ever.
Amen.

Or:

Look, we pray, O Lord, on this your family,
for whom our Lord Jesus Christ
did not hesitate to be delivered into the hands of the wicked
and submit to the agony of the Cross.
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.

******

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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. Come, let us worship Christ, the Son of God, who redeemed us with his blood.

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. Come, let us worship Christ, the Son of God, who redeemed us with his blood.

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. Come, let us worship Christ, the Son of God, who redeemed us with his blood.

O gates, lift high your heads;
grow higher, ancient doors. *
Let him enter, the king of glory!

Ant. Come, let us worship Christ, the Son of God, who redeemed us with his blood.

Who is the king of glory?
The Lord, the mighty, the valiant, *
the Lord, the valiant in war.

Ant. Come, let us worship Christ, the Son of God, who redeemed us with his blood.

O gates, lift high your heads;
grow higher, ancient doors. *
Let him enter, the king of glory!

Ant. Come, let us worship Christ, the Son of God, who redeemed us with his blood.

Who is he, the king of glory?
He, the Lord of armies, *
he is the king of glory.

Ant. Come, let us worship Christ, the Son of God, who redeemed us with his blood.

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 Christ, the Son of God, who redeemed us with his blood.

Continue with the Hymn

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. Come, let us worship Christ, the Son of God, who redeemed us with his blood.

Let the peoples praise you, O God; *
let all the peoples praise you.

Ant. Come, let us worship Christ, the Son of God, who redeemed us with his blood.

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. Come, let us worship Christ, the Son of God, who redeemed us with his blood.

Let the peoples praise you, O God; *
let all the peoples praise you.

Ant. Come, let us worship Christ, the Son of God, who redeemed us with his blood.

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. Come, let us worship Christ, the Son of God, who redeemed us with his blood.

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 Christ, the Son of God, who redeemed us with his blood.

Continue with the Hymn

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. Come, let us worship Christ, the Son of God, who redeemed us with his blood.

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 worship Christ, the Son of God, who redeemed us with his blood.

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 worship Christ, the Son of God, who redeemed us with his blood.

Indeed, how good is the Lord,
eternal his merciful love. *
He is faithful from age to age.

Ant. Come, let us worship Christ, the Son of God, who redeemed us with his blood.

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 Christ, the Son of God, who redeemed us with his blood.

Continue with the Hymn


O cross of Christ, immortal tree
On which our Savior died,
The world is sheltered by your arms
That bore the Crucified.

From bitter death and barren wood
The tree of life is made;
Its branches bear unfailing fruit
And leaves that never fade.

O faithful Cross, you stand unmoved
While ages run their course:
Foundation of the universe,
Creation’s binding force.

Give glory to the risen Christ
And to his Cross give praise,
The sign of God’s unfathomed love,
The hope of all our days. Amen.

Tune: Loving hearts, CM
Music: Mode V
Text: © Stanbrook Abbey. Used with permission.


Continue with the Psalmody

Or:

Ah, holy Jesus, how have you offended,
That we to judge you have in hate pretended?
By foes derided, by your own rejected,
     O most afflicted!

Who was the guilty? Who brought this upon you?
Alas, my treason, Jesus, has undone you!
‘Twas I, Lord Jesus, I it was denied you;
     I crucified you.

Lo, the Good Shepherd for the sheep is offered;
The slave has sinned, and the Son has suffered.
For our atonement, while we nothing heeded,
     God interceded.

For me, kind Jesus, was your incarnation,
Your mortal sorrow, and your life’s oblation;
Your death of anguish and your bitter passion,
     For my salvation.

Therefore, kind Jesus, since I cannot pay you,
I do adore you, and will ever pray you,
Think on your pity and your love unswerving,
     Not my deserving.

Tune: Herzliebster Jesu 11.11.11.5
Music: Johann Crüger, 1598-1662
Text: Johann Heermann, 1585-1647
Translation: Robert S. Bridges, 1844-1930, alt.


Continue with the Psalmody

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