Ribbon Placement:
Liturgy of the Hours Vol. I:
Ordinary: 653
Proper of Seasons: 312/364
Psalter: Sunday, Week IV, 1051

Christian Prayer:
Ordinary: 689
Proper of Seasons: 112
Psalter: Sunday, Week IV, 926

Morning Prayer for the Fourth Sunday, December 22, in the Season of Advent

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.

PSALMODY

Ant. 1 Sound the trumpet in Zion; the day of the Lord is near; he comes to save us, alleluia.

Psalm 118
Song of joy for salvation
This Jesus is the stone which, rejected by you builders, has become the chief stone supporting all the rest. (Acts 4:11).

Give thanks to the Lord for he is good,
for his love endures forever.

Ant. Sound the trumpet in Zion; the day of the Lord is near; he comes to save us, alleluia.

Let the sons of Israel say:
“His love endures for ever.”
Let the sons of Aaron say:
“His love endures for ever.”
Let those who fear the Lord say:
“His love endures for ever.”

Ant. Sound the trumpet in Zion; the day of the Lord is near; he comes to save us, alleluia.

I called to the Lord in my distress;
he answered and freed me.
The Lord is at my side; I do not fear.
what can man do against me?
The Lord is at my side as my helper;
I shall look down on my foes.

Ant. Sound the trumpet in Zion; the day of the Lord is near; he comes to save us, alleluia.

It is better to take refuge in the Lord
than to trust in men;
it is better to take refuge in the Lord
than to trust in princes.

Ant. Sound the trumpet in Zion; the day of the Lord is near; he comes to save us, alleluia.

The nations all encompassed me;
in the Lord’s name I crushed them.
They compassed me, compassed me about;
in the Lord’s name I crushed them.
They compassed me about like bees;
they blazed like a fire among thorns.
In the Lord’s name I crushed them.

Ant. Sound the trumpet in Zion; the day of the Lord is near; he comes to save us, alleluia.

I was hard-pressed and was falling
but the Lord came to help me.
The Lord is my strength and my song;
he is my savior.
There are shouts of joy and victory
in the tents of the just.

Ant. Sound the trumpet in Zion; the day of the Lord is near; he comes to save us, alleluia.

The Lord’s right hand has triumphed;
his right hand raised me.
The Lord’s right hand has triumphed;
I shall not die, I shall live
and recount his deeds.
I was punished, I was punished by the Lord,
but not doomed to die.

Ant. Sound the trumpet in Zion; the day of the Lord is near; he comes to save us, alleluia.

Open to me the gates of holiness:
I will enter and give thanks.
This is the Lord’s own gate
where the just may enter.
I will thank you for you have answered
and you are my savior.

Ant. Sound the trumpet in Zion; the day of the Lord is near; he comes to save us, alleluia.

The stone which the builders rejected
has become the corner stone.
This is the work of the Lord,
a marvel in our eyes.
This day was made by the Lord;
we rejoice and are glad.

Ant. Sound the trumpet in Zion; the day of the Lord is near; he comes to save us, alleluia.

O Lord, grant us salvation;
O Lord, grant success.
Blessed in the name of the Lord
is he who comes.
We bless you from the house of the Lord;
the Lord God is our light.

Ant. Sound the trumpet in Zion; the day of the Lord is near; he comes to save us, alleluia.

Go forward in procession with branches
even to the altar.
You are my God, I thank you.
My God, I praise you.
Give thanks to the Lord for he is good;
for his love endures for ever.

Ant. Sound the trumpet in Zion; the day of the Lord is near; he comes to save us, 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.

Psalm-prayer

Lord God, you have given us the great day of rejoicing: Jesus Christ, the stone rejected by the builders, has become the cornerstone of the Church, our spiritual home. Shed upon your Church the rays of your glory, that it may be seen as the gate of salvation open to all nations. Let cries of joy and exultation ring out from its tents, to celebrate the wonder of Christ’s resurrection.

Ant. Sound the trumpet in Zion; the day of the Lord is near; he comes to save us, alleluia.

Ant. 2 The Lord is here; go out to meet him, saying: Great his birth, eternal his kingdom: Strong God, Ruler of all, Prince of Peace, alleluia.

Canticle – Daniel 3:52-57
Let all creatures praise the Lord
The Creator… is blessed for ever (Romans 1:25).

Blessed are you, O Lord, the God of our fathers,
praiseworthy and exalted above all forever;

Ant. The Lord is here; go out to meet him, saying: Great his birth, eternal his kingdom: Strong God, Ruler of all, Prince of Peace, alleluia.

And blessed is your holy and glorious name,
praiseworthy and exalted above all for all ages.

Ant. The Lord is here; go out to meet him, saying: Great his birth, eternal his kingdom: Strong God, Ruler of all, Prince of Peace, alleluia.

Blessed are you in the temple of your holy glory,
praiseworthy and glorious above all forever.

Ant. The Lord is here; go out to meet him, saying: Great his birth, eternal his kingdom: Strong God, Ruler of all, Prince of Peace, alleluia.

Blessed are you on the throne of your kingdom,
praiseworthy and exalted above all forever.

Ant. The Lord is here; go out to meet him, saying: Great his birth, eternal his kingdom: Strong God, Ruler of all, Prince of Peace, alleluia.

Blessed are you who look into the depths
from your throne upon the cherubim,
praiseworthy and exalted above all forever.

Ant. The Lord is here; go out to meet him, saying: Great his birth, eternal his kingdom: Strong God, Ruler of all, Prince of Peace, alleluia.

Blessed are you in the firmament of heaven,
praiseworthy and glorious forever.

Ant. The Lord is here; go out to meet him, saying: Great his birth, eternal his kingdom: Strong God, Ruler of all, Prince of Peace, alleluia.

Bless the Lord, all you works of the Lord,
praise and exalt him above all forever.

Ant. The Lord is here; go out to meet him, saying: Great his birth, eternal his kingdom: Strong God, Ruler of all, Prince of Peace, 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 here; go out to meet him, saying: Great his birth, eternal his kingdom: Strong God, Ruler of all, Prince of Peace, alleluia.

Ant. 3 Your all-powerful Word, O Lord will come to earth from his throne of glory, alleluia.

Psalm 150
Praise the Lord
Let mind and heart be in your song: this is to glorify God with your whole self. (Hesychius)

Praise God in his holy place,
praise him in his mighty heavens.
Praise him for his powerful deeds,
praise his surpassing greatness.

Ant. Your all-powerful Word, O Lord will come to earth from his throne of glory, alleluia.

O praise him with sound of trumpet,
praise him with lute and harp.
Praise him with timbrel and dance,
praise him with strings and pipes.

Ant. Your all-powerful Word, O Lord will come to earth from his throne of glory, alleluia.

O praise him with resounding cymbals,
praise him with clashing of cymbals.
Let everything that lives and that breathes
give praise to the Lord.

Ant. Your all-powerful Word, O Lord will come to earth from his throne of glory, 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.

Psalm-prayer

Lord God, maker of heaven and earth and of all created things, you make your just ones holy and you justify sinners who confess your name. Hear us as we humbly pray to you: give us eternal joy with your saints.

Ant. Your all-powerful Word, O Lord will come to earth from his throne of glory, alleluia.

READING Romans 13:11-12

It is now the hour for you to wake from sleep, for our salvation is closer than when we first accepted the faith. The night is far spent; the day draws near. Let us cast off deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light.

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

Christ, Son of the living God, have mercy on us.
— Christ, Son of the living God, have mercy on us.

You are the one who is to come,
— have mercy on us.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit,
— Christ, Son of the living God, have mercy on us.

CANTICLE OF ZECHARIAH

Ant. The moment that your greeting reached my ears, the child within my womb leapt for joy.

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 moment that your greeting reached my ears, the child within my womb leapt for joy.

INTERCESSIONS

To the Lord Jesus Christ, judge of the living and the dead, let us pray:
Come, Lord Jesus!

Lord Jesus, you came to save sinners,
— protect us in times of temptation.
Come, Lord Jesus!

You will come in glory to be our judge,
— show in us your power to save.
Come, Lord Jesus!

Help us to keep the precepts of your law with the strength of the Spirit,
— and to look forward in love to your coming.
Come, Lord Jesus!

You are praised throughout the ages; in your mercy help us to love devoutly and temperately in this life,
— as we wait in joyful hope for the revelation of your glory.
Come, Lord Jesus!

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

Pour forth,
we beseech you, O Lord,
your grace into our hearts,
that we, to whom the Incarnation of Christ your Son
was made known by the message of an Angel,
may by his Passion and Cross
be brought to the glory of his Resurrection.
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.