Liturgy of the Hours for December 22
Midday Prayer for Fourth Sunday of Advent
Please Note
This is the Liturgy of the Hours for December 31. Your local date is .
Ribbon Placement:
Liturgy of the Hours Vol. II:
Ordinary: 1054
Proper of Seasons: 64 (Midday)
Psalter: Thursday, Week IV, 1579
Midday Prayer for Thursday after Ash Wednesday, 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.
HYMN
Jesus, only begotten Son and Lamb of God the Father
Thou didst give Thy body and blood to buy me from the grave
Chorus:
My Christ, my Christ, my shield, my encircler,
Each day and night, each dark and light.
My Christ, my Christ, my shield, my encircler,
Each day and night, my Christ.
Jesus, Son of Mary, be near me and uphold me
in my standing, in my lying and in my sleeping.
Chorus:
My Christ, my Christ, my shield, my encircler,
Each day and night, each dark and light.
My Christ, my Christ, my shield, my encircler,
Each day and night, my Christ.
My helper, my encircler,
My strength everlasting.
My Christ, my Christ, my shield, my encircler,
Each day and night, my Christ.
| 𝄞 | "Prayer for Protection" by Briege O'Hare And Marie Cox • Available on iTunes • Available for Purchase • Title: Prayer for Protection ; Text: Briege O'Hare, OSC, inspired by The Carmina Gadelica; Album: The Peace of God. Songs from a Celtic Monastery; Composed and arranged by: Briege O'Hare, OSC; Sung by: Marie Cox,RSM; (c) 2006 Hermitage Production; Used by permission • Albums that contain this Hymn: The Peace of God |
PSALMODY
Ant. As I live, says the Lord, I do not wish the sinner to die but to turn back to me and live.
Psalm 119:153-160
XX (Resh)
See my affliction and save me
for I remember your law.
Uphold my cause and defend me;
by your promise give me life.
Salvation is far from the wicked
who are heedless of your commands.
Numberless, Lord, are your mercies;
with your decrees give me life.
Though my foes and oppressors are countless
I have not swerved from your will.
I look at the faithless with disgust;
they ignore your promise.
See how I love your precepts;
in your mercy give me life.
Your word is founded on truth:
your decrees are eternal.
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
Help us always to rejoice in your promise, Father, and to praise the glory of your deeds. Keep us united in the love of your peace; then we shall have little to fear from the threats of the mighty.
Psalm 128
Happiness of family life rooted in God
“May the Lord bless you from Zion” refers to the Church (Arnobius).
O blessed are those who fear the Lord
and walk in his ways!
By the labor of your hands you shall eat.
You will be happy and prosper;
your wife like a fruitful vine
in the heart of your house;
your children like shoots of the olive,
around your table.
Indeed thus shall be blessed
the man who fears the Lord.
May the Lord bless you from Zion
all the days of your life!
May you see your children’s children
in a happy Jerusalem!
On Israel, 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.
Psalm-prayer
Give lasting happiness, Lord, to those who reverence your name, so that our life and work may be such as to deserve your commendation, and bring us, laden with good fruit, to our everlasting home.
Psalm 129
God’s people reaffirm their trust in time of affliction
The voice of the Church lamenting its suffering is heard in this psalm (Saint Augustine).
“They have pressed me hard from my youth,”
this is Israel’s song.
“They have pressed me hard from my youth
but could never destroy me.
They ploughed my back like ploughmen,
drawing long furrows.
But the Lord, who is just, has destroyed
the yoke of the wicked.”
Let them be shamed and routed,
those who hate Zion!
Let them be like grass on the roof
that withers before it flowers.
With that no reaper fills his arms,
no binder makes his sheaves
and those passing by will not say:
“On you the Lord’s blessing!”
“We bless you in the name 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.
Psalm-prayer
Lord Jesus, living in glory as the Son of Man, remember that when our sins had ploughed long furrows on your back, your death broke the bonds of sin and Satan for ever. Bless your Church, wounded in its members, and strengthen it by your invincible power and grace.
Ant. As I live, says the Lord, I do not wish the sinner to die but to turn back to me and live.
READING Deuteronomy 30:2-3a
Provided that you and your children return to the Lord, your God, and heed his voice with all your heart and all your soul, just as I now command you, the Lord, your God, will change your lot and taking pity on you, he will again gather you from all the nations.
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.
Turn your face away from my sins.
— Blot out all my guilt.
CONCLUDING PRAYER
Prompt our actions with your inspiration,
we pray, O Lord,
and further them with your constant help,
that all we do may always begin from you
and by you be brought to completion.
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.
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