Divine Office – Liturgy of the Hours of the Roman Catholic Church (Breviary)

Lord, open my lips.

— And my mouth will proclaim your praise.

Ant. Come, let us worship Christ the King who was lifted up on the cross for our sake.

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. Come, let us worship Christ the King who was lifted up on the cross for our sake.

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 King who was lifted up on the cross for our sake.

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 King who was lifted up on the cross for our sake.

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 King who was lifted up on the cross for our sake.

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 King who was lifted up on the cross for our sake.

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 King who was lifted up on the cross for our sake.

Ribbon Placement:

Liturgy of the Hours Vol. IV:

Ordinary: 615

All from the Proper of Saints: 1384

Office of Readings for the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross

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
Glory be to Jesus,

who, in bitter pains,

poured for me the life-blood

from his sacred veins.

Grace and life eternal

in that blood I find;

blest be his compassion

infinitely kind.

Blest through endless ages

be the precious stream,

which from endless torments

did the world redeem.

Abel's blood for vengeance

pleaded to the skies;

but the blood of Jesus

for our pardon cries.

Oft as earth exulting

wafts its praise on high,

angel-hosts rejoicing

make their glad reply.

Lift we then our voices;

swell the mighty flood;

louder still and louder

praise the precious blood.

𝄞"Glory be to Jesus" by Rebecca Hincke • Available for Purchase • Title: Glory be to Jesus; Text: Saint Alphonsus Maria de' Liguori (1696 – 1787); Translator: Edward Caswall (1857); Tune: WEM IN LEIDENSTAGEN; Artist: Rebecca Hincke; Copyright 2016 Surgeworks • Albums that contain this Hymn: Hymns and Chants of Divine Office, Vol. 3

PSALMODY

Ant. 1 See the cross of the Lord; let all his enemies flee in terror; the lion of Judah, David’s seed, is victorious, alleluia.

Psalm 2

The Messiah, king and conqueror

The rulers of the earth joined forces to overthrow Jesus, your anointed Son (Acts 4:27).

Why this tumult among nations,

among peoples this useless murmuring?

They arise, the kings of the earth,

princes plot against the Lord and his Anointed.

“Come let us break their fetters,

come, let us cast off their yoke.”

He who sits in the heavens laughs;

the Lord is laughing them to scorn.

Then he will speak in his anger,

his rage will strike them with terror.

“It is I who have set up my king

on Zion, my holy mountain.”

I will announce the decree of the Lord:

The Lord said to me: “You are my Son.

It is I who have begotten you this day.

Ask and I shall bequeath you the nations,

put the ends of the earth in your possession.

With a rod of iron you will break them,

shatter them like a potter’s jar.”

Now, O kings, understand,

take warning, rulers of the earth;

serve the Lord with awe

and trembling, pay him your homage

lest he be angry and you perish;

for suddenly his anger will blaze.

Blessed are they who put their trust in God.

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. See the cross of the Lord; let all his enemies flee in terror; the lion of Judah, David’s seed, is victorious, alleluia.

Ant. 2 The holy name of the Lord has been raised up on the cross above heaven and earth, alleluia.

Psalm 8

The majesty of the Lord and man’s dignity

The Father gave Christ lordship of creation and made him head of the Church (Ephesians 1:22).

How great is your name, O Lord our God,

through all the earth!

Your majesty is praised above the heavens;

on the lips of children and of babes

you have found praise to foil your enemy,

to silence the foe and the rebel.

When I see the heavens, the work of your hands,

the moon and the stars which you arranged,

what is man that you should keep him in mind,

mortal man that you care for him?

Yet you have made him little less than a god;

with glory and honor you crowned him,

gave him power over the works of your hand,

put all things under his feet.

All of them, sheep and cattle,

yes, even the savage beasts,

birds of the air, and fish

that make their way through the waters.

How great is your name, O Lord our God,

through all the earth!

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 holy name of the Lord has been raised up on the cross above heaven and earth, alleluia.

Ant. 3 O blessed cross, you alone were found worthy to bear the Lord and King of heaven, alleluia.

Psalm 96

The Lord, king and judge of the world

A new theme now inspires their praise of God; they belong to the Lamb (see Revelation 14:3).

O sing a new song to the Lord,

sing to the Lord, all the earth.

O sing to the Lord, bless his name.

Proclaim his help day by day,

tell among the nations his glory

and his wonders among all the peoples.

The Lord is great and worthy of praise,

to be feared above all gods;

the gods of the heathens are naught.

It was the Lord who made the heavens,

his are majesty and state and power

and splendor in his holy place.

Give the Lord, you families of peoples,

give the Lord glory and power,

give the Lord the glory of his name.

Bring an offering and enter his courts,

worship the Lord in his temple.

O earth, tremble before him.

Proclaim to the nations: “God is king.”

The world he made firm in its place;

he will judge the peoples in fairness.

Let the heavens rejoice and earth be glad,

let the sea and all within it thunder praise,

let the land and all it bears rejoice,

all the trees of the wood shout for joy

at the presence of the Lord for he comes,

he comes to rule the earth.

With justice he will rule the world,

he will judge the peoples with his truth.

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. O blessed cross, you alone were found worthy to bear the Lord and King of heaven, 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.

As Moses lifted up the serpent in the desert.

— So must the Son of Man be raised up.

READINGS

First reading

From the letter of the apostle Paul to the Galatians

2:19—3:7, 13-14; 6:14-16

The glory of the cross

It was through the law that I Paul, died to the law, to live for God. I have been crucified with Christ, and the life I live now is not my own; Christ is living in me. I still live my human life, but it is a life of faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. I will not treat God’s gracious gift as pointless. If justice is available through the law, then Christ died to no purpose!

You senseless Galatians! Who has cast a spell over you—you before whose eyes Jesus Christ was displayed to view upon his cross? I want to learn only one thing from you; how did you receive the Spirit? Was it through observance of the law or through faith in what you heard? How could you be so stupid? After beginning in the spirit, are you now to end in the flesh? Have you had such remarkable experiences all to no purpose—if indeed they were to no purpose? Is it because you observe the law or because you have faith in what you heard that God lavishes the Spirit on you and works wonders in your midst? Consider the case of Abraham: he “believed God, and it was credited to him as justice.” This means that those who believe are sons of Abraham.

Christ has delivered us from the power of the law’s curse by himself becoming a curse for us, as it is written: “Accursed is anyone who is hanged on a tree.” This has happened so that through Christ Jesus the blessing bestowed on Abraham might descend on the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, thereby making it possible for us to receive the promised Spirit through faith.

May I never boast of anything but the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ! Through it, the world has been crucified to me and I to the world. It means nothing whether one is circumcised or not. All that matters is that one is created anew. Peace and mercy on all who follow this rule of life, and on the Israel of God.

RESPONSORY See Galatians 6:14; Hebrews 2:9

We must glory in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ;

in him is our salvation, life and resurrection.

— Through him we are saved and set free.

Because he suffered death,

he is crowned with glory and honor.

— Through him we are saved and set free.

Second reading

From a discourse by Saint Andrew of Crete, bishop

The cross is Christ’s glory and triumph

We are celebrating the feast of the cross which drove away darkness and brought in the light. As we keep this feast, we are lifted up with the crucified Christ, leaving behind us earth and sin so that we may gain the things above. So great and outstanding a possession is the cross that he who wins it has won a treasure. Rightly could I call this treasure the fairest of all fair things and the costliest, in fact as well as in name, for on it and through it and for its sake the riches of salvation that had been lost were restored to us.

Had there been no cross, Christ could not have been crucified. Had there been no cross, life itself could not have been nailed to the tree. And if life had not been nailed to it, there would be no streams of immortality pouring from Christ’s side, blood and water for the world’s cleansing. The legal bond of our sin would not be cancelled, we should not have attained our freedom, we should not have enjoyed the fruit of the tree of life and the gates of paradise would not stand open. Had there been no cross, death would not have been trodden underfoot, nor hell despoiled.

Therefore, the cross is something wonderfully great and honorable. It is great because through the cross the many noble acts of Christ found their consummation—very many indeed, for both his miracles and his sufferings were fully rewarded with victory. The cross is honorable because it is both the sign of God’s suffering and the trophy of his victory. It stands for his suffering because on it he freely suffered unto death. But it is also his trophy because it was the means by which the devil was wounded and death conquered; the barred gates of hell were smashed, and the cross became the one common salvation of the whole world.

The cross is called Christ’s glory; it is saluted as his triumph. We recognize it as the cup he longed to drink and the climax of the sufferings he endured for our sake. As to the cross being Christ’s glory, listen to his words: Now is the Son of Man glorified, and in him God is glorified, and God will glorify him at once. And again: Father, glorify me with the glory I had with you before the world came to be. And once more: Father, glorify your name. Then a voice came from heaven: I have glorified it and I will glorify it again. Here he speaks of the glory that would accrue to him through the cross. And if you would understand that the cross is Christ’s triumph, hear what he himself also said: When I am lifted up, then I will draw all men to myself. Now you can see that the cross is Christ’s glory and triumph.

RESPONSORY

O glorious cross, your arms upheld the priceless ransom of captive mankind.

— Through you the world has been saved by the blood of the Lord.

Hail, O cross, consecrated by the body of Christ;

his members have made your wood more noble than precious pearls.

— Through you the world has been saved by the blood of the Lord.

TE DEUM

You are God: we praise you;

You are the Lord: we acclaim you;

You are the eternal Father:

All creation worships you.

To you all angels, all the powers of heaven,

Cherubim and Seraphim, sing in endless praise:

Holy, holy, holy, Lord, God of power and might,

heaven and earth are full of your glory.

The glorious company of apostles praise you.

The noble fellowship of prophets praise you.

The white-robed army of martyrs praise you.

Throughout the world the holy Church acclaims you:

Father, of majesty unbounded,

your true and only Son, worthy of all worship,

and the Holy Spirit, advocate and guide.

You, Christ, are the King of glory,

the eternal Son of the Father.

When you became man to set us free

you did not spurn the Virgin’s womb.

You overcame the sting of death,

and opened the kingdom of heaven to all believers.

You are seated at God’s right hand in glory.

We believe that you will come, and be our judge.

Come then, Lord, and help your people,

bought with the price of your own blood,

and bring us with your saints

to glory everlasting.

Save your people, Lord, and bless your inheritance.

— Govern and uphold them now and always.

Day by day we bless you.

— We praise your name for ever.

Keep us today, Lord, from all sin.

— Have mercy on us, Lord, have mercy.

Lord, show us your love and mercy,

— for we have put our trust in you.

In you, Lord, is our hope:

— And we shall never hope in vain.

CONCLUDING PRAYER

O God,

who willed that your Only Begotten Son

should undergo the Cross to save the human race,

grant, we pray, that we, who have known his mystery on earth,

may merit the grace of his redemption in heaven.

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.

Ribbon Placement:

Liturgy of the Hours Vol. IV:

Ordinary: 618

Proper of Saints: 1391

Psalms and canticle from Sunday, Week I, 652

Christian Prayer:

Ordinary: 689

Proper of Saints: 1254

Psalms and canticle from Sunday, Week I, 707

Morning Prayer for the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross

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
On a hill far away, stood an old rugged Cross

The emblem of suffering and shame

And I love that old Cross where the dearest and best

For a world of lost sinners was slain

So I’ll cherish the old rugged Cross

Till my trophies at last I lay down

I will cling to the old rugged Cross

And exchange it some day for a crown

So I’ll cherish the old rugged Cross

Till my trophies at last I lay down

I will cling to the old rugged Cross

And exchange it some day for a crown

And exchange it some day for a crown.

𝄞"Old Rugged Cross" by Bethany and Janice Juedes • Title: Old Rugged Cross; Text: George Bennard, 1913; Artists: Bethany and Janice Juedes; Used with permission.

PSALMODY

Ant. 1 To destroy the power of hell Christ died upon the cross; clothed in strength and glory, he triumphed over death.

Psalm 63:2-9

A soul thirsting for God

Whoever has left the darkness of sin yearns for God.

O God, you are my God, for you I long;

for you my soul is thirsting.

My body pines for you

like a dry, weary land without water.

So I gaze on you in the sanctuary

to see your strength and your glory.

For your love is better than life,

my lips will speak your praise.

So I will bless you all my life,

in your name I will lift up my hands.

My soul shall be filled as with a banquet,

my mouth shall praise you with joy.

On my bed I remember you.

On you I muse through the night

for you have been my help;

in the shadow of your wings I rejoice.

My soul clings to you;

your right hand holds me fast.

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. To destroy the power of hell Christ died upon the cross; clothed in strength and glory, he triumphed over death.

Ant. 2 The Lord hung upon the cross to wash away our sins in his own blood. How splendid is that blessed cross.

Canticle – Daniel 3:57-88, 56

Let all creatures praise the Lord

All you servants of the Lord, sing praise to him (Revelation 19:5).

Bless the Lord, all you works of the Lord.

Praise and exalt him above all forever.

Angels of the Lord, bless the Lord.

You heavens, bless the Lord,

All you waters above the heavens, bless the Lord.

All you hosts of the Lord, bless the Lord.

Sun and moon, bless the Lord.

Stars of heaven, bless the Lord.

Every shower and dew, bless the Lord.

All you winds, bless the Lord.

Fire and heat, bless the Lord.

Cold and chill, bless the Lord.

Dew and rain, bless the Lord.

Frost and chill, bless the Lord.

Ice and snow, bless the Lord.

Nights and days, bless the Lord.

Light and darkness, bless the Lord.

Lightnings and clouds, bless the Lord.

Let the earth bless the Lord.

Praise and exalt him above all forever.

Mountains and hills, bless the Lord.

Everything growing from the earth, bless the Lord.

You springs, bless the Lord.

Seas and rivers, bless the Lord.

You dolphins and all water creatures, bless the Lord.

All you birds of the air, bless the Lord.

All you beasts, wild and tame, bless the Lord.

You sons of men, bless the Lord.

O Israel, bless the Lord.

Praise and exalt him above all forever.

Priests of the Lord, bless the Lord.

Servants of the Lord, bless the Lord.

Spirits and souls of the just, bless the Lord.

Holy men of humble heart, bless the Lord.

Hananiah, Azariah, Mishael, bless the Lord.

Praise and exalt him above all forever.

Let us bless the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

Let us praise and exalt him above all for ever.

Blessed are you, Lord, in the firmament of heaven.

Praiseworthy and glorious and exalted above all for ever.

Ant. The Lord hung upon the cross to wash away our sins in his own blood. How splendid is that blessed cross.

Ant. 3 How radiant is that precious cross which brought us our salvation. In the cross we are victorious, through the cross we shall reign, by the cross all evil is destroyed, alleluia.

Psalm 149

The joy of God’s holy people

Let the sons of the Church, the children of the new people, rejoice in Christ, their King (Hesychius).

Sing a new song to the Lord,

his praise in the assembly of the faithful.

Let Israel rejoice in its maker,

let Zion’s sons exult in their king.

Let them praise his name with dancing

and make music with timbrel and harp.

For the Lord takes delight in his people.

He crowns the poor with salvation.

Let the faithful rejoice in their glory,

shout for joy and take their rest.

Let the praise of God be on their lips

and a two-edged sword in their hand,

to deal out vengeance to the nations

and punishment on all the peoples;

to bind their kings in chains

and their nobles in fetters of iron;

to carry out the sentence pre-ordained;

this honor is for all his faithful.

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. How radiant is that precious cross which brought us our salvation. In the cross we are victorious, through the cross we shall reign, by the cross all evil is destroyed, alleluia.

READING Hebrews 2:9-10

We see Jesus crowned with glory and honor because he suffered death, that through God’s gracious will he might taste death for the sake of all men. Indeed, it was fitting that when bringing many sons to glory God, for whom and through whom all things exist, should make their leader in the work of salvation perfect through suffering.

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

We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you.

— We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you.

By your holy cross you have redeemed the world.

— And we bless you.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit,

— We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you.

CANTICLE OF ZECHARIAH

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.

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. 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.

INTERCESSIONS

Let us pray with confidence to Christ who endured the cross to redeem us.

Save us through your cross, O Lord.

Son of God, you healed the people of Israel when they looked upon the bronze serpent,

— protect us this day from the deadly wound of sin.

Save us through your cross, O Lord.

Son of Man, just as Moses raised up the serpent in the desert, so you were lifted up on the cross in the sight of all the nations,

— raise us up to share in the triumph of your cross.

Save us through your cross, O Lord.

Only-begotten Son of the Father, you were sent into the world so that those who believe in you might not perish,

— grant unending life to all who long to see you face to face.

Save us through your cross, O Lord.

Beloved Son of the Father, you were not sent to judge the world but to save it,

— grant faith to our brothers and sisters and bring them on the last day to the joy of heaven.

Save us through your cross, O Lord.

Eternal Son of the Father, you came to cast fire on the earth and you longed to see its flame kindled in the hearts of all men,

— grant that through holiness of life we may come to share in the undying light of your glory.

Save us through your cross, O Lord.

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,

who willed that your Only Begotten Son

should undergo the Cross to save the human race,

grant, we pray, that we, who have known his mystery on earth,

may merit the grace of his redemption in heaven.

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.

Ribbon Placement:

Liturgy of the Hours Vol. IV:

Ordinary: 623

Proper of Saints: 1394

Complementary Psalmody: 1255 (Midmorning)

Midmorning Prayer the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, using 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 • 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 Save us, Christ our Saviour, by the power of your cross; you rescued Peter on the sea; have mercy on us.

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. Save us, Christ our Saviour, by the power of your cross; you rescued Peter on the sea; have mercy on us.

READING Hebrews 5:7-9

In the days when he was in the flesh, Christ offered prayers and supplications with loud cries and tears to God, who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverence. Son though he was, he learned obedience from what he suffered; and when perfected, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him.

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.

We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you.

— By your holy cross you have redeemed the world.

CONCLUDING PRAYER

O God,

who willed that your Only Begotten Son

should undergo the Cross to save the human race,

grant, we pray, that we, who have known his mystery on earth,

may merit the grace of his redemption in heaven.

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.

Ribbon Placement:

Liturgy of the Hours Vol. IV:

Ordinary: 623

Proper of Saints: 1395 (Midday)

Psalter: Monday, Week IV, 1118 (Midday)

Midday Prayer for the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, 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
O Lord my God! when I in awesome wonder

Consider all the works Thy hands have made,

I see the stars, I hear the mighty thunder,

Thy power throughout the universe displayed:

Then sings my soul, my Savior God, to Thee:

How great Thou art, how great Thou art!

Then sings my soul! my Savior God, to Thee:

How great Thou art, how great Thou art!

When through the woods and forest glades I wander

And hear the birds sing sweetly in the trees;

When I look down from lofty mountain grandeur

And hear the brook and feel the gentle breeze:

Then sings my soul, my Savior God, to Thee:

How great Thou art, how great Thou art!

Then sings my soul! my Savior God, to Thee:

How great Thou art, how great Thou art!

𝄞"How Great Thou Art" by Melinda Kirigin-Voss • Title: How Great Thou Art; "O Store Gud" by Carl Boberg (1859-1940); Translation: Stuart K. Hine in 1899; Tune: Old Swedish meody; Artist: Melinda Kirigin-Voss; Copyright Melinda Kirigin-Voss; Used with permission.

PSALMODY

Ant. 1 Save us, O Savior of the world. On the cross you redeemed us by the shedding of your blood; we cry out for your help, O God.

Psalm 119:129-136

XVII (Pe)

A meditation on God’s law

The whole law is summed up in love (Romans 13:10).

Your will is wonderful indeed;

therefore I obey it.

The unfolding of your word gives light

and teaches the simple.

I open my mouth and I sigh

as I yearn for your commands.

Turn and show me your mercy;

show justice to your friends.

Let my steps be guided by your promise;

let no evil rule me.

Redeem me from man’s oppression

and I will keep your precepts.

Let your face shine on your servant

and teach me your decrees.

Tears stream from my eyes

because your law is disobeyed.

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

You are just, Lord God, and righteous are your judgments. Deliver those who cry to you in their affliction; give them peace and calm to reflect on your commands.

Psalm 82

Denunciation of evil judges

Do not attempt to judge another now; the Lord’s coming will reveal all (1 Corinthians 4:5).

God stands in the divine assembly.

In the midst of the gods he gives judgment.

“How long will you judge unjustly

and favor the cause of the wicked?

Do justice for the weak and the orphan,

defend the afflicted and the needy.

Rescue the weak and the poor;

set them free from the hand of the wicked.

Unperceiving, they grope in the darkness

and the order of the world is shaken.

I have said to you: ‘You are gods,

and all of you, sons of the Most High.’

And yet, you shall die like men,

you shall fall like any of the princes.”

Arise, O God, judge the earth,

for you rule all the nations.

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

You are always true to your word, Father. Look down from heaven and put an end to our foolishness. Save us from groundless fears and help us to please you with undivided heart.

Psalm 120

Longing for peace

Be patient in suffering; persevere in prayer (Romans 12:12).

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-prayer

You declared peacemakers happy, Lord Jesus, since they will be called sons of God. Give us that peace which the world cannot give so that your Church may be freed from the schemes of arrogant men, and, devoted to works of peace, go forward joyfully to meet you, the King of Peace.

Ant. Save us, O Savior of the world. On the cross you redeemed us by the shedding of your blood; we cry out for your help, O God.

READING Ephesians 1:7-8

It is in Christ and through his blood that we have been redeemed and our sins forgiven, so immeasurably generous is God’s favor to us.

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.

Let the whole world worship you and sing your praises.

— Let everyone sing psalms to your name, O Lord.

CONCLUDING PRAYER

O God,

who willed that your Only Begotten Son

should undergo the Cross to save the human race,

grant, we pray, that we, who have known his mystery on earth,

may merit the grace of his redemption in heaven.

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.