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 the King of kings; on this day his Virgin Mother was taken up to heaven.

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 the King of kings; on this day his Virgin Mother was taken up to heaven.

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 the King of kings; on this day his Virgin Mother was taken up to heaven.

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 the King of kings; on this day his Virgin Mother was taken up to heaven.

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 the King of kings; on this day his Virgin Mother was taken up to heaven.

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 the King of kings; on this day his Virgin Mother was taken up to heaven.

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 the King of kings; on this day his Virgin Mother was taken up to heaven.

Ribbon Placement:

Liturgy of the Hours Vol. IV:

Ordinary: 615

Proper of Saints: 1318

Psalter from the Common of the Blessed Virgin Mary: 1630

Office of Readings for the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary

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
Ave Maria, gratia plena

Maria, gratia plena

Maria, gratia plena

Ave, ave dominus

Dominus tecum

Benedicta tu in mulieribus

Et benedictus

Et benedictus fructus ventris

Ventris tui, Jesus

Ave Maria!

Ave Maria Mater Dei

Ora pro nobis peccatoribus

Ora, ora pro nobis

Ora ora pro nobis peccatoribus

Nunc et in hora mortis

In hora mortis, nostrae

In hora mortis mortis nostrae

In hora mortis, nostrae

Ave Maria!

English Translation

Hail Mary, full of grace,

the Lord is with thee,

blessed art thou amongst women,

and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.

Holy Mary, Mother of God,

pray for us sinners,

now and at the hour of our death.

𝄞"Ave Maria" by Melinda Kirigin-Voss • Title: Ave Maria; Composer: Franz Schubert; Artist: Melinda Kirigin-Voss; Used with permission

PSALMODY

Ant. 1 Arise, O Virgin Queen, you are for ever worthy of our praise; take your place in the glorious dwelling place of the eternal king.

Psalm 24

The Lord’s entry into his temple

Christ opened heaven for us in the manhood he assumed (St. 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.

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 their neighbor.

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.

O gates, lift high your heads;

grow higher, ancient doors.

Let him enter, the king of glory!

Who is the king of glory?

The Lord, the mighty, the valiant,

the Lord, the valiant in war.

O gates, lift high your heads;

grow higher, ancient doors.

Let him enter, the king of glory!

Who is he, the king of glory?

He, the Lord of armies,

he is the king of glory.

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. Arise, O Virgin Queen, you are for ever worthy of our praise; take your place in the glorious dwelling place of the eternal king.

Ant. 2 The Lord has chosen her, his loved one from the beginning. He has taken her to live with him.

Psalm 46

God our refuge and strength

He shall be called Emmanuel, which means: God-with-us (Matthew 1:23).

God is for us a refuge and strength,

a helper close at hand, in time of distress,

so we shall not fear though the earth should rock,

though the mountains fall into the depths of the sea;

even though its waters rage and foam,

even though the mountains be shaken by its waves.

The Lord of hosts is with us:

the God of Jacob is our stronghold.

The waters of a river give joy to God’s city,

the holy place where the Most High dwells.

God is within, it cannot be shaken;

God will help it at the dawning of the day.

Nations are in tumult, kingdoms are shaken:

he lifts his voice, the earth shrinks away.

The Lord of hosts is with us:

the God of Jacob is our stronghold.

Come, consider the works of the Lord,

the redoubtable deeds he has done on the earth.

He puts an end to wars over all the earth;

the bow he breaks, the spear he snaps.

He burns the shields with fire.

“Be still and know that I am God,

supreme among the nations, supreme on the earth!”

The Lord of hosts is with us:

the God of Jacob is our stronghold.

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 has chosen her, his loved one from the beginning. He has taken her to live with him.

Ant. 3 Glorious things are said of you, O Virgin Mary.

Psalm 87

Jerusalem is mother of us all

The heavenly Jerusalem is a free woman; she is our mother (Galatians 4:26).

On the holy mountain is his city

cherished by the Lord.

The Lord prefers the gates of Zion

to all Jacob’s dwellings.

Of you are told glorious things,

O city of God!

“Babylon and Egypt I will count

among those who know me;

Philistia, Tyre, Ethiopia,

these will be her children

and Zion shall be called “Mother”

for all shall be her children.”

It is he, the Lord Most High,

who gives each his place.

In his register of peoples he writes:

“These are her children,”

and while they dance they will sing:

“In you all find their home.”

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. Glorious things are said of you, O Virgin Mary.

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.

Blessed are you, Mary, because you believed.

— The Lord’s words to you have been fulfilled.

READINGS

First reading

From the letter of the apostle Paul to the Ephesians

1:16-2:10

In Christ Jesus God has given us a seat in the heavenly places

I have never stopped thanking God for you and recommending you in my prayers. May the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, grant you a spirit of wisdom and insight to know him clearly. May he enlighten your innermost vision that you may know the great hope to which he has called you, the wealth of his glorious heritage to be distributed among the members of the church, and the immeasurable scope of his power in us who believe. It is like the strength he showed in raising Christ from the dead and seating him at his right hand in heaven, high above every principality, power, virtue, and domination, and every name that can be given in this age or in the age to come.

He has put all things under Christ’s feet and has made him, thus exalted, head of the church, which is his body: the fullness of him who fills the universe in all its parts.

You were dead because of your sins and offenses, as you gave allegiance to the present age and to the prince of the air, that spirit who is even now at work among the rebellious. All of us were once of their company; we lived at the level of the flesh, following every whim and fancy, and so by nature deserved God’s wrath like the rest.

But God is rich in mercy; because of his great love for us he brought us to life with Christ when we were dead in sin. By this favor you were saved. Both with and in Christ Jesus he raised us up and gave us a place in the heavens, that in the ages to come he might display the great wealth of his favor, manifested by his kindness to us in Christ Jesus.

I repeat, it is owing to his favor that salvation is yours through faith. This is not your own doing, it is God’s gift; neither is it a reward for anything you have accomplished, so let no one pride himself on it. We are truly his handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to lead the life of good deeds which God prepared for us in advance.

RESPONSORY

How lovely and beautiful are you, O Virgin Mary. You have left this world to be joined with Christ.

— Adorned with heavenly power you shine forth like the sun among the saints.

The angels rejoice, and the archangels sing your praises, O Virgin Mary.

— Adorned with heavenly power you shine forth like the sun among the saints.

Second reading

From the apostolic constitution Munificentissimus Deus by Pope Pius XII

Your body is holy and excelling in splendor

In their homilies and sermons on this feast the holy fathers and great doctors spoke of the assumption of the Mother of God as something already familiar and accepted by the faithful. They gave it greater clarity in their preaching and used more profound arguments in setting out its nature and meaning. Above all, they brought out more clearly the fact that what is commemorated in this feast is not simply the total absence of corruption from the dead body of the Blessed Virgin Mary but also her triumph over death and her glorification in heaven, after the pattern set by her only Son, Jesus Christ.

Thus Saint John Damascene, preeminent as the great preacher of this truth of tradition, speaks with powerful eloquence when he relates the bodily assumption of the loving Mother of God to her other gifts and privileges: “It was necessary that she who had preserved her virginity inviolate in childbirth should also have her body kept free from all corruption after death. It was necessary that she who had carried the Creator as a child on her breast should dwell in the tabernacles of God. It was necessary that the bride espoused by the Father should make her home in the bridal chambers of heaven. It was necessary that she, who had gazed on her crucified Son and been pierced in the heart by the sword of sorrow which she had escaped in giving him birth, should contemplate him seated with the Father. It was necessary that the Mother of God should share the possessions of her Son, and be venerated by every creature as the Mother and handmaid of God.”

Saint Germanus of Constantinople considered that it was in keeping not only with her divine motherhood but also with the unique sanctity of her virginal body that it was incorrupt and carried up to heaven: “In the words of Scripture, you appear in beauty. Your virginal body is entirely holy, entirely chaste, entirely the house of God, so that for this reason also it is henceforth a stranger to decay: a body changed, because a human body, to a preeminent life of incorruptibility, but still a living body, excelling in splendor, a body inviolate and sharing in the perfection of life.”

Another early author declares: “Therefore, as the most glorious Mother of Christ, our God and Savior, giver of life and immortality, she is enlivened by him to share an eternal incorruptibility of body with him who raised her from the tomb and took her up to himself in a way he alone can tell.”

All these reasonings and considerations of the holy Fathers rest on Scripture as their ultimate foundation. Scripture portrays the loving Mother of God, almost before our very eyes, as most intimately united with her divine Son and always sharing in his destiny.

Above all, it must be noted that from the second century the holy Fathers present the Virgin Mary as the new Eve, most closely associated with the new Adam, though subject to him in the struggle against the enemy from the nether world. This struggle, as the first promise of a redeemer implies, was to end in perfect victory over sin and death, always linked together in the writings of the Apostle of the Gentiles. Therefore, just as the glorious resurrection of Christ was an essential part of this victory and its final trophy, so the struggle shared by the Blessed Virgin and her Son was to end in glorification of her virginal body. As the same Apostle says: When this mortal body has clothed itself in immortality, then will be fulfilled the word of Scripture: Death is swallowed up in victory.

Hence, the august Mother of God, mysteriously united from all eternity with Jesus Christ in one and the same decree of predestination, immaculate in her conception, a virgin inviolate in her divine motherhood, the wholehearted companion of the divine Redeemer who won complete victory over sin and its consequences, gained at last the supreme crown of her privileges—to be preserved immune from the corruption of the tomb, and, like her Son, when death had been conquered, to be carried up body and soul to the exalted glory of heaven, there to sit in splendor at the right hand of her Son, the immortal King of the ages.

RESPONSORY

This is the glorious day, on which the Virgin Mother of God was taken up to heaven; let us sing these words in her praise:

— Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb.

Happy are you, holy Virgin Mary, and most worthy of all praise, from your womb Christ the Sun of Justice has risen.

— Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb.

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,

looking on the lowliness of the Blessed Virgin Mary,

raised her to this grace,

that your Only Begotten Son was born of her according to the flesh

and that she was crowned this day with surpassing glory,

grant through her prayers,

that, saved by the mystery of your redemption,

we may merit to be exalted by you on high.

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: 1323

Psalms and canticle from Sunday, Week I, 652

Christian Prayer:

Ordinary: 689

Proper of Saints: 1227

Psalms and canticle from Sunday, Week I, 707

Morning Prayer for the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary

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 glorious Lady, throned in rest,

Amidst the starry host above,

Who offered nurture from your breast

To God, with pure maternal love.

What we had lost through sinful Eve

The blossom sprung from you restores,

And granting bliss to souls that grieve,

Unbars the everlasting doors.

O Gate, through which hath passed the King,

O Hall, whence Light shone through the gloom;

The ransomed nations praise and sing

Life given from the Virgin womb.

All laud and honor be addressed,

O Jesus, Virgin-born, to you;

To Father and the Spirit blest

Be praised forever as is due. Amen.

𝄞"O Glorious Lady Throned in Rest" by Kathleen Lundquist, Sara Faux • Available for Purchase • Title: O Glorious Lady Throned in Rest; Text: John Mason Neale; Artist: Kathleen Lundquist; Accompaniment: Sara Faux; Recording copyright 2017 by Surgeworks, Inc. • Albums that contain this Hymn: Hymns and Chants of Divine Office, Vol. 1

PSALMODY

Ant. 1 Blessed are you, O Mary, for the world’s salvation came forth through you; now in glory, you rejoice for ever with the Lord.

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. Blessed are you, O Mary, for the world’s salvation came forth through you; now in glory, you rejoice for ever with the Lord.

Ant. 2 The Virgin Mary is exalted above the choirs of angels; let all believers rejoice and bless the Lord.

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 Virgin Mary is exalted above the choirs of angels; let all believers rejoice and bless the Lord.

Ant. 3 The Lord has made you so glorious that your praise will never cease to resound among men.

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. The Lord has made you so glorious that your praise will never cease to resound among men.

READING See Isaiah 61:10

I rejoice heartily in the Lord,

in my God is the joy of my soul;

For he has clothed me with a robe of salvation,

and wrapped me in a mantle of justice,

like a bride bedecked with her jewels.

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

Today the Virgin Mary was taken up to heaven.

— Today the Virgin Mary was taken up to heaven.

For all eternity she shares the victory of Christ.

— The Virgin Mary was taken up to heaven.

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

— Today the Virgin Mary was taken up to heaven.

CANTICLE OF ZECHARIAH

Ant. This daughter of Jerusalem is lovely and beautiful as she ascends to heaven like the rising sun at daybreak.

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. This daughter of Jerusalem is lovely and beautiful as she ascends to heaven like the rising sun at daybreak.

INTERCESSIONS

Let us glorify our Savior, who chose the Virgin Mary for his mother. Let us ask him:

May your mother intercede for us, Lord.

Eternal Word, you chose Mary as the uncorrupted ark of your dwelling place,

— free us from the corruption of sin.

May your mother intercede for us, Lord.

You are our redeemer, who made the immaculate Virgin Mary your purest home and the sanctuary of the Holy Spirit,

— make us temples of your Spirit for ever.

May your mother intercede for us, Lord.

King of kings, you lifted up your mother, body and soul, into heaven,

— help us to fix our thoughts on things above.

May your mother intercede for us, Lord.

Lord of heaven and earth, you crowned Mary and set her at your right hand as queen,

— make us worthy to share this glory.

May your mother intercede for us, 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,

looking on the lowliness of the Blessed Virgin Mary,

raised her to this grace,

that your Only Begotten Son was born of her according to the flesh

and that she was crowned this day with surpassing glory,

grant through her prayers,

that, saved by the mystery of your redemption,

we may merit to be exalted by you on high.

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

Complementary Psalmody: 1254 (Midmorning)

Proper of Saints: 1325 (antiphon, reading)

Midmorning Prayer for the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, using the 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
Hail holy Queen mother of mercy,

our life, our sweetness, our hope

To thee do we cry, poor banished

children of Eve, to thee do we send

up our sighs, mourning and weeping

in this valley, of tears.

Turn, then, most gracious advocate,

thine eyes of mercy toward us;

and after this our exile

show unto us the blessed fruit of thy womb Jesus;

O clement, O loving, O sweet virgin Mary.

Pray for us, O holy Mother of God

That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

Hail holy Queen mother of mercy,

Hail holy Queen mother of mercy.

𝄞"Hail Holy Queen" by Anthony Carnesi • Title: Hail Holy Queen; Text: Anthony Carnesi (1948-2005), Inspired by the writings of Luisa Piccarreta; Music: Anthony Carnesi; Artist: Anthony Carnesi; (c) Margaret J Van Nostrand; Used with permission.

PSALMODY

Ant. 1 Holy Mother of God, you were raised up like a cedar of Lebanon, like a cypress on Mount Zion.

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 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.

Ant. Holy Mother of God, you were raised up like a cedar of Lebanon, like a cypress on Mount Zion.

READING Judith 13:17b, 18a

Blessed are you, our God, who today have brought to nought the enemies of your people. Blessed are you, daughter, by the Most High God, above all the women on earth.

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.

Mary has been taken up to heaven; the angels rejoice.

— They bless the Lord and sing his praises.

CONCLUDING PRAYER

O God, who,

looking on the lowliness of the Blessed Virgin Mary,

raised her to this grace,

that your Only Begotten Son was born of her according to the flesh

and that she was crowned this day with surpassing glory,

grant through her prayers,

that, saved by the mystery of your redemption,

we may merit to be exalted by you on high.

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: 1325 (Midday)

Psalter: 1257 (Complementary Psalmody, Series II, Midday)

Midday Prayer for the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, using the 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
My soul doth magnify the Lord

and my spirit rejoiced in God my Saviour.

For he hath regarded the lowliness of his handmaiden.

For behold, from henceforth

all generations shall call me blessed.

For he that is mighty hath magnified me

and holy is his Name.

And his mercy is on them that fear him

throughout all generations.

He hath shewed strength with his arm

he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.

in the imagination of their hearts.

He hath put down the mighty from their seat

and hath exalted the humble and meek.

He hath filled the hungry with good things

and the rich he hath sent empty away.

He remembering his mercy hath helped his servant Israel

as he promised to our forefathers, Abraham and his seed for ever.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Ghost;

as it was in the beginning is now and ever shall be,

ever shall be, ever shall be, world without end. Amen. Amen.

𝄞"Magnificat" by Kathleen Lundquist • Title: Magnificat; Text: based on Luke 1:46-55; Artist: Kathleen Lundquist; visit and thank Kathleen at http://www.mystagogia.net; Divineoffice.org offers a special thank you to her for all her wonderful music we use!

PSALMODY

Ant. We acclaim you, Mary, as Queen of heaven; the Sun of Justice came forth from your bridal chamber.

Psalm 123

To you have I lifted up my eyes,

you who dwell in the heavens;

my eyes, like the eyes of slaves

on the hand of their lords.

Like the eyes of a servant

on the hand of her mistress,

so our eyes are on the Lord our God

till he show us his mercy.

Have mercy on us, Lord, have mercy.

We are filled with contempt.

Indeed all too full is our soul

with the scorn of the rich,

with the proud man’s disdain.

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 124

If the Lord had not been on our side,

this is Israel’s song.

If the Lord had not been on our side

when men rose up against us,

then would they have swallowed us alive

when their anger was kindled.

Then would the waters have engulfed us,

the torrent gone over us;

over our head would have swept

the raging waters.

Blessed be the Lord who did not give us

a prey to their teeth!

Our life, like a bird, has escaped

from the snare of the fowler.

Indeed the snare has been broken

and we have escaped.

Our help is in the name of the Lord,

who made heaven and 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.

Psalm 125

Those who put their trust in the Lord

are like Mount Zion, that cannot be shaken,

that stands for ever.

Jerusalem! The mountains surround her,

so the Lord surrounds his people

both now and for ever.

For the scepter of the wicked shall not rest

over the land of the just

for fear that the hands of the just

should turn to evil.

Do good, Lord, to those who are good,

to the upright of heart;

but the crooked and those who do evil,

drive them away!

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.

Ant. We acclaim you, Mary, as Queen of heaven; the Sun of Justice came forth from your bridal chamber.

READING Revelation 12:1

A great sign appeared in the sky, a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars.

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.

The holy Mother of God is exalted in glory.

— Above the choir of angels in the kingdom of heaven.

CONCLUDING PRAYER

O God, who,

looking on the lowliness of the Blessed Virgin Mary,

raised her to this grace,

that your Only Begotten Son was born of her according to the flesh

and that she was crowned this day with surpassing glory,

grant through her prayers,

that, saved by the mystery of your redemption,

we may merit to be exalted by you on high.

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.