Office of Readings

If you have already recited the Invitatory Psalm today, you should use the alternative opening.

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

Let us listen for the Lord’s voice, so that we can reach his place of rest.

The Lord’s is the earth and its fullness, the world and all who live in it.
He himself founded it upon the seas and set it firm over the waters.

Let us listen for the Lord’s voice, so that we can reach his place of rest.

Who will climb the mountain of the Lord? Who will stand in his holy place?
The one who is innocent of wrongdoing and pure of heart,
who has not given himself to vanities or sworn falsely.
He will receive the blessing of the Lord and be justified by God his saviour.
This is the way of those who seek him, seek the face of the God of Jacob.

Let us listen for the Lord’s voice, so that we can reach his place of rest.

Gates, raise your heads. Stand up, eternal doors, and let the king of glory enter.
Who is the king of glory?
The Lord of might and power. The Lord, strong in battle.

Let us listen for the Lord’s voice, so that we can reach his place of rest.

Gates, raise your heads. Stand up, eternal doors, and let the king of glory enter.
Who is the king of glory?
The Lord of hosts – he is the king of glory

Let us listen for the Lord’s voice, so that we can reach his place of rest.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,
as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,
world without end.
Amen.

A suitable hymn may be inserted at this point.

Psalm 135 (136)
A paschal hymn
Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his love is for ever. Give thanks to the God of gods, for his love is for ever. Give thanks to the Lord of lords, for his love is for ever. He alone works wonders, for his love is for ever. In his wisdom he made the heavens, for his love is for ever. He set the Earth upon the waters, for his love is for ever. He created the great lights, for his love is for ever. The sun, to rule over the day, for his love is for ever. The moon and stars, to rule over the night, for his love is for ever. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

Psalm 135 (136)

A paschal hymn

Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good,
for his love is for ever.
Give thanks to the God of gods,
for his love is for ever.
Give thanks to the Lord of lords,
for his love is for ever.

He alone works wonders,
for his love is for ever.
In his wisdom he made the heavens,
for his love is for ever.
He set the Earth upon the waters,
for his love is for ever.
He created the great lights,
for his love is for ever.
The sun, to rule over the day,
for his love is for ever.
The moon and stars, to rule over the night,
for his love is for ever.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,
as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,
world without end.
Amen.

Psalm 135 (136)
He struck down the first-born of Egypt, for his love is for ever. He led Israel out from their midst, for his love is for ever. With a strong hand and an outstretched arm, for his love is for ever. He divided the Red Sea in two, for his love is for ever. He led Israel out through the sea, for his love is for ever. He overthrew Pharaoh and his army, for his love is for ever. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

Psalm 135 (136)

He struck down the first-born of Egypt,
for his love is for ever.
He led Israel out from their midst,
for his love is for ever.
With a strong hand and an outstretched arm,
for his love is for ever.

He divided the Red Sea in two,
for his love is for ever.
He led Israel out through the sea,
for his love is for ever.
He overthrew Pharaoh and his army,
for his love is for ever.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,
as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,
world without end.
Amen.

Psalm 135 (136)
He led his people through the wilderness, for his love is for ever. He struck down great kings, for his love is for ever. Sihon, king of the Amorites, for his love is for ever. And Og, the king of Bashan, for his love is for ever. He gave their land to his people, for his love is for ever. A heritage for Israel his servant, for his love is for ever. He remembered us in our affliction, for his love is for ever. He rescued us from our enemies, for his love is for ever. He gives food to all creatures that live, for his love is for ever. Give thanks to the God of heaven, for his love is for ever. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

Psalm 135 (136)

He led his people through the wilderness,
for his love is for ever.
He struck down great kings,
for his love is for ever.
Sihon, king of the Amorites,
for his love is for ever.
And Og, the king of Bashan,
for his love is for ever.

He gave their land to his people,
for his love is for ever.
A heritage for Israel his servant,
for his love is for ever.

He remembered us in our affliction,
for his love is for ever.
He rescued us from our enemies,
for his love is for ever.
He gives food to all creatures that live,
for his love is for ever.

Give thanks to the God of heaven,
for his love is for ever.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,
as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,
world without end.
Amen.

Reading	Proverbs 31:10 - 31 ©
A perfect wife – who can find her? She is far beyond the price of pearls. Her husband’s heart has confidence in her, from her he will derive no little profit. Advantage and not hurt she brings him all the days of her life. She is always busy with wool and with flax, she does her work with eager hands. She is like a merchant vessel bringing her food from far away. She gets up while it is still dark giving her household their food, giving orders to her serving girls. She sets her mind on a field, then she buys it; with what her hands have earned she plants a vineyard. She puts her back into her work and shows how strong her arms can be. She finds her labour well worth while; her lamp does not go out at night. She sets her hands to the distaff, her fingers grasp the spindle. She holds out her hand to the poor, she opens her arms to the needy. Snow may come, she has no fears for her household, with all her servants warmly clothed. She makes her own quilts, she is dressed in fine linen and purple. Her husband is respected at the city gates, taking his seat among the elders of the land. She weaves linen sheets and sells them, she supplies the merchant with sashes. She is clothed in strength and dignity, she can laugh at the days to come. When she opens her mouth, she does so wisely; on her tongue is kindly instruction. She keeps good watch on the conduct of her household, no bread of idleness for her. Her sons stand up and proclaim her blessed, her husband, too, sings her praises: ‘Many women have done admirable things, but you surpass them all!’ Charm is deceitful, and beauty empty; the woman who is wise is the one to praise. Give her a share in what her hands have worked for, and let her works tell her praises at the city gates.

Reading

A perfect wife – who can find her?
She is far beyond the price of pearls.

Her husband’s heart has confidence in her,
from her he will derive no little profit.

Advantage and not hurt she brings him
all the days of her life.

She is always busy with wool and with flax,
she does her work with eager hands.

She is like a merchant vessel
bringing her food from far away.

She gets up while it is still dark
giving her household their food,
giving orders to her serving girls.

She sets her mind on a field, then she buys it;
with what her hands have earned she plants a vineyard.

She puts her back into her work
and shows how strong her arms can be.

She finds her labour well worth while;
her lamp does not go out at night.

She sets her hands to the distaff,
her fingers grasp the spindle.

She holds out her hand to the poor,
she opens her arms to the needy.

Snow may come, she has no fears for her household,
with all her servants warmly clothed.

She makes her own quilts,
she is dressed in fine linen and purple.

Her husband is respected at the city gates,
taking his seat among the elders of the land.

She weaves linen sheets and sells them,
she supplies the merchant with sashes.

She is clothed in strength and dignity,
she can laugh at the days to come.

When she opens her mouth, she does so wisely;
on her tongue is kindly instruction.

She keeps good watch on the conduct of her household,
no bread of idleness for her.

Her sons stand up and proclaim her blessed,
her husband, too, sings her praises:

‘Many women have done admirable things,
but you surpass them all!’

Charm is deceitful, and beauty empty;
the woman who is wise is the one to praise.

Give her a share in what her hands have worked for,
and let her works tell her praises at the city gates.

Reading	An address by Pope Pius XII to newly married couples
The wife - the radiant sun of the family
The family is illuminated by its own radiant sun, which is the wife. Of her Scripture says, with feeling: The grace of a wife will charm her husband, her accomplishments will make him the stronger. A silent wife is a gift from the Lord, no price can be put on a well-trained character. A modest wife is a boon twice over, a chaste character cannot be weighed on scales. Like the sun rising over the mountains of the Lord is the beauty of a good wife in a well-kept house. The wife and mother is indeed like the sun shining in the family. She shines by her generosity and the way she gives herself to others. She shines by her alertness and watchfulness and by her wise and gentle providing of all that can give joy to her husband and children. She radiates light and warmth. A marriage will prosper if each partner goes into it not for his own happiness but the other’s happiness – but although it belongs to both partners, this emotion, this goal is particularly a quality of the woman. Her very nature as a mother entails it. Her wisdom and prudence mean that even if she encounters troubles she will respond to them with joy; if she is belittled, she will respond with unaltered dignity and respect. She is like the sun that brightens a cloudy morning with the dawn; the sun that illuminates the shower-clouds at dusk. The wife is like the sun shining in the family with the brightness of her glance and the ardour of her speech. Her looks and words enter into the souls of her family, softening them, touching them, raising them up from the tumult of emotion. They recall her husband to joy in good things and delight in family life after his uninterrupted and often heavy work of the day, whether in an office, in the fields, in trade or in industry. The wife is like the sun shining in the family by her unforced, transparent sincerity, by her simple dignity, by her decent Christian behaviour; by her inward thoughts and her upright heart; and also by the appropriateness of her dress and bearing, adorned by her open and honest way of life. Subtle signs of feeling, shades of expression, silences and unmalicious smiles, little nods of approval – all these give her the grace of an exquisite but simple flower opening its petals to reflect the colours of sunlight. If only you could know the full depth of the feelings of love and gratitude that such a perfect wife and mother inspires in her husband and children!

Reading

An address by Pope Pius XII to newly married couples

The wife - the radiant sun of the family

The family is illuminated by its own radiant sun, which is the wife. Of her Scripture says, with feeling:
The grace of a wife will charm her husband,
her accomplishments will make him the stronger.
A silent wife is a gift from the Lord,
no price can be put on a well-trained character.
A modest wife is a boon twice over,
a chaste character cannot be weighed on scales.
Like the sun rising over the mountains of the Lord
is the beauty of a good wife in a well-kept house.
The wife and mother is indeed like the sun shining in the family. She shines by her generosity and the way she gives herself to others. She shines by her alertness and watchfulness and by her wise and gentle providing of all that can give joy to her husband and children. She radiates light and warmth.
A marriage will prosper if each partner goes into it not for his own happiness but the other’s happiness – but although it belongs to both partners, this emotion, this goal is particularly a quality of the woman. Her very nature as a mother entails it. Her wisdom and prudence mean that even if she encounters troubles she will respond to them with joy; if she is belittled, she will respond with unaltered dignity and respect. She is like the sun that brightens a cloudy morning with the dawn; the sun that illuminates the shower-clouds at dusk.
The wife is like the sun shining in the family with the brightness of her glance and the ardour of her speech. Her looks and words enter into the souls of her family, softening them, touching them, raising them up from the tumult of emotion. They recall her husband to joy in good things and delight in family life after his uninterrupted and often heavy work of the day, whether in an office, in the fields, in trade or in industry.
The wife is like the sun shining in the family by her unforced, transparent sincerity, by her simple dignity, by her decent Christian behaviour; by her inward thoughts and her upright heart; and also by the appropriateness of her dress and bearing, adorned by her open and honest way of life. Subtle signs of feeling, shades of expression, silences and unmalicious smiles, little nods of approval – all these give her the grace of an exquisite but simple flower opening its petals to reflect the colours of sunlight.
If only you could know the full depth of the feelings of love and gratitude that such a perfect wife and mother inspires in her husband and children!

Concluding Prayer
Lord, it is your desire to dwell in humble and sincere hearts. Give us your grace and make us a fit habitation for you. 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.

May 2008
Fri 16	Friday of week 6 of the year
Sat 17
Sun 18	The Most Holy Trinity Solemnity
Mon 19	Monday of week 7 of the year
Tue 20	Tuesday of week 7 of the year or Saint Bernardine of Siena, priest
Wed 21	Wednesday of week 7 of the year or Saint Christopher Magallanes and his Companions, Martyrs
Thu 22	Corpus Christi Solemnity
Fri 23

Calendar used: General Calendar

Scripture readings taken from the Jerusalem Bible, published and copyright © 1966, 1967 and 1968 by Darton, Longman & Todd, Ltd and Doubleday, a division of Random House, Inc, and used by permission of the publishers. For on-line information about other Random House, Inc. books and authors, see the Internet web site at http://www.randomhouse.com.

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