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Morning Prayer (Lauds)

If this is the first Hour that you are reciting today, you should precede it with the Invitatory Psalm.

Based on the liturgy for the Common of One Priest.

INTRODUCTION

O God, come to our aid.

O Lord, make haste to help us.

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. Alleluia.

Hymn

Who are these like stars appearing,

these, before God’s throne who stand?

Each a golden crown is wearing;

who are all this glorious band?

Alleluia! Hark, they sing,

praising loud their heavenly King.

Who are these of dazzling brightness,

clothed in God’s own righteousness?

These, whose robes of purest whiteness,

shall their lustre still possess,

still untouched by time’s rude hand?

Whence came all this glorious band?

These are they who have contended

for their Saviour’s honour long,

wrestling on till life was ended,

following not the sinful throng;

these who well the fight sustained,

triumph through the Lamb have gained.

These are they whose hearts were riven,

sore with woe and anguish tried,

who in prayer full oft have striven

with the God they glorified;

now, their painful conflict o’er,

God has bid them weep no more.

These, the Almighty contemplating,

did as priests before him stand,

soul and body always waiting

day and night at his command:

now in God’s most holy place

blest they stand before his face.

Psalm 118 (119): 145-152

You, O Lord, are close; your ways are truth.

I call on you with all my heart –

answer me, Lord.

I will obey your laws.

I call on you –

save me

so that I can keep your decrees.

At first light I cry to you,

I put all my hope in your word.

In the night I keep watch,

pondering your sayings.

In your mercy, Lord, hear my voice;

in your justice, give me life.

My persecutors come to do me harm:

they are far from your law.

But you, Lord, are near to me,

and you are trustworthy in all your precepts.

From the beginning I have known your decrees,

how you have made them to last 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.

You, O Lord, are close; your ways are truth.

How to listen

Canticle	Wisdom 9

Lord, give me wisdom

Lord, let your wisdom be with me to help me and to work with me.

God of my fathers and Lord of mercy,

who made all things by your word;

who in your wisdom set man to rule over all that you created

– to arrange the world in holiness and justice

– to make right judgements according to the guidance of his heart:

give me Wisdom, who stands by your throne,

and let me not be unworthy to be your servant.

For I am your slave and the son of your servant-girl,

a man, weak, short-lived,

slow to understand your judgements and laws.

Even the highest of the children of men

– if your wisdom is absent – counts for nothing.

With you abides Wisdom, who knows your works.

She was with you when you made the world.

She knew what was pleasing to your eyes.

She saw what was right according to your precepts.

Send your Wisdom from the highest heaven;

send her from the throne of your greatness;

that she may abide with me and work with me,

so that I may know what it is that pleases you.

For Wisdom knows everything, and understands;

she will lead me wisely in what I do,

and protect me in her glory.

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.

Lord, let your wisdom be with me to help me and to work with me.

Psalm 116 (117)
Praise of the merciful Lord

The truth of the Lord will stand firm for ever.

Praise the Lord, all nations; all peoples, praise him.

For his mercy is strong over us and his faithfulness 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.

The truth of the Lord will stand firm for ever.

Scripture Reading	Hebrews 13:7-9

Remember your leaders, who preached the word of God to you, and as you reflect on the outcome of their lives, imitate their faith. Jesus Christ is the same today as he was yesterday and as he will be for ever. Do not let yourselves be led astray by all sorts of strange doctrines.

Short Responsory

I placed watchmen on your towers, Jerusalem.

– I placed watchmen on your towers, Jerusalem.

They will never cease to tell of the name of the Lord, by day and by night.

– I placed watchmen on your towers, Jerusalem.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.

– I placed watchmen on your towers, Jerusalem.

Canticle	Benedictus

The Messiah and his forerunner

It is not you who speak: the Spirit of your Father speaks in you.

Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel,

for he has come to his people and brought about their redemption.

He has raised up the sign of salvation

in the house of his servant David,

as he promised through the mouth of the holy ones,

his prophets through the ages:

to rescue us from our enemies

and all who hate us,

to take pity on our fathers,

to remember his holy covenant

and the oath he swore to Abraham our father,

that he would give himself to us,

that we could serve him without fear

– freed from the hands of our enemies –

in uprightness and holiness before him,

for all of our days.

And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High:

for you will go before the face of the Lord to prepare his path,

to let his people know their salvation,

so that their sins may be forgiven.

Through the bottomless mercy of our God,

one born on high will visit us

to give light to those who walk in darkness,

who live in the shadow of death;

to lead our feet in the path of peace.

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.

It is not you who speak: the Spirit of your Father speaks in you.

Prayers and intercessions

Christ, the good shepherd, laid down his life for his sheep. Let us praise him with grateful hearts, as we pray: