Office of Readings
INVITATORY
The Invitatory is said when this is the first ‘hour’ of the day.
Go to the Hymn
Go to the Psalmody
Lord, + open my lips.
– And my mouth will proclaim your praise.
Ant. Come, let us worship Christ the Lord, who for our sake endured temptation and suffering.
The antiphon is repeated. In individual recitation, the antiphon may be said only at the beginning of the psalm; it need not be repeated after each strophe.
Go to Psalm 24
Go to Psalm 67
Go to Psalm 100
Psalm 95
A call to praise God
Encourage each other daily while it is still today (Hebrews 3:13).
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 Lord, who for our sake endured temptation and suffering.
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 Lord, who for our sake endured temptation and suffering.
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 Lord, who for our sake endured temptation and suffering.
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 Lord, who for our sake endured temptation and suffering.
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 Lord, who for our sake endured temptation and suffering.
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 Lord, who for our sake endured temptation and suffering.
Go to the Hymn
Psalm 24
The Lord’s entry into his temple
Christ opened heaven for us in the manhood he assumed (Saint 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.
Ant. Come, let us worship Christ the Lord, who for our sake endured temptation and suffering.
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 his neighbor.
Ant. Come, let us worship Christ the Lord, who for our sake endured temptation and suffering.
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.
Ant. Come, let us worship Christ the Lord, who for our sake endured temptation and suffering.
O gates, lift high your heads; †
grow higher, ancient doors. *
Let him enter, the king of glory!
Ant. Come, let us worship Christ the Lord, who for our sake endured temptation and suffering.
Who is the king of glory? †
The Lord, the mighty, the valiant, *
the Lord, the valiant in war.
Ant. Come, let us worship Christ the Lord, who for our sake endured temptation and suffering.
O gates, lift high your heads; †
grow higher, ancient doors. *
Let him enter, the king of glory!
Ant. Come, let us worship Christ the Lord, who for our sake endured temptation and suffering.
Who is he, the king of glory? †
He, the Lord of armies, *
he is the king of glory.
Ant. Come, let us worship Christ the Lord, who for our sake endured temptation and suffering.
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 Lord, who for our sake endured temptation and suffering.
Go to the Hymn
Psalm 67
People of all nations will worship the Lord
You must know that God is offering his salvation to all the world (Acts 28:28).
O God, be gracious and bless us *
and let your face shed its light upon us.
So will your ways be known upon earth *
and all nations learn your saving help.
Ant. Come, let us worship Christ the Lord, who for our sake endured temptation and suffering.
Let the peoples praise you, O God; *
let all the peoples praise you.
Ant. Come, let us worship Christ the Lord, who for our sake endured temptation and suffering.
Let the nations be glad and exult *
for you rule the world with justice.
With fairness you rule the peoples, *
you guide the nations on earth.
Ant. Come, let us worship Christ the Lord, who for our sake endured temptation and suffering.
Let the peoples praise you, O God; *
let all the peoples praise you.
Ant. Come, let us worship Christ the Lord, who for our sake endured temptation and suffering.
The earth has yielded its fruit *
for God, our God, has blessed us.
May God still give us his blessing *
till the ends of the earth revere him.
Ant. Come, let us worship Christ the Lord, who for our sake endured temptation and suffering.
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 Lord, who for our sake endured temptation and suffering.
Go to the Hymn
Psalm 100
The joyful song of those entering God’s temple
The Lord calls his ransomed people to sing songs of victory (Saint Athanasius).
Cry out with joy to the Lord, all the earth. †
Serve the Lord with gladness. *
Come before him, singing for joy.
Ant. Come, let us worship Christ the Lord, who for our sake endured temptation and suffering.
Know that he, the Lord, is God. †
He made us, we belong to him, *
we are his people, the sheep of his flock.
Ant. Come, let us worship Christ the Lord, who for our sake endured temptation and suffering.
Go within his gates, giving thanks. †
Enter his courts with songs of praise. *
Give thanks to him and bless his name.
Ant. Come, let us worship Christ the Lord, who for our sake endured temptation and suffering.
Indeed, how good is the Lord, †
eternal his merciful love. *
He is faithful from age to age.
Ant. Come, let us worship Christ the Lord, who for our sake endured temptation and suffering.
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 Lord, who for our sake endured temptation and suffering.
If the Invitatory is not said, then the following is used:
God, + come to my assistance.
– Lord, make haste to help me.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:
– as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen.
HYMN
Hail, Redeemer, King divine!
Priest and Lamb, the throne is thine;
King whose reign shall never cease,
Prince of everlasting peace
Refrain:
Angels, saints, and nations sing:
“Praise be Jesus Christ, our King;
Lord of earth and sky and sea,
King of love on Calvary.”
Christ, thou King of truth and might,
Be to us eternal light,
Till in peace each nation rings
With thy praises, King of kings.
Refrain:
Angels, saints, and nations sing:
“Praise be Jesus Christ, our King;
Lord of earth and sky and sea,
King of love on Calvary.”
Tune: Hail Redeemer 77.77 with Refrain
Music: Charles Rigby, 1902-1962
Text: P. Brennan, C.SS.R., alt.
PSALMODY
Ant. 1 Lord, our God, in splendor and majesty you are clothed, wrapped in light as in a robe.
Psalm 104
Hymn to God the Creator
To be in Christ means being a completely new creature. Everything of the old is gone, now everything is made anew (2 Corinthians 5:17).
I
Bless the Lord, my soul! *
Lord God, how great you are,
clothed in majesty and glory, *
wrapped in light as in a robe!
You stretch out the heavens like a tent. *
Above the rains you build your dwelling.
You make the clouds your chariot, *
you walk on the wings of the wind,
you make the winds your messengers *
and flashing fire your servants.
You founded the earth on its base, *
to stand firm from age to age.
You wrapped it with the ocean like a cloak: *
the waters stood higher than the mountains.
At your threat they took to flight; *
at the voice of your thunder they fled.
They rose over the mountains and flowed down *
to the place which you had appointed.
You set limits they might not pass *
lest they return to cover the earth.
You make springs gush forth in the valleys: *
they flow in between the hills.
They give drink to all the beasts of the field; *
the wild asses quench their thirst.
On their banks dwell the birds of heaven; *
from the branches they sing their song.
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. Lord, our God, in splendor and majesty you are clothed, wrapped in light as in a robe.
Ant. 2 The Lord has brought forth bread from the earth, and wine to give warmth to men’s hearts.
II
From your dwelling you water the hills; *
earth drinks its fill of your gift.
You make the grass grow for the cattle *
and the plants to serve man’s needs,
that he may bring forth bread from the earth *
and wine to cheer man’s heart;
oil, to make his face shine *
and bread to strengthen man’s heart.
The trees of the Lord drink their fill, *
the cedars he planted on Lebanon;
there the birds build their nests; *
on the tree-top the stork has her home.
The goats find a home on the mountains *
and rabbits hide in the rocks.
You made the moon to mark the months; *
the sun knows the time for its setting.
When you spread the darkness it is night *
and all the beasts of the forest creep forth.
The young lions roar for their prey *
and ask their food from God.
At the rising of the sun they steal away *
and go to rest in their dens.
Man goes forth to his work, *
to labor till evening falls.
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 brought forth bread from the earth, and wine to give warmth to men’s hearts.
Ant. 3 The Lord looked upon all he had made and saw that it was very good.
III
How many are your works, O Lord! †
In wisdom you have made them all. *
The earth is full of your riches.
There is the sea, vast and wide, †
with its moving swarms past counting, *
living things great and small.
The ships are moving there *
and the monsters you made to play with.
All of these look to you *
to give them their food in due season.
You give it, they gather it up: *
you open your hand, they have their fill.
You hide your face, they are dismayed; †
you take back your spirit, they die, *
returning to the dust from which they came.
You send forth your spirit, they are created; *
and you renew the face of the earth.
May the glory of the Lord last for ever! *
May the Lord rejoice in his works!
He looks on the earth and it trembles; *
the mountains send forth smoke at his touch.
I will sing to the Lord all my life, *
make music to my God while I live.
May my thoughts be pleasing to him. *
I find my joy in the Lord.
Let sinners vanish from the earth *
and the wicked exist no more.
Bless the Lord, my soul.
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
Father, as you made springs in valleys to form streams between mountains, so you made living streams of grace flow from the apostles that their teaching may bring salvation to all the nations. May we have a practical knowledge of their doctrine, be obedient to their commands, obtain remission of sins through their prayers, and finally receive the reward of eternal happiness.
Ant. The Lord looked upon all he had made and saw that it was very good.
When I am lifted up from the earth.
– I will draw all people to myself.
READINGS
FIRST READING
From the letter to the Hebrews
10:1-18
We are sanctified through the offering of Christ
Since the law had only a shadow of the good things to come, and no real image of them, it was never able to perfect the worshipers by the same sacrifices offered continually year after year. Were matters otherwise, the priests would have stopped offering them, for the worshipers, once cleansed, would have had no sin on their conscience. But through those sacrifices there came only a yearly recalling of sins, because it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take sins away. Wherefore, on coming into the world, Jesus said:
“Sacrifice and offering you did not desire,
but a body you have prepared for me;
Holocausts and sin offerings you took no delight in.
Then I said, ‘As is written of me in the book,
I have come to do your will, O God.’”
First he says,
“Sacrifices and offerings, holocausts and sin offerings,
you neither desired nor delighted in.”
(These are offered according to the prescriptions of the law.) Then he says,
“I have come to do your will.”
In other words, he takes away the first covenant to establish the second.
By his “will,” we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. Every other priest stands ministering day by day, and offering again and again those same sacrifices which can never take away sins. But Jesus offered the one sacrifice for sins and took his seat forever at the right hand of God; now he waits until his enemies are placed beneath his feet. By one offering he has forever perfected those who are being sanctified. The Holy Spirit attests this to us, for after saying,
“This is the covenant I will make with them
after those days, says the Lord:
I will put my laws in their hearts
and I will write them on their minds,”
he also says,
“Their sins and their transgressions
I will remember no more.”
Once these have been forgiven, there is no further offering for sin.
RESPONSORY
Hebrews 10:5, 6, 7, 4 (Psalm 40:7-8)
Sacrifice and offerings you did not desire,
but you prepared a body for me.
Burnt offerings for sin could not please you.
So I said:
– Here I am, Lord God, I come to do your will.
The blood of bulls and goats could never take away sins.
When Christ came into the world he said:
– Here I am, Lord God, I come to do your will.
SECOND READING
From a sermon by Saint Andrew of Crete, bishop
(Oratio 9 in ramos palmarum: PG 97, 990-994)
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Blessed is the king of Israel.
Let us go together to meet Christ on the Mount of Olives. Today he returns from Bethany and proceeds of his own free will toward his holy and blessed passion, to consummate the mystery of our salvation. He who came down from heaven to raise us from the depths of sin, to raise us with himself, we are told in Scripture, above every sovereignty, authority, and power, and every other name that can be named, now comes of his own free will to make his journey to Jerusalem. He comes without pomp or ostentation. As the psalmist says: He will not dispute or raise his voice to make it heard in the streets. He will be meek and humble, and he will make his entry in simplicity.
Let us run to accompany him as he hastens toward Jerusalem, and imitate those who met him then, not by covering his path with garments, olive branches or palms, but by doing all we can to prostrate ourselves before him by being humble and by trying to live as he would wish. Then we shall be able to receive the Word at his coming, and God, whom no limits can contain, will be within us.
In his humility Christ entered the dark regions of our fallen world and he is glad that he became so humble for our sake, glad that he came and lived among us and shared in our nature in order to raise us up again to himself. And even though we are told that he has now ascended above the highest heavens—the proof, surely, of his power and godhead—his love for man will never rest until he has raised our earthbound nature from glory to glory, and made it one with his own in heaven.
So let us spread before his feet, not garments or soulless olive branches, which delight the eye for a few hours and then wither, but ourselves, clothed in his grace, or rather, clothed completely in him. We who have been baptized into Christ must ourselves be the garments that we spread before him. Now that the crimson stains of our sins have been washed away in the saving waters of baptism and we have become white as pure wool, let us present the conqueror of death, not with mere branches of palms but with the real rewards of his victory. Let our souls take the place of the welcoming branches as we join today in the children’s holy song: Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Blessed is the king of Israel.
RESPONSORY
John 12:12, 13; Matthew 21:8, 9
When the people heard that Jesus was entering Jerusalem,
they went out to meet him.
Many spread their cloaks before him,
while others took branches from the trees as they cried aloud:
– Hosanna to the Son of David!
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
The crowd that went ahead of him,
and the crowd that followed after cried out:
– Hosanna to the Son of David!
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
If the Optional Vigil is not celebrated, the Office continues with the Concluding Prayer.
Go to the Concluding Prayer
OPTIONAL VIGIL
CANTICLES
Ant. Jesus knelt and prayed: Father, if it is your will, take this cup from me; yet not my will but yours be done.
Canticle I: Jeremiah 14:17-21
The lament of the people in war and famine
The kingdom of God is at hand. Repent and believe the Good News (Mark 1:15).
Let my eyes stream with tears *
day and night, without rest,
Over the great destruction which overwhelms †
the virgin daughter of my people, *
over her incurable wound.
If I walk out into the field, *
look! those slain by the sword;
If I enter the city, *
look! those consumed by hunger.
Even the prophet and the priest *
forage in a land they know not.
Have you cast Judah off completely? *
Is Zion loathsome to you?
Why have you struck us a blow *
that cannot be healed?
We wait for peace, to no avail; *
for a time of healing, but terror comes instead.
We recognize, O Lord, our wickedness, †
the guilt of our fathers; *
that we have sinned against you.
For your name’s sake spurn us not, †
disgrace not the throne of your glory; *
remember your covenant with us, and break it not.
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.
Canticle II: Ezekiel 36:24-28
The Lord will renew his people
They will be his own people and God himself will be with them, their own God (Revelation 21:3).
I will take you away from among the nations, †
gather you from all the foreign lands, *
and bring you back to your own land.
I will sprinkle clean water upon you †
to cleanse you from all your impurities, *
and from all your idols I will cleanse you.
I will give you a new heart *
and place a new spirit within you,
taking from your bodies your stony hearts *
and giving you natural hearts.
I will put my spirit within you †
and make you live by my statutes, *
careful to observe my decrees.
You shall live in the land I gave your fathers; †
you shall be my people, *
and I will be your 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.
Canticle III: Lamentations 5:1-7, 15-17, 19-21
A prayer in time of distress
At every moment we carry in our bodies the death of Jesus so that in our bodies the life of Jesus may also be manifested (2 Corinthians 4:10).
Remember, O Lord, what has befallen us, *
look, and see our disgrace:
Our inherited lands have been turned over to strangers, *
our homes to foreigners.
We have become orphans, fatherless; *
widowed are our mothers.
The water we drink we must buy, *
for our own wood we must pay.
On our necks is the yoke of those who drive us; *
we are worn out, but allowed no rest.
To Egypt we submitted, *
and to Assyria, to fill our need of bread.
Our fathers, who sinned, are no more; *
but we bear their guilt.
The joy of our hearts has ceased, *
our dance has turned into mourning;
The garlands have fallen from our heads: *
woe to us, for we have sinned!
Over this our hearts are sick, *
at this our eyes grow dim:
You, O Lord, are enthroned forever; *
your throne stands from age to age.
Why, then, should you forget us, *
abandon us so long a time?
Lead us back to you, O Lord, that we may be restored: *
give us anew such days as we had of old.
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. Jesus knelt and prayed: Father, if it is your will, take this cup from me; yet not my will but yours be done.
THE HOLY GOSPEL
+ A reading from the holy Gospel according to John
8:21-30
I am not of this world
Jesus said to the Pharisees:
“I am going away and you will look for me, but you will die in your sin. Where I am going you cannot come.”
So the Jews said, “He is not going to kill himself, is he, because he said, ‘Where I am going you cannot come’?”
He said to them,
“You belong to what is below,
I belong to what is above.
You belong to this world, but I do not belong to this world.
That is why I told you that you will die in your sins.
For if you do not believe that I AM, you will die in your sins.”
So they said to him, “Who are you?” Jesus said to them,
“What I told you from the beginning.
I have much to say about you in condemnation.
But the one who sent me is true,
and what I heard from him I tell the world.”
They did not realize that he was speaking to them of the Father.
So Jesus said to them,
“When you lift up the Son of Man,
then you will realize that I AM,
and that I do nothing on my own,
but I say only what the Father taught me.
The one who sent me is with me.
He has not left me alone,
because I always do what is pleasing to him.”
Because he spoke this way, many came to believe in him.
A homily on the Gospel may be given.
CONCLUDING PRAYER
Let us pray.
Almighty, ever-living God,
you have given the human race Jesus Christ our Savior
as a model of humility.
He fulfilled your will
by becoming man and giving his life on the cross.
Help us to bear witness to you
by following his example of suffering
and make us worthy to share his resurrection.
We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever.
– Amen.
Or:
Almighty and ever-living God,
who as an example of humility for the human race to follow
caused our Savior to take flesh and submit to the Cross,
graciously grant that we may heed his lesson of patient suffering
and so merit a share in his Resurrection.
Who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever.
– Amen.
ACCLAMATION
Let us praise the Lord.
– And give him thanks.
******
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