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 the Lord who speaks to us through the Gospel, alleluia.
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.
Psalm 24
Psalm 67
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 the Lord who speaks to us through the Gospel, alleluia.
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 Lord who speaks to us through the Gospel, alleluia.
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 Lord who speaks to us through the Gospel, alleluia.
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 Lord who speaks to us through the Gospel, alleluia.
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 Lord who speaks to us through the Gospel, alleluia.
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 Lord who speaks to us through the Gospel, alleluia.
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. Alleluia.
HYMN
O blessed Mark the Apostles’ friend,
who shared their labor zealously
and helped them in their saving work,
receive our praise and humble prayer.
Through those great messengers of Christ
an age of deepest joy arose,
a lasting age of truth and peace,
of gladness only Christ can give.
And since their burdens you have shared,
to heaven you are borne aloft;
like them you shine in glory now,
exalted in their pow’r on high.
You once were sower of the Light,
so by the Sun, the living Christ,
bring seeds to harvest ev’rywhere,
to fill the barns of heaven’s store.
When with the apostolic band
you stand beside the sov’reign judge,
obtain release from all our debts
and gain for us God’s healing grace.
All glory to the Three in One;
and may they grant us to rejoice
with you and all the heav’nly hosts,
for ever in their great reward. Amen.
Tune: ST VENANTIUS, 8 8 8 8
Music: Rouen church melody, 1728
or Mode III, melody 54; Liber Hymnarius, Solesmes, 1983*
Text: O vir beate Apostolis, Anselmo Lentini, O.S.B., 1901-1989, © 2023 ICEL
PSALMODY
Ant. 1 Their voice has gone out to the limits of the earth, their words to the ends of the world, alleluia.
Psalm 19A
Praise the Lord, Creator of all
The dawn from on high shall break upon us ... to guide our feet into the way of peace (Luke 1:78, 79).
The heavens proclaim the glory of God *
and the firmament shows forth the work of his hands.
Day unto day takes up the story *
and night unto night makes known the message.
No speech, no word, no voice is heard
yet their span extends through all the earth, *
their words to the utmost bounds of the world.
There he has placed a tent for the sun;
it comes forth like a bridegroom coming from his tent, *
rejoices like a champion to run its course.
At the end of the sky is the rising of the sun;
to the furthest end of the sky is its course. *
There is nothing concealed from its burning heat.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, *
and to the Holy Spirit:
as it was in the beginning, is now, *
will be for ever. Amen.
Psalm Prayer
To enlighten the world, Father, you sent to us your Word as the sun of truth and justice shining upon mankind. Illumine our eyes that we may discern your glory in the many works of your hand.
Ant. Their voice has gone out to the limits of the earth, their words to the ends of the world, alleluia.
Ant. 2 They proclaimed what God has done for us; they grasped the meaning of his deeds, alleluia.
Psalm 64
Prayer for help against enemies
This psalm commemorates most particularly our Lord’s passion (Saint Augustine).
Hear my voice, O God, as I complain, *
guard my life from dread of the foe.
Hide me from the band of the wicked, *
from the throng of those who do evil.
They sharpen their tongues like swords; *
they aim bitter words like arrows
to shoot at the innocent from ambush, *
shooting suddenly and recklessly.
They scheme their evil course; *
they conspire to lay secret snares.
They say: “Who will see us? *
Who can search out our crimes?”
He will search who searches the mind *
and knows the depths of the heart.
God has shot them with his arrow *
and dealt them sudden wounds.
Their own tongue has brought them to ruin *
and all who see them mock.
Then will all men fear;
they will tell what God has done. *
They will understand God’s deeds.
The just will rejoice in the Lord
and fly to him for refuge. *
All the upright hearts will 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.
Psalm Prayer
Father, you gave your Son victory over the men who plotted evil against him; when he cried to you in his agony you delivered him from fear of his enemies. May those who suffer with him in this life find refuge and success in you.
Ant. They proclaimed what God has done for us; they grasped the meaning of his deeds, alleluia.
Ant. 3 God’s holiness was revealed by them; all nations saw God’s glory, alleluia.
Psalm 97
The glory of the Lord in his decrees for the world
This psalm foretells a world-wide salvation and that peoples of all nations will believe in Christ (Saint Athanasius).
The Lord is king, let earth rejoice, *
let all the coastlands be glad.
Cloud and darkness are his raiment; *
his throne, justice and right.
A fire prepares his path; *
it burns up his foes on every side.
His lightnings light up the world, *
the earth trembles at the sight.
The mountains melt like wax *
before the Lord of all the earth.
The skies proclaim his justice; *
all peoples see his glory.
Let those who serve idols be ashamed,
those who boast of their worthless gods. *
All you spirits, worship him.
Zion hears and is glad;
the people of Judah rejoice *
because of your judgments, O Lord.
For you indeed are the Lord,
most high above all the earth, *
exalted far above all spirits.
The Lord loves those who hate evil:
he guards the souls of his saints; *
he sets them free from the wicked.
Light shines forth for the just *
and joy for the upright of heart.
Rejoice, you just, in the Lord; *
give glory to his holy name.
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, you clothe the sky with light and the depths of the ocean with darkness. Among the children of the earth you work wonders, and rain terror upon the enemy. Look upon your servants. Do not try us by fire but bring us rejoicing to the shelter of your home.
Ant. God’s holiness was revealed by them; all nations saw God’s glory, alleluia.
The Lord will give his message to the preachers of the Gospel, alleluia.
— He will give them strength to proclaim it fearlessly, alleluia.
READINGS
FIRST READING
From the letter of the apostle Paul to the Ephesians
4:1-16
The various graces for the different ministries in the one body of Christ
I plead with you, as a prisoner for the Lord, to live a life worthy of the calling you have received, with perfect humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another lovingly. Make every effort to preserve the unity which has the Spirit as its origin and peace as its binding force. There is but one body and one Spirit, just as there is but one hope given all of you by your call. There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all, and works through all, and is in all.
Each of us has received God’s favor in the measure in which Christ bestows it. Thus you find Scripture saying:
“When he ascended on high, he took a host of captives
and gave gifts to men.”
“He ascended”—what does this mean but that he had first descended into the lower regions of the earth? He who descended is the very one who ascended high above the heavens, that he might fill all men with his gifts.
It is he who gave apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers in roles of service for the faithful to build up the body of Christ, till we become one in faith and in the knowledge of God’s Son, and form that perfect man who is Christ come to full stature.
Let us, then, be children no longer, tossed here and there, carried about by every wind of doctrine that originates in human trickery and skill in proposing error. Rather, let us profess the truth in love and grow to the full maturity of Christ the head. Through him the whole body grows, and with the proper functioning of the members joined firmly together by each supporting ligament, builds itself up in love.
RESPONSORY
2 Peter 1:21; Proverbs 2:6
No prophecy ever came from man.
— The men who spoke the word of God were inspired by the Holy Spirit, alleluia.
The Lord gives wisdom;
knowledge and understanding flow from his mouth.
— The men who spoke the word of God were inspired by the Holy Spirit, alleluia.
SECOND READING
From the treatise Against Heresies by Saint Irenaeus, bishop and martyr
(Lib. 1, 10, 1-3: PG 7, 550-554)
Preaching truth
The Church, which has spread everywhere, even to the ends of the earth, received the faith from the apostles and their disciples. By faith, we believe in one God, the almighty Father who made heaven and earth and the sea and all that is in them. We believe in one Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who became man for our salvation. And we believe in the Holy Spirit who through the prophets foretold God’s plan: the coming of our beloved Lord Jesus Christ, his birth from the Virgin, his passion, his resurrection from the dead, his ascension into heaven, and his final coming from heaven in the glory of his Father, to recapitulate all things and to raise all men from the dead, so that, by the decree of his invisible Father, he may make a just judgment in all things and so that every knee should bow in heaven and on earth and under the earth to Jesus Christ our Lord and our God, our Savior and our King, and every tongue confess him.
The Church, spread throughout the whole world, received this preaching and this faith and now preserves it carefully, dwelling as it were in one house. Having one soul and one heart, the Church holds this faith, preaches and teaches it consistently as though by a single voice. For though there are different languages, there is but one tradition.
The faith and the tradition of the churches founded in Germany are no different from those founded among the Spanish and the Celts, in the East, in Egypt, in Libya and elsewhere in the Mediterranean world. Just as God’s creature, the sun, is one and the same the world over, so also does the Church’s preaching shine everywhere to enlighten all men who want to come to a knowledge of the truth.
Now of those who speak with authority in the churches, no preacher however forceful will utter anything different—for no one is above the Master—nor will a less forceful preacher diminish what has been handed down. Since our faith is everywhere the same, no one who can say more augments it, nor can anyone who says less diminish it.
RESPONSORY
1 Corinthians 1:17-18, 21
Christ sent me to preach the Gospel,
but not with the wisdom of this world
in which the cross of Christ loses all its meaning.
— For the message of the cross is foolishness
to those who are on the way to destruction;
but to us who are on the way to salvation
it is the proof of God’s power, alleluia.
The world did not come to know God through wisdom;
it has pleased God to save those who have believed
through the foolishness of the message we preach.
— For the message of the cross is foolishness
to those who are on the way to destruction;
but to us who are on the way to salvation
it is the proof of God’s power, alleluia.
Those who wish to extend the celebration of the vigil of Saint Mark, according to tradition, first celebrate the Office of Readings. After both readings and before the Te Deum, they may add canticles and a gospel reading. Afterward the Te Deum is said, and the hour is concluded as in the Ordinary.
Optional Vigil
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.
V. Keep us today, Lord, from all sin.
℟. Have mercy on us, Lord, have mercy.
℣. Lord, show us your love and mercy;
℟. for we put our trust in you.
℣. In you, Lord, is our hope:
℟. and we shall never hope in vain.
The concluding part of the hymn may be omitted.
CONCLUDING PRAYER
Let us pray.
Father,
you gave Saint Mark
the privilege of proclaiming your gospel.
May we profit by his wisdom
and follow Christ more faithfully.
Grant this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
God, for ever and ever.
— Amen.
Or:
O God, who raised up Saint Mark, your Evangelist,
and endowed him with the grace to preach the Gospel,
grant, we pray,
that we may so profit from his teaching
as to follow faithfully in the footsteps of Christ.
Who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God, for ever and ever.
— Amen.
ACCLAMATION
Let us praise the Lord.
— And give him thanks.
******
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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 the Lord who speaks to us through the Gospel, alleluia.
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 the Lord who speaks to us through the Gospel, alleluia.
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 the Lord who speaks to us through the Gospel, alleluia.
O gates, lift high your heads; †
grow higher, ancient doors. *
Let him enter, the king of glory!
Ant. Come, let us worship the Lord who speaks to us through the Gospel, alleluia.
Who is the king of glory? †
The Lord, the mighty, the valiant, *
the Lord, the valiant in war.
Ant. Come, let us worship the Lord who speaks to us through the Gospel, alleluia.
O gates, lift high your heads; †
grow higher, ancient doors. *
Let him enter, the king of glory!
Ant. Come, let us worship the Lord who speaks to us through the Gospel, alleluia.
Who is he, the king of glory? †
He, the Lord of armies, *
he is the king of glory.
Ant. Come, let us worship the Lord who speaks to us through the Gospel, alleluia.
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 Lord who speaks to us through the Gospel, alleluia.
Continue with 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 the Lord who speaks to us through the Gospel, alleluia.
Let the peoples praise you, O God; *
let all the peoples praise you.
Ant. Come, let us worship the Lord who speaks to us through the Gospel, alleluia.
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 the Lord who speaks to us through the Gospel, alleluia.
Let the peoples praise you, O God; *
let all the peoples praise you.
Ant. Come, let us worship the Lord who speaks to us through the Gospel, alleluia.
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 the Lord who speaks to us through the Gospel, alleluia.
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 Lord who speaks to us through the Gospel, alleluia.
Continue with 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 the Lord who speaks to us through the Gospel, alleluia.
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 the Lord who speaks to us through the Gospel, alleluia.
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 the Lord who speaks to us through the Gospel, alleluia.
Indeed, how good is the Lord, †
eternal his merciful love. *
He is faithful from age to age.
Ant. Come, let us worship the Lord who speaks to us through the Gospel, alleluia.
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 Lord who speaks to us through the Gospel, alleluia.
Continue with the Hymn
CANTICLES
Ant. Rejoice and be glad, says the Lord, for your names are written in heaven, alleluia.
Canticle I: Isaiah 61:6-9
The covenant of the Lord with his ministers
God has made us suitable ministers of a new covenant (2 Corinthians 3:6).
You shall be named priests of the Lord, *
ministers of our God you shall be called.
You shall eat the wealth of the nations *
and boast of riches from them.
Since their shame was double *
and disgrace and spittle were their portion,
They shall have a double inheritance in their land, *
everlasting joy shall be theirs.
For I, the Lord, love what is right, *
I hate robbery and injustice;
I will give them their recompense faithfully, *
a lasting covenant I will make with them.
Their descendants shall be renowned among the nations, *
and their offspring among the peoples;
All who see them shall acknowledge them *
as a race the Lord has blessed.
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: Wisdom 3:7-9
The future glory of the just
The just shall shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father (Matthew 13:43).
In the time of their visitation the just shall shine, *
and shall dart about as sparks through stubble;
they shall judge nations and rule over peoples, *
and the Lord shall be their King forever.
Those who trust in him shall understand truth, *
and the faithful shall abide with him in love:
because grace and mercy are with his holy ones, *
and his care is with the elect.
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: Wisdom 10:17-21
God led his people to deliverance
Those who had overcome the beast sang the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb (Revelation 15:2, 3).
God gave the holy ones the recompense of their labors, *
conducted them by a wondrous road,
and became a shelter for them by day *
and a starry flame by night.
He took them across the Red Sea *
and brought them through the deep waters—
but their enemies he overwhelmed, *
and cast them up from the bottom of the depths.
Therefore the just despoiled the wicked; *
and they sang, O Lord, your holy name
because Wisdom opened the mouths of the dumb, *
and gave ready speech to infants.
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. Rejoice and be glad, says the Lord, for your names are written in heaven, alleluia.
THE HOLY GOSPEL
+ A reading from the holy Gospel according to Mark
3:13-15
Jesus summoned those whom he wanted and they came to him
Jesus went up the mountain and summoned those whom he wanted
and they came to him.
He appointed twelve, whom he also named apostles,
that they might be with him
and he might send them forth to preach
and to have authority to drive out demons:
He appointed the Twelve:
Simon, whom he named Peter;
James, son of Zebedee,
and John the brother of James, whom he named Boanerges,
that is, sons of thunder;
Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew,
Matthew, Thomas, James the son of Alphaeus;
Thaddeus, Simon the Cananean,
and Judas Iscariot who betrayed him.
Or:
+ A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew
9:35-38
The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few
Jesus went around to all the towns and villages,
teaching in their synagogues,
proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom,
and curing every disease and illness.
At the sight of the crowds, his heart was moved with pity for them
because they were troubled and abandoned,
like sheep without a shepherd.
Then he said to his disciples,
“The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few;
so ask the master of the harvest
to send out laborers for his harvest.”
Or:
+ A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew
23:8-12
The greatest among you must be your servant
Jesus spoke to his disciples:
“Do not be called ‘Rabbi.’
You have but one teacher, and you are all brothers.
Call no one on earth your father;
you have but one Father in heaven.
Do not be called ‘Master’;
you have but one master, the Messiah.
The greatest among you must be your servant.
Whoever exalts himself will be humbled;
but whoever humbles himself will be exalted.”
A homily on the Gospel may be given.
Other readings may be chosen from the Common of Pastors found in the Lectionary for Mass.
Te Deum
