Think of God’s mercy, my brothers, and worship him, I beg you, in a way that is worthy of thinking beings, by offering your living bodies as a holy sacrifice, truly pleasing to God. Do not model yourselves on the behaviour of the world around you, but let your behaviour change, modelled by your new mind. This is the only way to discover the will of God and know what is good, what it is that God wants, what is the perfect thing to do.
Short Responsory
The just shall rejoice in the sight of God. Alleluia, alleluia.
– The just shall rejoice in the sight of God. Alleluia, alleluia.
They shall be filled with gladness.
– The just shall rejoice in the sight of God. Alleluia, alleluia.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.
– The just shall rejoice in the sight of God. Alleluia, alleluia.
Canticle
Benedictus
The Messiah and his forerunner
Blessed are the peacemakers, blessed are the pure in heart: they shall see God. Alleluia.
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.
Blessed are the peacemakers, blessed are the pure in heart: they shall see God. Alleluia.
Prayers and intercessions
Let us praise Christ, the holy God, and ask that we may serve him in justice and holiness all the days of our life.
– Lord, you alone are holy.
You were tempted in every way that we are, but you did not sin;
Lord Jesus, have mercy on us.
– Lord, you alone are holy.
You have called us to grow in love until there is no longer fear;
Lord Jesus, make us holy.
– Lord, you alone are holy.
You have told us to be the salt of the earth and the light of the world;
Lord Jesus, enlighten our minds and hearts.
– Lord, you alone are holy.
In a world of human need it was your will to serve and not to be served;
let us become like you, Lord Jesus, in the humble service of our brothers.
– Lord, you alone are holy.
You are the radiant brightness of God’s glory, the perfect likeness of his nature;
Lord Jesus, let us see the splendour of your face.
– Lord, you alone are holy.
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.
O God, our Father, you want all peoples of the world to recognize Jesus as the one you sent to save us.
Look with kindness on your people
who celebrate the memorial of Saints Marcellinus, Vincent and Domninus, our ancestors in faith.
Fill us with the same missionary zeal
that we may continue the saving work of Christ everywhere until the end of time.
Grant this 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.
The Lord bless us, and keep us from all evil, and bring us to everlasting life.
Amen.
The psalms and canticles here are our own translation from the Latin. The Grail translation of the psalms, which is used liturgically in most of the English-speaking world, cannot be displayed on the Web for copyright reasons. The Universalis apps and programs do contain the Grail translation of the psalms.
Universalis podcast: The week ahead – from 21 April
Acts, St John and the Apocalypse. What is the Liturgy of the Hours? A week of missionaries. (15 minutes) Episode notes.