Morning Prayer (Lauds)
If this is the first Hour that you are reciting today, you should precede it with the Invitatory Psalm.
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
It were my soul’s desire
To see the face of God;
It were my soul’s desire
To rest in his abode.
Grant, Lord, my soul’s desire,
Deep waves of cleansing sighs,
Grant, Lord, my soul’s desire,
From earthly cares to rise.
It were my soul’s desire
To imitate my King,
It were my soul’s desire
His endless praise to sing.
It were my soul’s desire,
When heaven’s gate is won,
To find my soul’s desire,
Clear shining like the sun.
This still my soul’s desire,
Whatever life afford,
To gain my soul’s desire
And see thy face, O Lord.
Psalm 62 (63)
Thirsting for God
Simeon was an upright and devout man. He looked for the redemption of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was in him.
O God, you are my God, I watch for you from the dawn.
My soul thirsts for you, my body longs for you.
I came to your sanctuary,
as one in a parched and waterless land,
so that I could see your might and your glory.
My lips will praise you, for your mercy is better than life itself.
Thus I will bless you throughout my life,
and raise my hands in prayer to your name;
my soul will be filled as if by rich food,
and my mouth will sing your praises and rejoice.
I will remember you as I lie in bed,
I will think of you in the morning,
for you have been my helper,
and I will take joy in the protection of your wings.
My soul clings to you; your right hand raises me up.
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.
Simeon was an upright and devout man. He looked for the redemption of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was in him.
Canticle
Daniel 3
All creatures, bless the Lord
Simeon took the child into his hands and gave thanks while praising God.
Bless the Lord, all his works,
praise and exalt him for ever.
Bless the Lord, you heavens;
all his angels, bless the Lord.
Bless the Lord, you waters above the heavens;
all his powers, bless the Lord.
Bless the Lord, sun and moon;
all stars of the sky, bless the Lord.
Bless the Lord, rain and dew;
all you winds, bless the Lord.
Bless the Lord, fire and heat;
cold and warmth, bless the Lord.
Bless the Lord, dew and frost;
ice and cold, bless the Lord.
Bless the Lord, ice and snow;
day and night, bless the Lord.
Bless the Lord, light and darkness;
lightning and storm-clouds, bless the Lord.
Bless the Lord, all the earth,
praise and exalt him for ever.
Bless the Lord, mountains and hills;
all growing things, bless the Lord.
Bless the Lord, seas and rivers;
springs and fountains, bless the Lord.
Bless the Lord, whales and fish;
birds of the air, bless the Lord.
Bless the Lord, wild beasts and tame;
sons of men, bless the Lord.
Bless the Lord, O Israel,
praise and exalt him for ever.
Bless the Lord, his priests;
all his servants, bless the Lord.
Bless the Lord, spirits and souls of the just;
all who are holy and humble, bless the Lord.
Ananias, Azarias, Mishael, bless the Lord,
praise and exalt him for ever.
Let us bless Father, Son and Holy Spirit,
praise and exalt them for ever.
Bless the Lord in the firmament of heaven,
praise and glorify him for ever.
Simeon took the child into his hands and gave thanks while praising God.
Psalm 149
The saints rejoice
A light to show the way to the pagans, and the glory of your people Israel.
Sing a new song to the Lord,
his praise in the assembly of the faithful.
Let Israel rejoice in its maker,
and the sons of Zion delight in their king.
Let them praise his name with dancing,
sing to him with timbrel and lyre,
for the Lord’s favour is upon his people,
and he will honour the humble with victory.
Let the faithful celebrate his glory,
rejoice even in their beds,
the praise of God in their throats;
and swords ready in their hands,
to exact vengeance upon the nations,
impose punishment on the peoples,
to bind their kings in fetters
and their nobles in manacles of iron,
to carry out the sentence that has been passed:
this is the glory prepared for all his faithful.
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 light to show the way to the pagans, and the glory of your people Israel.
Short Reading
Malachi 3:1
©
Look, I am going to send my messenger to prepare a way before me. And the Lord you are seeking will suddenly enter his Temple; and the angel of the covenant whom you are longing for, yes, he is coming, says the Lord of Hosts.
Short Responsory
Adore the Lord in his holy court.
– Adore the Lord in his holy court.
Give the Lord glory and power.
– Adore the Lord in his holy court.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.
– Adore the Lord in his holy court.
Canticle
Benedictus
The Messiah and his forerunner
When his parents brought in the child Jesus, Simeon took him in his arms and gave thanks to God.
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.
When his parents brought in the child Jesus, Simeon took him in his arms and gave thanks to God.
Prayers and intercessions
We adore our Lord and Saviour who was presented to his Father in the temple, and who came to bring comfort to his brothers.
– Lord Jesus, you are the light of the world.
On the cross you consummated your sacrifice to the Father:
unite our offerings to yours in the sacrifice of your Church.
– Lord Jesus, you are the light of the world.
You brought consolation to Israel:
bring us now your wisdom, fresh understanding and new vision.
– Lord Jesus, you are the light of the world.
The Church continues to proclaim your coming:
through her, bring light to those who search for truth.
– Lord Jesus, you are the light of the world.
You are the sign of contradiction, the corner-stone rejected by the builders:
build us as living stones into a temple where you will dwell.
– Lord Jesus, you are the light of the world.
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.
Almighty, ever-living God,
on this day your Only-Begotten Son
was presented in the Temple,
in flesh and blood like ours.
Purify us in mind and heart
that we may meet you in your glory.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever.
Amen.
The Lord bless us, and keep us from all evil, and bring us to everlasting life.
Amen.
