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
Hark! hark, my soul! angelic songs are swelling
o’er earth’s green fields and ocean’s wave-beat shore:
how sweet the truth those blessed strains are telling
of that new life when sin shall be no more.
Onward we go, for still we hear them singing,
‘Come, weary souls, for Jesus bids you come’;
and through the dark, its echoes sweetly ringing,
the music of the gospel leads us home.
Far, far away, like bells at evening pealing,
the voice of Jesus sounds o’er land and sea;
and laden souls, by thousands meekly stealing,
kind Shepherd, turn their weary steps to thee.
Rest comes at length: though life be long and dreary,
the day must dawn, and darksome night be past;
faith’s journeys end in welcome to the weary,
and heaven, the heart’s true home, will come at last.
Angels, sing on! your faithful watches keeping;
sing us sweet fragments of the songs above,
till morning’s joy shall end the night of weeping,
and life’s long shadows break in cloudless love.
Psalm 62 (63)
Thirsting for God
The Lord will send his angels with you to guard your footsteps.
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.
The Lord will send his angels with you to guard your footsteps.
Canticle
Daniel 3
All creatures, bless the Lord
Thanks be to God, who sent his angel to rescue his faithful followers.
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.
Thanks be to God, who sent his angel to rescue his faithful followers.
Psalm 149
The saints rejoice
All hosts of angels, praise the Lord!
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.
All hosts of angels, praise the Lord!
Short Reading
Exodus 23:20-21
©
I myself will send an angel before you to guard you as you go and to bring you to the place that I have prepared. Give him reverence and listen to all that he says.
Short Responsory
In the presence of the angels I shall sing to you, my God.
– In the presence of the angels I shall sing to you, my God.
I shall bear witness to you.
– In the presence of the angels I shall sing to you, my God.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.
– In the presence of the angels I shall sing to you, my God.
Canticle
Benedictus
The Messiah and his forerunner
They are all ministering spirits sent out to serve, for the sake of those who are to obtain salvation.
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.
They are all ministering spirits sent out to serve, for the sake of those who are to obtain salvation.
Prayers and intercessions
Father, as you laid the foundation of creation, the stars of the morning sang for joy, and the sons of God in chorus chanted your praise:
– All you spirits, worship the Lord.
Lord, your heavenly servants were sent to men to guard and lead them.
Keep us faithful to your call today.
– All you spirits, worship the Lord.
Lord, the angels stand before your throne to praise you:
help us to seek your face today.
– All you spirits, worship the Lord.
Lord, your sons are called to be like angels of light:
keep us pure in heart and body.
– All you spirits, worship the Lord.
Lord, we thank you for your glorious power; we praise your victory over the powers of darkness:
for yours is the kingdom, the power, and the glory, for all ages to come.
– All you spirits, worship the Lord.
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.
Lord God,
in your all-wise providence you send angels to guard and protect us.
Surround us with their watchful care on earth,
and give us the joy of their company for ever in heaven.
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.
