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 ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
HYMN
From all that dwell below the skies,
Let the Creator’s praise arise;
Let the Redeemer’s Name be sung,
Through every land, by every tongue.
Eternal are Thy mercies, Lord;
Eternal truth attends Thy Word.
Thy praise shall sound from shore to shore,
Till suns shall rise and set no more.
Text: Isaac Watts, 1719; Melody: Eisenach, LM, Johann Schein, 1630
Psalms of the Day Antiphon: This is the good news the prophets foretold: The Savior will be born of the Virgin Mary.
READINGMicah 5:3-4a
The ruler in Israel shall stand firm and shepherd his flock
by the strength of the Lord,
in the majestic name of the Lord, his God;
And they shall remain, for now his greatness
shall reach to the ends of the earth;
he shall be peace.
The nations will revere your name, O Lord.
- And the great ones of the earth will acknowledge your glory.
COLLECT
O God, who, seeing the human race fallen into death,
willed to redeem it by the coming of your Only Begotten Son,
grant, we pray,
that those who confess his Incarnation with humble fervor
may merit his company as their Redeemer.
Who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God, for ever and ever.
Psalms of the Day Antiphon:
The angel Gabriel said to Mary in greeting: Hail full of grace, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women.
READINGHaggai 2:6,9
One moment yet, a little while,
and I will shake the heavens and the earth,
the sea and the dry land.
Greater will be the future glory of this house
than the former;
And in this place I will give you peace,
says the Lord of hosts.
Remember us, Lord, because of all the love you have for your people.
- Come and bring us your salvation.
COLLECT
O God, who, seeing the human race fallen into death,
willed to redeem it by the coming of your Only Begotten Son,
grant, we pray,
that those who confess his Incarnation with humble fervor
may merit his company as their Redeemer.
Who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God, for ever and ever.
Psalms of the Day Antiphon:
Mary said: My soul is deeply troubled; what can this greeting mean? Am I to give birth to my king and yet remain a virgin forever?
READINGMalachi 4:2
For you who fear my name, there will arise
the sun of justice with its healing rays;
And you will gambol like calves out of the stall
says the Lord of hosts.
Come, Lord, do not delay.
- Free your people from their sinfulness.
COLLECT
O God, who, seeing the human race fallen into death,
willed to redeem it by the coming of your Only Begotten Son,
grant, we pray,
that those who confess his Incarnation with humble fervor
may merit his company as their Redeemer.
Who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God, for ever and ever.
Let us praise the Lord.
- And give him thanks.
At one of the hours, the psalms of the day, below, are said. At the other hours, the complementary psalms are used.