Morning Prayer
Common of Virgins

______

Invitatory
The Invitatory opens the first Office of the day. If the Office of Readings is the first Office of the day, begin below.

Lord, open my lips.
 - And my mouth shall proclaim your praise.

Psalm 95 is the traditional Invitatory Psalm. Psalm 24, 67, or 100 may be substituted.

Antiphon: The holy virgins praise their Lord and King; come let us join in their worship (alleluia).

Or: Come let us worship the Lamb with the virgins who followed him (alleluia).





God, come to my assistance.
- Lord, make haste to help me.

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.

HYMN

Now, from the heaven's descending.
Is seen a glorious light,
The Bride of Christ in splendor,
Arrayed in purest white.
She is the Holy City,
Whose radiance is the grace
Of all the saints in glory,
From every time and place.

This is the hour of gladness
For Bridegroom and for Bride,
The Lamb's great feast is ready,
His Bride is at his side.
How blessed are those invited
To share his wedding feast:
The least become the greatest,
The greatest are the least.

He who is throned in heaven
Takes up his dwelling-place
Among his chosen people,
Who see him face to face.
No sound is heard of weeping,
For pain and sorrow cease,
And sin shall reign no longer,
But love and joy and peace.

See how a new creation
Is brought at last to birth,
A new and glorious heaven,
A new and glorious earth.
Death's power for ever broken,
Its empire swept away,
The promised dawn of glory
Begins its endless day.


Words: James Quinn, SJ

PSALMODY

Antiphon: With my whole being I worship Christ; I long for him and desire to be with him for ever (alleluia).

Psalm 63:2-9

O God, you are my God, for you I long; *
for you my soul is thirsting.
My body pines for you *
like a dry, weary land without water.
So I gaze on you in the sanctuary *
to see your strength and your glory.

For your love is better than life, *
my lips will speak your praise.
So I will bless you all my life, *
in your name I will lift up my hands.
My soul shall be filled as with a banquet, *
my mouth shall praise you with joy.

On my bed I remember you. *
On you I muse through the night
for you have been my help; *
in the shadow of your wings I rejoice.
My soul clings to you; *
your right hand holds me fast.

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.

Antiphon:With my whole being I worship Christ; I long for him and desire to be with him for ever (alleluia).


Antiphon: O virgins, praise the Lord with all your heart. He sowed the seeds of your virtue; he crowned the fruits of your life with his gifts (alleluia).



Canticle – Daniel 3:57-88, 56

Bless the Lord, all you works of the Lord. *
Praise and exalt him above all forever.
Angels of the Lord, bless the Lord. *
You heavens, bless the Lord.
All you waters above the heavens, bless the Lord. *
All you hosts of the Lord, bless the Lord.
Sun and moon, bless the Lord. *
Stars of heaven, bless the Lord.

Every shower and dew, bless the Lord. *
All you winds, bless the Lord.
Fire and heat, bless the Lord. *
Cold and chill, bless the Lord.
Dew and rain, bless the Lord. *
Frost and chill, bless the Lord.
Ice and snow, bless the Lord. *
Nights and days, bless the Lord.
Light and darkness, bless the Lord. *
Lightnings and clouds, bless the Lord.

Let the earth bless the Lord. *
Praise and exalt him above all forever.
Mountains and hills, bless the Lord. *
Everything growing from the earth, bless the Lord.
You springs, bless the Lord. *

Seas and rivers, bless the Lord.
You dolphins and all water creatures, bless the Lord. *
All you birds of the air, bless the Lord.
All you beasts, wild and tame, bless the Lord. *
You sons of men, bless the Lord.

O Israel, bless the Lord. *
Praise and exalt him above all forever.
Priests of the Lord, bless the Lord. *
Servants of the Lord, bless the Lord.
Spirits and souls of the just, bless the Lord. *
Holy men of humble heart, bless the Lord.
Hananiah, Azariah, Mishael, bless the Lord. *
Praise and exalt him above all forever.

Let us bless the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. *
Let us praise and exalt him above all forever.
Blessed are you, Lord, in the firmament of heaven. *
Praiseworthy and glorious and exalted above all forever.

Antiphon: O virgins, praise the Lord with all your heart. He sowed the seeds of your virtue; he crowned the fruits of your life with his gifts (alleluia).

Antiphon: The saints will sing for joy in heaven's glory; radiant is their victory over human frailties (alleluia).

Psalm 149

Sing a new song to the Lord, *
his praise in the assembly of the faithful.
Let Israel rejoice in its maker, *
let Zion’s sons exult in their king.
Let them praise his name with dancing *
and make music with timbrel and harp.

For the Lord takes delight in his people. *
He crowns the poor with salvation.
Let the faithful rejoice in their glory, *
shout for joy and take their rest.
Let the praise of God be on their lips *
and a two-edged sword in their hand,

to deal out vengeance to the nations *
and punishment on all the peoples;
to bind their kings in chains *
and their nobles in fetters of iron;
to carry out the sentence pre-ordained; *
this honor is for all his faithful.

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.


Antiphon: The saints will sing for joy in heaven's glory; radiant is their victory over human frailties (alleluia).

READING
Song of Songs 8:7
Deep waters cannot quench love, nor floods sweep it away. Were one to offer all he owns to purchase love, he would be roundly mocked.

RESPONSORY

My heart is ever pleading, show me your face.
 - My heart is ever pleading, show me your face.
I long to gaze upon you, Lord.
 - Show me your face.
Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.
 - My heart is ever pleading, show me your face.

BENEDICTUS (Canticle of Zechariah)
Antiphon for a virgin and martyr: Happy the virgin who denied herself and took up her cross. She imitated the Lord, the spouse of virgins and prince of martyrs (alleluia).

Antiphon for a virgin: Now this wise virgin has gone to Christ. Among the choirs of virgins she is radiant as the sun in the heavens. (alleluia)


Antiphon for several virgins: Virgins of the Lord, bless the Lord for ever (alleluia).


INTERCESSIONS

Christ is the spouse and crowning glory of virgins: let us praise him with joy in our voices and pray to him with sincerity in our hearts.

                 Jesus, crown of virgins, hear us.

Christ, the holy virgins loved you as their one true spouse:
 - grant that nothing may separate us from your love.

You crowned Mary, your mother, queen of virgins:
 - through her intercession, let us continually serve you with pure hearts.

Your handmaidens were always careful to love you with whole and undivided attention, that they might be holy in body and spirit:
 - through their intercession grant that the lure of this passing world may not distract our attention from you.

Lord Jesus, you are the spouse whose coming was anticipated by the wise virgins:
 - grant that we may wait for you in hope and expectation.

Through the intercession of Saint N., who was one of the wise and prudent virgins:
 - grant us wisdom and innocence of life.



Our Father…



PRAYER

If there is no proper prayer, one of the following is said:

Lord,
you have told us that you live for ever
in the hearts of the chaste.
By the prayers of the virgin, N.,
help us to live by your grace
and remain a temple of your Spirit.
Grant this...

Or:

Lord,
hear the prayers of those who recall the devoted life of the virgin N.
Guide us on our way and help us to grow
in love and devotion as long as we live.
We ask this...

For several virgins:
Lord,
increase in us your gift of mercy and forgiveness.
May we who rejoice at this celebration in honor of the virgins N. and N.
receive the joy of sharing eternal life with them.
We ask this...





 
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