Daytime Prayer - All Saints

ALL SAINTS

Daytime Prayer
The psalms are the gradual psalms as below. If the feast falls on Sunday, Psalm 118, from Sunday Week I, is said.

Terce Sext Nones

TERCE (Mid Morning)

Deus in adjutorium meum intende,
Domine ad adjuvandum me festina

Holy God, Holy and Mighty, Holy Immortal One,
Have mercy on us
Agios o Theos, Agios ischyros, Agios athanatos,
eleison imas.
Sanctus Deus, Sanctus Fortis, Sanctus Immortalis,
miserere nobis

Psalms

Antiphon: The Lord will comfort Zion. Joy and gladness, thanksgiving and songs of praise will resound within her walls.

Psalm 120
Ad Domine

1: When I was in trouble, I called to the LORD; *
I called to the LORD, and he answered me.
2: Deliver me, O LORD, from lying lips *
and from the deceitful tongue.
3: What shall be done to you, and what more besides, *
O you deceitful tongue?
4: The sharpened arrows of a warrior, *
along with hot glowing coals.
5: How hateful it is that I must lodge in Meshech *
and dwell among the tents of Kedar!
6: Too long have I had to live *
among the enemies of peace.
7: I am on the side of peace, *
but when I speak of it, they are for war.

Psalm 121

Levavi oculos

1: I lift up my eyes to the hills; *
from where is my help to come?
2: My help comes from the LORD, *
the maker of heaven and earth.
3: He will not let your foot be moved *
and he who watches over you will not fall asleep.
4: Behold, he who keeps watch over Israel *
shall neither slumber nor sleep;
5: The LORD himself watches over you; *
the LORD is your shade at your right hand,
6: So that the sun shall not strike you by day, *
nor the moon by night.
7: The LORD shall preserve you from all evil; *
it is he who shall keep you safe.
8: The LORD shall watch over your going out and your coming in, *
from this time forth for evermore.

Psalm 122

Laetatus sum

1: I was glad when they said to me, *
"Let us go to the house of the LORD."
2: Now our feet are standing *
within your gates, O Jerusalem.
3: Jerusalem is built as a city *
that is at unity with itself;
4: To which the tribes go up,
the tribes of the LORD, *
the assembly of Israel,
to praise the Name of the LORD.
5: For there are the thrones of judgment, *
the thrones of the house of David.
6: Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: *
"May they prosper who love you.
7: Peace be within your walls *
and quietness within your towers.
8: For my brethren and companions' sake, *
I pray for your prosperity.
9: Because of the house of the LORD our God, *
I will seek to do you good."

Antiphon: The Lord will comfort Zion. Joy and gladness, thanksgiving and songs of praise will resound within her walls.

Reading

There shall always be rejoicing and happiness
  in what I create;
For I create Jerusalem to be a joy
  and its people to be a delight;
I will rejoice in Jerusalem
  and exult in my people.
No longer shall the sound of weeping be heard there,
  or the sound of crying.

- Is. 65:18-19

Responsory

Rejoice and be glad, all you saints
- For your reward is great in heaven.

Look to the Lord and be enlightened.
     - And never let Your faces be ashamed.

FIRST READING

From the book of Revelation   5:1-14

You redeemed us for God from every tribe and tongue, people and nation

In the right hand of the One who sat on the throne I, John, saw the scroll. It had writing on both sides and was sealed with seven seals. Then I saw a mighty angel who proclaimed in a loud voice: "Who is worthy to open the scroll and break up its seals?" But no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth could be found to open the scroll or examine its contents. I wept bitterly because no one could be found worthy to open or examine the scroll. One of the elders said to me: "Do not weep. The Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has won the right by his victory to open the scroll with the seven seals."
     Then, between the throne with the four living creatures and the elders, I saw a Lamb standing, a Lamb that had been slain. He had seven horns and seven eyes; these eyes are the seven spirits of God, sent to all parts of the world. The Lamb came and received the scroll from the right hand of the One who sat on the throne.
     When he had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Along with their harps, the elders were holding vessels of gold filled with aromatic spices, which were the prayers of God's holy people. This is the new hymn they sang:

"Worthy are you the receive the scroll
  and break open its seals,
  for you were slain.
With your blood you purchased for God
  men of every race and tongue,
  of every people and nation.
You made of them a kingdom,
  and priests to serve our God,
  and they shall reign on the earth.

As my vision continued, I heard the voices of many angels who surrounded the throne and the living creatures and the elders. They were countless in number, thousands and tens of thousands, and they all cried out:

"Worthy is the Lamb that was slain
to receive power and riches, wisdom and strength,
honor and glory and praise!"

Then I heard the voices of every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea; everything in the universe cried aloud:

"To the One seated on the throne, and to the Lamb,
be praise and honor, glory and might,
forever and ever!"

The four living creatures answered, "Amen," and the elders fell down and worshipped.

COLLECT
Almighty ever-living God,
by whose gift we venerate in one celebration
the merits of all the Saints,
bestow on us, we pray,
through the prayers of so many intercessors,
an abundance of the reconciliation with you
for which we earnestly long.
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.

SEXT (Noon)

Deus in adjutorium meum intende,
Domine ad adjuvandum me festina

Holy God, Holy and Mighty, Holy Immortal One,
Have mercy on us
Agios o Theos, Agios ischyros, Agios athanatos,
eleison imas.
Sanctus Deus, Sanctus Fortis, Sanctus Immortalis,
miserere nobis

Psalms

Antiphon: The people will proclaim the wisdom of the saints; all the Church will sing their praises.

Psalm 123
Ad te levavi oculos meos

1: To you I lift up my eyes, *
to you enthroned in the heavens.
2: As the eyes of servants look to the hand of their masters, *
and the eyes of a maid to the hand of her mistress,
3: So our eyes look to the LORD our God, *
until he show us his mercy.
4: Have mercy upon us, O LORD, have mercy, *
for we have had more than enough of contempt,
5: Too much of the scorn of the indolent rich, *
and of the derision of the proud.

Psalm 124

Nisi quia Dominus

1: If the LORD had not been on our side, *
let Israel now say;
2: If the LORD had not been on our side, *
when enemies rose up against us;
3: Then would they have swallowed us up alive *
in their fierce anger toward us;
4: Then would the waters have overwhelmed us *
and the torrent gone over us;
5: Then would the raging waters *
have gone right over us.
6: Blessed be the LORD! *
he has not given us over to be a prey for their teeth.
7: We have escaped like a bird from the snare of the fowler; *
the snare is broken, and we have escaped.
8: Our help is in the Name of the LORD, *
the maker of heaven and earth.

Psalm 125

Qui confidunt

1: Those who trust in the LORD are like Mount Zion, *
which cannot be moved, but stands fast for ever.
2: The hills stand about Jerusalem; *
so does the LORD stand round about his people,
from this time forth for evermore.
3: The scepter of the wicked shall not hold sway over the land allotted to
the just, *
so that the just shall not put their hands to evil.
4: Show your goodness, O LORD, to those who are good *
and to those who are true of heart.
5: As for those who turn aside to crooked ways,
the LORD will lead them away with the evildoers; *
but peace be upon Israel.

Antiphon: The people will proclaim the wisdom of the saints; all the Church will sing their praises.

Reading
Become holy yourselves in every aspect of your conduct, after the likeness of the holy One who called you; remember, Scripture says, "Be holy, for I am holy." - 1 Peter 1:15-16

Responsory
Let the just rejoice in the Lord.
- And proclaim his holiness.

COLLECT
Almighty ever-living God,
by whose gift we venerate in one celebration
the merits of all the Saints,
bestow on us, we pray,
through the prayers of so many intercessors,
an abundance of the reconciliation with you
for which we earnestly long.
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.

NONES (Mid Afternoon)

Deus in adjutorium meum intende,
Domine ad adjuvandum me festina

Holy God, Holy and Mighty, Holy Immortal One,
Have mercy on us
Agios o Theos, Agios ischyros, Agios athanatos,
eleison imas.
Sanctus Deus, Sanctus Fortis, Sanctus Immortalis,
miserere nobis

Psalms

Antiphon: Through faith the saints conquered kingdoms, did what was just and secured promises.

Psalm 126
In convertendo

1: When the LORD restored the fortunes of Zion, *
then were we like those who dream.
2: Then was our mouth filled with laughter, *
and our tongue with shouts of joy.
3: Then they said among the nations, *
"The LORD has done great things for them."
4: The LORD has done great things for us, *
and we are glad indeed.
5: Restore our fortunes, O LORD, *
like the watercourses of the Negev.
6: Those who sowed with tears *
will reap with songs of joy.
7: Those who go out weeping, carrying the seed, *
will come again with joy, shouldering their sheaves.

Psalm 127

Nisi Dominus

1: Unless the LORD builds the house, *
their labor is in vain who build it.
2: Unless the LORD watches over the city, *
in vain the watchman keeps his vigil.
3: It is in vain that you rise so early and go to bed so late; *
vain, too, to eat the bread of toil,
for he gives to his beloved sleep.
4: Children are a heritage from the LORD, *
and the fruit of the womb is a gift.
5: Like arrows in the hand of a warrior *
are the children of one's youth.
6: Happy is the man who has his quiver full of them! *
he shall not be put to shame
when he contends with his enemies in the gate.

Psalm 128

Beati omnes

1: Happy are they all who fear the LORD, *
and who follow in his ways!
2: You shall eat the fruit of your labor; *
happiness and prosperity shall be yours.
3: Your wife shall be like a fruitful vine within your house, *
your children like olive shoots round about your table.
4: The man who fears the LORD *
shall thus indeed be blessed.
5: The LORD bless you from Zion, *
and may you see the prosperity of Jerusalem all the days of
your life.
6: May you live to see your children's children; *
may peace be upon Israel.

Antiphon: Through faith the saints conquered kingdoms, did what was just and secured promises.

Reading
The angel carried me away in spirit to the top of a very high mountain and showed me the holy city Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from God. It gleamed with the splendor of God. The throne of God and of the Lamb shall be there, and his servants shall serve him faithfully. They shall see him face to face, and bear his name on their foreheads.- Rev. 21:10-11a; 22:3b-4

Responsory
The just shall praise your name, O Lord,
     - Your holy ones shall live in your presence.

From a sermon by St. Bernard, Abbot
(Sermo 2: Opera omnia, Edit Cisterc. 5[1968], 364-368)

Let us make haste to our brethren who are awaiting us

Why should our praise and glorification, or even the celebration of this feast day mean anything to the saints? What do they care about earthly honours when their heavenly Father honours them by fulfilling the faithful promise of the Son? What does our commendation mean to them? The saints have no need of honour from us; neither does our devotion add the slightest thing to what is theirs. Clearly, if we venerate their memory, it serves us, not them. But I tell you, when I think of them, I feel myself inflamed by a tremendous yearning.

Calling the saints to mind inspires, or rather arouses in us, above all else, a longing to enjoy their company, so desirable in itself. We long to share in the citizenship of heaven, to dwell with the spirits of the blessed, to join the assembly of patriarchs, the ranks of the prophets, the council of apostles, the great host of martyrs, the noble company of confessors and the choir of virgins. In short, we long to be united in happiness with all the saints. But our dispositions change. The Church of all the first followers of Christ awaits us, but we do nothing about it. The saints want us to be with them, and we are indifferent. The souls of the just await us, and we ignore them.

Come, brothers, let us at length spur ourselves on. We must rise again with Christ, we must seek the world which is above and set our mind on the things of heaven. Let us long for those who are longing for us, hasten to those who are waiting for us, and ask those who look for our coming to intercede for us. We should not only want to be with the saints, we should also hope to possess their happiness. While we desire to be in their company, we must also earnestly seek to share in their glory. Do not imagine that there is anything harmful in such an ambition as this; there is no danger in setting our hearts on such glory.

When we commemorate the saints we are inflamed with another yearning: that Christ our life may also appear to us as he appeared to them and that we may one day share in his glory. Until then we see him, not as he is, but as he became for our sake. He is our head, crowned, not with glory, but with the thorns of our sins. As members of that head, crowned with thorns, we should be ashamed to live in luxury; his purple robes are a mockery rather than an honour. When Christ comes again, his death shall no longer be proclaimed, and we shall know that we also have died, and that our life is hidden with him. The glorious head of the Church will appear and his glorified members will shine in splendour with him, when he forms this lowly body anew into such glory as belongs to himself, its head.

Therefore, we should aim at attaining this glory with a wholehearted and prudent desire. That we may rightly hope and strive for such blessedness, we must above all seek the prayers of the saints. Thus, what is beyond our own powers to obtain will be granted through their intercession.

RESPONSORY          Revelation 19:5,6; Psalm 33:1
Praise God all you who serve him both great and small,
  - for the Lord God Almighty had begun his reign.

Sing for joy, God’s chosen ones,
let all the saints give Him fitting praise.
- For the Lord God Almighty had begun his reign.

COLLECT
Almighty ever-living God,
by whose gift we venerate in one celebration
the merits of all the Saints,
bestow on us, we pray,
through the prayers of so many intercessors,
an abundance of the reconciliation with you
for which we earnestly long.
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.