Every day, we will post a few brief prayers inspired by the Liturgy of the Hours.
O Lord, open my lips. And my mouth shall declare your praise.
Psalm 43
Defend me, O God, and plead my cause against a godless nation. From deceitful and cunning men rescue me, O God. Since you, O God, are my stronghold, why have you rejected me? Why do I go mourning oppressed by the foe? O send forth your light and your truth; let these be my guide. Let them bring me to your holy mountain, to the place where you dwell. And I will come to the altar of God, the God of my joy. My redeemer, I will thank you on the harp, O God, my God. Why are you cast down my soul, why groan within me? Hope in God; I will praise him still, my savior and my God.
Reading: From the book On the Holy Spirit by St. Basil
When mankind was estranged from him by disobedience, God our Savior made a plan for raising us from our fall and restoring us to friendship with himself. According to this plan Christ came in the flesh, he showed us the gospel way of life, he suffered, died on the cross, was buried and rose from the dead. He did this so that we could be saved by imitation of him, and recover our original status as sons of God by adoption. To attain holiness, then, we must not only pattern our lives on Christ’s by being gentle, humble and patient, we must also imitate him in his death. Taking Christ for his model, Paul said that he wanted to become like him in his death in the hope that he too would be raised from death to life.
The Canticle of Mary
My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord, My spirit rejoices in God, my Savior for he has looked with favor on his lowly servant. From this day all generations will call me blessed: the Almighty has done great things for me, and holy is his Name.
Intercessions
Heal our hard hearts. Lord, have mercy on us! Make us humble. Lord, have mercy on us! Help those who are about to be baptized. Lord, have mercy on us!
Dear Jesus, As we celebrate the mysteries of your Passion, may you look on us with favor and pardon our offenses. We ask the Father for this in your name in union with the Holy Spirit. Amen.
