August 17 2023 Daily Prayer

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 87

On the holy mountain is his city
cherished by the Lord.
The Lord prefers the gates of Zion
to all Jacob’s dwellings.
Of you are told glorious things,
O city of God!

“Babylon and Egypt I will count
among those who know me;
Philistia, Tyre, Ethiopia,
these will be her children
and Zion shall be called ‘Mother’
for all shall be her children.”

It is he, the Lord Most High,
who gives each his place.
In his register of peoples he writes:
“These are her children,”
and while they dance they will sing:
“In you all find their home.”

Reading: From a treatise on Christian Perfection by St. Gregory of Nyssa

He is our peace, for he has made both one. Since we think of Christ as our peace, we may call ourselves true Christians only if our lives express Christ by our own peace. As the Apostle says: He has put enmity to death. We must never allow it to be rekindled in us in any way but must declare that it is absolutely dead. Gloriously has God slain enmity, in order to save us; may we never risk the life of our souls by being resentful or by bearing grudges. We must not awaken that enmity or call it back to life by our wickedness, for it is better left dead.

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

Pour out the grace of conversion and repentance on all of us.
Come, Lord Jesus!
Show your love to all refugees.
Come, Lord Jesus!
Show your face to those who have died.
Come, Lord Jesus!
Most merciful Father,
Fill us with your light and love so that we may live with generosity and faith. We ask this in the name of Jesus who lives with you and the Holy Spirit for all eternity. Amen.