JANUARY 2 2026
Leader: O Lord, open my lips. All: And my mouth shall declare your praise.
Come, let us worship the Lord, fount of all wisdom, alleluia.
Psalm 100
Cry out with joy to the Lord, all the earth.
Serve the Lord with gladness.
Come before him, singing for joy.
Know that he, the Lord, is God.
He made us, we belong to him,
we are his people, the sheep of his flock.
Go within his gates, giving thanks.
Enter his courts with songs of praise.
Give thanks to him and bless his name.
Indeed, how good is the Lord,
eternal his merciful love.
He is faithful from age to age.
Reading: From a sermon by St. Gregory Nazianzen
Basil and I were both in Athens. We had come, like streams of a river, from the same source in our native land, had separated from each other in pursuit of learning, and were now united again as if by plan, for God so arranged it.
Different men have different names, which they owe to their parents or to themselves, that is, to their own pursuits and achievements. But our great pursuit, the great name we wanted, was to be Christians, to be called Christians.
Pray either the Canticle of Zechariah or the Canticle of Mary. You can find them here.
Antiphon for the Canticle of Zechariah: Those who are learned will be as radiant as the sky in all its beauty; those who instruct the people in goodness will shine like the stars for all eternity.
Antiphon for the Canticle of Mary: The man who not only teaches but does what is right will be counted great in the kingdom of God.
Intercessions
Make our friendships holy.
Bring salvation to your people, Lord.
Fill all the leaders of your people with the gift of the Holy Spirit.
Bring salvation to your people, Lord.
May our joy be in you.
Bring salvation to your people, Lord.
Dear Father,
You gave light to your Church by the example and teaching of the Bishops Saints Basil and Gregory. May we learn your truth and practice it faithfully through their intercession. We ask this in the name of Jesus, your Son who lives with you and the Holy Spirit forever. Amen.
