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Solemn Morning Prayer
We should make a dwelling-place within ourselves where He can stay,
He who is the Lord God Almighty, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
Nothing, then, must keep us back, nothing separate us from Him,
nothing come between us and Him.
Rule 1221, Chaps 21-22
Leader:
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We adore you,
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All: |
most holy Lord Jesus Christ,
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Leader: | O God come to our aid. |
All: |
O Lord make haste to help us.
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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,
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OPENING HYMN
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Ant. 1: |
Francis, wholly catholic and apostolic, was sent to Psalm 91(92) |
Your deeds, 0 Lord, have made me glad;*
Though the wicked spring up like grass *
To me you give the wild-ox’s strength;*
Planted in the house of the Lord,*
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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, Pause for quiet prayer & reflection on Psalm.
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Ant. 1: |
Francis, wholly catholic and apostolic, was sent to herald
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Ant. 2: |
In his lifetime he supported the house of God, and in his day he Canticle
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For I shall praise the name of the Lord.*
Those whom he begot unblemished *
Remember the days of old,*
When the Most High gave the nations their heritage *
God found him in a wilderness,*
Like an eagle that watches its nest,*
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, Pause for quiet prayer & reflection on Psalm.
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Ant. 2: |
In his lifetime he supported the house of God, and in his day he
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Ant. 3: |
Bring my soul out of this prison; the just await my coming Psalm 8 |
Your majesty is praised above the heavens;
When I see the heavens, the work of your hands, *
Yet you have made us little less than gods; *
All of them, sheep and cattle,*
How great is your name, 0 Lord our God,*
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, Pause for quiet prayer & reflection on Psalm. |
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Ant. 3: |
Bring my soul out of this prison; the just await my coming
A Reading from the Book of Deuteronomy (Dt 6:4-9)
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Listen then, Israel, keep and observe what will make you prosperous and numerous, as Yahweh, God of your ancestors, has promised you, in giving you a country flowing with milk and honey. ‘Listen, Israel: Yahweh our God is the one, the only Yahweh. You must love Yahweh your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength. Let the words I enjoin on you today stay in your heart. You shall tell them to your children, and keep on telling them, when you are sitting at home, when you are out and about, when you are lying down and when The word of the Lord.
Responsory: |
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Leader: | You shall worship the Lord your God, to him only shall you do service. |
All: |
With all our hearts and all our souls, all our minds and all our
A Reading from the Writings of Saint Francis
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We must all keep close watch over ourselves or we will be lost and turn our minds from God, because we think there is something worth having or doing, or that we will gain some advantage.
In that love which is God, I entreat all my friars, ministers and subjects, to put away every attachment, all care and solicitude, and serve, love, honour, and adore our Lord and God with a pure heart and mind; this is what He seeks above all else. We should make a dwelling-place within ourselves where He can stay, He who is the Lord God Almighty, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
He himself tells us: Watch, then, praying at all times, that you may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that are to be, and to stand before the Son of Man. When you stand up to pray, say Our Father who art in heaven. Let us adore Him with a pure heart for we must always pray and never lose heart; it is such men as these the Father claims as His worshippers. God is spirit, and they who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.
We should turn to him as to the shepherd and guardian of our souls. He says, I am the good shepherd. I feed my sheep and I lay down my life for my sheep. All you are brothers. And call no one on earth your father; for one is your Father, who is in heaven.
With all our hearts and all our souls, all our minds and all our strength, with every faculty and every effort, with every affection and all our emotions, with every wish and desire, we should love our Lord and God who has given and gives us everything, body and soul, and all our life; it was He who created and redeemed us and of his mercy alone he will save us… He has provided us with every good and does not cease to provide for us.
Responsory |
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Leader: | Listen to my voice and do all that I command you. |
All:
Benedictus
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Be imitators of me as I am of Christ and you will find rest for your souls. |
Antiphon: |
Francis, totally submissive to the Creator, held sway over his
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He has raised up for us a mighty saviour
A saviour who would free us from our foes,
He swore to Abraham and Sarah to grant us,
As for you, little child,
To make known to his people their salvation
He will give light to those in darkness
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,
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Antiphon: |
Francis, totally submissive to the Creator, held sway over his creatures, and was able to enjoy them to the glory of their Maker.
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INTERCESSIONS
Let us beg the Father, source of all holiness, to lead us to holiness of life through the |
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Response: |
We beseech you, hear us.
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Father, you made your servant, Francis, a perfect follower of your Son – grant us the grace to walk steadfastly in his footsteps and so to live faithfully the Gospel. |
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Response: |
We beseech you, hear us.
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Father, direct our feet into the way of peace which our holy Father has pointed out to us – so that we may live wholeheartedly in obedience, poverty and chastity. |
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Response: |
We beseech you, hear us.
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Father, you cast down the mighty and raise the lowly – grant that we may imitate the humility of our seraphic father. |
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Response: |
We beseech you, hear us.
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Father, you marked out your servant Francis with the scars of your Son’s Passion – teach us always to rejoice and glory in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. |
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Response: |
We beseech you, hear us.
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Father, at the prayer of Francis you granted forgiveness to sinners – in your mercy, show the light of your countenance to our deceased brethren. |
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Response:
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We beseech you, hear us.
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Our Father …..
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Leader: | May the Lord Bless you and keep you. May He turn his face to you, and have mercy on you. May He turn His countenance to you and give you peace. May the Lord Bless you: † the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. |
All: | Amen. |
Leader: | Let us praise the Lord. |
All: | Thanks be to God. |