Introduction:
The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
– Amen.
God, come to my assistance:
-Lord, make haste to help me.
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, world without end. Amen.
Hymn: Shepherd Me, O God
Shepherd me, O God, beyond my wants,
beyond my fears, from death into life.
God is my shepherd, so nothing shall I want,
I rest in the meadows of faithfulness and love,
I walk by the quiet waters of peace.
Shepherd me, O God, beyond my wants,
beyond my fears, from death into life.
Gently you raise me and heal my weary soul,
you lead me by pathways of righteousness and truth,
my spirit shall sing the music of your Name.
Shepherd me, O God, beyond my wants,
beyond my fears, from death into life.
Though I should wander the valley of death,
I fear no evil, for you are at my side,
your rod and your staff, my comfort and my hope.
You have set me a banquet of love in the face of hatred;
crowning me with love beyond my power to hold.
Shepherd me, O God, beyond my wants,
beyond my fears, from death into life.
Surely your kindness and mercy follow me all the days of my life;
I will dwell in the house of my God, forevermore.
Shepherd me, O God, beyond my wants,
beyond my fears, from death into life.
On Suffering and Hope:
Antiphon 1: “Let them purify their hearts from every tendency and yearning for possession and power.”
I am beset. The enemy pursues my soul; he has crushed me.
He makes me dwell in darkness.
My spirit fails; my heart is numb with fear.
He is relentless, ever vigilant, never resting.
His legions surround me, closing upon me from every direction.
They use my weakness against me, forging bonds from my faults, feeding on my feebleness.
Unwitting, pathetic, and blind, I am my own antagonist.
I am the source of the raw material they use to fashion the chains that bind me.
I am his amusement. He laughs at me, continuously. His cackling haunts me.
Against him, I am powerless.
My strength is insufficient to overcome him.
He brushes my best efforts aside, effortlessly.
I possess no weapon that can wound him.
I am overmatched.
You, Lord, are my only hope.
I place my confidence in You.
You possess the power I lack.
You are my rescuer, my redeemer and my liberator.
You are faithful. You are just.
Hear my appeal. Safeguard me.
Do not call your servant to judgment. Have mercy on me!
To you I stretch out my hand.
Like a parched land my soul thirsts for you.
I long for your peace. Favor me with your grace and blessing.
For your name’s sake, Lord, deliver and sanctify me.
Liberate my soul from the distress that engulfs me.
Do not let the enemy triumph over me.
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, world without end. Amen.
Psalm Prayer: (Prologue to the Rule, John 17)
“O holy Father, protect them with your name whom you gave me out of the world. I entrusted to them the message you entrusted to me and they received it. They have known that in truth I came from you, they have believed that it was you who sent me. For these I pray, not for the world. Bless and consecrate them, and I consecrate myself for their sakes. I do not pray for them alone; I pray also for those who will believe in me through their word that they may be holy by being one as we are one. And I desire, Father, to have them in my company where I am to see this glory of mine in your kingdom.”
Antiphon 1: “Let them purify their hearts from every tendency and yearning for possession and power.”
On Poverty, Freedom and Love:
Antiphon 2: “Trust in the presence of the divine seed in everyone and in the transforming power of love and pardon.”
Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have Mercy on me, a sinner.
Please, teach me to dwell and pray unceasingly in Your Steadfast Love.
Focus my penitential gaze on your Incarnation, your Passion, your Resurrection, and your ongoing Presence.
Increase my discipline.
Erase my complacency.
Liberate my tears.
Bolster my gratitude.
Encourage in me a deep desire to encounter you in scripture, prayer, and contemplation.
Forgive my sins. Cleanse me and heal me.
Permeate, preserve, and protect me.
Perfect my prayers, my petitions, my perception, my patience, my persistence, my perseverance, and my resolve.
Enlist me and reinforce me as your willing and trusting, joyful and loving,
loyal and humble servant.
Increase my faith and the quantity and quality of my prayer.
Break the chains that bind my will, unifying mine with yours in the Holy Spirit.
Diminish and deconstruct me.
Convert and conform me.
Abide within me and grant me Your Peace.
Guide me through Poverty to the Yes that sets me free to love you, God, and all my brothers and sisters,
completely, unconditionally, without reservation or distraction,
in accord with your Most Holy Will and Perfect Gospel Example.
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, world without end. Amen.
Antiphon 2: “Trust in the presence of the divine seed in everyone and in the transforming power of love and pardon.”
On Mercy and Gratitude:
Antiphon 3: “Let prayer and contemplation be the soul of all they are and do.”
Lord Jesus, Your Divine Heart is so passionately in Love with men that it cannot contain within itself the flames of its ardent charity. Save, O Lord, all those who have no one to pray for them.
You have promised that your Heart shall dilate and pour out the influences of its Love abundantly on all those that suitably honor it. If men would render you some return of your Love, you would esteem little all you have done for them. Instead, they meet your eager Love with coldness and rebuffs.
Please, O Lord, allow my humble prayers to supply some measure of recompense for our ingratitude. May they console and rejoice you in whatever small way my all too human intentions can muster.
“O my Jesus, lead all souls to Heaven, especially those most in need of thy mercy.”
Thank you, Lord, for being present in your Word, your Eucharist, your Creation, in this wondrous day, and within me at all times. Help me to accept that every occurrence that happens in my life, happens in accord with your True, Excellent and Holy Will. I place all my trust in you, Lord.
Reveal to me my sins that I might become more completely repentant this day.
Turn my face toward you.
Align my conversion with your divine, inspired, and impeccable plan for my redemption.
Remind me often that your Love for me is unshakable.
Every event in my life is always entirely consistent with that Love.
I will inevitably move one step closer to salvation if I gratefully and peacefully accept every experience you send me.
Pray with me Holy Spirit. Perfect my prayer.
Help me to desire only that which you know I should rightly desire.
Sustain me as I seek to return God’s Love properly and perfectly,
for I cannot do so on my own.
Only with your assistance can I love as fully and truly as I need and wish to love.
Lord, thank you for my life,
which you affirm moment by moment through the graces you bestow on me.
Please, allow your Word to prepare me for whatever you send my way each day.
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, world without end. Amen.
Psalm Prayer:
Almighty God, protect me by your power, hour by hour, moment by moment.
Do not let me turn to sin.
Let my every thought, word and deed be pleasing in your sight.
Grant this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, Who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, forever and ever, Amen.
Bless me, Lord, and keep me from all evil, and bring me to everlasting life.
Antiphon 3: “Let prayer and contemplation be the soul of all they are and do.”
Reading: (True and Perfect Joy)
One day at St. Mary’s, blessed Francis called Brother Leo and said: “Brother Leo, write.” He responded: “Look, I am ready.” “Write,” he said, “what true joy is.”
“A messenger arrives and says that all the Masters of Paris have entered the Order. Write: this is not true joy! Or, that all the prelates, archbishops and bishops beyond the mountains, as well as the King of France and the King of England have entered the Order. Write: this is not true joy! Again, that my brothers have gone to the non-believers and converted all of them to the faith: again, that I have so much grace from God that I heal the sick and perform many miracles. I tell you true joy does not consist in any of these things.”
“Then what is true joy?”
“I return from Perugia and arrive here in the dead of night. It is winter time, muddy, and so cold that icicles have formed on the edge of my habit and keep striking my legs and blood flows from such wounds. Freezing, covered with mud and ice, I come to the gate and, after I have knocked and called for some time, a brother comes and asks: ‘Who are you?’ ‘Brother Francis,’ I answer. ‘Go away!’ he says. ‘This is not a decent hour to be wandering about! You may not come in!’ When I insist, he replies: ‘Go away! You are simple and stupid! Do not come back to us again! There are many of us here like you – we do not need you!’ I stand at the door again and say: ‘For the love of God, take me in tonight!’ And he replies: ‘I will not! Go to the Crosiers’ place and ask there!’”
“I tell you this: If I had patience and did not become upset, true joy, as well as true virtue and the salvation of my soul, would consist in this.”
Responsorial:
In you, Lord, I have hoped, let me not be put to shame! In your justice, free me and rescue me!
-God, be my protector and stronghold! Look upon me with Mercy!
You are my patience, Lord, my hope from youth! Incline your ear to me! My song will always be to you!
-Look upon me with Mercy!
May my mouth be filled with praise! I will sing all day long of your glory and greatness!
-God, be my protector and stronghold! Look upon me with Mercy!
Blessed be the Lord my God! He has become my refuge on the day of my distress!
-Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia!!!
The Word Became Flesh: (John 1:1-14)
Antiphon: The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
There was a man sent from God whose name was John. He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all might believe. He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light.
The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world. He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God — children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.
The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
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, world without end. Amen.
Antiphon: The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.
Intercession:
Let all of us, sisters and brothers, consider the Good Shepherd who bore the suffering of the Cross to save his sheep.
-Follow the poor and crucified Christ, and witness to Him even in difficulties and persecutions.
The Lord’s sheep followed Him in tribulation and persecution, in shame and hunger, in weakness and temptation; for these things they received eternal life from the Lord.
-Follow the poor and crucified Christ, and witness to Him even in difficulties and persecutions.
Let us boast only in our weakness and in carrying each day the Holy Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ.
-Follow the poor and crucified Christ, and witness to Him even in difficulties and persecutions.
Each day He humbles Himself as when He came from the royal throne into the Virgin’s womb; each day He comes down from the bosom of the Father onto the altar in the hands of a priest.
-Follow the poor and crucified Christ, and witness to Him even in difficulties and persecutions.
Contemplate His most Holy Body and Blood, living and true, with your spiritual eyes and believe that He is God. In this way the Lord is always with his faithful, even until the end of the age.
-Follow the poor and crucified Christ, and witness to Him even in difficulties and persecutions.
Our Father:
Our Father, who art in Heaven, hallowed be Thy Name.
Thy Kingdom come, Thy Will be done, on earth, as it is in Heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us,
and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
Amen.
Concluding Prayer:
Holy Virgin Mary, among women born into the world, there is no one like you.
Daughter and servant of the most high and supreme King,
Mother of our most holy Lord Jesus Christ,
Spouse of the Holy Spirit;
Pray for us, with St. Michael the Archangel,
all the powers of heaven,
and all the saints at the side of your most holy and beloved Son,
our Lord and Teacher.
Amen.
Dismissal:
May the all-powerful Lord grant us a restful night.
-Amen.
May He accompany us as we move through the world as pilgrims and strangers making our way home.
-Amen.
May the love and compassion of Sister Death attend us as we serenely tend toward the ultimate encounter with the Father.
-Amen.
The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
-Amen.
OFS Ongoing 