Order of Prayers 1
8:00-11:00 p.m.
OPENING PRAYER
This short introductory prayer is traditional in our Society. It helps us to set the tone, spirit, and purpose of our recitation.
ALL KNEEL
Leader: (as all bless themselves with the Sign of the Cross)
In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen
O Sacrament most holy, O Sacrament divine.All: All praise and all thanksgiving be every moment thine.
Leader: Blessed be the holy and Immaculate Conception.
All: Of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God.
THE INVITATION TO PRAYER
ALL STAND and make the Sign of the Cross on their lips as the leader says:
Leader: O Lord, open my lips
All: and I will proclaim your praise.
Leader: Come, let us adore Christ, the Lord, the bread of life.
All: Come, let us adore Christ, the Lord, the bread of life.
PSALM 95
Leader: O come, let us sing to the Lord;
let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation!
Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving;
let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise!All: Come, let us adore Christ, the Lord, the bread of life.
Leader: For the Lord is a great God, and a great King above all gods,
In his hand are the depths of the earth; the heights of the mountains are his also.
The Sea is his, for he made it, and the dry land, which his hands have formed.All: Come, let us adore Christ, the Lord, the bread of life.
Leader: O come, let us worship and bow down,
let us kneel before the Lord, our maker!
For he is our god, and the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand.
O that today, you would listen to his voice!All: Come, let us adore Christ, the Lord, the bread of life.
Leader: Do not harden your hearts, as at Meribah,
as on the day at Massah in the wilderness,
when your ancestors tested me, and put me to the proof,
though they had seen my work.All: Come, let us adore Christ, the Lord, the bread of life.
Leader: For forty years I loathed that generation
and said, "They are a people whose hearts go astray,
and they do not regard my ways."
Therefore in my anger I swore "They shall not enter my rest."All: Come, let us adore Christ, the Lord, the bread of life.
Left Reader: Glory be to the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
All: As it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen.
Come, let us adore Christ, the Lord, the bread of life.Leader: Be merciful to me, Lord.
All: And answer my prayer.
PSALM 4
(Right Reader) This psalm is King David's hymn of confidence in God. He sings: "Offer the right sacrifices to the Lord." That is what we do in the best way possible when we offer the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass.
Right Reader: When I call, answer me, O God of justice;
ALL SIT
Right Side: Answer me when I call, O God of my right!
Left Side: How long, you people, shall my honor suffer shame?
How long will you love vain words, and seek after lies?
R: But know that the Lord has set apart the faithful for himself;
the Lord hears when I call to him.
L: When you are disturbed, do not sin; ponder it on your beds, and be silent.
Offer right sacrifices, and put your trust in the Lord.
R: There are many who say, "O that we might see some good!
Let the light of your face shine on us, O Lord!
L: You have put gladness in my heart
more than when their grain and wine abound.
R: I will both lie down and sleep in peace; for you alone, O Lord, make me lie down in safety.All: Glory be to the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
As it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen.ALL: Be merciful to me, Lord, and answer my prayer.
Left Reader STANDS
Left Reader: In the silent hours of the night.
All: Praise the Lord.
PSALM 134
(Left Reader) The Psalmist invites those who serve the Lord in the night to praise him. We are here to honor that invitation.
Left Reader: Come, bless the Lord, all you servants of the Lord!
Left Reader SITS
Left Side: Who stand by night in the house of the Lord!
Right Side: Lift up your hands to the holy place, and bless the Lord.
L: May the Lord, maker of heaven and earth, bless you from Zion.All: Glory be to the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
As it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen.All: In the silent hours of the night, praise the Lord.
LEADER STANDS: A short reading from the Book of Deuteronomy (6:4-7).
Hear, O Israel: The Lord is our God, the Lord alone. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your might. Keep these words that I am commanding you today in your heart. Recite them to your children and talk about them when you are at home and when you are away, when you lie down and when you rise.
The Leader SITS and pauses for a couple of minutes to allow the adorers to think on the words he has just read.
ALL STAND
Right Reader: Into your hands, Lord, we commend our spirit.
All: Yes, Lord, into your hands we commend our spirit.
Left Reader: You have redeemed us, Lord, God of truth.
All: Into your hands, Lord, we commend our spirit.
Leader: Glory be to the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
All: Into your hands, Lord, we commend our spirit.
Leader: Save us, Lord.
All: While we are awake; protect us while we sleep; that we may keep watch with Christ and rest with him in peace.
Leader as all bless themselves with the Sign of the Cross.
GOSPEL CANTICLE
Leader: "Master, now you are dismissing your servant in peace,
All: according to your word:Leader: for my eyes have seen your salvation,
All: which you have prepared in the presence of all peoples,
Leader: a light for revelation to the Gentiles
All: and for glory to your people Israel."
Leader: Glory be to the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
All: As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be. Amen.
All: Save us, Lord, while we are awake; protect us while we sleep; that we may keep watch with Christ and rest with him in peace.
Leader: Let us pray (pause) Lord, be with us throughout this night. When the day comes, may we rise from sleep to rejoice in the Resurrection of your Son, our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ who lives and reigns for ever and ever.
All: Amen.
All: The Lord grant us a quiet night and a perfect end. Amen.
ANTIPHON IN HONOR OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY
Leader: Hail, Holy Queen,
All: Mother of mercy, our life, our sweetness, and our hope.*
To you do we cry, poor banished children of Eve.*
To you do we send up our sighs, mourning and weeping in this vale of tears.*
Turn, then, most gracious advocate, your eyes of mercy toward us,*
and after this our exile, show us the blessed fruit of your womb, Jesus.*
O Clement, O Loving, O Sweet Virgin Mary!All SIT
Here the Leader announces a period of silent meditative prayer (5-7 minutes).
OFFICE OF READINGS
ALL STAND
Leader: O God, come to my assistance.
All: Lord, make haste to help me.All: Glory be to the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
As it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen.The following hymn may be recited or sung ― preferably sung, whenever possible. (See number 280 of the General Instruction on the Liturgy of the Hours.) Any other better known hymn to the Blessed Sacrament may be substituted for this one, if so desired.
HYMN
Leader
At that first Eucharist before you died,Right Side
O Lord, you prayed that all be one in you;
At this our Eucharist again preside,
And in our hearts your law of love renew.All
Thus may we all one bread, one body be;
Through this blest sacrament of unity.Left Side
For all your church, O Lord, we intercede;
O make our lack of charity to cease;
Draw us the nearer each to each we plead
By drawing all to you, O Prince of Peace.All
Thus may we all one bread, one body be;
Through this blest sacrament of unity.Right Side
We pray for those who wander from the fold;
O bring them back, Good Shepherd of the sheep
Back to the faith which saints believed of old,
Back to the church which still that faith does keep.All
Thus may we all one bread, one body be;
Through this blest sacrament of unity.Leader: Tell those who are invited:
All: The meal is ready; come to the marriage feast.
PSALM 23
(Leader) David marvels that God should be so good to him, and should prepare a banquet for him. How much truer are David's words for us who feed on the very body and blood of Christ!
Leader: The Lord is my shepherd:
All SIT
Right Side: I shall not want.
Left Side: He makes me lie down in green pastures;
R: he leads me beside still waters;
he restores my soul.L: He leads me in right paths
for his name's sake.R: Even though I walk through the darkest valley,
I fear no evil;L: for you are with me;
your rod and your staff. They comfort me.R: You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies;L: you anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.R: Surely goodness and mercy
shall follow me
all the days of my life,L: and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord
my whole life long.All: Glory be to the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
As it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen.Leader: Tell those who are invited:
All: The meal is ready; come to the marriage feast.
Right Reader STANDS
Right Reader: If anyone thirsts,
All: Let him come to me and drink from the ever-flowing streams.
PSALM 42
(Right Reader) An exile prays to be delivered from his enemies and restored to the privileges of the sanctuary. We make of this Psalm a prayer to Christ that he may lead us to his altar and his banquet.
Right Reader: As a deer longs for flowing streams,
Right Side: so my soul longs for you, O God.
Left Side: My soul thirsts for God,
for the living God.R: When shall I come and behold
the face of God?L: My tears have been my food day and night,
R: while people say to me continually,
"Where is your God?"L: These things I remember, as I pour out my soul:
R: how I went with the throng,
and led them in procession to the house of God,L: with glad shouts and songs of thanksgiving,
a multitude keeping festival.R: Why are you cast down, O my soul
and why are you disquieted within me?L: Hope in God; for I shall again praise him,
my help and my God.R: My soul is cast down within me;
therefore I remember you,L: from the land of Jordan and of Hermon,
from Mount Mizar.R: Deep calls to deep
at the thunder of your cataracts;L: all your waves and your billows
have gone over me.R: By day the Lord command his steadfast love;
L: and at night his song is with me.
R: I say to God, my rock:
"Why have you forgotten me?L: Why must I walk about mournfully
because the enemy oppresses me?"R: As with a deadly wound in my body,
my adversaries taunt me.L: while they say to me continually,
"Where is your God?"R: Why are you cast down, O my soul,
and why are you disquieted within me?L: Hope in God; for I shall again praise him,
my help and my God.All: Glory be to the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
As it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen.All: If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink from the
ever-flowing streams.Left Reader STANDS
Left Reader: The Lord fed us with the finest wheat
All: And filled us with wild honey.
PSALM 81
(Left Reader)
This psalm is a song of joy for a festival. It spells out some of the nice things God did for Israel, not the least of which was: "Open your mouth and I will feed you." We use the psalm to celebrate the greatness of God who feeds us not with manna, but with his own body and blood.
Left Reader SITS
Left Side: Sing aloud to God our strength; shout for joy to the God of Jacob.
Right Side: Raise a song, sound the tambourine,
the sweet lyre with the harp.L: Blow the trumpet at the new moon,
at the full moon, on our festal day.R: For it is a statute for Israel
an ordinance of the God of Jacob.L: He made it a decree in Joseph,
when he went out over the land of Egypt.R: I hear a voice I had not known;
I relieved your shoulder of the burden;L: your hands were freed from the basket.
In distress you called, and I rescued you;R: I answered you in the secret place of thunder;
I tested you at the waters of Meribah.L: Hear, O my people, while I admonish you;
O Israel, if you would but listen to me!R: There shall be no strange god among you;
you shall not bow down to a foreign god.L: I am the Lord your God,
who brought you up out of the land of Egypt.
Open you mouth wide and I will fill it.R: "But my people did not listen to my voice;
Israel would not submit to me.L: So I gave them over to their stubborn hearts,
to follow their own counsels.R: O that my people would listen to me,
that Israel would walk in my ways!L: Then I would quickly subdue their enemies,
and turn my hand against their foes.R: Those who hate the Lord would cringe before him,
and their doom would last forever.L: I would feed you with the finest of the wheat,
and with honey from the rock I would satisfy you."All: Glory be to the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
As it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen.All: The Lord fed us with finest wheat and filled us with wild honey.
Leader STANDS
Leader: Wisdom built herself a house,
All: She mixed her wine and set her table.
Leader: A reading from Saint Paul's First letter to the Corinthians (1 Cor 11:17-33.)
To understand Saint Paul's message, we have to know the circumstances that provoked him to write. In those early days of the church, the celebration of the Eucharist was linked to a brotherly meal. Unfortunately that meal had degenerated into anything but a brotherly gathering. The rich brought their own fancy foods which they did not share with the poor; they overate, they over-drank, and gathered into divisive cliques. This was hardly the right spirit for the Eucharistic celebration that followed! It was to put a stop to those abuses, that Saint Paul wrote the following words: (Pause a few moments.)
Now in the following instructions I do not commend you, because when you come together it is not for the better but for the worse. For, to begin with, when you come together as a church, I hear that there are divisions among you; and to some extent I believe it. Indeed, there have to be factions among you, for only so will it become clear who among you are genuine. When you come together, it is not really to eat the Lord's supper. For when the time comes to eat, each of you goes ahead with your own supper, and one goes hungry and another becomes drunk. What! Do you not have homes to eat and drink in? Or do you show contempt for the church of God and humiliate those who have nothing? What should I say to you? Should I commend you? In this matter I do not commend you.
For I received from the Lord what I also handed on to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took a loaf of bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, "This is my body that is for you. Do this in remembrance of me." In the same way, he took the cup also, after supper, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes.
Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be answerable for the body and blood of the Lord. Examine yourselves, and only then eat of the bread and drink of the cup. For all who eat and drink without discerning the body, eat and drink judgment against themselves. For this reason many of you are weak and ill, and some have died. but if we judged ourselves, we would not be judged. But when we are judged by the Lord, we are disciplined so that we may not be condemned along with the world.
So then, my brothers and sisters, when you come together to eat, wait for one another. If you are hungry, eat at home, so that when you come together, it will not be for your condemnation. About the other things I will give instructions when I come.
Leader SITS for at least two minutes to give the adorers time to think upon the words he has just read to them.
Leader STANDS
Leader: I am the bread of life. Your forefathers ate manna in the desert, and they died.
All: This is the bread that comes down from heaven; anyone who eats this bread will never die.
Leader: I am the living bread come down from heaven. Anyone who eats this bread will live forever.
All: This is the bread that comes down from heaven; anyone who eats this bread will never die.
Leader SITS
Reader (Optional, Left or Right) STANDS
A reading from one of Saint Thomas Aquinas' many sermons on the Holy Eucharist. (Pause for a moment here.)
Saint Thomas is perhaps the greatest theologian the church has ever had. Certainly he was one of its great saints. His thinking has deeply influenced the church ever since he expounded it to his students. His holiness has been a shining example to the entire Christian world. His keen mind not only applied itself to the theological depths of the Eucharistic mystery, it also inspired him in the many sermons he preached on the Blessed Sacrament. The following is an example of his fine blend of theology and piety.
God in His great goodness has bestowed on Christians a privilege beyond compare. In fact, there is not today, nor was there ever at any time, a people with their gods as close to them as our God is close to us. God's only begotten Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, in his eagerness to have us share in his divine life, took on himself our human nature and became a man like us, so that through him we might become godlike. Whatever of our nature he took to himself, he turned into instruments of our salvation: his body he offered on the cross as a victim to God the Father for our redemption; his blood he shed in payment of our reconciliation with God, by cleansing us from sin, and freeing us from the slavery of evil. And lest we forget that tremendous reality, he left us, under the appearances of bread and wine, his Body as food and his Blood as drink.
What a wonderful thing this is! Indeed, can anything be greater for us than this sacred meal in which is eaten, not the flesh of animals as in the sacrifices of the Old Testament, but the very body and blood of Jesus Christ? Can anything on earth compare with this?
No other sacrament does as much for us as does the Holy Eucharist. By it, we are purged of our sins; our virtues are strengthened and increased; our soul is filled with an abundance of spiritual benefits that draw us ever closer to God. Because the Holy Eucharist was instituted for the salvation of all, the church offers it for both the living and the dead, that all may share its treasures. Words fail us when we try to express the spiritual joy this sacrament brings us, since it gives us the very source of joy, Christ himself. It also is, for us, a continuous reminder of the great love Christ had for us in undergoing the torments of his passion and death.
It was to firmly impress on us the vastness of this love, that our Lord, at the Last Supper, after he had celebrated the Passover with His disciples and was on the point of leaving this world to go back to the Father, instituted this sacrament as a perpetual memorial of his passion. In this, he was fulfilling the types and figures of the Old Testament, and giving us his greatest miracle. To those tempted to feel sad over his going away from this earth, this sacrament was destined to be a unique and abiding comfort.
Reader SITS and pauses for at least two minutes to give the adorers time to think on what he has just read to them.
Same Reader STANDS
Reader: See in this bread the body of Christ which hung upon the cross, and in this cup the blood which flowed from his side.
All: Take his body, then, and eat it; take his blood and drink it, and you will become his members.
Reader: The body of Christ is the bond which unites you to him; eat it, or you will have no part in him. The blood is the price he paid for your redemption; drink it, lest you despair of your sinfulness.
All: Take his body, then, and eat it; take his blood and drink it, and you will become his members.
All STAND
Leader: Let us pray (Pause a moment here)
Lord, Jesus Christ, we worship you living among us in the sacrament of your body and blood. May we offer to our Father in heaven a solemn pledge of undivided love. May we offer to all a life truly dedicated to the service of that kingdom where you live with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever.All: Amen.
All KNEEL
Leader: Prayer to our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament.
All: O Virgin Immaculate, mother of Jesus and our own mother, our Lady of the most Blessed Sacrament, we honor you. It is from you that our Savior, present and living in the Holy Eucharist, took his flesh and blood, the same flesh and blood which he offered in sacrifice to the Father, and with which he feeds us in Holy Communion. Give us a deeper appreciation of the Eucharistic mystery, an unwavering loyalty to the words of your Son: "This is my body...this is my blood," a practical faith in what the Holy Eucharist means to the church. Increase our love for Christ whose living presence we honor by our presence here. May we be blessed through your intercession, for, in the divine plan, it was you who made it possible for us to receive the source of life, our Lord, Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns in the Holy Eucharist for love of us. Amen.
All SIT
-- The Leader announces a period of silent prayer stating how many minutes it will last (usually 5-7 minutes).
-- When that time is over he announces one of the prayers in Part III, Prayer of Adoration, or Thanksgiving, or Reparation, or Petition.
N.B. The idea is to offer variety by using different sections every month. If there is time two sections may be used ― for example adoration and reparation, one month; thanksgiving and petition, another month; adoration and thanksgiving, etc., etc. in any combination, different each month. the Moderator will determine what practice to follow.
-- Five minutes before the end of the hour the Leader says:
Prayers for the Deceased.
-- He finishes the Hour with
Prayers for the intentions of the Holy Father, to gain the plenary indulgence granted for the Hour.
Our Father (once)
Hail Mary (once)
Office of the Blessed Sacrament