Psalmody

PSALMODY

Ant. 1 I will sing to you, O Lord; I will learn from you the way of perfection.

Psalm 101
Avowal of a good ruler



My song is of mercy and justice; *
I sing to you, O Lord.
I will walk in the way of perfection. *
O when, Lord, will you come?

I will walk with blameless heart *
within my house;
I will not set before my eyes *
whatever is base.

I will hate the ways of the crooked; *
they shall not be my friends.
The false-hearted must keep far away; *
the wicked I disown.

The man who slanders his neighbor in secret *
I will bring to silence.
The man of proud looks and haughty heart *
I will never endure.

I look to the faithful in the land *
that they may dwell with me.
He who walks in the way of perfection *
shall be my friend.

No man who practices deceit *
shall live within my house.
No man who utters lies shall stand *
before my eyes.

Morning by morning I will silence *
all the wicked in the land,
uprooting from the city of the Lord *
all who do evil.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, *
and to the Holy Spirit:
as it was in the beginning, is now, *
and will be for ever. Amen.

Psalm Prayer

So that your people may walk in innocence, you came to us, Lord Jesus, and told us to be holy as your Father is holy. Help your children to love what is truly perfect, so that we may neither speak what is evil nor do what is wrong. Let us stand in your sight and celebrate with you the Father’s love and justice.

Ant. I will sing to you, O Lord; I will learn from you the way of perfection.

Ant. 2 Lord, do not withhold your compassion from us.

Canticle: Daniel 3: 26, 27, 29, 34-41
Azariah’s Prayer in the furnace



Blessed are you, and praiseworthy, †
O Lord, the God of our fathers, *
and glorious forever is your name.

For you are just in all you have done; †
all your deeds are faultless, all your ways right, *
and all your judgments proper.

For we have sinned and transgressed †
by departing from you, *
and we have done every kind of evil.

For your name’s sake, do not deliver us up forever, *
or make void your covenant.

Do not take away your mercy from us, †
for the sake of Abraham, your beloved, *
Isaac your servant, and Israel your holy one,

to whom you promised to multiply their offspring †
like the stars of heaven, *
or the sand on the shore of the sea.

For we are reduced, O Lord, beyond any other nation, †
brought low everywhere in the world this day *
because of our sins.

We have in our day no prince, prophet, or leader, †
no holocaust, sacrifice, oblation, or incense, *
no place to offer first fruits, to find favor with you.

But with contrite heart and humble spirit *
let us be received;
as though it were holocausts of rams and bullocks, *
or thousands of fat lambs,
so let our sacrifice be in your presence today †
as we follow you unreservedly; *
for those who trust in you cannot be put to shame.

And now we follow you with our whole heart, *
we fear you and we pray to you.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, *
and to the Holy Spirit:
as it was in the beginning, is now, *
and will be for ever. Amen.

Ant. Lord, do not withhold your compassion from us.

Ant. 3 O God, I will sing to you a new song.

Psalm 144:1-10
Prayer for victory and peace



Blessed be the Lord, my rock, †
who trains my arms for battle, *
who prepares my hands for war.

He is my love, my fortress; *
he is my stronghold, my savior
my shield, my place of refuge. *
He brings peoples under my rule.

Lord, what is man that you care for him, *
mortal man, that you keep him in mind;
man, who is merely a breath, *
whose life fades like a passing shadow?

Lower your heavens and come down; *
touch the mountains; wreathe them in smoke.
Flash your lightnings; rout the foe, *
shoot your arrows and put them to flight.

Reach down from heaven and save me; *
draw me out from the mighty waters,
from the hands of alien foes †
whose mouths are filled with lies, *
whose hands are raised in perjury.

To you, O God, will I sing a new song; *
I will play on the ten-stringed harp
to you who give kings their victory, *
who set David your servant free.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, *
and to the Holy Spirit:
as it was in the beginning, is now, *
and will be for ever. Amen.

Psalm Prayer

Lord, God of strength, you gave your Son victory over death. Direct your Church’s fight against evil in the world. Clothe us with the weapons of light and unite us under the one banner of love, that we may receive our eternal reward after the battle of earthly life.

Ant. O God, I will sing to you a new song.

1st Reading

1 Pt 1:10-16

A reading from the first Letter of Saint Peter

Beloved:
Concerning the salvation of your souls
   the prophets who prophesied about the grace that was to be yours
   searched and investigated it
   investigating the time and circumstances
   that the Spirit of Christ within them indicated
   when it testified in advance
   to the sufferings destined for Christ
   and the glories to follow them.
It was revealed to them that they were serving not themselves but you
   with regard to the things that have now been announced to you
   by those who preached the Good News to you
   through the Holy Spirit sent from heaven,
   things into which angels longed to look.

Therefore, gird up the loins of your mind, live soberly,
   and set your hopes completely on the grace to be brought to you
   at the revelation of Jesus Christ.
Like obedient children,
   do not act in compliance with the desires of your former ignorance
   but, as he who called you is holy,
   be holy yourselves in every aspect of your conduct,
   for it is written, Be holy because I am holy.