Thursday

Hymn

Almighty God, whose will supreme
Made ocean’s flood with life to teem;
Part in the firmament to fly,
And part in ocean depths to lie.

Appointing fishes in the sea,
And fowls in open air to be;
That each, by origin the same,
Its separate dwelling place might claim.

Grant that thy servants, by the tide
Of blood and water purified,
No guilty fall from thee may know,
Nor death eternal undergo.

Let none despair through sin’s distress,
Be none puffed up with boastfulness;
That contrite hearts be not dismayed,
Nor haughty souls in ruin laid.

O Father grant that this be done,
Through Jesus Christ thine only Son,
Who, with the Holy Spirit and thee
Shall live and reign eternally.
Amen.

Ant. 1. O Lord * you search me and you know me.
Ps. 138  Do not repeat in Psalm.
O Lord, you search me and you know me,  †  you know my resting and my rising, * you discern my purpose from afar.
You mark when I walk or lie down, * all my ways lie open to you.
Before ever a word is on my tongue, * you know it, O Lord, through and through.
Behind and before you besiege me, * your hand ever laid upon me.
Too wonderful for me, this knowledge, * too high, beyond my reach.
O where can I go from your spirit, * or where can I flee from your face?
If I climb the heavens, you are there. * If I lie in the grave, you are there.
If I take the wings of the dawn, * and dwell at the sea’s furthest ends.
Even there your hand would lead me, * your right hand would hold me fast.
If I say: “Let the darkness hide me * and the light around me be night,”
Even darkness is not dark for you, * and the night is as clear as the day.
For it was you who created my being, * knit me together in my mother’s womb.
I thank you for the wonder of my being, * for the wonders of all your creation.
Already you knew my soul, * my body held no secret from you
When I was being fashioned in secret * and molded in the depths of the earth.
Your eyes saw all my actions, * they were all of them written in your book.
Every one of my days was decreed * before one of them came into being.
To me, how mysterious your thoughts, * the sum of them not to be numbered!
If I count them, they are more than the sand; * to finish, I must be eternal, like you.
O God, that you would slay the wicked! * Men of blood, keep far away from me!
With deceit they rebel against you * and set your designs at naught.
Do I not hate those who hate you, * abhor those who rise against you?
I hate them with a perfect hate, * and they are foes to me.
O search me, God, and know my heart. * O test me and know my thoughts.
See that I follow not the wrong path * and lead me in the path of life eternal.
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.
Ant. 1. O Lord, you search me and you know me.

Ant. 2. From violent men * rescue me, Lord.
Ps. 139
Rescue me, Lord, from evil men; * from the violent keep me safe.
From those who plan evil in their hearts, * and stir up strife every day.
Who sharpen their tongue like an adder’s, * with the poison of viper on their lips.
Lord, guard me from the hands of the wicked;  †  from the violent keep me safe; * they plan to make me stumble.
The proud have hidden a trap, have spread out lines in a net, * set snares across my path.
I have said to the Lord: “Your are my God.” * Lord, hear the cry of my appeal!
Lord my God, my mighty help, * you shield my head in the battle.
Do not grant the wicked their desire * nor let their plots succeed.
Those surrounding me lift up their heads. * Let the malice of their speech overwhelm them.
Let coals of fire rain upon them. * Let them be flung in the abyss, no more to rise.
Let the slanderer not endure upon the earth. * Let evil hunt the violent man to death!
I know that the Lord will avenge the poor, * that he will do justice for the needy.
Truly the just will praise your name: * the upright shall live in your presence.
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.
Ant. 2. From violent men  rescue me, Lord

Ant. 3. I have called to you Lord; * hasten to help me.
Ps. 140. Do not repeat in Psalm.
(I have called to you Lord; hasten to help me!) * Hear my voice when I cry to you.
Let my prayer come before you like incense, * the raising of my hands like an evening oblation.
Lord, set a guard over my mouth; * keep watch at the door of my lips!
Do not turn my heart to things that are wrong, † to evil deeds with men who are sinners. * Never allow me to share in their feasting.
If a good man strikes or reproves me it is kindness; † but let the oil of the wicked not anoint my head. * Let my prayer be ever against their malice.
Their princes were thrown down by the side of the rock: * then they understood that my words were kind.
As a millstone is shattered to pieces on the ground, * so their bones were strewn at the mouth of the grave.
To you, Lord God, my eyes are turned: * in you I take refuge; spare my soul!
From the trap they have laid for me keep me safe: * keep me from the snares of those who do evil.
Let the wicked fall into the traps they have set, * whilst I pursue my way unharmed.
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.
Ant. 3. I have called to you Lord; hasten to help me.

Reading: 1 Peter 1:6-9
In this you rejoice, even if now for a little while you have had to suffer various trials, so that the genuineness of your faith — being more precious than gold that, though perishable, is tested by fire — may be found to result in praise and glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. Although you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and rejoice with an indescribable and glorious joy, for you are receiving the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

Responsory:
I will bless the Lord * at all times.
I will bless…
His praise always on my lips.
At all times.
Glory be…
I will bless…

Magnificat Antiphon: Show forth, O God, * the power of your arm!  Scatter the proud and lift up the lowly.
Luke 1: 45-55
My soul proclaims the greatness on the Lord, * my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour,
For he has looked upon the lowliness of his handmaid; * henceforth all ages shall call me blessed.
He who is mighty has done great things for me — * Holy is his name!
His mercy extends from age to age * upon those who fear him.
He has shown the power of his arm * and scattered the proud of heart.
He has cast down the mighty from their thrones * and lifted up the lowly.
He has filled the hungry with good things * and sent the rich empty away.
He has protected his servant Israel, * mindful of his mercy,
The mercy he promised to our Fathers, * Abraham and his descendants forever.
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.
Magnificat Antiphon: Show forth, O God, * the power of your arm!  Scatter the proud and lift up the lowly.