Wednesday

Hymn:
O God, whose hand has spread the sky
And all its shining hosts on high,
And, painting it with fiery light,
Made it so beauteous and so bright.

Who didst command the sun to light
His fiery wheel’s effulgent blaze;
Set for the moon her circuit bright,
The stars their ever-winding maze.

That, each within its ordered sphere,
They might divide the night from day;
And of the seasons through the year
The well remembered signs display.

Enlighten thou the hearts of men,
Polluted souls make pure again;
Unloose the bands of guilt within,
Remove the burden of our sin.

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. The Lord does * whatever he wills.
Ps. 134
Praise the name of the Lord, * praise him, servants of the Lord,
Who stands in the house of the Lord, * in the courts of the house of our God.
Praise the Lord for the Lord is good. * Sing a psalm to his name for he is loving.
For the Lord has chosen Jacob for himself, * and Israel for his own possession.
For I know the Lord is great, * that our Lord is high above all gods.
The Lord does whatever he wills, * in heaven, on earth, in the seas.
He summons clouds from the ends of the earth; † makes lightning produce the rain; * from his treasuries he sends forth the wind.
The first born of the Egyptians he smote, * of man and beast alike.
Signs and wonders he worked † in the midst of your land, O Egypt, * against Pharaoh and all his servants.
Nations in their greatness he struck, * and kings in their splendour he slew.
Sihon, king of the Amorites, † Og the king of Bashan, * and all the kingdoms of Canaan.
He let Israel inherit their land; * on his people their land he bestowed.
Lord, your name stands forever, * unforgotten from age to age:
For the Lord does justice for his people; * the Lord takes pity on his servants.
Pagan idols are silver and gold, * the work of human hands.
They have mouths but they cannot speak; * they have eyes but they cannot see.
They have ears but they cannot hear; * there is never a breath on their lips.
Their makers will become like them, * and so will all who trust in them!
Sons of Israel, bless the Lord! * Sons of Aaron, bless the Lord!
Sons of Levi, bless the Lord! * You who fear him, bless the Lord!
From Sion may the Lord be blessed, * he who dwells in Jerusalem!
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. The Lord does whatever he wills.

Ant. 2. For his great love* is without end.
Ps. 135
O give thanks to the Lord for he is good, * for his great love is without end.
Give thanks to the God of gods, * for his great love is without end.
Give thanks to the Lord of lords, * for his great love is without end;
Who alone has wrought marvellous works, * for his great love is without end;
Whose wisdom it was made the skies, * for his great love is without end;
Who fixed the earth firmly on the seas, * for his great love is without end.
It was he who made the great lights, * for his great love is without end.
The sun to rule in the day, * for his great love is without end.
The moon and the stars in the night, * for his great love is without end.
The first-born of the Egyptians he smote, * for his great love is without end.
He brought Israel out from their midst, * for his great love is without end.
Arm outstretched, with power in his hand, * for his great love is without end.
He divided the Red Sea in two, * for his great love is without end.
He made Israel pass through the midst, * for his great love is without end.
He flung Pharaoh and his force in the sea, * for his great love is without end.
Through the desert his people he led, * for his great love is without end.
Nations in their greatness he struck, * for his great love is without end.
Kings in their splendour he slew, * for his great love is without end.
Sihon, king of the Amorites, * for his great love is without end.
And Og, the king of Bashan, * for his great love is without end.
He let Israel inherit their land, * for his great love is without end.
On his servants their land he bestowed, * for his great love is without end.
He remembered us in our distress, * for his great love is without end.
And he snatched us away from our foes, * for his great love is without end.
He gives food to all living things, * for his great love is without end.
To the God of heaven give thanks, * for his great love is without end.
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. For his great love is without end.

Ant. 3. “Sing to us * one of Sion’s songs.”
Ps. 136
By the rivers of Babylon † there we sat and wept, * remembering Sion;
On the poplars that grew there, * we hung up our harps.
For it was there that they asked us, † our captors for songs, * our oppressors, for joy.
“Sing to us,” they said, * “one of Sion’s songs.”
O how could we sing the song of the Lord * on alien soil?
If I forget you, Jerusalem, * let my right hand wither!
O let my tongue cleave to my mouth † if I remember you not, * if I prize not Jerusalem above all my joys!
Remember, O Lord, against the sons of Edom, * the day of Jerusalem;
When they said: “Tear it down! * Tear it down to its foundations!”
O Babylon, destroyer, † he is happy who repays you * the ills you brought on us.
He shall seize * and shall dash your children on the rock!
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. Sing to us one of Sion’s songs.

Ant. 4. In the sight of the angels * I will praise you my God.
Ps. 137
I thank you, Lord, with all my heart, * you have heard the words of my mouth.
Before the angels I will bless you. * I will adore before your holy temple.
I thank you for your faithfulness and love, * which excel all we ever knew of you.
On the day I called, you answered; * you increased the strength of my soul.
All earth’s kings shall thank you * when they hear the words of your mouth.
They shall sing of the Lord’s ways: * “How great is the glory of the Lord!”
The Lord is high yet he looks on the lowly, * and the haughty he knows from afar.
Though I walk in the midst of affliction, * you give me life and frustrate my foes.
You stretch out your hand and save me, * your hand will do all things for me.
Your love, O Lord, is eternal, * discard not the works of your hands.
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. 4.  In the sight of the angels I will praise you, my God.

Reading: James 1:22,25
But be doers of the word, and not merely hearers who deceive themselves. But those who look into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and persevere, being not hearers who forget but doers who act — they will be blessed in their doing.

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: The Lord has looked upon my lowliness, * and he who is mighty has done great things for me.
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: The Lord has looked upon my lowliness, * and he who is mighty has done great things for me.