HOW TO PRAY!

The Liturgy of the Hours

What is the Liturgy of the hours? Why pray the Christian Prayers? What do you need to get started?

16 Always rejoice. 17 Pray without ceasing. - 1 Thessalonians 5:16-17, Douay-Rheims 1582 Edition

Wait! How do I obey this decree to ‘Always rejoice?’ Answer: Observe this, my brothers and sisters, the answer is found in the very next verse, ‘Pray without ceasing.’ I know… how do you do that? The simple answer is… you as an individual can’t, but the world can.

From ancient times the Church has had the custom of celebrating each day the liturgy of the hours. In this way the Church fulfills the Lord’s precept to pray without ceasing, at once offering its praise to God the Father and interceding for the salvation of the world.

Sacred Congregation For Divine Worship Prot. no. 1000/71 Decree, Arturus Cardinal Tabera Prefect and A. Bugnini Secretary 1971

Therefore, my brothers and sisters, the power of prayer is undeniable, unshakeable, and each prayer is heard by our Lord Jesus Christ, our Holy Intercessor before the All-Mighty God on our behalf! Moreover, Jesus Christ commanded us to pray, seek, knock, and watch, so that we don’t fall into temptation for the flesh is weak where he is strong!

HOW TO PRAY THE MORNING PRAYER

'But I say to you, "Love your enemies: do good to them that hate you: and PRAY for them that perecute and calumniate you'": - St. Matthew 6:44, Douay-Rheims 1582 Edition
'ASK, and it shall be given you: seek, and you shall find: knock, and it shall be opened to you.' - St. Matthew 7:7, Douay-Rheims 1582 Edition

‘WATCH ye, and PRAY that ye enter not into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh weak.’ – St. Matthew 26:41, Douay-Rheims 1582 Edition

'Take ye heed, WATCH, and PRAY For ye know not when the time is.' - St. Mark 13:33, Douay-Rheims 1582 Edition
'WATCH ye, and PRAY that you enter not into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.' - St. Mark 14:38, Douay-Rheims 1582 Edition
'Bless them that curse you, and PRAY for them that calumniate you.' - St. Luke 6:28, Douay-Rheims 1582 Edition
'The harvest indeed is great, but the labourers are few. PRAY ye, therefore, the Lord of the harvest, that he send labourers into his harvest.' - St. Luke 10:2, Douay-Rheims 1582 Edition
'And I say to you, ASK, and it shall be given you: SEEK, and you shall find: KNOCK, and it shall be open to you.' - St. Luke 11:9, Douay-Rheims 1582 Edition 
'PRAY, lest ye enter into temptation' - St.Luke 22:40, Douay-Rheims 1582 Edition
'Why sleep you? Arise, PRAY, lest you enter into temptation.' - St.Luke 22:46, Douay-Rheims 1582 Edition

HOW TO PRAY THE MORNING PRAYER

WHAT YOU WILL NEED!

First, you will need to take an hour a day and give it to God. Second, grab your bible and while you are spending time with God recite the following Psalms in this order: Psalm 95, Psalm 100, Psalm 67, and Psalm 24. If you develop this good habit then praying from the Christian Prayer – Liturgy of the Hours reciting the Psalms will feel more natural.

Purchase

  1. Christian Prayer #406/19 – ISBN – 978-1-941243-61-9 #406/19
  2. Saint Joseph Guide For Christian Prayer (Liturgy of the Hours) For use with Edition No. 406 – ISBN – 978-1-953152-03-9
  3. Douay-Rheims Bible (Burgundy Premium UltraSoft): Standard Print Size Imitation Leather – ISBN-978-1-935302-5
  4. Liturgy of the Hours Inserts – ISBN – 978-0-89942-049-3

May the Lord bless, protect, and be with you all the days of your life. – Amen

HOW TO PRAY THE MORNING PRAYER

Sincerely,

Brother Brian

NOVEMBER 1, 2021 

ALL SAINTS DAY: SOLEMNITY

Inventory: 

“Lord, open my lips. 

  • And my mouth will proclaim your praise.”

Ant. ‘Come, let us worship God whose praises are sung in the assembly of the Saints.’

Inventory Psalm, as in the Ordinary: 

PSALM 95

Venite exultemus

An invitation to adore and serve God, and to hear his voice.

Praise of canticle for David himself.

1Come let us praise the Lord with joy: let us joyfully sing to God our savior. 

2Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving, and make a joyful noise to him with psalms.

Ant. ‘Come, let us worship God whose praises are sung in the assembly of the Saints.’

3For the Lord is a great God, and a great King above all gods.

4For in his hand are all the ends of the earth, and the heights of the mountains are his.

Ant. ‘Come, let us worship God whose praises are sung in the assembly of the Saints.’

5For the sea is his, and he made it: and his hands formed the dry land.

6Come let us adore and fall down: and weep before the Lord that made us.

Ant. ‘Come, let us worship God whose praises are sung in the assembly of the Saints.’

7For he is the Lord our God: and we are the people of his pasture and the sheep of his hand.

8To day if you shall hear his voice, harden not your hearts:

Ant. ‘Come, let us worship God whose praises are sung in the assembly of the Saints.’

9As in the provocation, according to the day of temptation in the wilderness: where your fathers tempted me, they proved me and saw my works.

10Forty years long was I offended with that generation, and I said: These always err in heart.

Ant. ‘Come, let us worship God whose praises are sung in the assembly of the Saints.’

11And these men have not known my ways: so I swore in my wrath that they shall not enter into my rest.

Ant. ‘Come, let us worship God whose praises are sung in the assembly of the Saints.’

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

MORNING PRAYER

Ant. 1 ‘The saints find their home in the kingdom of heaven; their life is eternal peace, alleluia.’

Psalm 63:2-9

A soul thirsting for God

Whoever has left the darkness of sin, yearns for God.

Douay-Rheims 1899 American Edition

2O God, my God, to thee do I watch at break of day. For thee my soul hath thirsted; for thee my flesh, O how many ways!

3In a desert land, and where there is no way, and no water: so in the sanctuary have I come before thee, to see thy power and thy glory.

Ant. 1 ‘The saints find their home in the kingdom of heaven; their life is eternal peace, alleluia.’

4For thy mercy is better than lives: thee my lips shall praise.

5Thus will I bless thee all my life long: and in thy name, I will lift up my hands.

6Let my soul be filled as with marrow and fatness: and my mouth shall praise thee with joyful lips.

Ant. 1 ‘The saints find their home in the kingdom of heaven; their life is eternal peace, alleluia.’

7If I have remembered thee upon my bed, I will meditate on thee in the morning:

8Because thou hast been my helper. And I will rejoice under the covert of thy wings:

9My soul hath stuck close to thee: thy right hand hath received me.

Ant. 1 ‘The saints find their home in the kingdom of heaven; their life is eternal peace, alleluia.’

Psalm-prayer

Father, creator of unfailing light, give that same light to those who call to you. May our lips praise you; our lives proclaim your goodness; our works give you honor, and our voices celebrate you for ever.

Ant. 2 ‘Saints of the Lord, sing praise to the Lord for ever.’

Canticle – Daniel 3:57-88, 56

Let all creatures praise the Lord

All you servants of the Lord, sing praises to him (Revelation 19:5).

57Bless the Lord, all you works of the Lord. Praise and exalt him above all forever. 

58Angels of the Lord, bless the Lord: praise and exalt him above all forever. 

59You heavens, bless the Lord: praise and exalt him above all forever. 

60All you waters above the heavens, bless the Lord: praise and exalt him above all forever. 

61All you hosts of the Lord, bless the Lord: praise and exalt him above all forever. 

62Sun and moon, bless the Lord: praise and exalt him above all forever. 

63Stars and heaven, bless the Lord: praise and exalt him above all forever. 

Ant. 2 ‘Saints of the Lord, sing praise to the Lord for ever.’

64Every shower and dew, bless the Lord: praise and exalt him above all forever. 

65Fire and heat, bless the Lord: praise and exalt him above all forever. 

66Cold and chill, bless the Lord: praise and exalt him above all forever. 

67Dew and rain, bless the Lord: praise and exalt him above all forever. 

68Frost and chill, bless the Lord: praise and exalt him above all forever. 

69Ice and snow, bless the Lord: praise and exalt him above all forever. 

70Nights and days, bless the Lord: praise and exalt him above all forever. 

71Light and darkness, bless the Lord: praise and exalt him above all forever. 

72Lighting and clouds, bless the Lord: praise and exalt him above all forever. 

Ant. 2 ‘Saints of the Lord, sing praise to the Lord for ever.’

74Let the earth, bless the Lord: praise and exalt him above all forever. 

75Mountains and hills, bless the Lord: praise and exalt him above all forever. 

76Everything growing from the earth, bless the Lord: praise and exalt him above all forever. 

77You springs, bless the Lord: praise and exalt him above all forever. 

78Seas and rivers, bless the Lord: praise and exalt him above all forever. 

79You dolphins and all water creatures bless the Lord: praise and exalt him above all forever. 80All you birds of the air, bless the Lord: praise and exalt him above all forever. 

81All you beasts, wild and tame bless the Lord: praise and exalt him above all forever. 

82You sons of men, bless the Lord: praise and exalt him above all forever. 

Ant. 2 ‘Saints of the Lord, sing praise to the Lord for ever.’

83O let Israel, bless the Lord: let them praise and exalt him above all forever. 

84Priests of the Lord, bless the Lord: praise and exalt him above all forever. 

85Servants of the Lord, bless the Lord: praise and exalt him above all forever. 

86Spirits and souls of the just, bless the Lord: praise and exalt him above all forever. 

87Holy men of humble heart, bless the Lord: praise and exalt him above all forever. 

88Hananiah, Azariah, Mishael bless the Lord: praise and exalt him above all forever. 

Ant. 2 ‘Saints of the Lord, sing praise to the Lord for ever.’

Let us bless the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

56Blessed are you, Lord, in the firmament of heaven. Praiseworthy and glorious and exalted above all forever.

Ant. 3 ‘Sing a hymn of praise in honor of the saints, the children of Israel whom God has chosen as his own; celebrate the glory of all his holy ones.’

Psalm149

The joy of God’s holy people

Let the sons of the Church, the children of the new people, rejoice in Christ, their King (Hesychius). 

Sing a new song to the Lord, his praise in the assembly of the faithful.

Let Israel rejoice in it’s maker, let Zion’s sons exult in their king.

Let them praise his name with dancing and make music with timbrel and harp.

Ant. 3 ‘Sing a hymn of praise in honor of the saints, the children of Israel whom God has chosen as his own; celebrate the glory of all his holy ones.’

For the Lord takes delight in his people. 

He crowns the poor with salvation.

Let the faithful rejoice in their glory, shout for joy and take their rest.

Let the praise of God be on their lips and a two-edged sword in their hans,

Ant. 3 ‘Sing a hymn of praise in honor of the saints, the children of Israel whom God has chosen as his own; celebrate the glory of all his holy ones.’

To deal out vengeance to the nations and punishment on all the peoples; to bind their kings in chains and their nobles in fetters of iron; to carry out the sentence pre-ordained; this honor is for all his faithful.

Ant. 3 ‘Sing a hymn of praise in honor of the saints, the children of Israel whom God has chosen as his own; celebrate the glory of all his holy ones.’

Psalm-prayer

Let Israel rejoice in you, Lord, and acknowledge you as creator and redeemer. We put our trust in your faithfulness and proclaim the wonderful truths of salvation. May your loving kindness embrace us now and for ever.

Reading 

May the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, grant you a spirit of wisdom and insight to know him clearly. May he enlighten your innermost vision that you may know the great hope to which he has called you, the wealth of his glorious heritage to be distributed among the members of the church.

Responsory

Let the just rejoice and sing for joy in the Lord.

  • Let the just rejoice and sing for joy in the Lord.

Delight in his love, you pure of heart,

  • And sing for joy ing the Lord.

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.

  • Let the just rejoice and sing for joy in the Lord.

CANTICLE OF ZECHARIAH

Ant. The saints will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father, alleluia.

INTERCESSIONS

God is the reward of all the saints. Let us joyfully call upon him: 

Lord, save your people.

O God, source of all that is holy, you have let your holiness shine in many marvelous ways through the lives of your saints,

  • help us to celebrate your greatness in them.

King of heaven, through your saints you have given us the courage to follow after your Son,

  • help us to imitate the example of the saints who show us the way to Christ.

Father, in the eucharistic sacrifice you unite us more fully with those who now live in your kingdom, 

  • by our frequent sharing in the body and blood of your Son bring us to the company of the eternal banquet.

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.

Prayer

Father, all-powerful and ever-living God, today we rejoice in the holy men and women of every time and place. May their prayer bring us your forgiveness and love. We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.