Opening
Lord, open my lips. And my mouth will proclaim your praise.
Hymn
Before the page is turned, O Lord, Before the errand and the noise, Sit with us in this early quiet And read us into peace. Let one line of Scripture remain When the rest of the morning fades. Not many thoughts — one faithful word To carry through the day.
Original – Prayer on Fire
Psalm I
Antiphon
Speak, Lord — your servant is listening in the quiet.
Psalm 72 (71):1–2, 12–13
Catholic Public Domain Version (public domain)
Psalm
Give your judgment, O God, to the king, and your justice to the king’s son, to judge your people with justice and your poor with judgment. For he will free the poor from the powerful, and the poor one who has no helper. He will spare the poor and the indigent, and he will bring salvation to the souls of the poor.
Glory Be
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.
Antiphon
Speak, Lord — your servant is listening in the quiet.
Psalm II
Antiphon
Let your truth steady me before the day grows loud.
Psalm 98 (97):1–3
Catholic Public Domain Version (public domain)
Psalm
Sing to the Lord a new song, for he has performed wonders. His right hand and his holy arm have accomplished salvation. The Lord has made known his salvation. He has revealed his justice in the sight of the nations. He has remembered his mercy and his truth toward the house of Israel. All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.
Glory Be
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.
Antiphon
Let your truth steady me before the day grows loud.
Silence
Hold the psalm a little longer.
First Reading
Ezekiel 34:11–16
Catholic Public Domain Version (public domain)
For thus says the Lord God: Behold, I myself will seek my sheep, and I myself will visit them. Just as a shepherd visits his flock, in the day when he will be in the midst of his sheep that were scattered, so will I visit my sheep. And I will deliver them from all the places to which they had been scattered in the day of gloom and darkness. And I will lead them away from the peoples, and I will gather them from the lands, and I will bring them into their own land. And I will pasture them on the mountains of Israel, by the rivers, and in all the settlements of the land. I will feed them in very fertile pastures, and their pastures will be on the lofty mountains of Israel. There they will rest on the green grass, and they will be fed in the fat pastures, on the mountains of Israel. I will feed my sheep, and I will cause them to lie down, says the Lord God. I will seek what had been lost. And I will lead back again what had been cast aside. And I will bind up what had been broken. And I will strengthen what had been infirm. And I will preserve what was fat and strong. And I will feed them on judgment.
Responsory
Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening. Your word is life for us. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Second Reading
From a sermon of St. Leo the Great on the Passion
public domain
True reverence for the Lord’s Passion means fixing the eyes of our heart on Jesus crucified, and recognizing in Him our own humanity. The earth, the sea, and the sky tremble; the sun is darkened; the rocks split; and yet the hearts of the ungodly are not moved. Let us at least be moved, for whose sake all this was done. The Cross is not only the instrument of suffering; it is the chair from which the Master teaches. From it He draws all to Himself. From it He prays for His enemies. From it He opens paradise to the thief. From it He hands His mother to the disciple, and the disciple to His mother, that the Church might learn how to stand. Let no man be ashamed of the Cross, by which Christ has redeemed the world. Let us rather glory in it. The weakness of God is stronger than men, and the foolishness of God is wiser than men. What was done in one body is offered for all, that all who are in that body might live.
Intercessions
Give us a humble hearing, like Samuel in the night.
R. Lord, have mercy.
For the Church’s shepherds, that they may listen before they speak.
R. Lord, have mercy.
For those ashamed to pray — meet them without scorn.
R. Lord, have mercy.
For this new beginning, that we may be poor enough to receive.
R. Lord, have mercy.
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.
Closing prayer
Holy Spirit, keep a quiet flame in us when the noise starts. Teach us to work without abandoning prayer. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.