Morning Prayer
0206 Martyrs Memorial
HYMN
Christ, in whose passion once was sown
All virtue of all saints to be,
From the white field of these thy own
We praise the seed and sower, thee.
Thine was the first and holiest grain
To die and quicken and increase;
And then came these, and died again,
That spring and harvest should not cease.
From thee the martyrs, we from those,
Each in thy grace's measure, spring;
Their strength upon our weakness flows
And guides us to the goal we sing.
These were thy great ones: we, thy least,
One in desire and faith with them,
Called by the Lord to keep one feast,
Journey to one Jerusalem.
PSALMODY
Antiphons and Psalms of the Weekday
READING [2 Corinthians 1:3-5]
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and God of all encouragement, who encourages us in our every affliction, so that we may be able to encourage those who are in any affliction with the encouragement with which we ourselves are encouraged by God. For as Christ's sufferings overflow to us, so through Christ does our encouragement also overflow.
RESPONSORY
【V】:The just are the friends of God. They live with him forever.
【R】:The just are the friends of God.
【V】:They live with him forever. God himself is their reward.
【R】:They live with him forever.
【V】:Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.
【R】:The just are the friends of God. They live with him forever.
Benedictus Antiphon
Nothing can come between us and the love of Christ, even if we are troubled, or worried, or being persecuted, or lacking food or clothes, or being threatened or even attacked. These are the trials through which we triumph by the power of him who loved us.
Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel! *
He has visited his people and redeemed them.
He has raised up for us a mighty saviour *
in the house of David his servant,
as he promised by the lips of holy men, *
those who were his prophets from of old.
A saviour who would free us from our foes, *
from the hands of all who hate us.
So his love for our fathers is fulfilled *
and his holy covenant remembered.
He swore to Abraham our father to grant us, *
that free from fear, and saved from the hands of our foes,
we might serve him in holiness and justice *
all the days of our life in his presence.
As for you, little child, *
you shall be called a prophet of God, the Most High.
You shall go ahead of the Lord *
to prepare his ways before him,
To make known to his people their salvation *
through forgiveness of all their sins,
the loving-kindness of the heart of our God *
who visits us like the dawn from on high.
He will give light to those in darkness, +
those who dwell in the shadow of death, *
and guide us into the way of peace.
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.
Benedictus Antiphon
Nothing can come between us and the love of Christ, even if we are troubled, or worried, or being persecuted, or lacking food or clothes, or being threatened or even attacked. These are the trials through which we triumph by the power of him who loved us.
INTERCESSIONS
Our Savior's faithfulness is mirrored in the fidelity of his witnesses who shed their blood for the Word of God. Let us praise him in remembrance of them:
【R】You redeemed us by your blood.
Your martyrs freely embraced death in bearing witness for the faith,
- give us the true freedom of the Spirit, O Lord.【R】
Your martyrs professed their faith by shedding their blood,
- give us a faith, O Lord, that is constant and pure.【R】
Your martyrs followed in your footstep by carrying the cross,
- help us to endure courageously the misfortunes of life.【R】
Your martyrs washed their garments in the blood of the Lamb,
- Help us to avoid the weaknesses of the flesh and worldly allurements.【R】
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.
Concluding Prayer
O God, you are the strength of your saints. You called Saint Peter Baptist and his companions to eternal life by way of martyrdom and the cross. Grant, through their intercession, that throughout our lives we may hold courageously to the faith we profess. We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Christ, in whose passion once was sown
All virtue of all saints to be,
From the white field of these thy own
We praise the seed and sower, thee.
Thine was the first and holiest grain
To die and quicken and increase;
And then came these, and died again,
That spring and harvest should not cease.
From thee the martyrs, we from those,
Each in thy grace's measure, spring;
Their strength upon our weakness flows
And guides us to the goal we sing.
These were thy great ones: we, thy least,
One in desire and faith with them,
Called by the Lord to keep one feast,
Journey to one Jerusalem.
PSALMODY
Antiphons and Psalms of the Weekday
READING [2 Corinthians 1:3-5]
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and God of all encouragement, who encourages us in our every affliction, so that we may be able to encourage those who are in any affliction with the encouragement with which we ourselves are encouraged by God. For as Christ's sufferings overflow to us, so through Christ does our encouragement also overflow.
RESPONSORY
【V】:The just are the friends of God. They live with him forever.
【R】:The just are the friends of God.
【V】:They live with him forever. God himself is their reward.
【R】:They live with him forever.
【V】:Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.
【R】:The just are the friends of God. They live with him forever.
Benedictus Antiphon
Nothing can come between us and the love of Christ, even if we are troubled, or worried, or being persecuted, or lacking food or clothes, or being threatened or even attacked. These are the trials through which we triumph by the power of him who loved us.
Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel! *
He has visited his people and redeemed them.
He has raised up for us a mighty saviour *
in the house of David his servant,
as he promised by the lips of holy men, *
those who were his prophets from of old.
A saviour who would free us from our foes, *
from the hands of all who hate us.
So his love for our fathers is fulfilled *
and his holy covenant remembered.
He swore to Abraham our father to grant us, *
that free from fear, and saved from the hands of our foes,
we might serve him in holiness and justice *
all the days of our life in his presence.
As for you, little child, *
you shall be called a prophet of God, the Most High.
You shall go ahead of the Lord *
to prepare his ways before him,
To make known to his people their salvation *
through forgiveness of all their sins,
the loving-kindness of the heart of our God *
who visits us like the dawn from on high.
He will give light to those in darkness, +
those who dwell in the shadow of death, *
and guide us into the way of peace.
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.
Benedictus Antiphon
Nothing can come between us and the love of Christ, even if we are troubled, or worried, or being persecuted, or lacking food or clothes, or being threatened or even attacked. These are the trials through which we triumph by the power of him who loved us.
INTERCESSIONS
Our Savior's faithfulness is mirrored in the fidelity of his witnesses who shed their blood for the Word of God. Let us praise him in remembrance of them:
【R】You redeemed us by your blood.
Your martyrs freely embraced death in bearing witness for the faith,
- give us the true freedom of the Spirit, O Lord.【R】
Your martyrs professed their faith by shedding their blood,
- give us a faith, O Lord, that is constant and pure.【R】
Your martyrs followed in your footstep by carrying the cross,
- help us to endure courageously the misfortunes of life.【R】
Your martyrs washed their garments in the blood of the Lamb,
- Help us to avoid the weaknesses of the flesh and worldly allurements.【R】
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.
Concluding Prayer
O God, you are the strength of your saints. You called Saint Peter Baptist and his companions to eternal life by way of martyrdom and the cross. Grant, through their intercession, that throughout our lives we may hold courageously to the faith we profess. We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever. Amen.