Morning Prayer
0207 Virgins Memorial
HYMN
Now, from the heaven's descending.
Is seen a glorious light,
The Bride of Christ in splendor,
Arrayed in purest white.
She is the Holy City,
Whose radiance is the grace
Of all the saints in glory,
From every time and place.
This is the hour of gladness
For Bridegroom and for Bride,
The Lamb's great feast is ready,
His Bride is at his side.
How blessed are those invited
To share his wedding feast:
The least become the greatest,
The greatest are the least.
He who is throned in heaven
Takes up his dwelling-place
Among his chosen people,
Who see him face to face.
No sound is heard of weeping,
For pain and sorrow cease,
And sin shall reign no longer,
But love and joy and peace.
See how a new creation
Is brought at last to birth,
A new and glorious heaven,
A new and glorious earth.
Death's power for ever broken,
Its empire swept away,
The promised dawn of glory
Begins its endless day.
PSALMODY
Antiphons and Psalms of the Weekday
READING [Song of Songs 8:7]
Deep waters cannot quench love, nor floods sweep it away. Were one to offer all he owns to purchase love, he would be roundly mocked.
RESPONSORY
【V】:My heart is ever pleading, show me your face.
【R】:My heart is ever pleading, show me your face.
【V】:I long to gaze upon you, Lord.
【R】:Show me your face.
【V】:Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.
【R】:My heart is ever pleading, show me your face.
Benedictus Antiphon
She was honoured by her own generation; she was acclaimed all her days.
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
She was honoured by her own generation; she was acclaimed all her days.
INTERCESSIONS
Christ is the spouse and crowning glory of virgins: let us praise him with joy in our voices and pray to him with sincerity in our hearts.
【R】Jesus, crown of virgins, hear us.
Christ, the holy virgins loved you as their one true spouse:
- grant that nothing may separate us from your love.【R】
You crowned Mary, your mother, queen of virgins:
- through her intercession, let us continually serve you with pure hearts.【R】
Your handmaidens were always careful to love you with whole and undivided attention, that they might be holy in body and spirit:
- through their intercession grant that the lure of this passing world may not distract our attention from you.【R】
Lord Jesus, you are the spouse whose coming was anticipated by the wise virgins:
- grant that we may wait for you in hope and expectation.【R】
Through the intercession of Saint Colette, who was one of the wise and prudent virgins:
- grant us wisdom and innocence of life.【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
God our Father, you chose Saint Colette as a model for many sisters in living the Gospel. Grant that the same seraphic spirit which she wisely taught and strengthened by the example of her holiness may ever remain pure in us. 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
Now, from the heaven's descending.
Is seen a glorious light,
The Bride of Christ in splendor,
Arrayed in purest white.
She is the Holy City,
Whose radiance is the grace
Of all the saints in glory,
From every time and place.
This is the hour of gladness
For Bridegroom and for Bride,
The Lamb's great feast is ready,
His Bride is at his side.
How blessed are those invited
To share his wedding feast:
The least become the greatest,
The greatest are the least.
He who is throned in heaven
Takes up his dwelling-place
Among his chosen people,
Who see him face to face.
No sound is heard of weeping,
For pain and sorrow cease,
And sin shall reign no longer,
But love and joy and peace.
See how a new creation
Is brought at last to birth,
A new and glorious heaven,
A new and glorious earth.
Death's power for ever broken,
Its empire swept away,
The promised dawn of glory
Begins its endless day.
PSALMODY
Antiphons and Psalms of the Weekday
READING [Song of Songs 8:7]
Deep waters cannot quench love, nor floods sweep it away. Were one to offer all he owns to purchase love, he would be roundly mocked.
RESPONSORY
【V】:My heart is ever pleading, show me your face.
【R】:My heart is ever pleading, show me your face.
【V】:I long to gaze upon you, Lord.
【R】:Show me your face.
【V】:Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.
【R】:My heart is ever pleading, show me your face.
Benedictus Antiphon
She was honoured by her own generation; she was acclaimed all her days.
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
She was honoured by her own generation; she was acclaimed all her days.
INTERCESSIONS
Christ is the spouse and crowning glory of virgins: let us praise him with joy in our voices and pray to him with sincerity in our hearts.
【R】Jesus, crown of virgins, hear us.
Christ, the holy virgins loved you as their one true spouse:
- grant that nothing may separate us from your love.【R】
You crowned Mary, your mother, queen of virgins:
- through her intercession, let us continually serve you with pure hearts.【R】
Your handmaidens were always careful to love you with whole and undivided attention, that they might be holy in body and spirit:
- through their intercession grant that the lure of this passing world may not distract our attention from you.【R】
Lord Jesus, you are the spouse whose coming was anticipated by the wise virgins:
- grant that we may wait for you in hope and expectation.【R】
Through the intercession of Saint Colette, who was one of the wise and prudent virgins:
- grant us wisdom and innocence of life.【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
God our Father, you chose Saint Colette as a model for many sisters in living the Gospel. Grant that the same seraphic spirit which she wisely taught and strengthened by the example of her holiness may ever remain pure in us. 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