Dominica in SeptuagesimaSeptuagesima Sunday

℣ O Lord, ✠ open my lips.

℟ And my mouth shall proclaim your praise.

℣ O God, ✠ come to my assistance.

℟ Lord, make haste to help me.

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.

Praise to you, O Lord, King of eternal glory.

Ant. Let us come before the face of the Lord: * and in psalms let us sing joyfully to him.

Ant. Let us come before the face of the Lord: * and in psalms let us sing joyfully to him.

Come, let us exult in the Lord. Let us shout joyfully to God, our Savior.

Ant. Let us come before the face of the Lord: * and in psalms let us sing joyfully to him.

For the Lord is a great God and a great King over all gods. For the Lord will not drive away his people. For in his hand are all the limits of the earth, and he beholds the heights of the mountains.

Ant. and in psalms let us sing joyfully to him.

For the sea is his, and he made it, and his hands established the dry land. (kneel) Come, let us adore and fall prostrate before God, and let us weep before the Lord who made us. For he is the Lord our God, and we are his people and the sheep of his pasture.

Ant. Let us come before the face of the Lord: * and in psalms let us sing joyfully to him.

If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts: as in the provocation, according to the day of temptation in the wilderness, where your fathers tempted me; they tested and saw my works.

Ant. and in psalms let us sing joyfully to him.

For forty years, I was near to that generation, and I said: These have always strayed in heart. But they have not known my ways. To them I swore in my wrath: They shall not enter into my rest.

Ant. Let us come before the face of the Lord: * and in psalms let us sing joyfully to him.

℣ 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. and in psalms let us sing joyfully to him.

Ant. Let us come before the face of the Lord: * and in psalms let us sing joyfully to him.

Hail day! whereon the One in Three

First formed the earth by sure decree,

The day its Maker rose again,

And vanquished death, and burst our chain.

Away with sleep and slothful ease

Let all arise without delay,

At night we seek the Lord of all,

Obedient to the Prophet's call.

That He may hearken to our prayer,

Stretch forth His strong right arm to spare,

And ev'ry past offense forgiven,

Restore us to our home in heaven.

Assembled here this holy day,

This holiest hour we raise the lay,

And O that He to whom we sing,

May now reward our offering!

O radiance of the Father's light!

We now beseech thee with our might:

Let flames of lust be far away,

And every harmful act, we pray.

That this our body's mortal frame

May know no sin, and fear no shame,

Nor fire hereafter be the end

Of passions which our bosom rend.

Redeemer of the world, we pray

That thou wouldst wash our sins away,

And give us, of Thy boundless grace,

The blessings of the heavenly place.

Grant this, most loving Father,

And you, the Only-Begotten, equal to the Father,

With the Spirit the Paraclete,

Reigning through every age.

Amen.

At the Nocturn

Ant. Blessed is the man * who meditates on the law of the Lord.

Psalm 1 [1]

1:1 Blessed is the man who has not followed the counsel of the impious, † and has not remained in the way of sinners, * and has not sat in the chair of pestilence.

1:2 But his will is with the law of the Lord, * and he will meditate on his law, day and night.

1:3a And he will be like a tree that has been planted beside running waters, * which will provide its fruit in its time,

1:3b and its leaf will not fall away, * and all things whatsoever that he does will prosper.

1:4 Not so the impious, not so. * For they are like the dust that the wind casts away from the face of the earth.

1:5 Therefore, the impious will not rise again in judgment, * nor sinners in the council of the just.

1:6 For the Lord knows the way of the just. * And the path of the impious will pass away.

℣ 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. Blessed is the man who meditates on the law of the Lord.

Ant. Serve the Lord * in fear, and rejoice before him with trembling.

Psalm 2 [2]

2:1 Why have the Gentiles been seething, * and why have the people been pondering nonsense?

2:2 The kings of the earth have stood up, and the leaders have joined together as one, * against the Lord and against his Christ:

2:3 “Let us shatter their chains * and cast their yoke away from us.”

2:4 He who dwells in heaven will ridicule them, * and the Lord will mock them.

2:5 Then will he speak to them in his anger * and trouble them with his fury.

2:6 Yet I have been appointed king by him over Zion, his holy mountain, * preaching his decree.

2:7 The Lord has said to me: * You are my son, this day have I begotten you.

2:8 Ask of me and I will give to you: the Gentiles for your inheritance, * and the ends of the earth for your possession.

2:9 You will rule them with an iron rod, * and you will shatter them like a potter’s vessel.

2:10 And now, O kings, understand. * Receive instruction, you who judge the earth.

2:11 Serve the Lord in fear, * and exult in him with trembling.

2:12 Embrace discipline, lest at any time the Lord might become angry, * and you would perish from the right way.

2:13 When his wrath soon flares up, * blessed are all those who trust in him.

℣ 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. Serve the Lord in fear, and rejoice before him with trembling.

Ant. Arise, * O Lord, save me, O my God.

Psalm 3 [3]

3:2 Lord, why have those who trouble me been multiplied? * Many rise up against me.

3:3 Many say to my soul, * “There is no salvation for him in his God.”

3:4 But you, Lord, are my supporter, * my glory, and the one who raises up my head.

3:5 I have cried out to the Lord with my voice, * and he has heard me from his holy mountain.

3:6 I have slept, and I have fallen asleep. * But I awakened because the Lord has sustained me.

3:7 I will not fear the thousands of people surrounding me. * Rise up, Lord. Save me, my God.

3:8 For you have struck all those who oppose me without cause. * You have broken the teeth of sinners.

3:9 Salvation is of the Lord, * and your blessing is upon your people.

℣ 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. Arise, O Lord, save me, O my God.

Ant. How wonderful * is your name, O Lord, throughout all the earth!

Psalm 8 [4]

8:2a O Lord, our Lord, * how admirable is your name throughout all the earth!

8:2b For your magnificence is elevated * above the heavens.

8:3 Out of the mouths of babes and infants, you have perfected praise, because of your enemies, * so that you may destroy the enemy and the revenger.

8:4 For I will behold your heavens, the works of your fingers: * the moon and the stars, which you have founded.

8:5 What is man, that you are mindful of him, * or the son of man, that you visit him?

8:6 You reduced him to a little less than the Angels; † you have crowned him with glory and honor, * (7) and you have set him over the works of your hands.

8:8 You have subjected all things under his feet, * all sheep and oxen, and in addition: the beasts of the field,

8:9 the birds of the air, and the fish of the sea, * which pass through the paths of the sea.

8:10 O Lord, our Lord, * how admirable is your name throughout all the earth!

℣ 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. How wonderful is your name, O Lord, throughout all the earth!

Ant. You sit upon the throne, * O you who judge with justice.

Psalm 9(2-11) [5]

9:2 I will confess to you, Lord, with my whole heart. * I will recount all your wonders.

9:3 I will rejoice and exult in you. * I will sing a psalm to your name, O Most High.

9:4 For my enemy will be turned back. * They will be weakened and perish before your face.

9:5 For you have accomplished my judgment and my cause. * You have sat upon the throne, you who judge justly.

9:6 You have rebuked the Gentiles, and the impious one has perished. * You have deleted their name in eternity and for all generations.

9:7a The spears of the enemy have failed in the end, * and their cities, you have destroyed.

9:7b Their memory has perished with a loud noise. * (8a) But the Lord remains in eternity.

9:8b He has prepared his throne in judgment. * (9) And he will judge the whole world in equity. He will judge the people in justice.

9:10 And the Lord has become a refuge for the poor, * a timely helper in tribulation.

9:11 And may they hope in you, who know your name. * For you have not abandoned those seeking you, Lord.

℣ 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. You sit upon the throne, O you who judge with justice.

Ant. Arise, O Lord, * let not man prevail.

Psalm 9(12-21) [6]

9:12 Sing a psalm to the Lord, who dwells in Zion. * Announce his deeds among the Gentiles.

9:13 For he who seeks their blood has remembered them. * He has not forgotten the cry of the poor.

9:14 Have mercy on me, Lord. * See my humiliation from my enemies.

9:15 You lift me up from the gates of death, * so that I may announce all your praises at the gates of the daughter of Zion.

9:16a I will exult in your salvation. * The Gentiles have become trapped in the ruin that they made.

9:16b In the snare that they themselves had hidden, * their foot has been caught.

9:17 The Lord will be recognized when making judgments. * The sinner has been caught in the works of his own hands.

9:18 The sinners will be turned into Hell: * all the Gentiles who have forgotten God.

9:19 For the poor will not be forgotten in the end. * The patience of the poor will not perish in the end.

9:20 Rise up, Lord: do not let man be strengthened. * Let the Gentiles be judged in your sight.

9:21 O Lord, establish a lawgiver over them, * so that the Gentiles may know that they are only men.

℣ 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. Arise, O Lord, let not man prevail.

Ant. Why, O Lord, * have you withdrawn far away?

Psalm 9(22-32) [7]

9:22 So then, why, O Lord, have you withdrawn far away? * Why have you overlooked us in times of need, in tribulation?

9:23 While the impious is arrogant, the poor is enflamed. * They are held by the counsels that they devise.

9:24 For the sinner is praised for the desires of his soul, * and the iniquitous is blessed.

9:25 The sinner has provoked the Lord; * according to the multitude of his wrath, he will not seek him.

9:26a God is not before his sight. * His ways are stained at all times.

9:26b Your judgments are removed from his face. * He will be master of all his enemies.

9:27 For he has said in his heart, * “I will not be disturbed: from generation to generation without evil.”

9:28 His mouth is full of curses, and bitterness, and deceit. * Under his tongue are hardship and sorrow.

9:29 He sits in ambush, with the rich in hidden places, * so that he may execute the innocent.

9:30a His eyes catch sight of the poor. * He lies in ambush, in hiding like a lion in his den.

9:30b He lies in ambush, so that he may seize the poor, * to seize the poor as he draws him in.

9:31 With his snare, he will bring him down. * He will bend down and fall, when he has power over the poor.

9:32 For he has said in his heart, “God has forgotten, * he has turned away his face, lest he see to the 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. Why, O Lord, have you withdrawn far away?

Ant. Arise, * O Lord God, let your hand be exalted.

Psalm 9(33-39) [8]

9:33 O Lord God, rise up. Let your hand be exalted. * Do not forget the poor.

9:34 Why has the impious one provoked God? * For he has said in his heart, “He will not inquire.”

9:35a You do see, for you examine hardship and sorrow, * so that you may deliver them into your hands.

9:35b The poor one has been abandoned to you. * You will be a helper to the orphan.

9:36 Break the arm of the sinner and the malicious. * His sin will be sought, and it will not be found.

9:37 The Lord shall reign in eternity, even forever and ever. * You Gentiles will perish from his land.

9:38 The Lord has heeded the desire of the poor. * Your ear has listened to the preparation of their heart,

9:39 so as to judge for the orphan and the humble, * so that man may no longer presume to magnify himself upon the earth.

℣ 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. Arise, O Lord God, let your hand be exalted.

Ant. The Lord is just * and has loved justice.

Psalm 10 [9]

10:2 I trust in the Lord. † How can you say to my soul, * “Flee to the mountain, like a sparrow”?

10:3 For behold, the sinners have bent their bow. † They have prepared their arrows in the quiver, * so as to shoot arrows in the dark at the upright of heart.

10:4 For they have destroyed the things that you have completed. * But what has the just one done?

10:5a The Lord is in his holy temple. * The Lord’s throne is in heaven.

10:5b His eyes look upon the poor. * His eyelids question the sons of men.

10:6 The Lord questions the just and the impious. * Yet he who loves iniquity, hates his own soul.

10:7 He will rain down snares upon sinners. * Fire and brimstone and windstorms will be the portion of their cup.

10:8 For the Lord is just, and he has loved justice. * His countenance has beheld equity.

℣ 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. The Lord is just and has loved justice.

℣ My eyes have gone before you at dawn.

℟ That I might meditate on your words, O Lord.

The Our Father is said silently as far as And lead us not into temptation:

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 also forgive those who trespass against us:

℣ And lead us not into temptation:

℟ But deliver us from evil.

Absolution. Hear the prayers of your servants, Lord Jesus Christ, and have mercy on us: You who live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit for ever and ever.

℟ Amen.

℣ Grant a blessing, O Lord.

Benediction. May he bless us who lives and reigns without end.

℟ Amen.

Lesson 1

Here begins the Book of Genesis

Gen 1:1-8

1 In the beginning, God created heaven and earth.

2 But the earth was empty and unoccupied, and darknesses were over the face of the abyss; and so the Spirit of God moved over the waters.

3 And God said, 'Let there be light.' And light became.

4 And God saw the light, that it was good; and so he divided the light from the darknesses.

5 And he called the light, 'Day,' and the darknesses, 'Night.' And it became evening and morning, one day.

6 God also said, 'Let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters, and let it divide waters from waters.'

7 And God made a firmament, and he divided the waters that were under the firmament, from those that were above the firmament. And so it became.

8 And God called the firmament 'Heaven.' And it became evening and morning, the second day.

℣ But you, O Lord, have mercy on us.

℟ Thanks be to God.

℟ In the beginning God created heaven and earth, and made upon it the human race,

* To his own image and likeness.

℣ God therefore formed man from the slime of the earth, and breathed into his face the breath of life.

℟ To his own image and likeness.

℣ Grant a blessing, O Lord.

Benediction. May the divine assistance remain always with us.

℟ Amen.

Lesson 2

Gen 1:9-19

9 Truly God said: 'Let the waters that are under heaven be gathered together into one place; and let the dry land appear.' And so it became.

10 And God called the dry land, 'Earth,' and he called the gathering of the waters, 'Seas.' And God saw that it was good.

11 And he said, 'Let the land spring forth green plants, both those producing seed, and fruit-bearing trees, producing fruit according to their kind, whose seed is within itself, over all the earth.' And so it became.

12 And the land brought forth green plants, both those producing seed, according to their kind, and trees producing fruit, with each having its own seed, according to its species. And God saw that it was good.

13 And it became evening and the morning, the third day.

14 Then God said: 'Let there be lights in the firmament of heaven. And let them divide day from night, and let them become signs, both of the seasons, and of the days and years.

15 Let them shine in the firmament of heaven and illuminate the earth.' And so it became.

16 And God made two great lights: a greater light, to rule over the day, and a lesser light, to rule over the night, along with the stars.

17 And he set them in the firmament of heaven, to give light over all the earth,

18 And to rule over the day as well as the night, and to divide light from darkness. And God saw that it was good.

19 And it became evening and morning, the fourth day.

Gen 1:20-26

20 And then God said, 'Let the waters produce animals with a living soul, and flying creatures above the earth, under the firmament of heaven.'

21 And God created the great sea creatures, and everything with a living soul and the ability to move that the waters produced, according to their species, and all the flying creatures, according to their kind. And God saw that it was good.

22 And he blessed them, saying: 'Increase and multiply, and fill the waters of the sea. And let the birds be multiplied above the land.'

23 And it became evening and morning, the fifth day.

24 God also said, 'Let the land produce living souls in their kind: cattle, and creeping creatures, and wild beasts of the earth, according to their species.' And so it became.

25 And God made the wild beasts of the earth according to their species, and the cattle, and every creeping creature on the land, according to its kind. And God saw that it was good.

26 And he said: 'Let us make Man to our image and likeness. And let him rule over the fish of the sea, and the flying creatures of the air, and the wild beasts, and the entire earth, and every creeping creature that moves on the earth.'

℣ But you, O Lord, have mercy on us.

℟ Thanks be to God.

℟ The Lord formed man from the slime of the earth,

* and breathed into his face the breath of life, and man became a living soul.

℣ In the beginning God made heaven and earth, and fashioned man upon it.

℟ and breathed into his face the breath of life, and man became a living soul.

℣ Grant a blessing, O Lord.

Benediction. Through the words of the Gospel may our offenses be blotted out.

℟ Amen.

Lesson 3

A Reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew

Matt 20:1-16

At that time: Jesus spoke to his disciples this parable: The kingdom of heaven is like a householder who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard. And so forth.

A Homily of Saint Gregory, Pope

Homily 19 on the Gospels, after the beginning

The kingdom of heaven is said to be like a householder who hires laborers to cultivate his vineyard. Who more rightly holds the likeness of the householder than our Creator, who governs those he has made, and possesses his chosen ones in this world as a lord his subjects in a house? He has a vineyard, namely the universal Church, which, from righteous Abel to the last of the elect who is yet to be born at the end of the world, has sent forth as many shoots as it has brought forth saints.

℣ But you, O Lord, have mercy on us.

℟ Thanks be to God.

℟ Where is your brother Abel? said the Lord to Cain. I do not know, O Lord, am I my brother's keeper? And he said to him: What have you done?

* Behold, the voice of your brother Abel's blood cries out to me from the earth.

℣ Cursed shall you be upon the earth, which has opened its mouth and received your brother's blood from your hand.

℟ Behold, the voice of your brother Abel's blood cries out to me from the earth.

℣ Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, * and to the Holy Spirit.

℟ Behold, the voice of your brother Abel's blood cries out to me from the earth.

The rest is omitted unless Lauds is said separately.

℣ O Lord, hear my prayer.

℟ And let my cry come before you.

Let us pray.

Mercifully hear the prayers of your people, we pray, O Lord, that we who are justly afflicted for our sins may be mercifully freed for the glory of your name.

Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son: who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever.

℟ Amen.

℣ O Lord, hear my prayer.

℟ And let my cry come before you.

℣ Let us bless the Lord.

℟ Thanks be to God.

℣ May the souls of the faithful, through the mercy of God, rest in peace.

℟ Amen.