← Prayer Book
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.
For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory,
forever and ever. Amen.
Morning Prayer
Tuesday, December 23, 2025 • Saint John of Kanty, Priest
Opening
Lord, open my lips.
And my mouth will proclaim your praise.
O God, come to my assistance.
Lord, make haste to help me.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:
as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen.
Hymn
Creator of the Stars of Night
Creator of the stars of night,
your people's everlasting light,
O Christ, Redeemer, save us all,
and hear your servants when they call.
your people's everlasting light,
O Christ, Redeemer, save us all,
and hear your servants when they call.
When this old world drew on toward night,
you came; but not in splendor bright,
not as a monarch but the child
of Mary, blameless mother mild.
you came; but not in splendor bright,
not as a monarch but the child
of Mary, blameless mother mild.
At your great name, O Jesus, now
all knees must bend, all hearts must bow,
and things in heaven and earth shall own
that you are Lord and King alone.
all knees must bend, all hearts must bow,
and things in heaven and earth shall own
that you are Lord and King alone.
To God the Father, God the Son,
and God the Spirit, Three in One,
laud, honor, might, and glory be
from age to age eternally.
and God the Spirit, Three in One,
laud, honor, might, and glory be
from age to age eternally.
Psalmody
Psalm 101A Prayer in Affliction
Ant. The Lord is near; do not be anxious about anything.
O Lord, hear my prayer, and let my cry come to you.
Do not turn your face away from me; in the day when I am troubled, incline your ear to me.
In whatever day I will call upon you, quickly hear me.
For my days have passed away like smoke, and my bones have been dried up like dried wood.
I have been struck like hay, and my heart has dried up; because I forgot to eat my bread.
From the voice of my groaning, my bone clung to my flesh.
I have become like a pelican in the desert; I have become like an owl in a house without a roof.
I have kept watch, and I have become like a lonely sparrow on a rooftop.
All day long my enemies have reproached me, and those who praised me swore against me.
For I ate ashes like bread, and I mixed my drink with weeping.
From the face of your anger and your indignation; for lifting me up, you have thrown me down.
My days have declined like a shadow, and I have withered like hay.
But you, O Lord, endure forever, and your remembrance from generation to generation.
You will rise up and have mercy on Zion; for its time to have mercy on it, for the time has come.
For your servants have been pleased with its stones, and they will have pity on its earth.
And the nations will fear your name, O Lord, and all kings of the earth your glory.
For the Lord has built up Zion, and he will be seen in his glory.
He has had regard for the prayer of the humble, and he has not despised their petition.
Let these things be written for another generation, and a people that will be created will praise the Lord.
For he has looked down from his high place; the Lord has looked down from heaven to the earth.
To hear the groaning of the shackled, to release the children of the slain.
So that they may declare the name of the Lord in Zion and his praise in Jerusalem.
When peoples and kings assembled together, to serve the Lord.
He answered him in the way of his strength: "Declare to me the fewness of my days."
"Do not call me back in the middle of my days: your years are throughout all generations."
"In the beginning, you founded the earth, O Lord, and the heavens are the works of your hands."
"They will perish, but you will remain; and all of them will grow old like a garment."
"And like a vesture, you will change them, and they will be changed. But you are always the same, and your years will not fail."
"The sons of your servants will dwell, and their offspring will be directed forever."
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:
as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen.
as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen.
Ant. The Lord is near; do not be anxious about anything.
Psalm 144I Will Extol You, O God My King (Part I)
Ant. The Lord is near; do not be anxious about anything.
I will exalt you, O God my King, and I will bless your name forever and ever.
Every day I will bless you, and I will praise your name forever and ever.
Great is the Lord and greatly praiseworthy, and of his greatness there is no end.
Generation after generation will praise your works, and they will declare your power.
They will speak of the magnificence of the glory of your holiness, and they will narrate your wonders.
And they will speak of the virtue of your terrible acts, and they will describe your greatness.
They will pour out the memory of the abundance of your sweetness, and they will rejoice in your justice.
The Lord is gracious and merciful, patient and of great mercy.
The Lord is sweet in all things and his mercy is over all his works.
Let all your works confess to you, O Lord, and let your holy ones bless you.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:
as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen.
as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen.
Ant. The Lord is near; do not be anxious about anything.
Old Testament Canticle
Old Testament Canticle (Jeremiah 31:15–17)
Thus says the Lord: "A voice was heard on high of lamentation, of mourning, and weeping; of Rachel weeping for her children, and refusing to be comforted for them, because they are not."
Thus says the Lord: "Let your voice cease from weeping, and your eyes from tears; for there is a reward for your work," says the Lord.
"And they will return from the land of the enemy."
"There is hope for your last end," says the Lord; "and the children will return to their own borders."
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:
as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen.
as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen.
Gospel Canticle: Benedictus (Luke 1:68-79)
The Canticle of Zechariah (Benedictus) (Luke 1:68–79)
Ant. Come, Lord, and do not delay; forgive the sins of your people.
Blessed is the Lord, the God of Israel, because he has visited and accomplished the redemption of his people.
And he has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of David his servant.
As he spoke through the mouth of his holy prophets, those who have been from the beginning:
Salvation from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us.
To show mercy to our fathers and to remember his holy covenant,
the oath which he swore to our father Abraham, that he would grant to us,
that being freed from the hand of our enemies, we might serve him without fear,
in holiness and justice before him, throughout all our days.
And you, child, will be called a prophet of the Most High; for you will go before the face of the Lord, to prepare his ways.
To give knowledge of salvation to his people, for the remission of their sins,
through the compassionate mercy of our God, by which the Rising Sun has visited us from on high,
to illuminate those sitting in darkness and in the shadow of death, to direct our feet in 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 forever. Amen.
as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen.
Ant. Come, Lord, and do not delay; forgive the sins of your people.
Short Reading
Isaiah 40:3
A voice cries out: "In the desert prepare the way of the Lord! Make straight in the wasteland a highway for our God!"
Responsory
V. Come, Lord Jesus, do not delay.
R. Come, Lord Jesus, do not delay.
V. Give new courage to your people,
R. who trust in your word.
Intercessions
As we wait for the coming of our Lord, let us pray with longing hearts, saying:
For the whole church, that it may be a community of watchful hope, living in expectation of your return: we pray to you, O Lord.
Come, Lord Jesus.
For those who do not yet know you, that the light of your gospel may dawn in their hearts: we pray to you, O Lord.
Come, Lord Jesus.
For all who are burdened by sorrow, that Advent hope may sustain them: we pray to you, O Lord.
Come, Lord Jesus.
For a spirit of generosity in this season, that the poor may experience the justice of your coming kingdom: we pray to you, O Lord.
Come, Lord Jesus.
For our parish community, that we may prepare together with prayer and love for the mystery of Christmas: we pray to you, O Lord.
Come, Lord Jesus.
For ourselves, that we may make room in our hearts for the Christ who comes: we pray to you, O Lord.
Come, Lord Jesus.
The Lord's Prayer
Let us pray as the Lord himself has taught us:
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.
For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory,
forever and ever. Amen.
Concluding Prayer
Lord God, as we await the coming of your Son, keep us watchful in prayer and faithful in your service, that when he comes in glory we may be found ready to receive him; who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen.
Dismissal
The Lord be with you.
And with your spirit.
May almighty God bless us: the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Go in peace to love and serve the Lord.
Thanks be to God.