Section:
prayers
BIRTHDAY / LITURGY OF THE HOURS
Hymn Suggestions:
I Have Loved You (Joncas)
Give Thanks to the Lord (Schutte)
Sing a New Song (Schutte)
The God of All Grace (Manalo)
We Are Called (Haas)
Psalm 139: 13-18
Antiphon: You are the holy Lord God who does wonderful things.
From “Praises of God,” page 109, #1 in Francis Assisi: Early Documents Vol. 1, edited by Regis J. Armstrong, OFM Cap., J.A. Wayne Hellmann, OFM Conv., William J. Short, OFM. New York: New City Press, 1999. Used with permission.
It was you who created my inmost self,
and put me together in my mother’s womb;
for all these mysteries I thank you:
for the wonder of myself,
for the wonder of your works.
You know me through and through,
from having watched my bones take shape
when I was being formed in secret,
knitted together in the womb.
You had scrutinized my every action,
all were recorded in your book,
my days listed and determined,
even before the first of them occurred.
God, how hard it is to grasp your thoughts!
How impossible to count them!
Glory . . .
Psalm is reprinted from Psalms Anew by Nancy Schreck, OSF and Maureen Leach, OSF, © 1984 The Sisters of St. Francis, Dubuque, Iowa. Used with permission.
Psalm 71: 5-6, 14-17
Antiphon: You are gladness and joy, you are our hope, you are justice.
From “Praises of God,” page 109, #4 in Francis Assisi: Early Documents Vol. 1, edited by Regis J. Armstrong, OFM Cap., J.A. Wayne Hellmann, OFM Conv., William J. Short, OFM. New York: New City Press, 1999. Used with permission.
From “Praises of God,” page 109, #4 in Francis Assisi: Early Documents Vol. 1, edited by Regis J. Armstrong, OFM Cap., J.A. Wayne Hellmann, OFM Conv., William J. Short, OFM. New York: New City Press, 1999. Used with permission.
For you alone are my hope.
Yahweh, I have trusted you since my youth,
I have relied on your since I was born,
You have been my portion from my mother’s womb,
and the constant theme of my praise.
I promise that, ever hopeful,
I will praise you more and more,
my lips shall proclaim your righteousness
and power to save, all day long.
I will come in the power of Yahweh
to commemorate your righteousness, yours alone.
God, you taught me when I was young,
and I am still proclaiming your marvels.
Glory . . .
Psalm is reprinted from Psalms Anew by Nancy Schreck, OSF and Maureen Leach, OSF, © 1984 The Sisters of St. Francis, Dubuque, Iowa. Used with permission.
Judith 16: 1, 13-15
Antiphon: You are moderation, you are all our riches to sufficiency.
From “Praises of God,” page 109, #4 in Francis Assisi: Early Documents Vol. 1, edited by Regis J. Armstrong, OFM Cap., J.A. Wayne Hellmann, OFM Conv., William J. Short, OFM. New York: New City Press, 1999. Used with permission.
Strike up the instruments,
a song to my God with timbrels,
chant to the Most High with cymbals.
Sing a new song,
exalt and acclaim God’s name.
A new hymn I will sing to you.
O God, great are you and glorious,
wonderful in power and unsurpassable.
Let your every creature serve you;
for you spoke, and they were made,
you sent forth your spirit, and they were created;
no one can resist your word.
The mountains to their bases,
and the seas, are shaken;
the rocks, like wax, melt before your glance.
But to those who fear you,
you are very merciful.
Glory . . .
Canticle is reprinted from People’s Companion to the Breviary by the Carmelites of Indianapolis, © 1997. Used with permission.
Reading: Philippians 1: 3-7
Response:
I bless you in my life and after my death as much as I can and more than I can with all the blessings with which the Father of mercies has and will have blessed his sons and daughters in heaven and on earth.
— I bless you in my life and after my death as much as I can and more than I can with all the blessings with which the Father of mercies has and will have blessed his sons and daughters in heaven and on earth.
I bless you in my life and after my death as much as I can and more than I can
— with all the blessings with which the Father of mercies has and will have blessed his sons and daughters in heaven and on earth.
Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.
— I bless you in my life and after my death as much as I can and more than I can with all the blessings with which the Father of mercies has and will have blessed his sons and daughters in heaven and on earth.
From “Blessing of Clare,” page 234, #10-11 in Francis and Clare: The Complete Works (Classics of Western Civilization series), translation and introduction by Regis J. Armstrong, OFM Cap, and Ignatius C. Brady, OFM. Preface by John Vaughn, OFM. Copyright © 1982 by Paulist Press. Used with permission of Paulist Press, Inc., New York/Mahwah, NJ.
Gospel Canticle Antiphon: May the Lord be with you always and, wherever you are, may you be with him always.
From “Blessing of Clare,” page 234, #13 in Francis and Clare: The Complete Works (Classics of Western Civilization series), translation and introduction by Regis J. Armstrong, OFM Cap, and Ignatius C. Brady, OFM. Preface by John Vaughn, OFM. Copyright © 1982 by Paulist Press. Used with permission of Paulist Press, Inc., New York/Mahwah, NJ.
Intercessions:
God, our times are in your hand. Look with favor on _____ as (she/he) begins another year.
Grant that (she/he) may grow in wisdom and in grace, we pray . . .
Strengthen (her/his) trust in your goodness all the days of (her/his life), we pray . . .
Bless and guide (her/him) wherever she may be, we pray . . .
Strengthen (her/him when (she/he) stands in difficulty; comfort (her/him) when discouraged, we pray . . .
May your peace fill (her/his) heart all the days of (her/his) life, we pray . . .
Adapted from www.missionstclare.com/english/prayers/birth.html and www.missionstclare.com/english/prayers/51.html Used with permission.
Our Father
Closing Prayer (Sing)
The Blessing of St. Francis (Hughes)
Or another song of blessing
