DECEMBER 26 MORNING PRAISE
SONGS OF THE PEOPLE OF GOD
MORNING PRAYER OF SAINT STEPHEN
CHRISTMAS WEEK
DECEMBER 26
PSALMS OF THE FEAST
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VIRTUAL RESOURCES
Virtual resources provide more than the dry bones of the liturgical text. They celebrate the Hours with sounds and images. Most importantly they provide community, both community with those who produced the sounds and images, and community with those who celebrate the Hours with the same sounds and images at various times and places.
There are two posts per day. one for Morning Prayer and one for Evening Prayer. Each includes:
Both a recitation-in-common YouTube site and a completely sung YouTube site having complete texts.
Two additional YouTube alternatives for the beginning Hymn.
YouTube alternatives for each of two psalms for each Hour.
Links to Longer Reading Options rather than the Short Reading.
YouTube versions of both the Gospel Canticle and Lord's Prayer.
Breviaries which provide the liturgical texts for the Hours have multiple ribbons to help switch between sections of the breviary. Word on Fire provides a monthly booklet containing the texts for Morning and Evening Prayer. It reads straight through just like a book, except for the Hymns which are in the back of the book. Four hymn choices on each post here mean that one never has to flip to the back of their booklet.
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FULL ROMAN RITE SERVICES
Three Models (Options) for Morning Prayer (Lauds):
Praying with Christ Every Day Everywhere will be greatly helped by a variety of models each illustrated here by a particular option.
Becoming skillful at understanding and adapting these models for both personal and communal prayer is a major goal of this website.
The Instruction for the Liturgy of the Hours promotes both recitation in common as well as singing the Hours.
The first model below emphasizes recitation in common. The second model emphasizes the sung nature of the celebration. The third model below with its easy-to- read monthly booklet is very suitable for personal meditative prayer and study, including marking the text. Don't throw the booklets away!
Each of the three Options contains the full text of the Roman Rite for Morning Prayer.
Each of the three Options has a beginning hymn. These are noted below as an aid to choosing among options. With a little practice, one can begin with one option and its hymn, then switch to another option.
RECITATION IN COMMON MODEL
DIVINE OFFICE.ORG OPTION
Excellent model of small (household size) community reciting the office with sung hymn at the beginning. Experience the Hours as community prayer even when praying alone. Use as skill building in preparation for praying with others as a small group.
Hymn: "God's Holy Martyr Who Distained" Translation Saint Cecilia Abbey of "Martyr Dei, qui unicum" *******************************************************
Hymn: "God's Holy Martyr Who Distained"
Translation Saint Cecilia Abbey of "Martyr Dei, qui unicum"
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COMPLETELY SUNG MODEL
SING THE HOURS OPTION
Excellent model of totally sung office, mostly by one very talented young person. His father is an excellent translator of Latin hymns. Although they use some Latin, there is always an English translation. If English is preferred, either pause the Latin after a verse to pray the English text or mute the Latin and pray the English text.
Hymn: "Christum est vita," (English) ICEL ©2023 ,English Gospel Canticle & Lord's Prayer*******************************************************
Excellent model of totally sung office, mostly by one very talented young person. His father is an excellent translator of Latin hymns. Although they use some Latin, there is always an English translation. If English is preferred, either pause the Latin after a verse to pray the English text or mute the Latin and pray the English text.
Hymn: "Christum est vita,"
(English) ICEL ©2023 ,
English Gospel Canticle & Lord's Prayer
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PERSONAL MEDITATION MODEL
WORD ON FIRE OPTION
Bishop Barron's organization produces a monthly booklet that contains Morning, Evening, and Night Prayer for each day. It reads straight through like a book except for the beginning hymns for each hour which are all in the back of the booklet. Try using a prayer card instead of a ribbon!
Below is a close approximation to the hymn they have chosen. Often the video has more or different verses. Sometimes the translation and or the tune will be different. Unfortunately, sometimes the choice of hymn has to be changed due to the lack of available videos. I have suggested they choose hymns from YouTube and provide links on their website. A staffer though it was a good idea; nothing has happened.
WORD ON FIRE BOOKLET: DECEMBER 2023, pages 544-552
Stephani Primi Martiris: Hymne - Hymnaire de Pairis
Brigitte Lesne - Topic
HYMN SELECTED FROM MY PERSONAL FAVORITES
This fourth hymn option is strongly influenced by the blog author's liturgical music collection (first vinyl discs, then cassettes, finally CDs). For decades this musical collection has supported the celebration of the Hours. Now with YouTube videos, anyone can start a blog like this to link to their favorite hymns for the celebration of the Hours.
Something Which Is Known
The Monks of Weston Priory - Topic
Refrain: Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia
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THE FOUR WEEK PSALTER
The psalms were the prayers of Jesus and his disciples. Under the influence of monasticism, praying the whole 150 psalms each week became the norm in both Eastern and Western Christianity.
Since Vatican II, the Roman Rite Liturgy of the Hours has spread the Book of Psalms over four weeks rather than one. The practice of praying the psalms in order has been abandoned in favor of psalms specifically selected for Morning and Evening Prayer.
A major goal of this website is greater familiarity
with the Four Week Psalter and its psalms
As noted in the General Instruction, there is an ancient tradition of personal meditation and prayer at the end of each psalm. There are many videos on the internet with psalms sung in a variety of ways, using different languages and translations, and drawing from different musical and spiritual traditions. Some presentations have beautiful slides or videos that can enhance and interpret the psalm.
VIDEOS FOR TODAY'S PSALMS
The video selections below are intended as a stimulus to personal prayer and meditation in the period after the group have recited the psalm in the first option, or the cantor has sung the psalm in the second option, or while looking at the written psalm in the third option.
PSALM 63
As Morning Breaks, I Look to You, O God
PSALM 149
In Praise of Our God | A Jewish Tune | Based on Psalm 149 |5.9K views / 10 years ago
In Praise of Our God | A Jewish Tune | Based on Psalm 149 |
5.9K views / 10 years ago
Videos were selected to provide as much variety as possible while maintaining substantial ritual consistency by using the same authors or similar musical pieces in the same Hour. Preference was given to videos that covered most of the psalm. No attempt has been made to judge accuracy of translations. Those celebrating have already experienced the official text.
Videos were selected to provide as much variety as possible while maintaining substantial ritual consistency by using the same authors or similar musical pieces in the same Hour. Preference was given to videos that covered most of the psalm. No attempt has been made to judge accuracy of translations. Those celebrating have already experienced the official text.
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LONGER READING OPTIONS
FROM TODAY'S OFFICE OF READINGS
Chapter 6:8 -7:2, 44-59
FROM TODAY'S MASS
Acts 6:8-10; 7:54-59
Stephen, filled with grace and power,
was working great wonders and signs among the people.
Mt 10:17-22
Jesus said to his disciples:
"Beware of men, for they will hand you over to courts
and scourge you in their synagogues,
THE GOSPEL CANTICLE
Canticle of Zechariah
Morning and Evening Prayer at Weston Priory
1,375 views Dec 11, 2020 (1998)
Antiphon:
Cry out in the stillness of morning.
With joy greet the dawn of this new day.
Pour out your heart like water.
Lift your hands to God in praise.
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THE LORD'S PRAYER
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