MORNING PRAYER IN DEFENSE OF RELIGIOUS LIBERTY

Lauds (Morning Prayer) Lauds, also called Morning Prayer, is part of the Liturgy of the Hours, also known as the Divine Office. In the Liturgy of the Hours, the Church fulfills Jesus command to pray always (Luke 18:1; see also 1 Thessalonians 5:17). Through this prayer, the people of God sanctify the day by continual praise of God and prayers of intercession for the needs of the world. The Liturgy of the Hours includes several specified times of prayer. The most important times, called the hinge hours, are Morning Prayer (which takes place upon rising) and Evening Prayer (which takes place as dusk begins to fall). The other hours are the Office of Readings (a service with a biblical reading and a reading from the Fathers or Church writers or a reading related to a saint which may take place at any time of day), a Daytime Prayer (which may take place at Midmorning, Midday, or Midafternoon), and Night Prayer (said before going to sleep). Bishops, priests, deacons, and many men and women in consecrated life pray the Liturgy of the Hours each day. Their work is organized around this prayer, keeping God always at the center of their days. Lay people are encouraged to pray the Liturgy of the Hours as well, especially Morning and Evening Prayer. Many parishes in the United States schedule communal Morning and Evening Prayer on a regular basis. Morning Prayer ensures that the first thoughts of the day be directed towards Christ so that we may "be mindful of God and be glad" (Psalm 5) *modified from the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops http://www.usccb.org/comm/backgrounders/vespers.shtml [2]

PROCESSION *all stand as the procession enters the church EXPOSITION *please kneel O salutaris *remain kneeling until the ministers move to their chairs *a period of silent adoration may be observed at the discretion of the celebrant [3]

INTRODUCTION *Stand and make the sign of the cross. *please sit PSALMODY Psalm 40:12-17 Choir/Cantor: Doing my Fáther s will is the food that sústains me. Doing my Fáther s will is the food that sústains me. Choir/Cantor: O Lord, you will nót withhold your compassion fróm me Your merciful love ánd your faithfulness will always gúard me. [4]

For I am besét with evils too many to bé counted. My iniquities have óvertaken me, till I can see nó more. They are more than the hairs óf my head and my heart ís sinking. Choir/Cantor: Be pleased, O LÓRD to rescue me; LORD, make haste tó help me. O let there be shame ánd confusion on those who seek mý life. O let them turn back ín confusion who delight in mý harm. Let them be appalled because óf their shame those who jeer ánd mock me. Choir/Cantor: O let there be rejoicíng and gladness for all who séek you. Let them ever say, The LÓRD is great, who long for your sálvation. Glory to the Father and tó the Son and to the Holý Spirit. As it was in the beginníng, is now, and will be forever. Ámen. Doing my Fáther s will is the food that sústains me. [5]

Canticle Jeremiah 14:17-21 Choir/Cantor: Truly we know our offénses, Lord, for we have sinned ágainst you. Truly we know our offénses, Lord, for we have sinned ágainst you. Choir/Cantor: Let my eyes stréam with tears day and night, wíthout rest, over the great destruction which óverwhelms the virgin daughter óf my people, over her incuráble wound. If I walk out intó the field, look! Those slain bý the sword; if I entér the city, look! Those consúmed by hunger. Even the prophet ánd the priest forage in a land théy know not. Choir/Cantor: Have you cast Judah óff completely? Is Zion loathsóme to you? Why have you struck ús a blow that cannót be healed? We wait for peace, to nó avail; for a time of healing, but terror cómes instead. We recognize, O Lórd, our wickedness, the guilt óf our fathers; that we have sinned ágainst you. [6]

Choir/Cantor: For your name s sake spúrn us not, disgrace not the throne óf your glory; remember your covenant with us, and bréak it not. Glory to the Father and tó the Son and to the Hóly Spirit. As it was in the beginníng, is now, and will be forevér. Amen Truly we know our offénses, Lord, for we have sinned ágainst you. Psalm 12 Choir/Cantor: The words of the Lord áre true, like silver fróm the furnace. The words of the Lord áre true, like silver fróm the furnace. Choir/Cantor: Save me, O LORD, for the holy ones are nó more; the faithful have vanished from the sóns of men. They babble vanities, one tó another, with cunning lips, with divíded heart. May the LORD destroy all cunníng lips, the tongue that utters bóastful words, those who say, We prevail wíth our tongue; our lips are our own, who ís our master? [7]

Choir/Cantor: For the poor who are oppressed and the needy whó groan now will I arise, sáys the LORD; I will grant them the salvation for which théy long. the words of the LORD are words withóut alloy, silver from the furnace, seven tímes refined. It is you, O LORD, who will keep ús safe, and protect us forever from this géneration. The wicked prowl on évery side, while baseness is exalted by the sóns of men. Glory to the Father and to thé Son and to the Hóly Spirit. As it was in the beginníng, is now, and will be forevér. Amen. The words of the Lord áre true, like silver fróm the furnace. READING Joel 2:12-13 Deacon/Lector: Return to me with your whole heart, with fasting, and weeping, and mourning; Rend your hearts, not your garments, and return to the Lord, your God. For gracious and merciful is he, slow to anger, rich in kindness, and relenting in punishment. REFLECTION [8]

RESPONSORY Celebrant: Celebrant: Celebrant: God himself will set me free, from the hunter s snare. God himself will set me free from the hunter s snare. From those who would trap me with lying words. and from the hunter s snare. Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. God himself will set me free from the hunter snare. [9]

CANTICLE OF ZECHARIAH *please stand and make the sign of the cross as the canticle begins [10]

INTERCESSIONS Celebrant: Deacon/Lector: Deacon/Lector: Deacon/Lector: Deacon/Lector: Giving all glory and honor to God, we give thanks for the freedoms we enjoy in this country. We humbly lift up our prayers in the name of Jesus Christ for the continued enjoyment of our most basic rights and freedoms: For conscience rights and religious liberty; that all people of good will may work together against the increasing threats to these fundamental rights. We pray to the Lord. Lord hear our prayer. For our lawmakers; That they may have the wisdom and courage to uphold conscience rights and protect all people from being forced to violate their moral and religious convictions. We pray to the Lord. Lord hear our prayer. For those called to heal and cure the sick and suffering; That they may be free to follow their faith, while fulfilling their professional duties. We pray to the Lord. Lord hear our prayer. For all churches, agencies, employers, healthcare providers and individuals; That they may be free from government mandates that would compel them to compromise their beliefs. We pray to the Lord. Lord hear our prayer. THE LORD S PRAYER Our Father [11]

BENEDICTION *please kneel Tantum ergo [12]

PRAYER Celebrant: O God our creator, from your provident hand we have received our right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. You have called us as your people and given us the right and duty to worship you, the only true God, and your Son, Jesus Christ. Through the power and working of your Holy Spirit, you call us to live out our faith in the midst of the world, bringing the light and the saving truth of the Gospel to every corner of society. We ask you to bless us in our vigilance for the gift of religious liberty. Give us the strength of mind and heart to readily defend our freedoms when they are threatened; give us courage in making our voices heard on behalf of the rights of your Church and the freedom of conscience of all people of faith. Grant, we pray, O heavenly Father, a clear and united voice to all your sons and daughters gathered in your Church in this decisive hour in the history of our nation, so that, with every trial withstood and every danger overcome for the sake of our children, our grandchildren, and all who come after us this great land will always be one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. REPOSE OF THE BLESSED SACRAMENT *remain kneeling until the tabernacle is closed and the celebrant has exited the sanctuary [13]