Father I love you. Test

Legend.

Red, explanations from Liturgy of the Hours.

Black, Liturgy of the Hours.

Green, my comments.

When praying the Liturgy of the Hours:

1. If you come across words or phrases you do not understand, stop, look them up or make a note to follow up.

2. Whenever a certain text or passage strikes a chord in your heart where God's goodness is concerned, it is in order to lovingly kiss those words, and through them, Jesus the Word of God. They were after all, written for you.

3. Whenever a Text is especially revealing or strikes a chord, stop and ponder the message. Continue listening to what the Holy Spirit wants to share with you. Take all the time needed. When ready, continue.

4. Instead of having pictures of saints in my breviary (though I do have one or two) I keep pictures of members of my family, darling Florence, children, parents, dear friends etc. This helps me to remember them and to be close to them in prayer.

5. As you pray have some appropriate music on, and quietly let it praise God in the background while you talk, pray and dialogue with your Father, your Savior and the Lord Holy Spirit.

The invitatory belongs at the very beginning of each day's prayer. It precedes either the Office of Readings or Morning Prayer; the liturgical day may begin with either hour.

Making the sign of the cross on our lips, you say:

Invitatory

Lord, open my lips. (With your thumb, make the sign of the cross on your lips.) (When I do this, I say in my spirit, Father, Son and Holy Spirit)

—And my mouth will proclaim your praise.

It is essential you know to Whom you are speaking, and with Whom you are in dialogue when you pray. The petition, "Lord, open my lips. And my mouth will proclaim your praise." is addressed to the Lord Holy Spirit. His praise in these prayers will, on the one hand be to God the Father, and on the other hand, to God the Son. With this first petition, you must be very conscious that what you are about to begin, is possible only because of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit does this because it is the Father's will and the Son's word, "Lord, open my lips." Whatever the Father wills and the Son speaks it, the Holy Spirit realizes it and makes it a reality.

Without God's Love for you, without God the Holy Spirit sustaining you, without God's invitation to you, you would not be in this blessed moment of grace. You cannot open your lips on your own, and, you cannot praise God on your own. This very first petition in the Liturgy of the Hours, is one that should awaken you to this reality, that you are about to come into the presence of God. God the Father who (in His Love) wills that you be, God the Son who (in His Love) has made our Father's will known to you and God the Holy Spirit, who (in His Love) seeks only to realize the Will of God and the Word of God where you are concerned.

At this blessed moment, you are invited to share in this Holy Trinitarian Communion. In, with and through our dear Lord, you will also pray for those persons in your heart, persons whose needs Jesus has personally shared with you. When I pray alone, I say, "Lord Holy Spirit, open my lips. I then take a few minutes to consciously allow myself to be led by the Holy Spirit in Christ's ministry, in dialogue with God, in prayer. When praying the Liturgy of the Hours with a others, obviously one cannot take such liberties. Let's try the invitatory again:

Lord, (Holy Spirit) stop and look at His creation around you, and, looking, see the works of the Holy Spirit, see what His "hands" have made. Seeing these incredible marvels, see God the Holy Spirit, this Person who is responsible for what you are seeing. This blessed Servant to the Father and to the Son, makes visible the Father's will and His beloved Word. Look at this Person in awe and wonder and marvel at His power, His sustaining power, His awesome power. To this Person, to God the Holy Spirit, continue, saying...

"... open my lips.

—And my mouth will proclaim your praise. 

Realize that for the next little while, you will be united with our Lord the Holy Spirit, in proclaiming His praise. Remember, you are also praying for the persons you have gathered in your heart, and that it is your wish that their lips also proclaim His praise.

Afterward psalm 95 is said with its antiphon. The antiphon is said before the psalm, then immediately repeated; it is repeated after each strophe of the psalm. In individual recitation' the antiphon may be said only at the beginning of the psalm; it need not be repeated after each strophe.

For Sundays and weekdays the antiphon for the invitatory is found in the Psalter.

For solemnities and feasts, the antiphon for the invitatory is found in either the Proper of Seasons or the Common of Saints.

For the memorials of saints, the antiphon, unless it is proper, may be taken from either the Commons or the weekday.

Antiphon is recited and then repeated. In individual recitation, the antiphon may be said only at the beginning of the psalm; it need not be repeated after each strophe.

* The Holy Spirit now asks you to respond, "Come, let us sing to the Lord and shout with joy to the Rock who saves us." In each of the following strophes, He will make a number of statements. He is speaking to you, teaching you, reminding you, admonishing you. In your name and in the names of those you have gathered in your heart, reflect on each strophe, and, with each antiphon give praise to our dear Lord for the teachings given.

Antiphon. * Come, let us sing to the Lord (Jesus)
and shout with joy to the Rock (Jesus) who saves us.

Come, (here, in your spirit you can gather all the persons you wish to pray for, "asking them to come." and,  let us sing to the Lord and shout with joy to the Rock who saves us. Let us approach him with praise and thanksgiving
and sing joyful songs to the Lord.

Antiphon. * Come, let us sing to the Lord
and shout with joy to the Rock who saves us.

The Lord is God, the mighty God,
the great king over all the gods.
He holds in his hands the depths of the earth
and the highest mountains as well.
He made the sea; it belongs to him,
the dry land, too, for it was formed by his hands.

Antiphon. * Come, let us sing to the Lord
and shout with joy to the Rock who saves us.

Come, then, let us bow down and worship,
bending the knee before the Lord, our maker.
For he is our God and we are his people,
the flock he shepherds.

Antiphon. * Come, let us sing to the Lord
and shout with joy to the Rock who saves us.

Today, listen to the voice of the Lord:
Do not grow stubborn, as our fathers did in the wilderness,
when at Meriba and Massah
they challenged me and provoked me,
Although they had seen all of my works.

Antiphon. * Come, let us sing to the Lord
and shout with joy to the Rock who saves us.

Forty years I endured that generation.
I said, "They are a people whose hearts go astray
and they do not know my ways."
So I swore in my anger,
"They shall not enter into my rest."

Antiphon. * Come, let us sing to the Lord
and shout with joy to the Rock who saves us.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:
as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever.
Amen.

Antiphon. * Come, let us sing to the Lord
and shout with joy to the Rock who saves us.

On behalf of yourself and of every person you have gathered in your heart, in your own personal words, give thanks to the Holy Spirit for this blessed moment. Give thanks for His Light and for the grace to, "... sing to the Lord and shout with joy to the Rock who saves us.

For psalm 95 one may substitute psalm 100 (p. 793), 67 (p. 912), or 24 (p. 728). If any of these psalms should occur in the office, psalm 95 is then said in place of it.
The psalm with its antiphon may be omitted when the invitatory precedes Morning Prayer.

Important. When the God speaks to you through these texts, discern who is speaking. The Father? The Son? The Holy Spirit? To Whom are these prayers addressed to? The Father? The Son? The Holy Spirit? To you? Will you be giving praise, praying, petitioning, asking, our Father (the Will of God), His Son our King (the Word of God) or our Lord the Holy Spirit (the Action of God)? To assist you in this first exercise, I will identify each Person as we continue.

HYMN

(Address our Father, Will of God.)

On this day, the first of days,
God the Father's name we praise;
Who, creation's Lord and spring,
Did the world from darkness bring.

(Address His Son, Word of God.) 
On this day the eternal Son
Over death his triumph won;
(Address the Lord Holy Spirit, Action of God.) 
On this day the Spirit came
With his gifts of living flame.

(Address our Father, Will of God.) Father, who didst fashion man
Godlike in thy loving plan,
Fill us with that love divine,
And conform our wills to thine.

(Address His Son, Word of God.)
Word made flesh, all hail to thee'
Thou from sin hast set us free;
And with thee we die and rise
Unto God in sacrifice.

(Address the Lord Holy Spirit, Action of God.)
Holy Spirit, you impart
Gifts of love to every heart;
Give us light and grace, we pray,
Fill our hearts this holy day.

(Address our Father (Will), His Son (Word) and Holy Spirit (Action))
God, the blessed Three in One,
May thy holy will be done;
In thy word our souls are free.
And we rest this day with thee.

(As you can see, the author's name for this hymn is not shown. Every person who contributes to helping us praise and pray to God, should be thanked. Thank this unknown author and bless that person for sharing his/her love for God with you at this time.)

Ant. 1 As morning breaks I look to you, O God, my strength this day, alleluia.

Whoever has left the darkness of sin, yearns for God.

(In the names of those you have gathered around you in your spirit, in, with and through our Lord Jesus, you pray to our loving Father saying... )

O God, you are my God, for you I long;
for you my soul is thirsting.
My body pines for you
like a dry, weary land without water.
So I gaze on you in the sanctuary
to see your strength and your glory.

For your love is better than life,
my lips will speak your praise.
So I will bless you all my life,
in your name I will lift up my hands.
My soul shall be filled as with a banquet,
my mouth shall praise you with joy.

On my bed I remember you.
On you I muse through the night
for you have been my help;
in the shadow of your wings I rejoice.
My soul clings to you;
your right hand holds me fast.

Psalm-prayer

Father, creator of unfailing light, give that same light to those who call to you. May our lips praise you; our lives proclaim your goodness; our work give you honor, and our voices celebrate you for ever.

Visualize the heavens, the planets, the earth and everything contained therein, and tell them, Bless the Lord, all you works of the Lord. Praise and exalt him above all forever.
Visualize the angels of the Lord, and invite them to bless the Lord.
Angels of the Lord, bless the Lord.
Address the heavens, and invite them to bless the Lord. 
You heavens, bless the Lord.
Address the waters above the heavens, and invite them to bless the Lord.
All you waters above the heavens, bless the Lord.
Visualize the heavenly host gathered around the thrones of the Trinity and say,
All you hosts of the Lord, bless the Lord.
Turn to the sun and the moon and invite them,
Sun and moon, bless the Lord.
Invite the stars of heaven, "Stars of heaven' bless the Lord."
Invite every shower and every dew,
Every shower and dew, bless the Lord.
Invite the winds, 
All you winds, bless the Lord.
Speak to fire and heat throughout the universe and invite them,
Fire and heat, bless the Lord.
Continue with each line, firstly addressing those elements or those persons, and with all the authority given to you by God, in union with the Holy Spirit invite them to, "... bless the Lord."
Cold and chill, bless the Lord.
Dew and rain, bless the Lord.
Frost and chill, bless the Lord.
Ice and snow, bless the Lord.
Nights and days, bless the Lord.
Light and darkness, bless the Lord.
Lightnings and clouds, bless the Lord.

Let the earth bless the Lord.
Praise and exalt him above all forever.
Mountains and hills, bless the Lord.
Everything growing from the earth, bless the Lord.
You springs, bless the Lord.
Seas and rivers, bless the Lord.
You dolphins and all water creatures, bless the Lord.
All you birds of the air, bless the Lord.
All you beasts, wild and tame, bless the Lord.
You sons of men, bless the Lord.

O Israel, bless the Lord.
Praise and exalt him above all forever.
Priests of the Lord, bless the Lord.
Servants of the Lord, bless the Lord.
Spirits and souls of the just, bless the Lord.
Holy men of humble heart, bless the Lord.
Hananiah, Azariah, Mishael, bless the Lord.
Praise and exalt him above all forever.

Let us bless the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
Let us praise and exalt him above all forever.
Blessed are you, Lord, in the firmament of heaven.
Praiseworthy and glorious and exalted above all forever.

At the end of this canticle the Glory to the Father is not said.

Ant From the midst of the flames the three young men cried out with one voice: Blessed be God, alleluia.

Ant. 3 Let the people of Zion rejoice in their King, alleluia.

(In the names of those you have gathered around you in your heart, in, and with and through our the Holy Spirit you pray to our dear Lord saying... )|

Sing a new song to the Lord, (Jesus)
his praise in the assembly of the faithful.
Let Israel rejoice in its maker,
let Zion's sons exult in their king.
Let them praise his name with dancing
and make music with timbrel and harp.
For the Lord takes delight in his people.
He crowns the poor with salvation.
Let the faithful rejoice in their glory,
shout for joy and take their rest.
Let the praise of God be on their lips
and a two-edged sword in their hand,

to deal out vengeance to the nations
and punishment on all the peoples;
to bind their kings in chains
and their nobles in fetters of iron;
to carry out the sentence pre-ordained;
this honor is for all his faithful.

Psalm-prayer

Let Israel rejoice in you, Lord (Jesus), and acknowledge you as creator and redeemer. We put our trust in your faithfulness and proclaim the wonderful truths of salvation. May your loving kindness embrace us now and for ever.

Ant. Let the people of Zion rejoice in their King, alleluia.

READING Revelation 7:10,12

This teaching is from our brother Saint John. (If you do not know the authors of the various texts brought to you in L.O.T.H., make it a point to read up on them and to know them. These persons are sharing God's Word with you to help you on your pilgrimage. It's important that fellow-pilgrims journey in friendship and mutual support. Pray for them.) Read it to listen to him. He is your spiritual brother. Receive from his mouth (and all your spiritual brothers and sisters) all the riches contained in their words. Take the time to understand and let them register on your heart that you may be profoundly changed. Receive these words for every person you have gathered with you in your heart.

Salvation is from our God, who is seated on the throne, and from the Lamb! Praise and glory, wisdom and thanksgiving and honor, power and might, to our God forever and ever. Amen!
Meditate on this text until you know you have received what our brother Saint John is trying to give us. Then take a moment to thank him for all he had done for you, by bringing God's Light to you.

RESPONSORY

(Jesus) Christ, Son of the living God, have mercy on us.
–Christ, Son of the Living God, have mercy on us.

(Jesus) You are seated at the right hand of the Father,
–have mercy on us.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:
–Christ, Son of the living God, have mercy on us.

CANTICLE OF ZECHARIAH. (For this exercise, it is the Thirteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time.)
Antiphon as in the Proper of Seasons
Jesus, turning, saw the woman and said: 'Take courage, daughter; your faith has saved you, alleluia.

Who is Zechariah? If you are to join him in this prayer of praise, you should know the circumstances surrounding his discourse. Then with him (it is his prayer) sing or say, "Bless be the Lord..."

Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel;
he has come to his people and set them free.

He has raised up for us a mighty savior,
born of the house of his servant David.

Through his holy prophets he promised of old
that he would save us from our enemies,
from the hands of all who hate us.

He promised to show mercy to our fathers
and to remember his holy covenant.

This was the oath he swore to our father Abraham:
to set us free from the hands of our enemies,
free to worship him without fear,
holy and righteous in his sight
all the days of our life.

You, my child, shall be called the prophet of the Most High;
for you will go before the Lord to prepare his way,

to give his people knowledge of salvation
by the forgiveness of their sins.

In the tender compassion of our God
the dawn from on high shall break upon us,
to shine on those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death,
and to guide our feet into the way of peace.

The Glory to the Father is said at the end of the canticle, unless otherwise noted.
The antiphon is repeated as usual.

(Antiphon as in the Proper of Seasons
Jesus, turning, saw the woman and said: 'Take courage, daughter; your faith has saved you, alleluia.

INTERCESSIONS

I fail to understand why the authors of these intercessions, were so reluctant to begin each intercession with a name of one of the Persons of the Holy Trinity. It just doesn't seem right to talk to another person and not use His name. When I pray these intercessions alone, I have no hesitation in adding their names. Even if you pray with a community you know, I don't see the harm of adding the names. My "for examples" will be shown in green before each intercession.

Christ is the sun that never sets, the true light that shines on every man. Let us call out to him in praise:

–Lord, you are our life and our salvation.

Loving Jesus, Creator of the stars, we thank you for your gift, the first rays of the dawn,
–and we commemorate your resurrection.
–Lord, you are our life and our salvation.

Dearest Jesus, May your Holy Spirit teach us to do your will today,
–and may your Wisdom guide us always.
–Lord, you are our life and our salvation.

Faithful Jesus, Each Sunday give us the joy of gathering as your people
–around the table of your Word and your Body.
–Lord, you are our life and our salvation.

Sacred Heart of Jesus, From our hearts we thank you,
–for your countless blessings.
–Lord, you are our life and our salvation.

(Add any other personal intentions, you or members of your prayer group would like to add.)

Next follows the great Our Father. In, with and through our blessed King, sustained by God's will and animated by the Lord Holy Spirit, in union with the entire Church, and in the names of those you have assembled in your heart, with a heart full of child-like love pray:

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.

Amen.

Prayer, as in the Proper of Seasons.
(Thirteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time.)

This prayer, as well as any other prayer should be said over and over again until it is understood, until you really and truly know what you are praying for, until, in your heart you accept what you are praying for.

Father, you call your children to walk in the light of Christ. Free us from darkness and keep us in the radiance of your truth. We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Conclusion, as in the Ordinary. as follows

If a priest or a deacon presides, he dismisses the people.

(In your heart address and bless all those persons you have gathered with you.)

The Lord be with you.
–And also with you.

May almighty God bless you,
the Father, and the Son and the Holy Spirit.
–Amen.

Go in peace.
–Thanks be to God.

In the absence of a priest or a deacon, and in individual recitation, Morning Prayer concludes:

May the Lord bless us,
protect us from all evil
and bring us to everlasting life.
Amen.