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February 18
Blessed Fra Angelico (1395-1455)
(aka Giovanni of Fiesole, OP & Guido di Pietro)
+ Martin Luther, Reformer (1483-1546)
Invitation to Worship
Come, let us sing to Adonai, let us praise the God of all Creation!
We make the Sign of the Cross over our lips as we begin.
O Holy ONE + open my lips,
~And my mouth will proclaim your praise.
Show us your Goodness and teach us your Truth,
~ Reveal your Beauty and make us your own.
MORNING HYMN
All may sing or alternate the verses of any Morning Hymn
Oh late have I loved you, Oh late have I turned,
Turned from seeking you in creatures, Fleeing grief and pain within.
Refrain:
Oh Beauty ever Ancient, O Beauty ever New:
You the Mirror of my life renewed, Let me find my life in You.
My unloveliness I ran from turned to seek you in all things
Things you fashioned as a pathway; Yet I lost myself in them.
This created world is glorious, Yet I could not see within
See your loveliness behind hall, see the Giver in the gift.
I had wandered far percieving That I walked my road alone,
Yet you called, you shone, you summoned, And you drew my spirit home.
In your loveliness you made me, In your godly image true,
By your grace you have renewed me, Let me live my life in you.
Text: Prayer of St. Augustine; Tune: Robert F. O’Connor, SJ
PSALMODY
Antiphon
“The one who wishes to paint Christ’s story
must live with Christ.”
Psalm 88/89a
I will sing your love all my days, Adonai
In every age I will proclaim your truth.
Of this I am certain: your love lasts forever;
Your faithfulness outlasts the heavens.
“With my chosen one, I have made a covenant;
I have sworn to David, my servant”
I will establish your house forever
and uphold your reign from age to age.
The skies proclaim your wonders, Adonai,
the assembly of the stars proclaims your love.
Is anyone in the heavens your equal?
Can any of the gods compare with you?
Revered in the council of holy ones,
Great and dreadful to all around.
Who indeed is your equal, God of strength,
Clothed in truth, O God of power?
You rule the stormy seas,
you calm the roaring waves,
You split the sea monster in two
and scatter opponents with a mighty arm.
Yours is the sky, yours the Earth,
yours the whole world of creatures.
You created the North and the South,
Our mountains–Tabor and Hermon–sing out your name.
Yours is a mighty arm, Adonai;
your hand is strong, your right hand ready.
Justice and right anchor your throne,
love and truth serve in your presence.
Your people rejoice to have you as ruler,
are grateful to walk in your light.
Your Name is itself our joy
Your justice the source of our bliss.
For you, Adonai, are the glory of our strength,
it is your favor that leads us to victory.
May our leaders have you as their keeper,
their shield, the Holy One of Israel.
Glory to the ONE and to the WORD
And to the BREATH of Love!
As always before,
so now and evermore. Amen
“The one who wishes to paint Christ’s story
must live with Christ.”
READING Wisdom 6:12-16
Resplendent and unfading is Wisdom,
and she is readily perceived by those who love her,
and found by those who seek her.
She hastens to make herself known to those who desire her;
one who watches for her at dawn will not be disappointed,
for she will be found sitting at the gate.
For setting your heart on her is the perfection of prudence,
and whoever keeps vigil for her is quickly free from care;
Because she makes her rounds, seeking those worthy of her,
and graciously appears to them on the way,
and goes to meet them with full attention.
Responsory
R. Ah, gentle God, You are so lovely in Your creatures, *how exceedingly beautiful and ravishing You must be in Yourself! V. Praise and honor be to the unfathomable richness that is in You!” *how exceedingly beautiful and ravishing You must be in Yourself!
V. Glory to the ABBA, and the WORD, and the Holy BREATH of Life.
Canticle of Zachary– Luke 1:68-79
Antiphon
Consider the lilies of the field, they neither toil nor spin,
yet Solomon was never arrayed with such beauty.
Blessed + be Adonai, the God of Israel,
Who visits this people to set us free
Raising for us a sign of salvation
In the house and family of David.
God promised throughout past ages
In words of holy prophets
To save us from our enemies,
And from the control of our oppressors.
Adonai favored our ancestors
And remembered the sacred covenant.
The pledge to Abraham and Sarah
Is now renewed for us;
That freed from the grip of our foes
We might worship without fear
And be both just and holy
For the rest of our days.
And you, child, called “prophet of the Most High,”
Will go ahead to prepare the way,
By teaching this people of salvation
Through forgiveness of their sins.
For the loving compassion of the Holy One
As the Rising Sun will shine upon us
To illumine the darkness and dispel death’s shadow
To guide our feet on the way of peace.
Glory to the ONE and to the WORD
and to the BREATH of Love!
As always before,
so now and evermore. Amen
Consider the lilies of the field, they neither toil nor spin,
yet Solomon was never arrayed with such beauty.
Intercessory Prayer
Prayer of Jesus
Our Dear Abba…
Versicles
Show us your mercy, Adonai,
~And grant us your salvation.
Clothe your ministers with justice,
~Let your people sing for joy.
Keep this and all nations under your care,
~Guide all peoples in justice and truth.
Let your ways be known upon earth,
~Your saving help among all the nations.
Let not the needy be forgotten
~Nor the hope of the poor be denied.
Closing Prayer & Blessing
Creator God, we stand in wonder and awe before Mother Earth, whom you invited to join you in the on-going work of Creation; and now each peak, valley, field and pond pours forth its poetry of gratitude and praise. In your wisdom and love you inspired blessed Fra Angelico to portray the beauty and sweetness of life lived in union with you. By his prayers and the example of his virtues, grant that we may manifest this splendor to our brothers and sisters. May we join the trees in clapping our hands and join all your saints in singing your praise, for yours is the love, the power and the glory now and forever. Amen.
May the God of all creation + bless us with a hunger and thirst for beauty and justice. Amen.
Let us bless Adonai!
~ Thanks be to God.
