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September 9 — St. Peter Claver 1581-1654
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.
Awake my soul and sing;
~ With God’s praise I will wake the dawn.
MORNING HYMN
All may sing or alternate the verses of any Morning Hymn .
O sister dawn, how light your touch;
how bright your face upon the Earth!
Awakened are we all to life
as you call us from sleep’s small death.
You, sister, graced that Easter morn
when Life, entombed, was lost from sight.
You roused the women with their spice
and guided them to greet the Light!
Your dawning opens wide our eyes;
our talents are awakened, too!
Our hands, so grasping, rest has freed
to welcome gifts we never knew.
Aroused, awakened and aware,
hands turn to labor, hearts to pray;
what yesterday was only glimpsed
stands now as fresh and clear as day.
With dawn and all the gifts of day,
we praise you Abba, Breath and Word:
a world so prodigal and free
reveals your loving hand O God! Amen.
Text: Aelred-Seton Shanley; Tune: Plainsong
This poor one called, Adonai heard my cry.
Psalm 33/34
I will bless Adonai at all times; God’s praise always on my lips;
In our God my soul shall makes its boast! The humble shall hear and be glad.
Look towards God and be not ashamed; let your faces be radiant with joy:
This poor one called Adonai replied—rescued me from all my distress.
God’s angel surrounds all those who call, to save them from all they fear.
O taste and see Adonai is good! They are happy who trust in this Love.
Revere Adonai all you who are holy. They lack nothing who trust in God’s name.
Though lions may hunger and find no prey, those who seek God are not disappointed.
The face of Love turns away from evil that such deeds be remembered no more.
The just call, Adonai hears, rescues them from all their distress.
The just will suffer from anguish and trial but God will be there to save:
A guard to keep watch over all of their bones so that none of their bones will be broken.
Adonai is close to the broken-hearted; those who spirit is crushed will be saved.
Adonai ransoms the souls of the poor: those who trust shall not be condemned.
Text: Psalm 33/34 New Translation. Setting: Tobias Colgan, OSB, alt.
READING I John 3: 16-17
This is the message you have heard from the beginning: we should love one another, unlike Cain who belonged to the evil one and slaughtered his brother. Why did he slaughter him? Because his own works were evil, and those of his brother righteous.
The way we came to know love was that Christ laid down his life for us; so we ought to lay down our lives for our sisters and brothers. If someone who has worldly means sees a sibling in need and refuses compassion, how can the love of God remain in such a person?
Silent Prayer
Responsory
R. Those who oppress the poor insult their Maker;
*Those who are kind to the needy honor God.
V. God has chosen those who are poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kin-dom. * Those who are kind to the needy honor God.
V. Glory to the Abba and to the Word, and to the Holy Breath of Love.
Canticle of Zachary– Luke 1:68-79
Antiphon
In the morning before dawn, Jesus got up,
left the house and went off to a lonely place to pray, alleluia!
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
In the morning before dawn, Jesus got up,
left the house and went off to a lonely place to pray, alleluia!
Intercessory Prayer
Prayer of Jesus
Our Father …
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 any be denied.
Create in us clean hearts, O God;
~ And fill us with your Holy Spirit.
God of life and light, with a mother’s love you have watched over us in the night and brought us through the darkness of night into mornings light. As you called St. Peter Claver to be a slave of slaves and strengthened him with wonderful compassion and patience as he worked among them, grant that we may follow the way of Jesus and love our neighbors in deeds and in truth, for you live and reign in the power of loving kindness now and forever. ~Amen.
Blessing
May the God of love fill us with compassion and patience, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit, we may bring peace and joy to those in need. ~Amen.
Let us bless Adonai.
~Thanks be to God.