St. Peter Claver

 pedro claver stopping violence

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 whose 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.