The Divine Lamp

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Psalm 124 Our Help Is In The Name Of The Lord

Antiphon: Rise and conquer, O Lord, that there may be peace upon the Church, the true Israel of God (see Gal 6:16)

“If the Lord had not been on our side,”
this is Israel’s song.
“If the Lord had not been on our side when men rose against us,
Then would they have swallowed us alive
when their anger was kindled.

Then would the waters have engulfed us,
the torrent gone over us;
over our head would have swept
the raging waters.”

Blessed be the Lord who did not give us
a prey to their teeth!
Our life, like a bird, has escaped
from the snare of the fowler.

Indeed the snare has been broken
and we have escaped.
Our help is in the name of the Lord,
who made heaven and earth.

Antiphon: Rise and conquer, O Lord, that there may be peace upon the Church, the true Israel of God

First Reading: The Canticle of Judith (16:1-17)

“Strike up the instruments, a song to my God with timbrels, chant to the Lord with cymbals; Sing to him a new song, exalt and acclaim his name.

For the Lord is God; he crushes warfare, and sets his encampment among his people; he snatched me from the hands of my presecutors.

“The Assyrian came from the mountains of the north, with the myriads of his forces he came; Their numbers blocked the torrents, their horses covered the hills.

He threatened to burn my land, put my youths to the sword, Dash my babes to the ground, make my children a prey, and seize my virgins as spoil.

“But the Lord Almighty thwarted them, by a woman’s hand he confounded them.

Not by youths was their mighty one struck down, nor did titans bring him low, nor huge giants attack him; But Judith, the daughter of Merari, by the beauty of her countenance disabled him.

She took off her widow’s garb to raise up the afflicted in Israel. She anointed her face with fragrant oil;

with a fillet she fastened her tresses, and put on a linen robe to beguile him.

Her sandals caught his eyes, and her beauty captivated his mind. The sword cut through his neck.

“The Persians were dismayed at her daring, the Medes appalled at her boldness.

When my lowly ones shouted, they were terrified; when my weaklings cried out, they trembled; at the sound of their war cry, they took to flight.

Sons of slave girls pierced them through; the supposed sons of rebel mothers cut them down; they perished before the ranks of my Lord.

“A new hymn I will sing to my God. O Lord, great are you and glorious, wonderful in power and unsurpassable.

Let your every creature serve you; for you spoke, and they were made, You sent forth your spirit, and they were created; no one can resist your word.

The mountains to their bases, and the seas, are shaken; the rocks, like wax, melt before your glance. “But to those who fear you, you are very merciful.

Though the sweet odor of every sacrifice is a trifle, and the fat of all holocausts but little in your sight, one who fears the Lord is forever great.

¹ “Woe to the nations that rise against my people! the Lord Almighty will requite them; in the day of judgment he will punish them: He will send fire and worms into their flesh, and they shall burn and suffer forever.”

Psalm 125 The Lord guards His people

Antiphon: Rise and conquer, O Lord, that there may be peace upon the Church, the true Israel of God

Those who put their trust in the Lord
are like mount Zion, that cannot be shaken,
that stands forever.

Jerusalem! The mountains surround her,
so the Lord surrounds His people
both now and forever.

For the scepter of the wicked shall not rest
over the land of the just
for fear that the hands of the just
should turn to evil.

Do good, Lord, to those who are good,
to the upright of heart;
but the crooked and those who do evil,
drive them away!

On Israel, peace!

Antiphon: Rise and conquer, O Lord, that there may be peace upon the Church, the true Israel of God

Second Reading: Jeremiah 1

Now the word of Yahweh came to me, saying, “Before I formed you in the belly, I knew you. Before you came forth out of the womb, I sanctified you. I have appointed you a prophet to the nations… Don’t say, ‘I am a child;’ for to whoever I shall send you, you shall go, and whatever I shall command you, you shall speak. Don’t be afraid because of them; for I am with you to deliver you,” says Yahweh. Then Yahweh put forth his hand, and touched my mouth; and Yahweh said to me, “Behold, I have put my words in your mouth. Behold, I have this day set you over the nations and over the kingdoms, to pluck up and to break down and to destroy and to overthrow, to build and to plant…You therefore put your belt on your waist, arise, and speak to them all that I command you. Don’t be dismayed at them, lest I dismay you before them. For, behold, I have made you this day a fortified city, and an iron pillar, and bronze walls, against the whole land, against the kings of Judah, against its princes, against its priests, and against the people of the land. They will fight against you; but they will not prevail against you; for I am with you,” says Yahweh, “to deliver you.””

Psalm 128 May the Lord bless you from Zion, that is the Church

Antiphon: Rise and conquer, O Lord, that there may be peace upon the Church, the true Israel of God

O blessed are those who fear the Lord
and walk in his ways!

By the labor of your hands you shall eat.
You will be happy and prosper;
your wife like a fruitful vine
in the heart of your house;
your children like shoots of the olive,
around your table.

Indeed thus shall be blessed
the man who fears the Lord.
May the Lord bless you from Zion
all the days of your life!
May you see your children’s children
in a happy Jerusalem!

On Israel, peace!

Antiphon: Rise and conquer, O Lord, that there may be peace upon the Church, the true Israel of God.

Photo by Gerald Augustinus of THE CAFETERIA IS CLOSED

Prolife posts of interest on the web:

From AN EXAMINED LIFE

From WAY OF THE FATHERS 

From CATHOLIC CULTURE (use their search engine for more)

From CATHOLIC EDUCATOR’S RESOURCES (lots of articles)

From AMERICAN PAPIST