Thomas a Kempis

Holy Father, who have nourished and strengthened your Church by the writings of your servant Thomas a Kempis: Grant that we may learn from him to know what we ought to know, to love what we ought to love, to praise what highly pleases you, and always to seek to know and follow your will; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.  Amen

1 I will bless the Lord at all times;

    his praise shall continually be in my mouth.

2 My soul makes its boast in the Lord;

    let the humble hear and be glad.

3 O magnify the Lord with me,

    and let us exalt his name together.

4 I sought the Lord, and he answered me,

    and delivered me from all my fears.

5 Look to him, and be radiant;

    so your faces shall never be ashamed.

6 This poor soul cried, and was heard by the Lord,

    and was saved from every trouble.

7 The angel of the Lord encamps

    around those who fear him, and delivers them.

8 O taste and see that the Lord is good;

    happy are those who take refuge in him.

                         

Psalm 34 – English Standard Version

Readings for today from the Daily Lectionary

(click on underlined link to go directly to the reading)

1 Samuel 25:23-44  – Acts 14:19-28  - Mark 4:35-41

Birgitta of Sweden

Lord our God, you revealed the secrets of heaven to Birgitta of Sweden as she meditated of the suffering and death of your Son: Grant that your people may ever rejoice in the revelation of your glory; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

 Revised – Philip H. Pfatteicher

1 I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart;

    I will recount all of your wonderful deeds.

2 I will be glad and exult in you;

    I will sing praise to your name, O Most High.

3 When my enemies turn back,

    they stumble and perish before your presence.

4 For you have maintained my just cause;

    you have sat on the throne, giving righteous judgment.

5 You have rebuked the nations; you have made the wicked perish;

    you have blotted out their name forever and ever.

6 The enemy came to an end in everlasting ruins;

    their cities you rooted out;

    the very memory of them has perished.

7 But the Lord sits enthroned forever;

    he has established his throne for justice,

8 and he judges the world with righteousness;

    he judges the peoples with uprightness.

                         

Psalm 9 – English Standard Version

Readings for today from the Daily Lectionary

(click on underlined link to go directly to the reading)

1 Samuel 25:1-22  – Acts 14:1-18  - Mark 4:21-34

Mary Magdalene

Almighty God, whose blessed Son restored Mary Magdalene to health of body and mind, and called her to be a witness of his resurrection: Mercifully grant that by your grace we may be healed of all our infirmities and know you in the power of his endless life; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen

1 As a deer pants for flowing streams,

    so pants my soul for you, O God.

2 My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.

   When shall I come and appear before God?

3 My tears have been my food day and night,

   while they say to me all the day long,

    “Where is your God?”

4 These things I remember, as I pour out my soul:

    how I would go with the throng

    and lead them in procession to the house of God

    with glad shouts and songs of praise,

    a multitude keeping festival.

5 Why are you cast down, O my soul,

    and why are you in turmoil within me?

   Hope in God; for I shall again praise him,

   my salvation 6 and my God.

My soul is cast down within me; therefore I remember you

   from the land of Jordan and of Hermon, from Mount Mizar.

7 Deep calls to deep at the roar of your waterfalls;

   all your breakers and your waves have gone over me.

                            

Psalm 42 – English Standard Version

Readings for today from the Daily Lectionary

(click on underlined link to go directly to the reading)

1 Samuel 24:1-22  – Acts 13:44-52  - Mark 4:1-20

O God, who alone can probe the depths of the heart, you hear the prayer of the humble and justify the repentant sinner. As we stand before you, grant us the gift of humility, that we may see our own sins clearly and refrain from judging our neighbor. We make our prayer through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God for ever and ever.

Praise the Lord!

Praise the Lord from the heavens;

    praise him in the heights!

2 Praise him, all his angels;

    praise him, all his hosts!

3 Praise him, sun and moon,

    praise him, all you shining stars!

4 Praise him, you highest heavens,

    and you waters above the heavens!

5 Let them praise the name of the Lord!

    For he commanded and they were created.

6 And he established them forever and ever;

    he gave a decree, and it shall not pass away.

                         

Psalm 148 – English Standard Version

Readings for today from the Daily Lectionary

(click on underlined link to go directly to the reading)

1 Samuel 21:1-15  – Acts 13:13-25  - Mark 3:7-19

God of pardon and deliverance, your forgiving love, revealed in Christ, has brought to birth a new creation. Raise us up from our sins to walk in your ways,  that we may witness to your power, which makes all things new. Grant this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God for ever and ever.

12 Praise the Lord, O Jerusalem!

    Praise your God, O Zion!

13 For he strengthens the bars of your gates;

    he blesses your children within you.

14 He grants peace within your borders;

    he fills you with the finest of wheat.

15 He sends out his command to the earth;

    his word runs swiftly.

16 He gives snow like wool;

    he scatters frost like ashes.

17 He hurls down hail like crumbs—

    who can stand before his cold?

18 He sends out his word, and melts them;

    he makes his wind blow, and the waters flow.

19 He declares his word to Jacob,

    his statutes and ordinances to Israel.

20 He has not dealt thus with any other nation;

    they do not know his ordinances.

   Praise the Lord!

                         

Psalm 147 – English Standard Version

Readings for today from the Daily Lectionary

(click on underlined link to go directly to the reading)

1 Samuel 20:24-42  – Acts 13:1-12  - Mark 2:23-3:6

Bartolome de Las Casas

Let your continual mercy, O Lord, enkindle in your Church the Never-failing gift of charity, that, following the example of your servants Bartolome de Las Casas and Bartolomeo de Olmedo, we may have grace to defend the children of the poor, and maintain the cause of those who have no helper; for the sake of him who gave his life for us, your Son our Savior Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.

8 Understand, O dullest of the people;

    fools, when will you be wise?

9 He who planted the ear, does he not hear?

    He who formed the eye, does he not see?

10 He who disciplines the nations,

    he who teaches knowledge to humankind,

    does he not chastise?

11 The Lord knows our thoughts,

    that they are but an empty breath.

12 Happy are those whom you discipline, O Lord,

    and whom you teach out of your law,

13 giving them respite from days of trouble,

    until a pit is dug for the wicked.

14 For the Lord will not forsake his people;

    he will not abandon his heritage;

                         

Psalm 94 – English Standard Version

Readings for today from the Daily Lectionary

(click on underlined link to go directly to the reading)

1 Samuel 20:1-23  – Acts 12:18-25  - Mark 2:13-22

Lord God, your care for us surpasses even a mother’s tender love. Through this word and sacrament renew our trust in your provident care, that we may abandon all anxiety and seek first your kingdom. We make our prayer through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God forever and ever. Amen

13 Your name, O Lord, endures forever,

    your renown, O Lord, throughout all ages.

14 For the Lord will vindicate his people

    and have compassion on his servants.

15 The idols of the nations are silver and gold,

    the work of human hands.

16 They have mouths, but do not speak;

    they have eyes, but do not see;

17 they have ears, but do not hear,

    nor is there any breath in their mouths.

18 Those who make them become like them,

    so do all who trust in them.

                         

Psalm 135 – English Standard Version

Readings for today from the Daily Lectionary

(click on underlined link to go directly to the reading)

1 Samuel 19:1-18  – Acts 12:1-17  - Mark 2:1-12