Sunday
Readings from the Old Testament Book of Ecclesiasticus

Ecclesiasticus 1:All wisdom cometh from the Lord, and is with him for ever.

2Who can number the sand of the sea, and the drops of rain, and the days of eternity?

3Who can find out the height of heaven, and the breadth of the earth, and the deep, and wisdom?

4Wisdom hath been created before all things, and the understanding of prudence from everlasting.

5The word of God most high is the fountain of wisdom; and her ways are everlasting commandments.

6To whom hath the root of wisdom been revealed? or who hath known her wise counsels?

7[Unto whom hath the knowledge of wisdom been made manifest? and who hath understood her great experience?]

8There is one wise and greatly to be feared, the Lord sitting upon his throne.

9He created her, and saw her, and numbered her, and poured her out upon all his works.

10She is with all flesh according to his gift, and he hath given her to them that love him.

Prayer:  O my God I firmly believe that Thou art one God in three Divine Persons, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost; I believe that Thy Divine Son became man, and died for our sins, and that he will come to judge the living and the dead. I believe these and all the truths which the Holy Catholic Church teaches, because Thou hast revealed them, who canst neither deceive nor be deceived. (Act of Faith)

Monday
Ecclesiasticus 1 The fear of the Lord is honour, and glory, and gladness, and a crown of rejoicing.

12The fear of the Lord maketh a merry heart, and giveth joy, and gladness, and a long life.

13Whoso feareth the Lord, it shall go well with him at the last, and he shall find favour in the day of his death.

14To fear the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: and it was created with the faithful in the womb.

15She hath built an everlasting foundation with men, and she shall continue with their seed.

16To fear the Lord is fulness of wisdom, and filleth men with her fruits.

17She filleth all their house with things desirable, and the garners with her increase.

18The fear of the Lord is a crown of wisdom, making peace and perfect health to flourish; both which are the gifts of God: and it enlargeth their rejoicing that love him.

19Wisdom raineth down skill and knowledge of understanding standing, and exalteth them to honour that hold her fast.

20The root of wisdom is to fear the Lord, and the branches thereof are long life.

Prayer:  Having risen from sleep I hasten to Thee, O Lord, Lover of men, and by Thy loving-kindness I strive to do Thy work, and I pray to Thee:  help me at all times, in everything, and deliver me from every evil thing of the world and every attack of the devil, and lead me into Thine eternal Kingdom. For Thou art my Creator, the Giver and Provider of everything good, and all my hope is in Thee, and to Thee I send up glory, now and ever, and to the ages of ages.  Amen.
*Prayer for the next day’s morning

Tuesday
Ecclesiasticus 1: The fear of the Lord driveth away sins: and where it is present, it turneth away wrath.

22A furious man cannot be justified; for the sway of his fury shall be his destruction.

23A patient man will tear for a time, and afterward joy shall spring up unto him.

24He will hide his words for a time, and the lips of many shall declare his wisdom.

25The parables of knowledge are in the treasures of wisdom: but godliness is an abomination to a sinner.

26If thou desire wisdom, keep the commandments, and the Lord shall give her unto thee.

27For the fear of the Lord is wisdom and instruction: and faith and meekness are his delight.

28Distrust not the fear of the Lord when thou art poor: and come not unto him with a double heart.

29Be not an hypocrite in the sight of men, and take good heed what thou speakest.

30Exalt not thyself, lest thou fall, and bring dishonour upon thy soul, and so God discover thy secrets, and cast thee down in the midst of the congregation, because thou camest not in truth to the fear of the Lord, but thy heart is full of deceit.

Prayer:  Hail, Holy Queen, Mother of Mercy, our life, our sweetness and our hope! To thee do we cry, poor banished children of Eve. To thee do we send up our sighs, mourning and weeping in this valley of tears! Turn, then, O most gracious Advocate, thine eyes of mercy toward us, and after this, our exile, show unto us the blessed fruit of thy womb, Jesus. O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary.
V. Pray for us, O holy Mother of God.
R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.
*Salve Regina

Wednesday
Ecclesiasticus 2:  My son, if thou come to serve the Lord, prepare thy soul for temptation.

2Set thy heart aright, and constantly endure, and make not haste in time of trouble.

3Cleave unto him, and depart not away, that thou mayest be increased at thy last end.

4Whatsoever is brought upon thee take cheerfully, and be patient when thou art changed to a low estate.

5For gold is tried in the fire, and acceptable men in the furnace of adversity.

6Believe in him, and he will help thee; order thy way aright, and trust in him.

7Ye that fear the Lord, wait for his mercy; and go not aside, lest ye fall.

8Ye that fear the Lord, believe him; and your reward shall not fail.

9Ye that fear the Lord, hope for good, and for everlasting joy and mercy.

10Look at the generations of old, and see; did ever any trust in the Lord, and was confounded? or did any abide in his fear, and was forsaken? or whom did he ever despise, that called upon him?

11For the Lord is full of compassion and mercy, longsuffering, and very pitiful, and forgiveth sins, and saveth in time of affliction.

Prayer:  Queen of Heaven rejoice, alleluia: For He whom you merited to bear, alleluia, Has risen as He said, alleluia. Pray for us to God, alleluia. Rejoice and be glad, O Virgin Mary, alleluia. Because the Lord is truly risen, alleluia.
Let us pray : O God, who by the Resurrection of Thy Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, granted joy to the whole world: grant we beg Thee, that through the intercession of the Virgin Mary, His Mother, we may lay hold of the joys of eternal life. Through the same Christ our Lord. Amen.
*Regina Coeli

Thursday

Psalm 100: Make a joyful shout to the Lord, [a]all you lands!

2Serve the Lord with gladness;
Come before His presence with singing.
3Know that the Lord, He is God;
It is He who has made us, and [b]not we ourselves;
We are His people and the sheep of His pasture.

4Enter into His gates with thanksgiving,
And into His courts with praise.
Be thankful to Him, and bless His name.
5For the Lord is good;
His mercy is everlasting,
And His truth endures to all generations.

Prayer:  The Angel of the Lord declared unto Mary.   And she conceived of the Holy Ghost.
Hail Mary, full of Grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou amongst women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, mother of God, pray for us sinners now and in the hour of our death.

Friday
Ecclesiasticus  2: Woe be to fearful hearts, and faint hands, and the sinner that goeth two ways!

13Woe unto him that is fainthearted! for he believeth not; therefore shall he not be defended.

14Woe unto you that have lost patience! and what will ye do when the Lord shall visit you?

15They that fear the Lord will not disobey his Word; and they that love him will keep his ways.

16They that fear the Lord will seek that which is well, pleasing unto him; and they that love him shall be filled with the law.

17They that fear the Lord will prepare their hearts, and humble their souls in his sight,

18Saying, We will fall into the hands of the Lord, and not into the hands of men: for as his majesty is, so is his mercy.

 

Prayer:   Pour forth, we beseech Thee, O Lord, Thy grace into our hearts; that, we to whom the Incarnation of Christ, Thy Son, was made known by the message of an Angel, may by His Passion and Cross, be brought to the glory of His Resurrection. Through the same Christ our Lord.

Saturday
Psalm 103: Bless the Lord, O my soul;

And all that is within me, bless His holy name!
2Bless the Lord, O my soul,
And forget not all His benefits:
3Who forgives all your iniquities,
Who heals all your diseases,
4Who redeems your life from destruction,
Who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies,
5Who satisfies your mouth with good things,
So that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.

6The Lord executes righteousness
And justice for all who are oppressed.
7He made known His ways to Moses,
His acts to the children of Israel.
8The Lord is merciful and gracious,
Slow to anger, and abounding in mercy.
9He will not always strive with us,
Nor will He keep His anger forever.
10He has not dealt with us according to our sins,
Nor punished us according to our iniquities.

11For as the heavens are high above the earth,
So great is His mercy toward those who fear Him;
12As far as the east is from the west,
So far has He removed our transgressions from us.
13As a father pities his children,
So the Lord pities those who fear Him.
14For He [a]knows our frame;
He remembers that we are dust.

15As for man, his days are like grass;
As a flower of the field, so he flourishes.
16For the wind passes over it, and it is [b]gone,
And its place remembers it no more.
17But the mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting
On those who fear Him,
And His righteousness to children’s children,
18To such as keep His covenant,
And to those who remember His commandments to do them.

19The Lord has established His throne in heaven,
And His kingdom rules over all.

20Bless the Lord, you His angels,
Who excel in strength, who do His word,
Heeding the voice of His word.
21Bless the Lord, all you His hosts,
You [c]ministers of His, who do His pleasure.
22Bless the Lord, all His works,
In all places of His dominion.

Bless the Lord, O my soul!

Prayer:  May the souls of the faithful departed through the mercy of God rest in peace.