Sunday

Psalm 5 Pt 2  (Douay Rheims version)

 But as for me in the multitude of thy mercy, I will come into thy house; I will worship towards thy holy temple, in thy fear.

9 Conduct me, O Lord, in thy justice: because of my enemies, direct my way in thy sight.

10 For there is no truth in their mouth; their heart is vain.

11 Their throat is an open sepulchre: they dealt deceitfully with their tongues: judge them, O God. Let them fall from their devices: according to the multitude of their wickedness cast them out: for they have provoked thee, O Lord.

12 But let all them be glad that hope in thee: they shall rejoice for ever, and thou shalt dwell in them. And all they that love thy name shall glory in thee:

13 For thou wilt bless the just. O Lord, thou hast crowned us, as with a shield of thy good will.

Prayer: 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.

Monday
Ancient Christian Commentary summary of Psalm 5 Pt 2

The unrepentant will not remain in his presence
but will endure his hatred (JEROME). We are liars by nature (AUGUSTINE), and the deceit of the
lying mouth kills, especially the deceit of heresy (JEROME). But we are saved by the grace of God
(CHRYSOSTOM). We enter his presence by his mercy and then learn the fear of the Lord (ORIGEN),
worshiping God in Christ (EVAGRIUS), progressing toward the perfection in which love casts out
fear (AUGUSTINE). We pray for God’s strength (ORIGEN), for the guidance of God’s righteousness
(CHRYSOSTOM) and for the true understanding of God’s Word (JEROME).
Christ is not in the hearts of heretics (JEROME). Their mouths are dead—unable to speak
God’s praises (CAESARIUS). Like open graves (THEODORET, CHRYSOSTOM), they give forth the odor of
death-bearing dogmas (EUSEBIUS) that keep the graveyard active, pulling others into the tombs
(AUGUSTINE). But the ungodly will be driven out completely (AUGUSTINE).
We, however, look for a blessedness that comes from God, not from ourselves
(CHRYSOSTOM). Consequently we boast in God, not in ourselves (CHRYSOSTOM), and we attain that
blessedness by following in the way of Christ (JEROME) having Christ within us as a living
companion (EUSEBIUS). For Christ is our shield of protection from destruction and our crown of
blessing (JEROME), the only blessing that counts (CHRYSOSTOM). In this way, we are crowned with
mercy and righteousness (CHRYSOSTOM), shielded by a gratuitous salvation (AUGUSTINE) not
dependent on our merit (CASSIODORUS).

Prayer:  O my God I am heartily sorry for having offended Thee, and I detest all my sins, because I dread the loss of heaven and the pains of hell, but most of all because they offend Thee, my God, who art all-good and worthy of all my love. I firmly resolve, with the help of Thy grace, to confess my sins, to do penance, and to amend my life.
*Act of Contrition

 

Tuesday
Psalm 6

Unto the end, in verses, a psalm for David, for the octave.

2 O Lord, rebuke me not in thy indignation, nor chastise me in thy wrath.

3 Have mercy on me, O Lord, for I am weak: heal me, O Lord, for my bones are troubled.

4 And my soul is troubled exceedingly: but thou, O Lord, how long?

5 Turn to me, O Lord, and deliver my soul: O save me for thy mercy’s sake.

6 For there is no one in death, that is mindful of thee: and who shall confess to thee in hell?

7 I have laboured in my groanings, every night I will wash my bed: I will water my couch with my tears.

8 My eye is troubled through indignation: I have grown old amongst all my enemies.

9 Depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity: for the Lord hath heard the voice of my weeping.

10 The Lord hath heard my supplication: the Lord hath received my prayer.

11 Let all my enemies be ashamed, and be very much troubled: let them be turned back, and be ashamed very speedily.

Prayer:   Holy, Holy, Holy Lord God of Hosts, the whole earth is filled with Thy Glory.

 

Wednesday
AC Commentary Ps 6

The sixth psalm, in the Septuagint, bears the title “To the eighth,” which is variously
understood as the day of judgment (AUGUSTINE), the day of resurrection (GREGORY OF NYSSA) or
the new age of spiritual circumcision (DIDYMUS). Perhaps it is best to leave it as an unexplained
mystery (DIODORE).
The psalm opens with a reference to the anger of God, which should not be understood
literally as a passion for us to imitate (JOHN CASSIAN) but rather as a figurative expression
(CHRYSOSTOM), speaking of the effects of his discipline in us (ORIGEN). We prefer that he treat us
like a father rather than a judge (THEODORET). We turn to the divine Physician (EUSEBIUS) of our
spirits (HESYCHIUS), of our reasoning (THEODORET). We may have to wait for the doctor
(AUGUSTINE), but he truly is our greatest hope (CHRYSOSTOM).
The prayer that God turn to us entails our turning to him (DIDYMUS, AUGUSTINE), for
deliverance requires our conversion (JEROME), which is granted to us not on our merits but by
divine mercy (THEODORET) as is becoming of God (DIODORE). Now is the time for repentance;
conversion is not possible after death (CHRYSOSTOM, THEODORET, AUGUSTINE, JEROME). Now is the
time for cleansing; then the time for chastisement (GREGORY OF NAZIANZUS). The one who is
mindful of God now knows him then (DIDYMUS), for such zeal is idle in hades (GREGORY OF NYSSA).
Such repentance is a mourning that is blessed (CHRYSOSTOM), which recognizes that no one’s
sins are too great to be forgiven (CAESARIUS). It is repentance in Christ (JOHN OF DAMASCUS), in
which one’s heart is changed (PAULINUS OF NOLA) and one’s longings are transferred from this
world to the next (LEO). It raises the soul from its sick bed (AUGUSTINE). The righteous pray in the
night vigils and nightly prayer possesses great power (ISAAC OF NINEVEH).

Prayer:    O Come let us worship and fall down before Christ, O Son of God, Who didst rise from the dead, save us who chant unto Thee, Alleluia.

 

Thursday
Psalm 7 Pt 1

The psalm of David which he sung to the Lord for the words of Chusi the son of Jemini. [2 Kings 16.]

2 O Lord my God, in thee have I put my trust: save me from all them that persecute me, and deliver me.

3 Lest at any time he seize upon my soul like a lion, while there is no one to redeem me, nor to save.

4 O Lord my God, if I have done this thing, if there be iniquity in my hands:

5 If I have rendered to them that repaid me evils, let me deservedly fall empty before my enemies.

6 Let the enemy pursue my soul, and take it, and tread down my life on the earth, and bring down my glory to the dust.

7 Rise up, O Lord, in thy anger: and be thou exalted in the borders of my enemies. And arise, O Lord my God, in the precept which thou hast commanded:

8 And a congregation of people shall surround thee. And for their sakes return thou on high.

9 The Lord judgeth the people. Judge me, O Lord, according to my justice, and according to my innocence in me.

10 The wickedness of sinners shall be brought to nought: and thou shalt direct the just: the searcher of hearts and reins is God.

Prayer:  Soul of Christ, sanctify me, Body of Christ, save me Blood of Christ, inebriate me, Water from Christ’s side, wash me, Passion of Christ, strengthen me, O good Jesus, hear me, Within Thy wounds hide me, Suffer me not to be separated from Thee, From the malicious enemy defend me, In the hour of my death call me, And bid me come unto Thee, That I may praise Thee with Thy saints, and with Thy angels, Forever and ever, Amen.

Friday
ACC Commentary Ps 7 pt 1

The seventh psalm carries an inscription that sets it in the time of Absalom’s
rebellion against David. But David’s history contains mysteries of Christ (AUGUSTINE), and the
psalm speaks of the struggle of the virtuous life (GREGORY OF NYSSA).
It begins with hope in God (CHRYSOSTOM) and then considers our primary enemy, the devil
(AUGUSTINE, CHRYSOSTOM). God alone saves us (DIDYMUS). He is our true Savior (PSEUDOATHANASIUS),
our one true help (CHRYSOSTOM).
When we ask God for deliverance, we must pray to be heard (CHRYSOSTOM), with a virtue
found in the imitation of Christ (AUGUSTINE). The souls of sinners are trampled by the devil
(BASIL), and their pride is shown to be vain (AUGUSTINE). God rises against their pride (DIDYMUS).
He who was hidden in his secret plans (AUGUSTINE) rises in the faith of believers (JEROME), just as
he rose literally in Christ’s resurrection (GREGORY OF NYSSA). Many are thereby converted (BASIL),
forming a chorus of praise to God (EUSEBIUS).
David speaks of his righteousness with respect to Absalom. But David is not claiming
perfect righteousness (THEODORET). He is not boasting that he possesses an uncommon
righteousness (BASIL). He speaks of a higher righteousness (AUGUSTINE) that means salvation
(DIDYMUS).

Prayer:   Christ with me, Christ before me,
Christ behind me, Christ in me,
Christ beneath me, Christ above me,
Christ on my right, Christ on my left,
Christ when I lie down, Christ when I sit down,
Christ when I arise,
Christ in the heart of every man who thinks of me,
Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks of me,
Christ in every eye that sees me,
Christ in every ear that hears me.
(St. Patrick’s Breastplate prayer excerpt)

Saturday
Psalm  7 pat 2

11 Just is my help from the Lord: who saveth the upright of heart.

12 God is a just judge, strong and patient: is he angry every day?

13 Except you will be converted, he will brandish his sword: he hath bent his bow and made it ready.

14 And in it he hath prepared the instruments of death, he hath made ready his arrows for them that burn.

15 Behold he hath been in labour with injustice; he hath conceived sorrow, and brought forth iniquity.

16 He hath opened a pit and dug it; and he is fallen into the hole he made.

17 His sorrow shall be turned on his own head: and his iniquity shall comedown upon his crown.

18 I will give glory to the Lord according to his justice: and will sing to the name of the Lord the most high.

Prayer:  O come, let us worship God our King.
O come, let us worship and fall down before Christ our King and God.
O come, let us worship and fall down before Christ Himself, our King and God.