Thursday Evening 10/31/13 Righteous and the Just

SUNDAY OF THE RIGHTEOUS AND JUST
Ramsho
INTRODUCTION

DOXOLOGY
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,
as we begin and until we conclude.
May mercy and compassion be poured forth upon us
in this world and the next.
O Lord, our God, to you be glory for ever.
Amen.
OPENING PRAYER
O Lord,
may we commemorate your saints with spiritual hymns;
through their intercession and example may we imitate you,
and having found you, give you praise and glory,
now and for ever. Amen.
GREETING
Peace be with the Church and her children.
PRAISE OF THE ANGELS
Glory to God in the highest,
and peace on earth and good will to all.
Praise the Lord all you nations,
glorify him all you peoples,
for steadfast is his mercy toward us,
and the truth of the Lord endures for ever.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,
now and for ever.
and peace on earth and good will to all.

FIRST PRAYER
Lord, have mercy on us and save us.
Glory to you, O Lord,
you reward good works, send saving trials and so
allow your elect to enter your kingdom.
You have given them a world that never ends, in exchange
for this passing world,
to reward them for the trials and difficulties and for their
enduring fasts and prayers.
Help us to live as they lived and to merit their destiny.
Glory be to you our Savior and God,
for ever. Amen.
PSALM OF THE DAY
Antiphon:
Bless the Lord, O my soul; and all my being, bless his
holy name.

Psalm 103
Bless the Lord, O my soul;
and all my being, bless his holy name.

Bless the Lord, O my soul;
and forget not all his benefits;

He pardons all your iniquities,
he heals all your ills.

He redeems your life from destruction,
he crowns you with kindness and compassion,

He fills your lifetime with good;
your youth is renewed like the eagles.

The Lord secures justice
and the rights of all the oppressed.

He has made known his ways to Moses,
and his deeds to the children of Israel.

Merciful and gracious is the Lord,
slow to anger and abounding in kindness.

He will not always chide,
Nor does he keep his wrath forever.

Not according to our sins does he deal with us,
nor does he requite us according to our crimes.

For as the heavens are high above the earth,
so surpassing is his kindness toward those who fear him.

As far as the east is from the west,
so far has he put our transgressions from us.

As a father has compassion on his children,
so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him,

For he knows how we are formed;
he remembers that we are dust.

Man’s days are like those of grass;
like a flower of the field he blooms;

The wind sweeps over him and he is gone,
and his place knows him no more.

But the kindness of the Lord is from eternity
to eternity toward those who fear him,

And his justice toward children’s children
among those who keep his covenant
and remember to fulfill his precepts.

The Lord has established his throne in heaven,
and his kingdom rules over all.

Bless the Lord, all you his angels,
you mighty in strength, who do his bidding,
obeying his spoken word.

Bless the Lord, all you his hosts,
his ministers, who do his will.

Bless the Lord, all his works,
everywhere in his domain.

Bless the Lord, O my soul!

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and for ever. Amen.

Antiphon:
Bless the Lord, O my soul; and all my being, bless his
holy name.
SECOND PRAYER
Lord, have mercy on us and save us.
Blessed are you, Son of the Most High,
you have traced for all people the right way which
leads to the Father.
Following you, the just have walked together in countless
numbers.
Through their intercession and example, may we walk
toward you,
and join them in giving you praise and glory,
now and for ever. Amen.
EVENING PSALMS
Psalm 141:1-4
O Lord, to you I call; hasten to me;
harken to my voice when I call upon you.
Let my prayer come like incense before you;
the lifting up of my hands, like the evening sacrifice.
O Lord, set a watch before my mouth,
a guard at the door of my lips.
Let not my heart incline to the evil
of engaging in deeds of wickedness
With men who are evildoers;
and let me not partake of their dainties.

Psalm 142
With aloud voice I cry out to the Lord;
with a loud voice I beseech the Lord.
My complaint I pour out before him;
before him I lay bare my distress.
When my spirit is faint within me,
you know my path.
In the way along which I walk
they have hid a trap for me.
I look to the right to see,
but there is no one who pays me heed.
I have lost all means of escape;
there is no one who cares for my life.
I cry out to you, O Lord:
I say, “You are my refuge, my portion in the land
of the living.”
Attend to my cry,
for I am brought low indeed.
Rescue me from my persecutors,
for they are too strong for me.
Lead me forth from prison,
that I may give thanks to your name.
The just shall gather around me
when you have been good to me.
Psalm 119: 105-112
A lamp to my feet is your word,
a light to my path.
I resolve and swear
to keep your just ordinances.
I am very much afflicted;
O Lord, give me life according to your word.

Accept, O Lord, the free homage of my mouth,
and teach me your decrees.
Though constantly I take my life in my hands,
yet I forget not your law.
The wicked have laid a snare for me,
but from your precepts I have not strayed.
Your decrees are my inheritance forever;
the joy of my heart they are.
I intend in my heart to fulfill you statutes
always to the letter.
Psalm 117
Praise the Lord, all you nations;
glorify him, all you peoples!
For steadfast is his mercy toward us,
and the truth of the Lord endures for ever.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,
now and for ever. Amen.
Alleluia.
[HYMN]
ˇ
The Hymn, “The Resurrection of Christ” may
be sung following the Evening Psalms.—-
Yours is the kingdom, O Lord, and people everywhere
hope in you!
Those in the shadow of death await your great Day and
seek your light.
You have enlightened their darkness, broken their chains,
and freed them from their bondage.
You have brought them back to life and, through your
victorious power, they arise in glory.
To you be glory, thanksgiving and honor,
now and for ever.——-

HOOSOYO
PROEMION
Praise, glory and honor to the Son of God,
hidden in the heart of his eternal Father,
to the Son of man,
born of a womb that was full of grace.
To him, the Good One, is due glory and honor this evening,
and all the days of our lives,
now and for ever. Amen.

SEDRO
Glory to you, Christ, our God,
you chose the just and made them the salt of the earth,
the light of the world,
the yeast in the bread and the seed in the earth.
People witnessed their good works and glorified their
Father in heaven.
They were the voice of God for the conscience of
men and women,
rebuking the world for sin and calling people to holiness.
They were the image of God in the world
who calls all people to the spiritual life.
And now we beg you, Christ our God,
and ask you to grant us through their prayers pardon
from our sins, sincere repentance an a virtuous life.
May your Spirit reign in your holy Church;
may your peace come into every church and monastery that
they be free from strife and dissension.
Give rest to the faithful departed who sleep in your hope
and we will give you praise and glory,
now and for ever. Amen.
QOLO
Today we are gathered to celebrate your holy and righteous ones.
By their prayers grant us pardon and repentance and make us
worthy of their destiny in heaven.
May their remains which rest in the churches protect the faithful who today celebrate their memory with songs and hymns.
O blessed One, it is you who have made them holy.
ETRO
Lord, on this blessed evening accept the fragrance of our incense and our prayers
in memory of your just and upright servants.
Protect us by their prayers and let us rejoice with them
in your happiness.
Then we will praise and glorify you,
now and for ever. Amen.

MAZMOORO
Peace to you, saints who loved a heavenly Spouse and followed
his footsteps on your journey to the Father.
The Church rejoices in their memory and gives praise to the
Father who gave them life.
You accepted the prayers of the just before us, no accept, Lord, our prayers and have mercy on us.
SYNAXARION
Today the Maronite Church celebrates the Sunday of the Righteous and the Just. This is actually the traditional Maronite feast in honor of all the saints. Whereas the Latin Church celebrates the feast of All Saints on November 1st, the Maronite Church, following its ancient tradition dedicates this Sunday to their memory.
On this day we call to mind all the men and women, children of the Church, who have followed the path of justice and righteousness. We remember the prophets, apostles and martyrs, the hermits, ascetics, men an women religious, as well as all Christians who have lead holy lives.
As our liturgy so often reminds us, they are just in the sight of God because they have patterned their lives on Jesus Christ, the Just One.
The saints are our models; their prayers and fasting have taught us to fight against sin and temptation and so gain the reward of righteousness.
The saints are our intercessors; by their prayers we obtain the pardon of our sins and are strengthened in the Christian virtues.
They were the salt of the earth and the light of the world, they call us to follow their path.
Through their intercession may we one day merit eternal life with God.

SCRIPTURE READINGS
A Reading from the Book of Genesis
Genesis 18: 20-32
Then the LORD said: “The outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is so great, and their sin so grave, that I must go down and see whether or not their actions fully correspond to the cry against them that comes to me. I mean to find out.” While the two men walked on farther toward Sodom, the LORD remained standing before Abraham. Then Abraham drew nearer to him and said: “Will you sweep away the innocent with the guilty? Suppose there were fifty innocent people in the city; would you wipe out the place, rather than spare it for the sake of the fifty innocent people within it? Far be it from you to do such a thing, to make the innocent die with the guilty, so that the innocent and the guilty would be treated alike! Should not the judge of all the world act with justice?” The LORD replied, “If I find fifty innocent people in the city of Sodom, I will spare the whole place for their sake.” Abraham spoke up again: “See how I am presuming to speak to my Lord, though I am but dust and ashes! What if there are five less than fifty innocent people? Will you destroy the whole city because of those five?” “I will not destroy it,” he answered, “if I find forty-five there.” But Abraham persisted, saying, “What if only forty are found there?” He replied, “I will forebear doing it for the sake of the forty.” Then he said,
“Let not my Lord grow impatient if I go on. What if only thirty are found there?” He replied, “I will forebear doing it if I can find but thirty there.” Still he went on, “Since I have thus dared to speak to my Lord, what if there are no more than twenty?” “I will not destroy it,” he answered,
“for the sake of the twenty.” But he still persisted: “Please, let not my Lord grow angry if I speak up this last time. What if there are at least ten there?” “For the sake of those ten,” he replied, “I will not destroy it.”
A Reading from the Letter of James
James 1: 1-15
James, a slave of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes in the dispersion, greetings. Consider it all joy, my brothers, when you encounter various trials, for you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. And let perseverance be perfect, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. But if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God who gives to all generously and ungrudgingly, and he will be given it. But he should ask in faith, not doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and

tossed about by the wind. For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord, since he is a man of two minds, unstable in all his ways. The brother in lowly circumstances should take pride in his high standing, and the rich one in his lowliness, for he will pass away “like the flower of the field.” For the sun comes up with its scorching heat and dries up the grass, its flower droops, and the beauty of its appearance vanishes. So will the rich person fade away in the midst of his pursuits. Blessed is the man who perseveres in temptation, for when he has been proved he will receive the crown of life that he promised to those who love him. No one experiencing temptation should say, “I am being tempted by God”; for God is not subject to temptation to evil, and he himself tempts no one. Rather, each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire conceives and brings forth sin, and when sin reaches maturity it gives birth to death.
SUPPLICATION
O Son, by your resurrection you saved your Church from
error; hear our supplications and have mercy on us.
You reconciled heaven and earth, grant peace to your Church and keep her children in the light of the cross.
The Lord rejoices in his saints and those at his right hand exclaim with joy: Taste and see how good the Lord is.
Blessed be the Most High who chose his saints and made them
great. Let us bless the Lord who brought faith to the elect,
strengthened them in their struggles and brought them into
his kingdom.
Brothers and sisters, we are all called to the kingdom with the saints; let us be clothed with Christ who was their only
weapon, and imitate their virtues of faith, hope and charity,
and we will live for ever in Christ.
Glory to the Father who chose his saints; adoration to the Son who sanctified them by his holy blood; thanksgiving to the
Spirit who dwells within them. Blessed be God; through
the merits of their prayers, may he have mercy on us.
Let us remember the prophets, apostles and martyrs, all those
who have labored and suffered in the vineyard of the Lord;
Saint James, Saint Maron and his companions, Saint
Ephrem, harp of the Holy Spirit. O God, through their

prayers, strengthen the weak, comfort the sick, grant
pardon to the deceased and forgive the faults of us poor sinners.
Exalt, O Lord, the memory of your Mother and your saints;
through their prayers grant pardon to us and our deceased.
Through the prayers of your Mother, the prophets, apostles
and martyrs, watch over the living, and in your mercy,
forgive those who have died.
HOOTOMO
Let us thank, adore, and praise the holy and glorious Trinity: Father, Son, ✛Holy Spirit. Amen.
TRISAGION
Lord, have mercy
Lord, have mercy
Lord, have mercy
Holy are you, O God;
Holy are you, O Strong One;
Holy are you, O Immortal One;
have mercy on us.
Lord, have mercy on us.
Lord, forgive us and have mercy on us.
Lord, hear us and have mercy on us.
Lord, accept our worship and our prayers.
Lord, come to our assistance and have mercy on us.
LORD’S PRAYER
Our Father, who are in heaven;
hallowed be your name;
your kingdom come;
your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread;
and forgive us our trespasses
as we forgive those who trespass against us;
and lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil,
For the kingdom, the power and the glory are yours,
now and for ever.
Amen.

O Lord, the night and the day are yours;
you uphold the light and the sun.
Through your power you direct the sequence of the seasons.
O Lord,
you have brought the day to its close and called forth the night; be for us that great Day that never ends.
In the evening let your light shine in our hearts,
and in the darkness of the night
enlighten us with the knowledge of your truth.
And so, through all the days of our lives,
we shall praise you, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
To you be glory and may your mercy rest upon us,
now and for ever.
Amen.
EXAMINATION OF CONSCIENCE
Let us thank God for all the graces he has bestowed on us
this day which has passed in calm and peace.
Let us recall our failings against the commandments of God
and the Church in thought, word, deed and omission
We ask for God’s pardon as we pray:
“Forgive us, Jesus!”
Lord, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.
Glory be to you, O Lord.
Glory be to you, O Lord.
Glory be to you, O Lord.
God,
Father in heaven,
by your living and holy name,
keep us from evil an lead us not into temptation;
for we call upon you, O Lord, our God, our constant hope,
glory to you for ever.
O Lord, our Lord,
may our humble worship be pleasing to you;
may our prayers come before you and our actions give
you honor.

Let you mercy, kindness, help, graces and divine love
be poured abundantly upon us poor sinners,
both in heaven and on the earth
which you have created in your goodness.
O Lord, our God, to you be glory for ever.
Amen.
DISMISSAL
Peace be with you.
And also with you.
O God,
through the prayers of your Mother and the saints who have
believed in you;
through the prayers of the prophets, apostles, martyrs and
confessors;
through the prayers of the just, the priests, the holy fathers, pastors and teachers of the truth faith;
and through the prayers of N., Pope of Rome, N., our Patriarch, and N., our Bishop,
forgive your people and have mercy on your flock.
May God bless, forgive, sanctify, purify, and keep each of the faithful united with us in this spiritual office.
May mercy and compassion be upon us and all the faithful who
dwell here.
May peaceful rest be granted to those who have died in the faith.
May the faithful who live here experience the protection of
Christ’s victorious cross.
May we and all his servants, who adore him with bowed heads,
receive the mercy of the holy and glorious Trinity
Father, Son, ✛ Holy Spirit, to whom be glory now and for ever.
Amen.
May God forgive your sins,
pardon your failings,
and deliver you from the power of the enemy.
May he grant you the remission of your offenses.
Go in peace, and pray to Christ for me.