Wednesday Evening Cleansing of the Leper

THURSDAY 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
Lord God,
grant us to remain apart from the spirit of this corrupted world.
Give us the grace to praise you with heart and mind raised above worldly preoccupations.
May this holy Lent help us to come closer to you
and to walk in the way of your commandments
Then we shall praise you with the angels,
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 towards 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.

PSALMODY
FIRST PRAYER
Lord, have mercy on us and save us.
Ocean of compassion and Fountain of mercy,
grant us to live according to your commandments.
Then, defended by your right hand and protected by
your mercy,
we shall repent of our sins and atone for them by
fasting and prayer.
Grant us fruitful work in the mission of the gospel,
the good news that brings joy to the world.
We shall glorify you by our works and praise you,
now and for ever.

Amen.

PSALM 51
Psalm 51: 3-19
Have mercy on me, O God, in your goodness;
in the greatness of your compassion wipe out my offense.

Thoroughly wash me from my guilt
and of my sin cleanse me.

For I acknowledge my offense,
and my sin is before me always:

“Against you only have I sinned,
and done what is evil in your sight”

That you may be justified in your sentence,
vindicated when you condemn.

Indeed, in guilt was I born,
and in sin my mother conceived me;

Behold, you are pleased with sincerity of heart,
and in my inmost being you teach me wisdom.

Cleanse me of sin with hyssop, that I may be purified;
wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.

Let me hear the sounds of joy and gladness;
the bones you have crushed shall rejoice.

Turn away your face from my sins,
and blot out all my guilt.

A clean heart create for me, O God,
and a steadfast spirit renew within me.

Cast me not out from your presence,
and your holy spirit take not from me.

Give me back the joy of your salvation,
and a willing spirit sustain in me.

I will teach transgressors your ways,
and sinners shall return to you.

Free me from blood guilt, O God, my saving God;
then my tongue shall revel in your justice.

O LORD, open my lips,
and my mouth shall proclaim your praise.

For you are not pleased with sacrifices;
should I offer a holocaust, you would not accept it.

My sacrifice, O God, is a contrite spirit;
a heart contrite and humbled, O God, you will not spurn.
To you returns the praise, O God.

PSALM OF THE DAY
Antiphon:
O Lord, hear my prayer, and let my cry come to you.

Psalm 102
O LORD, hear my prayer,
and let my cry come to you.

Hide not your face from me
in the day of my distress.

Incline your ear to me;
in the day when I call, answer me speedily

For my days vanish like smoke,
and my bones burn like fire.

Withered and dried up like grass is my heart;
I forget to eat my bread.

Because of my insistent sighing
I am reduced to skin and bone.

I am like a desert owl;
I have become like an owl among the ruins.

I am sleepless, and moan;
I am like a sparrow alone on the housetop.

All the day my enemies revile me;
in their rage against me they make me a curse of me.

For I eat ashes like bread
and mingle my drink with tears,

Because of your fury and your wrath;
for you lifted me up only to cast me down.

My days are like a lengthening shadow,
and I wither like grass.

But you, O LORD, abide forever,
and your name through all generations.

You will arise and have mercy on Zion,
for it is time to pity her,
for the appointed time has come.

For her stones are dear to your servants,
and her dust moves them to pity.

All the nations shall revere your name, O LORD,
and all the kings of the earth your glory.

When the LORD has rebuilt Zion
and appeared in his glory;

When he has regarded the prayer of the destitute,
and not despised their prayer.

Let this be written for the generation to come,
and let his future creatures praise the LORD:

“The LORD looked down from his holy height,
from heaven he beheld the earth,

To hear the groaning of the prisoners,
to release those doomed to die”

That the name of the LORD may be declared in Zion;
and his praise, in Jerusalem,

When the peoples gather together,
and the kingdoms, to serve the LORD.

He has broken down my strength in the way;
he has cut short my days.

I say: O my God, take me not hence in the midst
of my days;
through all generations your years endure.

Of old you established the earth,
and the heavens are the work of your hands.

They shall perish, but you remain
though all of them grow old like a garment.

Like clothing you change them, and they are changed,
but you are the same, and your years have no end.

The children of your servants shall abide,
and their posterity shall continue in your presence.

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

Antiphon:
O Lord, hear my prayer, and let my cry come to you.

SECOND PRAYER
Lord, have mercy on us and save us.
O Lord,
keep away from your people the snares of the invisible enemy.
May all our lives be dedicated to you
and may we be strangers to all unworthiness and filled with Christian virtues.
We shall then praise your name and thank you,
this evening and all the days of our lives,
now and for ever.

Amen.

EVENING PSALMS
Psalm 141: 1-4
O LORD, to you I call; hasten to me;
hearken 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 a loud 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 your statutes
always to the letter.

Psalm 117

Praise the LORD, all you nations;
glorify him, all you peoples!

For steadfast is his mercy towards 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

[SOOGHITO/HYMN]
In expectation and trials, our souls praise you.
Like the five virgins, behold our lamps.
Our faith, our hope and our love are wounded;
the wind lashes at our burning lamps.
O desire of my soul, it is to you that I cry:
When will the bridal party come?
Already my spirit is weakening.

HOOSOYO
PROEMION
Praise, glory and honor to the One who, according to his nature, is the Most High.
He voluntarily humbled himself and became one like us;
he is the Master and Model who generously taught us fasting and prayer.
To the Good One is due glory and honor this evening,
and all the days of our lives,
now and for ever.

Amen.

SEDRO
O Christ, our Savior,
Word of the living God,
in you is life and this life is the light of men.
Everything was made by you, nothing that is was made without you.
You came to the world, to give it life
so that we might know that we do not live on bread alone but in fulfilling the word of God.
For this reason you fasted and prayed, and gave us your body and blood,
food for our souls and pledge of eternal life.
And now, gathered in your name and believing in you, we implore you:
Be with us, remain with us, so that we may live in you.
Breathe into us a new spirit,
that we may bear your name, not only in our words,
but in our actions as well.
Uproot from us pride, enmity, jealousy and hatred.
Give us humility, meekness, patience and love.
Let us be detached from this world and its riches.
Let us use the goods of this world to spread Christian justice among all people.
Grant workers their rights,
that they may not suffer from injustice,
and that all may know that your gospel is a gospel of justice and love among brothers and sisters.
Teach us that anyone who pretends to love God and
hates his neighbor is a liar,
and does not believe in his Lord.
Be for us, O Lord, the light which has so setting.
Do not permit us to veil our eyes and our hearts.

May your life be ours,
that we may truly be your witnesses,
worthy to bear your name in word and action.
Then we shall merit to be true children of God,
and shall glorify the Blessed Trinity,
now and for ever.

Amen.

QOLO
Blessed is the Lord who gave fasting and prayer as a beacon for his holy Church.
All nations are enlightened by her, and they glorify him.

Holy are you, O God, for the love of us, you gave us life.

Holy are you, O Strong One, you fasted for us,
that we may have the strength to fast for you.

Holy are you, O Immortal One, you died for us, and thus gave us life.

O Christ, crucified for us, by your death, you triumphed over the evil one and taught us victory.

Blessed is he who saved us; happy the one who breaks bread with the hungry and needy.

ETRO
O Lord,
accept this incense (prayer) which we offer you this evening.
Grant peace to the world, the nations and the peoples.
May your peace reign among those who are governed
and may injustice cease and justice and security be spread abroad.
Remember in your kingdom those who have died confessing your faith,
and who now rest in your hope,
with them we shall glorify and praise you, for ever.

Amen.

READINGS
MAZMOORO
You who fast, let your hearts be sincere.
May you please the Lord with your purity and justice.

You who fast, incline your ears and listen to what the Prophet says:
The Lord rejoices in the fast flowing with love.

Happy are those who fast in continence.
Woe to the greedy, the insatiable who act unjustly; the Lord observes them, and will judge them.

SCRIPTURE READINGS
A Reading from the Book of Genesis
Genesis 12: 1-20
The LORD said to Abram: “Go forth from the land of your kinsfolk and from your father’s house to a land that I will show you. I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you and curse those who curse you. All the communities of the earth shall find blessing in you.”Abram went as the LORD directed him, and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he left Haran. Abram took his wife Sarai, his brother’s son Lot, all the possessions that they had accumulated, and the persons they had acquired in Haran, and they set out for the land of Canaan. When they came to the land of Canaan, Abram passed through the land as far as the sacred place at Shechem, by the terebinth of Moreh. The Canaanites were then in the land. The LORD appeared to Abram and said,
“To your descendants I will give this land.” So Abram built an altar there to the LORD
who had appeared to him. From there he moved on to the hill country east of Bethel, pitching his tent with Bethel to the west and Ai to the east. He built an altar there to the LORD and invoked the LORD by name. Then Abram journeyed on by stages to the Negeb.

There was famine in the land; so Abram went down to Egypt to sojourn there, since the famine in the land was severe. When he was about to enter Egypt, he said to his wife Sarai: “I know well how beautiful a woman you are. When the Egyptians see you, they will say, ‘She is his wife’; then they will kill me, but let you live. Please say, therefore, that you are my sister, so that it may go well with me on your account and my life may be spared for your sake.” When Abram came to Egypt, the Egyptians saw how beautiful the woman was; and when Pharaoh’s courtiers saw her, they praised her to Pharaoh. So she was taken into Pharaoh’s palace. On her account it went very well with Abram, and he received flocks and herds, male and female slaves, male and female asses, and camels. But the LORD struck Pharaoh and his household with severe plagues because of Abram’s wife Sarai. Then Pharaoh summoned Abram and said to him: “How could you do this to me! Why didn’t you tell me she was your wife? Why did you say,
‘She is my sister,’ so that I took her for my wife? Here, then, is your wife. Take her and be gone!” Then Pharaoh gave men orders concerning him, and they sent him on his way, with his wife and all that belonged to him.

SUPPLICATION
O Son, by your fast you saved the Church from error;
hear our supplication and have mercy on us.

You reconciled heaven and earth,
grant peace to your Church and keep her children by the light of the cross.

During Lent, gather together, profit from the riches offered to you.
The holy books are a treasure; the key is the hymns you sing.
Blessed is the king who opens his treasure to those who are in need.

Brothers and sisters, open these books; receive from the Lord the sublime treasure which is offered to you.
Blessed is he who prepared for everyone these supports. Blessed is he who suppressed the cause of our misery.

A splendid gift is placed before us, and we do not take notice of it in spite of our eyes.
Rare are those who behold this treasure and recognize it for what it is.
Have mercy, O Lord, on the blind who see nothing but gold.

Jesus, you opened the eyes of Bartimeus, who was blind;
O Lord, open the darkened eyes, and may your mercy be magnified.
O Lord, the clay that you formed teaches us that your are truly the Son of the One who formed us.

O Christ, you accepted the fasting of the our ancestors,
accept our fasting and our prayers and have mercy on us.

Exalt, O Lord, the memory of your Mother, and your saints;
through their prayers grant pardon to us and to 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 confess, adore, and praise the holy and glorious Trinity:
Father, Son, + and Holy Spirit.

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, Holy Spirit.

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, or 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 and 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 your mercy, kindness, help, grace 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 with your spirit

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, the pastors and doctors of true faith;
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 his victorious cross.
May we and all his servants who adore him with bowed head,
receive the mercy of the holy and glorious Trinity:
Father, Son, + and 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.