Today in the Divine Office, for
Lauds ("morning prayer"), we praise the Lord with his holy prophet, Daniel. If you don't pray the Liturgy of the Hours, perhaps today - honor of Michaelmas (the Feast of the Archangels) - you might raise your voice in praise of the Lord. Take a moment to reflect on the blessings God has showered on your life and with a "gratitude-attitude" take some time this morning (or later if time doesn't permit) to raise your voice with the angels, who never cease to praise their beloved God. Many of our prayers, naturally, end up being petitionary. It is right and just ("
dignum et justum est" as the Mass has it) for us to not only ask the Lord for things (although that too is laudatory), but to praise Him simply for who He is (this is the virtue of Religion, according to St. Thomas Aquinas). Join with me, then, and with Daniel and St. Michael, as we proclaim:
52 Blessed art thou, O Lord the God of our fathers: and worthy to be praised, and glorified, and exalted above all for ever: and blessed is the holy name of thy glory: and worthy to be praised, and exalted above all in all ages.53 Blessed art thou in the holy temple of thy glory: and exceedingly to be praised, and exceeding glorious for ever.54 Blessed art thou on the throne of thy kingdom, and exceedingly to be praised, and exalted above all for ever.55 Blessed art thou, that beholdest the depths, and sittest upon the cherubims: and worthy to be praised and exalted above all for ever.56 Blessed art thou in the firmament of heaven: and worthy of praise, and glorious for ever.57 All ye works of the Lord, bless the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever.58 O ye angels of the Lord, bless the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever.59 O ye heavens, bless the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever.60 O all ye waters that are above the heavens, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him above all for ever.61 O all ye powers of the Lord, bless the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever.62 O ye sun and moon, bless the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever.63 O ye stars of heaven, bless the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever.64 O every shower and dew, bless ye the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever.65 O all ye spirits of God, bless the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever.66 O ye fire and heat, bless the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever.67 O ye cold and heat, bless the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever.68 O ye dews and hoar frosts, bless the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever.69 O ye frost and cold, bless the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever.70 O ye ice and snow, bless the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever.71 O ye nights and days, bless the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever.72 O ye light and darkness, bless the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever.73 O ye lightnings and clouds, bless the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever.74 O let the earth bless the Lord: let it praise and exalt him above all for ever.75 O ye mountains and hills, bless the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever.76 O all ye things that spring up in the earth, bless the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever.77 O ye fountains, bless the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever.78 O ye seas and rivers, bless the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever.79 O ye whales, and all that move in the waters, bless the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever.80 O all ye fowls of the air, bless the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever.81 O all ye beasts and cattle, bless the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever.82 O ye sons of men, bless the Lord, praise and exalt him above all for ever.83 O let Israel bless the Lord: let them praise and exalt him above all for ever.84 O ye priests of the Lord, bless the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever.85 O ye servants of the Lord, bless the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever.86 O ye spirits and souls of the just, bless the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever.87 O ye holy and humble of heart, bless the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever.88 O Ananias, Azarias, and Misael, bless ye the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever. For he hath delivered us from hell, and saved us out of the hand of death, and delivered us out of the midst of the burning flame, and saved us out of the midst of the fire.89 O give thanks to the Lord, because he is good: because his mercy endureth for ever and ever.90 O all ye religious, bless the Lord the God of gods: praise him and give him thanks, because his mercy endureth for ever and ever.
(If you prefer a modern translation, please find
the New American Bible version online HERE)
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