Livestream LITURGY OF THE HOURS

We welcome you to join the Community of Jesus daily via livestream as we pray the Liturgy of the Hours — Lauds and Vespers.  These services sung in Gregorian chant include psalms, hymns, readings, and prayers.

Lauds – June 21

Psalms for Lauds

Reading for Lauds

God has a habit of doing great things with nothing. God loves to create. The saints understood this and they accomplished great works with nothing at all, like God, because in their work they followed God’s methods.

The anchorites of the desert spent their lives battling against the evil spirits. Benedict, driven from Subiaco, founded only the monastery of Monte Cassino. Francis of Assisi formed but a few dozen disciples as guardians of his thought. The Curé of Ars heard confessions in a village church. However, it is these humble works that shine. When the apostolate is thus understood, it weighs heavily in the balance of God and the spiritual destiny of the world.

An apostle is truly an apostle only when he remains united to our Lord. Contemplation and action should not be separated. Mary and Martha are sisters. The two sisters complement each other and make only one. That is how the saints understood it. The apostolate is just the glow of sanctity. Apostles should be doubly holy, once for themselves, and once for others.

Vespers – June 21

Psalms for Vespers

Reading for Vespers

And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father’s only son, full of grace and truth. (John testified to him and cried out, “This was he of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me ranks ahead of me because he was before me.’ ”) From his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. The law indeed was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. No one has ever seen God. It is the only Son, himself God, who is close to the Father’s heart, who has made him known.

This is the testimony given by John when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, “Who are you?” He confessed and did not deny it, but he confessed, “I am not the Messiah.” And they asked him, “What then? Are you Elijah?” He said, “I am not.” “Are you the prophet?” He answered, “No.” Then they said to him, “Who are you? Let us have an answer for those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?” He said,
“I am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness,
‘Make straight the way of the Lord,’ ”

Verbum Domini
John 1:14–23 NRSV