TAIZÉ

European Meeting in Taizé and online

Programme for morning prayers

 
On this page you will find the suggested programme for the morning prayers during the end-of-year meeting. The proposed songs are only suggestions: you can of course adapt the choice of songs to your local context.

Monday morning 28/12

Song

— for example Venite, exultemus Domino

Psalm 72

(for example with Alleluia 22)

  1. O God, give your judgment to the King, make your righteousness his guide, that he may judge your lowly ones justly.
  2. May justice flourish in his days, and peace until the end of moons!
  3. May the kings of Tarshish and the islands render tribute, the kings of Sheba and Seba offer gifts. May all kings fall down before him, all nations serve him.
  4. He will deliver the needy when they call out, the poor and those who have no one to help them. He will care for the poor and will save the lives of those in need.
  5. Long may he live! May gold of Sheba be given to him. Let prayers be said for him always, blessings on him invoked at all times.

Reading

In the time of King Herod, after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, asking, “Where is the child who has been born king of the Jews? For we observed his star at its rising, and have come to pay him homage.” When King Herod heard this, he was frightened, and all Jerusalem with him; and calling together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Messiah was to be born. They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea; for so it has been written by the prophet: ‘And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler who is to shepherd my people Israel.’” Then Herod secretly called for the wise men and learned from them the exact time when the star had appeared. Then he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and search diligently for the child; and when you have found him, bring me word so that I may also go and pay him homage.” When they had heard the king, they set out; and there, ahead of them, went the star that they had seen at its rising, until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw that the star had stopped, they were overwhelmed with joy. On entering the house, the wise men saw the child with Mary his mother; and they knelt down and paid him homage. Then, opening their treasure chests, they offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they left for their own country by another road.
Matthew 2:1-12

Song

— for example The kingdom of God

Silence

Prayer

Jesus, our trust, your Gospel carries within it a hope so beautiful that we would like to go to the very end of self-giving in order to follow you. And irresistibly a question arises: where is the source of such hope? It is found in abandoning ourselves to you, Christ.

Intercessory prayer

(for example with Gospodi C)

  1. .O Christ, Son of God, you were before the world began, and you came to earth to save us all: make us witnesses of this Good News.
  2. .Sun of justice, you shined out from the Father’s heart and illuminated the universe; bring light to all who are sitting in darkness and in the shadow of death.
  3. You became a little child and were laid in a manger: renew in us the simplicity of childhood.
  4. King of glory, you accepted such an inconceivable humbling: give us hearts which are poor.
  5. You became our living bread and gave us eternal life: gladden our hearts by your Eucharist.

Our Father

Songs

— for example In the Lord (El Senyor) and Jesu redemptor


Tuesday morning 29/12

Song

— for example Laudemus Deum

Psalm 112

(for example with Alleluia 22)

  1. Happy are those who revere the Lord and who delight in God’s commandments: their descendants will be mighty in the land.
  2. A light shines in the darkness for the upright. They are gracious, merciful and just.
  3. It is well with those who deal generously and lend, who conduct their affairs with justice: the just will never be moved, they will be remembered forever.
  4. They are not afraid of evil tidings; their hearts are firm, secure in the Lord; their hearts are steady, they will not be afraid.
  5. They have distributed freely, they have given to the poor: their righteousness endures forever.

Reading

ust then a lawyer stood up to test Jesus. "Teacher," he said, "what must I do to inherit eternal life?" He said to him, "What is written in the law? What do you read there?" He answered, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself." And he said to him, "You have given the right answer; do this, and you will live."
But wanting to justify himself, he asked Jesus, "And who is my neighbor?" Jesus replied, "A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell into the hands of robbers, who stripped him, beat him, and went away, leaving him half dead. Now by chance a priest was going down that road; and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan while traveling came near him; and when he saw him, he was moved with pity. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, having poured oil and wine on them. Then he put him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him. The next day he took out two denarii, gave them to the innkeeper, and said, ’Take care of him; and when I come back, I will repay you whatever more you spend.’ Which of these three, do you think, was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of the robbers?" He said, "The one who showed him mercy." Jesus said to him, "Go and do likewise."
(Luke 10.25-37)

Song

— for example Ubi caritas

Silence

Prayer

God of all eternity, open in us the gates of mercy. We understand that the will of your love is not a law engraved on stone tablets. It is burning charity, written in our hearts.

Intercessory prayer

(for example with Gospodi C)

  1. May your peace shine among us and your love set us free, Lord, we pray.
  2. Guide your Church along the way of the Gospel; may your Holy Spirit keep her welcoming.
  3. We pray for the leaders of the nations; may they have the will to promote justice and freedom.
  4. For those who are ill, for those who cannot receive the care they need, we pray to you.
  5. For those who work with foreigners and with people who are lonely, we pray to you.
  6. For our country and our region, that Christians there may be witnesses to hope and creators of unity, Lord, we pray.

Our Father

Songs

— for example Christe, lux mundi and Bless the Lord


Wednesday morning 30/12

Song

— for example Confitemini Domino

Psalm 104

(for example with Alleluia 22)

  1. All look to you, O God, to give them their food in due season; when you open your hand, they are filled with good things.
  2. Lord, you send forth your creator spirit and you renew the face of the earth.
  3. May the glory of the Lord endure forever, may the Lord rejoice in his works!
  4. I will sing to the Lord as long as I live; I will praise my God while I have being.
  5. May my words be pleasing to God, for I rejoice in the Lord. Bless the Lord, O my soul!

Lecture

Jesus said: "If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, to be with you forever. This is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, because he abides with you, and he will be in you. "I will not leave you orphaned; I am coming to you. In a little while the world will no longer see me, but you will see me; because I live, you also will live. On that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you. They who have my commandments and keep them are those who love me; and those who love me will be loved by my Father, and I will love them and reveal myself to them." Judas (not Iscariot) said to him, "Lord, how is it that you will reveal yourself to us, and not to the world?" Jesus answered him, "Those who love me will keep my word, and my Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them. Whoever does not love me does not keep my words; and the word that you hear is not mine, but is from the Father who sent me.”
(John 14.15-24)

Song

— for example Tui amoris ignem

Silence

Prayer

Jesus our peace, by the Holy Spirit you always come to us. And in the depths of our soul there is astonishment at your presence. Our prayer may be extremely poor, but you pray in the very silence of our hearts.

Intercessory prayer

(for example with Gospodi C)

  1. Lord, make our lives a temple of the Holy Spirit. We pray to you.
  2. Grant each of us the fruits of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, faithfulness, we pray to you.
  3. Send your comforting Spirit to all who are in trouble and distress, we pray to you.
  4. Send your comforting Spirit to all who are victims of injustice, we pray to you.
  5. Keep all nations from hatred and war, we pray to you.
  6. Gather together all the nations by the breath of your Spirit, we pray to you.

Our Father

Songs

— for example Let all who are thirsty come and Da pacem… in diebus


Thursday morning 31/12

Song

— for example Laudate omnes gentes

Psalm 96

(for example with Alleluia 22)

  1. Sing to the Lord a new song, sing to the Lord, all the earth; sing to the Lord, bless God’s name!
  2. Proclaim God’s salvation day by day; declare God’s glory among the nations, God’s marvelous works among all the peoples!
  3. Let the heavens rejoice and the earth be glad; let the sea roar, and all that fills it!
  4. Let the fields exult along with everything in them; let all the trees of the forest sing for joy before the Lord who comes.
  5. The Lord is coming to judge the earth. God will judge the world with righteousness and the peoples with his truth.

Reading

At that time Jesus said, "I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and the intelligent and have revealed them to infants; yes, Father, for such was your gracious will. All things have been handed over to me by my Father; and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.
Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light." (Matthew 11.25-30)

Song

— for example Wait for the Lord

Silence

Prayer

God of all love, in order to go to you, why wait for our hearts to be changed? You yourself transfigure them. In our very wounds, you make communion with you grow. And within us the gates of praise open wide.

Intercessory prayer

(for example with Gospodi C)

  1. O Risen Christ, your heart exults and your soul rejoices: comfort all who are living in sorrow.
  2. Risen Lord, you come to transfigure our being: kindle in us the fire of your love.
  3. Risen Lord, in you our resurrection has already begun on this earth: kindle in us the fire of your love.
  4. Risen Lord, you come to fill our hearts with peace: kindle in us the fire of your love.
  5. Risen Lord, your Spirit burns away sadness in us: kindle in us the fire of your love.
  6. Risen Lord, you come to gather us in your Body, the Church: kindle in us the fire of your love.

Our Father

Songs

— for example Deus, Deus meus and In resurrectione tua

Last updated: 8 December 2020