Oremus for Wednesday, September 17, 2025

Hildegard of Bingen
Hildegard was born in 1098 at Böckelheim in Germany. From her earliest years she had a powerful, visionary life, becoming a nun at the age of eighteen, much influenced by her foster-mother, Jutta, who had set up the community and whom she succeeded as Abbess in 1136. Her visions of light, which she described as “the reflection of the Living Light”, deepened her understanding of God and creation, sin and redemption. They were, however, accompanied by repeated illness and physical weakness. About twenty years later, she moved her sisters to a new Abbey at Bingen. She travelled much in the Rhineland, founding a daughter house and influencing many, including the Emperor Frederick Barbarossa. She was a pastor and teacher, seeing herself as a “feather on the breath of God”. She wrote three visionary works, a natural history and a medical compendium. She died on this day in the year 1179. ^EH

Antiphon https://tinyurl.com/2p8skw3h

I am the true vine and you are the branches, says the Lord.
Whoever remains in me, and I in him, bears fruit in plenty, alleluia. John 15

Holy Spirit,
giving life to all life,
moving all creatures,
root of all things,
washing them clean,
wiping out their mistakes,
healing their wounds,
you are our true life,
luminous, wonderful,
awakening the heart
from its ancient sleep. Amen. ^Hildegard

Music: https://tinyurl.com/ycn4djk5

O Lord, open my lips.
And my mouth will declare your praise.
Make haste, O God, to deliver me;
make haste to help me, O Lord.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit,
as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen.
Praise to you, O Christ, Alleluia!

HYMN: Hildegard of Bingen; trans. Singing the Living Tradition, 1993 ©
Tune: De spiritu sancto

1 I am that great and fiery force 
sparkling in everything that lives; 
in shining of the river’s course, 
in greening grass that glory gives.

2 I shine and glitter on the seas, 
in burning sun, in moon and stars.
In unseen wind, in verdant trees 
I breathe within, both near and far.

3 And where I breathe there is no death, 
and meadows glow with beauties rife.
I am in all, the spirit’s breath, 
the thundered word, for I am Life.

PSALMS

Psalm 86 (Anglican Chant: https://tinyurl.com/vmvol2r)
1  Bow down thine ear, O Lord, and hear me *
 for I am poor, and in misery.
2  Preserve thou my soul, for I am holy *
 my God, save thy servant that putteth his trust in thee.
3  Be merciful unto me, O Lord *
 for I will call daily upon thee.
4  Comfort the soul of thy servant *
 for unto thee, O Lord, do I lift up my soul.
5  For thou, Lord, art good and gracious *
 and of great mercy unto all them that call upon thee.
6  Give ear, Lord, unto my prayer *
 and ponder the voice of my humble desires.
7  In the time of my trouble I will call upon thee *
 for thou hearest me.
8  Among the gods there is none like unto thee, O Lord *
 there is not one that can do as thou doest.
9  All nations whom thou hast made shall come and worship thee, O Lord *
 and shall glorify thy Name.
10  For thou art great, and doest wondrous things *
 thou art God alone.
11  Teach me thy way, O Lord, and I will walk in thy truth *
 O knit my heart unto thee, that I may fear thy Name.
12  I will thank thee, O Lord my God, with all my heart *
 and will praise thy Name for evermore.
13  For great is thy mercy toward me *
 and thou hast delivered my soul from the nethermost hell.
14  O God, the proud are risen against me *
 and the congregations of naughty men
have sought after my soul, and have not set thee before their eyes.
15  But thou, O Lord God, art full of compassion and mercy *
 long-suffering, plenteous in goodness and truth.
16  O turn thee then unto me, and have mercy upon me *
 give thy strength unto thy servant, and help the son of thine handmaid.
17  Shew some token upon me for good,
that they who hate me may see it, and be ashamed *
 because thou, Lord, hast holpen me, and comforted me.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost,*
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son :
and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be :
world without end. Amen.

Psalm 87 (Anglican Chant: https://tinyurl.com/sjg229z)
1  Her foundations are upon the holy hills *
 the Lord loveth the gates of Sion more than all the dwellings of Jacob.
2  Very excellent things are spoken of thee *
 thou city of God.
3  I will think upon Rahab and Babylon *
 with them that know me.
4  Behold ye the Philistines also *
 and they of Tyre, with the Morians; lo, there was he born.
5  And of Sion it shall be reported that he was born in her *
 and the most High shall stablish her.
6  The Lord shall rehearse it when he writeth up the people *
 that he was born there.
7  The singers also and trumpeters shall he rehearse *
 All my fresh springs shall be in thee.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son :
and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be :
world without end. Amen.

Psalm 88 (Anglican Chant: https://tinyurl.com/tl4xkf)
1  O Lord God of my salvation, I have cried day and night before thee *
 O let my prayer enter into thy presence, incline thine ear unto my calling.
2  For my soul is full of trouble *
 and my life draweth nigh unto hell.
3  I am counted as one of them that go down into the pit *
 and I have been even as a man that hath no strength.
4  Free among the dead, like unto them that are wounded, and lie in the grave *
 who are out of remembrance, and are cut away from thy hand.
5  Thou hast laid me in the lowest pit *
 in a place of darkness, and in the deep.
6  Thine indignation lieth hard upon me *
 and thou hast vexed me with all thy storms.
7  Thou hast put away mine acquaintance far from me *
 and made me to be abhorred of them.
8  I am so fast in prison *
 that I cannot get forth.
9  My sight faileth for very trouble *
 Lord, I have called daily upon thee, I have stretched forth my hands unto thee.
10  Dost thou shew wonders among the dead *
 or shall the dead rise up again, and praise thee?
11  Shall thy loving-kindness be shewed in the grave *
 or thy faithfulness in destruction?
12  Shall thy wondrous works be known in the dark *
 and thy righteousness in the land where all things are forgotten?
13  Unto thee have I cried, O Lord *
 and early shall my prayer come before thee.
14  Lord, why abhorrest thou my soul *
 and hidest thou thy face from me?
15  I am in misery, and like unto him that is at the point to die *
 even from my youth up thy terrors have I suffered with a troubled mind.
16  Thy wrathful displeasure goeth over me *
 and the fear of thee hath undone me.
17  They came round about me daily like water *
 and compassed me together on every side.
18  My lovers and friends hast thou put away from me *
 and hid mine acquaintance out of my sight.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son :
and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be :
world without end. Amen.

Psalm 86 (LSB Tone B: http://oremus.org/chant/Psalm-86-LSB.mp3)
1 Incline your ear, O LORD, and answer me,*
 for I am poor and needy.
2 Preserve my life, for I am godly;*
 save your servant, who trusts in you— you are my God.
3 Be gracious to me, O Lord,*
 for to you do I cry all the day.
4 Gladden the soul of your servant,*
 for to you, O Lord, do I lift up my soul.
5 For you, O Lord, are good and forgiving,*
 abounding in steadfast love to all who call upon you.
6 Give ear, O LORD, to my prayer;*
 listen to my plea for grace.
7 In the day of my trouble I call upon you,*
 for you answer me.
8 There is none like you among the gods, O Lord,*
 nor are there any works like yours.
9 All the nations you have made
shall come and worship before you, O Lord,*
 and shall glorify your name.
10 For you are great and do wondrous things;*
 you alone are God.
11 Teach me your way, O LORD,
that I may walk in your truth;*
 unite my heart to fear your name.
12 I give thanks to you, O Lord my God, with my whole heart,*
 and I will glorify your name forever.
13 For great is your steadfast love toward me;*
 you have delivered my soul from the depths of Sheol.
14 O God, insolent men have risen up against me;
a band of ruthless men seek my life,*
 and they do not set you before them.
15 But you, O Lord, are a God merciful and gracious,*
 slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness.
16 Turn to me and be gracious to me;*
 give your strength to your servant,
 and save the son of your maidservant.
17 Show me a sign of your favor,*
 that those who hate me may see
 and be put to shame because you, LORD,
 have helped me and comforted me.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son*
 and to the Holy Spirit;
as it was in the beginning,*
 is now, and will be forever. Amen.

Psalm 87 (Gregorian Tone VIII.1)

1 The Lord loves the foundation
which he has laid upon the holy hills; *
the gates of Zion are dearer to him than
all the dwellings of Jacob.
2 Very excellent things are spoken of you, *
O city of God.
3 I will consider Egypt and Babylon *
among those who know me.
4 Behold Philistia also, and Tyre, with Ethiopia; *
each one was born in her.
5 And of Zion it shall be reported that each one was born in her, *
and the Most High shall establish her.
6 The Lord shall record it when he registers the people, *
that each one was born there.
7 The singers and the dancers also shall say, *
“All my fresh springs are in you.”
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit; *
as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen.

Psalm 88 (Gregorian Tone VIII.1)

1 O Lord God of my salvation,
I have cried day and night before you; *
O let my prayer enter into your presence;
incline your ear to my call.
2 For my soul is full of trouble, *
and my life draws nigh to the Grave.
3 I am counted as one of those who go down into the pit, *
and I have become as one who has no strength.
4 I have become like the dead, and like the slain who lie in the grave, *
whom you remember no more,
and who are cut off from your hand.
5 You have laid me in the lowest pit, *
in a place of darkness, and in the deep.
6 Your indignation lies heavy upon me, *
and you have overwhelmed me with all your storms.
7 You have put my friends far from me, *
and made me to be abhorred by them.
8 I am in prison; *
I cannot go forth.
9 My sight fails because of trouble; *
Lord, I have called daily upon you;
I have stretched forth my hands unto you.
10 Do you show wonders among the dead, *
or shall the dead rise up again and praise you?
11 Shall your loving-kindness be shown in the grave, *
or your faithfulness in destruction?
12 Shall your wondrous works be known in the dark, *
and your righteousness in the land where
all things are forgotten?
13 Unto you have I cried, O Lord, *
and early shall my prayer come before you.
14 Lord, why do you cast off my soul *
and hide your face from me?
15 I am in misery, like one who is at the point of death; *
even from my youth,
your terrors have I suffered with a troubled mind.
16 Your wrathful displeasure goes over me, *
and the fear of you has undone me.
17 Daily they come round about me like water, *
and encompass me on every side.
18 My companions and neighbors you have put away from me, *
and hidden my friends out of my sight.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit; *
as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen.

PRAYER

Lord, as you call us to your city
founded on the rock of ages,
let the springs of living water
rise within us to eternal life;
in Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. ^CW:DP

THE WORD OF GOD

READING: 1 Samuel 10:1-16
Samuel took a small jar of oil and poured it over Saul’s head and kissed him. “The Lord hereby anoints you leader of his people Israel,” Samuel said. “You will rule the Lord’s people and save them from the power of the enemies who surround them. And this will be the sign for you that the Lord has anointed you as leader of his very own possession: When you leave me today, you will meet two men near Rachel’s tomb at Zelzah on the border of Benjamin. They will tell you, ‘The donkeys you went looking for have been found. Now your father has stopped thinking about the donkeys and is worried about you. He’s asking: What should I do about my son?’ Then, when you’ve gone on a bit farther, you will come to the oak at Tabor. Three men who are going to consult God at Bethel will meet up with you there, one carrying three young goats, one carrying three loaves of bread, and one carrying a jar of wine. They will ask how you’re doing and will offer you sacrificial bread, which you should accept. After that, you will come to Gibeath-elohim, which is a Philistine fort. When you enter the town, you will encounter a group of prophets coming down from the shrine preceded by harps, tambourines, flutes, and lyres. They will be caught up in a prophetic frenzy. Then the Lord’s spirit will come over you, and you will be caught up in a prophetic frenzy right along with them; it will be like you’ve become a completely different person. Once these signs have happened to you, do whatever you would like to do, because God is with you. Then go down to Gilgal ahead of me. I’ll come down to meet you to offer entirely burned offerings and to make well-being sacrifices. Wait seven days until I get to you, then I’ll tell you what you should do next.”

And just as Saul turned to leave Samuel’s side, God gave him a different heart, and all these signs happened that very same day. When Saul and the boy got to Gibeah, there was a group of prophets coming to meet him. God’s spirit came over Saul, and he was caught up in a prophetic frenzy right along with them. When all the people who had known Saul saw him prophesying with the prophets, they said to each other, “What’s happened to Kish’s son? Is Saul also one of the prophets?” One of the locals then asked, “And who is their leader?” So it became a proverb: “Is Saul also one of the prophets?” When the prophetic frenzy was over, Saul went home.

Saul’s uncle said to him and to his young servant, “Where did you go?” “To look for the donkeys,” Saul replied, “but when we couldn’t find anything, we went to Samuel.” “Please tell me what Samuel told you,” Saul’s uncle said. “He reassured us that the donkeys had been found,” Saul answered. But Saul didn’t tell his uncle what Samuel had said about the kingship.

HYMN: George Croly
Tune: Morecambe https://tinyurl.com/2upe43wn

1 Spirit of God, descend upon my heart;
wean it from earth; through all its pulses move;
stoop to my weakness, mighty as thou art,
and make me love thee as I ought to love.

2 I ask no dream, no prophet-ecstasies,
no sudden rending of the veil of clay,
no angel-visitant, no opening skies:
but take the dimness of my soul away.

3 Hast thou not bid me love thee, God and King —
all, all thine own, soul, heart, and strength, and mind?
I see thy cross — there teach my heart to cling:
oh, let me seek thee, and oh, let me find!

4 Teach me to feel that thou art always nigh:
teach me the struggles of the soul to bear,
to check the rising doubt, the rebel sigh:
teach me the patience of unanswered prayer.

5 Teach me to love thee as thine angels love,
one holy passion filling all my frame —
the baptism of the heaven-descended Dove,
my heart an altar, and thy love the flame.

READING: 2 Corinthians 5:11-21
So we try to persuade people, since we know what it means to fear the Lord. We are well known by God, and I hope that in your heart we are well known by you as well. We aren’t trying to commend ourselves to you again. Instead, we are giving you an opportunity to be proud of us so that you could answer those who take pride in superficial appearance, and not in what is in the heart.

If we are crazy, it’s for God’s sake. If we are rational, it’s for your sake. The love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: one died for the sake of all; therefore, all died. He died for the sake of all so that those who are alive should live not for themselves but for the one who died for them and was raised.

So then, from this point on we won’t recognize people by human standards. Even though we used to know Christ by human standards, that isn’t how we know him now. So then, if anyone is in Christ, that person is part of the new creation. The old things have gone away, and look, new things have arrived!

All of these new things are from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and who gave us the ministry of reconciliation. In other words, God was reconciling the world to himself through Christ, by not counting people’s sins against them. He has trusted us with this message of reconciliation.

So we are ambassadors who represent Christ. God is negotiating with you through us. We beg you as Christ’s representatives, “Be reconciled to God!” God caused the one who didn’t know sin to be sin for our sake so that through him we could become the righteousness of God.

HYMN: Hildegard of Bingen; para. Jean Janzen ©
Tune: Puer nobis nascitur https://tinyurl.com/2mfm83j5

1 O Holy Spirit, Root of life,
Creator, Cleanser of all things,
anoint our wounds, awaken us
with lustrous movement of your wings.

2 Eternal Vigor, Saving One,
you free us by your living Word,
becoming flesh to wear our pain,
and all creation is restored.

3 O Holy Wisdom, Moving Force,
encompass us with wings unfurled,
and carry us, encircling all,
above, below, and through the world.

READING: Luke 7:24-35
After John’s messengers were gone, Jesus spoke to the crowds about John. “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A stalk blowing in the wind? What did you go out to see? A man dressed up in refined clothes? Look, those who dress in fashionable clothes and live in luxury are in royal palaces. What did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. He is the one of whom it’s written: Look, I’m sending my messenger before you, who will prepare your way before you. I tell you that no greater human being has ever been born than John. Yet whoever is least in God’s kingdom is greater than he.” Everyone who heard this, including the tax collectors, acknowledged God’s justice because they had been baptized by John. But the Pharisees and legal experts rejected God’s will for themselves because they hadn’t been baptized by John.

“To what will I compare the people of this generation?” Jesus asked. “What are they like? They are like children sitting in the marketplace calling out to each other, ‘We played the flute for you and you didn’t dance. We sang a funeral song and you didn’t cry.’ John the Baptist came neither eating bread nor drinking wine, and you say, ‘He has a demon.’ Yet the Human One came eating and drinking, and you say, ‘Look, a glutton and a drunk, a friend of tax collectors and sinners.’ But wisdom is proved to be right by all her descendants.”

CANTICLE Song of the Three Young Men 29-34
(BCP 2019/St Bernard Breviary)

Glory to you, Lord God of our fathers; *
you are worthy of praise; glory to you.
Glory to you for the radiance of your holy Name; *
we will praise you and highly exalt you for ever.
Glory to you in the splendor of your temple; *
on the throne of your majesty, glory to you.
Glory to you, seated between the Cherubim; *
we will praise you and highly exalt you for ever.
Glory to you, beholding the depths; *
in the high vault of heaven, glory to you.
Glory to you, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit; *
we will praise you and highly exalt you for ever.

THE PRAYERS ^BCW
Give us your peace, O God,
that we may rejoice in your goodness
to us and to all your children,
and be thankful for your love revealed in Jesus Christ.
Especially we thank you for
people who reveal your truth and righteousness . . .
courage to be bold disciples . . .
those who show hospitality . . .
surprises that have blessed us . . .
the unity of the church of Jesus Christ. . . .

Give us your peace, O God,
that we may be confident of your care
for us and all your children,
as we remember the needs of others.
Especially we pray for
friends and relatives who are far away . . .
neighbors in special need . . .
those who suffer hunger and thirst . . .
those who work at night while others sleep . . .

(Plainsong Mode 2: https://tinyurl.com/yctqq8cf)^DL

Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your Name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us today the bread of life;
and forgive us our sins
as we forgive those who sin against us.
Save us from the time of trial
and deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours,
now and for ever. Amen.

Most glorious and holy God,
whose servant Hildegard, strong in the faith,
was caught up in the vision of your heavenly courts:
by the breath of your Spirit
open our eyes to glimpse your glory
and our lips to sing your praises with all the angels;
through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord,
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever. Amen. ^EH

Music: https://tinyurl.com/y9efvwm5
Let us bless the Lord.
Thanks be to God.

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God,
and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with us all. Amen. 2 Cor. 13:14

---

^BCW Book of Common Worship, Presbyterian Church U.S.A., 1993.

^BCW2018 Book of Common Worship, Presbyterian Church U.S.A., 2018.

^DL © Daniel Lawson; used with permission.

^CW:DP Common Worship: Daily Prayer, material from which is included here,
is copyright © The Archbishops’ Council 2005 and published by Church House Publishing

^EH Exciting Holiness, Ed. Brother Tristram SSF © European Province of the Society of Saint Francis, 1997

The main scripture readings are © 2011 Common English Bible.

The traditional-language psalms are from The Book of Common Prayer (1662). The modern versions of Psalm 86 is the version in Lutheran Service Book and is from the Next to the Word of God YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCkVRYL-MRebncw584Ql2xfg. Psalms 87 and 88 are from Book of Common Prayer (2019) as recorded for the St Bernard Breviary https://www.bernardbreviary.com/chant-helps. The canticle comes from the same website

Musical links are usually either to artists’ albums posted on Spotify or to recordings made available at smallchurchmusic.com. Audio stripped from YouTube videos is footnoted accordingly above.

Compilation © 2025 Stephen T. Benner. All links worked at the time they were created, but I cannot accept responsibility for their content or any damage resulting from their use. The linked content is under the control of the respective content creators and is subject to change at any time. Any copyright texts included in this compilation are provided for non-commercial purposes related to study or worship. Please contact the respective copyright holders for permission to use the texts in other contexts.