Daytime Prayers
INTRODUCTION
God, + come to my assistance.
– Lord, make haste to help me.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:
– as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen. Alleluia.
HYMN
At Midmorning
From all that dwell below the skies
Let the Creator’s praise arise:
Let the Redeemer’s name be sung
Through every land, by every tongue.
Halleluia!
Eternal are thy mercies, Lord;
Eternal truth attends thy word:
Thy praise shall sound from shore to shore,
Till suns shall rise and set no more.
Halleluia!
Tune: Erschienen ist der herrliche Tag or Eisenach L.M. with halleluia
Music: Nicholaus Hermann, 1560 or Johann Schein, 1583-1630
Text: Isaac Watts, 1719
At Midday
Lord of all being, throned afar,
Your glory flames from sun and star;
Center and soul of every sphere,
And yet to loving hearts how near.
Sun of our life, your living ray
Sheds on our path the glow of day;
Star of our hope, your gentle light
Shall ever cheer the longest night.
Lord of all life, below, above,
Whose light is truth, whose warmth is love;
Before the brilliance of your throne
We ask no luster of our own.
Give us your grace to make us true,
And kindling hearts that burn for you,
Till all your living altars claim
One holy light, one heavenly flame.
Tune: Uffingham L.M.
Music: Jeremiah Clarke, 1659-1707
Text: Oliver Wendell Holmes, 1809-1894
At Midafternoon
Most ancient of all mysteries,
Before your throne we lie;
Have mercy now, most merciful,
Most holy Trinity.
When heaven and earth were still unmade,
When time was yet unknown,
You in your radiant majesty
Did live and love alone.
You were not born, there was no source
From which your Being flowed;
There is no end which you can reach,
For you are simply God.
How wonderful creation is,
The work which you did bless;
What then must you be like, dear God,
Eternal loveliness!
Most ancient of all mysteries,
Before your throne we lie;
Have mercy now, most merciful,
Most holy Trinity.
Tune: St. Flavian C.M.
Music: John Day in John Day’s Psalter, 1562
Text: Frederick W. Faber, 1814-1863
PSALMODY
Ant. 1 Receive me, Lord, according to your promise, that I may live.
Psalm 119:113-120
XV (Samech)
A meditation on God’s law
This is my commandment: that you should love one another (John 15:12).
I have no love for half-hearted men: *
my love is for your law.
You are my shelter, my shield; *
I hope in your word.
Leave me, you who do evil; *
I will keep God’s command.
If you uphold me by your promise I shall live; *
let my hopes not be in vain.
Sustain me and I shall be saved *
and ever observe your commands.
You spurn all who swerve from your statutes; *
their cunning is in vain.
You throw away the wicked like dross: *
so I love your will.
I tremble before you in terror; *
I fear your decrees.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, *
and to the Holy Spirit:
as it was in the beginning, is now, *
and will be for ever. Amen.
Psalm Prayer
Help us and we shall be saved, Lord God; leave us and we are doomed. May you remain with us always so that the fullness of life may be ours.
Ant. Receive me, Lord, according to your promise, that I may live.
Ant. 2 Help us, O God, our Savior, and pardon all our sins.
Psalm 79:1-5, 8-11, 13
Lament for Jerusalem
If only you had known what would bring you peace (Luke 19:42).
O God, the nations have invaded our land, *
they have profaned your holy temple.
They have made Jerusalem a heap of ruins. *
They have handed over the bodies of your servants
as food to feed the birds of heaven *
and the flesh of your faithful to the beasts of the earth.
They have poured out blood like water in Jerusalem; *
no one is left to bury the dead.
We have become the taunt of our neighbors, *
the mockery and scorn of those who surround us.
How long, O Lord? Will you be angry for ever, *
how long will your anger burn like fire?
Do not hold the guilt of our fathers against us. †
Let your compassion hasten to meet us; *
we are left in the depths of distress.
O God our savior, come to our help, *
come for the sake of the glory of your name.
O Lord our God, forgive us our sins; *
rescue us for the sake of your name.
Why should the nations say: “Where is their God?” †
Let us see the nations around us repaid *
with vengeance for the blood of your servants that was shed!
Let the groans of the prisoners come before you; *
let your strong arm reprieve those condemned to die.
But we, your people, the flock of your pasture, †
will give you thanks for ever and ever. *
We will tell your praise from age to age.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, *
and to the Holy Spirit:
as it was in the beginning, is now, *
and will be for ever. Amen.
Psalm Prayer
Lord Jesus Christ, shepherd of your Church, in order to strengthen our faith and lead us to the kingdom, you renewed and far surpassed the marvels of the old law. Through the uncertainties of this earthly journey, lead us home to the everlasting pastures.
Ant. Help us, O God, our Savior, and pardon all our sins.
Ant. 3 O God of power, look down from heaven and come to tend this vine.
Psalm 80
Lord, come to tend your vineyard
Come, Lord Jesus (Revelation 22:20).
O shepherd of Israel, hear us, *
you who lead Joseph’s flock,
shine forth from your cherubim throne *
upon Ephraim, Benjamin, Manasseh.
O Lord, rouse up your might, *
O Lord, come to our help.
God of hosts, bring us back; *
let your face shine on us and we shall be saved.
Lord God of hosts, how long *
will you frown on your people’s plea?
You have fed them with tears for their bread, *
an abundance of tears for their drink.
You have made us the taunt of our neighbors, *
our enemies laugh us to scorn.
God of hosts, bring us back; *
let your face shine on us and we shall be saved.
You brought a vine out of Egypt; *
to plant it you drove out the nations.
Before it you cleared the ground; *
it took root and spread through the land.
The mountains were covered with its shadow, *
the cedars of God with its boughs.
It stretched out its branches to the sea, *
to the Great River it stretched out its shoots.
Then why have you broken down its walls? *
It is plucked by all who pass by.
It is ravaged by the boar of the forest, *
devoured by the beasts of the field.
God of hosts, turn again, we implore, *
look down from heaven and see.
Visit this vine and protect it, *
the vine your right hand has planted.
Men have burnt it with fire and destroyed it. *
May they perish at the frown of your face.
May your hand be on the man you have chosen, *
the man you have given your strength.
And we shall never forsake you again: *
give us life that we may call upon your name.
God of hosts, bring us back; *
let your face shine on us and we shall be saved.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, *
and to the Holy Spirit:
as it was in the beginning, is now, *
and will be for ever. Amen.
Psalm Prayer
Lord God, eternal Shepherd, you so tend the vineyard you planted that now it extends its branches even to the farthest coast. Look down on your Church and come to us. Help us to remain in your Son as branches on the vine that, planted firmly in your love, we may testify before the whole world to your great power working everywhere.
Ant. O God of power, look down from heaven and come to tend this vine.
At the other hours, the complementary psalmody is used.
MIDMORNING
READING
Wisdom 19:22
Every way, O Lord, you magnified and glorified your people;
unfailing, you stood by them in every time and circumstance.
O God, what marvels you have done!
– You have shown your power to all the nations.
CONCLUDING PRAYER
Let us pray.
Lord,
in midmorning you gave your Holy Spirit
to the apostles gathered in prayer.
Give us a share in the life and love
that your Spirit brings.
Grant this through Christ our Lord.
– Amen.
ACCLAMATION
Let us praise the Lord.
– And give him thanks.
MIDDAY
READING
Deuteronomy 4:7
What great nation is there that has gods so close to it as the Lord, our God, is to us whenever we call upon him?
The Lord is close to all who call upon him.
– He will answer their prayers.
CONCLUDING PRAYER
Let us pray.
All-powerful and ever-living God,
with you there is no darkness,
from you nothing is hidden.
Fill us with the radiance of your light:
may we understand the law you have given us
and live it with generosity and faith.
Grant this through Christ our Lord.
– Amen.
ACCLAMATION
Let us praise the Lord.
– And give him thanks.
MIDAFTERNOON
READING
Esther 10:6b
That people is Israel, who cried to God and was saved. The Lord saved his people and delivered us from all these evils. God worked signs and great wonders, such as have not occurred among the nations.
I shall proclaim your goodness, Lord,
for you have answered me.
– You have become my salvation.
CONCLUDING PRAYER
Let us pray.
Lord,
help us to follow the example
of your Son’s patience and endurance.
May we face all life’s difficulties
with confidence and faith.
Grant this through Christ our Lord.
– Amen.
ACCLAMATION
Let us praise the Lord.
– And give him thanks.
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