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
Come, Holy Ghost, who ever one
Art with the Father and the Son;
Come, Holy Ghost, our souls possess
With thy full flood of holiness.
In will and deed, in heart and tongue
With all the powers, thy praise be sung;
And love light up our mortal frame
Till others catch the living flame.
Almighty Father, hear our cry
Through Jesus Christ, our Lord most High,
Who with the Holy Ghost and thee
Doth live and reign eternally.
Tune: St. Venantius L.M.
Music: Clausener Gesangbuch, 1653
Text: Saint Ambrose of Milan, 337?-397
Translation: Blessed John Henry Newman
At Midday
Be thou my vision, O Lord of my heart;
Be all else but naught to me, save that thou art;
Be thou my best thought in the day and the night,
Both waking and sleeping, thy presence my light.
Be thou my wisdom, and thou my true word;
Be thou ever with me, and I with thee, Lord;
Be thou my great Father, and I thy true son;
Be thou in me dwelling, and I with thee one.
Be thou my breastplate, my sword for the fight;
Be thou my whole armor, be thou my true might;
Be thou my soul’s shelter, be thou my strong tow’r,
O raise thou me heav’nward, great pow’r of my pow’r.
Riches I heed not, nor man’s empty praise;
Be thou mine inheritance, now and always;
Be thou and thou only the first in my heart,
O high King of heaven, my treasure thou art.
High King of heaven, thou heaven’s bright Sun,
O grant me its joys, after vict’ry is won;
Great heart of my own heart, whatever befall,
Still be thou my vision, O ruler of all.
Tune: Slane 10.11.11.11
Music: Anonymous
Text: Rop tú mo Baile, Gaelic, attributed to Saint Dallán Forgaill, sixth century
Translation: Eleanor Hull, 1860-1935
At Midafternoon
Faith of our fathers! faith and prayer
Shall win all nations unto thee:
And through the truth that comes from God,
Mankind shall then indeed be free.
Refrain:
Faith of our fathers, holy faith!
We will be true to thee till death.
Faith of our fathers! we will love
Both friend and foe in all our strife:
And preach thee too, as love knows how,
By kindly deeds and virtuous life.
Refrain:
Faith of our fathers, holy faith!
We will be true to thee till death.
Tune: Saint Catherine L.M. with Refrain
Music: Henry F. Henry, 1818-1888 and James G. Watson, 1821-1905
Text: Frederick W. Faber, 1814-1863
PSALMODY
Ant. 1 I have chosen to do your will; may your hand be always there to strengthen me.
Psalm 119:169-176
XXII (Tau)
A meditation on God’s law
I give you a new commandment: love one another as I have loved you (John 13:34).
Lord, let my cry come before you: *
teach me by your word.
Let my pleading come before you; *
save me by your promise.
Let my lips proclaim your praise *
because you teach me your commands.
Let my tongue sing your promise *
for your commands are just.
Let your hand be ready to help me, *
since I have chosen your precepts.
Lord, I long for your saving help *
and your law is my delight.
Give life to my soul that I may praise you. *
Let your decrees give me help.
I am lost like a sheep; seek your servant *
for I remember your commands.
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, grant that we should always offer you the hymns you have made; then we will live to praise you and never forget your commands.
Ant. I have chosen to do your will; may your hand be always there to strengthen me.
Ant. 2 Your throne stands firm, O God, for ever.
Psalm 45
The marriage of the king
The Bridegroom is here; go out and welcome him (Matthew 25:6).
I
My heart overflows with noble words. †
To the king I must speak the song I have made; *
my tongue as nimble as the pen of a scribe.
You are the fairest of the children of men †
and graciousness is poured upon your lips: *
because God has blessed you for evermore.
O mighty one, gird your sword upon your thigh; †
in splendor and state, ride on in triumph *
for the cause of truth and goodness and right.
Take aim with your bow in your dread right hand. †
Your arrows are sharp: peoples fall beneath you. *
The foes of the king fall down and lose heart.
Your throne, O God, shall endure for ever. †
A scepter of justice is the scepter of your kingdom. *
Your love is for justice; your hatred for evil.
Therefore God, your God, has anointed you †
with the oil of gladness above other kings: *
your robes are fragrant with aloes and myrrh.
From the ivory palace you are greeted with music. †
The daughters of kings are among your loved ones. *
On your right stands the queen in gold of Ophir.
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.
Ant. Your throne stands firm, O God, for ever.
Ant. 3 I saw the new Jerusalem, beautiful as a bride adorned to meet her husband.
II
Listen, O daughter, give ear to my words: *
forget your own people and your father’s house.
So will the king desire your beauty: *
he is your lord, pay homage to him.
And the people of Tyre shall come with gifts, *
the richest of the people shall seek your favor.
The daughter of the king is clothed with splendor, *
her robes embroidered with pearls set in gold.
She is led to the king with her maiden companions. †
They are escorted amid gladness and joy; *
they pass within the palace of the king.
Sons shall be yours in place of your fathers: *
you will make them princes over all the earth.
May this song make your name for ever remembered. *
May the peoples praise you 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
When you took on flesh, Lord Jesus, you made a marriage of mankind with God. Help us to be faithful to your word and endure our exile bravely, until we are called to the heavenly marriage feast, to which the Virgin Mary, exemplar of your Church, has preceded us.
Ant. I saw the new Jerusalem, beautiful as a bride adorned to meet her husband.
At the other hours, the complementary psalmody is used.
MIDMORNING
READING
Daniel 6:27b-28a
Our God is the living God, enduring forever;
his kingdom shall not be destroyed,
and his dominion shall be without end.
He is a deliverer and savior,
working signs and wonders in heaven and on earth.
Be calm and remember that I am God.
– Supreme over all nations, supreme on the earth.
CONCLUDING PRAYER
Let us pray.
God, all-powerful Father,
fill your people with the light of your Holy Spirit,
that, safe from every enemy,
we may rejoice in singing your praises.
Grant this through Christ our Lord.
– Amen.
ACCLAMATION
Let us praise the Lord.
– And give him thanks.
MIDDAY
READING
Romans 15:5-7
May God, the source of all patience and encouragement, enable you to live in perfect harmony with one another according to the spirit of Christ Jesus, so that with one heart and voice you may glorify God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Accept one another, then, as Christ accepted you, for the glory of God.
The Lord finds joy in his people.
– He honors the lowly and saves them.
CONCLUDING PRAYER
Let us pray.
Lord,
fill us with the resplendent light
of your eternal love.
May we love you above all things,
and our brothers for your sake.
Grant this through Christ our Lord.
– Amen.
ACCLAMATION
Let us praise the Lord.
– And give him thanks.
MIDAFTERNOON
READING
Philippians 4:8, 9b
My brothers, your thoughts should be wholly directed to all that is true, all that deserves respect, all that is honest, pure, admirable, decent, virtuous, or worthy of praise. Then will the God of peace be with you.
I delight to praise you, O God, my King.
– Throughout eternity I will bless you.
CONCLUDING PRAYER
Let us pray.
Lord,
make the peace we pray for a reality:
may we live our days in quiet joy
and, with the help of the Virgin Mary’s prayers,
safely reach your kingdom.
Grant us this through Christ our Lord.
– Amen.
ACCLAMATION
Let us praise the Lord.
– And give him thanks.
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