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: Saint Venantius L.M.
Music: Clausener Gesangbuch, 1653
Text: Saint Ambrose of Milan, 337?-397
Translation: Blessed John Henry Newman. 1800-1891
At Midday
Eternal Trinity of love,
In peace and majesty you reign,
All things come forth from you alone,
To you they must return again.
Creation lives and breathes in you.
Sustained by your almighty will;
Grant us to know you, God of truth,
In whom the questing mind is still.
Our Father, in the name of Christ,
Unceasingly your Spirit send;
Be with us, everlasting God:
Fulfill your purpose to the end.
We praise you, Godhead, One in Three,
Immortal Trinity of light;
Unchanging through eternal days,
You live unmoved, serene in might.
Tune: Wareham, L.M.
Music: William Knapp, 1698-1768
Text: © Stanbrook Abbey, used with permission
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
Antiphons
Midmorning: This is the good news the prophets foretold: The Savior will be born of the Virgin Mary.
Midday: The angel Gabriel said to Mary in greeting: Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women.
Midafternoon: Mary said: My soul is deeply troubled; what can this greeting mean? Am I to give birth to my King and yet remain a virgin for ever?
Psalm 119:73-80
X (Yod)
A meditation on God’s law
Loving God means keeping his commandments (1 John 5:3).
It was your hands that made me and shaped me: *
help me to learn your commands.
Your faithful will see me and rejoice *
for I trust in your word.
Lord, I know that your decrees are right, *
that you afflicted me justly.
Let your love be ready to console me *
by your promise to your servant.
Let your love come and I shall live *
for your law is my delight.
Shame the proud who harm me with lies *
while I ponder your precepts.
Let your faithful turn to me, *
those who know your will.
Let my heart be blameless in obeying you *
lest I be ashamed.
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
We know that your rulings are just ones, Lord, and so we ask for your mercy; treat us gently and we will not be put to shame.
Psalm 59:2-5, 10-11, 17-18
Prayer for help against enemies
These words of the Savior teach us the devotion that all should have for the Father (Eusebius of Caesarea).
Rescue me, God, from my foes; *
protect me from those who attack me.
O rescue me from those who do evil *
and save me from blood-thirsty men.
See, they lie in wait for my life; *
powerful men band together against me.
For no offense, no sin of mine, Lord, †
for no guilt of mine they rush to take their stand. *
Awake, come to my aid and see!
O my Strength, it is you to whom I turn, †
for you, O God, are my stronghold, *
the God who shows me love.
O God, come to my aid *
and let me look in triumph on my foes.
As for me, I will sing of your strength *
and each morning acclaim your love
for you have been my stronghold, *
a refuge in the day of my distress.
O my Strength, it is you to whom I turn, †
for you, O God, are my stronghold, *
the God who shows me love.
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 of power, you rescued your Son from the grasp of evil men. Deliver us from evil and confirm our trust in you, so that with our rising we may sing of your power, and exult in your mercy at dawn.
Psalm 60
Prayer after disaster
You will suffer in the world, but have confidence; I have overcome the world (John 16:33).
O God, you have rejected us and broken us. *
You have been angry; come back to us.
You have made the earth quake, torn it open. *
Repair what is shattered for it sways.
You have inflicted hardships on your people *
and made us drink a wine that dazed us.
You have given those who fear you a signal *
to flee from the enemy’s bow.
O come, and deliver your friends, *
help with your right hand and reply.
From his holy place God has made this promise: †
“I will triumph and divide the land of Shechem, *
I will measure out the valley of Succoth.
Gilead is mine and Manasseh, †
Ephraim I take for my helmet, *
Judah for my commander’s staff.
Moab I will use for my washbowl; †
on Edom I will plant my shoe. *
Over the Philistines I will shout in triumph.”
But who will lead me to conquer the fortress? *
Who will bring me face to face with Edom?
Will you utterly reject us, O God, *
and no longer march with our armies?
Give us help against the foe: *
for the help of man is vain.
With God we shall do bravely *
and he will trample down our foes.
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, all power and authority is yours; you have overcome the world. Give us courage when evil seems to triumph and help us never to forget that you are with us to the end of time.
Antiphons
Midmorning: This is the good news the prophets foretold: The Savior will be born of the Virgin Mary.
Midday: The angel Gabriel said to Mary in greeting: Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women.
Midafternoon: Mary said: My soul is deeply troubled; what can this greeting mean? Am I to give birth to my King and yet remain a virgin for ever?
At the other hours, the complementary psalmody from Series II and III is used.
MIDMORNING
READING
Jeremiah 29:11, 13
I know well the plans I have in mind for you, says the Lord, plans for your welfare, not for woe! Plans to give you a future full of hope. When you look for me, you will find me: when you seek me with all your heart.
The nations will revere your name, O Lord.
– And the great ones of the earth will acknowledge your glory.
Go to the Conclusion
MIDDAY
READING
Jeremiah 30:18
Thus says the Lord:
See! I will restore the tents of Jacob,
his dwellings I will pity.
Remember us, Lord, because of the love you have for your people.
– Come and bring us your salvation.
Go to the Conclusion
MIDAFTERNOON
READING
Baruch 3:5-6a
Remember at this time not the misdeeds of our fathers, but your own hand and name: for you are the Lord our God.
Come, Lord, do not delay.
– Free your people from their sinfulness.
CONCLUDING PRAYER
Let us pray.
All-powerful God,
help us to look forward in hope
to the coming of our Savior.
May we live as he has taught,
ready to welcome him with burning love.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.
– Amen.
Or:
Grant that your people, we pray, almighty God,
may be ever watchful
for the coming of your Only Begotten Son,
that, as the author of our salvation himself has taught us,
we may hasten, alert and with lighted lamps,
to meet him when he comes.
Who lives and reigns for ever and ever.
– Amen.
ACCLAMATION
Let us praise the Lord.
– And give him thanks.
******
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