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.
HYMN
Have mercy, Lord, on us,
For you are ever kind;
Though we have sinned before you, Lord,
Your mercy let us find.
Lord, wash away our guilt,
And cleanse us from our sin;
For we confess our wrongs, and see
How great our guilt has been.
The joy your grace can give,
Let us again obtain,
And may your Spirit’s firm support
Our spirits then sustain.
To God the Father, Son,
And Spirit glory be,
Who was, and is, and shall be so
For all eternity.
Tune: Southwell (Daman) S.M.
Music: William Daman, Psalmes of David in English Meter, 1579
Text: Psalm 42, Nahum Tate, 1652-1715 and Nicholas Brady, 1659-c.1726
PSALMODY
Antiphons
Midmorning: The time of penance has come, the time to atone for our sins and seek our salvation.
Midday: As I live, says the Lord, I do not wish the sinner to die, but to turn back to me and live.
Midafternoon: Armed with God’s justice and power, let us prove ourselves through patient endurance.
Go to the Complementary Psalmody
Psalm 119:65-72
IX (Teth)
A meditation on God’s law
Loving God means keeping his commandments (1 John 5:3).
Lord, you have been good to your servant *
according to your word.
Teach me discernment and knowledge *
for I trust in your commands.
Before I was afflicted I strayed *
but now I keep your word.
You are good and your deeds are good; *
teach me your commandments.
Though the proud smear me with lies *
yet I keep your precepts.
Their minds are closed to good *
but your law is my delight.
It was good for me to be afflicted, *
to learn your will.
The law from your mouth means more to me *
than silver and gold.
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, teach us goodness, discipline, and wisdom, and these gifts will keep us from becoming hardened by evil, weakened by laziness, or ignorant because of foolishness.
Psalm 56:2-7b, 9-14
Trust in God’s word
This psalm shows Christ in his passion (Saint Jerome).
Have mercy on me, God, men crush me; *
they fight me all day long and oppress me.
My foes crush me all day long, *
for many fight proudly against me.
When I fear, I trust in you, *
in God, whose word I praise.
In God I trust, I shall not fear: *
what can mortal man do to me?
All day long they distort my words, *
all their thought is to harm me.
They band together in ambush, *
track me down and seek my life.
You have kept an account of my wanderings; †
you have kept a record of my tears; *
are they not written in your book?
Then my foes will be put to flight *
on the day that I call to you.
This I know, that God is on my side. *
In God, whose word I praise,
in the Lord, whose word I praise †
in God I trust; I shall not fear; *
what can mortal man do to me?
I am bound by the vows I made you. *
O God, I will offer you praise
for you have rescued my soul from death, *
you kept my feet from stumbling
that I may walk in the presence of God *
and enjoy the light of the living.
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, victim for our sins, you trusted in your Father’s protection and kept silent when you were tormented. Give us that same confidence and we will gladly suffer with you and for you, offering the Father our sacrifice of praise and walking before him in the light of the living.
Psalm 57
Morning prayer in affliction
This psalm tells of our Lord’s passion (Saint Augustine).
Have mercy on me, God, have mercy *
for in you my soul has taken refuge.
In the shadow of your wings I take refuge *
till the storms of destruction pass by.
I call to God the Most High, *
to God who has always been my help.
May he send from heaven and save me *
and shame those who assail me.
May God send his truth and love.
My soul lies down among lions, *
who would devour the sons of men.
Their teeth are spears and arrows, *
their tongue a sharpened sword.
O God, arise above the heavens; *
may your glory shine on earth!
They laid a snare for my steps *
my soul was bowed down.
They dug a pit in my path *
but fell in it themselves.
My heart is ready, O God, *
my heart is ready.
I will sing, I will sing your praise. *
Awake, my soul;
awake, lyre and harp. *
I will awake the dawn.
I will thank you, Lord, among the peoples, *
I will praise you among the nations
for your love reaches to the heavens *
and your truth to the skies.
O God, arise above the heavens; *
may your glory shine on earth!
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, send your mercy and your truth to rescue us from the snares of the devil, and we will praise you among the peoples and proclaim you to the nations, happy to be known as companions of your Son.
Continue with Daytime Prayer
Go to Series III (Midafternoon)
Series I (Midmorning)
Psalm 120
Longing for peace
Be patient in suffering, be constant in prayer (Romans 12:12).
To the Lord in the hour of my distress *
I call and he answers me.
“O Lord, save my soul from lying lips, *
from the tongue of the deceitful.”
What shall he pay you in return, *
O treacherous tongue?
The warrior’s arrows sharpened *
and coals, red-hot, blazing.
Alas, that I abide a stranger in Meshech, *
dwell among the tents of Kedar!
Long enough have I been dwelling *
with those who hate peace.
I am for peace, but when I speak, *
they are for fighting.
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
You declared peacemakers happy, Lord Jesus, since they will be called sons of God. Give us that peace which the world cannot give so that your Church may be freed from the schemes of arrogant men, and, devoted to works of peace, go forward joyfully to meet you, the King of Peace.
Psalm 121
Guardian of his people
Never again will they hunger and thirst, never again know scorching heat (Revelation 7:16).
I lift up my eyes to the mountains: *
from where shall come my help?
My help shall come from the Lord *
who made heaven and earth.
May he never allow you to stumble! *
Let him sleep not, your guard.
No, he sleeps not nor slumbers, *
Israel’s guard.
The Lord is your guard and your shade; *
at your right side he stands.
By day the sun shall not smite you *
nor the moon in the night.
The Lord will guard you from evil, *
he will guard your soul.
The Lord will guard your going and coming *
both now and for ever.
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, you have prepared a quiet place for us in your Father’s eternal home. Watch over our welfare on this perilous journey, shade us from the burning heat of day, and keep our lives free of evil until the end.
Psalm 122
The holy city, Jerusalem
You have come to Mount Zion, to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem (Hebrews 12:22).
I rejoiced when I heard them say: *
“Let us go to God’s house.”
And now our feet are standing *
within your gates, O Jerusalem.
Jerusalem is built as a city *
strongly compact.
It is there that the tribes go up, *
the tribes of the Lord.
For Israel’s law it is, *
there to praise the Lord’s name.
There were set the thrones of judgement *
of the house of David.
For the peace of Jerusalem pray: *
“Peace be to your homes!
May peace reign in your walls, *
in your palaces, peace!”
For love of my brethren and friends *
I say: “Peace upon you!”
For love of the house of the Lord *
I will ask for your good.
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 rose from the dead, Lord Jesus, you formed the Church into your new body, and made of it the new Jerusalem, united in your Spirit. Give us peace in our day. Make all nations come to your Church to share in your gifts in fellowship, that they may render you thanks without end and come to your eternal city.
Continue with Daytime Prayer
Psalm 123
The Lord is the hope of his people
Two blind men cried out: “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us” (Matthew 20:30).
To you have I lifted up my eyes, *
you who dwell in the heavens:
my eyes, like the eyes of slaves *
on the hand of their lords.
Like the eyes of a servant *
on the hand of her mistress,
so our eyes are on the Lord our God *
till he show us his mercy.
Have mercy on us, Lord, have mercy. *
We are filled with contempt.
Indeed all too full is our soul †
with the scorn of the rich, *
with the proud man’s disdain.
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
Father in heaven, we lift our eyes to you and pray: confound the scorn of the proud and graciously show us your mercy.
Psalm 124
Our help is in the name of the Lord
The Lord said to Paul: “Fear not. . . . I am with you” (Acts 18:9-10).
“If the Lord had not been on our side,” *
this is Israel’s song.
“If the Lord had not been on our side *
when men rose against us,
then would they have swallowed us alive *
when their anger was kindled.
Then would the waters have engulfed us, *
the torrent gone over us;
over our head would have swept *
the raging waters.”
Blessed be the Lord who did not give us *
a prey to their teeth!
Our life, like a bird, has escaped *
from the snare of the fowler.
Indeed the snare has been broken *
and we have escaped.
Our help is in the name of the Lord, *
who made heaven and earth.
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, you foretold that your disciples would be despised on account of your name, but that not a hair of their heads is ever forgotten. In times of persecution, defend and revive us by the power and comfort of the Holy Spirit, so that we can be freed from our enemies and praise your saving help.
Psalm 125
The Lord, the guardian of his people
Peace to God’s true Israel (Galatians 6:16).
Those who put their trust in the Lord †
are like Mount Zion, that cannot be shaken, *
that stands for ever.
Jerusalem! The mountains surround her, †
so the Lord surrounds his people *
both now and for ever.
For the scepter of the wicked shall not rest *
over the land of the just
for fear that the hands of the just *
should turn to evil.
Do good, Lord, to those who are good, *
to the upright of heart;
but the crooked and those who do evil, *
drive them away!
On Israel, peace!
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
Surround your people, Lord, within the safety of your Church, which you preserve on its rock foundation. Do not let us stretch out our hands to evil deeds, nor be destroyed by the insidious snares of the enemy, but bring us to share the lot of the saints in light.
Continue with Daytime Prayer
Psalm 126
Joyful hope in God
Companions with him in suffering, you will share his overflowing happiness (2 Corinthians 1:7).
When the Lord delivered Zion from bondage, *
it seemed like a dream.
Then was our mouth filled with laughter, *
on our lips there were songs.
The heathens themselves said: “What marvels *
the Lord worked for them!”
What marvels the Lord worked for us! *
Indeed we were glad.
Deliver us, O Lord, from our bondage *
as streams in dry land.
Those who are sowing in tears *
will sing when they reap.
They go out, they go out, full of tears, *
carrying seed for the sowing:
they come back, they come back, full of song, *
carrying their sheaves.
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, you have raised us from the earth; may you let the seeds of justice, which we have sown in tears, grow and increase in your sight. May we reap in joy the harvest we hope for patiently.
Psalm 127
Apart from God our labors are worthless
You are God’s building (1 Corinthians 3:9).
If the Lord does not build the house, *
in vain do its builders labor;
if the Lord does not watch over the city, *
in vain does the watchman keep vigil.
In vain is your earlier rising, *
your going later to rest,
you who toil for the bread you eat: *
when he pours gifts on his beloved while they slumber.
Truly sons are a gift from the Lord, *
a blessing, the fruit of the womb.
Indeed the sons of youth *
are like arrows in the hand of a warrior.
O the happiness of the man *
who has filled his quiver with these arrows!
He will have no cause for shame *
when he disputes with his foes in the gateways.
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
You command the seed to rise, Lord God, though the farmer is unaware. Grant that those who labor for you may trust not in their own work but in your help. Remembering that the land is brought to flower not with human tears but with those of your Son, may the Church rely only upon your gifts.
Psalm 128
Happiness of family life rooted in God
“May the Lord bless you from Zion,” that is, from the Church (Arnobius).
O blessed are those who fear the Lord *
and walk in his ways!
By the labor of your hands you shall eat. *
You will be happy and prosper;
your wife like a fruitful vine *
in the heart of your house;
your children like shoots of the olive, *
around your table.
Indeed thus shall be blessed *
the man who fears the Lord.
May the Lord bless you from Zion *
all the days of your life!
May you see your children’s children *
in a happy Jerusalem!
On Israel, peace!
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
Give lasting happiness, Lord, to those who reverence your name, so that our life and work may be such as to deserve your commendation, and bring us, laden with good fruit, to our everlasting home.
Antiphons
Midmorning: The time of penance has come, the time to atone for our sins and seek our salvation.
Midday: As I live, says the Lord, I do not wish the sinner to die, but to turn back to me and live.
Midafternoon: Armed with God’s justice and power, let us prove ourselves through patient endurance.
MIDMORNING
READING
Isaiah 55:6-7
Seek the Lord while he may be found,
call him while he is near.
Let the scoundrel forsake his way,
and the wicked man his thoughts;
Let him turn to the Lord for mercy;
to our God, who is generous in forgiving.
Create in me a clean heart, O God.
– Renew in me a steadfast spirit.
Go to the Conclusion
MIDDAY
READING
Deuteronomy 30:2-3a
Provided that you and your children return to the Lord, your God, and heed his voice with all your heart and all your soul, just as I now command you, the Lord, your God, will change your lot; and take pity on you.
Turn away your face from my sins.
– Blot out all my guilt.
Go to the Conclusion
MIDAFTERNOON
READING
Hebrews 10:35-36
Do not surrender your confidence; it will have great reward. You need patience to do God’s will and receive what he has promised.
My sacrifice to God is a contrite spirit.
– A humble contrite heart, O God, you will not spurn.
CONCLUDING PRAYER
Let us pray.
God of love,
bring us back to you.
Send your Spirit to make us strong in faith
and active in good works.
Grant this through Christ our Lord.
– Amen.
Or:
O God, who delight in innocence and restore it,
direct the hearts of your servants to yourself,
that, caught up in the fire of your Spirit,
we may be found steadfast in faith
and effective in works.
Through Christ our Lord.
– Amen.
ACCLAMATION
Let us praise the Lord.
– And give him thanks.
******
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