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 [Terce]
Now, Holy Spirit, come, descend,
one with the Father and the Son;
come swiftly in and fill our hearts
with your full flood of holiness.
In mind and mouth, with heart and tongue,
with strength and sense, may praise resound,
May charity with ardor blaze
and kindle others with its flame.
Now through your presence may we know
and love the Father and the Son,
and you, the Spirit of them both,
may we profess throughout all time. Amen.
Tune: TALLIS’ CANON, 8 8 8 8
Music: Thomas Tallis, ca. 1505-1585 (Weekdays); ELY 8 8 8 8, Thomas Turton, 1780-1864 (Memorials)
or Mode D, melody 124 (Weekdays) melody 106 (Memorials); Liber Hymnarius, Solesmes, 1983
Text: Nunc, Sancte, nobis, Spiritus, unknown author, very ancient; traditionally attributed to Saint Ambrose, 340-397, © 2023 ICEL
Or:
We keep the order of the day
with loving heart and earnest prayer;
at this third hour we humbly beg
the glory of your threefold pow’r.
That we may be a dwelling place
where God the Holy Spirit dwells,
who at this hour, in parted tongues,
on each Apostle came to rest.
Throughout the course of daily hours
the Author of the heavn’ly realm
with splendor has adorned all things
to be our everlasting crown.
To God the Father glory be,
all honor to his only Son,
one with the Spirit Paraclete,
from age to age for evermore. Amen.
Tune: As above
Text: Certum tenentes ordinem, before 6th c., © 2023 ICEL
At Midday [Sext]
O mighty Ruler, God of truth,
for days and seasons setting bounds,
you clothe with splendor morning light
and midday skies with brilliant heat.
Extinguish flames of bitter strife,
all harmful passion take away,
grant health unto our mortal frame,
and on our hearts bestow true peace.
Most loving Father, hear our prayer,
and you, O Christ coequal Son,
who with the Spirit Paraclete
now reign for all eternity. Amen.
Tune: As above
Text: Rector potens, verax Deus, unknown author, very ancient, attributed to Saint Ambrose, 340-397, © 2023 ICEL
Or:
Let us sing praises to the Lord
with willing mind and fervent heart;
the noonday hour returns again
and summons us once more to prayer.
For to the faithful at this hour
true saving glory was restored
by off’ring of the blessed Lamb
and by the power of his Cross.
The Cross obscures the noonday sun
by its most clear and brilliant light;
let us receive with all our heart
the gift of such resplendent grace.
To God the Father glory be,
all honor to his only Son,
one with the Spirit Paraclete,
from age to age for evermore. Amen.
Tune: As above
Text: Dicamus laudes Domino, before 6th c., © 2023 ICEL
At Midafternoon [None]
O God, our firm and steadfast strength,
remaining in yourself unmoved,
you rule the span of daily light
and guide the course of all the hours.
Bestow at eventide a light
by which our life may never fail;
may endless glory be the crown
that follows on a holy death.
Most loving Father, hear our prayer,
and you, O Christ, coequal Son,
who with the Spirit Paraclete
now reign for all eternity. Amen.
Tune: As above
Text: Rerum, tenax vigor, unknown author, very ancient; traditionally attributed to Saint Ambrose, 340-397, © 2023 ICEL
Or:
Three times the cycle of the hours
returns to us by gift of God;
let us devoutly sing to him
who is the perfect Three in One.
We keep with pure and faithful hearts
the sacred myst’ry of our God;
this is the rule that Peter taught
and showed with wondrous, healing signs.
Let us sing psalms with heart and mind
and to the Apostles let us cling,
that they may guide with pow’r from Christ
our feeble steps that falter still.
To God the Father glory be,
all honor to his only Son,
one with the Spirit Paraclete,
from age to age for evermore. Amen.
Tune: Tune: As above
Text: Ternis horarum terminis, before 6th c., © 2023 ICEL
PSALMODY
Complementary 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.
MIDMORNING [Terce]
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 [Sext]
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 [None]
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 this through Christ our Lord.
— Amen.
ACCLAMATION
Let us praise the Lord.
— And give him thanks.
******
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Go to Series III (Midafternoon)
Series I (Midmorning [Terce])
Ant. 1 I cried out, and the Lord heard me.
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.
Ant. I cried out, and the Lord heard me.
Ant. 2 May the Lord watch over you as you come and as you go.
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.
Ant. May the Lord watch over you as you come and as you go.
Ant. 3 I rejoiced in the good news they told me.
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.
Ant. I rejoiced in the good news they told me.
Continue with Daytime Prayer
Ant. 1 You dwell in the heavens; have mercy on us.
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.
Ant. You dwell in the heavens; have mercy on us.
Ant. 2 Our help is in the name of the Lord.
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.
Ant. Our help is in the name of the Lord.
Ant. 3 The Lord surrounds his people with love, now and for ever.
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.
Ant. The Lord surrounds his people with love, now and for ever.
Continue with Daytime Prayer
Series III (Midafternoon [None])
Ant. 1 The Lord has done great things for us; he is the source of all our joy.
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.
Ant. The Lord has done great things for us; he is the source of all our joy.
Ant. 2 May the Lord build our house and watch over our city.
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.
Ant. May the Lord build our house and watch over our city.
Ant. 3 Blessed are those who fear the Lord.
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.
Ant. Blessed are those who fear the Lord.
Continue with Daytime Prayer
