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
Breathe on me, breath of God,
Fill me with life anew,
That I may love the things you love,
And do what you would do.
Breathe on me, breath of God,
Until my heart is pure,
Until with you I have one will,
To live and to endure.
Breathe on me, breath of God,
My soul with grace refine,
Until this earthly part of me
Glows with your fire divine.
Breathe on me, breath of God,
So I shall never die,
But live with you the perfect life
In your eternity.
Tune: Yattendon 64 S.M.
Music: H. E. Woodbridge, 1845-1917
Text: Edwin Hatch, 1835-1889 adapted by Anthony G. Petti
At Midday
Almighty Ruler, God of truth,
Who guide and master all,
The rays with which you gild the dawn
With noonday heat now fall.
O quench the fires of hatred, Lord,
Of anger and of strife;
Bring health to every mind and heart
That peace may enter life.
Most holy Father, grant our prayer
Through Christ your only Son,
That in your Spirit we may live
And praise you ever one.
Tune: Ballerma C.M.
Music: F. Barthelemon, 1774-1808
Text: Ralph Wright, O.S.B.
At Midafternoon
Lord God and Maker of all things,
Creation is upheld by you.
While all must change and know decay,
You are unchanging, always new.
You are man’s solace and his shield
His rock secure on which to build;
You are the spirit’s tranquil home;
In you alone is hope fulfilled.
To God the Father, and the Son
And Holy Spirit render praise,
Blest Trinity, from age to age
The strength of all our living days.
Tune: Auctoritate Saeculi L.M.
Music: Poitiers Antiphoner, 1746
Text: © Stanbrook Abbey, used with permission
PSALMODY
Ant. 1 The Lord has brought me to green pastures, alleluia.
Psalm 23
The Good Shepherd
The Lamb himself will be their shepherd and will lead them to the springs of living waters (Revelation 7:17).
The Lord is my shepherd; *
there is nothing I shall want.
Fresh and green are the pastures *
where he gives me repose.
Near restful waters he leads me, *
to revive my drooping spirit.
He guides me along the right path; *
he is true to his name.
If I should walk in the valley of darkness *
no evil would I fear.
You are there with your crook and your staff; *
with these you give me comfort.
You have prepared a banquet for me *
in the sight of my foes.
My head you have anointed with oil; *
my cup is overflowing.
Surely goodness and kindness shall follow me *
all the days of my life.
In the Lord’s own house shall I dwell *
for ever and 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, shepherd of your Church, you give us new birth in the waters of baptism; you anoint us with saving oil, and you call us to salvation at your table. Dispel the terrors of death and the darkness of error. Lead your people along safe paths, that they may rest securely in you and live for ever in your Father’s house.
Ant. The Lord has brought me to green pastures, alleluia.
Ant. 2 Great is the name of the Lord among his people, Israel, alleluia.
Psalm 76
Thanksgiving for victory
They will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven (Matthew 24:30).
I
God is made known in Judah; *
in Israel his name is great.
He set up his tent in Jerusalem *
and his dwelling place in Zion.
It was there he broke the flashing arrows, *
the shield, the sword, the armor.
You, O Lord, are resplendent, *
more majestic than the everlasting mountains.
The warriors, despoiled, slept in death; *
the hands of the soldiers were powerless.
At your threat, O God of Jacob, *
horse and rider lay stunned.
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. Great is the name of the Lord among his people, Israel, alleluia.
Ant. 3 Earth shuddered, then all was still, when God arose for judgment, alleluia.
II
You, you alone, strike terror. *
Who shall stand when your anger is roused?
You uttered your sentence from the heavens; *
the earth in terror was still
when you arose to judge, *
to save the humble of the earth.
Men’s anger will serve to praise you; *
its survivors surround you with joy.
Make vows to your God and fulfill them. *
Let all pay tribute to him who strikes terror,
who cuts short the breath of princes, *
who strikes terror in the kings of the 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
Your power is awesome, Father, and wonderful is your holiness. In your presence the earth both trembles and stands still, for you shattered death’s power by the cross. Rise to help your people: give your light and grant salvation to the meek of the earth, that they may praise your name in heaven.
Ant. Earth shuddered, then all was still, when God arose for judgment, alleluia.
At the other hours, the complementary psalmody is used.
MIDMORNING
READING
Romans 5:1-2, 5
Now we have been justified by faith, we are at peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through him we have gained access by faith to this grace in which we now stand, and we boast of our hope for the glory of God. And this hope will not leave us disappointed, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.
I will sing for ever of your mercy, O Lord.
– Make known to all generations the fidelity of our God.
Go to the Conclusion
MIDDAY
READING
Romans 8:26
The Spirit helps us in our weakness, for we do not know how to pray as we ought; but the Spirit himself makes intercession for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in speech.
Lord, grant a hearing to my prayer.
– Give me wisdom as you promised.
Go to the Conclusion
MIDAFTERNOON
READING
2 Corinthians 1:21-22
God is the one who firmly establishes us along with you in Christ; it is he who anointed us and has sealed us, thereby depositing the first payment, the Spirit, in our hearts.
The Lord is my light and my help.
– He is the protector of my life.
CONCLUDING PRAYER
Let us pray.
Father of heaven and earth,
hear our prayers,
and show us the way to peace in the world.
Grant this through Christ our Lord.
– Amen.
Or:
Almighty ever-living God,
who govern all things,
both in heaven and on earth,
mercifully hear the pleading of your people
and bestow your peace on our times.
Through Christ our Lord.
– Amen.
ACCLAMATION
Let us praise the Lord.
– And give him thanks.
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