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) L.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 119:73-80
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.
Continue with Daytime Prayer
Go to Series III (Midafternoon)
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 55:3
Come to me heedfully,
listen, that you may have life.
I will renew with you the everlasting covenant,
the benefits assured to David.
Create in me a clean heart, O God.
– Renew in me a steadfast spirit.
Go to the Conclusion
MIDDAY
READING
Jeremiah 3:12b, 14a
Return, says the Lord,
I will not remain angry with you;
For I am merciful,
I will not continue my wrath forever.
Return, rebellious children, says the Lord.
Turn away your face from my sins.
– Blot out all my guilt.
Go to the Conclusion
MIDAFTERNOON
READING
James 1:27
Looking after orphans and widows in their distress and keeping oneself unspotted by the world make for pure worship without stain before God our Father.
My sacrifice to God is a contrite spirit.
– A humble contrite heart, O God, you will not spurn.
CONCLUDING PRAYER
Let us pray.
Merciful Father,
may our acts of penance bring us your forgiveness,
open our hearts to your love,
and prepare us for the coming feast of the resurrection.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.
– Amen.
Or:
Grant, we pray, almighty God,
that, purifying us by the sacred practice of penance,
you may lead us in sincerity of heart
to attain the holy things to come.
Through Christ our Lord.
– Amen.
ACCLAMATION
Let us praise the Lord.
– And give him thanks.
******
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