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: ELY, 8 8 8 8
Music: Thomas Turton, 1780-1864 or Mode VIII, melody 106 Liber Hymnarius, Solesmes, 1983
Text: Nunc, Sancte, nobis, Spiritus, unknown author, very ancient; traditionally attributed to Saint Ambrose, 340-397, © 2023 ICEL
Psalmody
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
Psalmody
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
Psalmody
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
Psalmody
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
Psalmody
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
In those places where this Memorial is observed as a Solemnity, the Complementary Psalmody is used with its proper antiphons as found in the Common of Pastors.
PSALMODY
Go to the Complementary Psalmody
Ant. 1 Lord, guide my steps according to your promise.
Psalm 119:129-136
XVII (Pe)
A meditation on God’s law
The whole law is summed up in love (Romans 13:10).
Your will is wonderful indeed; *
therefore I obey it.
The unfolding of your word gives light *
and teaches the simple.
I open my mouth and I sigh *
as I yearn for your commands.
Turn and show me your mercy; *
show justice to your friends.
Let my steps be guided by your promise; *
let no evil rule me.
Redeem me from man’s oppression *
and I will keep your precepts.
Let your face shine on your servant *
and teach me your decrees.
Tears stream from my eyes *
because your law is disobeyed.
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 are just, Lord God, and righteous are your judgments. Deliver those who cry to you in their affliction; give them peace and calm to reflect on your commands.
Ant. Lord, guide my steps according to your promise.
Ant. 2 There is but one lawgiver and judge; who are you to judge your neighbor?
Psalm 82
Denunciation of evil judges
Do not attempt to judge another now; the Lord’s coming will reveal all (1 Corinthians 4:5).
God stands in the divine assembly. *
In the midst of the gods he gives judgment.
“How long will you judge unjustly *
and favor the cause of the wicked?
Do justice for the weak and the orphan, *
defend the afflicted and the needy.
Rescue the weak and the poor; *
set them free from the hand of the wicked.
Unperceiving, they grope in the darkness *
and the order of the world is shaken.
I have said to you: ‘You are gods, *
and all of you, sons of the Most High.’
And yet, you shall die like men, *
you shall fall like any of the princes.”
Arise, O God, judge the earth, *
for you rule all the nations.
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 are always true to your word, Father. Look down from heaven and put an end to our foolishness. Save us from groundless fears and help us to please you with undivided heart.
Ant. There is but one lawgiver and judge; who are you to judge your neighbor?
Ant. 3 I cried out to the Lord, and he heard me.
Psalm 120
Longing for peace
Be patient in suffering; persevere 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 to the Lord, and he heard me.