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 Holy Men. For both Solemnities and Feasts, the Reading with its Versicle and Response are taken from the Common with the proper Concluding Prayer.
PSALMODY
Go to the Complementary Psalmody
Ant. 1 Lead me, Lord, in the path of your commandments.
Psalm 119:33-40
V (He)
A meditation on God’s law
Loving God means keeping his commandments (1 John 5:3).
Teach me the demands of your precepts *
and I will keep them to the end.
Train me to observe your law, *
to keep it with my heart.
Guide me in the path of your commands; *
for there is my delight.
Bend my heart to your will *
and not to love of gain.
Keep my eyes from what is false: *
by your word, give me life.
Keep the promise you have made *
to the servant who fears you.
Keep me from the scorn I dread, *
for your decrees are good.
See, I long for your precepts: *
then in your justice, give me life.
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
In your justice give us life, Father. Do not allow greed to possess us but incline our hearts to your commands. Give us understanding to know your law and direct us according to your will.
Ant. Lead me, Lord, in the path of your commandments.
Ant. 2 Those who seek the Lord will be filled with every blessing.
Psalm 34
God the savior of the just
You have tasted the sweetness of the Lord (1 Peter 2:3).
I
I will bless the Lord at all times, *
his praise always on my lips;
in the Lord my soul shall make its boast. *
The humble shall hear and be glad.
Glorify the Lord with me. *
Together let us praise his name.
I sought the Lord and he answered me; *
from all my terrors he set me free.
Look towards him and be radiant; *
let your faces not be abashed.
This poor man called; the Lord heard him *
and rescued him from all his distress.
The angel of the Lord is encamped *
around those who revere him, to rescue them.
Taste and see that the Lord is good. *
He is happy who seeks refuge in him.
Revere the Lord, you his saints. *
They lack nothing, those who revere him.
Strong lions suffer want and go hungry *
but those who seek the Lord lack no blessing.
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. Those who seek the Lord will be filled with every blessing.
Ant. 3 Seek and strive after peace.
II
Come, children, and hear me *
that I may teach you the fear of the Lord.
Who is he who longs for life *
and many days, to enjoy his prosperity?
Then keep your tongue from evil *
and your lips from speaking deceit.
Turn aside from evil and do good; *
seek and strive after peace.
The Lord turns his face against the wicked *
to destroy their remembrance from the earth.
The Lord turns his eyes to the just *
and his ears to their appeal.
They call and the Lord hears *
and rescues them in all their distress.
The Lord is close to the broken-hearted; *
those whose spirit is crushed he will save.
Many are the trials of the just man *
but from them all the Lord will rescue him.
He will keep guard over all his bones, *
not one of his bones shall be broken.
Evil brings death to the wicked; *
those who hate the good are doomed.
The Lord ransoms the souls of his servants. *
Those who hide in him shall not be condemned.
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
Graciously hear us, Lord, for we seek only you. You are near to those whose heart is right. Open yourself to accept our sorrowful spirit; calm our bodies and minds with the peace which surpasses understanding.
Ant. Seek and strive after peace.
