The Midday Office
To Be Observed on the Hour or Half Hour Between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m
The Call to Prayer
Bless our God, you peoples;* make the voice of his praise to be heard;
Who holds our souls in life,* and will not allow our feet to slip.
— Psalm 66:7-8
The Request for Presence
Show us the light of your countenance, O God,* and come to us.
— based on Psalm 67:1
The Greeting
Happy are the people whose strength is in you!* whose hearts are set on the pilgrims'
way.
— Psalm 84:4
The Refrain for the Midday Lessons
Happy are they who fear the LORD,* and who follow in his ways!
— Psalm 128:1
A Reading
The tradition I handed on to you in the first place, a tradition which I myself
received, was that Christ died for our sins, in accordance with the scriptures,
and that he was buried; and that on the third day, he was raised to life, in accordance
with the scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas; and later to the
Twelve; and next he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers at the
same time, most of whom are still with us, though some have fallen asleep;
then he appeared to James, and then to all the apostles. Last of all he appeared
to me too, as though I was a child born abnormally.
— 1 Corinthians 15:3-8
The Refrain
Happy are they who fear the LORD,* and who follow in his ways!
The Midday Psalm
Protect My Life from Fear
Hear my voice, O God, when I complain;* protect my life from fear of the enemy.
Hide me from the conspiracy of the wicked,* from the mob of evildoers.
They say, "Who will see us? who will find out our crimes?* we have thought out a
perfect plot."
The human mind and heart are a mystery;* but God will loose an arrow at them,
and suddenly they will be wounded.
He will make them trip over their tongues,* and all who see them will shake their
heads.
Everyone will stand in awe and declare God's deeds;* they will recognize his works.
The righteous will rejoice in the LORD and put their trust in him,* and all who are
true of heart will glory.
— Psalm 64:1-2, 6-10
The Refrain
Happy are they who fear the LORD,* and who follow in his ways!
The Small Verse
Blessed be the Name of the Lord and blessed be the people who are called by it.
The Lord's Prayer
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be your Name.
May your kingdom come, and your will be done, on earth as in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us.
Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil;
for yours are the kingdom and the power and the glory
forever and ever. Amen.
The Prayer Appointed for the Week
Almighty and everlasting God, in Christ you have revealed your glory among the
nations: Preserve the works of your mercy, that your Church throughout the
world may persevere with steadfast faith in the confession of your Name;
through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy
Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.†
The Concluding Prayer of the Church
Almighty God, by your Holy Spirit you have made us one with your saints in
heaven and on earth: Grant that in my earthly pilgrimage I may always be supported
by this fellowship of love and prayer, and know myself to be surrounded
by their witness to your power and mercy. I ask this for the sake of
Jesus Christ, in whom all my intercessions are acceptable through the Spirit,
and who lives and reigns for ever and ever. Amen.†
Lord, my God, King of heaven and of earth, for this day please direct and sanctify,
set right and govern my heart and my body, my sentiments, my words and my
actions in conformity with Your law and Your commandments. Thus I shall be
able to attain salvation and deliverance, in time and in eternity, by Your help, O
Savior of the world, who lives and reigns forever. Amen.
— adapted from DIVINE OFFICE, I I