THE DIVINE HOURS

The Call to Prayer

Sing to the LORD and bless his Name;* proclaim the good news of his salvation from day to day. Declare his glory among the nations* and his wonders among all peoples. For great is the LORD and greatly to be praised;* he is more to be feared than all gods.

The Request for Presence

Our help is in the Name of the Lord; the maker of heaven and earth.

The Greeting

Almighty God, my heavenly Father: I have sinned against you, through my own fault, in thought, and word, and deed, in what I have done and what I have left undone. For the sake of your Son our Lord Jesus Christ, forgive me all my offenses; and grant that I may serve you in newness of life, to the glory of your Name. Amen.&#8224

The Reading

Late Have I Loved Thee

Late have I loved thee, O beauty so ancient and so new; late have I loved thee: for behold you were within me, and I outside; and I sought you outside and in my unloveliness fell upon those lovely things that you had made. You were with me, and I was not with you. I was kept from you by those things, yet had they not been in you, they would not have been at all. You called and tried to break open my deafness: and you sent forth your beams and shone upon me and chased away my blindness: you breathed fragrance upon me, and I drew in my breath and I do now pant for you: I taste you, and now hunger and thirst for you: you touched me, and I have burned for your peace.

St. Augustine

The Gloria

Glory be to God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, so it is now and so it shall ever be, world without end. Alleluia. Amen.

The Psalm

The Holy One of Israel Is Our King

Your love, O LORD, for ever will I sing;* from age to age my mouth will proclaim your faithfulness. For I am persuaded that your love is established for ever;* you have set your faithfulness firmly in the heavens. "I have made a covenant with my chosen one;* I have sworn an oath to David my servant: 'I will establish your line for ever,* and preserve your throne for all generations.' " Righteousness and justice are the foundations of your throne;* love and truth go before your face. Happy are the people who know the festal shout!* they walk, O LORD, in the light of your presence. They rejoice daily in your Name;* they are jubilant in your righteousness. For you are the glory of their strength,* and by your favor our might is exalted. Truly, the LORD is our ruler;* the Holy One of Israel is our King.

Psalm 89:1-4, 14-18

The Gloria

Glory be to God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, so it is now and so it shall ever be, world without end. Alleluia. Amen.

The Small Verse

Into your hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit; for you have redeemed me, O Lord, O God of truth. Keep me, O Lord, as the apple of your eye; hide me under the shadow of your wings.&#8224

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 Petition

Keep watch, dear Lord, with those who work, or watch, or weep this night, and give your angels charge over those who sleep. Tend the sick, Lord Christ; give rest to the weary, bless the dying, soothe the suffering, pity the afflicted, shield the joyous; and all for your love's sake. Amen. &#8224

The Final Thanksgiving

Lord, you now have set your servant free to go in peace as you have promised; for these eyes of mine have seen the Savior, whom you have prepared for all the world to see: a Light to enlighten the nations, and the glory of your people Israel. 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.

The Divine Hours are reprinted here with permission of Doubleday and Phyllis Tickle. Not for distribution without permission from the author.
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