THE DIVINE HOURS

The Call to Prayer

May the Lord Almighty grant me and those I love a peaceful night and a perfect end. Amen.&#8224

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

Christ's Mirror

Herself a rose, who bore the Rose, She bore the Rose and felt its thorn, All Loveliness new-born Took on her bosom its repose, And slept and woke there night and morn. Lily herself, she bore the one Fair Lily; sweeter, whiter, far Than she or others are: The Sun of Righteousness her Son, She was His morning star. She gracious, He essential Grace, He was the fountain, she the rill: Her goodness to fulfill And gladness, with proportioned pace He led her steps through good and ill. Christ's mirror she of grace and love, Of beauty and of life and death: By hope and love and faith Transfigured to His Likeness "Dove, Spouse, Sister, Mother," Jesus saith.

Christina Rossetti

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 Throne of God Endures For Ever

My heart is stirring with a noble song; let me recite what I have fashioned for the king;* my tongue shall be the pen of a skilled writer. You are the fairest of men;* grace flows from your lips, because God has blessed you for ever. Strap your sword upon your thigh, O mighty warrior,* in your pride and in your majesty. Ride out and conquer in the cause of truth* and for the sake of justice. Your right hand will show you marvelous things;* your arrows are very sharp, O mighty warrior. The peoples are falling at your feet,* and the king's enemies are losing heart. Your throne, O God, endures for ever and ever,* a scepter of righteousness is the scepter of your kingdom; you love righteousness and hate iniquity. Therefore God, your God, has anointed you* with the oil of gladness above your fellows.

Psalm 45:1-8

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.
Buy The Divine Hours from Amazon.com

The Divine Hours © Copyright 2003 Phyllis Tickle www.phyllistickle.com