THE DIVINE HOURS

The Call to Prayer

Wake up, my spirit; awake lute and harp;* I myself will waken the dawn.

Psalm 57:8

The Request for Presence

You are the LORD; do not withhold your compassion from me;* let your love and your faithfulness keep me safe forever.

Psalm 40:12

The Greeting

My heart is firmly fixed, O God, my heart is fixed;* I will sing and make melody.

Psalm 57:7

The Refrain for the Morning Lessons

Cast your burden upon the LORD, and he will sustain you;* he will never let the righteous stumble.

Psalm 55:24

A Reading

The apostles said to the Lord, ‘Increase our faith.’ The Lord replied, ‘If you had faith like a mustard seed you could say to this mulberry tree, “Be uprooted and planted in the sea,” and it would obey you.’

Luke 17:5–6

The Refrain

Cast your burden upon the LORD, and he will sustain you;* he will never let the righteous stumble.

The Morning Psalm

He Shall Give His Angels Charge Over You

For he shall give his angels charge over you,* to keep you in all your ways. They shall bear you in their hands,* lest you dash your foot against a stone. You shall tread upon the lion and adder;* you shall trample the young lion and the serpent under your feet.

Psalm 91:11–13

The Refrain

Cast your burden upon the LORD, and he will sustain you;* he will never let the righteous stumble.

The Small Verse

My soul thirsts for the strong, living God and all that is within me cries out to him.

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

O God, you have taught me to keep all your commandments by loving you and my neighbor: Grant me the grace of your Holy Spirit, that I may be devoted to you with my whole heart, and united to others with pure affection; 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

Lord God, almighty and everlasting Father, you have brought me in safety to this new day: Preserve me with your mighty power, that I may not fall into sin, nor be overcome by adversity; and in all I do direct me to the fulfilling of your purpose; through Jesus Christ my Lord. 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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