None (Afternoon Prayer)
INTRODUCTION
O God, come to our aid.
O Lord, make haste to help us.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son
and to the Holy Spirit,
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end.
Amen. Alleluia.
Hymn
Eternal Father, loving God,
Who made us from the dust of earth,
Transform us by the Spirit’s grace,
Give value to our little worth.
Prepare us for that day of days
When Christ from heaven will come with might
To call us out of dust again,
Our bodies glorified in light.
O Godhead, here untouched, unseen,
All things created bear your trace;
The seed of glory sown in man
Will flower when we see your face.
Stanbrook Abbey Hymnal
The psalms of the day are shown here. If you are reciting more than one daytime hour (Terce, Sext, None) today, use the psalms of the day at one hour and the complementary psalms at the others.
PSALMS OF THE DAY
Psalm 118(119): 113-120
Mary was greatly troubled at this greeting and wondered what it might mean. She said, ‘I am to give birth to a King without ceasing to be a virgin.’
I hate the deceitful of heart
and I love the law you have given.
You are my roof and my shield
and I put all my hope in your word.
Turn away from me, men of malice:
I shall follow the decrees of my God.
Rescue me, God, as you promised, and I shall live:
do not disappoint my hopes.
Be my support, and I shall be safe,
and delight in your judgements forever.
You disdain those who depart from your judgements,
since their thoughts are nothing but lies.
You sweep the wicked from the world like dross:
therefore I love your decrees.
My flesh trembles with fear of you;
I am in fear of your judgements.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son
and to the Holy Spirit,
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end.
Amen.
Psalm 78 (79)
A lamentation over Jerusalem
The nations have overrun your inheritance.
They have profaned your holy temple, O God.
They have reduced Jerusalem to ruins.
The corpses of your servants are carrion for birds;
their flesh is food for the beasts.
Their blood has been poured out like a moat round Jerusalem
and there is no-one to bury them.
Our neighbours hold us in contempt:
those who live near us deride us.
How long will it last, O Lord?
Will you be angry for ever?
Will your anger blaze up like a fire?
Do not remember the sins of our fathers:
let your loving kindness come quickly,
for we are poor and destitute.
O God our salvation, come to our help:
free us and glorify your name.
And look kindly on our faults,
for the sake of your name.
Why should the gentiles ask, ‘Where is their God?’
Let the blood of your servants be avenged
before all nations, before our own eyes.
Hear your people groan in their fetters,
and put forth the power of your arm.
Rescue those who are doomed to die.
We, your people, the sheep of your flock
will proclaim your name for ever.
From generation to generation
we shall proclaim your praise.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son
and to the Holy Spirit,
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end.
Amen.
Psalm 79 (80)
Lord, tend your vine
Shepherd of Israel, listen –
you who take Joseph as your flock.
Shine out before Ephraim and Benjamin and Manasseh –
you who are enthroned upon the cherubim.
Awaken your power and come to us,
come to us and save us.
Bring us back, O God:
let your face shine on us and we shall be saved.
Lord God of hosts –
how long will your anger endure
against the prayers of your people?
You have given us tears for our bread,
abundance of tears for us to drink.
You have made us a mockery among our neighbours,
and our enemies laugh at us.
Bring us back, O God of hosts:
let your face shine on us and we shall be saved.
You brought a vine out of Egypt;
planted it, and drove out the nations.
You cleared the ground all about it,
made firm its roots; and it filled the land.
Its shade covered mountains,
its boughs shaded the cedars of God;
its leaves spread as far as the sea,
its shoots as far as the River.
So why did you destroy its wall,
so that anyone could pluck its fruit,
whoever was passing by?
The wild boar of the forest broke it,
every wild beast could graze off it.
Turn back, O God of hosts,
look down from heaven and tend this vine.
Protect the vine, for your right hand planted it;
and the son of man, whom you made strong.
The vine is burnt and dug up;
and they too will perish when they see you rebuke them.
Stretch out your hand over your chosen one
over the son of man, whom you made strong –
and we will not forsake you, and you will give us life;
and we will call on your name.
Bring us back, Lord God of hosts:
let your face shine on us and we shall be saved.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son
and to the Holy Spirit,
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end.
Amen.
Mary was greatly troubled at this greeting and wondered what it might mean. She said, ‘I am to give birth to a King without ceasing to be a virgin.’
OR:
At the daytime hours (Terce, Sext, None) when you don’t choose to use the psalms of the day, use the complementary psalms instead.
COMPLEMENTARY PSALMS
Psalm 125 (126)
Gladness and hope in the Lord
Mary was greatly troubled at this greeting and wondered what it might mean. She said, ‘I am to give birth to a King without ceasing to be a virgin.’
When the Lord gave Zion back her captives, we became like dreamers.
Our mouths were filled with gladness and our voices cried in exultation.
Among the Gentiles they were saying,
“By his deeds the Lord has shown himself great.”
The Lord’s deeds showed forth his greatness,
and filled us with rejoicing.
Give us back our captives, O Lord,
as you renew the dry streams in the desolate South.
Those who sow in tears will rejoice at the harvest.
They wept as they went, went with seed for the sowing;
but with joy they will come, come bearing the sheaves.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son
and to the Holy Spirit,
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end.
Amen.
Psalm 126 (127)
Without the Lord, we labour in vain
If the Lord does not build the house,
its builders labour in vain.
If the Lord does not watch over a city,
its watchmen guard it in vain.
It is vain for you to rise before the dawn
and go late to your rest,
eating the bread of toil –
to those he loves, the Lord gives sleep.
The Lord bestows sons as an heirloom,
the fruit of the womb as a reward.
Like arrows in the hand of a warrior –
so are the sons of one’s youth.
Happy the man who fills his quiver thus:
when he disputes with his enemies at the gate,
he will not be the loser.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son
and to the Holy Spirit,
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end.
Amen.
Psalm 127 (128)
Peaceful life in the Lord
Blessed are all who fear the Lord
and walk in his ways.
The food you have worked for, you will eat:
God’s blessing will bring you good things.
Your wife will be like a fruitful vine
on the side of your house.
Your children will be like olive shoots,
seated round your table.
See, this is how the man is blessed
who fears the Lord.
May the Lord bless you from Zion:
may you see the wealth of Jerusalem
all the days of your life.
May you see your children’s children.
Peace be on Israel.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son
and to the Holy Spirit,
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end.
Amen.
Mary was greatly troubled at this greeting and wondered what it might mean. She said, ‘I am to give birth to a King without ceasing to be a virgin.’
CONCLUSION
Short Reading
(Isaiah 13:22-14:1)
©
Its time is almost up, its days will not last long. Yes, the Lord will have pity on Jacob, and Israel will be saved.
℣. Come, Lord, and make no delay.
℟. Release your people from their sin.
Let us pray.
Deepen our faith, Lord God,
as we celebrate the great mystery of the incarnation
by which you revealed to the world the splendour of your glory
through the Virgin Mary
when she gave birth to your Son,
who lives and reigns for ever and ever.
Amen.
Let us praise the Lord.
– Thanks be to God.
