Prayers from The Divine Hours, compiled by Phyllis Tickle supplemented with a few other meditations and prayers.
The Call to Prayer
Psalm 100: 1–2
Be joyful in the Lord, all you lands; serve the Lord with gladness and come before his presence with a song.
The Request for Presence
Psalm 86: 16
Turn to me and have mercy upon me, give your strength to your servant; and save the child of your handmaid.
The Sarum Prayer
God be in my head—and in my understanding
God be in my eyes—and in my looking
God be in my mouth—and in my speaking
God be in my heart—and in my thinking
God be at my end—and at my departing
Breath Meditation
Relax with two nice deep breaths, in through the nose [to the count of 5] and out through the mouth [to the count of six] Notice how the lungs expand with the inbreath and how the body softens with the outbreath. Let your breathing return to normal and focus your attention on the feeling of the air entering the body, and the body softening as you exhale. Take a minute or two like this, returning your focus to the breath as you notice your mind wandering.
The Greeting
Psalm 144: 3–4
O Lord, what are we that you should care for us? mere mortals that you should think of us? We are like a puff of wind, our days are like a passing shadow.
The Refrain for the Lessons
Psalm 68: 19
Blessed be the Lord by day, the God of our salvation, who bears our burdens.
A Reading
Matthew 11: 28
Jesus taught us saying, ‘Come to me all you who labor and are overburdened, and I will give you rest. Shoulder my yoke and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. Yes, my yoke is easy and my burden light.’
The Refrain
Blessed be the Lord by day, the God of our salvation, who bears our burdens.
The Psalm
Psalm 57: 1–5
Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me,
for in you my soul takes refuge;
in the shadow of your wings I will take refuge,
until the destroying storms pass by.
I cry to God Most High,
to God who fulfills his purpose for me.
He will send from heaven and save me,
he will put to shame those who trample on me. Selah
God will send forth his steadfast love and his faithfulness.
I lie down among lions
that greedily devour human prey;
their teeth are spears and arrows,
their tongues sharp swords.
Be exalted, O God, above the heavens.
Let your glory be over all the earth.
The Refrain
Blessed be the Lord by day, the God of our salvation, who bears our burdens.
The Cry of the Church
O Lamb of God, that takes away the sins of the world, have mercy upon me.
O Lamb of God, that takes away the sins of the world, have mercy upon me.
O Lamb of God, that takes away the sins of the world, grant me your peace.
The Serenity Prayer
God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change,
Courage to change the things I can,
And wisdom to know the difference.
Prayer for Loved Ones
Over the next minute simply name your loved ones, calling each to mind in love, lifting each in the embrace of remembered love, to the God who is the source of all being.
The Prayer Appointed for the Week
O God, the protector of all who trust in you, without whom nothing is strong, nothing is holy: Increase and multiply upon all your faithful people your mercy; that, with you as our ruler and guide, we may so pass through things temporal, that we lose not the things eternal; 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 our Lord. Amen.
Benediction
Go in peace, wash your hands, love your neighbors—you are not alone.