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Week 23 of Ordinary Time

Midday Prayer · The Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Tuesday, September 8, 2026

Prayer Reading Mode: Prayer Space

Hours Depth: Medium

About today

Nine months after the Immaculate Conception the Church keeps Mary’s birthday on 8 September. The Gospels do not narrate her infancy; the feast simply rejoices that the Mother of the Lord was born among us. Salvation has a human beginning in a child of Israel, born like us so that the Word might have a Mother. The feast is a birthday of hope. Ask today for gratitude that God works through families and hidden years, and for a welcome like hers when the Word draws near.

Original – Prayer on Fire.

The Nativity of the Blessed Virgin MaryChoose how you want to pray this hour:

Opening

God, come to my assistance. Lord, make haste to help me.

Hymn

Hold my attention, Lord, When the day pulls me thin. One thing is needful in this hour: To love the one I am with. Keep my feet from stumbling; Keep my heart from growing hard. In the middle of the labor Be my rest and my reward.

Original – Prayer on Fire

Psalm I

Antiphon

Handmaid of the Lord, help us say yes when we are afraid.

Psalm 122 (121):1–2, 6–7

Catholic Public Domain Version (public domain)

Psalm

I rejoiced in the things that were said to me: “We shall go into the house of the Lord.” Our feet were standing in your courts, O Jerusalem. Petition for the things that are for the peace of Jerusalem, and for abundance for those who love you. Let peace be in your virtue, and abundance in your towers.

Glory Be

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.

Antiphon

Handmaid of the Lord, help us say yes when we are afraid.

Psalm II

Antiphon

Mary, quiet flame of faith, keep us near your Son.

Psalm 123 (122):1–2

Catholic Public Domain Version (public domain)

Psalm

I have lifted up my eyes to you, who dwell in the heavens. Behold, as the eyes of the servants are on the hands of their masters, as the eyes of the handmaid are on the hands of her mistress, so our eyes are upon the Lord our God, until he may be merciful to us.

Glory Be

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.

Antiphon

Mary, quiet flame of faith, keep us near your Son.

Silence

A moment of silence

Reading of the feast

Revelation 12:1

Catholic Public Domain Version (public domain)

And a great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon was under her feet, and on her head was a crown of twelve stars.

Responsory

The Almighty has done great things for me. Holy is his name. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.

Intercessions

On this feast, keep us faithful in the ordinary hour, and let the joy of your saints remain with us.

R. Speak, Lord, we are listening.

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name; thy kingdom come; thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen.

Closing prayer

God our Father, on this Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, you lifted her into the joy of your presence. Receive our praise this day, and keep us near her Son until we too are gathered home. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

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An original Prayer on Fire offering for the hours of the day