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Week 24 of Ordinary Time

Midday Prayer

Wednesday, September 16, 2026

Prayer Reading Mode: Prayer Space

Hours Depth: Medium

About today

Cornelius, pope, and Cyprian, bishop of Carthage, died as martyrs in the third century. They shepherded a Church divided over those who had lapsed under persecution, seeking both truth and mercy. Their joint memorial on 16 September honors pastors who paid for unity with their lives and would not treat the lapsed as disposable. East and West remember them together. Ask today for a charity that does not deny the faith, and for a faith that does not refuse the fallen who return.

Original – Prayer on Fire.

Opening

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

Hymn

Midway through the labor, Lord, We pause beneath Your gaze. The morning zeal has thinned a little; Steady us for the remaining ways. Christ who bore the heat of noonday, Stay beside the tasks we hold. Make our hands a quiet service, And our words both true and bold.

Original, Prayer on Fire

Psalm I

Antiphon

Give me a humble mind when success tempts me, and courage when I fail.

Psalm 145 (144):1–3, 8–9

Catholic Public Domain Version (public domain)

Psalm

I will extol you, O God, my king. And I will bless your name, in this time and forever and ever. Throughout every single day, I will bless you. And I will praise your name, in this time and forever and ever. The Lord is great and exceedingly praiseworthy. And there is no end to his greatness. The Lord is compassionate and merciful, patient and full of mercy. The Lord is sweet to all things, and his compassion is upon all his works.

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

Give me a humble mind when success tempts me, and courage when I fail.

Psalm II

Antiphon

Peace in the center of the day — Christ, be my stillness.

Psalm 119 (118):105–108

Catholic Public Domain Version (public domain)

Psalm

Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my paths. I have sworn and I am determined to keep the judgments of your justice. I have been humbled, O Lord, exceedingly. Revive me according to your word. Make the voluntary offerings of my mouth well pleasing, O Lord, and teach me your judgments.

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

Peace in the center of the day — Christ, be my stillness.

Silence

Let the last verse rest in you.

Reading

Romans 12:1–2

Catholic Public Domain Version (public domain)

And so, I beg you, brothers, by the mercy of God, that you offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God, with the subservience of your mind. And do not choose to be conformed to this age, but instead choose to be reformed in the newness of your mind, so that you may demonstrate what is the will of God: what is good, and what is well-pleasing, and what is perfect.

Responsory

Those who wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength. They shall walk and not faint. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.

Intercessions

Where we have already failed this day, give a way to begin again before evening, without a speech.

R. Lord, hear our prayer.

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

Lord, bless the hidden work of this noon. You see in secret; that is enough. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

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