Opening
God, come to my assistance. Lord, make haste to help me.
Hymn
Spirit of the middle hour, Breathe on tired wills again. Where impatience rises quickly, Pour Your peace like cooling rain. Hold us in the present duty; Lift our eyes from restless haste. Teach us still to love the neighbor In this stretch of time and place.
Original, Prayer on Fire
Psalm I
Antiphon
In the middle of the work, be my rest and my aim.
Psalm 125 (124):1–2
Catholic Public Domain Version (public domain)
Psalm
Those who trust in the Lord are like Mount Zion. He will not be disturbed for eternity, who dwells in Jerusalem. Mountains surround it. And the Lord surrounds his people, from this time forward and even forever.
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
In the middle of the work, be my rest and my aim.
Psalm II
Antiphon
Hold my attention, Lord, when the day pulls me thin.
Psalm 127 (126):1
Catholic Public Domain Version (public domain)
Psalm
Unless the Lord has built the house, those who build it have labored in vain. Unless the Lord has guarded the city, he who guards it watches in vain.
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
Hold my attention, Lord, when the day pulls me thin.
Silence
Hold the psalm a little longer.
Reading
Romans 1:16b–17
Catholic Public Domain Version (public domain)
For I am not ashamed of the Gospel. For it is the power of God unto salvation for all believers, the Jew first, and the Greek. For the justice of God is revealed within it, by faith unto faith, just as it was written: “For the just one lives by faith.”
Responsory
The Lord is near to all who call upon him. To all who call upon him in truth. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Intercessions
For those who hunger at midday, and for us who eat — make us just, grateful, and unwilling to hurry past need.
R. Lord, have mercy.
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
Christ of the noonday, keep us kind when we are tired. Let this hour not be wasted on irritation. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.