Opening
God, come to my assistance. Lord, make haste to help me.
Hymn
Between the tasks, return me, Lord, To presence and to charity. The day pulls thin; my heart grows hurried. Call me back to what should be. You neither slumber nor abandon. Watch the work I cannot see. Let this noonday be an offering — Our rest, our aim, our peace in you.
Original – Prayer on Fire
Psalm I
Antiphon
Hold my attention, Lord, when the day pulls me thin.
Psalm 121 (120):1–2
Catholic Public Domain Version (public domain)
Psalm
I have lifted up my eyes to the mountains, from whence help will come to me. My help is from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.
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.
Psalm II
Antiphon
Unless you build the house, my labor is empty — stay with me.
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
Unless you build the house, my labor is empty — stay with me.
Silence
Let the last verse rest in you.
Reading
Romans 13:8–10
Catholic Public Domain Version (public domain)
You should owe nothing to anyone, except so as to love one another. For whoever loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law. For example: You shall not commit adultery. You shall not kill. You shall not steal. You shall not speak false testimony. You shall not covet. And if there is any other commandment, it is summed up in this word: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. The love of neighbor does no harm. Therefore, love is the plenitude of the law.
Responsory
Christ loved us and gave himself for us. We will take up our work and follow him. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Intercessions
Quiet the inner argument. Give peace enough to do the next right thing, and charity enough not to score it.
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
Christ of the noonday, keep us kind when we are tired. Let this hour not be wasted on irritation. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.