Opening
God, come to my assistance. Lord, make haste to help me.
Hymn
Peace in the center of the day — Christ, be my stillness now. The morning’s fire has cooled a little; Teach me the faithful how. Not heroic, only present. Not shining, only true. I offer you this middle stretch Until the work is through.
Original – Prayer on Fire
Psalm I
Antiphon
Between tasks, return me to presence and charity.
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
Between tasks, return me to presence and charity.
Psalm II
Antiphon
You neither slumber nor sleep; watch over the work of my hands.
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
You neither slumber nor sleep; watch over the work of my hands.
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
Hold us fast in the work of this hour. And keep our hearts near the Cross. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Intercessions
In meetings, errands, and unfinished lists, let us not lose the person; hold us present until the work is love.
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 Cross, hold us faithful in the heat of ordinary work. Let this hour become an altar. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.