Daily devotions are shorter versions of the Daily Office that you can pray in the Morning, at Noon, in the Early Evening, or at the Close of Day.
From Psalm 51
Open my lips, O Lord, * and my mouth shall proclaim your praise. Create in me a clean heart, O God, * and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from your presence * and take not your holy Spirit from me. Give me the joy of your saving help again * and sustain me with your bountiful Spirit. Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: * as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen.
A Reading
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! By his great mercy we have been born anew to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. 1 Peter 1:3
A period of silence may follow.
A hymn or canticle may be used; the Apostles' Creed may be said.
Prayers may be offered for ourselves and others.
The Lord's Prayer
Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your Name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. Save us from the time of trial, and deliver us from evil. For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours, now and for ever. Amen.
The Collect
Lord God, almighty and everlasting Father, you have brought us in safety to this new day: Preserve us with your mighty power, that we may not fall into sin, nor be overcome by adversity; and in all we do, direct us to the fulfilling of your purpose; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
The Song of Zechariah Benedictus Dominus DeusLuke 1: 68-79
Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel; * he has come to his people and set them free. He has raised up for us a mighty savior, * born of the house of his servant David. Through his holy prophets he promised of old, that he would save us from our enemies, * from the hands of all who hate us. He promised to show mercy to our fathers * and to remember his holy covenant. This was the oath he swore to our father Abraham, * to set us free from the hands of our enemies, Free to worship him without fear, * holy and righteous in his sight all the days of our life.
You, my child, shall be called the prophet of the Most High, * for you will go before the Lord to prepare his way, To give his people knowledge of salvation * by the forgiveness of their sins. In the tender compassion of our God * the dawn from on high shall break upon us, To shine on those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death, * and to guide our feet into the way of peace.
[Back to the devotion]
O gentle Maker, hear our plea,And heed each contrite soul who prayswith penance and contrition trueThroughout these holy Forty Days.
You know the secrets of each heart,You know each weakness and disgrace,And yet on those who turn to youBestow your gift of pard'ning Grace.
In truth our faults are manifold:But spare those who their sins deplore;And for the honor of your NameEach falt'ring soul heal and restore.
Give us the grace of disciplineThat we may rise from sensuous greed,And fasting in our deepest soulWe may from sin be wholly freed.
To Father highest praises be,And praises to his only Son,Like praises to the Spirit dear,While all the endless ages run. Amen.
The Second Song of Isaiah Quaerite DominumIsaiah 55:6-11
Seek the Lord while he wills to be found; * call upon him when he draws near.Let the wicked forsake their ways * and the evil ones their thoughts;And let them turn to the Lord, and he will have compassion, * and to our God, for he will richly pardon.For my thoughts are not your thoughts, * nor your ways my ways, says the Lord.For as the heavens are higher than the earth, * so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.For as rain and snow fall from the heavens * and return not again, but water the earth,Bringing forth life and giving growth, * seed for sowing and bread for eating,So is my word that goes forth from my mouth; * it will not return to me empty;But it will accomplish that which I have purposed, * and prosper in that for which I sent it.
The Apostles' Creed
I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, his only son, our Lord. He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended to the dead. On the third day he rose again. He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.
[top]
From Psalm 113
Give praise, you servants of the LORD; * praise the Name of the LORD. Let the Name of the LORD be blessed, * from this time forth for evermore. From the rising of the sun to its going down * let the Name of the LORD be praised. The LORD is high above all nations, * and his glory above the heavens.
O God, you will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are fixed on you; for in returning and rest we shall be saved; in quietness and trust shall be our strength. Isaiah 26:3; 30:15
[Include authorized intercessions or thanksgivings--opens new window]
Blessed Savior, at this hour you hung upon the cross, stretching out your loving arms: Grant that all the peoples of the earth may look to you and be saved; for your mercies' sake. Amen.
O gracious light, pure brightness of the everliving Father in heaven, O Jesus Christ, holy and blessed!
Now as we come to the setting of the sun, and our eyes behold the vesper light, we sing your praises, O God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
You are worthy at all times to be praised by happy voices, O Son of God, O Giver of Life, and to be glorified through all the worlds.
It is not ourselves that we proclaim; we proclaim Christ Jesus as Lord, and ourselves as your servants, for Jesus' sake. For the same God who said, "Out of darkness let light shine," has caused his light to shine within us, to give the light of revelation--the revelation of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. 2 Corinthians 4:5-6
Lord Jesus, stay with us, for evening is at hand and the day is past; be our companion in the way, kindle our hearts, and awaken hope, that we may know you as you are revealed in Scripture and the breaking of bread. Grant this for the sake of your love. Amen.
The Song of Mary MagnificatLuke 1:46-55
My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord, my spirit rejoices in God my Savior; * for he has looked with favor on his lowly servant.From this day all generations will call me blessed: * the Almighty has done great things for me, and holy is his Name. He has mercy on those who fear him * in every generation. He has shown the strength of his arm, * he has scattered the proud in their conceit. He has cast down the mighty from their thrones, * and has lifted up the lowly. He has filled the hungry with good things, * and the rich he has sent away empty. He has come to the help of his servant Israel, * for he has remembered his promise of mercy, The promise he made to our fathers, * to Abraham and his children for ever.
From ancient rule and mystic lore,We come to keep this Fast once more:Whose forty days are ever foundWithin each turning yearly round.
By Law and Prophets from of oldThis Fast of Lent had been, foretold,which Christ, the master of all ways,Blest by His fast of forty days.
Your mercy, Lord, we have forswornAnd by our sins your love have scorn'dBut now upon us from abovePour forth your sweet, forgiving love.
Remit the evil we have wroughtIncrease the good that we have soughtThat fin'ly when we reach our goalsO Lord, you will accept our souls.
Hear us, O Blessed TrinityAccept our pray'rs, O Unity,That of your goodness you may blessOur Fast with fruits of righteousness. Amen
Psalm 134
Behold now, bless the LORD, all you servants of the LORD, * you that stand by night in the house of the LORD. Lift up your hands in the holy place and bless the LORD; * the LORD who made heaven and earth bless you out of Zion.
Lord, you are in the midst of us and we are called by your Name: Do not forsake us, O Lord our God. Jeremiah 14:9,22
The following may be said
The Song of Simeon Nunc DimittisLuke 2:29-32
Lord, you now have set your servant free * to go in peace as you have promised; For these eyes of mine have seen the Savior, * whom you have prepared for all the world to see: A Light to enlighten the nations, * and the glory of your people Israel.
Prayers for ourselves and others may follow. It is appropriate that prayers of thanksgiving for the blessings of the day, and penitence for our sins, be included.
Visit this place, O Lord, and drive far from it all snares of the enemy; let your holy angels dwell with us to preserve us in peace; and let your blessing be upon us always; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
The almighty and merciful Lord, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, bless us and keep us. Amen.
Meter: LM 82H: 44, 45
To thee before the close of day, Creator of the world, we pray that, with thy wonted favor, thou wouldst be our guard and keeper now.
From all ill dreams defend our sight, from fears and terrors of the night; withhold from us our ghostly foe, that spot of sin we may not know.
O Father, that we ask be done, through Jesus Christ, thine only Son, who, with the Holy Ghost and thee, doth live and reign eternally.
