Daytime Prayer (The Little Hours)

The hymns selected for use with the Daytime Prayer in the Liturgy of the Hours reflect the varying themes of the "Little Hours" of the Office: Midmorning (Terce), Midday (Sext), and Mid-Afternoon (None). The modern Daytime Prayer has been arranged in such a way that the faithful can choose any one of these canonical hours and not miss any of the Psalms in the 4-week cycle; or if obliged or so desired, can pray all three of the hours. "Following a very ancient tradition Christians have made a practice of praying out of private devotion at various times of the day, even in the course of their work, in imitation of the Church in apostolic times." - General Instruction of the Liturgy of the Hours.

LITURGY OF THE HOURS (1975)
- Midmorning (Terce) -

18. Breathe on Me, Breath of God

19. From All That Dwell Below the Skies (with Alleluias)

20. From All That Dwell Below the Skies

21. Father, Lord of Earth and Heaven
22. Holy Spirit, Come Confirm Us
23. Come, Holy Ghost, Who Ever One

127. Come, Holy Ghost, Creator, Come

128. The Spirit of God

129. Holy Spirit, God of Light

130. Splendor of Creation (Send Forth Your Spirit)

- Midday (Sext) -
24. Help Us, O Lord
25. Lord of All Hopefullness
26. Lord of All Being, Throned Afar
27. Almighty Ruler, God of Truth
- Mid-Afternoon (None) -
13. God Father, Praise and Glory
28. Firmly I Believe and Truly
29. Lord God and Maker of All Things
30. Most Ancient of All Mysteries
31. Faith of Our Fathers
82. Sing Praise to Our Creator

131. All Hail, Adored Trinity

133. Come Thou Almighty King

DIVINE OFFICE (1974)
- Daytime Prayer -
O Blessèd Lord, Creator God
- Midmorning (Terce) -
Come, Holy Spirit, Live in Us
- Midday (Sext) -
Lord God and Maker of All Things
- Mid-Afternoon (None) -
Eternal Father, Loving God

Liturgical Guide: Mid-Afternoon Prayer (None)

"One day Peter and John were going up to the temple at the hour of prayer, at three o’clock in the afternoon." - Acts 3:1

The hymns selected for Mid-Afternoon Prayer (None) in the Divine Office reflect the hour's theme of perseverance: to complete the work we have begun this day, and also perseverance in our spiritual lives - to continue to fight "the good fight" 2 Timothy 4:7 and run the race "in such a way that you may win it." 1 Corinthians 9:24. For more information see: Daytime Prayer.

LITURGY OF THE HOURS (1975)
13. God Father, Praise and Glory
28. Firmly I Believe and Truly
29. Lord God and Maker of All Things
30. Most Ancient of All Mysteries
31. Faith of Our Fathers
82. Sing Praise to Our Creator

131. All Hail, Adored Trinity

133. Come Thou Almighty King

DIVINE OFFICE (1974)
Eternal Father, Loving God
O Blessèd Lord, Creator God

O Strength and Stay / Rerum, Deus, Tenax Vigor

Grant to Life's Day a Calm Unclouded Ending

O Strength and Stay, Upholding All Creation is a translation of the 4th century Latin hymn: Rerum Deus Tenax Vigour, composed in the Ambrosian tradition, but not likely by St. Ambrose (c.340-397) himself. In the Breviarium Romanum it is used throughout the year as the hymn for None (Mid-Afternoon). In 1871, the ancient text was translated into English by John Ellerton (1826-1893) and Fenton J. A. Hort (1828-1892). In 1875, John Bacchus Dykes (1823-1876) composed the tune: Strength and Stay specifically for their words. In the Divine Office, O Strength and Stay is sung during Evening Prayer. For an alternative translation, see: O God, Creation's Secret Force.


Tune: Strength and Stay

O STRENGTH AND STAY by Ellerton/Hort, 1871 (Public Domain)

1. O Strength and Stay upholding all creation,
who ever dost thyself unmoved abide;
yet day by day the light in due gradation
from hour to hour through all its changes guide.

2. Grant to life's day a calm unclouded ending,
An eve untouched by shadows of decay,
the brightness of a holy deathbed blending
With dawning glories of the eternal day.

3. Hear us, O Father, gracious and forgiving,
through Jesus Christ thy co-eternal Word,
who, with the Holy Ghost, by all things living
Now and to endless ages art adored.


Ambrosian Chant

RERUM, DEUS, TENAX VIGOR

1. Rerum, Deus, tenax vigor,
immotus in te permanens,
lucis diurnae tempora
successibus determinans,

2. Largire clarum vespere,
quo vita numquam decida,
sed praemium mortis sacrae
perennis instet gloria.

3. Praesta, Pater piissime,
Patrique compar Unice,
cum Spiritu Paraclito
regnans per omne saeculum. Amen.

O God, Creation's Secret Force / Rerum, Deus, Tenax Vigor

Thyself Unmoved, All Motion's Source

O God, Creation's Secret Force is a translation of the 4th century Latin hymn, Rer­um De­us Ten­ax Vi­gor attributed to St. Ambrose of Milan (340-397). Rer­um De­us Ten­ax Vi­gor (see 2nd video) is the traditional hymn at None (Mid-Afternoon Prayer) in the Roman Breviary. Like the other hymns for the daytime hours of Terse and Sext, this brief hymn concludes with a doxology that would change throughout the year to reflect the liturgical season or Feast Day. In 1852 it was translated into English by the Anglican clergyman, John M. Neale (1818-1866). In the Divine Office, his hymn: O God, Creation's Secret Force is set to the tune: Splendor Paternae Gloriae, based upon the anonymous 13th century plainsong melody of the same name. In the Divine Office it is used with the Office of Readings. For an alternative translation, see: O Strength and Stay.


Tune: Splendor Paternae Gloriae

O GOD, CREATION’S SECRET FORCE by John M. Neale, 1852 (Public Domain)

O God, creation’s secret force,
Thyself unmoved, all motion’s source,
Who from the morn till evening ray
Through all its changes guid’st the day:

Grant us, when this short life is past,
The glorious evening that shall last;
That, by a holy death attained,
Eternal glory may be gained.

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.


Ambrosian Chant

RERUM, DEUS, TENAX VIGOR - attributed to St Ambrose (Public Domain)

Rerum, Deus, tenax vigor,
immotus in te permanens,
lucis diurnae tempora
successibus determinans,

Largire clarum vespere,
quo vita numquam decidat,
sed praemium mortis sacrae
perennis instet gloria.

Praesta, Pater piissime,
Patrique compar Unice,
cum Spiritu Paraclito
regnans er omne saeculum. Amen.