the ninth hour office

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Today I offer another resource for traditional prayer during these stressful times. The Ninth Hour office is customarily read around 3 PM, the hour of death upon the Cross on Good Friday. Each of these offices can be said by anyone, anywhere, and does not require the presence of clergy. When being used with a group, the words in bold types are those said in unison with the leader or in response. The origin of each prayer is noted in the text.

Ninth Hour

The Invocation

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, one true God, to whom be glory and upon us mercy and compassion for ever and ever.  Amen.

The First Prayer [Syrian Antiochian 9th Hour Prayer]

O thou who, at the Ninth Hour, for our sake didst taste of death in the flesh: Mortify thou the presumption of our flesh, and save us, O Christ our God.  Amen.

A General Confession

Let us pray

I confess to God the Father Almighty, to His only-begotten Son Jesus Christ our Lord, and to God the Holy Ghost, and before the whole company of heaven, that I have sinned exceedingly, in thought, word, and deed, through my fault, through my own fault, through my ownmost grievous fault. Wherefore I beseech God the Father Almighty, His only-begotten Son Jesus Christ our Lord, and God the Holy Ghost, to pity me, and to have mercy upon me. The Almighty and merciful God grant to us pardon, absolution, and remission of all our sins. Amen.

The Lord’ s Prayer [Luke 11:2-4]

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. 

The First Chapter [1 Thessalonians 4:14]

If we believe that Jesus died, and rose again, even so them also that sleep in Jesus shall God bring with Him.

The First Antiphon [Psalm 86:7-10]

In the time of my trouble I will call upon thee; 

For thou hearest me.

Among the gods there is none like unto thee, O Lord; 

There is not one that can do as thou doest.

All nations whom thou hast made shall come and worship thee, O Lord; 

And shall glorify thy Name.

For thou art great, and doest wondrous things: 

Thou art God alone.

The Second Prayer [Adapted from Liturgy of St. James, 1st C.]

O SOVEREIGN Almighty God, King of Glory, who knowest all things before their creation, redeem us from the shame of our transgressions; cleanse our minds and thoughts from impure desires, from worldly deceit, from all influence of the devil; guard us from everything evil and preserve us for continually pleasing, worshipping, and glorifying Thee, the Father, and Thy only-begotten Son, and thy all-holy Spirit, now and always, unto ages of ages.  Amen.

The Second Antiphon [Psalm 86:1-6]

Bow down thine ear, O Lord, and hear me; 

For I am poor, and in misery.

Preserve thou my soul, for I am holy: * 

My God, save thy servant that putteth his trust in thee.

Be merciful unto me, O Lord; * 

For I will call daily upon thee.

Comfort the soul of thy servant; * 

For unto thee, O Lord, do I lift up my soul.

For thou, Lord, art good and gracious; * 

And of great mercy unto all them that call upon thee.

Give ear, Lord, unto my prayer, * 

And ponder the voice of my humble desires.

The Third Prayer [Sarum Missal, 16th-17th C., England]

O GOD, who hast made the most glorious name of our Lord Jesus Christ, thine only-begotten Son, to be exceeding sweet and supremely lovable to thy faithful servants: Mercifully grant that all who devoutly venerate the name of Jesus on earth may in this life receive thy holy comfort, and in the life to come attain thine unending joy.  Amen.

The Second Chapter [Isaiah 53:6]

All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord that laid on Him the iniquity of us all.

The Third Antiphon [Psalm 51:10, 11]

Make me a clean heart, O God,

And renew a right spirit within me.

Cast me not away from thy presence,

And take not Thy Holy Spirit from me.

The Fourth Prayer [Anglican Prayer, Alcuin of York, 8th C.]

O ETERNAL light, shine into my heart; O Eternal Goodness, deliver me from evil; O Eternal Power, be my support; O Eternal Wisdom, scatter the darkness of my ignorance; O Eternal Pity, have mercy upon me; that with all my heart and mind and soul and strength I may seek thy face and be brought by thine infinite mercy to thy holy presence.  Amen.

The Psalm Reading [Psalm 119:129-146]

THY testimonies are wonderful; * therefore doth my soul keep them.

130. When thy word goeth forth, * it giveth light and understanding unto the simple.

131. I opened my mouth, and drew in my breath; * for my delight was in thy commandments.

132. O look thou upon me, and be merciful unto me, * as thou usest to do unto those that love thy Name.

133. Order my steps in thy word; * and so shall no wickedness have dominion over me.

134. O deliver me from the wrongful dealings of men; * and so shall I keep thy commandments.

135. Show the light of thy countenance upon thy servant, * and teach me thy statutes.

136. Mine eyes gush out with water, * because men keep not thy law.

RIGHTEOUS art thou, O Lord; * and true are thy judgments.

138. The testimonies that thou hast commanded * are exceeding righteous and true.

139. My zeal hath even consumed me; * because mine enemies have forgotten thy words.

140. Thy word is tried to the uttermost, * and thy servant loveth it.

141. I am small and of no reputation; * yet do I not forget thy commandments.

142. Thy righteousness is an everlasting righteousness, * and thy law is the truth.

143. Trouble and heaviness have taken hold upon me; * yet is my delight in thy commandments.

144. The righteousness of thy testimonies is everlasting: * O grant me understanding, and I shall live.

I CALL with my whole heart; * hear me, O Lord; I will keep thy statutes.

146. Yea, even unto thee I do call; * help me, and I shall keep thy testimonies.

The Third Chapter [Revelation 4:11; 5:13]

WORTHY art thou, Our Lord and God, to receive glory and honour and power, for thou didst create all things and by thy will they existed and were created; To him who sits upon the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honour and glory and might for ever and ever!

The Fourth Antiphon [Adapted from In the Cross of Christ I Glory, 1946]

O holy Jesus, who of thine infinite goodness, 

Didst accept the conversion of a sinner on the Cross: 

Open thine eyes of mercy upon us, 

When in our last hour we turn to thee for pardon and forgiveness.  

Renew in us all that is decayed by the fraud and malice of the devil or our own carnal will and frailness.  

Consider our contribution and accept our repentance; 

And forasmuch as we put our full trust only in thy mercy,

Impute not unto us our former sins, but strengthen us with thy blessed Spirit; 

When thou art pleased to take us hence into thy favor,

We beg through thy merits, O Lord, our Saviour and our Redeemer.

The Fifth Prayer [Anglican Prayer, Ninth Hour]

O Lord Jesus Christ, who for our sakes didst tread the paths of death; make known to us  the way of life; that as Thou wast reckoned with the transgressors in Thy death, and with the rich in Thy burial, so we, who are dead in trespasses and sins, may be raised up by Thee to the land of true riches; who liveth and reigneth with the Father and the Holy Ghost, ever one God, world without end. Amen.

The Fifth Antiphon [In the Cross of Christ I Glory, 1946]

O Saviour of the world, who by Thy Cross and precious blood redeemed us;

Save us and help us, we humbly beseech Thee, O Lord.

The Sixth Prayer [Adapted from Eastern Orthodox Prayer of St. Basil the Great, 4th or 5th C.]

O Master, Lord Jesus Christ our God, who art long-suffering toward our sins, and who hast led us even to the present hour, who didst hang upon the life-giving Tree and didst make a way unto Paradise for the penitent thief, and by death didst destroy death; Cleanse us sinners and unworthy servants, for we have sinned and have dealt iniquitously toward thee.  Inasmuch as we have departed from the path of thy righteousness, and have walked after the desires of our own hearts, we are not worthy to lift up our eyes and look upon the heights of heaven; Yet we implore of thy boundless goodness: Spare us, O Lord, according to thy multitude of thy mercies, and save us, for thy holy Name’s sake.  Amen.

The Grace (2 Corinthians 13:14)

THE grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, Ξ and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Ghost, be with us all evermore. Amen.

The Benediction

May the Lord Almighty and merciful, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, vouchsafe to bless us and keep us. Amen. 

Here ends Ninth Hour.  Go in peace and serve the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

The complete text of Ninth Hour and the prayers for First, Third and Sixth Hour, plus Vespers and Compline are found in the AIC Bookstore Publication, Hear Us, O Lord: Daily Prayers for the Laity, which can be purchased on line using the Virtual Bookstore link at the bottom of the Home page. It can also be ordered from bookstores.

A THIRD RESOURCE: NINTH HOUR

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From the AIC Bookstore Publications archive I am today posting a third resource which I hope will be helpful to those under stress in these troubled times. The office for Ninth Hour is the third traditional daily office. In Anglican practice, hours were discarded in favor of Morning and Evening Prayer. My version of Ninth Hour has been “Angiicanized” from many ttaditions across the centuries. The office does not require clergy to be present and can be said by anyone, singly or in a group. If a group, the words in bold type are said by all or in response to the leader.

Sixth Hour(12 Noon)

The Invocation

IN the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, one true God, to whom be glory and upon us mercy and compassion for ever and ever.  Amen.

The First Prayer [Early Eastern Orthodox Prayer]

Almighty Saviour, who at noonday called Thy servant Saint Paul to be an Apostle to the Gentiles: We pray Thee to illumine the world with the radiance of Thy glory, that all nations may come and worship Thee.  Amen.

A General Confession

Let us pray

 I confess to God the Father Almighty, to His only-begotten Son Jesus Christ our Lord, and to God the Holy Ghost, and before the whole company of heaven, that I have sinned exceedingly, in thought, word, and deed, through my fault, through my own fault, through my own most grievous fault. Wherefore I beseech God the Father Almighty, His only-begotten Son Jesus Christ our Lord, and God the Holy Ghost, to pity me, and to have mercy upon me.   The Almighty and merciful God grant to us pardon, absolution, and remission of all our sins. Amen.

The Lord’s Prayer [Luke 11:2-4]

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. 

The First Chapter [1 John 4:16]

God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God and God in him. 

The First Antiphon

Incline my heart, O God, unto thy testimonies, (Psalm 119:36a)

And not to covetousness; (Psalm 119:36b)

O turn away mine eyes, lest they behold vanity, (Psalm 119:37a)

And quicken thou me in thy way. (Psalm 119:37b)

The Second Prayer 

Adapted from Psalm 55:17, 18; 71:1a

AS for me, I will call upon God, and the Lord shall save me. Evening and morning and at noon I will pray and cry aloud, and He shall hear my voice; in thee will I put my trust.  Amen.

The Second Antiphon

[Adapted from a Prayer of the Blessed Lancelot Andrewes, 17th C. England]

Blessed, praised, celebrated, magnified, exalted, glorified, and hallowed be Thy name, O Lord; 

Great and marvellous are Thy works, Lord God Almighty;

Just and true are Thy ways, Thou King of saints; 

Praise our God, all ye His servants, 

And ye that fear Him, both small and great. 

Alleluia. Alleluia.  Alleluia.

The Third Prayer [Roman Catholic & Eastern Orthodox Prayer]

Blessed Saviour, who at this hour hung upon the cross for us: Grant that all the peoples of the earth may look to Thee and be saved; for Thy tender mercies’ sake.  Amen.

The Second Chapter [Jeremiah 17:14]

Heal me, O Lord, and I shall be healed; save me and I shall be saved; for thou art my praise.

The Third Antiphon

Lord, be merciful unto me; (Psalm 41:4a)

Heal my soul, for I have sinned against thee. (Psalm 41:4b)

Thou hast been my succour (Psalm 27:11a)

Leave me not, neither forsake me, O God of my salvation. (Psalm 27:11b)

The Fourth Prayer [Traditional Anglican Prayer]

Keep me this day, O Lord, constant in faith and zealous in witness, that I may live in thy fear, die in thy favor, and rest in peace; for the sake of Jesus Christ thy Son our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and thy Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.  Amen.

The Psalm [Psalm 119:1-8, 12-16, 33-40]

BLESSED are those that are undefiled in the way, * and walk in the law of the Lord.

2. Blessed are they that keep his testimonies, * and seek him with their whole heart.

3. Even they who do no wickedness, * and walk in his ways.

4. Thou hast charged * that we shall diligently keep thy commandments.

5. O that my ways were made so direct, * that I might keep thy statutes!

6. So shall I not be confounded, * while I have respect unto all thy commandments.

7. I will thank thee with an unfeigned heart, * when I shall have learned the judgments of thy righteousness.

8. I will keep thy statutes; * O forsake me not utterly.

Blessed art thou, O Lord; * O teach me thy statutes.

13. With my lips have I been telling * of all the judgments of thy mouth.

14. I have had as great delight in the way of thy testimonies, * as in all manner of riches.

15. I will talk of thy commandments, * and have respect unto thy ways.

16. My delight shall be in thy statutes, * and I will not forget thy word.

TEACH me, O Lord, the way of thy statutes, * and I will keep it unto the end.

34. Give me understanding, and I shall keep thy law; * yea, I shall keep it with my whole heart.

35. Make me go in the path of thy commandments; * for therein is my desire.

36. Incline my heart unto thy testimonies, * and not to covetousness.

37. O turn away mine eyes, lest they behold vanity; * and quicken thou me in thy way.

38. O stablish thy word in thy servant, * that I may fear thee.

39. Take away the rebuke that I am afraid of; * for thy judgments are good.

40. Behold, my delight is in thy commandments; * O quicken me in thy righteousness.

The Third Chapter [Joel 2:12]

Turn ye even to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning; and rend your heart and not your garments, saith the Lord Almighty. 

The Fourth Antiphon [Adapted from Psalm 91:3, 6]


He shall deliver thee from the snare of the hunter; 

 From the noisome pestilence.

From the pestilence that walketh in darkness;  

 And the sickness that destroyeth in the noon-day.

The Fifth Prayer {Adapted from Psalm 85]

O LORD, compassionate and merciful, long-suffering and of great mercy, give ear to our prayer and work upon us a sign for good; guide us every day and night in thy way that we may always walk in the light of thy truth; through Christ our Lord.  Amen.

The Fifth Antiphon [Psalm 69:18, 19 LXX]

Turn not away thy face from thy child, for I am afflicted.

Hear me speedily; Draw near unto my soul and deliver me.

The Sixth Prayer [Roman Catholic prayer, Leonine Sacramentary, 5th C.]

O GOD, who hast willed that the gate of mercy should stand open to the faithful: Look on us, and have mercy upon us, we beseech thee; that we who by thy grace are following the path of thy will may continue in the same all the days of our life; through Jesus Christ our Lord Ξ.  Amen.

The Grace (2 Corinthians 13:14)

THE grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Ghost, be with us all evermore. Amen.

The Benediction

May the Lord Almighty and merciful, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, vouchsafe to bless us and keep us. Amen. 

Here ends Sixth Hour.  Go in peace and serve the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

The text of Ninth Hour and other traditional hours offices is included in Hear Us, O Lord: Daily Prayers for the Laity. The book is available in paperback and Kindle editions using the Virtual Bookstore link at the bottom of the Home page.

I close with some advice: Ignore the world. I call it “Turn it off and tune it out.” You don’t really need TV or radio or newspapers (such as they are). I ignore the daily clutter and bias and politics by making your own list of favorites linked from your iPad or IPhone, laptop or other smart devices.

God bless you in all that you do in His Name! Amen! And never forget that He hears your prayers.

Another Resource in Troubled Times – the Third Hour Office

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Today I’m posting another AIC Resource which can be helpful to the faithful in these stressful times.  I find the words of the Third Hour office, especially the Third Prayer, comforting and reassuring.  I hope you will, too.

These offices were developed from prayer books and liturgies of the Church from both the Western and Eastern Church traditions.  The language has been adjusted to make it consistent with Anglican usage.  The sources are shown after each segment.  When used by more than one person, bold type indicates the responses or words said by presenter and participants.  The offices do not require the presence of an ordained person and can be said by anyone, anywhere, anytime that privacy is available.

You can find the text of offices for First Hour, Third Hour, Sixth Hour, Ninth Hour and Compline in the AIC Bookstore Publication, Hear Us, O Lord:  Daily Prayers for the Laity.    The book also includes catena, or selected prayers, based on the Psalms and a selection of “Awesome Prayers” from the early Church.   Like all our books, it is available using the Virtual Bookstore link at the bottom of the Home page.

Third Hour (9:00 AM)

The Invocation

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, one true God, to whom be glory and upon us mercy and compassion for ever and ever.  Amen.

The First Prayer

FROM the night season our soul awaketh unto thee, O our God, for thy precepts are a light upon the earth; teach us perfect righteousness and holiness in thy fear; for we glorify thee, our God, who existeth in verity; incline thine ear and hear us; bless thy people and sanctify thine inheritance; Grant peace to thy world; for blessed and glorified is thine all honourable and majestic Name.  Amen.  [Syrian Antiochian Orthodox prayer, 5th or 6th Century]

A General Confession

Let us pray

I confess to God the Father Almighty, to His only-begotten Son Jesus Christ our Lord, and to God the Holy Ghost, and before the whole company of heaven, that I have sinned exceedingly, in thought, word, and deed, through my fault, through my own fault, through my own most grievous fault. Wherefore I beseech God the Father Almighty, His only-begotten Son Jesus Christ our Lord, and God the Holy Ghost, to pity me, and to have mercy upon me. The Almighty and merciful God grant to us pardon, absolution, and remission of all our sins. Amen.

The Lord’s Prayer [Luke 11:2-4]

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. 

The First Chapter [Jeremiah 17:14]

Heal me, O Lord, and I shall be healed; save me and I shall be saved; for thou art my praise.

The First Antiphon

Lord, be merciful unto me; (Psalm 41:4a)

Heal my soul, for I have sinned against thee. (Psalm 41:4b)

Thou hast been my succour (Psalm 27:11a)

Leave me not, neither forsake me, O God of my salvation. (Psalm 27:11b)

The Second Prayer

O LORD our God, who has chased the slumber from our eyes, and once more assembled us to lift up our hands unto thee and to praise thy just judgments, accept our prayers and supplications, and give us faith and love.  Bless our coming in and our going out, our thoughts, words, and works, and let us begin this day with the praise of the unspeakable sweetness of thy mercy.  Amen. [Early Byzantine Orthodox prayer]

The Second Antiphon [Syrian Antiochian Orthodox prayer]

Great is the day of Sunday

And blessed is he who keeps it in faith;

Because on it our Lord rose from the grave;

And the nations confessed the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.

Great is the Lord and greatly to be praised.

Halleluia, Halleluia, Halleluia.

The Third Prayer

CREATOR of the morning, who drove out the darkness and brings light and joy to thy creation; create in us habits of virtue and drive from us all darkness of sin; give us light and joy by the glorious rays of thy grace, O Lord our God, for ever and ever.  Amen [Syrian Jacobite Prayer, 5th Century or earlier]

The Second Chapter [Jeremiah 23:5]

Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that I will raise unto David a righteous branch, and a King shall reign and prosper, And shall execute judgment and justice in the earth.

The Third Antiphon

Stir up thy strength, (Psalm 80:2b)

And come and help us. (Psalm 80:2b)

Turn us again, O Lord God of Hosts; (Psalm 80:19a)

Show the light of thy countenance, and we shall be whole. (Psalm 80:19b)

The Fourth Prayer

O LORD our God, whose power is unspeakable, Whose glory is beyond imagining, Whose mercy is measureless; Whose love for men is above words;  look down upon us and thy holy house, O Master, and bestow upon all here present the riches of thy goodness and mercy; for to thee belong all glory, honour, and worship.  In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto ages of ages.  Amen. [Armenian and Russian Orthodox prayer, Liturgies of St. John Chrysostom and St. Basil the Great, 6th Century or earlier]

The Psalm Readings

Psalm 5:1-3, 7-8, 12-13

PONDER my words, O Lord, * consider my meditation.

2. O hearken thou unto the voice of my calling, my King and my God:  * for unto thee will I make my prayer.

3. My voice shalt thou hear betimes, O Lord; * early in the morning I will direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up.

7. But as for me, in the multitude of thy mercy I will come into thine house; * and in thy fear will I worship toward thy holy temple.

8. Lead me, O Lord, in thy righteousness, because of mine enemies; * make thy way plain before my face.

12. And let all them that put their trust in thee rejoice: * they shall ever be giving of thanks, because thou defendest them; they that love thy Name shall be joyful in thee;

13. For thou, Lord, wilt give thy blessing unto the righteous, * and with thy favourable kindness wilt thou defend him as with a shield.

Psalm 54

SAVE me, O God, for thy Name’s sake, * and avenge me in thy strength.

2. Hear my prayer, O God, * and hearken unto the words of my mouth.

3. For strangers are risen up against me; * and tyrants, which have not God before their eyes, seek after my soul.

4. Behold, God is my helper; * the Lord is with them that uphold my soul.

5. He shall reward evil unto mine enemies: * destroy thou them in thy truth.

6. An offering of a free heart will I give thee, and praise thy Name, O Lord; * because it is so comfortable.

7. For he hath delivered me out of all my trouble; * and mine eye hath seen his desire upon mine enemies. 

The Third Chapter [1 John 4:16]

God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God and God in him. 

The Fourth Antiphon

Incline my heart, O God, unto thy testimonies, (Psalm 119:36a)

And not to covetousness; (Psalm 119:36b)

O turn away mine eyes, lest they behold vanity, (Psalm 119:37a)

And quicken thou me in thy way. (Psalm 119:37b)

The Fifth Prayer

WE give thee hearty thanks, O heavenly Father, for the rest of the last night, and for the gift of a new day, with its opportunities for pleasing thee.  Grant that we may pass its hours in the perfect freedom of thy service, that at evening we may again give thanks unto thee.  Amen.  [Eastern Orthodox daybreak office, 5th or 6th Century]

The Fifth Antiphon

O thou, O God, save thy servants (Psalm 86:2)

Let my cry come unto thee. (Psalm 102:1)

The Sixth Prayer

GRANT us, O Lord God, the knowledge of thy divine words and fill us with the understanding of thy holy Gospel and the riches of thy divine gifts and the indwelling of thy Holy Spirit; and give us joy to keep thy commandments and accomplish them and fulfill thy will; and to be accounted worthy of the blessings and the mercies that are from thee, now and ever and unto ages of ages.  Amen. [Syrian Jacobite prayer, 5th Century]

The Grace [2 Corinthians 13:14]

THE grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Ghost, be with us all evermore. Amen.

The Benediction

May the Lord Almighty and merciful, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, vouchsafe to bless us and keep us.  Amen. 

Here endeth Third Hour.  Go in peace and serve the Lord.  

Thanks be to God. 

New Resources for These Troubled Times

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Some good news to report this week.  The final version of The Gospel of John: Annotated & Illustrated has been sent to our publisher.  I am awaiting receipt of a final proof copy.  If there are not further delays, the book should be available later in August A.D. 2020.   My proof-reader is working on reviewing the next book in the series, The Gospel of Luke: Annotated & Illustrated.   She has completed the text and illustrations for the first third of the book.  She is currently working on Chapters 7 through 14. As you can imagine, this step is very time-consuming.   The final version will be a much larger book than the volume focused on John.  My goal is to get the Luke volume in print in time for Advent season.

Meanwhile, a new AIC resource I am making available today is this Blog version of the first of the six “offices” in Hear Us, O Lord: Daily Prayers for the Laity.   I had hoped to revive the podcast version which was recorded more than 10 years ago by members of my former parish.  These old files are currently unavailable owing to my switch from Windows to the Mac.  I will keep working to retrieve them from the archives.   Meanwhile, here is the text for First Hour, traditionally read at 6 A.M. or local sunrise..  Included in this text is the source of each part of the office.  If you want to use this office at home with family or friends, I have set the words which should be spoken by all and the response lines for the verse and responses in bold italic.  Each office requires about 15 minutes to complete.

First Hour 

The Invocation

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, one true God, to whom be glory and upon us mercy and compassion for ever and ever.  Amen.

The First Prayer

O LORD, our heavenly Father, Almighty and Everlasting God, who hast safely brought us to the beginning of this day; Defend us in the same with thy mighty power; and grant that this day we fall into no sin, neither run into any kind of danger; but that all our doings, being ordered by thy governance, may be righteous in thy sight; through Jesus Christ Ξ our Lord. Amen.  [Morning Prayer Collect for Grace, 1928 BCP]

A General Confession

I CONFESS to God the Father Almighty, to His only-begotten Son Jesus Christ our Lord, and to God the Holy Ghost, and before the whole company of heaven, that I have sinned exceedingly, in thought, word, and deed, through my fault, through my own fault, through my own most grievous fault. Wherefore I beseech God the Father Almighty, His only-begotten Son Jesus Christ our Lord, and God the Holy Ghost, to pity me, and to have mercy upon me. The Almighty and merciful God grant to us pardon, absolution, and remission of all our sins. Amen. [Adapted from an English form of Compline]

The Lord’s Prayer [Luke 11:2-4]

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.

The First Chapter [1 John 1:7]

IF we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son.

The First Antiphon

O Lord, save thy people, and bless thine heritage.

Govern them and lift them up for ever.

Day by day we magnify thee;

And we worship thy Name ever, world without end.

Vouchsafe, O Lord, to keep us this day without sin.

O Lord, have mercy upon us, have mercy upon us.

O Lord, let thy mercy be upon us, as our trust is in thee.

O Lord, in thee have I trusted; let me never be confounded.

[Te Deum laudamus, part 3, 1928 BCP]

The Second Prayer

I THANK thee, O Holy Trinity for this new day. Enlighten the eyes of my understanding, open my ears to receive thy words and teach me thy commandments.  Help me to do thy will, to confess thee from my heart, to extol thine all-holy Name, of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, now and for ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen. [Adapted from an Eastern Orthodox Prayer of St. Basil the Great, 5th or 6th Century]

The Second Antiphon

Thee, God the Father, unbegotten

Thee, the only-begotten Son;

Thee, the Holy Ghost, the Comforter;

One and Holy and Undivided Trinity;

With our whole heart and with our mouth

We confess and praise thee.  To thee be glory for ever.  Amen.

[Sarum Antiphons, 13th to 14th Century England]

The Third Prayer

O MOST holy Trinity, Almighty God, who gives life and vigor to every creature, who sheds light eternal where there is darkness; We offer Thee our hearts, our souls, and our whole being that we may offer perfect praise and love to Thy glorious Name. Amen.[Roman Catholic Holy Trinity Prayer. Date unknown]

The Second Chapter [Zechariah 8:19]

Love the truth and peace, thus saith the Lord of Hosts.

The Third Antiphon  [Psalm 119:175, 176]

O, let my soul live, and it shall praise thee

And thy judgments shall help me.

I have gone astray like a sheep that was lost;

O seek thy servant, for I do not forget thy commandments.

The Fourth Prayer

O LORD, grant me to greet the rest of the coming day in peace. Help me in all things to rely upon thy holy will. In every hour of this day reveal thy will to me. Bless my dealings with all who surround me. Teach me to treat all that comes to me with peace of soul, and with firm conviction that thy will governs all. In all my deeds and words guide my thoughts and feelings. In unforeseen events let me not forget that all are sent by thee. Teach me to act firmly and wisely, without embittering and embarrassing others. Send down thy Holy Spirit to direct my will and to lead me in my prayer life this day; through Jesus Christ, thy Son, our Lord. Amen. [Adapted from a Russian Orthodox Morning Prayer, Metropolitan Philaret of Moscow, 19th Century]

The Psalm [Psalm 90]

LORD, thou hast been our refuge, * from one generation to another.

2. Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever the earth and the world were made, * thou art God from everlasting, and world without end.

3. Thou turnest man to destruction; * again thou sayest, Come again, ye children of men.

4. For a thousand years in thy sight are but as yesterday when it is past, * and as a watch in the night.

5. As soon as thou scatterest them they are even as a sleep; * and fade away suddenly like the grass.

6. In the morning it is green, and groweth up; * but in the evening it is cut down, dried up, and withered.

7. For we consume away in thy displeasure, * and are afraid of thy wrathful indignation.

8. Thou hast set our misdeeds before thee; * and our secret sins in the sight of thy countenance.

9. For when thou art angry all our days are gone: * we bring our years to an end, as it were a tale that is told.

10. The days of our age are threescore years and ten; and though men be so strong that they come to fourscore years, * yet is their strength then but labour and sorrow; so soon passeth it away, and we are gone.

11. But who regardeth the power of thy wrath? * or feareth aright thy indignation?

12. So teach us to number our days, * that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.

13. Turn thee again, O Lord, at the last, * and be gracious unto thy servants.

14. O satisfy us with thy mercy, and that soon: * so shall we rejoice and be glad all the days of our life.

15. Comfort us again now after the time that thou last plagued us; * and for the years wherein we have suffered adversity.

16. Show thy servants thy work, * and their children thy glory.

17. And the glorious majesty of the Lord our God be upon us: * O prosper thou the work of our hands upon us; O prosper thou our handy-work.

The Third Chapter [1 Timothy 1:17]

Unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honour and glory for ever and ever.  Amen.

The Fourth Antiphon [Psalm 119:1-2, 12-16]

Blessed are those that are undefiled in the way,

And walk in the way of the Lord.

Blessed are they that keep his testimonies,

And seek him with their whole heart

Blessed art thou,  O Lord;

O teach me thy statutes.

With my lips have I been telling,

Of all the judgments of thy mouth.

I have had as great delight in the way of thy testimonies,

As in all manner of riches.

I will talk of thy commandments,

And have respect unto thy ways.

My delight shall be in thy statutes,

And I will not forget thy word.

The Fifth Prayer

WE give thee thanks, O Lord our God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, for all thy goodness at all times and in all places, because thou hast shielded, rescued, and guided us all the days of our lives and brought us to this morning hour, permitting us again to stand before thee and implore forgiveness for our sins.  We pray and beseech thee, merciful God, to grant in thy goodness that we may spend this day and all the time of our lives without sin, in fulness of joy, health, safety, holiness and reverence of thee; Drive away from us all envy, fear, temptation, the influence of Satan, and the snares of wicked men.  Amen. [Adapted from the Liturgy of St. Mark the Apostle, 1st Century]

The Fifth Antiphon [Psalm 51:9-12]

Turn thy face from my sins, 

And put out all my misdeeds.

Make me a clean heart, O God, 

And renew a right spirit within me.

Cast me not away from thy presence, 

And take not thy holy Spirit from me.

O give me the comfort of thy help again, 

And stablish me with thy free Spirit.

The Sixth Prayer

O GOD, the King eternal, who dividest the day from the darkness, and turnest the shadow of death into the morning; Drive far off from us all wrong desires, incline our hearts to keep thy law, and guide our feet into the way of peace; that having done thy will with cheerfulness while it was day, we may, when the night cometh, rejoice to give thee thanks.  Amen. [Family Prayer, 1928 BCP]

The Grace [2 Corinthians 13:14]

THE grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Ghost, be with us all evermore. Amen.

 

The full text of all the offices is available in Hear Us, O Lord: Daily Prayers for the Laity, available using the Virtual Bookstore link on each page.