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.
Anglican Internet Church 