Prayer During the Day on Friday
    Friday, 11 July 2025
Benedict of Nursia, Abbot of Monte Cassino, Father of Western Monasticism, c.550 [Lesser Festival]
     
     
      Preparation  
     
    O God, make speed to save us.
All
   O Lord, make haste to help us.
     
    Make me a clean heart, O God,
All
   and renew a right spirit within me.
   
Psalm 51.11
     
   
Praise
  
     
    A hymn, song, canticle, extempore praise, or
     
    Jesus, Saviour of the world,
      come to us in your mercy:
we look to you to save and help us.
     
    By your cross and your life laid down,
      you set your people free:
we look to you to save and help us.
     
    When they were ready to perish, you saved your disciples:
we look to you to come to our help.
     
    In the greatness of your mercy, loose us from our chains,
forgive the sins of all your people.
     
    Make yourself known as our Saviour and mighty deliverer;
save us and help us that we may praise you.
     
    Come now and dwell with us, Lord Christ Jesus:
hear our prayer and be with us always.
     
    And when you come in your glory:
make us to be one with you
      and to share the life of your kingdom.
     
   
The Word of God
  
     
   
Psalmody
     
    Either, on any Friday Psalm 23
     
    Or, Week 2 Psalm 120
     
    Alternatively, when Morning and Evening Prayer are also celebrated, one of these cycles may be followed.
     
   

Psalm 23

1  The Lord is my shepherd; ♦
   therefore can I lack nothing.

2  He makes me lie down in green pastures ♦
   and leads me beside still waters.

3  He shall refresh my soul ♦
   and guide me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.

4  Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
      I will fear no evil; ♦
   for you are with me;
      your rod and your staff, they comfort me.

5  You spread a table before me
      in the presence of those who trouble me; ♦
   you have anointed my head with oil
      and my cup shall be full.

6  Surely goodness and loving mercy shall follow me
      all the days of my life, ♦
   and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.

Refrain: I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.

O God, our sovereign and shepherd,
who brought again your Son Jesus Christ
from the valley of death,
comfort us with your protecting presence
and your angels of goodness and love,
that we also may come home
and dwell with him in your house for ever.
     
    (or)
     
   

Psalm 120

Refrain: Deliver me, O Lord, from lying lips.

1  When I was in trouble I called to the Lord; ♦
   I called to the Lord and he answered me.

2  Deliver me, O Lord, from lying lips ♦
   and from a deceitful tongue.

3  What shall be given to you? ♦
   What more shall be done to you, deceitful tongue?

4  The sharp arrows of a warrior, ♦
   tempered in burning coals!

5  Woe is me, that I must lodge in Meshech ♦
   and dwell among the tents of Kedar.

6  My soul has dwelt too long ♦
   with enemies of peace.

7  I am for making peace, ♦
   but when I speak of it, they make ready for war.

Refrain: Deliver me, O Lord, from lying lips.

God of consolation,
look on us, pilgrims in a strange land;
preserve us from slander and deceit,
show us the truth
and give to our souls the peace of Christ.
     
    Each psalm or group of psalms may end with
     
All
   Glory to the Father and to the Son
and to the Holy Spirit;
as it was in the beginning is now
and shall be for ever. Amen.
     
   
Short readings
  
     
    Week Two
    Thus says the high and lofty one who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: I dwell in the high and holy place, and also with those who are contrite and humble in spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite. For I will not continually accuse, nor will I always be angry; for then the spirits would grow faint before me, even the souls that I have made. Because of their wicked covetousness I was angry; I struck them, I hid and was angry; but they kept turning back to their own ways. I have seen their ways, but I will heal them; I will lead them and repay them with comfort, creating for their mourners the fruit of the lips. Peace, peace, to the far and the near, says the Lord; and I will heal them.
   
Isaiah 57.15-19
    Or, on any Friday
    Jesus said, ‘Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you.’
   
Luke 6.27b,28
     
     
   
Response
  
     
    Silence, study, song, or words from Scripture, such as
     
    Jesus said, I am the good shepherd.
All
   The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.
   
John 10.11
     
   
Prayers
  
     
    Prayers may include these concerns:
     
    The King, members of parliament and the armed forces
    Peace and justice in the world
    Those who work for reconciliation
    All whose lives are devastated by war and civil strife
    Prisoners, refugees and homeless people
     
    A form of intercession found here may be used.
     
    Either, the following prayer is said
     
    Lord Jesus Christ, we thank you
for all the benefits you have won for us,
for all the pains and insults you have borne for us.
Most merciful redeemer,
friend and brother,
may we know you more clearly,
love you more dearly,
and follow you more nearly,
day by day.
All
   Amen.
   
After Richard of Chichester (1253)
     
     
    Or, the Collect of the day is said
     
    Eternal God,
who made Benedict a wise master
      in the school of your service
and a guide to many called into community
      to follow the rule of Christ:
grant that we may put your love before all else
and seek with joy the way of your commandments;
through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord,
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.
AllAmen.
     
    The Lord’s Prayer is said.
     
    (Either)
     
    As our Saviour taught us, so we pray
     
All
  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.
Lead us not into temptation
but deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power,
and the glory are yours
now and for ever.
Amen.
     
    (or)
     
    Let us pray with confidence as our Saviour has taught us
     
All
  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.
For thine is the kingdom,
the power and the glory,
for ever and ever.
Amen.
     
   
The Conclusion
  
     
    May Christ our Saviour give us peace.
All
   Amen.
     
   

© The Archbishops’ Council of the Church of England, 2000–2005
Official Common Worship apps, books and eBooks are available from Church House Publishing.

The Bible readings (other than the psalms) are from The New Revised Standard Version Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995 Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Implemented by Simon Kershaw at Crucix.
Implementation copyright © Simon Kershaw, 2002–2021.