Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel; He has come to His people and sent 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.

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.

Be within me, every part–In my mind, my voice, my heart–In my mouth, on my lips, even in my fingertips. Christ be in my eyes, and ears–to bless my joys, to calm my fears. Be with me through this busy day in all I think, and do, and say. It matters not by day or night, if you are with me, I’ll do all right. And the world will be a better place if you are shining through my face. Amen.

May your Body, O Lord, which I have received, and your Blood which I have drunk, cleave to mine inmost parts: and grant that no stain of sin may remain in me, whom pure and holy mysteries have refreshed: Who lives and reigns, world without end. Amen.

by Saint Anselm of Canterbury

O Lord, you are my Lord and my God, yet I have never seen you. You have created and redeemed me, and have conferred on me all my goods, yet I know you not. I was created in order that I might know you, but I have not yet attained the goal of my creation. I confess, O Lord, and give you thanks, that you have created me in your image, so that I might be mindful of you and contemplate you and love you. I seek not to understand in order that I may believe, but rather, I believe in order that I may understand. Amen.

Attributed to Elpis, wife of Boethius (480-524)

Bathed in eternity’s all-beauteous beam, And opening into heaven a path sublime,Welcome the golden day which heralds in The apostolic chiefs, whose glory fills all time: Peter and Paul, the fathers of great Rome!

Now sitting in the senate of the skies!One by the Cross, the other by the sword,Sent to their thrones on high, and life’s eternal prize. Amen.

O Lord, Almighty God, who have brought us to the beginning of this day, save us today by your strength, so that we may not fall into any sin on this day, but always let our words, thoughts, and deeds be directed and proceed for the purpose of doing your justice. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.