Psalm 6: Prayer for Recovery from Grave Illness

O Lord, do not rebuke me in your anger,
Or discipline me in your wrath.
Be gracious to me, O Lord, for I am languishing;
O Lord, heal me, for my bones are shaking with terror.
My soul also is struck with terror,
While you, O Lord – how long?

Turn, O Lord, and save my life;
Deliver me for the sake of your steadfast love.
For in death there is no remembrance of you;
In Sheol, who can give you praise?

I am weary with my moaning;
Every night I flood my bed with tears;
I drench my couch with weeping.
My eyes waste away because of grief;
They grow weak because of all my foes.

Depart from me, all you workers of evil,
For the Lord has heard the sound of my weeping.
The Lord has heard my supplication;
The Lord accepts my prayer.
All my enemies shall be ashamed and struck with terror;
They shall turn back, and in a moment be put to shame.

(NRSV)

Questions to ponder:

• How does the psalm reflect your experience?
• How does it reflect those you know who have suffered?
• Read it through once more, praying for all who are in this situation.

The liturgy of the hours (also known as the Divine Office), is prayed by all priests, deacons and religious, and many lay people too.  At set times of the day, psalms are sung and prayers said for the world (you may have come across Morning and Evening Prayer, and Compline which is said just before going to bed).

Because the Catholic Church is in every continent across the world, the liturgy of the hours is always being said somewhere, and when we join in that prayer, we dip in and out of the great song of praise which rises constantly to God.

You too can take part.  Find out more from a Dominican Sister, and have a go yourself using the prayers on the Universalis site.  There are lots of excellent apps with the Divine Office as well.