Prayers Before the Office
Before beginning the Office, it is praiseworthy to say the following Prayers.
Open my mouth, O Lord, to bless thy holy Name: cleanse my heart from all vain, evil, and wandering thoughts; enlighten my understanding and kindle my affections, that I may fittingly recite this Office with attention and devotion, and so may be meet to be heard before the presence of thy divine Majesty. Through Christ our Lord.
℟.Amen.
O Lord, in union with that divine intention wherewith thou thyself didst offer thy praises to God while upon the earth, I now recite this Office to thee.
The Our Father and Hail Mary are said secretly.
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.
Hail, Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and in the hour of our death. Amen.
The Psalms
Ant. Mayest thou * be justified, O Lord, in thy saying, and clear when thou art judged.
Psalm 51Miserere mei, Deus
Have mercy upon me, O God, after thy great goodness * according to the multitude of thy mercies do away mine offences.
2Wash me throughly from my wickedness * and cleanse me from my sin.
3For I acknowledge my faults * and my sin is ever before me.
4Against thee only have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight * that thou mightest be justified in thy saying, and clear when thou art judged.
5Behold, I was shapen in wickedness * and in sin hath my mother conceived me.
6But lo, thou requirest truth in the inward parts * and shalt make me to understand wisdom secretly.
7Thou shalt purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean * thou shalt wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
8Thou shalt make me hear of joy and gladness * that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice.
9Turn thy face from my sins * and put out all my misdeeds.
10Make me a clean heart, O God * and renew a right spirit within me.
11Cast me not away from thy presence * and take not thy holy Spirit from me.
12O give me the comfort of thy help again * and stablish me with thy free Spirit.
13Then shall I teach thy ways unto the wicked * and sinners shall be converted unto thee.
14Deliver me from blood-guiltiness, O God, thou that art the God of my health * and my tongue shall sing of thy righteousness.
15Thou shalt open my lips, O Lord * and my mouth shall shew thy praise.
16For thou desirest no sacrifice, else would I give it thee * but thou delightest not in burnt-offerings.
17The sacrifice of God is a troubled spirit * a broken and contrite heart, O God, shalt thou not despise.
18O be favourable and gracious unto Sion * build thou the walls of Jerusalem.
19Then shalt thou be pleased with the sacrifice of righteousness, with the burnt-offerings and oblations * then shall they offer young bullocks upon thine altar.
Ant. Mayest thou * be justified, O Lord, in thy saying, and clear when thou art judged.
Ant. The Lord * was led as a lamb to the slaughter: and he opened not his mouth.
Psalm 90Domine, refugium factus es
Lord, thou hast been our refuge * from one generation to another.
2Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever the earth and the world were made * thou art God from everlasting, and world without end.
3Thou turnest man to destruction * again thou sayest, Come again, ye children of men.
4For a thousand years in thy sight are but as yesterday * seeing that is past as a watch in the night.
5As soon as thou scatterest them they are even as a sleep * and fade away suddenly like the grass.
6In the morning it is green, and groweth up * but in the evening it is cut down, dried up, and withered.
7For we consume away in thy displeasure * and are afraid at thy wrathful indignation.
8Thou hast set our misdeeds before thee * and our secret sins in the light of thy countenance.
9For when thou art angry all our days are gone * we bring our years to an end, as it were a tale that is told.
10The 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.
11But who regardeth the power of thy wrath * for even thereafter as a man feareth, so is thy displeasure.
12So teach us to number our days * that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.
13Turn thee again, O Lord, at the last * and be gracious unto thy servants.
14O satisfy us with thy mercy, and that soon * so shall we rejoice and be glad all the days of our life.
15Comfort us again now after the time that thou hast plagued us * and for the years wherein we have suffered adversity.
16Shew thy servants thy work * and their children thy glory.
17And the glorious majesty of the Lord our God be upon us * prosper thou the work of our hands upon us, O prosper thou our handywork.
Ant. The Lord * was led as a lamb to the slaughter: and he opened not his mouth.
Ant. My heart * within me is broken: and trembling maketh all my bones to shake.
Psalm 36Dixit injustus ut delinquat
My heart sheweth me the wickedness of the ungodly * that there is no fear of God before his eyes.
2For he flattereth himself in his own sight * until his abominable sin be found out.
3The words of his mouth are unrighteous, and full of deceit * he hath left off to behave himself wisely, and to do good.
4He imagineth mischief upon his bed, and hath set himself in no good way * neither doth he abhor any thing that is evil.
5Thy mercy, O Lord, reacheth unto the heavens * and thy faithfulness unto the clouds.
6Thy righteousness standeth like the strong mountains * thy judgements are like the great deep.
7Thou, Lord, shalt save both man and beast; How excellent is thy mercy, O God * and the children of men shall put their trust under the shadow of thy wings.
8They shall be satisfied with the plenteousness of thy house * and thou shalt give them drink of thy pleasures, as out of the river.
9For with thee is the well of life * and in thy light shall we see light.
10O continue forth thy loving-kindness unto them that know thee * and thy righteousness unto them that are true of heart.
11O let not the foot of pride come against me * and let not the hand of the ungodly cast me down.
12There are they fallen, all that work wickedness * they are cast down, and shall not be able to stand.
Ant. My heart * within me is broken: and trembling maketh all my bones to shake.
Ant. Thou dost encourage us * by thy might, O Lord, and by thy holy refreshment.
Exodus 15Cantemus Domino
Exodus 15:1–19
I will sing unto the Lord, for he hath triumphed gloriously: * the horse and his rider hath he thrown into the sea.
2The Lord is my strength and song, * and he is become my salvation:
3He is my God, and I will prepare him an habitation; * my father’s God, and I will exalt him.
4The Lord is a man of war: * the Lord is his name.
5Pharaoh’s chariots and his host hath he cast into the sea: * his chosen captains also are drowned in the Red Sea.
6The depths have covered them: * they sank into the bottom as a stone.
7Thy right hand, O Lord, is become glorious in power: * thy right hand, O Lord, hath dashed in pieces the enemy.
8And in the greatness of thine excellency thou hast overthrown them that rose up against thee: * thou sentest forth thy wrath, which consumed them as stubble.
9And with the blast of thy nostrils the waters were gathered together, * the floods stood upright as an heap, and the depths were congealed in the heart of the sea.
10The enemy said, I will pursue, I will overtake, I will divide the spoil; * my lust shall be satisfied upon them;
11I will draw my sword, * my hand shall destroy them.
12Thou didst blow with thy wind, the sea covered them: * they sank as lead in the mighty waters.
13Who is like unto thee, O Lord, among the gods? * who is like thee, glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders?
14Thou stretchedst out thy right hand, * the earth swallowed them.
15Thou in thy mercy hast led forth the people which thou hast redeemed: * thou hast guided them in thy strength unto thy holy habitation.
16The people shall hear, and be afraid: * sorrow shall take hold on the inhabitants of Palestina.
17Then the dukes of Edom shall be amazed; * the mighty men of Moab, trembling shall take hold upon them; all the inhabitants of Canaan shall melt away.
18Fear and dread shall fall upon them; by the greatness of thine arm they shall be as still as a stone; * till thy people pass over, O Lord, till the people pass over, which thou hast purchased.
19Thou shalt bring them in, and plant them in the mountain of thine inheritance, * in the place, O Lord, which thou hast made for thee to dwell in; in the Sanctuary, O Lord, which thy hands have established.
20The Lord shall reign * for ever and ever.
21For the horse of Pharaoh went in with his chariots and with his horsemen into the sea, * and the Lord brought again the waters of the sea upon them.
22But the children of Israel went on dry land * in the midst of the sea.
Ant. Thou dost encourage us * by thy might, O Lord, and by thy holy refreshment.
Ant. He was offered * because he willed it: and himself hath borne our iniquities.
Psalm 147aLaudate Dominum quoniam bonus
O praise the Lord, for it is a good thing to sing praises unto our God * yea, a joyful and pleasant thing it is to be thankful.
2The Lord doth build up Jerusalem * and gather together the out-casts of Israel.
3He healeth those that are broken in heart * and giveth medicine to heal their sickness.
4He telleth the number of the stars * and calleth them all by their names.
5Great is our Lord, and great is his power * yea, and his wisdom is infinite.
6The Lord setteth up the meek * and bringeth the ungodly down to the ground.
7O sing unto the Lord with thanksgiving * sing praises upon the harp unto our God;
8Who covereth the heaven with clouds, and prepareth rain for the earth * and maketh the grass to grow upon the mountains, and herb for the use of men;
9Who giveth fodder unto the cattle * and feedeth the young ravens that call upon him.
10He hath no pleasure in the strength of an horse * neither delighteth he in any man’s legs.
11But the Lord’s delight is in them that fear him * and put their trust in his mercy.
Ant. He was offered * because he willed it: and himself hath borne our iniquities.
The Versicle
℣.Mine own familiar friend whom I trusted.
℟.Who did also eat of my bread, hath laid wait for me.
The Gospel Canticle
Ant. Now he that betrayed him * gave them a sign, saying: Whomsoever I shall kiss, that same is he; hold him fast.
BenedictusBenedictus Dominus, Deus Israël
Luke 1:68–79
Blessed be the Lord God of Israel; * for he hath visited, and redeemed his people;
2And hath raised up a mighty salvation for us, * in the house of his servant David;
3As he spake by the mouth of his holy prophets, * which have been since the world began:
4That we should be saved from our enemies, * and from the hand of all that hate us;
5To perform the mercy promised to our forefathers, * and to remember his holy covenant;
6To perform the oath which he sware to our forefather Abraham, * that he would give us;
7That we being delivered out of the hand of our enemies * might serve him without fear,
8In holiness and righteousness before him, * all the days of our life.
9And thou, child, shalt be called the prophet of the Highest: * for thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways;
10To give knowledge of salvation unto his people * for the remission of their sins,
11Through the tender mercy of our God; * whereby the day-spring from on high hath visited us;
12To give light to them that sit in darkness, and in the shadow of death, * and to guide our feet into the way of peace.
Ant. Now he that betrayed him * gave them a sign, saying: Whomsoever I shall kiss, that same is he; hold him fast.
When the Antiphon Christ, for our sake is begun, all kneel; and when it is ended the Our Father is said entirely in secret. Then in a somewhat higher voice is said Psalm 51.
Ant. Christ, ✠ for our sake, became obedient unto death.
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.
Psalm 51Miserere mei, Deus
Have mercy upon me, O God, after thy great goodness * according to the multitude of thy mercies do away mine offences.
2Wash me throughly from my wickedness * and cleanse me from my sin.
3For I acknowledge my faults * and my sin is ever before me.
4Against thee only have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight * that thou mightest be justified in thy saying, and clear when thou art judged.
5Behold, I was shapen in wickedness * and in sin hath my mother conceived me.
6But lo, thou requirest truth in the inward parts * and shalt make me to understand wisdom secretly.
7Thou shalt purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean * thou shalt wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
8Thou shalt make me hear of joy and gladness * that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice.
9Turn thy face from my sins * and put out all my misdeeds.
10Make me a clean heart, O God * and renew a right spirit within me.
11Cast me not away from thy presence * and take not thy holy Spirit from me.
12O give me the comfort of thy help again * and stablish me with thy free Spirit.
13Then shall I teach thy ways unto the wicked * and sinners shall be converted unto thee.
14Deliver me from blood-guiltiness, O God, thou that art the God of my health * and my tongue shall sing of thy righteousness.
15Thou shalt open my lips, O Lord * and my mouth shall shew thy praise.
16For thou desirest no sacrifice, else would I give it thee * but thou delightest not in burnt-offerings.
17The sacrifice of God is a troubled spirit * a broken and contrite heart, O God, shalt thou not despise.
18O be favourable and gracious unto Sion * build thou the walls of Jerusalem.
19Then shalt thou be pleased with the sacrifice of righteousness, with the burnt-offerings and oblations * then shall they offer young bullocks upon thine altar.
The Psalm being ended, there is said, without Let us pray, in a low voice, the Collect of the day, its conclusion Who with thee ... liveth being said in silence. Thus are ended all the Hours during this Triduum, through None of Holy Saturday.
Almighty God, we beseech thee graciously to behold this thy family, for which our Lord Jesus Christ was contented to be betrayed, and given up into the hands of wicked men, and to suffer death upon the cross: Who with thee in the unity of the Holy Spirit, liveth and reigneth God, world without end. Amen.
But at Lauds, after the Collect is ended, a little noise and clatter is made; the lighted candle is at once brought forth from beneath the Altar; and all rise and depart in silence.
Prayers After the Office
To the holy and undivided Trinity, to the humanity of our crucified Lord, Jesus Christ, to the fruitful Virginity of the blessed and glorious ever Virgin Mary, and to the whole company of the Saints, be everlasting praise, honour, power, and glory from every creature, and unto us the remission of all our sins for ever, world without end.
℟.Amen.
℣.Blessed is the womb of the Virgin Mary, which bore the Son of the Father eternal.
℟.And blessed are the paps which gave suck to Christ the Lord.
Then is said secretly Our Father and Hail Mary.
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.
Hail, Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and in the hour of our death. Amen.