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.
Opening Versicles
℣.O God, ✠ make speed to save me.
℟.O Lord, make haste to help me.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, * and to the Holy Ghost;As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, * world without end. Amen.
Alleluia
The Psalms
Psalm 67Deus misereatur nostri
God be merciful unto us, and bless us * Sit. and shew us the light of his countenance, and be merciful unto us:
2That thy way may be known upon earth * thy saving health among all nations.
3Let the people praise thee, O God * yea, let all the people praise thee.
4O let the nations rejoice and be glad * for thou shalt judge the folk righteously, and govern the nations upon earth.
5Let the people praise thee, O God * let all the people praise thee.
6Then shall the earth bring forth her increase * and God, even our own God, shall give us his blessing.
7God shall bless us * Stand. and all the ends of the world shall fear him.
Bow. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, * and to the Holy Ghost;Stand upright. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, * world without end. Amen.
Ant. Elisabeth, * the wife of Zacharias, brought forth a mighty son, John the Baptist, the Lord’s Forerunner.
Psalm 93Dominus regnavit, decorem indutus est
The Lord is King, and hath put on glorious apparel * Sit. the Lord hath put on his apparel, and girded himself with strength.
2He hath made the round world so sure * that it cannot be moved.
3Ever since the world began hath thy seat been prepared * thou art from everlasting.
4The floods are risen, O Lord, the floods have lift up their voice * the floods lift up their waves.
5The waves of the sea are mighty, and rage horribly * but yet the Lord, who dwelleth on high, is mightier.
6Thy testimonies, O Lord, are very sure * Stand. holiness becometh thine house for ever.
Bow. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, * and to the Holy Ghost;Stand upright. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, * world without end. Amen.
Ant. Elisabeth, * the wife of Zacharias, brought forth a mighty son, John the Baptist, the Lord’s Forerunner.
Ant. They made signs * to his father, how he would have him called: and he wrote, saying, His name is John.
Psalm 100Jubilate Deo, omnis terra
O be joyful in the Lord, all ye lands * Sit. serve the Lord with gladness, and come before his presence with a song.
2Be ye sure that the Lord he is God * it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.
3O go your way into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise * be thankful unto him, and speak good of his Name.
4For the Lord is gracious, his mercy is everlasting * Stand. and his truth endureth from generation to generation.
Bow. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, * and to the Holy Ghost;Stand upright. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, * world without end. Amen.
Ant. They made signs * to his father, how he would have him called: and he wrote, saying, His name is John.
Ant. His name shall be called John: * and many shall rejoice at his birth.
Psalm 63Deus, Deus meus, ad te
O God, thou art my God * Sit. early will I seek thee.
2My soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh also longeth after thee * in a barren and dry land where no water is.
3Thus have I looked for thee in holiness * that I might behold thy power and glory.
4For thy loving-kindness is better than the life itself * my lips shall praise thee.
5As long as I live will I magnify thee on this manner * and lift up my hands in thy Name.
6My soul shall be satisfied, even as it were with marrow and fatness * when my mouth praiseth thee with joyful lips.
7Have I not remembered thee in my bed * and thought upon thee when I was waking?
8Because thou hast been my helper * therefore under the shadow of thy wings will I rejoice.
9My soul hangeth upon thee * thy right hand hath upholden me.
10These also that seek the hurt of my soul * they shall go under the earth.
11Let them fall upon the edge of the sword * that they may be a portion for foxes.
12But the King shall rejoice in God; all they also that swear by him shall be commended * Stand. for the mouth of them that speak lies shall be stopped.
Bow. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, * and to the Holy Ghost;Stand upright. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, * world without end. Amen.
Ant. His name shall be called John: * and many shall rejoice at his birth.
Ant. Among them that are born * of women, there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist.
BenediciteBenedicite, omnia opera Domini
O all ye Works of the Lord, bless ye the Lord: * Sit. praise him, and magnify him for ever.
2O ye Angels of the Lord, bless ye the Lord: * O ye Heavens, bless ye the Lord.
3O ye Waters that be above the Firmament, bless ye the Lord: * O all ye Powers of the Lord, bless ye the Lord.
4O ye Sun and Moon, bless ye the Lord: * O ye Stars of Heaven, bless ye the Lord.
5O ye Showers and Dew, bless ye the Lord: * O ye Winds of God, bless ye the Lord.
6O ye Fire and Heat, bless ye the Lord: * O ye Winter and Summer, bless ye the Lord.
7O ye Dews and Frosts, bless ye the Lord: * O ye Frost and Cold, bless ye the Lord.
8O ye Ice and Snow, bless ye the Lord: * O ye Nights and Days, bless ye the Lord.
9O ye Light and Darkness, bless ye the Lord: * O ye Lightnings and Clouds, bless ye the Lord.
10O let the Earth bless the Lord: * yea, let it praise him, and magnify him for ever.
11O ye Mountains and Hills, bless ye the Lord: * O all ye Green Things upon the Earth, bless ye the Lord.
12O ye Wells, bless ye the Lord: * O ye Seas and Floods, bless ye the Lord.
13O ye Whales, and all that move in the waters, bless ye the Lord: * O all ye Fowls of the Air, bless ye the Lord.
14O all ye Beasts and Cattle, bless ye the Lord: * O ye Children of Men, bless ye the Lord.
15O let Israel bless the Lord: * praise him, and magnify him for ever.
16O ye Priests of the Lord, bless ye the Lord: * O ye Servants of the Lord, bless ye the Lord.
17O ye Spirits and Souls of the Righteous, bless ye the Lord: * O ye holy and humble Men of heart, bless ye the Lord.
18O Ananias, Azarias, and Misael, bless ye the Lord: * Stand. praise him, and magnify him for ever.
19Bow. Let us bless the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Ghost: * praise him, and magnify him for ever.
20Stand upright. Blessed art thou, O Lord, in the Firmament of Heaven: * and to be praised, and glorified, and magnified for ever.
Ant. Among them that are born * of women, there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist.
Ant. Thou, child, * shalt be called the prophet of the Highest; for thou shalt go before the face of the Lord, to prepare his ways.
Psalm 148Laudate Dominum de cælis
O praise the Lord of heaven * Sit. praise him in the height.
2Praise him, all ye angels of his * praise him, all his host.
3Praise him, sun and moon * praise him, all ye stars and light.
4Praise him, all ye heavens * and ye waters that are above the heavens.
5Let them praise the Name of the Lord * for he spake the word, and they were made; he commanded, and they were created.
6He hath made them fast for ever and ever * he hath given them a law which shall not be broken.
7Praise the Lord upon earth * ye dragons, and all deeps;
8Fire and hail, snow and vapours * wind and storm, fulfilling his word;
9Mountains and all hills * fruitful trees and all cedars;
10Beasts and all cattle * worms and feathered fowls;
11Kings of the earth and all people * princes and all judges of the world;
12Young men and maidens, old men and children, praise the Name of the Lord * for his Name only is excellent, and his praise above heaven and earth.
13He shall exalt the horn of his people; all his saints shall praise him * even the children of Israel, even the people that serveth him.
Psalm 149Cantate Domino canticum novum
O sing unto the Lord a new song * let the congregation of saints praise him.
2Let Israel rejoice in him that made him * and let the children of Sion be joyful in their King.
3Let them praise his Name in the dance * let them sing praises unto him with tabret and harp.
4For the Lord hath pleasure in his people * and helpeth the meek-hearted.
5Let the saints be joyful with glory * let them rejoice in their beds.
6Let the praises of God be in their mouth * and a two-edged sword in their hands;
7To be avenged of the heathen * and to rebuke the people;
8To bind their kings in chains * and their nobles with links of iron.
9That they may be avenged of them, as it is written * Such honour have all his saints.
Psalm 150Laudate Dominum in sanctis
O praise God in his holiness * praise him in the firmament of his power.
2Praise him in his noble acts * praise him according to his excellent greatness.
3Praise him in the sound of the trumpet * praise him upon the lute and harp.
4Praise him in the cymbals and dances * praise him upon the strings and pipe.
5Praise him upon the well-tuned cymbals * praise him upon the loud cymbals.
6Let every thing that hath breath * Stand. praise the Lord.
Bow. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, * and to the Holy Ghost;Stand upright. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, * world without end. Amen.
Ant. Thou, child, * shalt be called the prophet of the Highest; for thou shalt go before the face of the Lord, to prepare his ways.
Chapter
Isa 49:1
Listen, O isles, unto me; and hearken, ye people, from far; * The Lord hath called me from the womb; * from the bowels of my mother hath he made mention of my name.
℟.Thanks be to God.
The Short Responsory
There was a man * sent from God.
℟.There was a man * sent from God.
℣.Whose name was John.
℟.Sent from God.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.
℟.There was a man * sent from God.
Hymn
O nimis felix
O more than blessed, merit high attaining,Pure as the snow-drift, innocent of evil,Child of the desert, mightiest of martyrs,Greatest of prophets.
Thirty-fold increase some with glory crowneth;Sixty-fold fruitage prize for others winneth;Hundred-fold measure, thrice repeated, decks thee,Blest one, for guerdon.
O may the virtue of thine intercession,All stony hardness from our hearts expelling,Smooth the rough places, and the crooked straightenHere in the desert.
Thus may our gracious Maker and Redeemer,Seeking a station for his hallowed footsteps,Find, when he cometh, temples undefiled,Meet to receive him.
Now as the Angels celebrate thy praises,Godhead essential, Trinity co-equal;Spare thy redeemed ones, as they bow before thee,Pardon imploring.Amen.
The Versicle
℣.This child shall be great in the sight of the Lord.
℟.For the hand of the Lord is with him.
The Gospel Canticle
Ant. The mouth of Zacharias * was opened, and he prophesied, saying: Blessed be the God of Israel.
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.
Bow. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, * and to the Holy Ghost;Stand upright. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, * world without end. Amen.
Ant. The mouth of Zacharias * was opened, and he prophesied, saying: Blessed be the God of Israel.
The Prayers
℣.Kyrie, eleison.
℟.Christe, eleison.
All:Kyrie, eleison.
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.
℣.O Lord, hear my prayer.
℟.And let my cry come unto thee.
℣.The Lord be with you.
℟.And with thy spirit.
Let us pray.
O God, who hast made this day honourable for us by the Nativity of blessed John: grant unto thy people the grace of spiritual joys, and direct the souls of all the faithful into the way of eternal salvation. Through thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who with thee in the unity of the Holy Spirit, liveth and reigneth God, world without end.
℟.Amen.
Commemoration of Day VI within the Octave of Corpus Christi
Ant. I am * the living bread, which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever, alleluia.
℣.He maketh peace in thy borders, alleluia.
℟.And filleth thee with the flour of wheat, alleluia.
Let us pray.
O God, who in a wonderful Sacrament hast left unto us a memorial of thy Passion: grant us, we beseech thee, so to venerate the sacred mysteries of thy Body and Blood, that we may ever perceive within ourselves the fruit of thy redemption. Who with God the Father in the unity of the Holy Spirit livest and reignest God, world without end.
℟.Amen.
℣.O Lord, hear my prayer.
℟.And let my cry come unto thee.
℣.The Lord be with you.
℟.And with thy spirit.
℣.Let us bless the Lord.
℟.Thanks be to God.
℣.May the souls of the faithful, through the mercy of God, rest in peace.
℟.Amen.
Our Father is 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.
℣.The Lord give us his peace.
℟.And life everlasting. Amen.
Salve Regina
Mary we hail thee * Mother and Queen compassionate;
Mary our comfort, life, and hope, we hail thee.
To thee we exiles, children of Eve, lift our crying.
To thee we are sighing, as mournful and weeping, we pass through this vale of sorrow.
Turn thou, therefore, O our intercessor, those thine eyes of pity and loving-kindness upon us sinners.
Hereafter, when our earthly exile shall be ended, shew us Jesus, the blessed fruit of thy womb.
O gentle, O tender, O gracious Virgin Mary.
℣.Pray for us, O holy Mother of God.
℟.That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.
Let us pray.
Almighty and everlasting God, who by the co-operation of the Holy Ghost, didst prepare the body and soul of the glorious Virgin Mother Mary to become a habitation meet for thy Son: grant that as we rejoice in her commemoration, we may be delivered by her loving intercession from our present evils and from eternal death. Through the same Christ our Lord.
℟.Amen.
℣.May the divine help remain with us always.
℟.And with our absent brethren. Amen.
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.