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. With thy free Spirit.
Psalm 51Miserere mei, Deus
Have mercy upon me, O God, after thy great goodness * Sit. 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 * Stand. then shall they offer young bullocks upon thine altar.
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. With thy free Spirit * stablish my heart, O God.
Ant. His Name is great.
Psalm 76Notus in Judæa Deus
In Jewry is God known * Sit. his Name is great in Israel.
2At Salem is his tabernacle * and his dwelling in Sion.
3There brake he the arrows of the bow * the shield, the sword, and the battle.
4Thou art of more honour and might * than the hills of the robbers.
5The proud are robbed, they have slept their sleep * and all the men whose hands were mighty have found nothing.
6At thy rebuke, O God of Jacob * both the chariot and horse are fallen.
7Thou, even thou art to be feared * and who may stand in thy sight when thou art angry?
8Thou didst cause thy judgement to be heard from heaven * the earth trembled, and was still;
9When God arose to judgement * and to help all the meek upon earth.
10The fierceness of man shall turn to thy praise * and the fierceness of them shalt thou refrain.
11Promise unto the Lord your God, and keep it, all ye that are round about him * bring presents unto him that ought to be feared.
12He shall refrain the spirit of princes * Stand. and is wonderful among the kings of the earth.
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 is great * in Israel.
Ant. It is a good thing.
These words are not repeated in the Psalm.
Psalm 92Bonum est confiteri Domino
It is a good thing to give thanks unto the Lord * Sit. and to sing praises unto thy Name, O most Highest;
2To tell of thy loving-kindness early in the morning * and of thy truth in the night-season;
3Upon an instrument of ten strings, and upon the lute * upon a loud instrument, and upon the harp.
4For thou, Lord, hast made me glad through thy works * and I will rejoice in giving praise for the operations of thy hands.
5O Lord, how glorious are thy works * thy thoughts are very deep.
6An unwise man doth not well consider this * and a fool doth not understand it.
7When the ungodly are green as the grass, and when all the workers of wickedness do flourish * then shall they be destroyed for ever; but thou, Lord, art the most Highest for evermore.
8For lo, thine enemies, O Lord, lo, thine enemies shall perish * and all the workers of wickedness shall be destroyed.
9But mine horn shall be exalted like the horn of an unicorn * for I am anointed with fresh oil.
10Mine eye also shall see his lust of mine enemies * and mine ear shall hear his desire of the wicked that arise up against me.
11The righteous shall flourish like a palm-tree * and shall spread abroad like a cedar in Libanus.
12Such as are planted in the house of the Lord * shall flourish in the courts of the house of our God.
13They also shall bring forth more fruit in their age * and shall be fat and well-liking.
14That they may shew how true the Lord my strength is * Stand. and that there is no unrighteousness in 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. It is a good thing * to give thanks unto the Lord.
Ant. O Lord.
These words are not repeated in the Canticle.
Habakkuk 3Domine, audivi auditionem tuam
Habakkuk 3:2–19
O Lord, I have heard thy speech, * Sit. and was afraid.
2O Lord, revive thy work in the midst of the years, in the midst of the years make known; * in wrath remember mercy.
3God came from Teman, * and the Holy One from mount Paran.
4His glory covered the heavens, * and the earth was full of his praise.
5And his brightness was as the light; he had horns coming out of his hand: * and there was the hiding of his power.
6Before him went the pestilence, * and burning coals went forth at his feet.
7He stood, and measured the earth: * he beheld, and drove asunder the nations;
8And the everlasting mountains were scattered, the perpetual hills did bow: * his ways are everlasting.
9I saw the tents of Cushan in affliction: * and the curtains of the land of Midian did tremble.
10Was the Lord displeased against the rivers? * was thine anger against the rivers?
11Was thy wrath against the sea, * that thou didst ride upon thine horses and thy chariots of salvation?
12Thy bow was made quite naked, * according to the oaths of the tribes, even thy word.
13Thou didst cleave the earth with rivers: * the mountains saw thee, and they trembled:
14The overflowing of the water passed by: * the deep uttered his voice, and lifted up his hands on high.
15The sun and moon stood still in their habitation: * at the light of thine arrows they went, and at the shining of thy glittering spear.
16Thou didst march through the land in indignation, * thou didst thresh the heathen in anger.
17Thou wentest forth for the salvation of thy people, * even for salvation with thine Anointed;
18Thou woundedst the head out of the house of the wicked, * by discovering the foundation unto the neck.
19Thou didst strike through with his staves the head of his villages; * they came out as a whirlwind to scatter me: their rejoicing was as to devour the poor secretly.
20Thou didst walk through the sea with thine horses, * through the heap of great waters.
21When I heard, my belly trembled; * my lips quivered at the voice:
22Rottenness entered into my bones, * and I trembled in myself, that I might rest in the day of trouble:
23When he cometh up unto the people, * he will invade them with his troops.
24Although the fig tree shall not blossom, * neither shall fruit be in the vines;
25The labour of the olive shall fail, * and the fields shall yield no meat;
26The flock shall be cut off from the fold, * and there shall be no herd in the stalls:
27Yet I will rejoice in the Lord, * I will joy in the God of my salvation.
28The Lord God is my strength, and he will make my feet like hinds’ feet, * Stand. and he will make me to walk upon mine high places.
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. O Lord * I have heard thy speech, and was afraid.
Ant. In the cymbals and dances.
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. In the cymbals and dances, * upon the strings and pipe, O praise the Lord.
Chapter
Rom. 13:12–13
The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light. Let us walk honestly, as in the day.
℟.Thanks be to God.
The Short Responsory
Heal my soul, * for I have sinned against thee.
℟.Heal my soul, * for I have sinned against thee.
℣.I said, Lord be merciful unto me.
℟.For I have sinned against thee.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.
℟.Heal my soul, * for I have sinned against thee.
Hymn
Aeterna caeli gloria
Eternal Glory of the sky,Blest Hope of frail humanity,The Father’s Sole-begotten One,Yet born a spotless Virgin’s Son;
Uplift us with Thine arm of might,And let our hearts rise pure and bright;And ardent in God’s praises, payThe thanks we owe Him every day.
The Day-star’s rays are glittering clear,And tell that Day itself is near;The shadows of the night depart;Thou, Holy Light, illume the heart.
Within our senses ever dwell,And worldly darkness thence expel:Long as the days of life endure,Preserve our souls devout and pure.
The Faith that first must be possessed,Root deep within our inmost breast:And joyous Hope in second place,Then Charity, Thy greatest grace.
All laud to God the Father be,All praise, eternal Son, to Thee;All glory, as is ever meet,To God the holy Paraclete.Amen.
The Versicle
℣.O satisfy us with thy mercy, and that soon.
℟.So shall we rejoice and be glad all the days of our life.
The Gospel Canticle
Ant. Through the tender mercy.
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. Through the tender mercy * of our God: whereby the day-spring from on high hath visited us.
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.
Multiply upon us thy heavenly grace, O Lord our God: and grant that by a holy profession we may follow after the joy of thy Saints, to whose glorious festival we now look forward. 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.
℣.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.