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.
Praise be to thee, O Lord, King of eternal glory.
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. Wash me throughly.
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. Wash me throughly, * O Lord, from my wickedness.
Ant. Preserve my life.
Psalm 64Exaudi, Deus, orationem meam
Hear my voice, O God, in my prayer * Sit. preserve my life from fear of the enemy.
2Hide me from the gathering together of the froward * and from the insurrection of wicked doers;
3Who have whet their tongue like a sword * and shoot out their arrows, even bitter words;
4That they may privily shoot at him that is perfect * suddenly do they hit him, and fear not.
5They encourage themselves in mischief * and commune among themselves how they may lay snares, and say that no man shall see them.
6They imagine wickedness, and practise it * that they keep secret among themselves, every man in the deep of his heart.
7But God shall suddenly shoot at them with a swift arrow * that they shall be wounded.
8Yea, their own tongues shall make them fall * insomuch that whoso seeth them shall laugh them to scorn.
9And all men that see it shall say, This hath God done * for they shall perceive that it is his work.
10The righteous shall rejoice in the Lord, and put his trust in him * Stand. and all they that are true of heart shall be glad.
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. Preserve my life, * O Lord, from fear of the enemy.
Ant. Thou, O God.
These words are not repeated in the Psalm.
Psalm 65Te decet hymnus
Thou, O God, art praised in Sion * Sit. and unto thee shall the vow be performed in Jerusalem.
2Thou that hearest the prayer * unto thee shall all flesh come.
3My misdeeds prevail against me * O be thou merciful unto our sins.
4Blessed is the man whom thou choosest, and receivest unto thee * he shall dwell in thy court, and shall be satisfied with the pleasures of thy house, even of thy holy temple.
5Thou shalt shew us wonderful things in thy righteousness, O God of our salvation * thou that art the hope of all the ends of the earth, and of them that remain in the broad sea.
6Who in his strength setteth fast the mountains * and is girded about with power.
7Who stilleth the raging of the sea * and the noise of his waves, and the madness of the people.
8They also that dwell in the uttermost parts of the earth shall be afraid at thy tokens * thou that makest the outgoings of the morning and evening to praise thee.
9Thou visitest the earth, and blessest it * thou makest it very plenteous.
10The river of God is full of water * thou preparest their corn, for so thou providest for the earth.
11Thou waterest her furrows, thou sendest rain into the little valleys thereof * thou makest it soft with the drops of rain, and blessest the increase of it.
12Thou crownest the year with thy goodness * and thy clouds drop fatness.
13They shall drop upon the dwellings of the wilderness * and the little hills shall rejoice on every side.
14The folds shall be full of sheep * Stand. the valleys also shall stand so thick with corn, that they shall laugh and sing.
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, O God, * art praised in Sion.
Ant. The Lord shall judge.
HannahExsultavit cor meum in Domino
1 Samuel 2:1–10
My heart rejoiceth in the Lord * Sit. mine horn is exalted in the Lord.
2My mouth is enlarged over mine enemies * because I rejoice in thy salvation.
3There is none holy as the Lord * for there is none beside thee: neither is there any rock like our God.
4Talk no more so exceeding proudly * let not arrogancy come out of your mouth.
5For the Lord is a God of knowledge * and by him actions are weighed.
6The bows of the mighty men are broken * and they that stumbled are girded with strength.
7They that were full have hired out themselves for bread * and they that were hungry ceased.
8So that the barren hath borne seven * and she that hath many children is waxed feeble.
9The Lord killeth, and maketh alive * he bringeth down to the grave, and bringeth up.
10The Lord maketh poor, and maketh rich * he bringeth low, and lifteth up.
11He raiseth up the poor out of the dust * and lifteth up the beggar from the dunghill,
12To set them among princes * and to make them inherit the throne of glory.
13For the pillars of the earth are the Lord’s * and he hath set the world upon them.
14He will keep the feet of his saints, and the wicked shall be silent in darkness * for by strength shall no man prevail.
15The adversaries of the Lord shall be broken to pieces * out of heaven shall he thunder upon them:
16The Lord shall judge the ends of the earth; and he shall give strength unto his King * Stand. and exalt the horn of his Anointed.
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 Lord shall judge * the ends of the earth.
Ant. O all ye heavens.
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. O all ye heavens, * praise ye the Lord.
Chapter
Isa 58:1
Cry aloud, spare not; lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and shew my people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins.
℟.Thanks be to God.
The Short Responsory
He shall deliver thee, * From the snare of the hunter.
℟.He shall deliver thee, * From the snare of the hunter.
℣.And from the noisome pestilence.
℟.From the snare of the hunter.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.
℟.He shall deliver thee, * From the snare of the hunter.
Hymn
Jam Christe, sol justitiae
Now Christ, thou Sun of righteousness,Let dawn our darkened spirits bless:The light of grace to us restoreWhile day to earth returns once more.
Thou who dost give the accepted time,Give, too, a heart that mourns for crime,Let those by mercy now be curedWhom loving-kindness long endured.
Spare not, we pray, to send us hereSome penance kindly but severe,So let thy gift of pardoning graceOur grievous sinfulness efface.
Soon will that day, thy day, appearAnd all things with its brightness cheer:We will rejoice in it, as weReturn thereby to grace, and thee.
Let all the world from shore to shoreThee, gracious Trinity, adore;Right soon thy loving pardon grantThat we our new-made song may chant.Amen.
The Versicle
℣.God shall give his angels charge over thee.
℟.To keep thee in all thy ways.
The Gospel Canticle
Ant. Hearken.
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. Hearken, * and understand ye the traditions which the Lord hath given you.
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.
We beseech thee, Almighty God, look upon the hearty desires of thy humble servants: and stretch forth the right hand of thy Majesty, to be our defence against all our enemies. 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 St Cyril of Jerusalem, Bishop, Confessor & Doctor
Ant. Well done, * good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things, saith the Lord.
℣.The Lord guided the righteous in right paths.
℟.And shewed him the kingdom of God.
Let us pray.
O God, who gavest blessed Cyril to thy people as a minister of eternal salvation: grant, we beseech thee, that we may be worthy to have him as our intercessor in heaven, whom we had as our teacher here upon earth.
Commemoration of St Edward, King & Martyr
Ant. He that hateth his life * in this world shall keep it unto life eternal.
℣.The righteous shall flourish like a palm-tree.
℟.And shall spread abroad like a cedar in Libanus.
Let us pray.
Grant, we beseech thee, Almighty God: that we who honour the birthday of blessed Edward, thy Martyr, may by his intercession be strengthened in the love of thy holy Name. 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.
Ave Regina Caelorum
Queen of the heavens, we hail thee *
Hail thee, Lady of all the Angels.
Thou the dawn, the door of morning
Whence the world’s true Light is risen:
Joy to thee, O Virgin glorious,
Beautiful beyond all other;
Hail, and farewell, O most gracious,
Intercede for us alway to Jesus.
℣.Vouchsafe that I may praise thee, O holy Virgin.
℟.Give me strength against thine enemies.
Let us pray.
Grant us, O merciful God, protection in our weakness: that we who celebrate the memory of the holy Mother of God may, through the aid of her intercession, rise again from our sins. 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.