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. Wash me throughly, * O Lord, from my wickedness.
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, * O Lord, from fear of the enemy.
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, * art praised in Sion.
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. O Lord, thou art great and glorious, wonderful in strength and invincible.
Judith 16Hymnum cantemus
Judith 16:13–17
I will sing unto the Lord a new song: * Sit. O Lord, thou art great and glorious, wonderful in strength, and invincible.
2Let all creatures serve thee: * for thou spakest, and they were made;
3Thou didst send forth thy spirit, and it created them, * and there is none that can resist thy voice.
4For the mountains shall be moved from their foundations with the waters, † the rocks shall melt as wax at thy presence: * yet thou art merciful to them that fear thee.
5For all sacrifice is too little for a sweet savour unto thee: * but he that feareth the Lord is great at all times.
6Woe to the nations that rise up against my kindred! * Stand. the Lord Almighty will take vengeance of them in the day of judgment.
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, thou art great and glorious, wonderful in strength and invincible.
Ant. O all ye heavens, * praise ye the Lord.
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
2 Cor 10:17–18
Brethren: He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord. * For not he that commendeth himself is approved, but whom the Lord commendeth.
℟.Thanks be to God.
The Short Responsory
In thy grace * and in thy beauty.
℟.In thy grace * and in thy beauty.
℣.Go forth, ride prosperously, and reign.
℟.And in thy beauty.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.
℟.In thy grace * and in thy beauty.
Hymn
Jesu, corona Virginum
Jesu, the Virgins’ crown, do thou,Accept us, as in prayer we bow;Born of that Virgin, whom aloneThe Mother and the Maid we own.
Amongst the lilies thou dost feed,With Virgin choirs accompanied;With glory decked, the spotless bridesWhose bridal gifts thy love provides.
They, wheresoe’er thy footsteps bend,With hymns and praises still attend;In blessed troops they follow thee,With dance, and song, and melody.
We pray thee therefore to bestowUpon our senses here belowThy grace, that so we may endureFrom taint of all corruption pure.
* To God the Father, God the Son,And God the Spirit, Three in One,Laud, honour, might, and glory beFrom age to age eternally.Amen.
The Versicle
℣.Full of grace are thy lips.
℟.Because God hath blessed thee for ever.
The Gospel Canticle
Ant. The kingdom of heaven * is likened unto a merchantman seeking goodly pearls; who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it.
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 kingdom of heaven * is likened unto a merchantman seeking goodly pearls; who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it.
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.
Hear us, O God our Saviour: that as we rejoice in the festival of blessed Martha, thy Virgin, so we may be taught by the influence of her loving devotion. 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 Ss Felix II (Bishop), Simplicius, Faustinus & Beatrice, Martyrs
Ant. The very hairs of your head * are all numbered: fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows.
℣.Let the Saints be joyful with glory.
℟.Let them rejoice in their beds.
Let us pray.
Grant, we beseech thee, O Lord: that as the Christian people rejoice together even now in the feast of thy Martyrs Felix, Simplicius, Faustinus, and Beatrice; so they may likewise rejoice thereat in the life eternal, and may effectually attain unto that upon which they now lay hold. 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.