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. Alleluia.
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.
Psalm 118Confitemini Domino quoniam bonus
O give thanks unto the Lord, for he is gracious * Sit. because his mercy endureth for ever.
2Let Israel now confess that he is gracious * and that his mercy endureth for ever.
3Let the house of Aaron now confess * that his mercy endureth for ever.
4Yea, let them now that fear the Lord confess * that his mercy endureth for ever.
5I called upon the Lord in trouble * and the Lord heard me at large.
6The Lord is on my side * I will not fear what man doeth unto me.
7The Lord taketh my part with them that help me * therefore shall I see my desire upon mine enemies.
8It is better to trust in the Lord * than to put any confidence in man.
9It is better to trust in the Lord * than to put any confidence in princes.
10All nations compassed me round about * but in the Name of the Lord will I destroy them.
11They kept me in on every side, they kept me in, I say, on every side * but in the Name of the Lord will I destroy them.
12They came about me like bees, and are extinct even as the fire among the thorns * for in the Name of the Lord I will destroy them.
13Thou hast thrust sore at me, that I might fall * but the Lord was my help.
14The Lord is my strength, and my song * and is become my salvation.
15The voice of joy and health is in the dwellings of the righteous * the right hand of the Lord bringeth mighty things to pass.
16The right hand of the Lord hath the pre-eminence * the right hand of the Lord bringeth mighty things to pass.
17I shall not die, but live * and declare the works of the Lord.
18The Lord hath chastened and corrected me * but he hath not given me over unto death.
19Open me the gates of righteousness * that I may go into them, and give thanks unto the Lord.
20This is the gate of the Lord * the righteous shall enter into it.
21I will thank thee, for thou hast heard me * and art become my salvation.
22The same stone which the builders refused * is become the head-stone in the corner.
23This is the Lord’s doing * and it is marvellous in our eyes.
24This is the day which the Lord hath made * we will rejoice and be glad in it.
25Help me now, O Lord * O Lord, send us now prosperity.
26Blessed be he that cometh in the Name of the Lord * we have wished you good luck , ye that are of the house of the Lord.
27God is the Lord who hath shewed us light * bind the sacrifice with cords, yea, even unto the horns of the altar.
28Thou art my God, and I will thank thee * thou art my God, and I will praise thee.
29O give thanks unto the Lord, for he is gracious * Stand. and his mercy endureth 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.
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. Alleluia, * alleluia.
Ant. At the king’s commandment.
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. At the king’s commandment, * the three children were cast into the furnace, fearing not the flame of the fire, but saying, Blessed be our God.
Ant. Alleluia.
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. Alleluia, * alleluia, alleluia.
Chapter
Rev 7:12
Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, * and honour, and power, and might, be unto our God * for ever and ever. Amen.
℟.Thanks be to God.
The Short Responsory
Incline my heart, O God, * Unto thy testimonies.
℟.Incline my heart, O God, * Unto thy testimonies.
℣.Turn away mine eyes, lest they behold vanity, and quicken thou me in thy way.
℟.Unto thy testimonies.
℣.Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, * and to the Holy Ghost.
℟.Incline my heart, O God, * Unto thy testimonies.
Hymn
Aeterne rerum conditor
Maker of all, eternal King,Who day and night about dost bring:Who weary mortals to relieveDost in their turn the seasons give:
Now chanticleer proclaims the day,And calls the sun’s awakening ray,The wandering pilgrim’s guiding light,That marks the watches night by night.
Roused at the note, the morning starHeaven’s dusky veil uplifts afar:Night’s vagrant bands no longer roam,But from their dark ways hie them home.
The encouraged sailor’s fears are o’er,The foaming billows rage no more:Lo! e’en the very Church’s RockMelts at the crowing of the cock.
O let us then all ardent rise;The cock rebukes our slumbering eyes,Bestirs who still in sleep would lieAnd shames who would their Lord deny.
New hope his clarion note awakes,Sickness the feeble frame forsakes,The robber sheathes his lawless sword,Faith to the fallen is restored.
Look on us, Jesu, when we fall,And with thy look our souls recall:If thou but look, our sins are gone,And with due tears our pardon won.
Shed through our hearts thy piercing ray,Our souls’ dull slumber drive away:Thy Name be first on every tongue,To thee our earliest praises sung.
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
℣.The Lord is King, and hath put on glorious apparel.
℟.The Lord hath put on his apparel, and girded himself with strength.
The Gospel Canticle
Ant. For she said within herself.
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. For she said within herself, * If I may but touch the hem of his garment, I shall be whole.
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 Lord, we beseech thee, absolve thy people from their offences; that through thy bountiful goodness we may all be delivered from the bands of those sins, which by our frailty we have committed. Grant this, O heavenly Father, for the sake of Jesus Christ, our blessed Lord and Saviour. Who with thee in the unity of the Holy Spirit, liveth and reigneth God, world without end.
℟.Amen.
Commemoration of Octave Day of All Saints
Ant. The glorious company * of the Apostles praise thee; the goodly fellowship of the Prophets praise thee; the white-robed army of Martyrs praise thee; with one heart and voice do all the elect acknowledge thee: O blessed Trinity, one only God.
℣.Let the Saints be joyful with glory.
℟.Let them rejoice in their beds.
Let us pray.
Almighty everlasting God, by whose favour we venerate the merits of all thy Saints in one solemnity: we beseech thee to bestow upon us, through so many intercessors, the abundance of thy mercy which we desire.
Commemoration of Four Crowned 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, Almighty God: that, like as we have known thy glorious Martyrs to be constant in their confession, so we may perceive their loving intercession for us with thee. 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.