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. Be favourable.
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. Be favourable, * O Lord, and gracious.
Ant. Hearken unto me, O Lord.
Psalm 143aDomine, exaudi orationem meam
Hear my prayer, O Lord, and consider my desire * Sit. hearken unto me for thy truth and righteousness’ sake.
2And enter not into judgement with thy servant * for in thy sight shall no man living be justified.
3For the enemy hath persecuted my soul; he hath smitten my life down to the ground * he hath laid me in the darkness, as the men that have been long dead.
4Therefore is my spirit vexed within me * and my heart within me is desolate.
5Yet do I remember the time past; I muse upon all thy works * yea, I exercise myself in the works of thy hands.
6I stretch forth my hands unto thee * my soul gaspeth unto thee as a thirsty land.
7Hear me, O Lord, and that soon, for my spirit waxeth faint * Stand. hide not thy face from me, lest I be like unto them that go down into the pit.
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 143bAuditam fac mihi mane
O let me hear thy loving-kindness betimes in the morning, for in thee is my trust * Sit. shew thou me the way that I should walk in, for I lift up my soul unto thee.
9Deliver me, O Lord, from mine enemies * for I flee unto thee to hide me.
10Teach me to do the thing that pleaseth thee, for thou art my God * let thy loving Spirit lead me forth into the land of righteousness.
11Quicken me, O Lord, for thy Name’s sake * and for thy righteousness’ sake bring my soul out of trouble.
12And of thy goodness slay mine enemies * Stand. and destroy all them that vex my soul; for I am thy servant.
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 unto me, O Lord, * for thy truth and righteousness’ sake.
Ant. Shew us.
Sirach 36Miserere nostri, Deus omnium
Sirach 36:1–14
Have mercy upon us, O Lord God of all, and behold us * Sit. and send thy fear upon all the nations that seek not after thee.
2Lift up thy hand against the strange nations * and let them see thy power.
3As thou wast sanctified in us before them * so be thou magnified among them before us.
4And let them know thee, as we have known thee * that there is no God but only thou, O God.
5Shew new signs, and repeat thy wonders * glorify thy hand and thy right arm, that they may set forth thy wondrous works.
6Raise up indignation and pour out wrath * take away the adversary and destroy the enemy.
7Make the time short, remember the covenant * and let them declare thy wonderful works.
8Let him that escapeth be consumed by the rage of the fire * and let them perish that oppress the people.
9Smite in sunder the heads of the rulers of the heathen * that say, There is none other but we.
10Gather all the tribes of Jacob together * Stand. and inherit thou them, as from the beginning.
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. Shew us, * O Lord, the light of thy mercy.
Ant. Upon the well-tuned cymbals.
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. Upon the well-tuned cymbals * O praise God.
Chapter
Sir 24:9–10
He created me from the beginning before the world, and I shall never fail. In the holy tabernacle I served before him.
℟.Thanks be to God.
The Short Responsory
Hail Mary, full of grace, * The Lord is with thee.
℟.Hail Mary, full of grace, * The Lord is with thee.
℣.Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb.
℟.The Lord is with thee.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.
℟.Hail Mary, full of grace, * The Lord is with thee.
Hymn
O gloriosa Domina
O glorious Lady, throned in rest,Amidst the starry host above,Who gavest nurture from thy breastTo God, with pure maternal love.
What we had lost through sinful EveThe Blossom sprung from thee restores,And, granting bliss to souls that grieve,Unbars the everlasting doors.
O Gate, through which hath passed the King,O Hall, whence Light shone through the gloom;The ransomed nations praise and singLife given from the Virgin womb.
All glory, Lord, to thee we payFor thine Epiphany today;All glory, as is ever meet,To Father and to Paraclete.Amen.
The Versicle
℣.Blessed art thou among women.
℟.And blessed is the fruit of thy womb.
The Gospel Canticle
Ant. O ever blessed Mother of God.
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. O ever blessed Mother of God, * Mary ever Virgin, temple of the Godhead, hallowed shrine of the Holy Spirit, thou only, above all others, wast acceptable to our Lord Jesus Christ: pray for the people, entreat for the clergy, intercede for all womankind vowed unto God.
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.
Grant, we beseech thee, O Lord God, that we thy servants may rejoice in continual health of mind and body: and that by the glorious intercession of blessed Mary ever Virgin we may be delivered from this present heaviness, and have the fruition of eternal joy. 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 Dorothy, Virgin & Martyr
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.
℣.Full of grace are thy lips.
℟.Because God hath blessed thee for ever.
Let us pray.
Almighty and everlasting God, in whose Name the glorious Virgin Martyr Dorothea conquered her manifold torments: we humbly beseech thee that we may overcome all perils through her intercession, and may find her a frequent helper in our necessities.
Commemoration of St Photius, Bishop and Confessor
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.
Grant, we beseech thee, Almighty God: that the reverend solemnity of blessed Photius, thy Confessor and Bishop, may both increase our devotion and set forward our salvation.
Suffrage of All Saints
Ant. May all the Saints * intercede for us to the Lord.
℣.The Lord hath made his Saints wonderful.
℟.And hath heard them when they called upon him.
Let us pray.
Defend us, we beseech thee, O Lord, from all perils of mind and body: and at the intercession of blessed Joseph, of thy blessed Apostles Peter and Paul, of our blessed Father Benedict and all Saints, graciously bestow upon us both peace and safety: that all adversity and error being done away, thy Church may serve thee in untroubled freedom. 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.