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. Have mercy.
These words are not repeated in the Psalm.
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. Have mercy * upon me, O God.
Ant. Consider.
Psalm 5Verba mea auribus percipe
Ponder my words, O Lord * Sit. consider my meditation
2O hearken thou unto the voice of my calling, my King, and my God * for unto thee will I make my prayer.
3My voice shalt thou hear betimes, O Lord * early in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up.
4For thou art the God that hast no pleasure in wickedness * neither shall any evil dwell with thee.
5Such as be foolish shall not stand in thy sight * for thou hatest all them that work vanity.
6Thou shalt destroy them that speak leasing * the Lord will abhor both the blood-thirsty and deceitful man.
7But as for me, I will come into thine house, even upon the multitude of thy mercy * and in thy fear will I worship toward thy holy temple.
8Lead me, O Lord, in thy righteousness, because of mine enemies * make thy way plain before my face.
9For there is no faithfulness in his mouth * their inward parts are very wickedness.
10Their throat is an open sepulchre * they flatter with their tongue.
11Destroy thou them, O God; let them perish through their own imaginations * cast them out in the multitude of their ungodliness; for they have rebelled against thee.
12And let all them that put their trust in thee rejoice * they shall ever be giving of thanks, because thou defendest them; they that love thy Name shall be joyful in thee;
13For thou, Lord, wilt give thy blessing unto the righteous * Stand. and with thy favourable kindness wilt thou defend him as with a shield.
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. Consider * my meditation, O Lord.
Ant. Thy mercy.
Psalm 36Dixit injustus ut delinquat
My heart sheweth me the wickedness of the ungodly * Sit. that there is no fear of God before his eyes.
2For he flattereth himself in his own sight * until his abominable sin be found out.
3The words of his mouth are unrighteous, and full of deceit * he hath left off to behave himself wisely, and to do good.
4He imagineth mischief upon his bed, and hath set himself in no good way * neither doth he abhor any thing that is evil.
5Thy mercy, O Lord, reacheth unto the heavens * and thy faithfulness unto the clouds.
6Thy righteousness standeth like the strong mountains * thy judgements are like the great deep.
7Thou, Lord, shalt save both man and beast; How excellent is thy mercy, O God * and the children of men shall put their trust under the shadow of thy wings.
8They shall be satisfied with the plenteousness of thy house * and thou shalt give them drink of thy pleasures, as out of the river.
9For with thee is the well of life * and in thy light shall we see light.
10O continue forth thy loving-kindness unto them that know thee * and thy righteousness unto them that are true of heart.
11O let not the foot of pride come against me * and let not the hand of the ungodly cast me down.
12There are they fallen, all that work wickedness * Stand. they are cast down, and shall not be able to stand.
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. Thy mercy, * O Lord, reacheth unto the heavens.
Ant. Thine anger.
Isaiah 12Confitebor tibi, Domine
Isaiah 12:1–6
O Lord, I will praise thee, though thou wast angry with me * Sit. thine anger is turned away, and thou comfortedst me.
2Behold, God is my salvation * I will trust, and not be afraid.
3For the Lord Jehovah is my strength and my song * he also is become my salvation.
4Therefore with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation * and in that day shall ye say, Praise the Lord, call upon his Name,
5Declare his doings among the people * make mention that his Name is exalted.
6Sing unto the Lord, for he hath done excellent things * this is known in all the earth.
7Cry out and shout, thou inhabitant of Sion * Stand. for great is the Holy One of Israel in the midst of thee.
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. Thine anger * is turned away, O Lord, and thou comfortedst me.
Ant. O praise.
These words are not repeated in the Psalm.
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 praise * the Lord of heaven.
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
Splendor paternae gloriae
Thou Brightness of the Father’s ray,True Light of light and Day of day:Light’s fountain and eternal spring:Thou Morn, the morn illumining!
Glide in, thou very Sun divine;With everlasting brightness shine:And shed abroad on every senseThe Spirit’s light and influence.
Thee, Father, let us seek aright,The Father of perpetual light,The Father of almighty grace,Each wile of sin away to chase.
Our acts with courage do thou fill:Blunt thou the tempter’s tooth of ill:Misfortune into good convert,Or give us grace to bear unhurt.
Our spirits, whatsoe’er betide,In chaste and loyal bodies guide;Let Faith, with fervour unalloyed,The bane of falsehood still avoid.
And Christ our daily food be nigh,And Faith our daily cup supply:So may we quaff, to calm and bless,The Spirit’s rapturous holiness.
Now let the day in joy pass on:Our modesty like early dawn,Our faith like noontide splendour glow,Our souls the twilight never know.
See! morn pursues her shining way:True Morning, all thy beams display!Son with the mighty Father one,The Father wholly in the Son.
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. Blessed.
These words are not repeated in the Canticle.
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. Blessed * be the Lord God of Israel.
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.
Lord of all power and might, who art the author and giver of all good things; Graft in our hearts the love of thy Name, increase in us true religion, nourish us with all goodness, and of thy great mercy keep us in the same. 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 Alexius, Confessor
Ant. Well done, good and faithful servant, * thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy Lord.
℣.The Lord guided the righteous in right paths.
℟.And shewed him the kingdom of God.
Let us pray.
O God, who makest us glad by the yearly solemnity of thy blessed Confessor Alexius: mercifully grant that we who honour his birthday may also imitate his good deeds.
Suffrage of All Saints
Ant. May the blessed Mother of God, * the Virgin Mary, and 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 the blessed and glorious Mary, the ever Virgin Mother of God, 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 the same 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.