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.
The Psalms
Ant. God spared not * his own Son: but delivered him up for us all.
Psalm 51Miserere mei, Deus
Have mercy upon me, O God, after thy great goodness * 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 * then shall they offer young bullocks upon thine altar.
Ant. God spared not * his own Son: but delivered him up for us all.
Ant. My spirit * is vexed within me: and my heart within me is desolate.
Psalm 143Domine, exaudi orationem meam
Hear my prayer, O Lord, and consider my desire * 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 * hide not thy face from me, lest I be like unto them that go down into the pit.
8O let me hear thy loving-kindness betimes in the morning, for in thee is my trust * 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 * and destroy all them that vex my soul; for I am thy servant.
Ant. My spirit * is vexed within me: and my heart within me is desolate.
Ant. Said the one thief to the other, * We indeed receive the due reward of our deeds; but this man, what hath he done? Remember me, O Lord, when thou comest into thy kingdom.
Psalm 85Benedixisti, Domine, terram tuam
Lord, thou art become gracious unto thy land * thou hast turned away the captivity of Jacob.
2Thou hast forgiven the offence of thy people * and covered all their sins.
3Thou hast taken away all thy displeasure * and turned thyself from thy wrathful indignation.
4Turn us then, O God our Saviour * and let thine anger cease from us.
5Wilt thou be displeased at us for ever * and wilt thou stretch out thy wrath from one generation to another?
6Wilt thou not turn again, and quicken us * that thy people may rejoice in thee?
7Shew us thy mercy, O Lord * and grant us thy salvation.
8I will hearken what the Lord God will say concerning me * for he shall speak peace unto his people, and to his saints, that they turn not again.
9For his salvation is nigh them that fear him * that glory may dwell in our land.
10Mercy and truth are met together * righteousness and peace have kissed each other.
11Truth shall flourish out of the earth * and righteousness hath looked down from heaven.
12Yea, the Lord shall shew loving-kindness * and our land shall give her increase.
13Righteousness shall go before him * and he shall direct his going in the way.
Ant. Said the one thief to the other, * We indeed receive the due reward of our deeds; but this man, what hath he done? Remember me, O Lord, when thou comest into thy kingdom.
Ant. When my spirit is disquieted * within me, thou, O Lord, wilt remember mercy.
Habakkuk 3Domine, audivi auditionem tuam
Habakkuk 3:2–19
O Lord, I have heard thy speech, * and was afraid.
2O Lord, revive thy work in the midst of the years, in the midst of the years make known; * in wrath remember mercy.
3God came from Teman, * and the Holy One from mount Paran.
4His glory covered the heavens, * and the earth was full of his praise.
5And his brightness was as the light; he had horns coming out of his hand: * and there was the hiding of his power.
6Before him went the pestilence, * and burning coals went forth at his feet.
7He stood, and measured the earth: * he beheld, and drove asunder the nations;
8And the everlasting mountains were scattered, the perpetual hills did bow: * his ways are everlasting.
9I saw the tents of Cushan in affliction: * and the curtains of the land of Midian did tremble.
10Was the Lord displeased against the rivers? * was thine anger against the rivers?
11Was thy wrath against the sea, * that thou didst ride upon thine horses and thy chariots of salvation?
12Thy bow was made quite naked, * according to the oaths of the tribes, even thy word.
13Thou didst cleave the earth with rivers: * the mountains saw thee, and they trembled:
14The overflowing of the water passed by: * the deep uttered his voice, and lifted up his hands on high.
15The sun and moon stood still in their habitation: * at the light of thine arrows they went, and at the shining of thy glittering spear.
16Thou didst march through the land in indignation, * thou didst thresh the heathen in anger.
17Thou wentest forth for the salvation of thy people, * even for salvation with thine Anointed;
18Thou woundedst the head out of the house of the wicked, * by discovering the foundation unto the neck.
19Thou didst strike through with his staves the head of his villages; * they came out as a whirlwind to scatter me: their rejoicing was as to devour the poor secretly.
20Thou didst walk through the sea with thine horses, * through the heap of great waters.
21When I heard, my belly trembled; * my lips quivered at the voice:
22Rottenness entered into my bones, * and I trembled in myself, that I might rest in the day of trouble:
23When he cometh up unto the people, * he will invade them with his troops.
24Although the fig tree shall not blossom, * neither shall fruit be in the vines;
25The labour of the olive shall fail, * and the fields shall yield no meat;
26The flock shall be cut off from the fold, * and there shall be no herd in the stalls:
27Yet I will rejoice in the Lord, * I will joy in the God of my salvation.
28The Lord God is my strength, and he will make my feet like hinds’ feet, * and he will make me to walk upon mine high places.
Ant. When my spirit is disquieted * within me, thou, O Lord, wilt remember mercy.
Ant. Remember me, * O Lord my God, when thou comest into thy kingdom.
Psalm 147bLauda, Jerusalem, Dominum
Praise the Lord, O Jerusalem * praise thy God, O Sion.
13For he hath made fast the bars of thy gates * and hath blessed thy children within thee.
14He maketh peace in thy borders * and filleth thee with the flour of wheat.
15He sendeth forth his commandment upon earth * and his word runneth very swiftly.
16He giveth snow like wool * and scattereth the hoar-frost like ashes.
17He casteth forth his ice like morsels * who is able to abide his frost?
18He sendeth out his word, and melteth them * he bloweth with his wind, and the waters flow.
19He sheweth his word unto Jacob * his statutes and ordinances unto Israel.
20He hath not dealt so with any nation * neither have the heathen knowledge of his laws.
Ant. Remember me, * O Lord my God, when thou comest into thy kingdom.
The Versicle
℣.He hath laid me in the darkness.
℟.As the men that have been long dead.
The Gospel Canticle
Ant. They set up * over his head his accusation written: Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews.
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.
Ant. They set up * over his head his accusation written: Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews.
When the Antiphon Christ, for our sake is begun, all kneel; and when it is ended the Our Father is said entirely in secret. Then in a somewhat higher voice is said Psalm 51.
Ant. Christ, ✠ for our sake, became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.
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.
Psalm 51Miserere mei, Deus
Have mercy upon me, O God, after thy great goodness * 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 * then shall they offer young bullocks upon thine altar.
The Psalm being ended, there is said, without Let us pray, in a low voice, the Collect of the day, its conclusion Who with thee ... liveth being said in silence. Thus are ended all the Hours during this Triduum, through None of Holy Saturday.
Almighty God, we beseech thee graciously to behold this thy family, for which our Lord Jesus Christ was contented to be betrayed, and given up into the hands of wicked men, and to suffer death upon the cross: Who with thee in the unity of the Holy Spirit, liveth and reigneth God, world without end. Amen.
But at Lauds, after the Collect is ended, a little noise and clatter is made; the lighted candle is at once brought forth from beneath the Altar; and all rise and depart in silence.
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.