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.
Before the Office are 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.
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
Hymn
Rerum Deus tenax vigor
O God, creation’s secret force,Thyself unmoved, all motion’s source,Who from the morn till evening’s ray,Through all its changes guidest the day:
Grant us, when this short life is past,The glorious evening that shall last;That, by a holy death attained,Eternal glory may be gained.
O Father, that we ask be doneThrough Jesus Christ thine only Son,Who, with the Holy Ghost and thee,Shall live and reign eternally.Amen.
Ant. The daughters of Sion.
Psalm 126In convertendo Dominus captivitatem
When the Lord turned again the captivity of Sion * then were we like unto them that dream.
2Then was our mouth filled with laughter * and our tongue with joy.
3Then said they among the heathen * The Lord hath done great things for them.
4Yea, the Lord hath done great things for us already * whereof we rejoice.
5Turn our captivity, O Lord * as the rivers in the south.
6They that sow in tears * shall reap in joy.
7He that now goeth on his way weeping, and beareth forth good seed * shall doubtless come again with joy, and bring his sheaves with him.
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.
Psalm 127Nisi Dominus ædificaverit domum
Except the Lord build the house * their labour is but lost that build it.
2Except the Lord keep the city * the watchman waketh but in vain.
3It is but lost labour that ye haste to rise up early, and so late take rest, and eat the bread of carefulness * for so he giveth his beloved sleep.
4Lo, children and the fruit of the womb * are an heritage and gift that cometh of the Lord.
5Like as the arrows in the hand of the giant * even so are the young children.
6Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them * they shall not be ashamed when they speak with their enemies in the gate.
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.
Psalm 128Beati, omnes, qui timent Dominum
Blessed are all they that fear the Lord * and walk in his ways.
2For thou shalt eat the labours of thine hands * O well is thee, and happy shalt thou be.
3Thy wife shall be as the fruitful vine * upon the walls of thine house.
4Thy children like the olive-branches * round about thy table.
5Lo, thus shall the man be blessed * that feareth the Lord.
6The Lord from out of Sion shall so bless thee * that thou shalt see Jerusalem in prosperity all thy life long.
7Yea, that thou shalt see thy children’s children * and peace upon Israel.
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.
Ant. The daughters of Sion * have seen her and have declared her blessed, and the queens have praised her.
Chapter
Sir 24:15
I gave a sweet smell like cinnamon and aspalathus, * and I yielded a pleasant odour like the best myrrh.
℟.Thanks be to God.
℣.God hath chosen her and preferred her.
℟.He hath made her to dwell in his tabernacle.
Closing 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 God, who didst vouchsafe that thy Word should be made flesh in the womb of the Blessed Virgin Mary at the message of an Angel: grant to us thy humble servants; that we, believing her to be indeed the Mother of God, may by her intercession find favour in thy sight. 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.
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.