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
Rector potens, verax Deus
O God of truth, O Lord of might,Who orderest time and change aright,And sendest the early morning ray,And lightest the glow of perfect day;
Extinguish thou each sinful fire,And banish every ill desire:And while thou keepest the body whole,Shed forth thy peace upon the soul.
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. Look thou upon me, O Lord.
Psalm 119 xviiMirabilia testimonia tua
Thy testimonies are wonderful * therefore doth my soul keep them.
130When thy word goeth forth * it giveth light and understanding unto the simple.
131I opened my mouth, and drew in my breath * for my delight was in thy commandments.
132O look thou upon me, and be merciful unto me * as thou usest to do unto those that love thy Name.
133Order my steps in thy word * and so shall no wickedness have dominion over me.
134O deliver me from the wrongful dealings of men * and so shall I keep thy commandments.
135Shew the light of thy countenance upon thy servant * and teach me thy statutes.
136Mine eyes gush out with water * because men keep not thy law.
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 119 xviiiJustus es, Domine
Righteous art thou, O Lord * and true is thy judgement.
138The testimonies that thou hast commanded * are exceeding righteous and true.
139My zeal hath even consumed me * because mine enemies have forgotten thy words.
140Thy word is tried to the uttermost * and thy servant loveth it.
141I am small, and of no reputation * yet do I not forget thy commandments.
142Thy righteousness is an everlasting righteousness * and thy law is the truth.
143Trouble and heaviness have taken hold upon me * yet is my delight in thy commandments.
144The righteousness of thy testimonies is everlasting * O grant me understanding, and I shall live.
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 119 xixClamavi in toto corde
I call with my whole heart * hear me, O Lord, I will keep thy statutes.
146Yea, even unto thee do I call * help me, and I shall keep thy testimonies.
147Early in the morning do I cry unto thee * for in thy word is my trust.
148Mine eyes prevent the night-watches * that I might be occupied in thy words.
149Hear my voice, O Lord, according unto thy loving-kindness * quicken me, according as thou art wont.
150They draw nigh that of malice persecute me * and are far from thy law.
151Be thou nigh at hand, O Lord * for all thy commandments are true.
152As concerning thy testimonies, I have known long since * that thou hast grounded them for ever.
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. Look thou upon me, O Lord, * and be merciful unto me.
Chapter
Gal. 6:2
Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.
℟.Thanks be to God.
℣.The Lord is my shepherd; therefore can I lack nothing.
℟.He shall feed me in a green pasture.
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 Lord, we beseech thee, let thy continual pity cleanse and defend thy Church; and, because it cannot continue in safety without thy succour, preserve it evermore by thy help and goodness. 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.
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.