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
Nunc Sancte nobis Spiritus
Come, Holy Ghost, with God the Son,And God the Father ever One:Shed forth thy grace within our breast,And dwell with us, a ready guest.
By every power, by heart and tongue,By act and deed, thy praise be sung:Inflame with perfect love each sense,That others’ souls may kindle thence.
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. Hold thou me up.
Psalm 119 xivLucerna pedibus meis verbum
Thy word is a lantern unto my feet * and a light unto my paths.
106I have sworn, and am stedfastly purposed * to keep thy righteous judgements.
107I am troubled above measure * quicken me, O Lord, according to thy word.
108Let the free-will offerings of my mouth please thee, O Lord * and teach me thy judgements.
109My soul is alway in my hand * yet do I not forget thy law.
110The ungodly have laid a snare for me * but yet I swerved not from thy commandments.
111Thy testimonies have I claimed as mine heritage for ever * and why? they are the very joy of my heart.
112I have applied my heart to fulfil thy statutes alway * even unto the end.
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 xvIniquos odio habui
I hate them that imagine evil things * but thy law do I love.
114Thou art my defence and shield * and my trust is in thy word.
115Away from me, ye wicked * I will keep the commandments of my God.
116O stablish me according to thy word, that I may live * and let me not be disappointed of my hope.
117Hold thou me up, and I shall be safe * yea, my delight shall be ever in thy statutes.
118Thou hast trodden down all them that depart from thy statutes * for they imagine but deceit.
119Thou puttest away all the ungodly of the earth like dross * therefore I love thy testimonies.
120My flesh trembleth for fear of thee * and I am afraid of thy judgements.
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 xviFeci judicium et justitiam
I deal with the thing that is lawful and right * O give me not over unto mine oppressors.
122Make thou thy servant to delight in that which is good * that the proud do me no wrong.
123Mine eyes are wasted away with looking for thy health * and for the word of thy righteousness.
124O deal with thy servant according unto thy loving mercy * and teach me thy statutes.
125I am thy servant, O grant me understanding * that I may know thy testimonies.
126It is time for thee, Lord, to lay to thine hand * for they have destroyed thy law.
127For I love thy commandments * above gold and precious stone.
128Therefore hold I straight all thy commandments * and all false ways I utterly abhor.
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. Hold thou me up, * and I shall be safe, O Lord.
Chapter
Jer. 17:14
Heal me, O Lord, and I shall be healed; save me, and I shall be saved; for thou art my praise.
℟.Thanks be to God.
℣.Thou hast been my succour; leave me not.
℟.Neither forsake me, O God of my salvation.
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.
Keep, we beseech thee, O Lord, thy Church with thy perpetual mercy; and, because the frailty of man without thee cannot but fall, keep us ever by thy help from all things hurtful, and lead us to all things profitable to our salvation. 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.