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
Ant. While the King * sitteth at his table, my spikenard sendeth forth a sweet-smelling savour.
Psalm 110Dixit Dominus Domino meo
The Lord said unto my Lord * Sit. Sit thou on my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool.
2The Lord shall send the rod of thy power out of Sion * be thou ruler, even in the midst among thine enemies.
3In the day of thy power shall the people offer thee free-will offerings with an holy worship * the dew of thy birth is of the womb of the morning.
4The Lord sware, and will not repent * Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedech.
5The Lord upon thy right hand * shall wound even kings in the day of his wrath.
6He shall judge among the heathen; he shall fill the places with the dead bodies * and smite in sunder the heads over divers countries.
7He shall drink of the brook in the way * Stand. therefore shall he lift up his head.
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. While the King * sitteth at his table, my spikenard sendeth forth a sweet-smelling savour.
Ant. We will run after thee * because of the savour of thine ointments: exceedingly do the virgins love thee.
Psalm 113Laudate, pueri, Dominum
Praise the Lord, ye servants * Sit. O praise the Name of the Lord.
2Blessed be the Name of the Lord * from this time forth for evermore.
3The Lord’s Name is praised * from the rising up of the sun unto the going down of the same.
4The Lord is high above all heathen * and his glory above the heavens.
5Who is like unto the Lord our God, that hath his dwelling so high * and yet humbleth himself to behold the things that are in heaven and earth?
6He taketh up the simple out of the dust * and lifteth the poor out of the mire;
7That he may set him with the princes * even with the princes of his people.
8He maketh the barren woman to keep house * Stand. and to be a joyful mother of children.
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. We will run after thee * because of the savour of thine ointments: exceedingly do the virgins love thee.
Ant. Lo, the winter is past, * the rain is over and gone: rise up, my love, and come away.
Psalm 122Lætatus sum in his
I was glad when they said unto me * Sit. We will go into the house of the Lord.
2Our feet shall stand in thy gates * O Jerusalem.
3Jerusalem is built as a city * that is at unity in itself.
4For thither the tribes go up, even the tribes of the Lord * to testify unto Israel, to give thanks unto the Name of the Lord.
5For there is the seat of judgement * even the seat of the house of David.
6O pray for the peace of Jerusalem * they shall prosper that love thee.
7Peace be within thy walls * and plenteousness within thy palaces.
8For my brethren and companions’ sakes * I will wish thee prosperity.
9Yea, because of the house of the Lord our God * Stand. I will seek to do thee good.
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. Lo, the winter is past, * the rain is over and gone: rise up, my love, and come away.
Ant. This woman * is beautiful among the daughters of Jerusalem.
Psalm 127Nisi Dominus ædificaverit domum
Except the Lord build the house * Sit. 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 * Stand. they shall not be ashamed when they speak with their enemies in the gate.
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. This woman * is beautiful among the daughters of Jerusalem.
Chapter
Cant 3:2
I will rise now, * and go about the city in the streets, and in the broad ways I will seek him whom my soul loveth.
℟.Thanks be to God.
God shall help her * with his countenance.
℟.God shall help her * with his countenance.
℣.God is in the midst of her, therefore shall she not be removed.
℟.With his countenance.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.
℟.God shall help her * with his countenance.
Hymn
Pater superni luminis
O Father of celestial rays,When thou on Magdalene dost gaze,The flame of burning love appears,Her icy heart dissolves in tears.
Wounded by love, she hastens o’erThe feet of Christ her tears to pour,Anoints them, wipes them with her hair,And prints adoring kisses there.
Fearless, the Cross she will not leave:And grieving, to the Tomb doth cleave:No ruthless soldiers cause her dread:For from her love all fear hath fled.
O Christ, true Charity thou art;Purge thou the foulness of our heart,Fill every soul with grace and love,And give us thy rewards above.
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.
℣.God hath chosen her and preferred her.
℟.He hath made her to dwell in his tabernacle.
Ant. A woman * in the city, which was a sinner, brought an alabaster box of ointment, and stood at the Lord’s feet, and began to wash his feet with tears, and did wipe them with the hairs of her head.
MagnificatMagnificat anima mea Dominum
Luke 1:46–55
My soul doth magnify the Lord, * and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.
2For he hath regarded * the lowliness of his handmaiden.
3For behold, from henceforth * all generations shall call me blessed.
4For he that is mighty hath magnified me: * and holy is his Name.
5And his mercy is on them that fear him * throughout all generations.
6He hath shewed strength with his arm: * he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.
7He hath put down the mighty from their seat, * and hath exalted the humble and meek.
8He hath filled the hungry with good things; * and the rich he hath sent empty away.
9He remembering his mercy hath holpen his servant Israel; * as he promised to our forefathers, Abraham and his seed, for ever.
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. A woman * in the city, which was a sinner, brought an alabaster box of ointment, and stood at the Lord’s feet, and began to wash his feet with tears, and did wipe them with the hairs of her head.
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.
May we be aided, O Lord, we beseech thee, by the intercession of blessed Mary Magdalene: in answer to whose prayers thou didst raise her brother Lazarus to life after he had been dead four days. Who with God the Father in the unity of the Holy Spirit livest and reignest God, world without end.
℟.Amen.
Commemoration of St Apollinaris of Ravenna, Bishop & Martyr
Ant. This is a Martyr * who strove for his Master’s precepts, even unto death: and feared not the words of evil men, forasmuch as he was stablished on a sure foundation.
℣.Thou hast crowned him with glory and honour, O Lord.
℟.And madest him to have dominion of the works of thy hands.
Let us pray.
Almighty God, mercifully look upon our infirmity: and because we are oppressed by the burden of our own deeds, may the glorious intercession of blessed Apollinaris of Ravenna, thy Martyr and Bishop, defend us.
Commemoration of St John Cassian, Abbot
Ant. I will liken him * unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock.
℣.The Lord loved him and adorned him.
℟.He clothed him with a robe of glory.
Let us pray.
We beseech thee, O Lord, let the intercession of blessed John Cassian thine Abbot, obtain for us thy favour: that those things which we are not able to attain by our own merits, we may gain at his petition.
Commemoration of St Liborius, Bishop & Confessor
Ant. O thou Priest and Bishop, * thou worker of mighty works, thou good shepherd of the people, pray unto the Lord for us.
℣.The Lord loved him and adorned him.
℟.He clothed him with a robe of glory.
Let us pray.
Grant, we beseech thee, Almighty God: that the reverend solemnity of blessed Liborius, thy Confessor and Bishop, may both increase our devotion and set forward 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.
℣.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.