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. Herod the King * proceeded further to take Peter also: and when he had apprehended him, he put him in prison, intending after Easter to bring him forth to the people.
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. Herod the King * proceeded further to take Peter also: and when he had apprehended him, he put him in prison, intending after Easter to bring him forth to the people.
Ant. Peter therefore * was kept in prison; but prayer was made without ceasing of the Church unto God for him.
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. Peter therefore * was kept in prison; but prayer was made without ceasing of the Church unto God for him.
Ant. The Angel said unto Peter, * Cast thy garment about thee, and follow me.
Psalm 116bCredidi, propter quod locutus sum
I believed, and therefore will I speak; but I was sore troubled * Sit. I said in my haste, All men are liars.
11What reward shall I give unto the Lord * for all the benefits that he hath done unto me?
12I will receive the cup of salvation * and call upon the Name of the Lord.
13I will pay my vows now in the presence of all his people * right dear in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints.
14Behold, O Lord, how that I am thy servant * I am thy servant, and the son of thine handmaid; thou hast broken my bonds in sunder.
15I will offer to thee the sacrifice of thanksgiving * and will call upon the Name of the Lord.
16I will pay my vows unto the Lord, in the sight of all his people * Stand. in the courts of the Lord’s house, even in the midst of thee, O Jerusalem. Praise the Lord.
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. The Angel said unto Peter, * Cast thy garment about thee, and follow me.
Ant. The Lord hath sent * his Angel, and hath delivered me out of the hand of Herod, alleluia.
Psalm 139Domine, probasti me
O Lord, thou hast searched me out and known me * Sit. thou knowest my down-sitting and mine up-rising, thou understandest my thoughts long before.
2Thou art about my path, and about my bed * and spiest out all my ways.
3For lo, there is not a word in my tongue * but thou, O Lord, knowest it altogether.
4Thou hast fashioned me behind and before * and laid thine hand upon me.
5Such knowledge is too wonderful and excellent for me * I cannot attain unto it.
6Whither shall I go then from thy Spirit * or whither shall I go then from thy presence?
7If I climb up into heaven, thou art there * if I go down to hell, thou art there also.
8If I take the wings of the morning * and remain in the uttermost parts of the sea;
9Even there also shall thy hand lead me * and thy right hand shall hold me.
10If I say, Peradventure the darkness shall cover me * then shall my night be turned to day.
11Yea, the darkness is no darkness with thee, but the night is as clear as the day * the darkness and light to thee are both alike.
12For my reins are thine * thou hast covered me in my mother’s womb.
13I will give thanks unto thee, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made * marvellous are thy works, and that my soul knoweth right well.
14My bones are not hid from thee * though I be made secretly, and fashioned beneath in the earth.
15Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect * and in thy book were all my members written;
16Which day by day were fashioned * when as yet there was none of them.
17How dear are thy counsels unto me, O God * O how great is the sum of them!
18If I tell them, they are more in number than the sand * when I wake up I am present with thee.
19Wilt thou not slay the wicked, O God * depart from me, ye blood-thirsty men.
20For they speak unrighteously against thee * and thine enemies take thy Name in vain.
21Do not I hate them, O Lord, that hate thee * and am not I grieved with those that rise up against thee?
22Yea, I hate them right sore * even as though they were mine enemies.
23Try me, O God, and seek the ground of my heart * prove me, and examine my thoughts.
24Look well if there be any way of wickedness in me * Stand. and lead me in the way everlasting.
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. The Lord hath sent * his Angel, and hath delivered me out of the hand of Herod, alleluia.
Chapter
Acts 12:1–3
Herod the King stretched forth his hands to vex certain of the Church. And he killed James the brother of John with the sword. * And because he saw it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to take Peter also.
℟.Thanks be to God.
Thou shalt make them princes * in all lands.
℟.Thou shalt make them princes * in all lands.
℣.They shall remember thy Name, O Lord.
℟.In all lands.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.
℟.Thou shalt make them princes * in all lands.
Hymn
Petrus beatus catenarum
Peter the blessed, bidden by Christ’s messenger,Breaketh his fetters, liberated wondrously;Shepherd and teacher of the Church’s fellowship,The flock’s preserver and the sheepfold’s guardian,Lo, he repelleth all the wolves’ ferocity.
Glory, O Father, be to thee eternally;Grace and dominion to the Son adorable;Unto the Spirit, honour and authority:Praise to the holy undivided Trinity,Praise everlasting through the ages infinite.Amen.
℣.Thou art Peter.
℟.And upon this rock I will build my Church.
Ant. Loosen these earthly fetters * at the command of God, O Peter; and let the kingdom of heaven be opened unto the blessed.
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. Loosen these earthly fetters * at the command of God, O Peter; and let the kingdom of heaven be opened unto the blessed.
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.
O God, who didst cause the blessed Apostle Peter to be loosed from his chains, and to go forth unhurt: loose, we beseech thee, the chain of our sins, and mercifully shut out from us all evils. 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.
Commemoration of Saturday Office of the B.V.M.
Ant. O blessed Mother * and spotless Virgin, thou glorious Queen of the world, intercede for us to the Lord.
℣.Vouchsafe that I may praise thee, O holy Virgin.
℟.Give me strength against thine enemies.
Let us pray.
Grant, we beseech thee, O Lord God, that we thy servants may rejoice in continual health of mind and body: and that by the glorious intercession of blessed Mary ever Virgin we may be delivered from this present heaviness, and have the fruition of eternal joy.
Commemoration of St Paul, Apostle
Ant. O holy Apostle Paul, * thou preacher of the truth and Doctor of the Gentiles, intercede for us unto God, who hath chosen thee.
℣.Thou art a chosen vessel, holy Apostle Paul.
℟.A preacher of the truth throughout all the world.
Let us pray.
O God, who didst teach a multitude of the Gentiles by the preaching of blessed Paul the Apostle: grant unto us, we beseech thee, that we who honour his Commemoration may perceive the benefits of his intercession before thee.
Commemoration of St Stephen, 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 Stephen, thy Martyr and Bishop, defend us. 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.