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. O wondrous interchange! * The Creator of mankind, taking upon him a living body, vouchsafed to be born of a Virgin: and proceeding forth as Man, without seed, hath made us partakers of his Divinity.
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. O wondrous interchange! * The Creator of mankind, taking upon him a living body, vouchsafed to be born of a Virgin: and proceeding forth as Man, without seed, hath made us partakers of his Divinity.
Ant. When thou wast born * ineffably of a Virgin, then were the Scriptures fulfilled: thou camest down like the rain into a fleece of wool, to bring salvation unto all mankind: we praise thee, O our God.
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. When thou wast born * ineffably of a Virgin, then were the Scriptures fulfilled: thou camest down like the rain into a fleece of wool, to bring salvation unto all mankind: we praise thee, O our God.
Ant. In the bush * which Moses saw unconsumed, we acknowledge the preservation of thy glorious virginity: holy Mother of God, intercede for thy children.
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. In the bush * which Moses saw unconsumed, we acknowledge the preservation of thy glorious virginity: holy Mother of God, intercede for thy children.
Ant. Lo, Mary * hath brought forth to us the Saviour; whom when John beheld, he cried saying: Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world, alleluia.
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. Lo, Mary * hath brought forth to us the Saviour; whom when John beheld, he cried saying: Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world, alleluia.
Chapter
Titus 2:11–12
The grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, * teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, * we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present world.
℟.Thanks be to God.
The Word was made flesh, * alleluia, alleluia.
℟.The Word was made flesh, * alleluia, alleluia.
℣.And dwelt among us.
℟.Alleluia, alleluia.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.
℟.The Word was made flesh, * alleluia, alleluia.
Hymn
Christe, Redemptor omnium, ex Patre
Jesu, the Father’s only Son,Whose death for all redemption won,Before the worlds, of God Most High,Begotten all ineffably.
The Father’s Light and Splendour thou,Their endless Hope to thee that bow:Accept the prayers and praise to-dayThat through the world thy servants pay.
Salvation’s Author, call to mindThou tookest the form of humankind,When of the Virgin undefiledThou in man’s flesh becamest a Child.
Thus testifies the present dayThrough every year in long array,That thou, salvation’s source alone,Proceededst from the Father’s Throne.
Whence sky, and stars, and sea’s abyss,And earth, and all that therein is,Shall still, with laud and carol meet,The Author of thine Advent greet.
And we who, by thy precious BloodFrom sin redeemed, are marked for God,On this, the day that saw thy birth,Sing the new song of ransomed earth.
All honour, laud, and glory be,O Jesu, Virgin-born, to thee;All glory, as is ever meet,To Father and to Paraclete.Amen.
℣.The Lord declared, alleluia.
℟.His salvation, alleluia.
Ant. Great * is the mystery of the inheritance: the womb of her that knew not man is become the temple of the Godhead: by taking flesh of her, he was no way defiled: all the nations shall gather, saying: Glory be to thee, O Lord.
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. Great * is the mystery of the inheritance: the womb of her that knew not man is become the temple of the Godhead: by taking flesh of her, he was no way defiled: all the nations shall gather, saying: Glory be to thee, O Lord.
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 by the fruitful virginity of blessed Mary hast bestowed upon mankind the reward of eternal salvation: grant, we beseech thee, that we may know the help of her intercession, through whom we have been accounted worthy to receive the Author of our life, Jesus Christ thy Son 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.
Alma Redemptoris Mater
Gracious * Mother of our Redeemer, for ever abiding Heaven’s gateway, and star of ocean,
O succour the people, Who, though falling, strive to rise again.
Thou Maiden who barest thy holy Creator, to the wonder of all nature;
Ever Virgin, after as before thou receivedst that Ave from the mouth of Gabriel;
have compassion on us sinners.
℣.After Childbearing, O Virgin, thou didst remain inviolate.
℟.Intercede for us, O Mother of God.
Let us pray.
O God, who by the fruitful virginity of blessed Mary hast bestowed upon mankind the reward of eternal salvation: grant, we beseech thee, that we may know the help of her intercession, through whom we have been accounted worthy to receive the Author of our life, Jesus Christ thy Son 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.