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.
Praise be to thee, O Lord, King of eternal glory.
Ant. O Lord.
These words are not repeated in the Psalm.
Psalm 139aDomine, 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 * Stand. and thy right hand shall hold me.
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.
Psalm 139bEt dixi
If I say, Peradventure the darkness shall cover me * Sit. 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. O Lord, * thou hast searched me out and known me.
Ant. Deliver me.
These words are not repeated in the Psalm.
Psalm 140Eripe me, Domine
Deliver me, O Lord, from the evil man * Sit. and preserve me from the wicked man.
2Who imagine mischief in their hearts * and stir up strife all the day long.
3They have sharpened their tongues like a serpent * adders’ poison is under their lips.
4Keep me, O Lord, from the hands of the ungodly * preserve me from the wicked men, who are purposed to overthrow my goings.
5The proud have laid a snare for me, and spread a net abroad with cords * yea, and set traps in my way.
6I said unto the Lord, Thou art my God * hear the voice of my prayers, O Lord.
7O Lord God, thou strength of my health * thou hast covered my head in the day of the battle.
8Let not the ungodly have his desire, O Lord * let not his mischievous imagination prosper, lest they be too proud.
9Let the mischief of their own lips fall upon the head of them * that compass me about.
10Let hot burning coals fall upon them * let them be cast into the fire and into the pit, that they never rise up again.
11A man full of words shall not prosper upon the earth * evil shall hunt the wicked person to overthrow him.
12Sure I am that the Lord will avenge the poor * and maintain the cause of the helpless.
13The righteous also shall give thanks unto thy Name * Stand. and the just shall continue in thy sight.
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. Deliver me, * O Lord, from the wicked man.
Ant. Lord, I call.
These words are not repeated in the Psalm.
Psalm 141Domine, clamavi ad te
Lord, I call upon thee, haste thee unto me * Sit. and consider my voice when I cry unto thee.
2Let my prayer be set forth in thy sight as the incense * and let the lifting up of my hands be an evening sacrifice.
3Set a watch, O Lord, before my mouth * and keep the door of my lips.
4O let not mine heart be inclined to any evil thing * let me not be occupied in ungodly works with the men that work wickedness, lest I eat of such things as please them.
5Let the righteous rather smite me friendly * and reprove me.
6But let not their precious balms break my head * yea, I will pray yet against their wickedness.
7Let their judges be overthrown in stony places * that they may hear my words, for they are sweet.
8Our bones lie scattered before the pit * like as when one breaketh and heweth wood upon the earth.
9But mine eyes look unto thee, O Lord God * in thee is my trust , O cast not out my soul.
10Keep me from the snare that they have laid for me * and from the traps of the wicked doers.
11Let the ungodly fall into their own nets together * Stand. and let me ever escape them.
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. Lord, I call * upon thee, haste thee unto me.
Chapter
Joel 2:17
Let the priests, the ministers of the Lord, weep between the porch and the altar, and let them say, Spare thy people, O Lord, and give not thine heritage to reproach, that the heathen should rule over them.
℟.Thanks be to God.
He shall defend thee * under his wings.
℟.He shall defend thee * under his wings.
℣.And thou shalt be safe under his feathers.
℟.Under his wings.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.
℟.He shall defend thee * under his wings.
Hymn
Audi benigne Conditor
O Maker of the world, give ear;Accept the prayer and own the tearTowards thy seat of mercy sentIn this most holy fast of Lent.
Each heart is manifest to thee;Thou knowest our infirmity.Forgive thou then each soul that fainWould seek to thee, and turn again.
Our sins are manifold and sore,But pardon them that sin deplore:And for thy Name’s sake, make each soulThat feels and owns its languor, whole.
So mortify we every senseBy grace of outward abstinence,That from each stain and spot of sinThe soul may keep her fast within.
Grant, O thou blessed Trinity,Grant, O essential Unity,That this our fast of forty daysMay work our profit and thy praise.Amen.
℣.God shall give his Angels charge over thee.
℟.To keep thee in all thy ways.
Ant. A great prophet.
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 great prophet * is risen up among us, and God hath visited his people.
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.
Grant, we beseech thee, Almighty God: that we, who for our evil deeds do worthily deserve to be punished, by the comfort of thy grace may mercifully be relieved; through our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Who with thee in the unity of the Holy Spirit, liveth and reigneth God, world without end.
℟.Amen.
Commemoration of St John Damascene, Confessor & Doctor
Ant. O Teacher right excellent, * O light of Holy Church, O blessed John, lover of the divine law: intercede for us unto the Son of God.
℣.The Lord loved him and adorned him.
℟.He clothed him with a robe of glory.
Let us pray.
O God, who gavest blessed John to thy people as a minister of eternal salvation: grant, we beseech thee, that we may be worthy to have him as our intercessor in heaven, whom we had as our teacher here upon earth. 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.
Ave Regina Caelorum
Queen of the heavens, we hail thee *
Hail thee, Lady of all the Angels.
Thou the dawn, the door of morning
Whence the world’s true Light is risen:
Joy to thee, O Virgin glorious,
Beautiful beyond all other;
Hail, and farewell, O most gracious,
Intercede for us alway to Jesus.
℣.Vouchsafe that I may praise thee, O holy Virgin.
℟.Give me strength against thine enemies.
Let us pray.
Grant us, O merciful God, protection in our weakness: that we who celebrate the memory of the holy Mother of God may, through the aid of her intercession, rise again from our sins. 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.