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. The Angel of the Lord * descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it, alleluia, alleluia.
Psalm 135Laudate nomen Domini
O praise the Lord, laud ye the Name of the Lord * Sit. praise it, O ye servants of the Lord;
2Ye that stand in the house of the Lord * in the courts of the house of our God.
3O praise the Lord, for the Lord is gracious * O sing praises unto his Name, for it is lovely.
4For why? the Lord hath chosen Jacob unto himself * and Israel for his own possession.
5For I know that the Lord is great * and that our Lord is above all gods.
6Whatsoever the Lord pleased, that did he in heaven and in earth * and in the sea, and in all deep places.
7He bringeth forth the clouds from the ends of the world * and sendeth forth lightnings with the rain, bringing the winds out of his treasures.
8He smote the first-born of Egypt * both of man and beast.
9He hath sent tokens and wonders into the midst of thee, O thou land of Egypt * upon Pharaoh, and all his servants.
10He smote divers nations * and slew mighty kings;
11Sehon king of the Amorites, and Og the king of Basan * and all the kingdoms of Canaan;
12And gave their land to be an heritage * even an heritage unto Israel his people.
13Thy Name, O Lord, endureth for ever * so doth thy memorial, O Lord, from one generation to another.
14For the Lord will avenge his people * and be gracious unto his servants.
15As for the images of the heathen, they are but silver and gold * the work of men’s hands.
16They have mouths, and speak not * eyes have they, but they see not.
17They have ears, and yet they hear not * neither is there any breath in their mouths.
18They that make them are like unto them * and so are all they that put their trust in them.
19Praise the Lord, ye house of Israel * praise the Lord, ye house of Aaron.
20Praise the Lord, ye house of Levi * ye that fear the Lord, praise the Lord.
21Praised be the Lord out of Sion * Stand. who dwelleth at Jerusalem.
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 of the Lord * descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it, alleluia, alleluia.
Ant. And behold, * there was a great earthquake: for the Angel of the Lord descended from heaven, alleluia.
Psalm 136Confitemini Domino quoniam bonus
O give thanks unto the LORD, for he is gracious * Sit. and his mercy endureth for ever.
2O give thanks unto the God of all gods * for his mercy endureth for ever.
3O thank the Lord of all lords * for his mercy endureth for ever.
4Who only doeth great wonders * for his mercy endureth for ever.
5Who by his excellent wisdom made the heavens * for his mercy endureth for ever.
6Who laid out the earth above the waters * for his mercy endureth for ever.
7Who hath made great lights * for his mercy endureth for ever;
8The sun to rule the day * for his mercy endureth for ever;
9The moon and the stars to govern the night * for his mercy endureth for ever.
10Who smote Egypt with their first-born * for his mercy endureth for ever;
11And brought out Israel from among them * for his mercy endureth for ever;
12With a mighty hand, and stretched out arm * for his mercy endureth for ever.
13Who divided the Red sea in two parts * for his mercy endureth for ever;
14And made Israel to go through the midst of it * for his mercy endureth for ever.
15But as for Pharaoh and his host, he overthrew them in the Red sea * for his mercy endureth for ever.
16Who led his people through the wilderness * for his mercy endureth for ever.
17Who smote great kings * for his mercy endureth for ever;
18Yea, and slew mighty kings * for his mercy endureth for ever;
19Sehon king of the Amorites * for his mercy endureth for ever;
20And Og the king of Basan * for his mercy endureth for ever;
21And gave away their land for an heritage * for his mercy endureth for ever;
22Even for an heritage unto Israel his servant * for his mercy endureth for ever.
23Who remembered us when we were in trouble * for his mercy endureth for ever;
24And hath delivered us from our enemies * for his mercy endureth for ever.
25Who giveth food to all flesh * for his mercy endureth for ever.
26O give thanks unto the God of heaven * for his mercy endureth for ever.
27O give thanks unto the Lord of lords * Stand. for his mercy endureth 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. And behold, * there was a great earthquake: for the Angel of the Lord descended from heaven, alleluia.
Ant. His countenance * was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow, alleluia, alleluia.
Psalm 137Super flumina Babylonis
By the waters of Babylon we sat down and wept * Sit. when we remembered thee, O Sion.
2As for our harps, we hanged them up * upon the trees that are therein.
3For they that led us away captive required of us then a song, and melody in our heaviness * Sing us one of the songs of Sion.
4How shall we sing the Lord’s song * in a strange land?
5If I forget thee, O Jerusalem * let my right hand forget her cunning.
6If I do not remember thee, let my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth * yea, if I prefer not Jerusalem in my mirth.
7Remember the children of Edom, O Lord, in the day of Jerusalem * how they said, Down with it, down with it, even to the ground.
8O daughter of Babylon , wasted with misery * yea, happy shall he be that rewardeth thee, as thou hast served us.
9Blessed shall he be that taketh thy children * Stand. and throweth them against the stones.
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. His countenance * was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow, alleluia, alleluia.
Ant. And for fear of him * the keepers did shake, and became as dead men, alleluia.
Psalm 138Confitebor tibi, Domine
I will give thanks unto thee, O Lord, with my whole heart * Sit. even before the gods will I sing praise unto thee.
2I will worship toward thy holy temple, and praise thy Name, because of thy loving-kindness and truth * for thou hast magnified thy Name and thy word above all things.
3When I called upon thee, thou heardest me * and enduedst my soul with much strength.
4All the kings of the earth shall praise thee, O Lord * for they have heard the words of thy mouth.
5Yea, they shall sing in the ways of the Lord * that great is the glory of the Lord.
6For though the Lord be high, yet hath he respect unto the lowly * as for the proud, he beholdeth them afar off.
7Though I walk in the midst of trouble, yet shalt thou refresh me * thou shalt stretch forth thy hand upon the furiousness of mine enemies, and thy right hand shall save me.
8The Lord shall make good his loving-kindness toward me * Stand. yea, thy mercy, O Lord, endureth for ever; despise not then the works of thine own hands.
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. And for fear of him * the keepers did shake, and became as dead men, alleluia.
Chapter
Rom 6:9–10
Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him. For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God.
℟.Thanks be to God.
The Lord is risen from the tomb, alleluia, alleluia.
The Lord is risen from the tomb, alleluia, alleluia.
℣.Who for our sakes hung upon the tree.
℟.Alleluia, alleluia.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.
℟.The Lord is risen from the tomb, alleluia, alleluia.
Hymn
Ad cenam Agni providi
The Lamb’s high banquet we awaitIn snow-white robes of royal state:And now, the Red Sea’s channel past,To Christ our Prince we sing at last.
Upon the Altar of the CrossHis body hath redeemed our loss:And tasting of his roseate Blood,Our life is hid with him in God.
That Paschal Eve God’s arm was bared,The devastating Angel spared:By strength of hand our hosts went freeFrom Pharaoh’s ruthless tyranny.
Now Christ, our Paschal Lamb, is slain,The Lamb of God that knows no stain,The true Oblation offered here,Our own unleavened Bread sincere.
O thou, from whom hell’s monarch flies,O great, O very Sacrifice,Thy captive people are set free,And endless life restored in thee.
For Christ, arising from the dead,From conquered hell victorious sped,And thrust the tyrant down to chains,And Paradise for man regains.
We pray thee, King with glory decked,In this our Paschal joy, protectFrom all that death would fain effectThy ransomed flock, thine own elect.
To thee, who, dead, again dost live,All glory, Lord, thy people give;All glory, as is ever meet,To Father and to Paraclete.Amen.
℣.Abide with us, Lord, alleluia.
℟.For it is toward evening, alleluia.
Ant. Jesus saith unto his disciples, * Bring of the fish which ye have now caught. Simon Peter went up, and drew the net to land, full of great fishes, alleluia.
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. Jesus saith unto his disciples, * Bring of the fish which ye have now caught. Simon Peter went up, and drew the net to land, full of great fishes, alleluia.
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.
Almighty God, who through thine only-begotten Son Jesus Christ hast overcome death, and opened unto us the gate of everlasting life; We humbly beseech thee that, as by thy special grace preventing us thou dost put into our minds good desires, so by thy continual help we may bring the same to good effect. Through the same 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.
Regina Caeli
O Queen of Heaven, * be joyful, alleluia.
Because he whom so meetly thou barest, alleluia.
Hath arisen, as he promised, alleluia.
Pray for us to the Father, alleluia.
℣.Rejoice and be glad, O Virgin Mary, alleluia.
℟.For the Lord is risen indeed, alleluia.
Let us pray.
O God, who, by the Resurrection of thy Son Jesus Christ didst vouchsafe to give gladness unto the world: Grant, we beseech thee, that we, being holpen by the Virgin Mary, his Mother, may attain unto the joys of everlasting life. 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.