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. Lord, * shew us the Father, and it sufficeth us, alleluia.
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. Lord, * shew us the Father, and it sufficeth us, alleluia.
Ant. Philip, * he that hath seen me hath seen my Father also, alleluia.
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. Philip, * he that hath seen me hath seen my Father also, alleluia.
Ant. Have I been * so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen my Father also, alleluia.
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. Have I been * so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen my Father also, alleluia.
Ant. If ye love me, * keep my commandments, alleluia, alleluia, 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. If ye love me, * keep my commandments, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.
Chapter
Wis 5:1
Then shall the righteous man stand in great boldness * before the face of such as have afflicted him, * and made no account of his labours.
℟.Thanks be to God.
Light perpetual shall shine upon thy Saints, O Lord, * alleluia, alleluia.
℟.Light perpetual shall shine upon thy Saints, O Lord, * alleluia, alleluia.
℣.And an ageless eternity.
℟.Alleluia, alleluia.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.
℟.Light perpetual shall shine upon thy Saints, O Lord, * alleluia, alleluia.
Hymn
Tristes erant Apostoli
Th’Apostles’ hearts were full of painFor their dear Lord so lately slain:That Lord his servants’ wicked trainWith bitter scorn had dared arraign.
With gentle voice the Angel gaveThe women tidings at the grave;‘Forthwith your Master shall ye see:He goes before to Galilee.’
And while with fear and joy they press’dTo tell these tidings to the rest,Their Lord, their living Lord, they meet,And see his form, and kiss his feet.
Th’Eleven, when they hear, with speed,To Galilee forthwith proceed:That there they may behold once moreThe Lord’s dear face, as oft before.
We pray thee, King with glory deck’d,In this our Paschal joy, protectFrom all that death would fain effectThy ransom’d 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.
℣.Right dear in the sight of the Lord, alleluia.
℟.Is the death of his Saints, alleluia.
Ant. If ye abide in me, * and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you, alleluia, alleluia, 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. If ye abide in me, * and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you, alleluia, alleluia, 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.
O God, who makest us glad by the yearly solemnity of thine Apostles Philip and James: grant, we beseech thee, that we who rejoice in their merits may be taught by their example. 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 St Athanasius, Bishop, Confessor & Doctor
Ant. O Teacher right excellent, * O light of Holy Church, O blessed Athanasius, lover of the divine law: intercede for us unto the Son of God. Alleluia.
℣.The Lord loved him and adorned him, alleluia.
℟.He clothed him with a robe of glory, alleluia.
Let us pray.
O Lord, we beseech thee, hear the prayers which we offer thee on the solemnity of blessed Athanasius, thy Bishop and Confessor: and by the interceding merits of him who worthily attained to serve thee, absolve us from all our sins. 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.
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.