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. When Zacharias * went into the temple, there appeared unto him the Angel Gabriel, standing on the right side of the altar of incense.
Psalm 109 (110)Dixit 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. When Zacharias * went into the temple, there appeared unto him the Angel Gabriel, standing on the right side of the altar of incense.
Ant. But the Angel said unto him, * Fear not, Zacharias, for thy prayer is heard.
Psalm 110 (111)Confitebor tibi, Domine
I will give thanks unto the Lord with my whole heart * Sit. secretly among the faithful, and in the congregation.
2The works of the Lord are great * sought out of all them that have pleasure therein.
3His work is worthy to be praised and had in honour * and his righteousness endureth for ever.
4The merciful and gracious Lord hath so done his marvellous works * that they ought to be had in remembrance.
5He hath given meat unto them that fear him * he shall ever be mindful of his covenant.
6He hath shewed his people the power of his works * that he may give them the heritage of the heathen.
7The works of his hands are verity and judgement * all his commandments are true.
8They stand fast for ever and ever * and are done in truth and equity.
9He sent redemption unto his people * he hath commanded his covenant for ever; holy and reverend is his Name.
10The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom * Stand. a good understanding have all they that do thereafter; the praise of it 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. But the Angel said unto him, * Fear not, Zacharias, for thy prayer is heard.
Ant. I am the Angel Gabriel, * that stand in the presence of God; and am sent to speak unto thee.
Psalm 111 (112)Beatus vir, qui timet Dominum
Blessed is the man that feareth the Lord * Sit. he hath great delight in his commandments.
2His seed shall be mighty upon earth * the generation of the faithful shall be blessed.
3Riches and plenteousness shall be in his house * and his righteousness endureth for ever.
4Unto the godly there ariseth up light in the darkness * he is merciful, loving, and righteous.
5A good man is merciful, and lendeth * and will guide his words with discretion.
6For he shall never be moved * and the righteous shall be had in everlasting remembrance.
7He will not be afraid of any evil tidings * for his heart standeth fast, and believeth in the Lord.
8His heart is established, and will not shrink * until he see his desire upon his enemies.
9He hath dispersed abroad, and given to the poor * and his righteousness remaineth for ever; his horn shall be exalted with honour.
10The ungodly shall see it, and it shall grieve him * Stand. he shall gnash with his teeth, and consume away; the desire of the ungodly shall perish.
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. I am the Angel Gabriel, * that stand in the presence of God; and am sent to speak unto thee.
Ant. Then said Mary * unto the Angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man? And the Angel Gabriel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee.
Psalm 137 (138)Confitebor 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. Then said Mary * unto the Angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man? And the Angel Gabriel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee.
Chapter
Dan. 9:21, 22
Behold the man Gabriel, whom I had seen in the vision at the beginning, being caused to fly swiftly, touched me about the time of the evening oblation. And he informed me, and talked with me, and said, * O Daniel, I am now come forth to give thee skill and understanding.
℟.Thanks be to God.
The smoke of the incense ascended up * before God.
℟.The smoke of the incense ascended up * before God.
℣.Out of the Angel’s hand.
℟.Before God.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.
℟.The smoke of the incense ascended up * before God.
Hymn
Christe, sanctorum decus Angelorum
Christ, the fair glory of the holy Angels,Thou who hast made us, thou who o’er us rulest,Grant of thy mercy unto us thy servantsSteps up to heaven.
Send thy Archangel, Gabriel, the mighty,Herald of heaven; may he from us mortalsSpurn the old serpent, watching o’er the templesWhere thou art worshipped.
May the blest Mother of our God and Saviour,May the assembly of the Saints in glory,May the celestial companies of AngelsEver assist us.
This he vouchsafe us, God for ever blessed,Father eternal, Son, and Holy Spirit,Whose is the glory which through all creationEver resoundeth.Amen.
℣.In the presence of the Angels I will sing praise unto thee, O my God.
℟.I will worship toward thy holy temple, and praise thy Name.
Ant. The Archangel Gabriel * said unto Mary: With God nothing shall be impossible. And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord: be it unto me according to thy word. And the Angel departed from her.
The Song of the Blessed Virgin MaryMagnificat 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. The Archangel Gabriel * said unto Mary: With God nothing shall be impossible. And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord: be it unto me according to thy word. And the Angel departed from her.
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.
℣.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 from among other Angels didst choose the Archangel Gabriel to announce the mystery of thy Incarnation: mercifully grant that we who celebrate his feast on earth may experience his protection from heaven. Who with God the Father in the unity of the Holy Spirit livest and reignest God, world without end.
℟.Amen.
Commemoration of Tuesday after Quinquagesima
Ant. Have mercy on me, * thou Son of David. What wilt thou that I shall do unto thee? Lord, that I may receive my sight.
℣.Lord, let my prayer be set forth.
℟.In thy sight as the incense.
Let us pray.
Graciously hear our prayers, we beseech thee, O Lord: that we, being loosed from the chain of our sins, may be kept from all things that may hurt 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.
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.