The Little Office of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Formatted by Karl Keller Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam

ISBN 978-1-312-35106-6

Contents

Rubrics

PRAYER AFTER THE OFFICE

Time before Advent

MATINS

First Nocturn

Second Nocturn

Third Nocturn

End of the Nocturns

LAUDS

PRIME (6:00 am)

TERCE (9:00am)

SEXT (noon)

NONE (3:00pm)

VESPERS (6:00pm)

COMPLIN (at bedtime)

Advent

MATINS (midnight)

First Nocturn

Second Nocturn

Third Nocturn

End of the Nocturns

LAUDS (at dawn)

PRIME (6:00 am)

TERCE (9:00am)

SEXT (noon)

NONE (3:00pm)

VESPERS (6:00pm)

COMPLIN (at bedtime)

Time after Advent or Christmastide

MATINS (midnight)

First Nocturn

Second Nocturn

Third Nocturn

End of the Nocturns

LAUDS (at dawn)

PRIME (6:00 am)

TERCE (9:00am)

SEXT (noon)

NONE (3:00pm)

VESPERS (6:00pm)

COMPLIN (at bedtime)

The Little Office of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Rubrics (Instructions)

To be observed in reciting the Office of the Blessed Virgin.

1. THE Little Office of the Blessed Virgin is essentially the same throughout the year. However, as Advent and Christmas have portions proper to themselves, the year may be divided into three parts:

(I.) The First Office, which is said from the Purification till Advent, begins at Matins on the day after February 2 (the Purification).

(II.) The Second, that of Advent, begins at the Vespers of the Saturday before the first Sunday of Advent.

(III.) The Third, that of Christmas, begins at the Vespers said on the vigil of that Feast, and continues till the Vespers of February 2 (the Purification) inclusively.

The First Office (I.) is sometimes called the Office BEFORE ADVENT.

The Second Office (II.) may be called the ADVENT Office.

The Third Office (III.) is also termed the Office AFTER ADVENT.

2. The Ave Maria is said before each Hour, except Lauds, when they are said immediately after Matins.

3. When the Office is said in private, the Anthem of the Blessed Virgin is said after Lauds and Complin only, unless the Little Hours (Prime, Terce, Sext, and None) follow immediately after Lauds; then the Anthem is said after the Hour by which the Office terminates. The Little Hours end with a Pater when they are said separately from Lauds or from one another. Vespers are also terminated by a Pater when they are separated from Complin.

When the Office is said in public, and discontinued after the recital of one of the Hours, the Anthem of the Blessed Virgin is always said.

4. The Anthem of the Blessed Virgin is said standing during Paschal time, and from the Vespers of Saturday till after the Complin of Sunday. At all other times it is said kneeling.

5. If one or more of the Little Hours be said immediately after Lauds, the Pater and the Versicle which follow Fidelium animæ, etc., are said only after the last Hour.

(It is customary to make the Sign of the Cross (†) in the ordinary way (1) whilst saying, Come unto my help; (2) at the beginning of the Canticles at Lauds (Blessed be the Lord), Vespers (Magnificat), and Complin (Now dost Thou); and (3) at the end of Complin in saying the Blessing. The Sign of the Cross is made with the thumb on the lips whilst saying Open Thou,etc., and on the heart when saying Convert us, O God, at the beginning of Complin.

The Te Deum may be said from Christmas to Septuagesima Sunday, and from Easter to Advent. During the remainder of the year it is said only on the Feasts of the Blessed Virgin, among which are comprised all authorized Feasts, such as the Translation of the House of Loretto, December 10; the Expectation, December 18; the Feast of the Seven Dolours, the Friday in Passion Week; etc.

7. On the Feast of the Annunciation the Office of Advent is said with the Te Deum. During Lent the Alleluia is omitted.

8. When the Feast of the Purification occurs after Septuagesima Sunday the Te Deum may be said. If this Feast is transferred, the alteration in the Office is not transferred with it. From the Complin of February 2 the anthem Ave Regina is said instead of the Alma Redemptoris.

9. During Passion time the Gloria Patri is nowhere omitted. During the last three days of Holy Week the Little Office is not recited publicly.

10. During Paschal time the Alleluia is not said after the Invitatory, Anthems, Versicles, and Responses.

11. From Septuagesima Sunday until Vespers of Holy Saturday, after Deus in adjutorium, etc., Laus tibi Domine, etc., is said, not Alleluia.

12. The anthem Regina Cœli is said for the first time at the Nunc dimittis on Holy Saturday, and for the last at Lauds of the Saturday before Trinity Sunday.

PRAYER BEFORE THE OFFICE

OPEN, † Lord, my mouth that I may bless Thy Holy Name: cleanse my heart from all vain, perverse, and hurtful thoughts: enlighten mine understanding, kindle mine affections, that I may say this Office worthily, attentively, and devoutly, and merit to be heard before the Presence of Thy Divine Majesty. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Lord, in union with that Divine Intention wherewith Thou Thyself, whilst on earth, didst pay praises to God, I pay these Hours to Thee.

PRAYER AFTER THE OFFICE

Pope Leo X. has granted to all persons who, after saying the Office, shall devoutly recite it on their knees, forgiveness of the shortcomings and faults of human weakness committed by them in saying the Office.

TO the most holy and undivided Trinity: To the Manhood of our Lord Jesus Christ crucified: To the fruitful Virginity of the most blessed and most glorious Mary, always a virgin: And to the whole body of all the Saints: Be praise everlasting, honour and glory from all creatures:  And to us the forgiveness of all our sins. World without end.

R. Amen.

V. Blessed be the womb of the Virgin Mary which bore the Son of the Eternal Father.

R. And blessed be the breasts that gave suck to Christ the Lord.

V. Our Father, Who art in heaven, Hallowed be Thy Name. Thy Kingdom come, Thy Will be done, On earth as it is in Heaven. R. 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.

V. Hail Mary, Full of Grace, The Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou amongst women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.

R. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now, and at the hour of death. Amen.

Time before Advent

From February 3rd until Vespers of the Saturday before the first Sunday of Advent

MATINS (midnight)

Hail Mary, secretly, which is said always at the beginning of all the Hours.

V. Thou † shalt open my lips, O Lord.

R. And my mouth shall shew forth Thy praise.

V. Come † unto my help, O God.

R. O Lord, make haste to help me.

V. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.

R. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

Alleluia.Except from Septuagesima to Holy Saturday; for then is said: Praise be to Thee, O Lord, King of everlasting glory.

Psalm 94. Venite, exsultemus Domino.

An invitation to praise God, and to obey Him.

Invit. Hail Mary, full of grace, * the Lord is with thee.

Hail Mary, full of grace, * the Lord is with thee.

1 O COME, let us exult in the Lord, let us rejoice before God our Saviour * let us come into His presence with thanksgiving, and with psalms rejoice before Him.

Invit. Hail Mary, full of grace, * the Lord is with thee.

2 For the Lord is a great God, and a great King above all gods. The Lord will not cast off His people. For in His hand are all the ends of the earth, and He beholds the heights of the mountains.

Invit. The Lord is with thee.

At the words O come, let us worship and fall down, genuflect.

For the sea is His, and He made it: and His hands formed the dry land. O come, let us worship and fall down; and weep before the Lord that made us. For He is the Lord our God: and we are the people of His pasture and the sheep of His hand.

Invit. Hail Mary, full of grace, * the Lord is with thee.

Today if ye shall hear His voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation, and in the day of temptation in the wilderness; where your fathers tempted Me, proved Me, and saw My works.

Invit. The Lord is with thee.

Forty years long was I offended with that generation, and said: They do always err in their heart. And they have not known My ways: so I swear in My wrath that they shall not enter into My rest.

Invit. Hail Mary, full of grace * the Lord is with thee

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.

Invit. The Lord is with thee.

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee.

THE God whom earth, and sea, and sky

Adore, and laud, and magnify,

Who o’er their threefold fabric reigns,

The Virgin Mary’s womb contains.

The God whose will by moon, and sun,

And all things in due course is done,

Is borne upon a Maiden’s breast,

By fullest heavenly grace possessed.

How blest that Mother, in whose shrine

The great Artificer Divine,

Whose hand contains the earth and sky,

Vouchsafed, as in His ark, to lie.

Blest, in the message Gabriel brought;

Blest, by the work the Spirit wrought;

From whom the great Desire of earth

Took human flesh and human birth.

To Thee be sung eternal praise,

O Virgin-born, through endless days;

Whom with the Father we adore,

And Holy Ghost forevermore. Amen.

At the Nocturn

On Sunday, Monday, and Thursday: The First Nocturn

On Tuesday and Friday: Second Nocturn

On Wednesday and Saturday: The Third Nocturn

First Nocturn     On Sunday, Monday, and Thursday

Psalm 8. Dómine, Dóminus noster

God is wonderful in His works; singularly exalted by the Incarnation of Christ.

Ant. Blessed art thou.

O LORD our Lord * how admirable is thy name in the whole earth!

2 For thy magnificence is elevated * above the heavens.

3 Out of the mouth of infants and of sucklings thou hast perfected praise, because of thy enemies * that thou mayst destroy the enemy and the avenger.

4 For I will behold thy heavens, the works of thy fingers * the moon and the stars which thou hast founded.

5 What is man that thou art mindful of him * or the son of man that thou visitest him?

6 Thou hast made him a little less than the angels, thou hast crowned him with glory and honour * and hast set him over the works of thy hands.

7 Thou hast subjected all things under his feet * all sheep and oxen: moreover the beasts also of the fields.

8 The birds of the air, and the fishes of the sea * that pass through the paths of the sea.

9 O Lord our Lord * how admirable is thy name in all the earth!

Glory Be.

Ant. Blessed art thou amongst women, and blessed is the Fruit of thy womb.

Psalm 18. Cæli enarrant

The works of God show forth His glory: His law is greatly to be esteemed and loved.

Ant. Like the choicest myrrh.

THE heavens shew forth the glory of God * and the firmament declareth the work of his hands.

2 Day to day uttereth speech * and night to night sheweth knowledge.

3 There are no speeches nor languages * where their voices are not heard.

4 Their sound hath gone forth into all the earth * and their words unto the ends of the world.

5 He hath set his tabernacle in the sun * and he, as a bridegroom coming out of his bride chamber,

6 He hath rejoiced as a giant to run the way * His going out is from the end of heaven.

7 And his circuit even to the end thereof * and there is no one that can hide himself from his heat.

8 The law of the Lord is unspotted, converting souls * the testimony of the Lord is faithful, giving wisdom to little ones.

9 The justices of the Lord are right, rejoicing hearts * the commandment of the Lord is lightsome, enlightening the eyes.

10 The fear of the Lord is holy, enduring forever and ever * the judgments of the Lord are true, justified in themselves.

11 More to be desired than gold and many precious stones * and sweeter than honey and the honeycomb.

12 For thy servant keepeth them, and in keeping them there is a great reward.

13 Who can understand sins? from my secret ones cleanse me, O Lord * and from those of others spare thy servant.

14 If they shall have no dominion over me, then shall I be without spot * and I shall be cleansed from the greatest sin.

15 And the words of my mouth shall be such as may please: and the meditation of my heart always in thy sight

16 O Lord, my helper, and my redeemer.

Glory Be.

Ant. Like the choicest myrrh, thou hast yielded an odour of sweetness, O holy Mother of God

Psalm 23. Domini est terra

A song of triumph for the translation of the Ark to Mount Sion.

Ant. Before the couch.

THE earth is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof * the world, and all they that dwell therein.

2 For he hath founded it upon the seas * and hath prepared it upon the rivers.

3 Who shall ascend into the mountain of the Lord * or who shall stand in his holy place?

4 The innocent in hands, and clean of heart * who hath not taken his soul in vain, nor sworn deceitfully to his neighbour.

5 He shall receive a blessing from the Lord * and mercy from God his Saviour.

6 This is the generation of them that seek him * of them that seek the face of the God of Jacob.

7 Lift up your gates, O ye princes, and be ye lifted up, O eternal gates * and the King of Glory shall enter in.

8 Who is this King of Glory? * the Lord who is strong and mighty: the Lord mighty in battle.

9 Lift up your gates, O ye princes, and be ye lifted up, O eternal gates * and the King of Glory shall enter in.

10 Who is this King of Glory? * the Lord of hosts, he is the King of Glory.

Glory Be.

Ant. Before the couch of this Virgin sing often unto us sweet chants with solemnity.

Continue below at Grace is poured forth and the rest, page 22.

Second Nocturn    On Tuesday and Friday

Psalm 44. Eructavit cor meum

The excellence of Christ’s Kingdom, and the endowments of His Church.

Ant. In thy comeliness.

MY heart hath uttered a good word * I speak my works to the king.

2 My tongue is the pen of a scrivener * that writeth swiftly.

3 Thou art beautiful above the sons of men, grace is poured abroad in thy lips * therefore hath God blessed thee forever.

4 Gird thy sword upon thy thigh * O thou most mighty.

5 With thy comeliness and thy beauty set out * proceed prosperously, and reign.

6 Because of truth and meekness and justice * and thy right hand shall conduct thee wonderfully.

7 Thy arrows are sharp: under thee shall people fall * into the hearts of the king’s enemies.

8 Thy throne, O God, is forever and ever * the sceptre of thy kingdom is a sceptre of uprightness.

9 Thou hast loved justice, and hated iniquity * therefore God, thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.

10 Myrrh and aloes and cassia perfume thy garments, from the ivory palaces * out of which the daughters of kings have delighted thee in thy honor.

11 The queen stood on thy right hand, in gilded clothing * surrounded with variety.

12 Hearken, O daughter, and see, and incline thy ear * and forget thy people and thy father’s house.

13 And the king shall greatly desire thy beauty * for he is the Lord thy God, and him they shall adore.

14 And the daughters of Tyre with gifts * yea, all the rich among the people, shall entreat thy countenance.

15 All the glory of the king’s daughter is within in golden borders * clothed round about with varieties.

16 After her shall virgins be brought to the king * her neighbours shall be brought to thee.

17 They shall be brought with gladness and rejoicing * they shall be brought into the temple of the king.

18 Instead of thy fathers, sons are born to thee * thou shalt make them princes over all the earth.

19 They shall remember thy name * throughout all generations.

20 Therefore shall people praise thee forever * yea, forever and ever.

Glory Be.

Ant. In thy comeliness and Thy beauty go forth, advance prosperously, and reign.

Psalm 45. Deus noster refugium

The Church in persecution trusteth in the protection of God.

Ant. God shall help her.

Our God is our refuge and strength * a helper in troubles, which have found us exceedingly.

2 Therefore we will not fear, when the earth shall be troubled * and the mountains shall be removed into the heart of the sea.

3 Their waters roared and were troubled * the mountains were troubled with his strength.

4 The stream of the river maketh the city of God joyful * the most High hath sanctified his own tabernacle.

5 God is in the midst thereof, it shall not be moved * God will help it in the morning early.

6 Nations were troubled, and kingdoms were bowed down * he uttered his voice, the earth trembled.

7 The Lord of armies is with us * the God of Jacob is our protector.

8 Come and behold ye the works of the Lord: what wonders he hath done upon earth * making wars to cease even to the end of the earth.

9 He shall destroy the bow, and break the weapons: and the shield he shall burn in the fire.

10 Be still and see that I am God * I will be exalted among the nations, and I will be exalted in the earth.

11 The Lord of armies is with us * the God of Jacob is our protector. Glory Be.

Ant. God shall help her with His countenance: God is in the midst of her, she shall not be moved

Psalm 86. Fundamenta ejus

The glory of the Church of Christ.

Ant. As of people all rejoicing.

The foundations thereof are in the holy mountains * the

Lord loveth the gates of Sion above all the tabernacles of Jacob.

2 Glorious things are said of thee * O city of God.

3 I will be mindful of Rahab and of Babylon * knowing me.

4 Behold the foreigners, and Tyre, and the people of the Ethiopians, * these were there.

5 Shall not Sion say: This man and that man is born in her? * and the Highest himself hath founded her.

6 The Lord shall tell in his writings of peoples and of princes, * of them that have been in her.

7 The dwelling in thee * is as it were of all rejoicing.

Glory Be.

Ant. As of people all rejoicing: so is our habitation in thee.

Continue below at Grace is poured forth and the rest, page 22.

Third Nocturn        On Wednesday and Saturday

Psalm 95. Cantate Domino

An exhortation to all creatures to praise God.

Ant. Rejoice, O Virgin Mary.

Sing ye to the Lord a new canticle: * sing to the Lord, all the earth.

2 Sing ye to the Lord and bless his name: * shew forth his salvation from day to day.

3 Declare his glory among the Gentiles: * his wonders among all people.

4 For the Lord is great, and exceedingly to be praised: * he is to be feared above all gods.

5 For all the gods of the Gentiles are devils: * but the Lord made the heavens.

6 Praise and beauty are before him: * holiness and majesty in his sanctuary.

7 Bring ye to the Lord, O ye kindreds of the Gentiles, bring ye to the Lord glory and honour: * Bring to the Lord glory unto his name.

8 Bring up sacrifices, and come into his courts: * Adore ye the Lord in his holy court.

9 Let all the earth be moved at his presence. * Say ye among the Gentiles, the Lord hath reigned.

10 For he hath corrected the world, which shall not be moved: * He will judge the people with justice.

11 Let the heavens rejoice, and let the earth be glad, let the sea be moved, and the fullness thereof: * the fields and all things that are in them shall be joyful.

12 Then shall all the trees of the woods rejoice before the face of the Lord, because he cometh: * because he cometh to judge the earth. 13 He shall judge the world with justice, * and the people with his truth.

Glory Be.

Ant. Rejoice, O Virgin Mary, thou alone hast destroyed all heresies in the whole world.

Psalm 96. Dominus regnavit

Joy at the coming and reign of Christ.

Ant. Vouchsafe.

The Lord hath reigned, let the earth rejoice: *

let many islands be glad.

2 Clouds and darkness are round about him: * justice and judgment are the establishment of his throne.

3 A fire shall go before him, * and shall burn his enemies round about.

4 His lightnings have shone forth to the world: * the earth saw and trembled.

5 The mountains melted like wax, at the presence of the Lord: * at the presence of the Lord of all the earth.

6 The heavens declared his justice: * and all people saw his glory.

7 Let them be all confounded that adore graven things, * and that glory in their idols.

8 Adore him, all you his angels: * Sion heard, and was glad.

9 And the daughters of Juda rejoiced, * because of thy judgments, O Lord.

10 For thou art the most high Lord over all the earth: *Thou art exalted exceedingly above all gods.

11 You that love the Lord, hate evil: * the Lord preserveth the souls of his saints, he will deliver them out of the hand of the sinner.

12 Light is risen to the just, * and joy to the right of heart.

13 Rejoice, ye just, in the Lord: * and give praise to the remembrance of his holiness.

Glory Be.

Ant. Vouchsafe that I may praise thee, O sacred Virgin: give me strength against thine enemies.

Psalm 97. Cantate Domino

Invitation to praise the Lord for the victories of Christ.

Ant. After childbirth.

Sing ye to the Lord anew canticle: * because he hath done wonderful things.

2 His right hand hath wrought for him salvation, * and his arm is holy.

3 The Lord hath made known his salvation: * he hath revealed his justice in the sight of the Gentiles.

4 He hath remembered his mercy * and his truth toward the house of Israel.

5 All the ends of the earth have seen * the salvation of our God.

6 Sing joyfully to God, all the earth; * make melody, rejoice and sing.

7 Sing praise to the Lord on the harp, on the harp, and with the voice of a psalm: * with long trumpets, and sound of cornet.

8 Make a joyful noise before the Lord our king: * let the sea be moved and the fulness thereof: the world and they that dwell therein.

9 The rivers shall clap their hands, the mountains shall rejoice together at the presence of the Lord: * because he cometh to judge the earth.

10 He shall judge the world with justice, and the people with equity. Glory Be.

Ant. After childbirth thou didst remain a pure virgin; Intercede for us O holy Mother of God.

End of the Nocturns

V. Grace is poured forth on thy lips.

R. Therefore hath God blessed thee forever.

Our Father, said in secret.

V. And lead us not into temptation.

R. But deliver us from evil.

Absolution. By the prayers and merits of the blessed Mary ever Virgin, and of all the Saints, may the Lord bring us to the kingdom of heaven. R. Amen.

V. Pray, sir, a blessing.

Benediction. May the Virgin Mary, with her loving Child, bless us. R. Amen.

The Lessons

Lesson i Ecclus. 24, 11-13.

In all these I sought rest, and I shall abide in the inheritance of the Lord. Then the creator of all things commanded, and said to me: and he that made me, rested in my tabernacle, and he said to me: Let thy dwelling be in Jacob, and thy inheritance in Israel, and take root in my elect. But Thou, Lord, have mercy on us.

R. Thanks be to God.

R. O holy and immaculate Virgin, with what praises I shall extol thee, I know not: * For He whom the heavens could not contain rested in thy bosom.

V. Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the Fruit of thy womb. * For He whom the heavens could not contain rested in thy bosom.

V. Pray, sir, a blessing.

Benediction. May the Virgin of virgins herself intercede for us with the Lord.

R. Amen.

Lesson ii Ecclus. 24, 15-16.

And so was I established in Sion, and in the holy city likewise I rested, and my power was in Jerusalem. And I took root in an honourable people, and in the portion of my God his inheritance, and my abode is in the full assembly of saints. But Thou, O Lord, have mercy on us.

R. Thanks be to God.

V. Blessed art thou, O Virgin Mary, who didst bear the Lord, the Creator of the world: * Thou wast the mother of Him who made thee, and thou remainest a pure virgin forever.

R. Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. * Thou wast the mother of Him who made thee, and thou remainest a pure virgin forever.

When the Te Deum is said, i.e., outside of Advent, before Septuagesima and after Easter, add:

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost, * Thou wast the mother of Him who made thee, and thou remainest a pure virgin forever.

V. Pray, sir, a blessing.

Benediction. Through the Virgin Mother, may the Lord grant unto us salvation and peace.

R. Amen.

Lesson iii Ecclus. 24, 17-20.

I was exalted like a cedar in Libanus, and as a cypress tree on Mount Sion. I was exalted like a palm tree in Cades, and as a rose plant in Jericho. As a fair olive tree in the plains, and as a plane tree by the water in the streets, was I exalted. I gave a sweet smell like cinnamon. and aromatical balm: I yielded a sweet odour like the best myrrh. But Thou, O Lord, have mercy on us.

R. Thanks be to God.

The following Responsory is omitted when the Te Deum is said, i.e., outside of Advent, before Septuagesima and after Easter.

R. Surely thou art happy, O holy Virgin Mary, and most worthy of all praise: * For out of thee arose the Sun of justice, * Christ our God.

V. Pray for the people, supplicate for the clergy, intercede for the devoted female sex. Let all experience thy assistance, whoever celebrate thy holy commemoration. * For out of thee arose the Sun of justice, * Christ our God.

V. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.

R. Christ our God.

Te Deum Hymn of St. Ambrose and St. Augustine

We praise thee, O God, * we acknowledge thee to be the Lord.

All the earth doth worship thee, * the Father everlasting.

To thee all Angels cry aloud, * the Heavens, and all the Powers therein.

To thee Cherubim and Seraphim * continually do cry.

Holy, Holy, Holy, * Lord God of Sabaoth;

Heaven and earth are full * of the Majesty of thy glory.

The glorious company of the Apostles * praise thee.

The goodly fellowship of the Prophets * praise thee.

The noble army of Martyrs * praise thee.

The Holy Church throughout all the world * doth acknowledge thee;

The Father, * of an infinite Majesty.

Thine honourable, true, * and only Son;

Also the Holy Ghost, * the Comforter.

Thou art the King of Glory, * O Christ.

Thou art the everlasting * Son of the Father.

When thou tookest upon thee to deliver man, * thou didst not abhor the Virgin’s womb.

When thou hadst overcome the sharpness of death,

Thou didst open the Kingdom of Heaven to all believers.

Thou sittest at the right hand of God, * in the glory of the Father.

We believe that thou shalt come * to be our Judge.

The following verse is said kneeling

We therefore pray thee, help thy servants, * whom thou hast redeemed with thy precious Blood.

Make them to be numbered with thy Saints, * in glory everlasting.

O Lord, save thy people, * and bless thine heritage.

Govern them, * and lift them up forever.

Day by day * we magnify thee;

And we worship thy Name * ever, world without end.

Vouchsafe, O Lord, to keep us * this day without sin.

O Lord, have mercy upon us, * have mercy upon us.

O Lord, let thy mercy lighten upon us, * as our trust is in thee.

O Lord, in thee have I trusted, * let me never be confounded.

LAUDS (at dawn)

When Lauds is not said immediately after Matins begin with, Hail Mary secretly.

V. Come † unto my help, O God.

R. O Lord, make haste to help me.

V. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.

R. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

Alleluia or Praise be to Thee, O Lord, King of everlasting glory.

Psalm 92. Dominus regnavit

The Glory and Stability of the Church of Christ

Ant. Mary was taken up.

THE Lord hath reigned, He is clothed with beauty:

The Lord is clothed with strength, and hath girded himself.

2 For he hath established the world * which shall not be moved.

3 Thy throne is prepared from of old: * thou art from everlasting.

4 The floods have lifted up, O Lord: * the floods have lifted up their voice.

5 The floods have lifted up their waves, * with the noise of many waters.

6 Wonderful are the surges of the sea: * wonderful is the Lord on high.

7 Thy testimonies are become exceedingly credible: * holiness becometh thy house, O Lord, unto length of days.

Glory Be.

Ant. Mary was taken up into heaven, the angels rejoice and with praises bless the Lord.

Psalm 99. Jubilate

All are invited to praise Jehovah.

Ant. The Virgin Mary.

SING joyfully to God, all the earth: * serve ye the Lord with gladness.

2 Come in before his presence * with exceeding great joy.

3 Know ye that the Lord he is God: * he made us, and not we ourselves.

4 We are his people and the sheep of his pasture. * Go ye into his gates with praise, into his courts with hymns: and give glory to him.

5 Praise ye his name, for the Lord is sweet, his mercy endureth forever, * and his truth to generation and generation. Glory Be.

Ant. The Virgin Mary was taken up to the heavenly chamber, where the King of kings sitteth on His starry throne.

Psalm 62. Deus, Deus meus

A prayer in desolation and distress.

Ant. We run.

O GOD, my God, * to thee do I watch at break of day.

2 For thee my soul hath thirsted; * for thee my flesh, O how many ways!

3 In a desert land, and where there is no way, and no water: * so in the sanctuary have I come before thee, to see thy power and thy glory.

4 For thy mercy is better than lives: * thee my lips shall praise.

5 Thus will I bless thee all my life long: * and in thy name I will lift up my hands.

6 Let my soul be filled as with marrow and fatness: * and my mouth shall praise thee with joyful lips.

7 If I have remembered thee upon my bed, I will meditate on thee in the morning: * because thou hast been my helper.

8 And I will rejoice under the covert of thy wings; my soul hath stuck close to thee: * thy right hand hath received me.

9 But they have sought my soul in vain, they shall go into the lower parts of the earth: * they shall be delivered into the hands of the sword, they shall be the portions of foxes.

10 But the king shall rejoice in God, all they shall be praised that swear by him: * because the mouth is stopped of them that speak wicked things.

Glory Be...

Ant. We run to the odour of thy ointments: the young maidens have loved thee exceedingly.

Canticle of the Three Children. Dan. 3, 57-88 and 56

Ant. Thou, O daughter.

O ALL ye works of the Lord, bless the Lord: * praise and exalt Him above all forever.

2 O ye Angels of the Lord, bless the Lord: * O ye heavens, bless ye the Lord.

3 O all ye waters that are above the heavens, bless the Lord: * bless the Lord, all ye powers of the Lord.

4 O ye Sun and Moon, bless the Lord: * bless the Lord, ye stars of heaven.

5 O all ye showers and dew, bless ye the Lord: bless the Lord, all ye spirits of God.

6 O ye fire and heat, bless ye the Lord: * bless the Lord, ye winter and summer.

7 O ye dews and hoar-frost, bless ye the Lord: * bless the Lord, ye frost and cold.

8 O ye ice and snow, bless ye the Lord: * bless the Lord, ye nights and days.

9 O ye light and darkness, bless ye the Lord: * bless the Lord, ye lightnings and clouds.

10 O let the earth bless the Lord: * let it praise and exalt Him above all forever.

11 O ye mountains and hills, bless ye the Lord: * bless the Lord, all things that spring forth upon the earth

12 O ye fountains, bless ye the Lord: * bless the Lord, ye seas and floods.

13 O ye whales, and all that move in the waters, bless ye the Lord: * bless the Lord, all ye fowls of the air.

14 O all ye beasts and cattle, bless ye the Lord: * bless the Lord, ye sons of men.

15 Let Israel bless the Lord: * let him praise and exalt Him above all forever.

16 O ye priests of the Lord, bless ye the Lord: bless the Lord, ye servants of the Lord.

17 O ye spirits and souls of the just, bless ye the Lord: * bless the Lord, all ye that are holy and humble of heart.

18 O Ananias, Azarias, Misael, bless ye the Lord: * praise and exalt Him above all forever.

19 Let us bless the Father, and the Son, with the Holy Ghost: * let us praise and exalt Him above all forever.

20 Blessed art Thou, O Lord, in the firmament of heaven: * worthy to be praised, and glorious, and exalted above all forever.

The Glory Be is not said here.

Ant. Thou, O daughter, art blessed of the Lord, for through thee have we been made partakers of the Fruit of life.

Psalm 148. Laudate Dominum

All creatures invited to praise God.

Ant. Thou art fair.

Praise ye the Lord from the heavens: * praise ye Him in the heights.

2 Praise Him, all ye His Angels: * praise Him, all His Hosts.

3 Praise Him, O ye Sun and Moon: * praise Him, all ye stars and light.

4 Praise Him, O ye heaven of heavens: * and let all the waters that are above the heavens praise the name of the Lord.

5 For He spake, and they were made: * He commanded, and they were created.

6 He hath established them forever, and for ages of ages: * He hath made a decree, and it shall not pass away.

7 Praise the Lord from the earth: * ye dragons, and all ye deeps.

8 Fire and hail; snow and ice: * and stormy winds which fulfill His word.

9 Mountains and hills: * fruitful trees and all cedars.

10 Beasts and all cattle: * creeping things and feathered fowls.

11 Kings of the earth, and all people: * princes, and all judges of the earth.

12 Young men and maidens, old men and children, let them praise the name of the Lord: * for His name alone is exalted.

13 His praise is above heaven and earth: * and He hath exalted the horn of His people.

14 A song of praise to all His Saints: * to the children of Israel, a people drawing nigh unto Him.

Glory be.

Ant. Thou art fair and comely, O daughter of Jerusalem: terrible as an army set in array.

The Little Chapter Cant. 6, 8.

The daughters of Sion saw her, and declared her most blessed: and the queens praised her.

R. Thanks be to God.

Hymn

O Queen of all the virgin choir!

Enthroned above the starry sky!

Who with thy bosom’s milk didst feed

Thy own Creator, Lord most high.

What man had lost in hapless Eve,

Thy sacred womb to man restores,

Thou to the wretched here beneath

Hast open’d Heaven’s eternal doors.

Hail, O refulgent Hall of light!

Hail, Gate august of Heaven’s high King!

Through thee redeem’d to endless life,

Thy praise let all the nations sing.

O Jesu! born of Virgin bright,

Immortal glory be to Thee;

Praise to the Father Infinite,

And Holy Ghost eternally. Amen.

V. Blessed art thou among women.

R. And blessed is the Fruit of thy womb.

The Canticle of Zachary Luc. 1, 68-79

Ant: O blessed Mother of God.

Ant: in Paschal time: O Queen of heaven.

BLESSED † be the Lord God of Israel: for He hath visited and wrought the redemption of His people.

2 And hath raised up a horn of salvation to us * in the house of His servant David.

3 As He spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets * who are from the beginning:

4 Salvation from our enemies * and from the hand of all that hate us;

5 To perform mercy to our fathers * and to remember His Holy Covenant.

6 The oath which He swore to Abraham our father * that He would grant unto us,

7 That, being delivered from the hand of our enemies * we might serve Him without fear,

8 In holiness and justice before Him * all the days of our life,

9 And thou, child, shalt be called the Prophet of the highest * for thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to prepare His ways.

10 To give knowledge of salvation unto His people * for the remission of their sins.

11 Through the bowels of the mercy of our God * whereby the Orient from on high hath visited us.

12 To enlighten them that sit in darkness, and in the shadow of death * to direct our feet into the way of peace.

Glory be.

Ant: O blessed Mother of God, Mary ever Virgin, temple of the Lord, sanctuary of the Holy Ghost; thou, alone, without example, wast well-pleasing to our Lord Jesus Christ: pray for the people, supplicate for the clergy; Intercede for the devoted female sex.

Ant: in Paschal time: Queen of heaven, rejoice, alleluia. For He whom thou wast meet to bear, alleluia. Hath arisen as He said, alleluia. Pray to God for us, alleluia.

Lord, have mercy.

Christ, have mercy.

Lord, have mercy.

V. O Lord, hear my prayer.

R. And let my cry come unto Thee.

Let us pray. O God, who wast pleased that Thy Word, at the message of an Angel, should take flesh in the womb of the blessed Virgin Mary; grant to us, Thy suppliants, that, as we believe her to be truly the Mother of God, so we may be assisted by her intercessions with Thee. Through the same Christ our Lord.

Amen.

Commemoration of St. Joseph (Optional)

Ant: And Jesus Himself was beginning about the age of thirty years, being (as it was supposed), the son of Joseph (Luke 3:23).

V. The mouth of the just shall meditate wisdom.

R. And his tongue shall speak judgment (Psalm 36:30).

Let us pray.—O God, who, in Thy wonderful providence, didst vouchsafe to choose blessed Joseph to be the spouse of Thy most Holy Mother, grant, we beseech Thee, to us who venerate him as our protector on earth, to be found worthy of having him for our advocate in heaven.

Commemoration of St. Francis of Assisi (Optional)

Ant: Well done, good and faithful servant; because thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will place thee over many things; enter thou into the joy of they Lord.

V. The just the Lord leadeth the righteous way.

R. And showeth him the Kingdom of God.

Let us pray..—O God, who, through the merits of blessed Francis dost enlarge Thy Church by the progeny of a new spiritual family; grant unto us that, by imitating him, we may despise terrestrial things, and ever rejoice in the participation of heavenly gifts.

Commemoration of the Saints:

Ant. O all ye Saints of God, vouchsafe to intercede for our salvation, and that of all mankind.

V. Rejoice in the Lord, and be glad, ye just.

R. And glory, all ye that are right of heart.

Let us pray. Protect Thy people, O Lord, and preserve them by Thy continual defense, who trust in the Patronage of Peter and Paul, and all Thy other Apostles. Let all Thy Saints, we beseech Thee, O Lord, assist us everywhere; that, while we venerate their merits, we may experience their patronage; grant us Thy peace in our times, and drive away all wickedness from Thy Church; dispose our way, our acts, and wills, and those of all Thy servants, in the good success of Thy salvation; render to our benefactors everlasting blessings, and grant to all the faithful departed eternal rest. Through our Lord Jesus Christ Thy Son, who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end. Amen

V. O Lord, hear my prayer.

R. And let my cry come unto Thee.

V. Let us bless the Lord.

R. Thanks be to God.

V. May the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in

peace.

R. Amen.

Our Father, secretly.

V. May the Lord give us His peace.

R. And life everlasting. Amen.

Then is said one of the following Anthems to Our Lady according to the season, unless one or more of the little hours is said immediately, in which case, the anthem is said after the last hour recited. If the entire Office is said at once, say the anthem only after Complin:

Alma Redemptoris Mater  From the Vespers before the first Sunday of Advent until the Purification, inclusive.

Sweet Mother of our Redeemer,

Gate whereby we enter heaven, and Star of the sea!

Help us, we fall; yet do we long to rise.

Nature looked upon thee with admiration,

When thou didst give birth to thy Divine Creator,

Thyself remaining, before and after it, a pure Virgin.

Gabriel spoke his Hail, to thee; We sinners crave thy pity.

R. Amen.

V. The angel of the Lord declared unto Mary.

R. And she conceived of the Holy Ghost.

Until the Purification, the following Responsory and prayer is said:

V. After childbirth thou didst remain a virgin.

R. 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 experience her intercession, through whom we have been made worthy to receive the author of life, our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son. Amen.

R. Amen.

V. May the divine assistance remain always with us.

R. Amen.

Ave Regina Coelorum  From Complin of the Purification until Easter:

Hail, O Queen of Heaven enthron’d!

Hail, by angels Mistress own’d

Root of Jesse! Gate of morn’!

Whence the world’s true Light was born!

Glorious Virgin, joy to thee,

Loveliest whom in heaven they see

Fairest thou where all are fair!

Plead with Christ our sins to spare.

V. Vouchsafe that I may praise thee, O sacred Virgin.

R. Give me strength against thine enemies.

Let us pray. Vouchsafe to our weakness, O merciful God, the help of Thy protection; that we who commemorate the holy Mother of God, may, by the help of her intercession, arise from our iniquities, through the same Christ our Lord.

R. Amen.

V. May the Divine assistance remain always with us.

R. Amen

Regina Coeli  From Complin of Holy Saturday until None of the Saturday before Trinity Sunday:

Joy to thee, O Queen of Heaven, Alleluia.

He whom thou wast meet to bear, Alleluia.

As He promis’d hath arisen, Alleluia.

Send for us to God, thy prayer, Alleluia.

V. Rejoice and be glad, O Virgin Mary, Alleluia.

R. For the Lord hath risen indeed, Alleluia.

Let us pray. O GOD, who hast vouchsafed to rejoice the world by the Resurrection of Thy Son, our Lord Jesus Christ; grant, we beseech Thee, that through His Virgin Mother Mary, we may obtain the joys of life eternal. Through the same Christ our Lord.Amen

V. May the Divine assistance remain always with us.

R. Amen

Salve Regina From Complin of the Saturday before Trinity Sunday until Advent:

Hail, Holy Queen, Mother of mercy;

Hail, our life, our sweetness and our hope.

To Thee do we cry, poor banished children of Eve.

To Thee do we send up our sighs, mourning and weeping in this vale of tears. Turn then, most gracious advocate, thine eyes of mercy towards us; and after this, our exile, show unto us the blessed Fruit of thy womb, Jesus.

O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary.

V. Pray for us, O holy Mother of God.

R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

Let us pray.  Almighty and everlasting God, who, by the cooperation of the Holy Ghost, didst prepare the body and soul of the glorious Virgin Mother Mary, to become a habitation meet for Thy Son; grant that as we rejoice in her commemoration, we may, by her loving intercession, be delivered from present evils and from everlasting death.  Through the same Christ our Lord.

R. Amen.

V. May the Divine assistance remain always with us. R. Amen.

PRIME (6:00 am)

Hail Mary, secretly.

V. Come † unto my help, O God.

R. O Lord, make haste to help me.

V. Glory Be.

Alleluia or Praise be to Thee, O Lord, King of everlasting glory.

Hymn

Remember, O Creator Lord!

That in the Virgin’s sacred womb

Thou wast conceived, and of her flesh

Didst our mortality assume.

Mother of grace, O Mary blest!

To thee, sweet fount of love, we fly;

Shield us through life, and take us hence

To thy dear bosom when we die.

O Jesu! born of Virgin bright!

Immortal glory be to Thee;

Praise to the Father infinite,

And Holy Ghost eternally. Amen.

Ant.: Mary was taken up.

Psalm 53. Deus, in nomine

A prayer for help in distress.

O GOD, save me in Thy name * and judge me in Thy strength.

2 O God, hear my prayer * and give ear to the words of my mouth.

3 For strangers have risen up against me, and the mighty have sought after my soul * and they have not set God before their eyes.

4 For behold, God is my helper * and the Lord is the protector of my soul.

5 Turn back evil upon mine enemies * and destroy Thou them in Thy truth.

6 I will freely sacrifice unto Thee * and will praise Thy name, O Lord, for it is good.

7 For Thou hast delivered me out of all trouble * and mine eye hath looked down upon mine enemies. Glory be.

Psalm 84. Benedixisti

Prayer to obtain the complete restoration of Israel.

THOU hast blessed Thy land, O Lord * Thou hast turned away the captivity of Jacob.

2 Thou hast forgiven the iniquity of Thy people * Thou hast covered all their sins.

3 Thou hast softened all Thine anger * Thou hast turned Thyself away from the wrath of Thine indignation.

4 Convert us, O God our Saviour * and turn away Thine anger from us.

5 Wilt Thou be angry with us forever * or wilt Thou stretch out Thy wrath from generation to generation?

6 Thou shalt turn again, O God, and quicken us * and Thy people shall rejoice in Thee.

7 Show us, O Lord, Thy mercy * and grant us Thy salvation.

8 I will hearken what the Lord God shall say within me * for He will speak peace unto His people:

9 And unto His Saints * and unto them that are converted in heart.

10 Surely His salvation is nigh unto them that fear Him * that glory may dwell in our land.

11 Mercy and truth have met together * justice and peace have kissed each other.

12 Truth is sprung out of the earth * and justice hath looked down from heaven.

13 For the Lord shall give goodness * and our land shall yield her fruit.

14 Justice shall walk before Him * and shall set His steps in the way.

Glory Be.

Psalm 116. Laudate Dominum

Exhortation to praise God.

PRAISE the Lord, all ye nations * praise Him, all ye people.

2 For His mercy is confirmed upon us * and the truth of the Lord endureth forever.

Glory Be.

Ant. Mary was taken up into heaven, the angels rejoice and with praises bless the Lord.

The Little Chapter Cant. 6, 9.

Who is she that cometh forth as the morning rising, fair as the moon, bright as the sun, terrible as an army set in array?

R. Thanks be to God

V.Vouchsafe that I may praise Thee O Sacred Virgin

R. Give me strength against thine enemies.

Lord, have mercy.

Christ, have mercy.

Lord, have mercy.

V. O Lord, hear my prayer.

R. And let my cry come unto Thee.

Let us pray. O God, who didst vouchsafe to choose the chaste chamber of the blessed Virgin Mary in which to dwell; grant, we beseech Thee, that fortified with her defence, we may find our joy in taking part in her commemoration. Who livest and reignest with God the Father, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end.

R. Amen.

V. O Lord, hear my prayer.

R. And let my cry come unto Thee.

V. Let us bless the Lord.

R. Thanks be to God.

V. May the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace.

R. Amen.

TERCE (9:00am)

Hail Mary, secretly.

V. Come † unto my help, O God.

R. O Lord, make haste to help me.

V. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.

R. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

Alleluia or Praise be to Thee, O Lord, King of everlasting glory.

Hymn

Remember, O Creator Lord!

That in the Virgin’s sacred womb

Thou wast conceived, and of her flesh

Didst our mortality assume.

Mother of grace, O Mary blest!

To thee, sweet fount of love, we fly:

Shield us through life, and take us hence

To thy dear bosom when we die.

O Jesu! born of Virgin bright

Immortal glory be to Thee;

Praise to the Father infinite,

And Holy Ghost eternally. Amen.

Ant. The Virgin.

Psalm 119. Ad Dominum

A prayer against perfidious enemies.

1 When I was in trouble I cried unto the Lord * and He heard me.

2 O Lord, deliver my soul from wicked lips * and from a deceitful tongue.

3 What shall be given to thee, or what shall be added to thee * unto a deceitful tongue.

4 Sharp arrows of the mighty One * with destroying coals of fire.

5 Woe is me, that my sojourn is prolonged! I have dwelt with the inhabitants of Cedar * my soul hath long been a sojourner.

6 With them that hated peace, I was peaceable * when I spoke unto them, they fought against me without cause.

Glory Be.

Psalm 120. Levavi oculos

God is the keeper of His servants.

1 I have lifted up mine eyes to the hills * from whence my help shall come.

2 My help is from the Lord * who made both heaven and earth.

3 Let Him not suffer thy foot to be moved * neither let Him slumber that keepeth thee.

4 Behold He that keepeth Israel * shall neither slumber nor sleep.

5 The Lord is thy keeper * the Lord is thy defence upon thy right hand.

6 The sun shall not burn thee by day * nor the moon by night.

7 The Lord preserveth thee from all evil * may the Lord preserve thy soul.

8 May the Lord preserve thy coming in and thy going out * from this time forth forevermore.

Glory Be.

Psalm 121. Lætatus sum

Joy of the pilgrim entering Jerusalem.

1 I was glad at the things that were said unto me * We will go into the house of the Lord.

2 Our feet were standing * in thy courts, O Jerusalem.

3 Jerusalem, which is built as a city * that is in unity with itself.

4 For thither did the tribes go up the tribes of the Lord * the testimony of Israel, to praise the name of the Lord.

5 For there are set the seats of judgment * the seats over the house of David.

6 Pray ye for the things that are for the peace of Jerusalem * and plenteousness be to them that love thee.

7 Let peace be in thy strength * and plenteousness in thy towers.

8 For my brethren and companions’ sake * I spake peace concerning thee.

9 Because of the house of the Lord our God * I have sought good things for thee.

Glory Be.

Ant. The Virgin Mary was taken up to the heavenly chamber, where the King of kings sitteth on His starry throne.

The Little Chapter Eccl. 24, 15.

And so was I established in Sion, and in the holy city likewise I rested, and my power was in Jerusalem.

R. Thanks be to God.

V. Grace is poured forth on thy lips.

R. Therefore God hath blessed thee forever.

Lord, have mercy.

Christ, have mercy.

Lord, have mercy.

V. O Lord, hear my prayer.

R. And let my cry come unto Thee.

Let us pray. O God, who, by the fruitful virginity of blessed Mary, hast bestowed upon mankind the rewards of eternal salvation; grant, we beseech Thee, that we may feel her intercession for us, through whom we have been made worthy to receive the Author of life, our Lord Jesus Christ Thy Son, who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end.

R. Amen.

V. O Lord, hear my prayer.

R. And let my cry come unto Thee.

V. Let us bless the Lord.

R. Thanks be to God.

V. May the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace.

R. Amen.

SEXT (noon)

Hail Mary, secretly.

V. Come † unto my help, O God.

R. O Lord, make haste to help me.

V. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.

R. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

Alleluia or Praise be to Thee, O Lord, King of everlasting glory.

Hymn

Remember, O Creator Lord!

That in the Virgin’s sacred womb

Thou wast conceived, and of her flesh

Didst our mortality assume.

Mother of grace, O Mary blest!

To thee, sweet fount of love, we fly:

Shield us through life, and take us hence

To thy dear bosom when we die.

O Jesu! born of Virgin bright

Immortal glory be to Thee;

Praise to the Father infinite,

And Holy Ghost eternally. Amen.

Ant. We run

Psalm 122. Ad te levavi

A prayer in affliction.

1 Unto Thee have I lifted up mine eyes * O Thou that dwellest in the heavens.

2 Behold, as the eyes of servants * are on the hands of their masters,

3 As the eyes of the handmaiden are on the hands of her mistress * so are our eyes unto the Lord our God, until He have mercy upon us.

4 Have mercy upon us, O Lord, have mercy upon us * for we are greatly filled with contempt.

5 Yea, our soul is greatly filled * we are a reproach unto the rich, and a contempt unto the proud.

Glory Be.

Psalm 123. Nisi quia Dominus

The Church gives glory to God for her deliverance from her enemies.

1 If the Lord had not been in us, now may Israel say * If the Lord had not been in us,

2 When men rose up against us * peradventure they had swallowed us up alive.

3 When their fury was enkindled against us * perchance the waters had swallowed us up.

4 Our soul hath passed through a torrent; * perchance our soul would have passed through overwhelming waters.

5 Blessed be the Lord * who hath not given us up to be a prey unto their teeth.

6 Our soul hath been delivered, as a sparrow * out of the snare of the fowlers.

7 The snare is broken * and we are delivered.

8 Our help is in the name of the Lord * who hath made heaven and earth.

Glory Be.

Psalm 124. Qui confidunt

God protects the just who have confidence in Him.

1 They who trust in the Lord shall be as Mount Sion * he shall not be moved forever that dwelleth in Jerusalem.

2 The hills stand round about her * even so is the Lord round about His people, from this time forth forevermore.

3 For the Lord will not leave the rod of sinners over the lot of the just * that the just may not stretch forth their hands unto wickedness.

4 Do well, O Lord, unto those that are good * and unto them that are right of heart.

5 But such as turn aside unto deceits, the Lord shall number with the workers of iniquity * but peace shall be upon Israel.

Glory Be.

Ant. We run to the odour of thy ointments: the young maidens have loved thee exceedingly.

The Little Chapter Eccli. 24, 16

And I took root in an honourable people, and in the portion of my God His inheritance: and my abode is in the full assembly of the saints.

R. Thanks be to God.

V. Blessed art thou among women.

R. And blessed is the Fruit of thy womb.

Lord, have mercy.

Christ, have mercy.

Lord, have mercy.

V. O Lord, hear my prayer.

R. And let my cry come unto Thee.

Let us pray. Vouchsafe to our weakness, O merciful God, the help of Thy protection that we who commemorate the Holy Mother of God, may, by the help of her intercession arise from our iniquities. Through the same Jesus Christ, Thy Son our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with Thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost God, world without end.

R. Amen.

V. O Lord, hear my prayer.

R. And let my cry come unto Thee.

V. Let us bless the Lord.

R. Thanks be to God.

V. May the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace.

R. Amen.

NONE (3:00pm)

Hail Mary, secretly.

V. Come † unto my help, O God.

R. O Lord, make haste to help me.

V. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.

R. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

Alleluia or Praise be to Thee, O Lord, King of everlasting glory.

Hymn

Remember, O Creator Lord!

That in the Virgin’s sacred womb

Thou wast conceived, and of her flesh

Didst our mortality assume.

Mother of grace, O Mary blest!

To thee, sweet fount of love, we fly:

Shield us through life, and take us hence

To thy dear bosom when we die.

O Jesu! born of Virgin bright

Immortal glory be to Thee;

Praise to the Father infinite,

And Holy Ghost eternally. Amen.

Ant. Thou art fair.

Psalm 125. In convertendo

The people of God rejoice at their delivery from captivity.

1 When the Lord turned again the captivity of Sion: * then we became like men consoled.

2 Then was our mouth filled with gladness, * and our tongue with joy.

3 Then shall they say among the Gentiles: * the Lord hath done great things for them.

4 Yea, the Lord hath done great things for us, * and we are made joyful.

5 Turn again, O Lord, our captivity, * as a river in the south.

6 They that sow in tears, * shall reap in joy.

7 When they went forth they wept as they went, * scattering their seed.

8 But returning, they shall come with joy: * carrying their sheaves.

Glory Be.

Psalm 126. Nisi Dominus

Man can do nothing without God.

1 Unless the Lord build the house, * they labour in vain that build it.

2 Unless the Lord keep the city, * he watcheth in vain that keepeth it.

3 In vain do ye rise before the dawn: * rise after ye have rested, O ye that eat the bread of sorrow!

4 For He hath given sleep to His beloved: * Lo, children are a heritage from the Lord; and the fruit of the womb a reward.

5 As arrows in the hand of the mighty One, * even so are the children of those that have been cast out.

6 Blessed is the man whose desire is satisfied with them: * he shall not be confounded when he speaketh with his enemies in the gate.

Glory Be.

Psalm 127. Beati omnes

The happiness of the just.

1 Blessed are all they that fear the Lord; * that walk in His ways.

2 For thou shalt eat the labours of thy hands, * blessed art thou, and it shall be well with thee.

3 Thy wife shall be as a fruitful vine, * on the walls of thy house.

4 Thy children as olive plants, * round about thy table.

5 Behold, thus shall the man be blessed, * that feareth the Lord.

6 May the Lord bless thee out of Sion; * and mayest thou see the good things of Jerusalem all the days of thy life.

7 And mayest thou see thy children’s children; * peace upon Israel.

Glory Be.

Ant. Thou art fair and comely, O daughter of Jerusalem: terrible as an army set in array.

The Little Chapter Eccl. 24, 20

In the streets, like cinnamon and aromatic balm, I gave forth a sweet fragrance: like the choicest myrrh, I yielded a sweetness of odour.

R. Thanks be to God.

V. After childbirth thou didst remain a pure Virgin.

R. Intercede for us, O Mother of God.

Lord, have mercy.

Christ, have mercy.

Lord, have mercy.

V. O Lord, hear my prayer.

R. And let my cry come unto Thee.

Let us pray. Forgive, O Lord, we beseech Thee, the offences of Thy servants; that we, who are unable to please Thee by our own acts, may be saved by the intercession of the Mother of Thy Son, our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end.

R. Amen.

V. O Lord, hear my prayer.

R. And let my cry come unto Thee.

V. Let us bless the Lord.

R. Thanks be to God.

V. May the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace.

R. Amen.

VESPERS (6:00pm)

Hail Mary, secretly.

V. Come † unto my help, O God.

R. O Lord, make haste to help me.

V. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.

R. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

Alleluia or Praise be to Thee, O Lord, King of everlasting glory.

Psalm 109. Dixit Dominus

The Messiah, King and Priest, victorious over His enemies.

Ant.: Whilst the King.

1 The Lord said unto my Lord * Sit Thou at My right hand.

2 Until I make Thine enemies * Thy footstool.

3 The Lord shall send forth the sceptre of Thy power out of Sion * rule Thou in the midst of Thine enemies.

4 Thine shall be dominion in the day of Thy power; amidst the brightness of the Saints * from the womb, before the day-star, have I begotten Thee.

5 The Lord hath sworn, and He will not repent * Thou art a priest forever according to the order of Melchisedech.

6 The Lord upon Thy right hand * hath overthrown kings in the day of His wrath.

7 He shall judge among the nations; He shall fill them with ruins * He shall smite in sunder the heads in the land of many.

8 He shall drink of the torrent in the way * therefore shall He lift up His head.

Glory Be.

Ant.: Whilst the King was reposing, my spikenard yielded the odour of sweetness.

Psalm 112. Laudate, pueri

Glory to God, so infinitely great and so admirably condescending.

Ant.: His left hand.

1 Praise the Lord, ye children * praise ye the name of the Lord.

2 Blessed be the name of the Lord * from this time forth forevermore.

3 From the rising of the sun to the going down of the same * the name of the Lord is worthy to be praised.

4 The Lord is high above all nations * and His glory above the heavens.

5 Who is like unto the Lord our God, who dwelleth on high * and regardeth the things that are lowly in heaven and on earth?

6 Who raiseth up the needy from the earth * and lifteth the poor out of the dunghill;

7 That He may set him with princes * even with the princes of His people.

8 Who maketh the barren woman to dwell in her house * the joyful mother of children.

Glory Be.

Ant.: His left hand is under my head, and His right hand shall embrace me.

Psalm 121. Lætatus sum

Song of the pilgrims in honor of Jerusalem.

Ant.: I am black.

1 I was glad at the things that were said unto me * We will go into the house of the Lord.

2 Our feet were standing * in thy courts, O Jerusalem.

3 Jerusalem, which is built as a city * that is in unity with itself.

4 For thither did the tribes go up, even the tribes of the Lord * the testimony of Israel, to praise the name of the Lord.

5 For there are set the seats of judgment * the seats over the house of David.

6 Pray ye for the things that are for the peace of Jerusalem * and plenteousness be to them that love thee.

7 Let peace be in thy strength * and plenteousness in thy towers.

8 For my brethren and companions’ sake * I spake peace concerning thee.

9 Because of the house of the Lord our God * I have sought good things for thee.

Glory Be.

Ant. I am black, but beautiful, O daughters of Jerusalem: therefore hath the King loved me, and brought me into His chamber.

Psalm 126. Nisi Dominus

Man can do nothing without God’s help.

Ant.: Now is winter past.

1 Unless the Lord build the house * they labour in vain that build it.

2 Unless the Lord keep the city * he watcheth in vain that keepeth it.

3 In vain do ye rise before the dawn * rise after ye have rested, O ye that eat the bread of sorrow!

4 For He hath given sleep to His beloved * Lo, children are a heritage from the Lord; and the fruit of the womb a reward.

5 As arrows in the hand of the mighty One * even so are the children of those that have been cast out.

6 Blessed is the man whose desire is satisfied with them * he shall not be confounded when he speaketh with his enemies in the gate.

Glory Be.

Ant. Now is the winter past, the rain is over and gone: arise, my beloved, and come.

Psalm 147. Lauda, Jerusalem

Thanksgiving for the restoration of Jerusalem.

Ant. Thou art made beauteous.

1 Praise the Lord, O Jerusalem * praise thy God, O Sion.

2 For He hath strengthened the bars of thy gates * He hath blessed thy children within thee.

3 He hath made peace within thy borders * and filleth thee with the fat of corn.

4 He sendeth forth His speech upon the earth * His word runneth very swiftly.

5 He giveth snow like wool * He scattereth the mists like ashes.

6 He sendeth His ice like morsels * who shall stand before the face of His cold?

7 He shall send forth His word, and shall melt them * His wind shall blow and the waters shall run.

8 He declareth His word unto Jacob * His justice and judgments unto Israel.

9 He hath not done in like manner to every nation * and His judgments He hath not made manifest to them.

Glory Be.

Ant. Thou art made beauteous and sweet in thy delights, O holy Mother of God.

The Little Chapter Eccl. 24, 14.

From the beginning, and before the world, was I created, and unto the world to come I shall not cease to be, and in the holy dwelling-place I have ministered before Him.

R. Thanks be to God.

Hymn (Ave Maris Stella)

Hail, thou Star of ocean!

Portal of the sky!

Ever Virgin Mother

Of the Lord Most High!

Oh! by Gabriel’s Ave,

Utter’d long ago,

Eva’s name reversing,

Establish peace below.

Break the captives’ fetters;

Light on blindness pour;

All our ills expelling,

Every bliss implore.

Show thyself a Mother;

Offer Him our sighs,

Who for us Incarnate

Did not thee despise.

Virgin of all virgins!

To thy shelter take us:

Gentlest of the gentle!

Chaste and gentle make us.

Still, as on we journey,

Help our weak endeavour,

Till with thee and Jesus

We rejoice forever.

Through the highest heaven,

To the Almighty Three,

Father, Son, and Spirit,

One same glory be. Amen.

V. Grace is poured forth on thy lips.

R. Therefore hath the Lord blessed thee forever

The “Magnificat” or Song of the Blessed Virgin Mary Luc. 1, 46–55

Ant. Blessed Mother.

Ant. In Paschal time. Queen of heaven.

1 My soul † doth magnify the Lord.

2 And my spirit hath rejoiced * in God my Saviour.

3 Because He hath regarded the humility of His handmaid * for behold from henceforth all generations shall call me Blessed.

4 For He that is mighty hath done great things to me * and holy is His name.

5 And His mercy is from generation to generation * unto them that fear Him.

6 He hath shown might in His arm * He hath scattered the proud in the conceit of their heart.

7 He hath put down the mighty from their seat * and hath exalted the humble.

8 He hath filled the hungry with good things * and the rich He hath sent empty away.

9 He hath received Israel His servant * being mindful of His mercy.

10 As He spoke unto our fathers * to Abraham and his seed forever. Glory Be.

Ant. Blessed Mother and inviolate Virgin, glorious Queen of the world, intercede for us with the Lord.

Ant. In Paschal time: Queen of heaven, rejoice, alleluia. For He whom thou wast meet to bear, alleluia. Hath arisen, as He said, alleluia.

Pray to God for us, alleluia.

Lord, have mercy.

Christ, have mercy.

Lord, have mercy.

V. O Lord, hear my prayer.

R. And let my cry come unto Thee.

Let us pray. Vouchsafe, O Lord God, we beseech Thee, to us, Thy servants, that we may enjoy perpetual health of mind and body; and by the glorious intercession of blessed Mary ever Virgin, may be delivered from present sadness, and come to the fruition of eternal joys. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end. Amen.

Commemoration of St. Joseph (Optional)

Ant: Behold the faithful and wise steward whom the Lord set over his family (Luke 12:42).

V. Glory and wealth shall be in his house.

R. And his justice remains forever and ever (Psalm 111:3).

Let us pray—O God, who, in Thy wonderful providence, didst vouchsafe to choose blessed Joseph to be the spouse of Thy most Holy Mother, grant, we beseech Thee, to us who venerate him as our protector on earth, to be found worthy of having him for our advocate in heaven.

Commemoration of St. Francis of Assisi (Optional)

Ant: This man, despising the world and triumphing over the things of earth, stored up treasures for heaven by word and deed.

V. The Lord hath loved him and adorned him.

R. He clothed him with a robe of glory..

Let us pray— O God, who through the merits of blessed Francis dost enlarge Thy Church by the progeny of a new spiritual family, grant unto us that, by imitating him, we may despise terrestrial things, and ever rejoice in the participation of heavenly gifts.

Commemoration of the Saints:

Ant. O all ye Saints of God, vouchsafe to intercede for our salvation, and that of all mankind.

V. Rejoice in the Lord, and be glad, ye just.

R. And glory, all ye that are right of heart.

Let us pray. Protect Thy people, O Lord, and preserve them by Thy continual defense, who trust in the Patronage of Peter and Paul, and all Thy other Apostles. Let all Thy Saints, we beseech Thee, O Lord, assist us everywhere; that, while we venerate their merits, we may experience their patronage; grant us Thy peace in our times, and drive away all wickedness from Thy Church; dispose our way, our acts, and wills, and those of all Thy servants, in the good success of Thy salvation; render to our benefactors everlasting blessings, and grant to all the faithful departed eternal rest. Through our Lord Jesus Christ Thy Son, who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end. Amen

V. O Lord, hear my prayer.

R. And let my cry come unto Thee.

V. Let us bless the Lord.

R. Thanks be to God.

V. May the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace.  R. Amen.

Our Father, secretly.

V. May the Lord give us His peace.

R. And life everlasting. Amen

COMPLIN (at bedtime)

Hail Mary, secretly.

V. Convert † us, O God our Saviour.

R. And turn away Thine anger from us.

V. Come † unto my help, O God.

R. O Lord, make haste to help me.

V. Glory be.

Alleluia or Praise be to Thee, O Lord, King of everlasting glory.

* There is no antiphon for the psalms of Complin.

Psalm 128. Sæpe expugnaverunt me

Confidence in God; the persecutors of the Church come to nothing.

1 Many a time have they fought against me from my youth up * let Israel now say.

2 Many a time have they fought against me from my youth up * but they could not prevail against me.

3 The wicked have wrought upon my back: * they have prolonged their iniquity.

4 The just Lord hath hewn asunder the necks of sinners: * let them all be confounded and turned back that hate Sion.

5 Let them be as grass upon the house-tops * that withereth before it be plucked up.

6 Wherewith the mower filleth not his hand * nor he that gathereth the sheaves, his bosom.

7 And they that passed by said not: * The blessing of the Lord be upon you. We have blessed you in the name of the Lord.

Glory Be.

Psalm 129. De profundis

Prayer of a sinner trusting in the mercies of God.

1 Out of the depths have I cried unto Thee, O Lord: * Lord, hear my voice.

2 O let Thine ears consider well * the voice of my supplication.

3 If Thou, O Lord, wilt mark iniquities * Lord, who shall abide it?

4 For with Thee there is merciful forgiveness * and because of Thy law have I waited for Thee, O Lord.

5 My soul hath waited on His word: * my soul hath hoped in the Lord.

6 From the morning watch even until night * let Israel hope in the Lord.

7 For with the Lord there is mercy * and with Him there is plenteous redemption.

8 And He shall redeem Israel * from all his iniquities.

Glory Be.

Psalm 130. Domine, non est exaltatum

A psalm of childlike resignation to God’s will.

1 Lord, my heart is not exalted: * neither are mine eyes lifted up.

2 Neither have I walked in great matters, * nor in things too wonderful for me.

3 If I was not humbly minded * but have lifted up my soul

4 As a child that is weaned from his mother’s breast, * so let my reward be in my soul.

5 Let Israel hope in the Lord, * from henceforth now and evermore.

Glory Be.

Hymn

Remember, O Creator Lord!

That in the Virgin’s sacred womb

Thou wast conceived, and of her flesh

Didst our mortality assume.

Mother of grace, O Mary blest!

To thee, sweet fount of love, we fly;

Shield us through life, and take us hence

To thy dear bosom when we die.

O Jesu! born of Virgin bright!

Immortal glory be to Thee;

Praise to the Father infinite,

And Holy Ghost eternally. Amen.

The Little Chapter Eccl. 24, 24.

I am the Mother of fair love, and of fear, and of knowledge, and of holy hope.

R. Thanks be to God.

V. Pray for us, O holy Mother of God.

R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

Canticle of Simeon. Luke 2, 29-32.

Ant. We fly to thy patronage.

Ant. in Paschal time: Queen of heaven.

1 Now † dost Thou dismiss Thy servant, O Lord, * according to Thy word, in peace.

2 Because mine eyes * have seen Thy salvation;

3 Which Thou hast prepared * before the face of all peoples.

4 A Light to the Revelation of the Gentiles, * and the Glory of Thy people Israel.

Glory Be.

Ant. We fly to thy patronage, O holy Mother of God, despise not our petitions in our necessities, but deliver us from all dangers, O ever glorious and blessed Virgin.

Ant. in Paschal time: Queen of heaven, rejoice, alleluia. For He whom thou wast meet to bear, alleluia. Hath arisen as He said, alleluia. Pray to God for us, alleluia.

Lord, have mercy.

Christ, have mercy.

Lord, have mercy.

V. O Lord, hear my prayer.

R. And let my cry come unto Thee.

Let us pray. Let the glorious intercession of the blessed and glorious Mary, ever Virgin, protect us, we beseech Thee, O Lord, and bring us to life everlasting. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end.

R. Amen.

V. O Lord, hear my prayer.

R. And let my cry come unto Thee.

V. Let us bless the Lord.

R. Thanks be to God.

Benediction

May the Almighty and merciful Lord, Father, and Son, and Holy Ghost, bless and preserve us.

R. Amen.

Anthem of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Then is said one of the following Anthems to Our Lady according to the season.

Alma Redemptoris Mater  From the Vespers before the first Sunday of Advent until the Purification, inclusive.

Sweet Mother of our Redeemer,

Gate whereby we enter heaven, and Star of the sea!

Help us, we fall; yet do we long to rise.

Nature looked upon thee with admiration,

When thou didst give birth to thy Divine Creator,

Thyself remaining, before and after it, a pure Virgin.

Gabriel spoke his Hail, to thee;

We sinners crave thy pity.

R. Amen.

V. The angel of the Lord declared unto Mary.

R. And she conceived of the Holy Ghost.

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 experience her intercession, through whom we have been made worthy to receive the author of life, our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son.

R. Amen.

V. May the divine assistance remain always with us.

R. Amen.

Ave Regina Coelorum  From Complin of the Purification until Easter:

Hail, O Queen of Heaven enthron’d!

Hail, by angels Mistress own’d

Root of Jesse! Gate of morn’!

Whence the world’s true Light was born!

Glorious Virgin, joy to thee,

Loveliest whom in heaven they see

Fairest thou where all are fair!

Plead with Christ our sins to spare.

V. Vouchsafe that I may praise thee, O sacred Virgin.

R. Give me strength against thine enemies.

Let us pray. Vouchsafe to our weakness, O merciful God, the help of Thy protection; that we who commemorate the holy Mother of God, may, by the help of her intercession, arise from our iniquities, through the same Christ our Lord.

R. Amen.

V. May the Divine assistance remain always with us.  R. Amen

Regina Coeli From Complin of Holy Saturday until None of the Saturday before Trinity Sunday:

Joy to thee, O Queen of Heaven, Alleluia.

He whom thou wast meet to bear, Alleluia.

As He promis’d hath arisen, Alleluia.

Send for us to God, thy prayer, Alleluia.

V. Rejoice and be glad, O Virgin Mary, Alleluia.

R. For the Lord hath risen indeed, Alleluia.

Let us pray. O GOD, who hast vouchsafed to rejoice the world by the Resurrection of Thy Son, our Lord Jesus Christ; grant, we beseech Thee, that through His Virgin Mother Mary, we may obtain the joys of life eternal. Through the same Christ our Lord

R. Amen

Salve Regina From Complin of the Saturday before Trinity Sunday until Advent:

Hail, Holy Queen, Mother of mercy;

Hail, our life, our sweetness and our hope.

To Thee do we cry, poor banished children of Eve.

To Thee do we send up our sighs,

mourning and weeping in this vale of tears.

Turn then, most gracious advocate, thine eyes of mercy towards us;

and after this, our exile, show unto us

The blessed Fruit of thy womb, Jesus.

O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary.

V. Pray for us, O holy Mother of God.

R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

Let us pray.  Almighty and everlasting God, who, by the cooperation of the Holy Ghost, didst prepare the body and soul of the glorious Virgin Mother Mary, to become a habitation meet for Thy Son; grant that as we rejoice in her commemoration, we may, by her loving intercession, be delivered from present evils and from everlasting death.  Through the same Christ our Lord.

R. Amen.

V. May the Divine assistance remain always with us.  R. Amen.

Pater, Ave, Credo, secretly

Advent

Beginning with Vespers on the Saturday before the First Sunday of Advent until Vespers on Christmas Eve

MATINS (midnight)

Hail Mary, secretly, which is said always at the beginning of all the Hours.

V. Thou † shalt open my lips, O Lord.

R. And my mouth shall shew forth Thy praise.

V. Come † unto my help, O God.

R. O Lord, make haste to help me.

V. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.

R. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

Alleluia. Thus is said Alleluia at all the Hours throughout the year, except from Septuagesima to Holy Saturday; for then is said: Praise be to Thee, O Lord, King of everlasting glory.

Psalm 94. Venite, exsultemus Domino.

An invitation to praise God, and to obey Him.

Invit. Hail Mary, full of grace, * the Lord is with thee.

Invit. Hail Mary, full of grace, * the Lord is with thee.

1 O COME, let us exult in the Lord, let us rejoice before God our Saviour * let us come into His presence with thanksgiving, and with psalms rejoice before Him.

Invit. Hail Mary, full of grace, * the Lord is with thee.

2 For the Lord is a great God, and a great King above all gods. The Lord will not cast off His people. For in His hand are all the ends of the earth, and He beholds the heights of the mountains.

Invit. The Lord is with thee.

In the following verse, at the words O come, let us worship and fall down, genuflect.

For the sea is His, and He made it: and His hands formed the dry land. O come, let us worship and fall down; and weep before the Lord that made us. For He is the Lord our God: and we are the people of His pasture and the sheep of His hand.

Invit. Hail Mary, full of grace, * the Lord is with thee.

Today if ye shall hear His voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation, and in the day of temptation in the wilderness; where your fathers tempted Me, proved Me, and saw My works.

Invit. The Lord is with thee.

Forty years long was I offended with that generation, and said: They do always err in their heart. And they have not known My ways: so I sware in My wrath that they shall not enter into My rest.

Invit. Hail Mary, full of grace, * the Lord is with thee.

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.

Invit. The Lord is with thee.

Invit. Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee.

Hymn

THE God whom earth, and sea, and sky

Adore, and laud, and magnify,

Who o’er their threefold fabric reigns,

The Virgin Mary’s womb contains.

The God whose will by moon, and sun,

And all things in due course is done,

Is borne upon a Maiden’s breast,

By fullest heavenly grace possessed.

How blest that Mother, in whose shrine

The great Artificer Divine,

Whose hand contains the earth and sky,

Vouchsafed, as in His ark, to lie.

Blest, in the message Gabriel brought;

Blest, by the work the Spirit wrought;

From whom the great Desire of earth

Took human flesh and human birth.

To Thee be sung eternal praise,

O Virgin-born, through endless days;

Whom with the Father we adore,

And Holy Ghost forevermore. Amen.

At the Nocturn

On Sunday, Monday, and Thursday: The First Nocturn

On Tuesday and Friday: Second Nocturn

On Wednesday and Saturday: The Third Nocturn

First Nocturn        On Sunday, Monday, and Thursday

Psalm 8. Dómine, Dóminus noster

God is wonderful in His works; especially in mankind, singularly exalted by the Incarnation of Christ.

Ant. Blessed art thou.

O LORD our Lord * how admirable is thy name in the whole earth!

2 For thy magnificence is elevated * above the heavens.

3 Out of the mouth of infants and of sucklings thou hast perfected praise, because of thy enemies * that thou mayst destroy the enemy and the avenger.

4 For I will behold thy heavens, the works of thy fingers * the moon and the stars which thou hast founded.

5 What is man that thou art mindful of him * or the son of man that thou visitest him?

6 Thou hast made him a little less than the angels, thou hast crowned him with glory and honour * and hast set him over the works of thy hands.

7 Thou hast subjected all things under his feet * all sheep and oxen: moreover the beasts also of the fields.

8 The birds of the air, and the fishes of the sea * that pass through the paths of the sea.

9 O Lord our Lord * how admirable is thy name in all the earth!

Glory Be.

Ant. Blessed art thou amongst women, and blessed is the Fruit of thy womb.

Psalm 18. Cæli enarrant

The works of God show forth His glory: His law is greatly to be esteemed and loved.

Ant. Like the choicest myrrh.

THE heavens shew forth the glory of God * and the firmament declareth the work of his hands.

2 Day to day uttereth speech * and night to night sheweth knowledge.

3 There are no speeches nor languages * where their voices are not heard.

4 Their sound hath gone forth into all the earth * and their words unto the ends of the world.

5 He hath set his tabernacle in the sun * and he, as a bridegroom coming out of his bride chamber,

6 He hath rejoiced as a giant to run the way * His going out is from the end of heaven.

7 And his circuit even to the end thereof * and there is no one that can hide himself from his heat.

8 The law of the Lord is unspotted, converting souls * the testimony of the Lord is faithful, giving wisdom to little ones.

9 The justices of the Lord are right, rejoicing hearts * the commandment of the Lord is lightsome, enlightening the eyes.

10 The fear of the Lord is holy, enduring forever and ever * the judgments of the Lord are true, justified in themselves.

11 More to be desired than gold and many precious stones * and sweeter than honey and the honeycomb.

12 For thy servant keepeth them, and in keeping them there is a great reward.

13 Who can understand sins? from my secret ones cleanse me, O Lord * and from those of others spare thy servant.

14 If they shall have no dominion over me, then shall I be without spot * and I shall be cleansed from the greatest sin.

15 And the words of my mouth shall be such as may please: and the meditation of my heart always in thy sight

16 O Lord, my helper, and my redeemer.

Glory Be.

Ant. Like the choicest myrrh, thou hast yielded an odour of sweetness, O holy Mother of God

Psalm 23. Domini est terra

Ant. Before the couch.

THE earth is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof * the world, and all they that dwell therein.

2 For he hath founded it upon the seas * and hath prepared it upon the rivers.

3 Who shall ascend into the mountain of the Lord * or who shall stand in his holy place?

4 The innocent in hands, and clean of heart * who hath not taken his soul in vain, nor sworn deceitfully to his neighbour.

5 He shall receive a blessing from the Lord * and mercy from God his Saviour.

6 This is the generation of them that seek him * of them that seek the face of the God of Jacob.

7 Lift up your gates, O ye princes, and be ye lifted up, O eternal gates * and the King of Glory shall enter in.

8 Who is this King of Glory? * the Lord who is strong and mighty: the Lord mighty in battle.

9 Lift up your gates, O ye princes, and be ye lifted up, O eternal gates * and the King of Glory shall enter in.

10 Who is this King of Glory? * the Lord of hosts, he is the King of Glory.

Glory Be.

Ant. Before the couch of this Virgin sing often unto us sweet chants with solemnity.

Continue below at Grace is poured forth and the rest page 77..

Second Nocturn             On Tuesday and Friday

Psalm 44. Eructavit cor meum

The excellence of Christ’s Kingdom, and the endowments of His Church.

Ant. In thy comeliness.

MY heart hath uttered a good word * I speak my works to the king.

2 My tongue is the pen of a scrivener * that writeth swiftly.

3 Thou art beautiful above the sons of men, grace is poured abroad in thy lips * therefore hath God blessed thee forever.

4 Gird thy sword upon thy thigh * O thou most mighty.

5 With thy comeliness and thy beauty set out * proceed prosperously, and reign.

6 Because of truth and meekness and justice * and thy right hand shall conduct thee wonderfully.

7 Thy arrows are sharp: under thee shall people fall * into the hearts of the king’s enemies.

8 Thy throne, O God, is forever and ever * the sceptre of thy kingdom is a sceptre of uprightness.

9 Thou hast loved justice, and hated iniquity * therefore God, thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.

10 Myrrh and aloes and cassia perfume thy garments, from the ivory palaces * out of which the daughters of kings have delighted thee in thy honor.

11 The queen stood on thy right hand, in gilded clothing * surrounded with variety.

12 Hearken, O daughter, and see, and incline thy ear * and forget thy people and thy father’s house.

13 And the king shall greatly desire thy beauty * for he is the Lord thy God, and him they shall adore.

14 And the daughters of Tyre with gifts * yea, all the rich among the people, shall entreat thy countenance.

15 All the glory of the king’s daughter is within in golden borders * clothed round about with varieties.

16 After her shall virgins be brought to the king * her neighbours shall be brought to thee.

17 They shall be brought with gladness and rejoicing * they shall be brought into the temple of the king.

18 Instead of thy fathers, sons are born to thee * thou shalt make them princes over all the earth.

19 They shall remember thy name * throughout all generations.

20 Therefore shall people praise thee forever * yea, forever and ever.

Glory Be.

Ant. In thy comeliness and Thy beauty go forth, advance prosperously, and reign.

Psalm 45. Deus noster refugium

The Church in persecution trusteth in the protection of God.

Ant. God shall help her.

Our God is our refuge and strength * a helper in troubles, which have found us exceedingly.

2 Therefore we will not fear, when the earth shall be troubled * and the mountains shall be removed into the heart of the sea.

3 Their waters roared and were troubled * the mountains were troubled with his strength.

4 The stream of the river maketh the city of God joyful * the most High hath sanctified his own tabernacle.

5 God is in the midst thereof, it shall not be moved * God will help it in the morning early.

6 Nations were troubled, and kingdoms were bowed down * he uttered his voice, the earth trembled.

7 The Lord of armies is with us * the God of Jacob is our protector.

8 Come and behold ye the works of the Lord: what wonders he hath done upon earth * making wars to cease even to the end of the earth.

9 He shall destroy the bow, and break the weapons: and the shield he shall burn in the fire.

10 Be still and see that I am God * I will be exalted among the nations, and I will be exalted in the earth.

11 The Lord of armies is with us * the God of Jacob is our protector.

Glory Be.

Ant. God shall help her with His countenance: God is in the midst of her, she shall not be moved

Psalm 86. Fundamenta ejus

The glory of the Church of Christ.

Ant. As of people all rejoicing.

The foundations thereof are in the holy mountains * the Lord loveth the gates of Sion above all the tabernacles of Jacob.

2 Glorious things are said of thee * O city of God.

3 I will be mindful of Rahab and of Babylon * knowing me.

4 Behold the foreigners, and Tyre, and the people of the Ethiopians, * these were there.

5 Shall not Sion say: This man and that man is born in her? * and the Highest himself hath founded her.

6 The Lord shall tell in his writings of peoples and of princes, * of them that have been in her.

7 The dwelling in thee * is as it were of all rejoicing.

Glory Be.

Ant. As of people all rejoicing: so is our habitation in thee.

Continue below at Grace is poured forth and the rest page 77.

Third Nocturn          On Wednesday and Saturday

Psalm 95. Cantate Domino

An exhortation to all creatures to praise God.

Ant. Rejoice, O Virgin Mary.

Sing ye to the Lord a new canticle: * sing to the Lord, all the earth.

2 Sing ye to the Lord and bless his name: * shew forth his salvation from day to day.

3 Declare his glory among the Gentiles: * his wonders among all people.

4 For the Lord is great, and exceedingly to be praised: * he is to be feared above all gods.

5 For all the gods of the Gentiles are devils: * but the Lord made the heavens.

6 Praise and beauty are before him: * holiness and majesty in his sanctuary.

7 Bring ye to the Lord, O ye kindreds of the Gentiles, bring ye to the Lord glory and honour: * Bring to the Lord glory unto his name.

8 Bring up sacrifices, and come into his courts: * Adore ye the Lord in his holy court.

9 Let all the earth be moved at his presence. * Say ye among the Gentiles, the Lord hath reigned.

10 For he hath corrected the world, which shall not be moved: * He will judge the people with justice.

11 Let the heavens rejoice, and let the earth be glad, let the sea be moved, and the fullness thereof: * the fields and all things that are in them shall be joyful.

12 Then shall all the trees of the woods rejoice before the face of the Lord, because he cometh: * because he cometh to judge the earth. 13 He shall judge the world with justice, * and the people with his truth.

Glory Be.

Ant. Rejoice, O Virgin Mary, thou alone hast destroyed all heresies in the whole world.

Psalm 96. Dominus regnavit

Joy at the coming and reign of Christ.

Ant. Vouchsafe.

The Lord hath reigned, let the earth rejoice: *

let many islands be glad.

2 Clouds and darkness are round about him: * justice and judgment are the establishment of his throne.

3 A fire shall go before him, * and shall burn his enemies round about.

4 His lightnings have shone forth to the world: * the earth saw and trembled.

5 The mountains melted like wax, at the presence of the Lord: * at the presence of the Lord of all the earth.

6 The heavens declared his justice: * and all people saw his glory.

7 Let them be all confounded that adore graven things, * and that glory in their idols.

8 Adore him, all you his angels: * Sion heard, and was glad.

9 And the daughters of Juda rejoiced, * because of thy judgments, O Lord.

10 For thou art the most high Lord over all the earth: *Thou art exalted exceedingly above all gods.

11 You that love the Lord, hate evil: * the Lord preserveth the souls of his saints, he will deliver them out of the hand of the sinner.

12 Light is risen to the just, * and joy to the right of heart.

13 Rejoice, ye just, in the Lord: * and give praise to the remembrance of his holiness. Glory Be.

Ant. Vouchsafe that I may praise thee, O sacred Virgin: give me strength against thine enemies.

Psalm 97. Cantate Domino

Invitation to praise the Lord for the victories of Christ.

Ant. The Angel of the Lord.

Sing ye to the Lord anew canticle: * because he hath done wonderful things.

2 His right hand hath wrought for him salvation, * and his arm is holy.

3 The Lord hath made known his salvation: * he hath revealed his justice in the sight of the Gentiles.

4 He hath remembered his mercy * and his truth toward the house of Israel.

5 All the ends of the earth have seen * the salvation of our God.

6 Sing joyfully to God, all the earth; * make melody, rejoice and sing.

7 Sing praise to the Lord on the harp, on the harp, and with the voice of a psalm: * with long trumpets, and sound of cornet.

8 Make a joyful noise before the Lord our king: * let the sea be moved and the fullness thereof: the world and they that dwell therein.

9 The rivers shall clap their hands, the mountains shall rejoice together at the presence of the Lord: * because he cometh to judge the earth.

10 He shall judge the world with justice, and the people with equity.

Glory Be.

Ant. The Angel of the Lord declared unto Mary and she conceived of the Holy Ghost.

End of the Nocturns

V. Grace is poured forth on thy lips.

R. Therefore hath God blessed thee forever.

Our Father, said in secret.

V. And lead us not into temptation.

R. But deliver us from evil.

Absolution. By the prayers and merits of the blessed Mary ever Virgin, and of all the Saints, may the Lord bring us to the kingdom of heaven. R. Amen.

V. Pray, sir, a blessing.

Benediction. May the Virgin Mary, with her loving Child, bless us. R. Amen.

The Lessons

Lesson i Luke 1, 26—28.

THE angel Gabriel was sent from God into a city of Galilee called Nazareth, to a Virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the Virgin’s name was Mary. And the angel being come in said unto her: Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou amongst women. But Thou, Lord, have mercy on us.

R. Thanks be to God.

R. The angel Gabriel was sent to Mary, a Virgin espoused to Joseph, announcing to her the word, and the Virgin was afraid at the light. Fear not, Mary, thou hast found grace with the Lord: * Behold, thou shalt conceive, and bear a Son, and He shall be called the Son of the Most High.

V. The Lord God shall give unto Him the throne of David His father, and He shall reign in the house of Jacob forever. Behold, thou shalt conceive, and bear a son, and He shall be called the Son of the Most High.

V. Pray, sir, a blessing.

Benediction. May the Virgin of virgins herself intercede for us with the Lord.

R. Amen.

Lesson ii Luke 1, 29—33.

AND when she heard these things, she was troubled at his saying, and thought with herself what manner of salutation this might be. And the angel said unto her: Fear not, Mary, for thou hast found grace with God. Behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and shalt bring forth a Son, and thou shalt call His name Jesus. He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God shall give unto Him the throne of David His father, and He shall reign in the house of Jacob forever; and of His kingdom there shall be no end. But Thou, Lord, have mercy on us.

R. Thanks be to God.

R. Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. * The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Most High shall overshadow thee, for the Holy, that shall be born of thee, shall be called the Son of God.

V. How shall this be done, seeing I know not man? And the angel answering said unto her. * The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Most High shall overshadow thee, for the Holy, that shall be born of thee, shall be called the Son of God.

V. Pray, sir, a blessing.

Benediction. Through the Virgin Mother, may the Lord grant unto us salvation and peace.

R. Amen.

Lesson iii Luke 1, 34—38.

AND Mary said to the angel: How shall this be done, seeing I know not man? And the angel answering said unto her: The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Most High shall overshadow thee. And therefore also the Holy, that shall be born of thee, shall be called the Son of God. And behold, thy cousin Elizabeth, she also hath conceived a son in her old age, and this is the sixth month with her, who is called barren; for no word shall be impossible with God. And Mary said: Behold the handmaid of the Lord, be it done to me according to thy word. But Thou, Lord, have mercy on us.

R. Thanks be to God

LAUDS (at dawn)

When Lauds is not said immediately after Matins begin with, Hail Mary secretly.

V. Come † unto my help, O God.

R. O Lord, make haste to help me.

V. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.

R. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

Alleluia or Praise be to Thee, O Lord, King of everlasting glory.

Psalm 92. Dominus regnavit

The Glory and Stability of the Church of Christ

Ant: The Angel Gabriel was sent.

THE Lord hath reigned, He is clothed with beauty:

The Lord is clothed with strength, and hath girded himself.

2 For he hath established the world * which shall not be moved.

3 Thy throne is prepared from of old: * thou art from everlasting.

4 The floods have lifted up, O Lord: * the floods have lifted up their voice.

5 The floods have lifted up their waves, * with the noise of many waters.

6 Wonderful are the surges of the sea: * wonderful is the Lord on high.

7 Thy testimonies are become exceedingly credible: * holiness becometh thy house, O Lord, unto length of days.

Glory Be.

Ant: The Angel Gabriel was sent to Mary, a virgin espoused to Joseph.

Psalm 99. Jubilate

All are invited to praise Jehovah.

Ant.: Hail Mary.

SING joyfully to God, all the earth: * serve ye the Lord with gladness.

2 Come in before his presence * with exceeding great joy.

3 Know ye that the Lord he is God: * he made us, and not we ourselves.

4 We are his people and the sheep of his pasture. * Go ye into his gates with praise, into his courts with hymns: and give glory to him.

5 Praise ye his name, for the Lord is sweet, his mercy endureth forever, * and his truth to generation and generation.

Glory be.

Ant: Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee, blessed art thou among women. Alleluia.

Psalm 62. Deus, Deus meus

A prayer in desolation and distress.

Ant: Fear not, Mary.

O GOD, my God, * to thee do I watch at break of day.

2 For thee my soul hath thirsted; * for thee my flesh, O how many ways!

3 In a desert land, and where there is no way, and no water: * so in the sanctuary have I come before thee, to see thy power and thy glory.

4 For thy mercy is better than lives: * thee my lips shall praise.

5 Thus will I bless thee all my life long: * and in thy name I will lift up my hands.

6 Let my soul be filled as with marrow and fatness: * and my mouth shall praise thee with joyful lips.

7 If I have remembered thee upon my bed, I will meditate on thee in the morning: * because thou hast been my helper.

8 And I will rejoice under the covert of thy wings; my soul hath stuck close to thee: * thy right hand hath received me.

9 But they have sought my soul in vain, they shall go into the lower parts of the earth: * they shall be delivered into the hands of the sword, they shall be the portions of foxes.

10 But the king shall rejoice in God, all they shall be praised that swear by him: * because the mouth is stopped of them that speak wicked things.

Glory Be...

Ant: Fear not, Mary; thou hast found grace with the Lord, behold, thou shalt conceive, and bear a Son. Alleluia.

Canticle of the Three Children. Dan. 3, 57-88 and 56

Ant: The Lord shall give unto Him.

O ALL ye works of the Lord, bless the Lord: * praise and exalt Him above all forever.

2 O ye Angels of the Lord, bless the Lord: * O ye heavens, bless ye the Lord.

3 O all ye waters that are above the heavens, bless the Lord: * bless the Lord, all ye powers of the Lord.

4 O ye Sun and Moon, bless the Lord: * bless the Lord, ye stars of heaven.

5 O all ye showers and dew, bless ye the Lord: bless the Lord, all ye spirits of God.

6 O ye fire and heat, bless ye the Lord: * bless the Lord, ye winter and summer.

7 O ye dews and hoar-frost, bless ye the Lord: * bless the Lord, ye frost and cold.

8 O ye ice and snow, bless ye the Lord: * bless the Lord, ye nights and days.

9 O ye light and darkness, bless ye the Lord: * bless the Lord, ye lightnings and clouds.

10 O let the earth bless the Lord: * let it praise and exalt Him above all forever.

11 O ye mountains and hills, bless ye the Lord: * bless the Lord, all things that spring forth upon the earth

12 O ye fountains, bless ye the Lord: * bless the Lord, ye seas and floods.

13 O ye whales, and all that move in the waters, bless ye the Lord: * bless the Lord, all ye fowls of the air.

14 O all ye beasts and cattle, bless ye the Lord: * bless the Lord, ye sons of men.

15 Let Israel bless the Lord: * let him praise and exalt Him above all forever.

16 O ye priests of the Lord, bless ye the Lord: bless the Lord, ye servants of the Lord.

17 O ye spirits and souls of the just, bless ye the Lord: * bless the Lord, all ye that are holy and humble of heart.

18 O Ananias, Azarias, Misael, bless ye the Lord: * praise and exalt Him above all forever.

19 Let us bless the Father, and the Son, with the Holy Ghost: * let us praise and exalt Him above all forever.

20 Blessed art Thou, O Lord, in the firmament of heaven: * worthy to be praised, and glorious, and exalted above all forever.

The Glory Be is not said here.

Ant: The Lord shall give unto Him the seat of David His father, and He shall reign forever.

Psalm 148. Laudate Dominum

All creatures invited to praise God.

Ant: Behold the handmaid of the Lord.

Praise ye the Lord from the heavens: * praise ye Him in the heights.

2 Praise Him, all ye His Angels: * praise Him, all His Hosts.

3 Praise Him, O ye Sun and Moon: * praise Him, all ye stars and light.

4 Praise Him, O ye heaven of heavens: * and let all the waters that are above the heavens praise the name of the Lord.

5 For He spake, and they were made: * He commanded, and they were created.

6 He hath established them forever, and for ages of ages: * He hath made a decree, and it shall not pass away.

7 Praise the Lord from the earth: * ye dragons, and all ye deeps.

8 Fire and hail; snow and ice: * and stormy winds which fulfill His word.

9 Mountains and hills: * fruitful trees and all cedars.

10 Beasts and all cattle: * creeping things and feathered fowls.

11 Kings of the earth, and all people: * princes, and all judges of the earth.

12 Young men and maidens, old men and children, let them praise the name of the Lord: * for His name alone is exalted.

13 His praise is above heaven and earth: * and He hath exalted the horn of His people.

14 A song of praise to all His Saints: * to the children of Israel, a people drawing nigh unto Him.

Glory be.

Ant: Behold the handmaid of the Lord, be it done unto me according to thy word.

The Little Chapter: Isa. 11. 1-2

There shall come forth a rod out of the root of Jesse, and a flower shall rise up out of his root and the Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon Him.

R. Thanks be to God.

Hymn

O Queen of all the virgin choir!

Enthroned above the starry sky!

Who with thy bosom’s milk didst feed

Thy own Creator, Lord most high.

What man had lost in hapless Eve,

Thy sacred womb to man restores,

Thou to the wretched here beneath

Hast open’d Heaven’s eternal doors.

Hail, O refulgent Hall of light!

Hail, Gate august of Heaven’s high King!

Through thee redeem’d to endless life,

Thy praise let all the nations sing.

O Jesu! born of Virgin bright,

Immortal glory be to Thee;

Praise to the Father Infinite,

And Holy Ghost eternally. Amen.

V. Blessed art thou among women.

R. And blessed is the Fruit of thy womb.

The Canticle of Zachary Luc. 1, 68-79

Ant: The Holy Ghost

BLESSED † be the Lord God of Israel: for He hath visited and wrought the redemption of His people.

2 And hath raised up a horn of salvation to us * in the house of His servant David.

3 As He spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets * who are from the beginning:

4 Salvation from our enemies * and from the hand of all that hate us;

5 To perform mercy to our fathers * and to remember His Holy Covenant.

6 The oath which He swore to Abraham our father * that He would grant unto us,

7 That, being delivered from the hand of our enemies * we might serve Him without fear,

8 In holiness and justice before Him * all the days of our life,

9 And thou, child, shalt be called the Prophet of the highest * for thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to prepare His ways.

10 To give knowledge of salvation unto His people * for the remission of their sins.

11 Through the bowels of the mercy of our God * whereby the Orient from on high hath visited us.

12 To enlighten them that sit in darkness, and in the shadow of death * to direct our feet into the way of peace.

Glory be.

Ant: The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, Mary, fear not, thou shalt bear in thy womb the Son of God. Alleluia.

Lord, have mercy.

Christ, have mercy.

Lord, have mercy.

V. O Lord, hear my prayer.

R. And let my cry come unto Thee.

Let us pray. O God, who wast pleased that Thy Word, at the message of an Angel, should take flesh in the womb of the blessed Virgin Mary; grant to us, Thy suppliants, that, as we believe her to be truly the Mother of God, so we may be assisted by her intercessions with Thee. Through the same Christ our Lord. Amen.

Commemoration of St. Joseph (Optional)

Ant: And Jesus Himself was beginning about the age of thirty years, being (as it was supposed), the son of Joseph (Luke 3:23).

V. The mouth of the just shall meditate wisdom.

R. And his tongue shall speak judgment (Ps 36:30).

Let us pray—O God, who, in Thy wonderful providence, didst vouchsafe to choose blessed Joseph to be the spouse of Thy most Holy Mother, grant, we beseech Thee, to us who venerate him as our protector on earth, to be found worthy of having him for our advocate in heaven.

Commemoration of St. Francis of Assisi (Optional)

Ant: Well done, good and faithful servant; because thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will place thee over many things; enter thou into the joy of they Lord.

V. The just the Lord leadeth the righteous way.

R. And showeth him the Kingdom of God.

Let us pray—O God, who, through the merits of blessed Francis dost enlarge Thy Church by the progeny of a new spiritual family; grant unto us that, by imitating him, we may despise terrestrial things, and ever rejoice in the participation of heavenly gifts.

Commemoration of the Saints:

Ant. Behold the Lord shall come, and all His Saints with Him; and in that day, there shall be a great light. Alleluia.

V. Behold, the Lord shall appear upon a shining cloud.

R. And with Him thousands of Saints.

Let us pray.  Purify our consciences, we beseech Thee, O Lord, by Thy visitation; that when Thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord shall come with all his Saints, He may find a mansion prepared in us for Himself Who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end. Amen.

V. O Lord, hear my prayer.

R. And let my cry come unto Thee.

V. Let us bless the Lord.

R. Thanks be to God.

V. May the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace.

R. Amen.

Our Father, secretly.

V. May the Lord give us His peace.

R. And life everlasting. Amen.

Then is said one of the following Anthems to Our Lady according to the season, unless one or more of the little hours is said immediately, in which case, the anthem is said after the last hour recited. If the entire Office is said at once, say the anthem only after Complin:

Alma Redemptoris Mater

Sweet Mother of our Redeemer,

Gate whereby we enter heaven, and Star of the sea!

Help us, we fall; yet do we long to rise.

Nature looked upon thee with admiration,

When thou didst give birth to thy Divine Creator,

Thyself remaining, before and after it, a pure Virgin.

Gabriel spoke his Hail, to thee; We sinners crave thy pity.

R. Amen.

V. The angel of the Lord declared unto Mary.

R. And she conceived of the Holy Ghost.

Let us pray. Pour forth, we beseech Thee, O Lord, Thy grace into our hearts: that as we have known the incarnation of Thy Son Jesus Christ by the message of an Angel, so too by His Cross and passion may we be brought to the glory of His resurrection.

R. Amen.

V. May the divine assistance remain always with us.

R. Amen.

PRIME (6:00 am)

Hail Mary, secretly.

V. Come † unto my help, O God.

R. O Lord, make haste to help me.

V. Glory Be…

Alleluia or Praise be to Thee, O Lord, King of everlasting glory.

Hymn

Remember, O Creator Lord!

That in the Virgin’s sacred womb

Thou wast conceived, and of her flesh

Didst our mortality assume.

Mother of grace, O Mary blest!

To thee, sweet fount of love, we fly;

Shield us through life, and take us hence

To thy dear bosom when we die.

O Jesu! born of Virgin bright!

Immortal glory be to Thee;

Praise to the Father infinite,

And Holy Ghost eternally. Amen.

Ant: The Angel Gabriel was sent.

(In the little hours, there is only one antiphon, said before the first psalm and after the third psalm.)

Psalm 53. Deus, in nomine                                                   A prayer for help in distress.

O GOD, save me in Thy name * and judge me in Thy strength.

2 O God, hear my prayer * and give ear to the words of my mouth.

3 For strangers have risen up against me, and the mighty have sought after my soul * and they have not set God before their eyes.

4 For behold, God is my helper * and the Lord is the protector of my soul.

5 Turn back evil upon mine enemies * and destroy Thou them in Thy truth.

6 I will freely sacrifice unto Thee * and will praise Thy name, O Lord, for it is good.

7 For Thou hast delivered me out of all trouble * and mine eye hath looked down upon mine enemies. Glory be.

Psalm 84. Benedixisti

Prayer to obtain the complete restoration of Israel.

THOU hast blessed Thy land, O Lord * Thou hast turned away the captivity of Jacob.

2 Thou hast forgiven the iniquity of Thy people * Thou hast covered all their sins.

3 Thou hast softened all Thine anger * Thou hast turned Thyself away from the wrath of Thine indigation.

4 Convert us, O God our Saviour * and turn away Thine anger from us.

5 Wilt Thou be angry with us forever * or wilt Thou stretch out Thy wrath from generation to generation?

6 Thou shalt turn again, O God, and quicken us * and Thy people shall rejoice in Thee.

7 Show us, O Lord, Thy mercy * and grant us Thy salvation.

8 I will hearken what the Lord God shall say within me * for He will speak peace unto His people:

9 And unto His Saints * and unto them that are converted in heart.

10 Surely His salvation is nigh unto them that fear Him * that glory may dwell in our land.

11 Mercy and truth have met together * justice and peace have kissed each other.

12 Truth is sprung out of the earth * and justice hath looked down from heaven.

13 For the Lord shall give goodness * and our land shall yield her fruit.

14 Justice shall walk before Him * and shall set His steps in the way.

Glory be.

Psalm 116. Laudate Dominum

Exhortation to praise God.

PRAISE the Lord, all ye nations * praise Him, all ye people.

2 For His mercy is confirmed upon us * and the truth of the Lord endureth forever.

Glory be.

Ant: The Angel Gabriel was sent to Mary, a virgin espoused to Joseph.

The Little Chapter Cant. 6, 9.

Advent: Behold, a Virgin shall conceive, and bear a Son, and His name shall be called Emmanuel: butter and honey shall He eat, that He may know to refuse the evil, and to choose the good.

R. Thanks be to God.

V. Vouchsafe that I may praise thee, O sacred Virgin.

R. Give me strength against thine enemies.

Lord, have mercy.

Christ, have mercy.

Lord, have mercy.

V. O Lord, hear my prayer.

R. And let my cry come unto Thee.

Let us pray. O God, who didst vouchsafe to choose the chaste chamber of the blessed Virgin Mary in which to dwell; grant, we beseech Thee, that fortified with her defence, we may find our joy in taking part in her commemoration. Who livest and reignest with God the Father, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end.

R. Amen.

V. O Lord, hear my prayer.

R. And let my cry come unto Thee.

V. Let us bless the Lord.

R. Thanks be to God.

V. May the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace.

R. Amen.

TERCE (9:00am)

Hail Mary, secretly.

V. Come † unto my help, O God.

R. O Lord, make haste to help me.

V. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.

R. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

Alleluia or Praise be to Thee, O Lord, King of everlasting glory.

Hymn

Remember, O Creator Lord!

That in the Virgin’s sacred womb

Thou wast conceived, and of her flesh

Didst our mortality assume.

Mother of grace, O Mary blest!

To thee, sweet fount of love, we fly:

Shield us through life, and take us hence

To thy dear bosom when we die.

O Jesu! born of Virgin bright

Immortal glory be to Thee;

Praise to the Father infinite,

And Holy Ghost eternally. Amen.

Ant: Hail Mary.

Psalm 119. Ad Dominum

A prayer against perfidious enemies.

1 When I was in trouble I cried unto the Lord * and He heard me.

2 O Lord, deliver my soul from wicked lips * and from a deceitful tongue.

3 What shall be given to thee, or what shall be added to thee * unto a deceitful tongue.

4 Sharp arrows of the mighty One * with destroying coals of fire.

5 Woe is me, that my sojourn is prolonged! I have dwelt with the inhabitants of Cedar * my soul hath long been a sojourner.

6 With them that hated peace, I was peaceable * when I spoke unto them, they fought against me without cause.

Glory Be.

Psalm 120. Levavi oculos

God is the keeper of His servants.

1 I have lifted up mine eyes to the hills * from whence my help shall come.

2 My help is from the Lord * who made both heaven and earth.

3 Let Him not suffer thy foot to be moved * neither let Him slumber that keepeth thee.

4 Behold He that keepeth Israel * shall neither slumber nor sleep.

5 The Lord is thy keeper * the Lord is thy defence upon thy right hand.

6 The sun shall not burn thee by day * nor the moon by night.

7 The Lord preserveth thee from all evil * may the Lord preserve thy soul.

8 May the Lord preserve thy coming in and thy going out * from this time forth forevermore.

Glory Be.

Psalm 121. Lætatus sum

Joy of the pilgrim entering Jerusalem.

1 I was glad at the things that were said unto me * We will go into the house of the Lord.

2 Our feet were standing * in thy courts, O Jerusalem.

3 Jerusalem, which is built as a city * that is in unity with itself.

4 For thither did the tribes go up the tribes of the Lord * the testimony of Israel, to praise the name of the Lord.

5 For there are set the seats of judgment * the seats over the house of David.

6 Pray ye for the things that are for the peace of Jerusalem * and plenteousness be to them that love thee.

7 Let peace be in thy strength * and plenteousness in thy towers.

8 For my brethren and companions’ sake * I spake peace concerning thee.

9 Because of the house of the Lord our God * I have sought good things for thee.

Glory Be.

Ant: Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee, blessed art thou among women. Alleluia.

The Little Chapter Eccl. 24, 15.

There shall come forth a rod out of the root of Jesse, and a flower shall rise out of his root, and the Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon Him.

R. Thanks be to God.

V. Grace is poured forth on thy lips.

R. Therefore God hath blessed thee forever.

Lord, have mercy.

Christ, have mercy.

Lord, have mercy.

V. O Lord, hear my prayer.

R. And let my cry come unto Thee.

Let us pray. O God, who, by the fruitful virginity of blessed Mary, hast bestowed upon mankind the rewards of eternal salvation; grant, we beseech Thee, that we may feel her intercession for us, through whom we have been made worthy to receive the Author of life, our Lord Jesus Christ Thy Son, who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end.

R. Amen.

V. O Lord, hear my prayer.

R. And let my cry come unto Thee.

V. Let us bless the Lord.

R. Thanks be to God.

V. May the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace.

R. Amen.

SEXT (noon)

Hail Mary, secretly.

V. Come † unto my help, O God.

R. O Lord, make haste to help me.

V. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.

R. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

Alleluia or Praise be to Thee, O Lord, King of everlasting glory.

Hymn

Remember, O Creator Lord!

That in the Virgin’s sacred womb

Thou wast conceived, and of her flesh

Didst our mortality assume.

Mother of grace, O Mary blest!

To thee, sweet fount of love, we fly:

Shield us through life, and take us hence

To thy dear bosom when we die.

O Jesu! born of Virgin bright

Immortal glory be to Thee;

Praise to the Father infinite,

And Holy Ghost eternally. Amen.

Ant: Fear not, Mary.

Psalm 122. Ad te levavi

A prayer in affliction.

1 Unto Thee have I lifted up mine eyes * O Thou that dwellest in the heavens.

2 Behold, as the eyes of servants * are on the hands of their masters,

3 As the eyes of the handmaiden are on the hands of her mistress * so are our eyes unto the Lord our God, until He have mercy upon us.

4 Have mercy upon us, O Lord, have mercy upon us * for we are greatly filled with contempt.

5 Yea, our soul is greatly filled * we are a reproach unto the rich, and a contempt unto the proud.

Glory Be.

Psalm 123. Nisi quia Dominus

The Church gives glory to God for her deliverance from her enemies.

1 If the Lord had not been in us, now may Israel say * If the Lord had not been in us,

2 When men rose up against us * peradventure they had swallowed us up alive.

3 When their fury was enkindled against us * perchance the waters had swallowed us up.

4 Our soul hath passed through a torrent; * perchance our soul would have passed through overwhelming waters.

5 Blessed be the Lord * who hath not given us up to be a prey unto their teeth.

6 Our soul hath been delivered, as a sparrow * out of the snare of the fowlers.

7 The snare is broken * and we are delivered.

8 Our help is in the name of the Lord * who hath made heaven and earth.

Glory Be.

Psalm 124. Qui confidunt

God protects the just who have confidence in Him.

1 They who trust in the Lord shall be as Mount Sion * he shall not be moved forever that dwelleth in Jerusalem.

2 The hills stand round about her * even so is the Lord round about His people, from this time forth forevermore.

3 For the Lord will not leave the rod of sinners over the lot of the just * that the just may not stretch forth their hands unto wickedness.

4 Do well, O Lord, unto those that are good * and unto them that are right of heart.

5 But such as turn aside unto deceits, the Lord shall number with the workers of iniquity * but peace shall be upon Israel.

Glory Be.

Ant: Fear not, Mary; thou hast found grace with the Lord, behold, thou shalt conceive, and bear a Son. Alleluia.

The Little Chapter Eccli. 24, 16

The Lord shall give unto Him the throne of David His father and He shall reign in the House of Jacob forever, and of His Kingdom there shall be no end.

R. Thanks be to God.

Lord, have mercy.

Christ, have mercy.

Lord, have mercy.

V. O Lord, hear my prayer.

R. And let my cry come unto Thee.

Let us pray. Vouchsafe to our weakness, O merciful God, the help of Thy protection that we who commemorate the Holy Mother of God, may, by the help of her intercession arise from our iniquities. Through the same Jesus Christ, Thy Son our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with Thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost God, world without end.

R. Amen.

V. O Lord, hear my prayer.

R. And let my cry come unto Thee.

V. Let us bless the Lord.

R. Thanks be to God.

V. May the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace.

R. Amen.

NONE (3:00pm)

Hail Mary, secretly.

V. Come † unto my help, O God.

R. O Lord, make haste to help me.

V. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.

R. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

Alleluia or Praise be to Thee, O Lord, King of everlasting glory.

Hymn

Remember, O Creator Lord!

That in the Virgin’s sacred womb

Thou wast conceived, and of her flesh

Didst our mortality assume.

Mother of grace, O Mary blest!

To thee, sweet fount of love, we fly:

Shield us through life, and take us hence

To thy dear bosom when we die.

O Jesu! born of Virgin bright

Immortal glory be to Thee;

Praise to the Father infinite,

And Holy Ghost eternally. Amen.

Ant: Behold the handmaid of the Lord.

Psalm 125. In convertendo

The people of God rejoice at their delivery from captivity.

1 When the Lord turned again the captivity of Sion: * then we became like men consoled.

2 Then was our mouth filled with gladness, * and our tongue with joy.

3 Then shall they say among the Gentiles: * the Lord hath done great things for them.

4 Yea, the Lord hath done great things for us, * and we are made joyful.

5 Turn again, O Lord, our captivity, * as a river in the south.

6 They that sow in tears, * shall reap in joy.

7 When they went forth they wept as they went, * scattering their seed.

8 But returning, they shall come with joy: * carrying their sheaves.

Glory Be.

Psalm 126. Nisi Dominus

Man can do nothing without God.

1 Unless the Lord build the house, * they labour in vain that build it.

2 Unless the Lord keep the city, * he watcheth in vain that keepeth it.

3 In vain do ye rise before the dawn: * rise after ye have rested, O ye that eat the bread of sorrow!

4 For He hath given sleep to His beloved: * Lo, children are a heritage from the Lord; and the fruit of the womb a reward.

5 As arrows in the hand of the mighty One, * even so are the children of those that have been cast out.

6 Blessed is the man whose desire is satisfied with them: * he shall not be confounded when he speaketh with his enemies in the gate.

Glory Be.

Psalm 127. Beati omnes

The happiness of the just.

1 Blessed are all they that fear the Lord; * that walk in His ways.

2 For thou shalt eat the labours of thy hands, * blessed art thou, and it shall be well with thee.

3 Thy wife shall be as a fruitful vine, * on the walls of thy house.

4 Thy children as olive plants, * round about thy table.

5 Behold, thus shall the man be blessed, * that feareth the Lord.

6 May the Lord bless thee out of Sion; * and mayest thou see the good things of Jerusalem all the days of thy life.

7 And mayest thou see thy children’s children; * peace upon Israel.

Glory Be.

Ant: Behold the handmaid of the Lord, be it done unto me according to thy word.

The Little Chapter Eccl. 24, 20

Behold a Virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and His name shall be called Emmanuel; butter and honey shall He eat, that He may know to refuse the evil, and to choose the good.

R. Thanks be to God.

V. After childbirth thou didst remain a pure Virgin.

R. Intercede for us, O Mother of God.

Lord, have mercy.

Christ, have mercy.

Lord, have mercy.

V. O Lord, hear my prayer.

R. And let my cry come unto Thee.

Let us pray. Forgive, O Lord, we beseech Thee, the offences of Thy servants; that we, who are unable to please Thee by our own acts, may be saved by the intercession of the Mother of Thy Son, our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end.

R. Amen.

V. O Lord, hear my prayer.

R. And let my cry come unto Thee.

V. Let us bless the Lord.

R. Thanks be to God.

V. May the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace.

R. Amen.

VESPERS (6:00pm)

Hail Mary, secretly.

V. Come † unto my help, O God.

R. O Lord, make haste to help me.

V. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.

R. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

Alleluia or Praise be to Thee, O Lord, King of everlasting glory.

Psalm 109. Dixit Dominus

The Messiah, King and Priest, victorious over His enemies.

Ant.: The angel Gabriel was sent.

1 The Lord said unto my Lord * Sit Thou at My right hand.

2 Until I make Thine enemies * Thy footstool.

3 The Lord shall send forth the sceptre of Thy power out of Sion * rule Thou in the midst of Thine enemies.

4 Thine shall be dominion in the day of Thy power; amidst the brightness of the Saints * from the womb, before the day-star, have I begotten Thee.

5 The Lord hath sworn, and He will not repent * Thou art a priest forever according to the order of Melchisedech.

6 The Lord upon Thy right hand * hath overthrown kings in the day of His wrath.

7 He shall judge among the nations; He shall fill them with ruins * He shall smite in sunder the heads in the land of many.

8 He shall drink of the torrent in the way * therefore shall He lift up His head.

Glory Be.

Ant: The angel Gabriel was sent to Mary, a Virgin espoused to Joseph.

Psalm 112. Laudate, pueri

Glory to God, so infinitely great and so admirably condescending.

Ant: Hail Mary.

1 Praise the Lord, ye children * praise ye the name of the Lord.

2 Blessed be the name of the Lord * from this time forth forevermore.

3 From the rising of the sun to the going down of the same * the name of the Lord is worthy to be praised.

4 The Lord is high above all nations * and His glory above the heavens.

5 Who is like unto the Lord our God, who dwelleth on high * and regardeth the things that are lowly in heaven and on earth?

6 Who raiseth up the needy from the earth * and lifteth the poor out of the dunghill;

7 That He may set him with princes * even with the princes of His people.

8 Who maketh the barren woman to dwell in her house * the joyful mother of children.

Glory Be.

Ant: Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee; blessed art thou among women, Alleluia.

Psalm 121. Lætatus sum

Song of the pilgrims in honor of Jerusalem.

Ant: Fear not, Mary.

1 I was glad at the things that were said unto me * We will go into the house of the Lord.

2 Our feet were standing * in thy courts, O Jerusalem.

3 Jerusalem, which is built as a city * that is in unity with itself.

4 For thither did the tribes go up, even the tribes of the Lord * the testimony of Israel, to praise the name of the Lord.

5 For there are set the seats of judgment * the seats over the house of David.

6 Pray ye for the things that are for the peace of Jerusalem * and plenteousness be to them that love thee.

7 Let peace be in thy strength * and plenteousness in thy towers.

8 For my brethren and companions’ sake * I spake peace concerning thee.

9 Because of the house of the Lord our God * I have sought good things for thee.

Glory Be.

Ant: Fear not, Mary, thou hast found grace with the Lord: behold thou shalt conceive and bear a Son. Alleluia.

Psalm 126. Nisi Dominus

Man can do nothing without God’s help.

Ant: The Lord shall give unto Him.

1 Unless the Lord build the house * they labour in vain that build it.

2 Unless the Lord keep the city * he watcheth in vain that keepeth it.

3 In vain do ye rise before the dawn * rise after ye have rested, O ye that eat the bread of sorrow!

4 For He hath given sleep to His beloved * Lo, children are a heritage from the Lord; and the fruit of the womb a reward.

5 As arrows in the hand of the mighty One * even so are the children of those that have been cast out.

6 Blessed is the man whose desire is satisfied with them * he shall not be confounded when he speaketh with his enemies in the gate.

Glory Be.

Ant: The Lord shall give unto Him the throne of David His father, and He shall reign forever.

Psalm 147. Lauda, Jerusalem

Thanksgiving for the restoration of Jerusalem.

Ant: Behold the handmaid of the Lord.

1 Praise the Lord, O Jerusalem * praise thy God, O Sion.

2 For He hath strengthened the bars of thy gates * He hath blessed thy children within thee.

3 He hath made peace within thy borders * and filleth thee with the fat of corn.

4 He sendeth forth His speech upon the earth * His word runneth very swiftly.

5 He giveth snow like wool * He scattereth the mists like ashes.

6 He sendeth His ice like morsels * who shall stand before the face of His cold?

7 He shall send forth His word, and shall melt them * His wind shall blow and the waters shall run.

8 He declareth His word unto Jacob * His justice and judgments unto Israel.

9 He hath not done in like manner to every nation * and His judgments He hath not made manifest to them.

Glory Be.

Ant: Behold the handmaid of the Lord, be it done unto me according to thy word.

The Little Chapter Eccl. 24, 14.

From the beginning, and before the world, was I created, and unto the world to come I shall not cease to be, and in the holy dwelling-place I have ministered before Him.

R. Thanks be to God.

Hymn (Ave Maris Stella)

Hail, thou Star of ocean!

Portal of the sky!

Ever Virgin Mother

Of the Lord Most High!

Oh! by Gabriel’s Ave,

Utter’d long ago,

Eva’s name reversing,

Establish peace below.

Break the captives’ fetters;

Light on blindness pour;

All our ills expelling,

Every bliss implore.

Show thyself a Mother;

Offer Him our sighs,

Who for us Incarnate

Did not thee despise.

Virgin of all virgins!

To thy shelter take us:

Gentlest of the gentle!

Chaste and gentle make us.

Still, as on we journey,

Help our weak endeavour,

Till with thee and Jesus

We rejoice forever.

Through the highest heaven,

To the Almighty Three,

Father, Son, and Spirit,

One same glory be. Amen.

V. Grace is poured forth on thy lips.

R. Therefore hath the Lord blessed thee forever.

The “Magnificat” or Song of the Blessed Virgin Mary Luc. 1, 46–55

Ant: The Holy Ghost.

1 My soul † doth magnify the Lord.

2 And my spirit hath rejoiced * in God my Saviour.

3 Because He hath regarded the humility of His handmaid * for behold from henceforth all generations shall call me Blessed.

4 For He that is mighty hath done great things to me * and holy is His name.

5 And His mercy is from generation to generation * unto them that fear Him.

6 He hath shown might in His arm * He hath scattered the proud in the conceit of their heart.

7 He hath put down the mighty from their seat * and hath exalted the humble.

8 He hath filled the hungry with good things * and the rich He hath sent empty away.

9 He hath received Israel His servant * being mindful of His mercy.

10 As He spoke unto our fathers * to Abraham and his seed forever.

Glory Be…

Ant: The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, Mary: fear not, thou shalt bear in thy womb the Son of God. Alleluia.

Lord, have mercy.

Christ, have mercy.

Lord, have mercy.

V. O Lord, hear my prayer.

R. And let my cry come unto Thee.

Let us pray. Vouchsafe, O Lord God, we beseech Thee, to us, Thy servants, that we may enjoy perpetual health of mind and body; and by the glorious intercession of blessed Mary ever Virgin, may be delivered from present sadness, and come to the fruition of eternal joys. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end. Amen.

Commemoration of St. Joseph (Optional)

Ant: Behold the faithful and wise steward whom the Lord set over his family.

V. Glory and wealth shall be in his house.

R. And his justice remains forever and ever (Psalm 111:3).

Let us pray—O God, who, in Thy wonderful providence, didst vouchsafe to choose blessed Joseph to be the spouse of Thy most Holy Mother, grant, we beseech Thee, to us who venerate him as our protector on earth, to be found worthy of having him for our advocate in heaven.

Commemoration of St. Francis of Assisi (Optional)

Ant: This man, despising the world and triumphing over the things of earth, stored up treasures for heaven by word and deed.

V. The Lord hath loved him and adorned him.

R. He clothed him with a robe of glory..

Let us pray— O God, who through the merits of blessed Francis dost enlarge Thy Church by the progeny of a new spiritual family, grant unto us that, by imitating him, we may despise terrestrial things, and ever rejoice in the participation of heavenly gifts.

Commemoration of the Saints:

Ant. Behold the Lord shall come, and all His Saints with Him; and in that day, there shall be a great light. Alleluia.

V. Behold, the Lord shall appear upon a shining cloud.

R. And with Him thousands of Saints.

Let us pray.  Purify our consciences, we beseech Thee, O Lord, by Thy visitation; that when Thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord shall come with all his Saints, He may find a mansion prepared in us for Himself Who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end. Amen.

V. O Lord, hear my prayer.

R. And let my cry come unto Thee.

V. Let us bless the Lord.

R. Thanks be to God.

V. May the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace.  R. Amen.

COMPLIN (at bedtime)

Hail Mary, secretly.

V. Convert † us, O God our Saviour.

R. And turn away Thine anger from us.

V. Come † unto my help, O God.

R. O Lord, make haste to help me.

V. Glory be…

Alleluia or Praise be to Thee, O Lord, King of everlasting glory.

Psalm 128. Sæpe expugnaverunt me

Confidence in God.

1 Many a time have they fought against me from my youth up * let Israel now say.

2 Many a time have they fought against me from my youth up * but they could not prevail against me.

3 The wicked have wrought upon my back: * they have prolonged their iniquity.

4 The just Lord hath hewn asunder the necks of sinners: * let them all be confounded and turned back that hate Sion.

5 Let them be as grass upon the house-tops * that withereth before it be plucked up.

6 Wherewith the mower filleth not his hand * nor he that gathereth the sheaves, his bosom.

7 And they that passed by said not: * The blessing of the Lord be upon you. We have blessed you in the name of the Lord.

Glory Be.

Psalm 129. De profundis

Prayer of a sinner trusting in the mercies of God.

1 Out of the depths have I cried unto Thee, O Lord: * Lord, hear my voice.

2 O let Thine ears consider well * the voice of my supplication.

3 If Thou, O Lord, wilt mark iniquities * Lord, who shall abide it?

4 For with Thee there is merciful forgiveness * and because of Thy law have I waited for Thee, O Lord.

5 My soul hath waited on His word: * my soul hath hoped in the Lord.

6 From the morning watch even until night * let Israel hope in the Lord.

7 For with the Lord there is mercy * and with Him there is plenteous redemption.

8 And He shall redeem Israel * from all his iniquities.

Glory Be.

Psalm 130. Domine, non est exaltatum

A psalm of childlike resignation to God’s will.

1 Lord, my heart is not exalted: * neither are mine eyes lifted up.

2 Neither have I walked in great matters, * nor in things too wonderful for me.

3 If I was not humbly minded * but have lifted up my soul:

4 As a child that is weaned from his mother’s breast, * so let my reward be in my soul. 5 Let Israel hope in the Lord, * from henceforth now and evermore.

Glory Be.

Hymn

Remember, O Creator Lord!

That in the Virgin’s sacred womb

Thou wast conceived, and of her flesh

Didst our mortality assume.

Mother of grace, O Mary blest!

To thee, sweet fount of love, we fly;

Shield us through life, and take us hence

To thy dear bosom when we die.

O Jesu! born of Virgin bright!

Immortal glory be to Thee;

Praise to the Father infinite,

And Holy Ghost eternally. Amen.

The Little Chapter Eccl. 24, 24.

I am the Mother of fair love, and of fear, and of knowledge, and of holy hope.

R. Thanks be to God.

V. Pray for us, O holy Mother of God.

R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

Canticle of Simeon. Luke 2, 29-32.

Ant: The Holy Ghost.

1 Now † dost Thou dismiss Thy servant, O Lord, * according to Thy word, in peace.

2 Because mine eyes * have seen Thy salvation;

3 Which Thou hast prepared * before the face of all peoples.

4 A Light to the Revelation of the Gentiles, * and the Glory of Thy people Israel.

Glory Be.

Ant: The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, Mary, fear not, thou shalt bear in thy womb the Son of God.

Lord, have mercy.

Christ, have mercy.

Lord, have mercy.

V. O Lord, hear my prayer.

R. And let my cry come unto Thee.

Let us pray. Let the glorious intercession of the blessed and glorious Mary, ever Virgin, protect us, we beseech Thee, O Lord, and bring us to life everlasting. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end.

R. Amen.

V. O Lord, hear my prayer.

R. And let my cry come unto Thee.

V. Let us bless the Lord.

R. Thanks be to God.

Benediction

May the Almighty and merciful Lord, Father, and Son, and Holy Ghost, bless and preserve us.

R. Amen.

Anthem of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Alma Redemptoris Mater

Sweet Mother of our Redeemer,

Gate whereby we enter heaven, and Star of the sea!

Help us, we fall; yet do we long to rise.

Nature looked upon thee with admiration,

When thou didst give birth to thy Divine Creator,

Thyself remaining, before and after it, a pure Virgin.

Gabriel spoke his Hail, to thee;

We sinners crave thy pity.

R. Amen.

V. The angel of the Lord declared unto Mary.

R. And she conceived of the Holy Ghost.

Let us pray. Pour forth, we beseech Thee, O Lord, Thy grace into our hearts: that as we have known the incarnation of Thy Son Jesus Christ by the message of an Angel, so too by His Cross and passion may we be brought to the glory of His resurrection.

R. Amen.

V. May the divine assistance remain always with us.

R. Amen.

Pater, Ave, Credo, secretly

Time after Advent or Christmastide

Beginning with first Vespers of Christmas Eve until second Vespers of the Feast of the Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary, February 2nd, inclusive.

MATINS (midnight)

Hail Mary, secretly, which is said always at the beginning of all the Hours.

V. Thou † shalt open my lips, O Lord.

R. And my mouth shall shew forth Thy praise.

V. Come † unto my help, O God.

R. O Lord, make haste to help me.

V. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.

R. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

Alleluia. Thus is said Alleluia at all the Hours throughout the year, except from Septuagesima to Holy Saturday; for then is said: Praise be to Thee, O Lord, King of everlasting glory.

Psalm 94. Venite, exsultemus Domino.

An invitation to praise God, and to obey Him.

Invit. Hail Mary, full of grace, * the Lord is with thee.

Hail Mary, full of grace, * the Lord is with thee.

1 O COME, let us exult in the Lord, let us rejoice before God our Saviour * let us come into His presence with thanksgiving, and with psalms rejoice before Him.

Invit. Hail Mary, full of grace, * the Lord is with thee.

2 For the Lord is a great God, and a great King above all gods. The Lord will not cast off His people. For in His hand are all the ends of the earth, and He beholds the heights of the mountains.

Invit. The Lord is with thee.

In the following verse, at the words O come, let us worship and fall down, genuflect.

For the sea is His, and He made it: and His hands formed the dry land. O come, let us worship and fall down; and weep before the Lord that made us. For He is the Lord our God: and we are the people of His pasture and the sheep of His hand.

Invit. Hail Mary, full of grace, * the Lord is with thee.

Today if ye shall hear His voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation, and in the day of temptation in the wilderness; where your fathers tempted Me, proved Me, and saw My works.

Invit. The Lord is with thee.

Forty years long was I offended with that generation, and said: They do always err in their heart. And they have not known My ways: so I sware in My wrath that they shall not enter into My rest.

Invit. Hail Mary, full of grace, * the Lord is with thee.

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.

Invit. The Lord is with thee.

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee.

Hymn

THE God whom earth, and sea, and sky

Adore, and laud, and magnify,

Who o’er their threefold fabric reigns,

The Virgin Mary’s womb contains.

The God whose will by moon, and sun,

And all things in due course is done,

Is borne upon a Maiden’s breast,

By fullest heavenly grace possessed.

How blest that Mother, in whose shrine

The great Artificer Divine,

Whose hand contains the earth and sky,

Vouchsafed, as in His ark, to lie.

Blest, in the message Gabriel brought;

Blest, by the work the Spirit wrought;

From whom the great Desire of earth

Took human flesh and human birth.

To Thee be sung eternal praise,

O Virgin-born, through endless days;

Whom with the Father we adore,

And Holy Ghost forevermore. Amen.

At the Nocturn

On Sunday, Monday, and Thursday: The First Nocturn

On Tuesday and Friday: Second Nocturn

On Wednesday and Saturday: The Third Nocturn

First Nocturn         On Sunday, Monday, and Thursday

Psalm 8. Dómine, Dóminus noster

God is wonderful in His work; singularly exalted by the Incarnation of Christ.

Ant. Blessed art thou.

O LORD our Lord * how admirable is thy name in the whole earth!

2 For thy magnificence is elevated * above the heavens.

3 Out of the mouth of infants and of sucklings thou hast perfected praise, because of thy enemies * that thou mayst destroy the enemy and the avenger.

4 For I will behold thy heavens, the works of thy fingers * the moon and the stars which thou hast founded.

5 What is man that thou art mindful of him * or the son of man that thou visitest him?

6 Thou hast made him a little less than the angels, thou hast crowned him with glory and honour * and hast set him over the works of thy hands.

7 Thou hast subjected all things under his feet * all sheep and oxen: moreover the beasts also of the fields.

8 The birds of the air, and the fishes of the sea * that pass through the paths of the sea.

9 O Lord our Lord * how admirable is thy name in all the earth!

Glory Be.

Ant. Blessed art thou amongst women, and blessed is the Fruit of thy womb.

Psalm 18. Cæli enarrant

The works of God show forth His glory.

Ant. Like the choicest myrrh.

THE heavens shew forth the glory of God * and the firmament declareth the work of his hands.

2 Day to day uttereth speech * and night to night sheweth knowledge.

3 There are no speeches nor languages * where their voices are not heard.

4 Their sound hath gone forth into all the earth * and their words unto the ends of the world.

5 He hath set his tabernacle in the sun * and he, as a bridegroom coming out of his bride chamber,

6 He hath rejoiced as a giant to run the way * His going out is from the end of heaven.

7 And his circuit even to the end thereof * and there is no one that can hide himself from his heat.

8 The law of the Lord is unspotted, converting souls * the testimony of the Lord is faithful, giving wisdom to little ones.

9 The justices of the Lord are right, rejoicing hearts * the commandment of the Lord is lightsome, enlightening the eyes.

10 The fear of the Lord is holy, enduring forever and ever * the judgments of the Lord are true, justified in themselves.

11 More to be desired than gold and many precious stones * and sweeter than honey and the honeycomb.

12 For thy servant keepeth them, and in keeping them there is a great reward.

13 Who can understand sins? from my secret ones cleanse me, O Lord * and from those of others spare thy servant.

14 If they shall have no dominion over me, then shall I be without spot * and I shall be cleansed from the greatest sin.

15 And the words of my mouth shall be such as may please: and the meditation of my heart always in thy sight

16 O Lord, my helper, and my redeemer.  Glory Be.

Ant. Like the choicest myrrh, thou hast yielded an odour of sweetness, O holy Mother of God

Psalm 23. Domini est terra

A song of triumph for the translation of the Ark to Mount Sion.

Ant. Before the couch.

THE earth is the Lord’s and the fulness thereof * the world, and all they that dwell therein.

2 For he hath founded it upon the seas * and hath prepared it upon the rivers.

3 Who shall ascend into the mountain of the Lord * or who shall stand in his holy place?

4 The innocent in hands, and clean of heart * who hath not taken his soul in vain, nor sworn deceitfully to his neighbour.

5 He shall receive a blessing from the Lord * and mercy from God his Saviour.

6 This is the generation of them that seek him * of them that seek the face of the God of Jacob.

7 Lift up your gates, O ye princes, and be ye lifted up, O eternal gates * and the King of Glory shall enter in.

8 Who is this King of Glory? * the Lord who is strong and mighty: the Lord mighty in battle.

9 Lift up your gates, O ye princes, and be ye lifted up, O eternal gates * and the King of Glory shall enter in.

10 Who is this King of Glory? * the Lord of hosts, he is the King of Glory.

Glory Be.

Ant. Before the couch of this Virgin sing often unto us sweet chants with solemnity.

Continue below at Grace is poured forth and the rest page 126.

Second Nocturn        On Tuesday and Friday

Psalm 44. Eructavit cor meum

The excellence of Christ’s Kingdom, and the endowments of His Church.

Ant. In thy comeliness.

MY heart hath uttered a good word * I speak my works to the king.

2 My tongue is the pen of a scrivener * that writeth swiftly.

3 Thou art beautiful above the sons of men, grace is poured abroad in thy lips * therefore hath God blessed thee forever.

4 Gird thy sword upon thy thigh * O thou most mighty.

5 With thy comeliness and thy beauty set out * proceed prosperously, and reign.

6 Because of truth and meekness and justice * and thy right hand shall conduct thee wonderfully.

7 Thy arrows are sharp: under thee shall people fall * into the hearts of the king’s enemies.

8 Thy throne, O God, is forever and ever * the sceptre of thy kingdom is a sceptre of uprightness.

9 Thou hast loved justice, and hated iniquity * therefore God, thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.

10 Myrrh and aloes and cassia perfume thy garments, from the ivory palaces * out of which the daughters of kings have delighted thee in thy honor.

11 The queen stood on thy right hand, in gilded clothing * surrounded with variety.

12 Hearken, O daughter, and see, and incline thy ear * and forget thy people and thy father’s house.

13 And the king shall greatly desire thy beauty * for he is the Lord thy God, and him they shall adore.

14 And the daughters of Tyre with gifts * yea, all the rich among the people, shall entreat thy countenance.

15 All the glory of the king’s daughter is within in golden borders * clothed round about with varieties.

16 After her shall virgins be brought to the king * her neighbours shall be brought to thee.

17 They shall be brought with gladness and rejoicing * they shall be brought into the temple of the king.

18 Instead of thy fathers, sons are born to thee * thou shalt make them princes over all the earth.

19 They shall remember thy name * throughout all generations.

20 Therefore shall people praise thee forever * yea, forever and ever.

Glory Be.

Ant. In thy comeliness and Thy beauty go forth, advance prosperously, and reign.

Psalm 45. Deus noster refugium    The Church in persecution trusteth in God.

Ant. God shall help her.

Our God is our refuge and strength * a helper in troubles, which have found us exceedingly.

2 Therefore we will not fear, when the earth shall be troubled * and the mountains shall be removed into the heart of the sea.

3 Their waters roared and were troubled * the mountains were troubled with his strength.

4 The stream of the river maketh the city of God joyful * the most High hath sanctified his own tabernacle.

5 God is in the midst thereof, it shall not be moved * God will help it in the morning early.

6 Nations were troubled, and kingdoms were bowed down * he uttered his voice, the earth trembled.

7 The Lord of armies is with us * the God of Jacob is our protector.

8 Come and behold ye the works of the Lord: what wonders he hath done upon earth * making wars to cease even to the end of the earth.

9 He shall destroy the bow, and break the weapons: and the shield he shall burn in the fire.

10 Be still and see that I am God * I will be exalted among the nations, and I will be exalted in the earth.

11 The Lord of armies is with us * the God of Jacob is our protector.  Glory Be.

Ant. God shall help her with His countenance: God is in the midst of her, she shall not be moved

Psalm 86. Fundamenta ejus  The glory of the Church of Christ.

Ant. As of people all rejoicing.

The foundations thereof are in the holy mountains * the Lord loveth the gates of Sion above all the tabernacles of Jacob.

2 Glorious things are said of thee * O city of God.

3 I will be mindful of Rahab and of Babylon * knowing me.

4 Behold the foreigners, and Tyre, and the people of the Ethiopians, * these were there.

5 Shall not Sion say: This man and that man is born in her? * and the Highest himself hath founded her.

6 The Lord shall tell in his writings of peoples and of princes, * of them that have been in her.

7 The dwelling in thee * is as it were of all rejoicing. Glory Be.

Ant. As of people all rejoicing: so is our habitation in thee.

Continue below at Grace is poured forth and the rest page 126.

Third Nocturn       On Wednesday and Saturday

Psalm 95. Cantate Domino

An exhortation to all creatures to praise God.

Ant. Rejoice, O Virgin Mary.

Sing ye to the Lord a new canticle: * sing to the Lord, all the earth.

2 Sing ye to the Lord and bless his name: * shew forth his salvation from day to day.

3 Declare his glory among the Gentiles: * his wonders among all people.

4 For the Lord is great, and exceedingly to be praised: * he is to be feared above all gods.

5 For all the gods of the Gentiles are devils: * but the Lord made the heavens.

6 Praise and beauty are before him: * holiness and majesty in his sanctuary.

7 Bring ye to the Lord, O ye kindreds of the Gentiles, bring ye to the Lord glory and honour: * Bring to the Lord glory unto his name.

8 Bring up sacrifices, and come into his courts: * Adore ye the Lord in his holy court.

9 Let all the earth be moved at his presence. * Say ye among the Gentiles, the Lord hath reigned.

10 For he hath corrected the world, which shall not be moved: * He will judge the people with justice.

11 Let the heavens rejoice, and let the earth be glad, let the sea be moved, and the fullness thereof: * the fields and all things that are in them shall be joyful.

12 Then shall all the trees of the woods rejoice before the face of the Lord, because he cometh: * because he cometh to judge the earth. 13 He shall judge the world with justice, * and the people with his truth.

Glory Be.

Ant. Rejoice, O Virgin Mary, thou alone hast destroyed all heresies in the whole world.

Psalm 96. Dominus regnavit

Joy at the coming and reign of Christ.

Ant. Vouchsafe.

The Lord hath reigned, let the earth rejoice: *

let many islands be glad.

2 Clouds and darkness are round about him: * justice and judgment are the establishment of his throne.

3 A fire shall go before him, * and shall burn his enemies round about.

4 His lightnings have shone forth to the world: * the earth saw and trembled.

5 The mountains melted like wax, at the presence of the Lord: * at the presence of the Lord of all the earth.

6 The heavens declared his justice: * and all people saw his glory.

7 Let them be all confounded that adore graven things, * and that glory in their idols.

8 Adore him, all you his angels: * Sion heard, and was glad.

9 And the daughters of Juda rejoiced, * because of thy judgments, O Lord.

10 For thou art the most high Lord over all the earth: *Thou art exalted exceedingly above all

gods.

11 You that love the Lord, hate evil: * the Lord preserveth the souls of his saints, he will deliver them out of the hand of the sinner.

12 Light is risen to the just, * and joy to the right of heart.

13 Rejoice, ye just, in the Lord: * and give praise to the remembrance of his holiness.

Glory Be.

Ant. Vouchsafe that I may praise thee, O sacred Virgin: give me strength against thine enemies.

Psalm 97. Cantate Domino

Invitation to praise the Lord for the victories of Christ.

Ant. After childbirth.

Sing ye to the Lord anew canticle: * because he hath done wonderful things.

2 His right hand hath wrought for him salvation, * and his arm is holy.

3 The Lord hath made known his salvation: * he hath revealed his justice in the sight of the Gentiles.

4 He hath remembered his mercy * and his truth toward the house of Israel.

5 All the ends of the earth have seen * the salvation of our God.

6 Sing joyfully to God, all the earth; * make melody, rejoice and sing.

7 Sing praise to the Lord on the harp, on the harp, and with the voice of a psalm: * with long trumpets, and sound of cornet.

8 Make a joyful noise before the Lord our king: * let the sea be moved and the fulness thereof: the world and they that dwell therein.

9 The rivers shall clap their hands, the mountains shall rejoice together at the presence of the Lord: * because he cometh to judge the earth.

10 He shall judge the world with justice, and the people with equity.

Glory Be.

Ant. After childbirth thou didst remain a pure virgin: Intercede for us, O Mother of God.

End of the Nocturns

V. Grace is poured forth on thy lips.

R. Therefore hath God blessed thee forever.

Our Father, said in secret.

V. And lead us not into temptation.

R. But deliver us from evil.

Absolution. By the prayers and merits of the blessed Mary ever Virgin, and of all the Saints, may the Lord bring us to the kingdom of heaven.

R. Amen.

V. Pray, sir, a blessing.

Benediction. May the Virgin Mary, with her loving Child, bless us.

R. Amen.

The Lessons

Lesson i Ecclus. 24, 11-13.

In all these I sought rest, and I shall abide in the inheritance of the Lord. Then the creator of all things commanded, and said to me: and he that made me, rested in my tabernacle, and he said to me: Let thy dwelling be in Jacob, and thy inheritance in Israel, and take root in my elect. But Thou, Lord, have mercy on us.

R. Thanks be to God.

R. O holy and immaculate Virgin, with what praises I shall extol thee, I know not: * For He whom the heavens could not contain rested in thy bosom.

V. Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the Fruit of thy womb. * For He whom the heavens could not contain rested in thy bosom.

V. Pray, sir, a blessing.

Benediction. May the Virgin of virgins herself intercede for us with the Lord.

R. Amen.

Lesson ii Ecclus. 24, 15-16.

And so was I established in Sion, and in the holy city likewise I rested, and my power was in Jerusalem. And I took root in an honourable people, and in the portion of my God his inheritance, and my abode is in the full assembly of saints. But Thou, O Lord, have mercy on us.

R. Thanks be to God.

R. Blessed art thou, O Virgin Mary, who didst bear the Lord, the Creator of the world: * Thou wast the mother of Him who made thee, and thou remainest a pure virgin forever.

V. Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. * Thou wast the mother of Him who made thee, and thou remainest a pure virgin forever.

When the Te Deum is said, i.e. before Septuagesima and after Easter, add:

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost, * Thou wast the mother of Him who made thee, and thou remainest a pure virgin forever.

V. Pray, sir, a blessing.

Benediction. Through the Virgin Mother, may the Lord grant unto us salvation and peace.

R. Amen.

Lesson iii Ecclus. 24, 17-20.

I was exalted like a cedar in Libanus, and as a cypress tree on Mount Sion. I was exalted like a palm tree in Cades, and as a rose plant in Jericho. As a fair olive tree in the plains, and as a plane tree by the water in the streets, was I exalted. I gave a sweet smell like cinnamon and aromatical balm: I yielded a sweet odour like the best myrrh. But Thou, O Lord, have mercy on us.

R. Thanks be to God.

The following Responsory is omitted when the Te Deum is said, i.e., before Septuagesima and after Easter.

R. Surely thou art happy, O holy Virgin Mary, and most worthy of all praise: * For out of thee arose the Sun of justice, * Christ our God.

V. Pray for the people, supplicate for the clergy, intercede for the devoted female sex. Let all experience thy assistance, whoever celebrate thy holy commemoration. * For out of thee arose the Sun of justice, * Christ our God.

V. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.

R. Christ our God.

Te Deum Hymn of St. Ambrose and St. Augustine

We praise thee, O God, * we acknowledge thee to be the Lord.

All the earth doth worship thee, * the Father everlasting.

To thee all Angels cry aloud, * the Heavens, and all the Powers therein.

To thee Cherubim and Seraphim * continually do cry.

Holy, Holy, Holy, * Lord God of Sabaoth;

Heaven and earth are full * of the Majesty of thy glory.

The glorious company of the Apostles * praise thee.

The goodly fellowship of the Prophets * praise thee.

The noble army of Martyrs * praise thee.

The Holy Church throughout all the world * doth acknowledge thee;

The Father, * of an infinite Majesty.

Thine honourable, true, * and only Son;

Also the Holy Ghost, * the Comforter.

Thou art the King of Glory, * O Christ.

Thou art the everlasting * Son of the Father.

When thou tookest upon thee to deliver man, * thou didst not abhor the Virgin’s womb.

When thou hadst overcome the sharpness of death,

Thou didst open the Kingdom of Heaven to all believers.

Thou sittest at the right hand of God, * in the glory of the Father.

We believe that thou shalt come * to be our Judge.

The following verse is said kneeling

We therefore pray thee, help thy servants, * whom thou hast redeemed with thy precious Blood.

Make them to be numbered with thy Saints, * in glory everlasting.

O Lord, save thy people, * and bless thine heritage.

Govern them, * and lift them up forever.

Day by day * we magnify thee;

And we worship thy Name * ever, world without end.

Vouchsafe, O Lord, to keep us * this day without sin.

O Lord, have mercy upon us, * have mercy upon us.

O Lord, let thy mercy lighten upon us, * as our trust is in thee.

O Lord, in thee have I trusted, * let me never be confounded.

LAUDS (at dawn)

When Lauds is not said immediately after Matins begin with, Hail Mary secretly.

V. Come † unto my help, O God.

R. O Lord, make haste to help me.

V. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.

R. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

Alleluia or Praise be to Thee, O Lord, King of everlasting glory.

Psalm 92. Dominus regnavit

The Glory and Stability of the Church of Christ

Ant: O marvelous intercourse.

THE Lord hath reigned, He is clothed with beauty:

The Lord is clothed with strength, and hath girded himself.

2 For he hath established the world * which shall not be moved.

3 Thy throne is prepared from of old: * thou art from everlasting.

4 The floods have lifted up, O Lord: * the floods have lifted up their voice.

5 The floods have lifted up their waves, * with the noise of many waters.

6 Wonderful are the surges of the sea: * wonderful is the Lord on high.

7 Thy testimonies are become exceedingly credible: * holiness becometh thy house, O Lord, unto length of days.

Glory Be.

Ant: O marvellous intercourse! The Creator of mankind, taking a body with a living soul, vouchsafed to be born of a virgin, and becoming man without man’s concurrence, bestowed upon us His Godhead.

Psalm 99. Jubilate

All are invited to praise Jehovah.

Ant: When Thou wast born.

SING joyfully to God, all the earth: * serve ye the Lord with gladness.

2 Come in before his presence * with exceeding great joy.

3 Know ye that the Lord he is God: * he made us, and not we ourselves.

4 We are his people and the sheep of his pasture. * Go ye into his gates with praise, into his courts with hymns: and give glory to him.

5 Praise ye his name, for the Lord is sweet, his mercy endureth forever, * and his truth to generation and generation. Glory Be.

Ant: When thou wast born of a Virgin, after an ineffable manner, then were the scriptures fulfilled. Thou didst come down like rain upon the fleece, that Thou mightiest save mankind, we praise Thee, O, our God.

Psalm 62. Deus, Deus meus

A prayer in desolation and distress.

Ant: In the bush which Moses saw.

O GOD, my God, * to thee do I watch at break of day.

2 For thee my soul hath thirsted; * for thee my flesh, O how many ways!

3 In a desert land, and where there is no way, and no water: * so in the sanctuary have I come before thee, to see thy power and thy glory.

4 For thy mercy is better than lives: * thee my lips shall praise.

5 Thus will I bless thee all my life long: * and in thy name I will lift up my hands.

6 Let my soul be filled as with marrow and fatness: * and my mouth shall praise thee with joyful lips.

7 If I have remembered thee upon my bed, I will meditate on thee in the morning: * because thou hast been my helper.

8 And I will rejoice under the covert of thy wings; my soul hath stuck close to thee: * thy right hand hath received me.

9 But they have sought my soul in vain, they shall go into the lower parts of the earth: * they shall be delivered into the hands of the sword, they shall be the portions of foxes.

10 But the king shall rejoice in God, all they shall be praised that swear by him: * because the mouth is stopped of them that speak wicked things.

Glory Be...

Ant: In the bush which Moses saw, unconsumed, we acknowledge thy admirable virginity preserved; Intercede for us, O Mother of God.

Canticle of the Three Children. Dan. 3, 57-88 and 56

Ant: The root of Jesse hath budded.

O ALL ye works of the Lord, bless the Lord: * praise and exalt Him above all forever.

2 O ye Angels of the Lord, bless the Lord: * O ye heavens, bless ye the Lord.

3 O all ye waters that are above the heavens, bless the Lord: * bless the Lord, all ye powers of the Lord.

4 O ye Sun and Moon, bless the Lord: * bless the Lord, ye stars of heaven.

5 O all ye showers and dew, bless ye the Lord: bless the Lord, all ye spirits of God.

6 O ye fire and heat, bless ye the Lord: * bless the Lord, ye winter and summer.

7 O ye dews and hoar-frost, bless ye the Lord: * bless the Lord, ye frost and cold.

8 O ye ice and snow, bless ye the Lord: * bless the Lord, ye nights and days.

9 O ye light and darkness, bless ye the Lord: * bless the Lord, ye lightnings and clouds.

10 O let the earth bless the Lord: * let it praise and exalt Him above all forever.

11 O ye mountains and hills, bless ye the Lord: * bless the Lord, all things that spring forth upon the earth

12 O ye fountains, bless ye the Lord: * bless the Lord, ye seas and floods.

13 O ye whales, and all that move in the waters, bless ye the Lord: * bless the Lord, all ye fowls of the air.

14 O all ye beasts and cattle, bless ye the Lord: * bless the Lord, ye sons of men.

15 Let Israel bless the Lord: * let him praise and exalt Him above all forever.

16 O ye priests of the Lord, bless ye the Lord: bless the Lord, ye servants of the Lord.

17 O ye spirits and souls of the just, bless ye the Lord: * bless the Lord, all ye that are holy and humble of heart.

18 O Ananias, Azarias, Misael, bless ye the Lord: * praise and exalt Him above all forever.

19 Let us bless the Father, and the Son, with the Holy Ghost: * let us praise and exalt Him above all forever.

20 Blessed art Thou, O Lord, in the firmament of heaven: * worthy to be praised, and glorious, and exalted above all forever.

The Glory Be is not said here.

Ant: The root of Jesse hath budded, a star hath arisen out of Jacob; a virgin hath borne the Saviour, we praise Thee O, our God.

Psalm 148. Laudate Dominum

All creatures invited to praise God.

Ant: Behold, Mary.

Praise ye the Lord from the heavens: * praise ye Him in the heights.

2 Praise Him, all ye His Angels: * praise Him, all His Hosts.

3 Praise Him, O ye Sun and Moon: * praise Him, all ye stars and light.

4 Praise Him, O ye heaven of heavens: * and let all the waters that are above the heavens praise the name of the Lord.

5 For He spake, and they were made: * He commanded, and they were created.

6 He hath established them forever, and for ages of ages: * He hath made a decree, and it shall not pass away.

7 Praise the Lord from the earth: * ye dragons, and all ye deeps.

8 Fire and hail; snow and ice: * and stormy winds which fulfill His word.

9 Mountains and hills: * fruitful trees and all cedars.

10 Beasts and all cattle: * creeping things and feathered fowls.

11 Kings of the earth, and all people: * princes, and all judges of the earth.

12 Young men and maidens, old men and children, let them praise the name of the Lord: * for His name alone is exalted.

13 His praise is above heaven and earth: * and He hath exalted the horn of His people.

14 A song of praise to all His Saints: * to the children of Israel, a people drawing nigh unto Him.

Glory be.

Ant: Behold, Mary hath borne us the Saviour, whom John beholding, exclaimed: Behold the Lamb of God, behold Him who taketh away the sins of the world. Alleluia.

The Little Chapter Cant. 6, 8.

The daughters of Sion saw her, and declared her most blessed: and the queens praised her.

R. Thanks be to God.

Hymn

O Queen of all the virgin choir!

Enthroned above the starry sky!

Who with thy bosom’s milk didst feed

Thy own Creator, Lord most high.

What man had lost in hapless Eve,

Thy sacred womb to man restores,

Thou to the wretched here beneath

Hast open’d Heaven’s eternal doors.

Hail, O refulgent Hall of light!

Hail, Gate august of Heaven’s high King!

Through thee redeem’d to endless life,

Thy praise let all the nations sing.

O Jesu! born of Virgin bright,

Immortal glory be to Thee;

Praise to the Father Infinite,

And Holy Ghost eternally. Amen.

V. Blessed art thou among women.

R. And blessed is the Fruit of thy womb.

The Canticle of Zachary Luc. 1, 68-79

Ant: A wonderful mystery.

BLESSED † be the Lord God of Israel: for He hath visited and wrought the redemption of His people.

2 And hath raised up a horn of salvation to us * in the house of His servant David.

3 As He spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets * who are from the beginning:

4 Salvation from our enemies * and from the hand of all that hate us;

5 To perform mercy to our fathers * and to remember His Holy Covenant.

6 The oath which He swore to Abraham our father * that He would grant unto us,

7 That, being delivered from the hand of our enemies * we might serve Him without fear,

8 In holiness and justice before Him * all the days of our life,

9 And thou, child, shalt be called the Prophet of the highest * for thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to prepare His ways.

10 To give knowledge of salvation unto His people * for the remission of their sins.

11 Through the bowels of the mercy of our God * whereby the Orient from on high hath visited us.

12 To enlighten them that sit in darkness, and in the shadow of death * to direct our feet into the way of peace.

Glory be.

Ant: A wonderful mystery is declared today: new things are wrought in nature: God is made man. What He was He hath remained, and what He was not He hath assumed, suffering neither confusion nor division.

Lord, have mercy.

Christ, have mercy.

Lord, have mercy.

V. O Lord, hear my prayer.

R. And let my cry come unto Thee.

Let us pray. O God, who, by the fruitful virginity of blessed Mary, hast bestowed upon mankind the rewards of eternal salvation, grant, we beseech Thee, that we may feel her intercession for us, through whom we have been made worthy to receive the Author of life, our Lord Jesus Christ, who liveth and reigneth with Thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, world without end. Amen

Commemoration of St. Joseph (Optional)

Ant: And Jesus Himself was beginning about the age of thirty years, being (as it was supposed), the son of Joseph (Luke 3:23).

V. The mouth of the just shall meditate wisdom.

R. And his tongue shall speak judgment (Psalm 36:30).

Let us pray—O God, who, in Thy wonderful providence, didst vouchsafe to choose blessed Joseph to be the spouse of Thy most Holy Mother, grant, we beseech Thee, to us who venerate him as our protector on earth, to be found worthy of having him for our advocate in heaven.

Commemoration of St. Francis of Assisi (Optional)

Ant: Well done, good and faithful servant; because thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will place thee over many things; enter thou into the joy of they Lord.

V. The just the Lord leadeth the righteous way.

R. And showeth him the Kingdom of God.

Let us pray—O God, who, through the merits of blessed Francis dost enlarge Thy Church by the progeny of a new spiritual family; grant unto us that, by imitating him, we may despise terrestrial things, and ever rejoice in the participation of heavenly gifts.

Commemoration of the Saints:

Ant. O all ye Saints of God, vouchsafe to intercede for our salvation, and that of all mankind.

V. Rejoice in the Lord, and be glad, ye just.

R. And glory, all ye that are right of heart.

Let us pray. Protect Thy people, O Lord, and preserve them by Thy continual defense, who trust in the Patronage of Peter and Paul, and all Thy other Apostles. Let all Thy Saints, we beseech Thee, O Lord, assist us everywhere; that, while we venerate their merits, we may experience their patronage; grant us Thy peace in our times, and drive away all wickedness from Thy Church; dispose our way, our acts, and wills, and those of all Thy servants, in the good success of Thy salvation; render to our benefactors everlasting blessings, and grant to all the faithful departed eternal rest. Through our Lord Jesus Christ Thy Son, who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end. Amen

V. O Lord, hear my prayer.

R. And let my cry come unto Thee.

V. Let us bless the Lord.

R. Thanks be to God.

V. May the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace.

R. Amen.

V. May the Lord give us His peace.

R. And life everlasting. Amen.

Then is said the following Anthem to Our Lady, unless one or more of the little hours is said immediately, in which case the anthem is said after the last hour recited. If the entire Office is said at once, say the anthem only after Complin:

Alma Redemptoris Mater

Sweet Mother of our Redeemer,

Gate whereby we enter heaven, and Star of the sea!

Help us, we fall; yet do we long to rise.

Nature looked upon thee with admiration,

When thou didst give birth to thy Divine Creator,

Thyself remaining, before and after it, a pure Virgin.

Gabriel spoke his Hail, to thee;

We sinners crave thy pity.

R. Amen.

V. After childbirth thou didst remain a virgin.

R. 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 experience her intercession, through whom we have been made worthy to receive the author of life, our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son. Amen.

R. Amen.

V. May the divine assistance remain always with us.

R. Amen.

.

PRIME (6:00 am)

Hail Mary, secretly.

V. Come † unto my help, O God.

R. O Lord, make haste to help me.

V. Glory Be…

Alleluia or Praise be to Thee, O Lord, King of everlasting glory.

Hymn

Remember, O Creator Lord!

That in the Virgin’s sacred womb

Thou wast conceived, and of her flesh

Didst our mortality assume.

Mother of grace, O Mary blest!

To thee, sweet fount of love, we fly;

Shield us through life, and take us hence

To thy dear bosom when we die.

O Jesu! born of Virgin bright!

Immortal glory be to Thee;

Praise to the Father infinite,

And Holy Ghost eternally. Amen.

Ant. O marvelous intercourse. (In the little hours, there is only one antiphon, said before the first psalm and after the third psalm.)

Psalm 53. Deus, in nomine

A prayer for help in distress.

O GOD, save me in Thy name * and judge me in Thy strength.

2 O God, hear my prayer * and give ear to the words of my mouth.

3 For strangers have risen up against me, and the mighty have sought after my soul * and they have not set God before their eyes.

4 For behold, God is my helper * and the Lord is the protector of my soul.

5 Turn back evil upon mine enemies * and destroy Thou them in Thy truth.

6 I will freely sacrifice unto Thee * and will praise Thy name, O Lord, for it is good.

7 For Thou hast delivered me out of all trouble * and mine eye hath looked down upon mine enemies. Glory be…

Psalm 84. Benedixisti

Prayer to obtain the complete restoration of Israel.

THOU hast blessed Thy land, O Lord * Thou hast turned away the captivity of Jacob.

2 Thou hast forgiven the iniquity of Thy people * Thou hast covered all their sins.

3 Thou hast softened all Thine anger * Thou hast turned Thyself away from the wrath of Thine indignation.

4 Convert us, O God our Saviour * and turn away Thine anger from us.

5 Wilt Thou be angry with us forever * or wilt Thou stretch out Thy wrath from generation to generation?

6 Thou shalt turn again, O God, and quicken us * and Thy people shall rejoice in Thee.

7 Show us, O Lord, Thy mercy * and grant us Thy salvation.

8 I will hearken what the Lord God shall say within me * for He will speak peace unto His people:

9 And unto His Saints * and unto them that are converted in heart.

10 Surely His salvation is nigh unto them that fear Him * that glory may dwell in our land.

11 Mercy and truth have met together * justice and peace have kissed each other.

12 Truth is sprung out of the earth * and justice hath looked down from heaven.

13 For the Lord shall give goodness * and our land shall yield her fruit.

14 Justice shall walk before Him * and shall set His steps in the way.

Glory Be.

Psalm 116. Laudate Dominum

Exhortation to praise God.

PRAISE the Lord, all ye nations * praise Him, all ye people.

2 For His mercy is confirmed upon us * and the truth of the Lord endureth forever.

Glory Be.

Ant.: O marvelous intercourse! The Creator of mankind, taking a body with a living soul, vouchsafed to be born of a virgin, and becoming man without man’s concurrence, bestowed upon us His Godhead.

The Little Chapter Cant. 6, 9.

Who is she that cometh forth as the morning rising, fair as the moon, bright as the sun, terrible as an army set in array?

R. Thanks be to God.

V. Vouchsafe that I may praise thee, O sacred Virgin.

R. Give me strength against thine enemies.

Lord, have mercy.

Christ, have mercy.

Lord, have mercy.

V. O Lord, hear my prayer.

R. And let my cry come unto Thee.

Let us pray. O God, who didst vouchsafe to choose the chaste chamber of the blessed Virgin Mary in which to dwell; grant, we beseech Thee, that fortified with her defence, we may find our joy in taking part in her commemoration. Who livest and reignest with God the Father, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end.

R. Amen.

V. O Lord, hear my prayer.

R. And let my cry come unto Thee.

V. Let us bless the Lord.

R. Thanks be to God.

V. May the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace.

R. Amen.

TERCE (9:00am)

Hail Mary, secretly.

V. Come † unto my help, O God.

R. O Lord, make haste to help me.

V. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.

R. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

Alleluia or Praise be to Thee, O Lord, King of everlasting glory.

Hymn

Remember, O Creator Lord!

That in the Virgin’s sacred womb

Thou wast conceived, and of her flesh

Didst our mortality assume.

Mother of grace, O Mary blest!

To thee, sweet fount of love, we fly:

Shield us through life, and take us hence

To thy dear bosom when we die.

O Jesu! born of Virgin bright

Immortal glory be to Thee;

Praise to the Father infinite,

And Holy Ghost eternally. Amen.

Ant. When thou wast born.

Psalm 119. Ad Dominum

A prayer against perfidious enemies.

1 When I was in trouble I cried unto the Lord * and He heard me.

2 O Lord, deliver my soul from wicked lips * and from a deceitful tongue.

3 What shall be given to thee, or what shall be added to thee * unto a deceitful tongue.

4 Sharp arrows of the mighty One * with destroying coals of fire.

5 Woe is me, that my sojourn is prolonged! I have dwelt with the inhabitants of Cedar * my soul hath long been a sojourner.

6 With them that hated peace, I was peaceable * when I spoke unto them, they fought against me without cause.

Glory Be.

Psalm 120. Levavi oculos

God is the keeper of His servants.

1 I have lifted up mine eyes to the hills * from whence my help shall come.

2 My help is from the Lord * who made both heaven and earth.

3 Let Him not suffer thy foot to be moved * neither let Him slumber that keepeth thee.

4 Behold He that keepeth Israel * shall neither slumber nor sleep.

5 The Lord is thy keeper * the Lord is thy defence upon thy right hand.

6 The sun shall not burn thee by day * nor the moon by night.

7 The Lord preserveth thee from all evil * may the Lord preserve thy soul.

8 May the Lord preserve thy coming in and thy going out * from this time forth forevermore.

Glory Be.

Psalm 121. Lætatus sum

Joy of the pilgrim entering Jerusalem.

1 I was glad at the things that were said unto me * We will go into the house of the Lord.

2 Our feet were standing * in thy courts, O Jerusalem.

3 Jerusalem, which is built as a city * that is in unity with itself.

4 For thither did the tribes go up the tribes of the Lord * the testimony of Israel, to praise the name of the Lord.

5 For there are set the seats of judgment * the seats over the house of David.

6 Pray ye for the things that are for the peace of Jerusalem * and plenteousness be to them that love thee.

7 Let peace be in thy strength * and plenteousness in thy towers.

8 For my brethren and companions’ sake * I spake peace concerning thee.

9 Because of the house of the Lord our God * I have sought good things for thee.

Glory Be.

Ant. When thou wast born of a Virgin, after an ineffable manner, then were the scriptures fulfilled. Thou didst come down like rain upon the fleece, that Thou mightiest save mankind, we praise Thee, O, our God.

The Little Chapter Eccl. 24, 15.

And so was I established in Sion, and in the holy city likewise I rested, and my power was in Jerusalem.

R. Thanks be to God.

V. Grace is poured forth on thy lips.

R. Therefore God hath blessed thee forever.

Lord, have mercy.

Christ, have mercy.

Lord, have mercy.

V. O Lord, hear my prayer.

R. And let my cry come unto Thee.

Let us pray. O God, who, by the fruitful virginity of blessed Mary, hast bestowed upon mankind the rewards of eternal salvation; grant, we beseech Thee, that we may feel her intercession for us, through whom we have been made worthy to receive the Author of life, our Lord Jesus Christ Thy Son, who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end.

R. Amen.

V. O Lord, hear my prayer.

R. And let my cry come unto Thee.

V. Let us bless the Lord.

R. Thanks be to God.

V. May the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace.

R. Amen.

SEXT (noon)

Hail Mary, secretly.

V. Come † unto my help, O God.

R. O Lord, make haste to help me.

V. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.

R. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

Alleluia or Praise be to Thee, O Lord, King of everlasting glory.

Hymn

Remember, O Creator Lord!

That in the Virgin’s sacred womb

Thou wast conceived, and of her flesh

Didst our mortality assume.

Mother of grace, O Mary blest!

To thee, sweet fount of love, we fly:

Shield us through life, and take us hence

To thy dear bosom when we die.

O Jesu! born of Virgin bright

Immortal glory be to Thee;

Praise to the Father infinite,

And Holy Ghost eternally. Amen.

Ant. In the bush which Moses saw.

Psalm 122. Ad te levavi

A prayer in affliction.

1 Unto Thee have I lifted up mine eyes * O Thou that dwellest in the heavens.

2 Behold, as the eyes of servants * are on the hands of their masters,

3 As the eyes of the handmaiden are on the hands of her mistress * so are our eyes unto the Lord our God, until He have mercy upon us.

4 Have mercy upon us, O Lord, have mercy upon us * for we are greatly filled with contempt.

5 Yea, our soul is greatly filled * we are a reproach unto the rich, and a contempt unto the proud.

Glory Be.

Psalm 123. Nisi quia Dominus

The Church gives glory to God for her deliverance from her enemies.

1 If the Lord had not been in us, now may Israel say * If the Lord had not been in us,

2 When men rose up against us * peradventure they had swallowed us up alive.

3 When their fury was enkindled against us * perchance the waters had swallowed us up.

4 Our soul hath passed through a torrent; * perchance our soul would have passed through overwhelming waters.

5 Blessed be the Lord * who hath not given us up to be a prey unto their teeth.

6 Our soul hath been delivered, as a sparrow * out of the snare of the fowlers.

7 The snare is broken * and we are delivered.

8 Our help is in the name of the Lord * who hath made heaven and earth.

Glory Be.

Psalm 124. Qui confidunt

God protects the just who have confidence in Him.

1 They who trust in the Lord shall be as Mount Sion * he shall not be moved forever that dwelleth in Jerusalem.

2 The hills stand round about her * even so is the Lord round about His people, from this time forth forevermore.

3 For the Lord will not leave the rod of sinners over the lot of the just * that the just may not stretch forth their hands unto wickedness.

4 Do well, O Lord, unto those that are good * and unto them that are right of heart.

5 But such as turn aside unto deceits, the Lord shall number with the workers of iniquity * but peace shall be upon Israel.

Glory Be.

Ant. In the bush which Moses saw, unconsumed, we acknowledge thy admirable virginity preserved; Intercede for us, O Mother of God.

The Little Chapter Eccli. 24, 16

And I took root in an honourable people, and in the portion of my God His inheritance: and my abode is in the full assembly of the saints.

R. Thanks be to God.

V. Blessed art thou among women.

R. And blessed is the Fruit of thy womb.

Lord, have mercy.

Christ, have mercy.

Lord, have mercy.

V. O Lord, hear my prayer.

R. And let my cry come unto Thee.

Let us pray. Vouchsafe to our weakness, O merciful God, the help of Thy protection that we who commemorate the Holy Mother of God, may, by the help of her intercession arise from our iniquities. Through the same Jesus Christ, Thy Son our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with Thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost God, world without end.

R. Amen.

V. O Lord, hear my prayer.

R. And let my cry come unto Thee.

V. Let us bless the Lord.

R. Thanks be to God.

V. May the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace.

R. Amen.

NONE (3:00pm)

Hail Mary, secretly.

V. Come † unto my help, O God.

R. O Lord, make haste to help me.

V. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.

R. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

Alleluia or Praise be to Thee, O Lord, King of everlasting glory.

Hymn

Remember, O Creator Lord!

That in the Virgin’s sacred womb

Thou wast conceived, and of her flesh

Didst our mortality assume.

Mother of grace, O Mary blest!

To thee, sweet fount of love, we fly:

Shield us through life, and take us hence

To thy dear bosom when we die.

O Jesu! born of Virgin bright

Immortal glory be to Thee;

Praise to the Father infinite,

And Holy Ghost eternally. Amen.

Ant. Behold.

Psalm 125. In convertendo

The people of God rejoice at their delivery from captivity.

1 When the Lord turned again the captivity of Sion: * then we became like men consoled.

2 Then was our mouth filled with gladness, * and our tongue with joy.

3 Then shall they say among the Gentiles: * the Lord hath done great things for them.

4 Yea, the Lord hath done great things for us, * and we are made joyful.

5 Turn again, O Lord, our captivity, * as a river in the south.

6 They that sow in tears, * shall reap in joy.

7 When they went forth they wept as they went, * scattering their seed.

8 But returning, they shall come with joy: * carrying their sheaves.

Glory Be.

Psalm 126. Nisi Dominus

Man can do nothing without God.

1 Unless the Lord build the house, * they labour in vain that build it.

2 Unless the Lord keep the city, * he watcheth in vain that keepeth it.

3 In vain do ye rise before the dawn: * rise after ye have rested, O ye that eat the bread of sorrow!

4 For He hath given sleep to His beloved: * Lo, children are a heritage from the Lord; and the fruit of the womb a reward.

5 As arrows in the hand of the mighty One, * even so are the children of those that have been cast out.

6 Blessed is the man whose desire is satisfied with them: * he shall not be confounded when he speaketh with his enemies in the gate.

Glory Be.

Psalm 127. Beati omnes

The happiness of the just.

1 Blessed are all they that fear the Lord; * that walk in His ways.

2 For thou shalt eat the labours of thy hands, * blessed art thou, and it shall be well with thee.

3 Thy wife shall be as a fruitful vine, * on the walls of thy house.

4 Thy children as olive plants, * round about thy table.

5 Behold, thus shall the man be blessed, * that feareth the Lord.

6 May the Lord bless thee out of Sion; * and mayest thou see the good things of Jerusalem all the days of thy life.

7 And mayest thou see thy children’s children; * peace upon Israel.

Glory Be.

Ant. Behold, Mary hath borne us the Saviour, whom John beholding, exclaimed: Behold the Lamb of God, behold Him who taketh away the sins of the world. Alleluia.

The Little Chapter Eccl. 24, 20

In the streets, like cinnamon and aromatic balm, I gave forth a sweet fragrance: like the choicest myrrh, I yielded a sweetness of odour.

R. Thanks be to God.

V. After childbirth thou didst remain a pure Virgin.

R. Intercede for us, O Mother of God.

Lord, have mercy.

Christ, have mercy.

Lord, have mercy.

V. O Lord, hear my prayer.

R. And let my cry come unto Thee.

Let us pray. Forgive, O Lord, we beseech Thee, the offences of Thy servants; that we, who are unable to please Thee by our own acts, may be saved by the intercession of the Mother of Thy Son, our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end.

R. Amen.

V. O Lord, hear my prayer.

R. And let my cry come unto Thee.

V. Let us bless the Lord.

R. Thanks be to God.

V. May the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace.

R. Amen.

VESPERS (6:00pm)

Hail Mary, secretly.

V. Come † unto my help, O God.

R. O Lord, make haste to help me.

V. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.

R. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

Alleluia or Praise be to Thee, O Lord, King of everlasting glory.

Psalm 109. Dixit Dominus

The Messiah, King and Priest, victorious over His enemies.

Ant O marvelous intercourse.

1 The Lord said unto my Lord * Sit Thou at My right hand.

2 Until I make Thine enemies * Thy footstool.

3 The Lord shall send forth the sceptre of Thy power out of Sion * rule Thou in the midst of Thine enemies.

4 Thine shall be dominion in the day of Thy power; amidst the brightness of the Saints * from the womb, before the day-star, have I begotten Thee.

5 The Lord hath sworn, and He will not repent * Thou art a priest forever according to the order of Melchisedech.

6 The Lord upon Thy right hand * hath overthrown kings in the day of His wrath.

7 He shall judge among the nations; He shall fill them with ruins * He shall smite in sunder the heads in the land of many.

8 He shall drink of the torrent in the way * therefore shall He lift up His head.

Glory Be.

Ant. O marvelous intercourse! The Creator of mankind taking a body with a living soul, vouchsafed to be born of a Virgin, and becoming man without man’s concurrence, bestowed upon us His Godhead.

Psalm 112. Laudate, pueri

Glory to God, so infinitely great and so admirably condescending.

Ant. When Thou wast born.

1 Praise the Lord, ye children * praise ye the name of the Lord.

2 Blessed be the name of the Lord * from this time forth forevermore.

3 From the rising of the sun to the going down of the same * the name of the Lord is worthy to be praised.

4 The Lord is high above all nations * and His glory above the heavens.

5 Who is like unto the Lord our God, who dwelleth on high * and regardeth the things that are lowly in heaven and on earth?

6 Who raiseth up the needy from the earth * and lifteth the poor out of the dunghill;

7 That He may set him with princes * even with the princes of His people.

8 Who maketh the barren woman to dwell in her house * the joyful mother of children.

Glory Be.

Ant. When Thou wast born of a Virgin, after an ineffable manner, then were the Scriptures fulfilled: Thou didst come down like rain upon the fleece, that Thou mightiest save mankind; we praise Thee, O our God.

Psalm 121. Lætatus sum

Song of the pilgrims in honor of Jerusalem.

Ant. In the bush which Moses saw

1 I was glad at the things that were said unto me * We will go into the house of the Lord.

2 Our feet were standing * in thy courts, O Jerusalem.

3 Jerusalem, which is built as a city * that is in unity with itself.

4 For thither did the tribes go up, even the tribes of the Lord * the testimony of Israel, to praise the name of the Lord.

5 For there are set the seats of judgment * the seats over the house of David.

6 Pray ye for the things that are for the peace of Jerusalem * and plenteousness be to them that love thee.

7 Let peace be in thy strength * and plenteousness in thy towers.

8 For my brethren and companions’ sake * I spake peace concerning thee.

9 Because of the house of the Lord our God * I have sought good things for thee.

Glory Be.

Ant. In the bush which Moses saw unconsumed, we acknowledge thy admirable virginity preserved; Intercede for us O Mother of God.

Psalm 126. Nisi Dominus

Man can do nothing without God’s help.

Ant. The Root of Jesse hath budded.

1 Unless the Lord build the house * they labour in vain that build it.

2 Unless the Lord keep the city * he watcheth in vain that keepeth it.

3 In vain do ye rise before the dawn * rise after ye have rested, O ye that eat the bread of sorrow!

4 For He hath given sleep to His beloved * Lo, children are a heritage from the Lord; and the fruit of the womb a reward.

5 As arrows in the hand of the mighty One * even so are the children of those that have been cast out.

6 Blessed is the man whose desire is satisfied with them * he shall not be confounded when he speaketh with his enemies in the gate. Glory Be.

Ant. The Root of Jesse hath budded, a star hath arisen out of Jacob; a Virgin hath borne the Saviour, we praise Thee, O our God.

Psalm 147. Lauda, Jerusalem

Thanksgiving for the restoration of Jerusalem.

Ant. Behold Mary.

1 Praise the Lord, O Jerusalem * praise thy God, O Sion.

2 For He hath strengthened the bars of thy gates * He hath blessed thy children within thee.

3 He hath made peace within thy borders * and filleth thee with the fat of corn.

4 He sendeth forth His speech upon the earth * His word runneth very swiftly.

5 He giveth snow like wool * He scattereth the mists like ashes.

6 He sendeth His ice like morsels * who shall stand before the face of His cold?

7 He shall send forth His word, and shall melt them * His wind shall blow and the waters shall run.

8 He declareth His word unto Jacob * His justice and judgments unto Israel.

9 He hath not done in like manner to every nation * and His judgments He hath not made manifest to them.  Glory Be.

Ant. Behold, Mary hath borne us the Saviour, whom John beholding, exclaimed, saying: Behold the Lamb of God, behold Him who taketh away the sins of the world. Alleluia.

The Little Chapter Eccl. 24, 14.

From the beginning, and before the world, was I created, and unto the world to come I shall not cease to be, and in the holy dwelling-place I have ministered before Him.  R. Thanks be to God.

Hymn (Ave Maris Stella)

Hail, thou Star of ocean!

Portal of the sky!

Ever Virgin Mother

Of the Lord Most High!

Oh! by Gabriel’s Ave,

Utter’d long ago,

Eva’s name reversing,

Establish peace below.

Break the captives’ fetters;

Light on blindness pour;

All our ills expelling,

Every bliss implore.

Show thyself a Mother;

Offer Him our sighs,

Who for us Incarnate

Did not thee despise.

Virgin of all virgins!

To thy shelter take us:

Gentlest of the gentle!

Chaste and gentle make us.

Still, as on we journey,

Help our weak endeavour,

Till with thee and Jesus

We rejoice forever.

Through the highest heaven,

To the Almighty Three,

Father, Son, and Spirit,

One same glory be. Amen.

V. Grace is poured forth on thy lips.

R. Therefore hath the Lord blessed thee forever

The “Magnificat” or Song of the Blessed Virgin Mary Luc. 1, 46–55

Ant. A great mystery of inheritance.

1 My soul † doth magnify the Lord.

2 And my spirit hath rejoiced * in God my Saviour.

3 Because He hath regarded the humility of His handmaid * for behold from henceforth all generations shall call me Blessed.

4 For He that is mighty hath done great things to me * and holy is His name.

5 And His mercy is from generation to generation * unto them that fear Him.

6 He hath shown might in His arm * He hath scattered the proud in the conceit of their heart.

7 He hath put down the mighty from their seat * and hath exalted the humble.

8 He hath filled the hungry with good things * and the rich He hath sent empty away.

9 He hath received Israel His servant * being mindful of His mercy.

10 As He spoke unto our fathers * to Abraham and his seed forever.

Glory Be.

Ant. A great mystery of inheritance! The womb of one that knew not man hath become the Temple of God; taking flesh of her He was not defiled. All nations shall come, saying, Glory be to Thee, O Lord.

Lord, have mercy.

Christ, have mercy.

Lord, have mercy.

V. O Lord, hear my prayer.

R. And let my cry come unto Thee.

Let us pray. Vouchsafe, O Lord God, we beseech Thee, to us, Thy servants, that we may enjoy perpetual health of mind and body; and by the glorious intercession of blessed Mary ever Virgin, may be delivered from present sadness, and come to the fruition of eternal joys. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end. Amen.

Commemoration of St. Joseph (Optional)

Ant: Behold the faithful and wise steward whom the Lord set over his family (Luke 12:42).

V. Glory and wealth shall be in his house.

R. And his justice remains forever and ever (Psalm 111:3).

Let us pray—O God, who, in Thy wonderful providence, didst vouchsafe to choose blessed Joseph to be the spouse of Thy most Holy Mother, grant, we beseech Thee, to us who venerate him as our protector on earth, to be found worthy of having him for our advocate in heaven.

Commemoration of St. Francis of Assisi (Optional)

Ant: This man, despising the world and triumphing over the things of earth, stored up treasures for heaven by word and deed.

V. The Lord hath loved him and adorned him.

R. He clothed him with a robe of glory..

Let us pray— O God, who through the merits of blessed Francis dost enlarge Thy Church by the progeny of a new spiritual family, grant unto us that, by imitating him, we may despise terrestrial things, and ever rejoice in the participation of heavenly gifts.

Commemoration of the Saints:

Ant. O all ye Saints of God, vouchsafe to intercede for our salvation, and that of all mankind.

V. Rejoice in the Lord, and be glad, ye just.

R. And glory, all ye that are right of heart.

Let us pray. Protect Thy people, O Lord, and preserve them by They continual defense, who trust in the Patronage of Peter and Paul, and all Thy other Apostles. Let all Thy Saints, we beseech Thee, O Lord, assist us everywhere; that, while we venerate their merits, we may experience their patronage; grant us Thy peace in our times, and drive away all wickedness from Thy Church; dispose our way, our acts, and wills, and those of all Thy servants, in the good success of Thy salvation; render to our benefactors everlasting blessings, and grant to all the faithful departed eternal rest. Through our Lord Jesus Christ Thy Son, who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end. Amen

V. O Lord, hear my prayer.

R. And let my cry come unto Thee.

V. Let us bless the Lord.

R. Thanks be to God.

V. May the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace.

R. Amen.

Our Father, secretly.

V. May the Lord give us His peace.      R. And life everlasting. Amen.

COMPLIN (at bedtime)

Hail Mary, secretly.

V. Convert † us, O God our Saviour.

R. And turn away Thine anger from us.

V. Come † unto my help, O God.

R. O Lord, make haste to help me.

V. Glory be…

Alleluia or Praise be to Thee, O Lord, King of everlasting glory.

* There is no antiphon for the psalms of Complin.

Psalm 128. Sæpe expugnaverunt me

Confidence in God; the persecutors of the Church come to nothing.

1 Many a time have they fought against me from my youth up * let Israel now say.

2 Many a time have they fought against me from my youth up * but they could not prevail against me.

3 The wicked have wrought upon my back: * they have prolonged their iniquity.

4 The just Lord hath hewn asunder the necks of sinners: * let them all be confounded and turned back that hate Sion.

5 Let them be as grass upon the house-tops * that withereth before it be plucked up.

6 Wherewith the mower filleth not his hand * nor he that gathereth the sheaves, his bosom.

7 And they that passed by said not: * The blessing of the Lord be upon you. We have blessed you in the name of the Lord.

Glory Be.

Psalm 129. De profundis

Prayer of a sinner trusting in the mercies of God.

1 Out of the depths have I cried unto Thee, O Lord: * Lord, hear my voice.

2 O let Thine ears consider well * the voice of my supplication.

3 If Thou, O Lord, wilt mark iniquities * Lord, who shall abide it?

4 For with Thee there is merciful forgiveness * and because of Thy law have I waited for Thee, O Lord.

5 My soul hath waited on His word: * my soul hath hoped in the Lord.

6 From the morning watch even until night * let Israel hope in the Lord.

7 For with the Lord there is mercy * and with Him there is plenteous redemption.

8 And He shall redeem Israel * from all his iniquities.

Glory Be.

Psalm 130. Domine, non est exaltatum

A psalm of childlike resignation to God’s will.

1 Lord, my heart is not exalted: * neither are mine eyes lifted up.

2 Neither have I walked in great matters, * nor in things too wonderful for me.

3 If I was not humbly minded * but have lifted up my soul:

4 As a child that is weaned from his mother’s breast, * so let my reward be in my soul.

5 Let Israel hope in the Lord, * from henceforth now and evermore.

Glory Be.

Hymn

Remember, O Creator Lord!

That in the Virgin’s sacred womb

Thou wast conceived, and of her flesh

Didst our mortality assume.

Mother of grace, O Mary blest!

To thee, sweet fount of love, we fly;

Shield us through life, and take us hence

To thy dear bosom when we die.

O Jesu! born of Virgin bright!

Immortal glory be to Thee;

Praise to the Father infinite,

And Holy Ghost eternally. Amen.

The Little Chapter Eccl. 24, 24.

I am the Mother of fair love, and of fear, and of knowledge, and of holy hope.

R. Thanks be to God.

V. Pray for us, O holy Mother of God.

R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

Canticle of Simeon. Luke 2, 29-32.

Ant. A great mystery of inheritance.

1 Now † dost Thou dismiss Thy servant, O Lord, * according to Thy word, in peace.

2 Because mine eyes * have seen Thy salvation;

3 Which Thou hast prepared * before the face of all peoples.

4 A Light to the Revelation of the Gentiles, * and the Glory of Thy people Israel.

Glory Be.

Ant. A great mystery of inheritance! The womb of one that new not man hath become the Temple of God; taking flesh of her, He was not defiled. All nations shall come, saying, Glory be to Thee, O Lord.

Lord, have mercy.

Christ, have mercy.

Lord, have mercy.

V. O Lord, hear my prayer.

R. And let my cry come unto Thee.

Let us pray. Let the glorious intercession of the blessed and glorious Mary, ever Virgin, protect us, we beseech Thee, O Lord, and bring us to life everlasting. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end.

R. Amen.

V. O Lord, hear my prayer.

R. And let my cry come unto Thee.

V. Let us bless the Lord.

R. Thanks be to God.

Benediction

May the Almighty and merciful Lord, Father, and Son, and Holy Ghost, bless and preserve us.

R. Amen.

Anthem of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Then is said the following Anthem to Our Lady

Alma Redemptoris Mater

Sweet Mother of our Redeemer,

Gate whereby we enter heaven, and Star of the sea!

Help us, we fall; yet do we long to rise.

Nature looked upon thee with admiration,

When thou didst give birth to thy Divine Creator,

Thyself remaining, before and after it, a pure Virgin.

Gabriel spoke his Hail, to thee;

We sinners crave thy pity.

V. After childbirth thou didst remain a virgin.

R. 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 experience her intercession, through whom we have been made worthy to receive the author of life, our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son.

R. Amen.

V. May the divine assistance remain always with us.

R. Amen.

Pater, Ave, Credo, secretly

Ite Ad Joseph

Table of Contents

Rubrics

PRAYER AFTER THE OFFICE

Time before Advent

MATINS

First Nocturn

Second Nocturn

Third Nocturn

End of the Nocturns

LAUDS

PRIME (6:00 am)

TERCE (9:00am)

SEXT (noon)

NONE (3:00pm)

VESPERS (6:00pm)

COMPLIN (at bedtime)

Advent

MATINS (midnight)

First Nocturn

Second Nocturn

Third Nocturn

End of the Nocturns

LAUDS (at dawn)

PRIME (6:00 am)

TERCE (9:00am)

SEXT (noon)

NONE (3:00pm)

VESPERS (6:00pm)

COMPLIN (at bedtime)

Time after Advent or Christmastide

MATINS (midnight)

First Nocturn

Second Nocturn

Third Nocturn

End of the Nocturns

LAUDS (at dawn)

PRIME (6:00 am)

TERCE (9:00am)

SEXT (noon)

NONE (3:00pm)

VESPERS (6:00pm)

COMPLIN (at bedtime)