O divine and adorable Lord Jesus Christ, who hast graciously redeemed us by thy bitter passion and death, we offer up this hour of Prime to thy honor and glory; and most humbly beseech thee, through the great humiliation thou didst undergo in being condemned before the false tribunals of Pilate and Herod, where thou wast reviled by the soldiery, clothed like a fool, and degraded below the worst of criminals, to grant us true humility of heart, and a sincere conviction of our own wretchedness, misery, poverty, blindness, and destitution, that we may never esteem ourselves above the lowest of our fellow-creatures, but always acknowledge ourselves truly the worst of sinners; so that our extreme misery may excite thy tender compassion and infinite goodness to forgive us all our sins, to replenish us with thy divine grace, and to exalt us to eternal glory in heaven.  Amen.

2. Prime

Standing, All say the Hail Mary in silence.

All then make the sign of the Cross on their lips with the thumb, as the Officiant begins:

O.  Come, my lips, and wide proclaim The blessed Virgin's spotless fame.

V.  O Lady, make speed to befriend me.

R.  From the hands of the enemy mightily defend me.

V.  Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost, * as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.  * Praise be to thee, O Lord, King of everlasting glory.

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Hymn

1. Hail, Virgin most wise! *
    Hail, Diety's shrine!

2. With seven fair pillars, *
  And table divine!

3. Preserv'd from the guilt, *
  Which hath come on us all!

4. Exempt, in the womb, *
  From the taint of the Fall!

5. O new star of Jacob! *
  Of Angels the Queen!

6. O gate of the Saints! *
  O mother of men!

7. O terrible as *
  The embattled array!

8. Be thou of the faithful *
  The refuge and stay.

9. Amen

V. The Lord himself created her in the Holy Ghost.

R. And poured her out among all his works.

V.  O Lady, hear my prayer.

R.  And let my cry come unto thee.

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The Oration

O.  Let us pray:  Holy Mary, Queen of heaven, Mother of our Lord Jesus Christ, and Mistress of the world, who forsakest no one, and despisest no one; look upon me, O Lady, with an eye of pity, and entreat for me, of thy beloved Son, the forgiveness of all my sins; that, as I now celebrate with devout affection thy Holy and Immaculate Conception, so, hereafter, I may receive the prize of eternal blessedness, by the grace of Him whom thou, in virginity, didst bring forth, Jesus Christ, our Lord; who, with the Father and the Holy Ghost, liveth and reigneth, in perfect Trinity, God, world without end.

R.  Amen.

V.  O Lady, 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, through the mercy of God, rest in peace.

R.   Amen.

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The Commendation

O.  The praises and prayers

   I lay at thy feet,

O Virgin of virgins!

   O Mary most sweet!

Be thou my true guide

   Through this pilgramage here

And stand by my side

   When death draweth near.

R.   Thanks be to God.

On to Close the hour or continue on to Terce.

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