The Little Office of the Blessed Virgin Mary
The Aperi Domine
(Prayer before the hours)
(If continuing directly from Matins, go directly to the Deus in adjutorium.)
Prayer Before Matins and Lauds
O divine and adorable Lord Jesus Christ, who hast graciously redeemed us by Thy bitter passion and death; I offer these Lauds to Thy honour and glory; and most humbly beseech Thee, through the vile treatment thou didst receive from the Jews, who dragged Thee to the courts of the impious high priests, where Thou wast fasely accused, smitten on the face, called a blasphemer, and declared guilty of death; through the cruel torments, the blows, the bruises, and unheard-of injuries, which Thou enduredst during the whole night; to grant us resignation and silence under all calumnies, detractions, and sufferings, for the love of Thee, and to give us grace never to return injury for injury, but to practice the truly Christian revenge of overcoming evil with good, to do good to those who hate us, to bless those who curse us, and to pray for those who persecute and calumniate us. Amen.
2. Lauds
Office 1. From the Purification to Advent. 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:
V. Thou shalt open my lips, O Lord,
R. And my mouth shall show forth thy praise.
Now ALL make the large sign of the Cross:
V. O God, be intent on mine aid,
R. O Lord, make haste to help me. * Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost, * as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. * Alleluia.
Ant. Mary was taken up.
Psalm 92 (93) - Dominus regnavit.
The glory and the stability of the Church of Christ
1. 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.
8. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, * and to the Holy Ghost,
9. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, * world without end. Amen. * Alleluia.
Ant. Mary was taken up into heaven, the angels rejoice, and with praises bless the Lord.
Ant. The Virgin Mary.
Psalm 99 (100) - Jubilate Deo.
All are invited to praise the Lord
1. 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 for ever, and his truth to generation and generation.
6. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, * and to the Holy Ghost,
7. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, * world without end. Amen. * Alleluia.
Ant. The Virgin Mary was taken up to the heavenly chamber, where the King of Kings sitteth on his starry throne.
Ant. We run.
Psalm 62 (63) - Deus, Deus meus.
A prayer in desolation and distress
1. 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! * In a desert land, and where there is no way, and no water:
3. 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.
The alternation is not interrupted here.
Psalm 66 (67) - Deus misereatur.
A prayer for the propagation of the church
11. May God have mercy on us, and bless us: * may he cause the light of his countenance to shine upon us, and may he have mercy on us.
12. That we may know thy way upon earth: * thy salvation in all nations.
13. Let people confess to thee, O God: * let all people give praise to thee.
14. Let the nations be glad and rejoice: * for thou judgest the people with justice, and directest the nations upon earth.
15. Let the people, O God, confess to thee: * let all the people give praise to thee:
16. the earth hath yielded her fruit. * May God, our God bless us,
17. may God bless us: * and all the ends of the earth fear him.
18. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, * and to the Holy Ghost,
19. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, * world without end. Amen. * Alleluia.
Ant. We run to the odor of thy ointments; the young maidens have loved thee exceedingly.
Ant. Thou, O daughter.
The Benedicite
or Canticle of the Three Youths, Daniel iii.
1. O all ye works of the Lord, bless ye the Lord, * praise and exalt him above all for ever.
2. O ye angels of the Lord; * bless ye the Lord, ye heavens.
3. O all ye waters that are above the heavens, bless ye the Lord, * bless ye the Lord, all ye powers of the Lord.
4. O ye, sun and moon, bless ye the Lord, * bless ye the Lord, all ye stars of heaven.
5. O ye, showers and dew, bless ye the Lord, * bless ye the Lord, all ye spirits of God.
6. O ye, fire and heat, bless ye the Lord, * bless ye the Lord, all ye winter and summer.
7. O ye, dews and hoar-frost, bless ye the Lord, * bless ye the Lord, all ye frost and cold.
8. O ye, ice and snow, bless ye the Lord, * bless ye the Lord, all ye nights and days.
9. O ye, light and darkness, bless ye the Lord, * bless ye the Lord, all ye lightnings and clouds.
10. O let the earth bless the Lord, * let it praise and exalt him above all for ever.
11. O ye, mountains and hills, bless ye the Lord, * bless ye the Lord, all things that spring forth upon earth.
12. O ye fountains, bless ye the Lord, * bless ye the Lord, ye seas and floods.
13. O ye, whales, and all that move in the waters, bless ye the Lord, * bless ye the Lord, all ye fowls of the air.
14. O all ye beasts and cattle, bless ye the Lord, * bless ye the Lord, ye sons of men.
15. Let Israel bless the Lord, * let him praise and exalt him above all for ever.
16. O ye priests of the Lord, bless ye the Lord, * bless ye the Lord, ye servants of the Lord.
17. O ye spirits and souls of the just, bless ye the Lord, * bless ye 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 for ever.
All bow at the following verse:
19. Let us bless the Father, and the Son, with the Holy Ghost, * let us praise and exalt him above all things forever.
20. Blessed art thou, O Lord, in the firmament of heaven, * worthy to be praised, and glorious, and exalted above all for ever.
The Glory be to the Father 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.
Ant. Thou, art fair.
Psalm 148 - Laudate Dominum.
All creatures invited to praise God
1. Praise ye the Lord from the heavens: praise ye him in the high places.
2. Praise ye him, all his angels, praise ye him, all his hosts.
3. Praise ye him, O sun and moon: praise him, all ye stars and light.
4. Praise him, ye heavens of heavens: and let all the waters that are above the heavens
5. praise the name of the Lord. For he spoke, and they were made: he commanded, and they were created.
6. He hath established them for ever, 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, hail, snow, ice, stormy winds, which fulfil his word:
9. Mountains and all hills, fruitful trees and all cedars:
10. Beasts and all cattle: serpents and feathered fowls:
11. Kings of the earth and all people: princes and all judges of the earth:
12. Young men and maidens: let the old with the younger, praise the name of the Lord:
13. for his name alone is exalted. The praise of him is above heaven and earth: * and he hath exalted the horn of his people.
14. A hymn to all his saints to the children of Israel, a people approaching to him.
The alternation is not interrupted here.
Psalm 149 - Cantate Domino.
15. Sing ye to the Lord a new canticle: * let his praise be in the church of the saints.
16. Let Israel rejoice in him that made him: * and let the children of Sion be joyful in their king.
17. Let them praise his name in choir: * let them sing to him with the timbrel and the psaltery.
18. For the Lord is well pleased with his people: * and he will exalt the meek unto salvation.
19. The saints shall rejoice in glory: * they shall be joyful in their beds.
20. The high praises of God shall be in their mouth: * and two-edged swords in their hands:
21. To execute vengeance upon the nations, * chastisements among the people:
22. To bind their kings with fetters, * and their nobles with manacles of iron.
23. To execute upon them the judgment that is written: * this glory is to all his saints.
The alternation is not interrupted here.
Psalm 150 - Laudate Dominum.
24. Praise ye the Lord in his holy places: * praise ye him in the firmament of his power.
25. Praise ye him for his mighty acts: * praise ye him according to the multitude of his greatness.
26. Praise him with the sound of trumpet: * praise him with psaltery and harp.
27. Praise him with timbrel and choir: * praise him with strings and organs.
28. Praise him on high sounding cymbals: * praise him on cymbals of joy: let every spirit praise the Lord.
29. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, * and to the Holy Ghost,
30. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, * world without end. Amen. * Alleluia.
Ant. Thou are fair and comely, O daughter of Jerusalem, terrible as an army set in array.
Little Chapter
Cant. vi. 8 (Songs 6:9)
O. The daughters of Sion saw her, and declared her most blessed, and the queens, they praised her.
R. Thanks be to God.
Hymn
1. O Queen of all the Virgin choir, * Enthroned above the starry sky,
Who with the milk of thy pure breast, * Thy own Creator dost supply,
2. What man had lost in hapless Eve, * Thy sacred womb to man restores;
Thou to the wretched here beneath * Hast opened Heaven's eternal doors.
3. Hail, O refulgent hall of light, * O gate sublime of Heaven's King,
Through thee, redeemed to endless life, * Thy praise let all the nations sing.
4. O Jesus, born of Virgin bright, * Immortal glory be to thee;
Praise to the Father infinite, * And Holy Ghost eternally.
5. Amen.
V. Blessed art thou among women,
R. And blessed is the fruit of thy womb.
Ant. O blessed Mother of God.
The Benedictus
Or Canticle of Zachary, Lk. 1.
1. Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, * because he has visited and wrought redemption for his people.
2. And has raised up a horn of salvation for us, * in the house of David his servant,
3. As he promised through the mouth of his holy ones, * the prophets from of old,
4. Salvation from our enemies, * and from the hand of all who hate us,
5. To show mercy to our forefathers, * and to be mindful of his holy covenant,
6. Of the oath that he swore to Abraham, our father, * that he would grant us,
7. That, delivered from the hand of our enemies, * we should serve him without fear,
8. In holiness and justice before him * all our days.
9. And thou, child, shalt be called the prophet of the Most High, * for thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways,
10. To give to his people knowledge of salvation * through forgiveness of their sins,
11. Because of the loving-kindness of our God, * wherewith the Orient from on high has visited us,
12. To shine on those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, * to guide our feet into the way of peace.
13. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, * and to the Holy Ghost,
14. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, * world without end. Amen. * Alleluia.
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, mediate for the clergy, intercede for the devoted female sex.
Lord have mercy.
Christ have mercy. Lord have mercy.
V. O Lord, hear my prayer.
R. And let my cry come unto Thee.
The Oration
O. 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.
R. Amen.
An Antiphon to St. Joseph
(This forms no part of the Office.)
O. A faithful and wise servant, whom the Lord appointed to be the consolation of his Mother, the nursing-father of his own flesh, and alone in all the earth the most faithful fellow - helper of great counsel.
V. Behold a man without blame, a true worshipper of God.
R. Abstaining from every evil work, and abiding in his innocence.
O. Let us pray: Assist us, O Lord, we beseech thee, by the merits of the spouse of thy most holy Mother, that what of ourselves we are unable to obtain, may be granted to us by his intercession. Who livest and reignest, world without end.
R. Amen.
Commemoration of the Saints
Ant. 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.
O. 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 mischief 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.
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.
On to Close the hour of Lauds or continue on to Prime.
