The Little Office of the Blessed Virgin Mary
The Aperi Domine
(Prayer before the hours)
Prayer Before Prime
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.
3. Prime
Office 1. From the Purification to Advent. Standing, All say the Hail Mary in silence. Then 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. Hymn 1. Remember, O Creator Lord, * That in the Virgin's sacred womb * Thou was conceived, and of her flesh * Didst our mortality assume. 2. 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. 3. O Jesus! 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 (54) - Deus, in nomine tuo. A prayer for help in distress 1. Save me, O God, by thy name, * and judge me in thy strength. 2. O God, hear my prayer: * 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 the evils upon my enemies; * and cut them off in thy truth. 6. I will freely sacrifice to thee, * and will give praise, O God, to thy name: because it is good: 7. For thou hast delivered me out of all trouble: * and my eye hath looked down upon my enemies. 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. The alternation is not interrupted here. Psalm 84 (85) - Benedixisti, Domine Prayer to obtain the complete restoration of Israel 10. Lord, thou hast blessed thy land: * thou hast turned away the captivity of Jacob. 11. Thou hast forgiven the iniquity of thy people: * thou hast covered all their sins. 12. Thou hast mitigated all thy anger: * thou hast turned away from the wrath of thy indignation. 13. Convert us, O God our saviour: * and turn off thy anger from us. 14. Wilt thou be angry with us for ever: * or wilt thou extend thy wrath from generation to generation? 15. Thou wilt turn, O God, and bring us to life: * and thy people shall rejoice in thee. 16. Shew us, O Lord, thy mercy; * and grant us thy salvation. 17. I will hear what the Lord God will speak in me: * for he will speak peace unto his people: 18. And unto his saints: and unto them that are converted to the heart. 19. Surely his salvation is near to them that fear him: * that glory may dwell in our land. 20. Mercy and truth have met each other: * justice and peace have kissed. 21. Truth is sprung out of the earth: * and justice hath looked down from heaven. 22. For the Lord will give goodness: * and our earth shall yield her fruit. 23. Justice shall walk before him: * and shall set his steps in the way. 24. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost, 25. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. * Alleluia. The alternation is not interrupted here. Psalm 116 (117) - Laudate Dominum. Exhortation to praise God 26. O praise the Lord, all ye nations: * praise him, all ye people. 27. For his mercy is confirmed upon us: * and the truth of the Lord remaineth for ever. 28. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost, 29. 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. The Little Chapter Cant. vi. 9. (Songs 6-10) O. 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. The Oration O. Let us pray: O God, who didst vouchsafe to choose the chaste chamber of the blessed Virgin Mary to dwell therein; grant, we beseech thee, that, fortified with her defense, we may find our joy in taking part in her commemoration. 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, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. R. Amen. On to Close the hour of Prime or continue on to Terce.
