The Little Office of the Blessed Virgin Mary
The Aperi Domine
(Prayer before the hours)
Prayer Before Terce
O divine and adorable Lord Jesus Christ, who hast graciously redeemed us by Thy bitter passion and death, we offer up this hour of Terce to Thy honor and glory; and most humbly beseech Thee, through the torments Thou didst endure in being cruelly scourged at the pillar, crowned with thorns, and unjustly condemned to be crucified, to grant us patience, longanimity under the scourges of temporal afflictions, courage to walk in the thorny road to the narrow gate which opens to eternal bliss, and perseverance under all the crosses of this life, which are the portion of thine elect; that, by suffering for our sins, we may fully satisfy Thy divine justice on earth, and may enter into Thy glory immediately after death. Amen.
4. Terce
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. Ant. The Virgin Mary. Psalm 119 (120) - Ad Dominum. A prayer against perfidious enemies 1. In my trouble I cried unto the Lord: * and he heard me. 2. O Lord, deliver my soul from wicked lips, * and a deceitful tongue. 3. What shall be given to thee, or what shall be added to thee, * to a deceitful tongue? 4. The sharp arrows of the mighty, * with coals that lay waste. 5. Woe is me, that my sojourning is prolonged! I have dwelt with the inhabitants of Cedar: * my soul hath been long a sojourner. 6. With them that hated peace I was peaceable: *when I spoke to them they fought against me without cause. 7. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost, 8. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. * Alleluia. The alternation is not interrupted here. Psalm 120 (121) - Levavi oculos. God is the keeper of His servants 9. I have lifted up my eyes to the mountains, * from whence help shall come to me. 10. My help is from the Lord, * who made heaven and earth. 11. May he not suffer thy foot to be moved: * neither let him slumber that keepeth thee. 12. Behold he shall neither slumber nor sleep, * that keepeth Israel. 13. The Lord is thy keeper, * the Lord is thy protection upon thy right hand. 14. The sun shall not burn thee by day: * nor the moon by night. 15. The Lord keepeth thee from all evil: * may the Lord keep thy soul. 16. May the Lord keep thy coming in and thy going out; * from henceforth now and for ever. 17. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost, 18. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. * Alleluia. The alternation is not interrupted here. Psalm 121 (122) - Lætatus sum in his. Joy of the pilgrim entering Jerusalem 19. I rejoiced at the things that were said to me: * We shall go into the house of the Lord. 20. Our feet were standing * in thy courts, O Jerusalem. 21. Jerusalem, which is built as a city, * which is compact together. 22. For thither did the tribes go up, the tribes of the Lord: * the testimony of Israel, to praise the name of the Lord. 23. Because their seats have sat in judgment, * seats upon the house of David. 24. Pray ye for the things that are for the peace of Jerusalem: * and abundance for them that love Thee. 25. Let peace be in Thy strength: * and abundance in Thy towers. 26. For the sake of my brethren, and of my neighbours, * I spoke peace of thee. 27. Because of the house of the Lord our God, * I have sought good things for thee. 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. The Virgin Mary was taken up to the heavenly chamber, where the King of kings sitteth on his starry throne. The Little Chapter Ecclus. xxiv. 15. (Sirach 24:11) O. And so I was 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 shed 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. The Oration O. 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, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. R. Amen. On to Close the hour of Terce or continue on to Sext.
