The Little Office of the Immaculate Conception
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.
3. Terce
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. * Alleluia.
Hymn
1. Hail, Solomon's throne! *
Pure ark of the law!2. Fair rainbow! and bush, *
Which the Patriarch saw!3. Hail, Gedeon's fleece! *
Hail, blossoming rod!4. Samson's sweet honeycomb! *
Portal of God!5. Well fitting it was, *
That a Son so divine6. Should preserve from all touch, *
Of original sin;7. Nor suffer by smallest *
Defect to be stain'd,8. That Mother, whom he *
For himself had ordain'd.9. Amen
V. I dwell in the highest.
R. And my throne is on the pillar of the clouds.
V. O Lady, hear my prayer.
R. And let my cry come unto thee.
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.
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 Sext.
