The Little Office of the Immaculate Conception
The Aperi Domine
(Prayer before the hours)
Prayer Before None
O divine and adorable Lord Jesus Christ, who hast graciously redeemed us by thy bitter passion and death, we offer up this hour of None to thy honor and glory; and most humbly beseech thee, through the torments and agony thou didst suffer when hanging for three hours upon the cross, and through thy precious death, which gave redemption and life to the world, and through thy sacred burial, to grant us thy divine assistance, and the grace of the holy sacraments at our last hour and agony; and to give us a happy death, precious in thy sight and pure from the least defilement of sin; that we may be attended at our death by thy holy angels, and by them borne on high into those blissful regions, where we may contemplate thy divinity for evermore. Amen.
5. None
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, city of refuge! *
Hail, David's high tower!2. With battlements crown'd *
And girded with power!3. Fill'd at thy Conception *
With love and with light!4. The dragon by thee *
Was shorn of his might.5. O woman most valiant! *
O Judith thrice blest!6. As David was nurs'd *
In fair Abishag's breast;7. As the saviour of Egypt *
Upon Rachel's knee;8. So the world's great Redeemer *
Was cherish'd by thee.9. Amen
V. Thou art all fair, my beloved.
R. And the original stain was never in thee.
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 Vespers.
