The Little Office of the Immaculate Conception
The Aperi Domine
(Prayer before the hours)
Prayer Before Vespers
O divine and adorable Lord Jesus Christ, who hast graciously redeemed us by thy bitter passion and death, we offer up these Vespers to thy honor and glory, humbly beseeching thee, through thy dolorous agony and bloody sweat which thou didst suffer in the garden, to grant us true contrition of heart, and sorrow for our sins, with a pious resolution never more to offend thee, but to satisfy thy divine justice for our past iniquities. Amen.
6. Vespers
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, dial of Achaz! *
On thee the true sun2. Told backward the course *
Which from old he had run!!3. And, that man might be rais'd, *
Submitting to shame,4. A little more low *
Than the Angels became.5. Thou, wrapt in the blaze *
Of his infinite light,6. Dost shine as the morn *
On the confines of night;7. As the moon on the lost *
Through obscurity dawns;8. The serpent's destroyer! *
A lily 'mid thorns!9. Amen
V. I made an unfailing light to arise in heaven.
R. And, as a mist, I overspread the whole earth.
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 Compline.
