The Little Office of the Immaculate Conception
The Aperi Domine
(Prayer before the hours)
Prayer Before Compline
O divine and adorable Lord Jesus Christ, who hast graciously redeemed us by thy bitter passion and death, we offer up this hour of Compline to thy honor and glory, most humbly beseeching thee, through the injury thou didst suffer by the treacherous kiss of Judas, and by thy capture in the garden, to grant us thy grace, that we may never betray thee by unworthily receiving the blessed sacraments, particularly the adorable Eucharist of thy body and blood, in the state of mortal sin, and that we may bridle our passions, and bind down our vicious inclinations under the sweet yoke and light burden of thy holy law till death. Amen.
7. Compline
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, Mother most pure! *
Hail, Virgin renown'd!2. Hail, Queen with the stars *
As a diadem crown'd!3. Above all the Angels *
In glory untold,4. Standing next to the King *
In a vesture of gold!5. O Mother of mercy! *
O star of the wave!6. O hope of the guilty! *
O light of the grave!7. Through thee may we come *
To the haven of rest;8. And see heaven's King *
In the courts of the blest!9. Amen
V. Thy name, O Mary, is as oil poured out.
R. Thy servants have loved thee exceedingly.
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
