If not continuing from a prior hour...

The Aperi Domine

Standing, All say the Hail Mary in silence.

All then make the little sign of the Cross on the heart while the officient says:

O.  Convert thou us, O God our Savior,

A.  And turn away thine anger from us.

Now ALL make the large sign of the Cross:

O.  O God, be intent on mine aid,
A.  O Lord, make hast 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.

F.C.  1.  Often have they assailed me from my youth, *  F.S.  let this be Israel's boast, 

2.  Often have they assailed even me from my youth, *  but never once outmatched me.

3.  I bent my back to the oppressor, *  and long was the furrow ere the plough turned.

4.  But the Lord proved faithful, and cut the bonds of tyranny asunder. *  Let them be dismayed and routed, all these enemies of Sion.

5.  Let them be like the stalks on a house-top, *  that wither there unharvested.

6.  Never will they be grasped in the reaper's hand, *  or fill the gleaner's bosom.

7.  No passerby will say, The Lord's blessing on you, *  we bless you in the name of the Lord.

8.  Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost, 

9.  As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end.  Amen

10.  Out of the depths I cry to thee, O Lord, * Master, listen to my voice. 

11.  Let but thy ears be attentive *  to the voice that calls on thee for pardon.

12.  If thou, Lord, will keep record of our iniquities, *  Master, who has strength to bear it?

13.  Ah, but with thee there is forgiveness. *  Be thy name ever revered.

14.  I wait for the Lord, for his word of promise my soul waits; *  patient as ever watchman that looked for the day,

15.  Patient as watchmen at dawn, *  for the Lord Israel waits.

16.  The Lord with whom there is mercy, *  the Lord with whom there is power to ransom.

17.  He it is that will ransom Israel *  from all his iniquities.

18.  Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost, 

19.  As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end.  Amen

20.  Lord, my heart is not lifted up, *  my eyes not raised from the earth,

21.  My mind does not dwell on high things, *  on marvels that are beyond my reach.

22.  Bear me witness that I kept my soul ever quiet, * ever at peace.

23.  The thoughts of a child on its mother's breast, * a child's thoughts were all my soul knew.

24.  Let Israel trust in the Lord, *  henceforth and for ever.

25.  Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost, 

26.  As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end.  Amen

1. F.C.  Remember, O Creator Lord
    F.S.  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.
4.          Amen.

LITTLE CHAPTER

Ecclus. xxiv. v. 24

O.  I am the mother of fair love and of fear, and of knowledge, and of holy hope.

A.  Thanks be to God.

B.C.  Pray for us, O holy Mother of God.

A.  That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

F.C.  Ant.  We fly to thy patronage.

THE NUMC DIMITTIS

or Canticle of Simeon.  Luke 2.

All bless themselves as the Officiant intones the Canticle.

O.  1.  Now thou dost dismiss thy servant, O Lord, *  F.S.  according to thy word, in peace.

2.  Because my eyes *  have seen thy salvation.

3.  which thou hast prepared *  before the face of all peoples.

4.  A light of revelation to the Gentiles, *  and a glory for thy people Israel.

5.  Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost, 

6.  As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end.  Amen

F.C.  Ant.  We fly to thy patronage, O holy Mother of God.  Despise not our petitions in our necessities, but deliver us always from all dangers, O glorious and blessed Virgin.

O.  Lord, have mercy.

A.  Christ, have mercy.  Lord, have mercy.

O.  O Lord, hear my prayer,

A.  And let my cry come unto thee.

THE ORATION

O.  Let us pray:  Let the glorious intercession of the blessed and glorious Mary ever Virgin, protect us, we beseech thee, O Lord, and bring us to life everlasting.  Through our Lord Jesus Christ, thy Son, who liveth and reigneth with thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end.

A.  Amen.

O.  O Lord, hear my prayer,

A.  And let my cry come unto thee.

O.  Let us bless the Lord.

A.  Thanks be to God.

All bow at the following and make the large sign of the Cross.

THE BLESSING

O.  May the almighty and merciful Lord, Father, and Son, and Holy Ghost, bless and keep us.

A.  Amen.

On to Close the Hour