The Little Office of the Blessed Virgin Mary

The Little Office of the Blessed Virgin Mary

1. Matins

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. Thou shalt open my lips, O Lord,
A. And my mouth shall show forth thy praise.

Now ALL make the large sign of the Cross:

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

Invitatory

F.C. Hail Mary, full of grace, * the Lord is with thee.
A. Hail Mary, full of grace, * the Lord is with thee.

Psalm 94 (95)

F.C. Come, friends, rejoice we in the Lord's honor; * cry we out merrily to God, our stength and deliverer; * with praises court his presence, singing a joyful psalm!

    A.     Hail Mary, full of grace, * the Lord is with thee.
    F.C. A high God is the Lord, a king high above all the gods; * beneath his hand lie the depths of earth, * his are the mountain peaks.
    A.     The Lord is with thee.
    F.C. His the ocean, for who but he created it? * What other power fashioned the dry land? *

Here ALL kneel

Come in, then, fall we down in worship, * bowing the knee before God who made us. * Who but the Lord is our God? * And what are we, but folk of his pasturing, sheep that follow his beckoning hand?

All Rise
    A.     Hail Mary, full of grace, * the Lord is with thee.
    F.C. Would you but listen to his voice today! * Do not harden you hearts, as they were hardened once at Meriba, * at Massa in the wilderness. Your fathers put me to the test, * challenged me, and had proof of my power, for forty years together.
    A.     The Lord is with thee.
    F.C. From that generation I turned away in loathing: * These, I said, are ever wayward hearts, these have never learned to obey me. * And I took an oath in anger, They shall never attain to my rest.
    A.     Hail Mary, full of grace, * the Lord is with thee.
    F.C. 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
    A.     The Lord is with thee.
    F.C. Hail Mary, full of grace.
    A.     The Lord is with thee.

Now the First Chanter intones the first line of the Hymn, the First Side falling in at the second line:

Hymn

1. F.C. The Lord, whom earth, and sea, and sky
    F.S. With one adoring voice proclaim; *
             Who rules them all in majesty,
             Enclosed himself in Mary's frame.
2.          Lo, in a humble Virgin's womb
             O'ershadowed by almighty power, *
              He, whom the stars and sun and moon
             Each serve in their appointed hour!
3.          O Mother blest, to whom was given
             Within thy body to contain *
             The Architect of earth and heaven,
             Whose hands the universe sustain:
4.          To thee was sent an angel down,
             In thee the Spirit was enshrined, *
             Of thee was born that mighty One,
             The long-desired of all mankind.
5.          O Jesus, born of Virgin bright,
             Immortal glory be to thee; *
             Praise to the Father infinite,
             And Holy Ghost eternally.
6.          Amen.

The Nocturn

Select a Nocturn based upon the day of the week:

Sundays, Mondays, and Thursdays

Tuesdays and Fridays

Wednesdays and Saturdays