If not continuing from a prior hour...

The Aperi Domine

Standing, All say the Hail Mary in silence and then 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.

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.

F.C.  Ant.  Thou art fair.

F.C.  1.  When the Lord gave back Sion her banished sons, *  F.S.  we walked like men in a dream.

2.  In every mouth was laughter, *  joy was on every tongue.

3.  Among the heathen themselves it was said, *  What favor the Lord has shown them!

4.  Favor indeed the Lord has shown us, *  and our hearts are rejoiced.

5.  Deliver us, Lord from our bondage; *  revive our spirits, like a stream that flows in the desert.

6.  The men who are sowing in tears *  will reap, one day, with joy.

7.  They go out, weeping as they go, *  but with seed to scatter.

8.  When they come back, they will come rejoicing, *  as they carry their sheaves with them.

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

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

11.  Vain is the builder's toil, *  if the house is not of the Lord's building.

12.  Vainly the guard keeps watch, *  if the city has not the Lord for its guardian.

13.  Vain, that you should be astir before daybreak, *  and sit on over you tasks late into the night, you whose bread is so hardly won.

14.  Is it not in the hours of sleep that he blesses the men he loves? *  Fatherhood itself is the Lord's gift, the fruitful womb is a reward that comes from him.

15.  Crown of thy youth, *  children are like arrows in a warrior's hand.

16.  Happy, whose quiver is well filled with these; *  their cause will not be set aside when they plead against their enemies at the gate.

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

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

19.  Blessed art thou if thou dost fear the Lord, *  and follow his paths.  

20.  Thyself shall eat what thy hands have toiled to win; *  blessed thou art, all good shall be thine.

21.  Thy wife shall be fruitful as a vine, *  in the heart of thy home.

22.  The children round thy table *  sturdy as olive branches.

23.  Let a man serve the Lord, * such is the blessing that awaits him.

24.  May the Lord who dwells in Sion bless thee; *  mayest thou see Jerusalem in prosperity all thy life long.

25.  Mayest thou live to see thy children's children, * and peace resting upon Israel.

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

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

F.C.  Ant.  Thou art fair and comely O daughter of Jerusalem, terrible as an army set in array.

LITTLE CHAPTER

Ecclus.  xxiv, v. 19-20 (Sirach 24:14-15)

O.  In the streets, like cinnamon and aromatic balm, I gave forth a sweet fragrance: like the choicest myrrh, I yielded a sweetness of odor..

A.  Thanks be to God.

B.C.  After childbirth thou didst remain a pure virgin.

A.  Intercede for us, O Mother of God.

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:  Forgive, O Lord, we beseech thee, the offenses of thy servants; that we, who are unable to please thee by our own acts, may be saved by the intercession of the Mother of thy Son, our Lord.  Through the same 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.

O.  May the souls of the faithful departed through the mercy of God rest in peace.

A.  Amen.

On Vespers or Close the Hour