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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.  Mary was taken up.

F.C.  1.  Lord, by the virtue of thy name deliver me, *  let thy sovereign power grant me redress.

2.  Give a hearing, Lord, to my plea; *  let me speak, and know thou art listening.

3.  Scornful foes take arms against me, fierce foes that grudge me life itself, *  with no thought of God to check them.

4.  Ah, but God is here to help me; *  the Lord has my safety in his keeping.

5.  Let the blow recoil on my persecutors; *  ever faithful to thy word, do thou overthrow them.

6.  So will I joyfully offer thee sacrifice, * and praise thy name, Lord, as praised it must ever be.

7.  Who else has delivered me from all peril, * and let me see the downfall of my enemies?

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.  What blessing, Lord, thou hast granted to this land of thine, *  restoring Israel's fortunes, 

11.  Pardoning thy people's guilt, *  burying away the record of their sins,

12.  All thy anger calmed, *  thy fierce displeasure forgotten!

13.  And now, God of our deliverance, do thou restore us; *  no longer let us see thy frown.

14.  Wouldst thou always be indignant with us? *  Must thy resentment smoulder on, age after age?

15.  Nay, thou wilt relent, O God, and give fresh life, *  to rejoice the spirits of thy people.

16.  Show us thy mercy, Lord, *  grant us thy deliverance!

17.  Let me listen, now, to the voice of the Lord God; *  it is a message of peace he sends to his people,

18.  To his loyal servants, that come back, now, *  with all their heart to him.

19.  For us, his worshippers, deliverance is close at hand; *  in this land of ours, the Divine glory is to find a home.

20.  See, where mercy and faithfulness meet in one, *  how justice and peace are united in one embrace!

21.  Faithfulness grows up out of the earth, *  and from heaven redress looks down.

22.  The Lord, now, will grant us his blessing, *  to make our land yield its harvest.

23.  Justice will go on before him, *  deliverance follow where his feet tread.

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

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

26.  Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles, *  let all the nations of the world do him honor.

27.  Abundant has his mercy been toward us; *  the Lord remains true to his word forever.

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

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

F.C.  Ant.  Mary was taken up into Heaven, the angels rejoice, and with praises bless the Lord.

LITTLE CHAPTER

Cant. vi. (Songs 6:10)

O.  Who is she that cometh forth as the morning rising, fair as the moon, bright as the sun, terrible as an army set in array?

A.  Thanks be to God.

B.C.  Vouchsafe that I may praise thee, O sacred Virgin,

A.  Give me strength against thine enemies.

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:  O God, who didst vouchsafe to choose the chaste chamber of the blessed Virgin Mary in which to dwell:  grant, we beseech thee, that, fortified with her defence, we may find our joy in taking part in her commemoration.  Who livest and reignest with God the Father 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.

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