If not continuing from a prior hour...

The Aperi Domine

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.  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.  To the Master I serve the Lord's promise was given: *  F.S.  Sit here at my right hand,

2.  While I make thy enemies *  a footstool under thy feet.

3.  The Lord will make thy empire spring up like a branch out of Sion; *  thou art to bear rule in the midst of thy enemies.

4.  From birth, princely state shall be thine, holy and glorious; *  thou art my son, born like dew before the daystar rises.

5.  The Lord has sworn an oath there is no retracting: *  Thou art a priest for ever in the line of Melchisedec.

6.  At thy right hand, *  the Lord will beat down kings in the day of his vengeance.

7.  He will pass sentence on the nations, heap high the bodies, *  scatter far and wide the heads of the slain.

8.  Now that he has drunk of the brook by the wayside, *  he will lift up his head in victory.

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.

F.C.  Ant.  While the king was reposing, my spikenard yielded the odor of sweetness.

S.C.  Ant.  His left hand.
  

S.C.  1.  Praise the Lord, you that are his servants, *  S.S.  praise the name of the Lord together.

3.  From the sun's rise to the sun's setting *  let the Lord's name be praised continually.

4.  The Lord is sovereign king of all the nations; *  his glory is high above the heavens.

5.  Who is like the Lord our God, so high above us, *  that stoops to regard both heaven and earth,

6.  Lifting up the poor from the dust he lay in, *  raising the beggar out of his dung-hill,

7.  To find him a place among the princes, *  the princes that rule over his people.

8.  He gives the barren woman a home to dwell in, *  a mother rejoicing in her children.

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.

S.C.  Ant.  His left hand under my head, and his right hand shall embrace me.

F.C.  Ant.  I am black.

F.C.  1.  Welcome sound, when I heard them saying, *  F.S.  We will go into the Lord's house!

3.  Jerusalem, built as a city should be built *  that is one in fellowship.

4.  There the tribes meet, the Lord's own tribes, *  to give praise, as Israel is ever bound, to the Lord's name.

5.  There the thrones are set for judgment, *  thrones for the house of David.

6.  Pray for all that brings Jerusalem peace! *  May all who love thee dwell at ease!

7.  Let there be peace within thy ramparts, *  ease in thy strongholds!

8.  For love of my brethren and my familiar friends, *  peace is still my prayer for thee.

9.  Remembering the house of the Lord our God. *  I long for thy happiness.

10.  Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, *  and to the Holy Ghost,

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

F.C.  Ant.  I am black, but beautiful, O daughters of Jerusalem.  Therefore hath the king loved me, and brought me into his chamber.

S.C.  Ant.  Now is the winter past.

S.C.  1.  Vain is the builder's toil, *  S.S.  if the house is not of the Lord's building.

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

3.  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.

4.  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.

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

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

7.  Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, *  and to the Holy Ghost,

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

S.C.  Ant.  Now is the winter past, the rain is over and gone.  Arise, my beloved, and come.

F.C.  Ant.  Thou art become beautiful.

F.C.  1.  Praise the Lord, Jerusalem,  *  S.S.  Sion, exalt thy God.

2.  He it is that bolts thy gates fast, *  and blesses thy children, who dwell safe in thee,

3.  That makes thy land a land of peace, *  and gives thee full ears of wheat to sustain thee.

4.  See how he issues his command to the earth, *  how swift his word runs!

5. Now he spreads a pall of snow, *  covers earth with an ashy veil of rime.

6.  Doles out the scattered crusts of ice, *  binds the waters at the onset of his frost.

7.  Then, at his word, all melts away; *  a breath from him, and the waters flow!

8.  This is the God who makes his word known to Jacob, *  gives Israel ruling and decree.

9.  Not such his dealings with any other nation; *  nowhere else the revelation of his will.

10.  Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, *  and to the Holy Ghost,

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

F.C.  Ant.  Thou art become beautiful and sweet in thy delights, O holy Mother of God.

Little Chapter

Ecclus. xxiv. (Sirach 24:9-10)

O.  From the beginning and before the world was I created, and unto the world to come I shall not cease to be, and in the holy dwelling-place I have ministered before Him.

A.  Thanks be to God. 

1. F.C.  Hail, thou star of the ocean,
    F.S.  Portal of the sky, *
            Ever Virgin Mother,
            Of the Lord most high!.
2.         Oh, by Gabriel's Ave,
            Uttered long ago, *
            Eva's name reversing,
            Establish peace below.
3.         Break the captives' fetters,
            Light on blindness pour; *
            All our ills expelling,
            Ever bliss implore.
4.         Show thyself a mother,
            Offer him our sighs, *
            Who for us incarnate,
            Did not thee despise.
5.         Virgin of all virgins,
            To thy shelter take us. *
            Gentlest of the gentle,
            Chaste and gentle make us..
6.         Still as on we journey,
            Help our weak endeavor, *
            Till with thee and Jesus
            We rejoice forever.
7.         Through the highest Heaven,
            To the almighty Three, *
            Father, Son, and Spirit,
            One same glory be.
8.        Amen.

B.C.  Grace is shed forth on thy lips,

A.  Therefore hath the Lord blessed thee forever.

F.C.  Ant.  Blessed Mother.

The Magnificat

Luke i, 46.

O.  1.  My soul *  F.S.  magnifies the Lord.

2.  And my spirit rejoices *  in God my Savior.

3.  Because he has regarded the lowliness of his handmaid; *  for, behold, henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.

4.  Because he who is mighty has done great things for me, *  and holy is his name.

5.  And his mercy is from generation to generation *  on those who fear him.

6.  He has shown might with his arm, *  he has scattered the proud in the conceits of their heart.

7.  He has put down the mighty from their thrones, *  and has exalted the lowly.

8.  He has filled the hungry with good things, *  and the rich he has sent away empty.

9.  He has given help to Israel, his servant, *  mindful of his mercy.

10.  Even as he spoke to our fathers, *  to Abraham and to his posterity forever.

11.  Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, *  and to the Holy Ghost,

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

F.C.  Ant.  Blessed Mother and inviolate Virgin, glorious Queen of the world, intercede for us with the Lord.

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:  Vouchsafe, O Lord, God, we beseech thee, to us thy servants, that we may enjoy perpetual health of mind and body, and by the glorious intercession of blessed Mary ever Virgin, be delivered from present sadness and come to the fruition of eternal joys.  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.

F.C.  Ant.  All ye Saints of God, vouchsafe to intercede for our salvation, and that of all mankind.

B.C.  Rejoice in the Lord, and be glad, ye just,

A.  And glory, all ye that are right of heart.

O.  Let us pray:  Protect thy people, O Lord, and preserve them by thy continual defense, who trust in the patronage of Peter and Paul, and all thy other Apostles.  Let all thy Saints, we beseech thee, O Lord, assist us everywhere; that, while we venerate their merits, we may experience their patronage.  Grant us thy peace in our times, and drive away all mischief from thy Church.  Dispose our way, our acts and wills, and those of all thy servants, in the good success of thy salvation.  Render to our benefactors everlasting blessings, and grant to all the faithful departed eternal rest.  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.

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

A.  Amen.

On to Compline or Close the Hour