The Little Office of the Blessed Virgin Mary
The Aperi Domine
(Prayer before the hours)
Prayer Before None
O divine and adorable Lord Jesus Christ, who hast graciously redeemed us by thy bitter passion and death, we offer up this hour of None to thy honor and glory; and most humbly beseech thee, through the torments and agony thou didst suffer when hanging for three hours upon the cross, and through thy precious death, which gave redemption and life to the world, and through thy sacred burial, to grant us thy divine assistance, and the grace of the holy sacraments at our last hour and agony; and to give us a happy death, precious in thy sight and pure from the least defilement of sin; that we may be attended at our death by thy holy angels, and by them borne on high into those blissful regions, where we may contemplate thy divinity for evermore. Amen.
6. None
Office 3. From Christmas to the Purification. Standing, All say the Hail Mary in silence. Then make the large sign of the Cross: V. O God, be intent on mine aid, R. 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. Hymn 1. Remember, O Creator Lord! * 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. Ant. Behold Mary. Psalm 125 - In convertendo. 1 When the Lord brought back the captivity of Sion, * we became like men comforted. 2 Then was our mouth filled with gladness; and our tongue with joy. * Then shall they say among the Gentiles: The Lord hath done great things for them. 3 The Lord hath done great things for us: * we are become joyful. 4 Turn again our captivity, O Lord, * as a stream in the south. 5 They that sow in tears * shall reap in joy. 6 Going they went and wept, * casting their seeds. 7 But coming they shall come with joyfulness, * carrying their sheaves. 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. The alternation is not interrupted here. Psalm 126 - Nisi Dominus. 1 Unless the Lord build the house, they labour in vain that build it. * Unless the Lord keep the city, he watcheth in vain that keepeth it. 2 It is vain for you to rise before light, rise ye after you have sitten, * you that eat the bread of sorrow. When he shall give sleep to his beloved, 3 Behold the inheritance of the Lord are children: * the reward, the fruit of the womb. 4 As arrows in the hand of the mighty, * so the children of them that have been shaken. 5 Blessed is the man that hath filled the desire with them; * he shall not be confounded when he shall speak to his enemies in the gate. 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. The alternation is not interrupted here. Psalm 127 - Beati omnes. 1 Blessed are all they that fear the Lord: * that walk in his ways. 2 For thou shalt eat the labours of thy hands: * blessed art thou, and it shall be well with thee. 3 Thy wife as a fruitful vine, on the sides of thy house. * Thy children as olive plants, round about thy table. 4 Behold, thus shall the man be blessed * that feareth the Lord. 5 May the Lord bless thee out of Sion: * and mayest thou see the good things of Jerusalem all the days of thy life. 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. Ant. Behold, Mary hath borne us the Saviour, whom John beholding, exclaimed: Behold the Lamb of God, behold him who taketh away the sins of the world. Alleluia. The Little Chapter Ecclus. xxiv. 19,20. O. In the streets, I gave a sweet smell like cinnamon. and aromatical balm: I yielded a sweet odour like the best myrrh: R. Thanks be to God. V. After childbirth thou didst remain a pure virgin. R. Intercede for us, O Mother of God. Lord have mercy. Christ have mercy. Lord have mercy. V. O Lord, hear my prayer, R. And let my cry come unto thee. The Oration (From Christmas until Candlemas ) O. Let us pray: O God, Who, by the fruitful virginity of blessed Mary, hast given to mankind the rewards of eternal salvation: grant, we beseech Thee, that we may experience her intercession for us, by whom we deserved to receive the Author of life, Our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son. Who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end. R. Amen. V. O Lord, hear my prayer. R. And let my cry come unto thee. V. Let us bless the Lord. R. Thanks be to God. V. May the souls of the faithful, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. R. Amen. On to Close the hour of None or continue on to Vespers.
