The Little office of the Blessed Virgin Mary/Prime
PRIME
Hail, Mary, etc., in silence.
V. O God, ✠ hasten to mine aid.
R. O Lord, ✠ make haste to help me.
Glory be, etc.
Alleluia, or Praise be to Thee, O Lord, King of everlasting glory.
HYMN
Remember, O Creator Lord,
That in the Virgin's sacred womb
Thou wast conceived, and of her flesh
Didst our mortality assume.
Mother of grace! O Mary blest!
To thee, sweet fount of life, we fly;
Shield us through life, and take us hence,
To thy dear bosom, when we die.
O Jesu! born of Virgin bright!
Immortal glory be to Thee,
Praise to the Father infinite,
And Holy Ghost eternally.
From Candlemas until Advent
Ant. And she is taken up.
During Advent
Ant. There was sent.
From Christmas until Candlemas
Ant. O wondrous union!
PSALM LIII
A prayer for help in distress
Save me, O God, by Thy name; and judge me in Thy strength.
Hear my prayer, O God: give ear unto the words of my mouth.
For strangers have risen up against me, and the mighty have sought after my soul: and they have not set God before their eyes.
For behold, God is my helper, and the Lord is the protector of my soul.
Turn back evil upon mine enemies: and destroy them in Thy truth.
I will freely sacrifice unto Thee, and will give thanks to Thy name, O Lord, for it is good.
For Thou has delivered me out of all my trouble; and mine eye hath looked down upon mine enemies.
Glory be, etc.
PSALM LXXXIV
Prayer to obtain the complete restoration of Israel
Thou hast blessed Thy land, O Lord: Thou hast turned away the captivity of Jacob.
Thou hast forgiven the iniquity of Thy people: Thou hast covered all their sins.
Thou hast softened all Thine anger: Thou hast turned away from the wrath of Thine indignation.
Convert us, O God, our Saviour; and turn away Thine anger from us.
Wilt Thou be angry with us for ever: or wilt Thou stretch out Thy wrath from generation to generation?
Thou wilt turn again, O God, and quicken us; and Thy people shall rejoice in Thee.
Show us Thy mercy, O Lord; and grant us Thy salvation.
I will hearken what the Lord shall say within me; for He will speak peace unto His people.
And unto His saints; and unto them that are converted in heart.
Surely His salvation is unto them that fear Him: that glory may dwell in our land.
Mercy and truth have met together: justice and peace have kissed.
Truth is sprung out of the earth; and justice hath looked down from heaven.
For the Lord shall give goodness; and our earth shall yield her fruit.
Justice shall walk before Him; and shall set His steps in the right way. Glory be, etc.
PSALM CXVI
Exhortation to praise God
O praise the Lord, all ye nations: praise Him, all ye peoples.
For His mercy is confirmed upon us; and the truth of the Lord remaineth for ever.
Glory be, etc.
From Candlemas until Advent
Ant. Mary is taken up into heaven. The angels rejoice and praising bless the Lord.
During Advent
Ant. The angel Gabriel was sent to Mary the Virgin, who was espoused to Joseph.
From Christmas until Candlemas
Ant. O wondrous union! the Creator of mankind, taking a body with a living soul, vouchsafed to be born of a virgin; and becoming man without man's concurrence, bestowed upon us His Godhead.
From Christmas until Advent
LITTLE CHAPTER, Cant. vi
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?
R. Thanks be to God.
During Advent
LITTLE CHAPTER, Is. vii
Behold, a Virgin shall conceive and shall bear a Son, and His name shall be called Emmanuel: butter and honey shall He eat, that He may know to refuse the evil and choose the good.
R. Thanks be to God.
V. Vouchsafe that I may praise thee, O holy Virgin.
R. Grant me strength against thine enemies.
Lord, have mercy on us.
Christ, have mercy on us.
Lord, have mercy on us.
V. O Lord, hear my prayer.
R. And let my cry come unto Thee.
From Candlemas until Advent
Let us pray
O God, Who didst vouchsafe to choose the virgin palace of blessed Mary for Thy dwelling; grant, we beseech Thee, that we, who are shielded by her protection, may by Thy grace join with gladness in her commemoration. Who livest and reignest with God the Father, 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 departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace.
R. Amen.
During Advent
Let us pray
O God, Who didst will that Thine eternal Word should take flesh in the womb of the Blessed Virgin Mary, when the angel delivered his message: grant that Thy petitioners, who verily believe her to be the Mother of God, may be assisted by her intercession with Thee. Through the same Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end.
R. Amen.
V. O Lord, hear, etc. (as before).
From Christmas until Candlemas
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, etc. (as before).