Little Office of the
Blessed Virgin Mary

Lauds

Office III (Christmas To Candlemas), 1910 Roman calendar

Prayers Before the Office

O Lord, open Thou my mouth, that it may bless Thy holy name; cleanse my heart, too, from all vain, evil, or wandering thoughts. Enlighten mine understanding, kindle mine affections, that I may be able to say this Office meetly with attention and devotion and may deserve to be heard before the presence of Thy divine Majesty. Through Christ our Lord.

℟ Amen.

O Lord, in union with that divine intention wherewith Thou Thyself, while on earth, didst offer praises unto God, I offer these Hours unto Thee.

Introduction

The Hail Mary is prayed silently.

Hail Mary, full of grace; The Lord is with thee; Blessed art thou amongst women, And blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, Pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen.

℣ O God, ✠ come to my assistance;

℟ 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. (Outside Lent:) Alleluia. (from Septuagesima to Holy Saturday:) Praise be to Thee, O Lord, King of glory everlasting.

Psalms

Ant. O wondrous union.

Psalm 92

The Lord reigneth: He is clothed with beauty: the Lord is clothed with strength, and hath girded Himself.
For He hath established the world, which shall not be moved.
Thy throne is prepared of old: Thou art from everlasting.
The floods have lifted up, O Lord: the floods have lifted up their voice.
The floods have lifted up their waves, with the noise of many waters.
Wonderful are the surges of the sea: wonderful is the Lord on high.
Thy testimonies are made exceedingly trustworthy: holiness becometh Thy house, O Lord, unto length of days.
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.

Ant. O wondrous union! The Creator of mankind, taking a living body, vouchsafed to be born of a virgin, and becoming man, without man's concurrence, bestowed upon us His Godhead.

Ant. When thou wert wondrously born.

Psalm 99

Sing joyfully unto God all the earth: serve ye the Lord with gladness.
Come in before His presence with exceeding joy.
Know ye that the Lord He is God: He hath made us, and not we ourselves.
We are His people and the sheep of His pasture: go ye into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with hymns; and give thanks unto Him.
Praise ye His name; for the Lord is gracious, His mercy is for ever, and His truth endureth from generation to generation.
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.

Ant. When thou wert wondrously born of a virgin, and becoming man without man's concurrence, bestowed upon us His Godhead.

Ant. The bush which Moses saw.

Psalm 62

O God, my God, to Thee do I wake at break of day.
For Thee my soul thirsteth; for Thee my flesh longeth, O how exceedingly!
In a desert, pathless, and waterless land: so have I come before Thee in the holy place, that I might see Thy power and Thy glory.
For Thy mercy is better than life: my lips shall praise Thee.
Thus will I bless Thee all my life long; and in Thy name will I lift up my hands.
Let my soul be filled as with marrow and fatness; and my mouth shall praise Thee with joyful lips.
If I have remembered Thee upon my bed, on Thee will I meditate in the morning; because Thou hast been my helper.
And I will rejoice under the covert of Thy wings: my soul cleaveth unto Thee; Thy right hand upholdeth me.
But they seek my soul in vain: they shall go into the lower parts of the earth: they shall be delivered into the power of the sword: they shall be portions for foxes.
But the king shall rejoice in God, all they that swear by Him shall be praised : because the mouth of them that speak wicked things is stopped.
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.

Psalm 66

God be merciful unto us, and bless us: cause His countenance to shine upon us, and be merciful unto us.
That we may know Thy way upon earth: Thy salvation in all nations.
Let the peoples give thanks to Thee, O God: let all the peoples give Thee thanks.
O let the nations be glad and rejoice; for Thou judgest the peoples with justice, and governest the nations upon earth.
Let the peoples give thanks to Thee, O God: let all the peoples give Thee thanks.
May God, even our own God, bless us, may God bless us; and may all the ends of the earth fear Him.
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.

Ant. The bush which Moses saw unconsumed we acknowledge to be thine admirable virginity, which thou didst keep inviolate; Mother of God, plead for us.

Ant. The root of Jesse hath budded.

Canticum Trium Puerorum

Daniel III

All ye works of the Lord, bless the Lord, praise and exalt Him above all for ever.
O ye angels of the Lord, bless the Lord: O ye heavens, bless the Lord.
O all ye waters that are above the heavens, bless the Lord: O all ye powers of the Lord, bless the Lord.
O ye sun and moon, bless the Lord; O ye stars of heaven, bless the Lord.
O every shower and dew, bless ye the Lord; O all ye spirits of God, bless the Lord.
O ye fire and heat, bless the Lord; O ye cold and heat, bless the Lord.
O ye dews and hoar-frosts, bless the Lord; O ye frost and cold, bless the Lord.
O ye ice and snow, bless the Lord; O ye nights and days, bless the Lord.
O ye light and darkness, bless the Lord; O ye lightnings and clouds, bless the Lord.
O let the earth bless the Lord; let it praise and exalt Him above all for ever.
O ye mountains and hills, bless the Lord ; O all ye things that spring up in the earth, bless the Lord.
O ye fountains, bless the Lord; O ye seas and rivers, bless the Lord.
O ye whales, and all that move in the waters, bless the Lord; O all ye fowls of the air, bless the Lord.
O all ye beasts and cattle, bless the Lord; O ye sons of men, bless the Lord.
O let Israel bless the Lord; let him praise and exalt Him above all for ever.
O ye priests of the Lord, bless the Lord; O ye servants of the Lord, bless the Lord.
O ye spirits and souls of the just, bless the Lord ; O ye holy and humble of heart, bless the Lord.
O Ananias, Azarias, and Misael, bless ye the Lord; praise and exalt Him above all for ever.
Let us bless the Father, and the Son, with the Holy Ghost; let us praise and magnify Him for ever.
Blessed art Thou, O Lord, in the firmament of heaven; and worthy of praise, and glorious, and magnified for ever.

Ant. The root of Jesse hath budded, a star hath arisen out of Jacob; a virgin hath brought forth a Saviour; we give praise to Thee, Our God.

Ant. Behold, Mary.

Psalm 148

Praise the Lord from the heavens; praise Him in the heights.
Praise Him, all ye His angels; praise Him, all His hosts.
Praise Him, sun and moon; praise Him, all ye stars and light.
Praise Him, ye heavens of heavens; and let all the waters that are above the heavens, praise the name of the Lord.
For He spake, and they were made: He commanded, and they were created.
He hath established them for ever, and for evermore; He hath made a decree, and it shall not pass away.
Praise the Lord from the earth; ye dragons and all deeps.
Fire, hail, snow, ice, and stormy winds, which fulfil His word.
Mountains and all hills; fruitful trees and all cedars.
Beasts and all cattle; creeping things, and feathered fowls.
Kings of the earth and all peoples; princes and all judges of the earth.
Young men and maidens, old men and children, let them praise the name of the Lord; for His name alone is exalted.
His praise is above heaven and earth; and He hath exalted the horn of His people.
A song of praise to all His saints; to the children of Israel, a people drawing nigh unto Him.

Psalm 149

Sing unto the Lord a new song; let His praise be in the Church of the saints.
Let Israel rejoice in Him that made him; and let the children of Sion be joyful in their King.
Let them praise Him name in the choir; let them sing unto Him with timbrel and psaltery.
For the Lord is well pleased with His people; and He will exalt the meek unto salvation.
The saints shall rejoice in glory: they shall be joyful in their beds.
The high praises of God shall be in their mouth; and two-edged swords in their hands:
To execute vengeance upon the nations; and chastisements among the peoples:
To bind their kings with fetters; and their nobles with chains of iron.
To execute upon them the judgement that is written: Such glory have all his saints.

Psalm 150

Praise ye the Lord in his holy places: praise Him in the firmament of his power.
Praise Him in His might acts: praise Him according to the multitude of His greatness.
Praise Him with sound of trumpet: praise Him with psaltery and harp.
Priase him with timbrel and choir: praise Him with strings and organs.
Praise Him upon the high-sounding cymbals; praise Him upon cymbals of joy: let every spirit praise the Lord.
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.

Ant. Behold, Mary, hath brought us forth a Saviour, Whom when John saw, he cried aloud, saying: Behold the Lamb of God! Behold Him Who taketh away the sins of the world, Alleluia.

Little Chapter

Cant vi

The daughters of Sion saw her, and declared her most blessed; and queens praised her.

℟ Thanks be to God.

Hymn

The first verse of the hymn is said kneeling.

O Queen of all the virgin choir,
Enthroned above the starry sky,
Who with thy bosom's milk didst feed
Thine own Creator, Lord most high.

What man had lost in hapless Eve,
Thy sacred womb to man restores;
Thou to the wretched here beneath
Hast open'd heaven's eternal doors.

Hail, O refulgent Hall of light!
Hail, Gate august of heaven's high King!
Through thee redeemed to endless life,
Thy praise let all the nations sing.

O Jesu! born of Virgin bright,
Immortal glory be to Thee;
Praise to the Father infinite
And Holy Ghost eternally.

Amen.

℣ Blessed art thou amongst women.

℟ And blessed is the fruit of thy womb.

Canticle of the Zachary

Ant. A wondrous mystery.

Luke 1

Blessed be the Lord ✠ God of Israel, because He hath visited and wrought the redemption of His people.
And hath raised up a horn of salvation to us in the house of David His servant;
As He spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets, who are from the beginning:
Salvation from our enemies, and from the hand of all that hate us.
To perform mercy to our fathers, and to remember His holy testament.
The oath which He swore to Abraham our father, that He would grant to us,
That being delivered from the hand of our enemies, we may serve Him without fear,
In holiness and justice before Him all our days.
And thou, child, shalt be called the prophet of the Highest; for thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to prepare His ways:
To give knowledge of salvation to His people, unto the remission of their sins;
Through the bowels of the mercy of our God, in which the Orient from on high hath visited us.
To enlighten them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death; to direct our feet into the way of peace.
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.

Ant. A wondrous mystery is revealed today: marvels are wrought. God is made man; He still remaineth what He was, and hath taken upon Him what He was not, suffering neither confusion nor division.

Lord, have mercy on us.

Christ, have mercy on us.

Lord, have mercy on us.

Collect

℣ O Lord, hear my prayer.

℟ And let my cry come unto Thee.

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.

℟ Amen.

Commemoration of the Saints

Ant. All ye saints of God, vouchsafe to plead for our salvation and for that of all mankind.

℣ Be glad in the Lord, and rejoice, ye just.

℟ And be joyful, all ye that are of right heart.

Let us pray.

Shield, O Lord, Thy people, and ever keep them in Thy care, who put their trust in the pleading of Thine apostles Peter and Paul, and of the other apostles.

May all Thy saints, we beseech Thee, O Lord, everywhere come to our help, that while we do honor to their merits, we may also enjoy their intercession: grant Thine own peace unto our times, and drive away all wickedness from Thy Church; direct our way, our actions, and our wishes and those of all Thy servants in the way of salvation; to our benefactors render everlasting blessings, and to all the faithful departed grant 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.

℟ Amen.

Conclusion

℣ O Lord, hear my prayer.

℟ And let my cry come unto Thee.

℣ Let us bless the Lord.

℟ Thanks be to God.

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

℟ Amen.

The Our Father is prayed silently.

Our Father, who art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation: But deliver us from evil. Amen.

℣ May the Lord grant us His peace.

℟ And life everlasting. Amen.

Anthem

Then is said one of the following Anthems of the Blessed Virgin Mary according to the season.

From the Saturday before the first Sunday of Advent to Candlemas inclusive

Mother of Christ! hear thou thy people's cry.

Star of the deep, and portal of the sky,

Mother of Him Who thee from nothing made.

Sinking we strive and call to thee for aid:

Oh, by that joy which Gabriel brought to thee,

Pure Virgin first and last, look on our misery.

From the First Vespers of Christmas until the Second Vespers of the Purification

℣ After childbirth, O Virgin, thou didst remain inviolate.

℟ O Mother of God, plead for us.

Let us pray.

O God, Who by the fruitful virginity of the 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.

℟ Amen.

℣ May the divine assistance ✠ remain always with us.

℟ Amen.

Prayers After the Office

To the most holy and undivided Trinity, to the manhood of our crucified Lord Jesus Christ, to the fruitful virginity of the most blessed and glorious Mary, ever a virgin, to the entire assembly of the saints, be ascribed everlasting praise, honor, power, and glory, by every creature; and to us be granted the remission of all our sins, world without end.

℟ Amen.

℣ Blessed is the Virgin Mary's womb, which bore the Son of the everlasting Father.

℟ And blessed are the breasts which nourished Christ our Lord.

Pater, Ave, and Credo, in silence.

I believe in God, the Father almighty, Creator of heaven and earth. And in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord; who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried: he descended into hell; the third day he arose again from the dead; he ascended into heaven; sitteth at the right hand of God the Father almighty: from thence he shall come to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Ghost, the holy catholic Church, the communion of Saints, the forgiveness of sins. The resurrection of the body. And life everlasting. Amen.

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Original Sources

Little Office of the Blessed Virgin Mary - Benziger Brothers (1915)
Divinum Officium (1910)

Little Office of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Lauds

Prayers Before the Office

Introduction

Psalms

Psalm 92

Psalm 99

Psalm 62

Psalm 66

Canticum Trium Puerorum

Daniel III

Psalm 148

Psalm 149

Psalm 150

Little Chapter

Cant vi

Hymn

Canticle of the Zachary

Luke 1

Collect

Commemoration of the Saints

Conclusion

Anthem

Prayers After the Office

Original Sources

Little Office of the
Blessed Virgin Mary