Antequam inchoetur Officium, laudabiliter dicitur, sub singulari semper numero, sequens Oratio; pro qua Summus Pontifex Pius Pp. XI sub die 17 Novembris 1933 Indulgentiam trium annorum concessit.

Oratio

Glória Patri, et Fílio, et Spirítui Sancto. Sicut erat in princípio, et nunc, et semper, et in sæcula sæculórum. Amen.

Laus tibi, Dómine, Rex ætérnæ glóriæ.

Psalmus 138, i

Intellexísti cogitatiónes meas de longe: sémitam meam, et funículum meum investigásti.

Et omnes vias meas prævidísti: quia non est sermo in lingua mea.

Ecce, Dómine, tu cognovísti ómnia novíssima, et antíqua: tu formásti me, et posuísti super me manum tuam.

Mirábilis facta est sciéntia tua ex me: confortáta est, et non pótero ad eam.

Quo ibo a spíritu tuo? et quo a fácie tua fúgiam?

Si ascéndero in cælum, tu illic es: si descéndero in inférnum, ades.

Si súmpsero pennas meas dilúculo, et habitávero in extrémis maris:

Etenim illuc manus tua dedúcet me: et tenébit me déxtera tua.

Et dixi: Fórsitan ténebræ conculcábunt me: et nox illuminátio mea in delíciis meis.

Quia ténebræ non obscurabúntur a te, et nox sicut dies illuminábitur: sicut ténebræ ejus, ita et lumen ejus.

Quia tu possedísti renes meos: suscepísti me de útero matris meæ.

Glória Patri, et Fílio, et Spirítui Sancto.

Sicut erat in princípio, et nunc, et semper, et in sæcula sæculórum. Amen.

Psalmus 138, ii

Non est occultátum os meum a te, quod fecísti in occúlto: et substántia mea in inferióribus terræ.

Imperféctum meum vidérunt óculi tui, et in libro tuo omnes scribéntur: dies formabúntur, et nemo in eis.

Mihi autem nimis honorificáti sunt amíci tui, Deus: nimis confortátus est principátus eórum.

Dinumerábo eos, et super arénam multiplicabúntur: exsurréxi, et adhuc sum tecum.

Si occíderis, Deus, peccatóres: viri sánguinum, declináte a me:

Quia dícitis in cogitatióne: Accípient in vanitáte civitátes tuas.

Nonne qui odérunt te, Dómine, óderam? et super inimícos tuos tabescébam?

Perfécto ódio óderam illos: et inimíci facti sunt mihi.

Proba me, Deus, et scito cor meum: intérroga me, et cognósce sémitas meas.

Et vide, si via iniquitátis in me est: et deduc me in via ætérna.

Glória Patri, et Fílio, et Spirítui Sancto.

Sicut erat in princípio, et nunc, et semper, et in sæcula sæculórum. Amen.

Psalmus 139

Qui cogitavérunt iniquitátes in corde: tota die constituébant prælia.

Acuérunt linguas suas sicut serpéntis: venénum áspidum sub lábiis eórum.

Custódi me, Dómine, de manu peccatóris: et ab homínibus iníquis éripe me.

Qui cogitavérunt supplantáre gressus meos: abscondérunt supérbi láqueum mihi:

Et funes extendérunt in láquem: juxta iter scándalum posuérunt mihi.

Dixi Dómino: Deus meus es tu: exáudi, Dómine, vocem deprecatiónis meæ.

Dómine, Dómine, virtus salútis meæ: obumbrásti super caput meum in die belli.

Ne tradas me, Dómine, a desidério meo peccatóri: cogitavérunt contra me, ne derelínquas me, ne forte exalténtur.

Caput circúitus eórum: labor labiórum ipsórum opériet eos.

Cadent super eos carbónes, in ignem dejícies eos: in misériis non subsístent.

Vir linguósus non dirigétur in terra: virum injústum mala cápient in intéritu.

Cognóvi quia fáciet Dóminus judícium ínopis: et vindíctam páuperum.

Verúmtamen justi confitebúntur nómini tuo: et habitábunt recti cum vultu tuo.

Glória Patri, et Fílio, et Spirítui Sancto.

Sicut erat in princípio, et nunc, et semper, et in sæcula sæculórum. Amen.

Psalmus 140

Dirigátur orátio mea sicut incénsum in conspéctu tuo: elevátio mánuum meárum sacrifícium vespertínum.

Pone, Dómine, custódiam ori meo: et óstium circumstántiæ lábiis meis.

Non declínes cor meum in verba malítiæ, ad excusándas excusatiónes in peccátis.

Cum homínibus operántibus iniquitátem: et non communicábo cum eléctis eórum,

Corrípiet me justus in misericórdia, et increpábit me: óleum autem peccatóris non impínguet caput meum.

Quóniam adhuc et orátio mea in beneplácitis eórum: absórpti sunt juncti petræ júdices eórum.

Audient verba mea quóniam potuérunt: sicut crassitúdo terræ erúpta est super terram.

Dissipáta sunt ossa nostra secus inférnum: quia ad te, Dómine, Dómine, óculi mei: in te sperávi, non áuferas ánimam meam.

Custódi me a láqueo, quem statuérunt mihi: et a scándalis operántium iniquitátem.

Cadent in retiáculo ejus peccatóres: singuláriter sum ego donec tránseam.

Glória Patri, et Fílio, et Spirítui Sancto.

Sicut erat in princípio, et nunc, et semper, et in sæcula sæculórum. Amen.

Psalmus 141

Effúndo in conspéctu ejus oratiónem meam, et tribulatiónem meam ante ipsum pronúntio.

In deficiéndo ex me spíritum meum, et tu cognovísti sémitas meas.

In via hac, qua ambulábam, abscondérunt láqueum mihi.

Considerábam ad déxteram, et vidébam: et non erat qui cognósceret me.

Périit fuga a me, et non est qui requírat ánimam meam.

Clamávi ad te, Dómine, dixi: Tu es spes mea, pórtio mea in terra vivéntium.

Inténde ad deprecatiónem meam: quia humiliátus sum nimis.

Líbera me a persequéntibus me: quia confortáti sunt super me.

Educ de custódia ánimam meam ad confiténdum nómini tuo: me exspéctant justi, donec retríbuas mihi.

Glória Patri, et Fílio, et Spirítui Sancto.

Sicut erat in princípio, et nunc, et semper, et in sæcula sæculórum. Amen.

Capitulum, 2 Cor. 1, 3-4

Hymnus

Qui cuncta solus órdinans,

Humum jubes prodúcere

Reptántis et feræ genus:

Dictu jubéntis vívida,

Per témporum certas vices

Obtemperáre sérvulis:

Ciénte vi nos ímpetit,

Aut móribus se súggerit,

Aut áctibus se intérserit.

Da gratiárum múnera:

Dissólve litis víncula:

Astrínge pacis fœdera.

Patríque compar Unice,

Cum Spíritu Paráclito

Regnans per omne sæculum.

Canticum beatæ Mariæ Virginis

Lucæ 1, 46-55

Et exsultávit spíritus meus in Deo, salutári meo.

Quia respéxit humilitátem ancíllæ suæ: ecce enim, ex hoc beátam me dicent omnes generatiónes.

Quia fecit mihi magna qui potens est: et sanctum nomen ejus.

Et misericórdia ejus a progénie in progénies timéntibus eum.

Fecit poténtiam in bráchio suo: dispérsit supérbos mente cordis sui.

Depósuit poténtes de sede, et exaltávit húmiles.

Esuriéntes implévit bonis: et dívites dimísit inánes.

Suscépit Israel, púerum suum, recordátus misericórdiæ suæ.

Sicut locútus est ad patres nostros, Abraham, et sémini ejus in sæcula.

Glória Patri, et Fílio, et Spirítui Sancto. Sicut erat in princípio, et nunc, et semper et in sæcula sæculórum. Amen.

Orémus.

Oratio

(ex Commune Festorum beatæ Mariæ Virginis)

(si habeatur)

Oratio

Orémus.

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Before the Office is begun, it is commendable to say the following Prayer, the singular number being used throughout; for which Pope Pius XI granted an indulgence of 3 years (S. Ap., November 17, 1933).

Prayer

O Lord, in union with that divine intention with which thou didst praise God on earth, I offer to thee this Hour.

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.

Praise be to Thee, O Lord, King of eternal glory.

Psalm 138, i

Thou hast understood my thoughts afar off: my path and my line thou hast searched out.

And thou hast foreseen all my ways: for there is no speech in my tongue.

Behold, O Lord, thou hast known all things, the last and those of old: thou hast formed me, and hast laid thy hand upon me.

Thy knowledge is become wonderful to me: it is high, and I cannot reach to it.

Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy face?

If I ascend into heaven, thou art there: if I descend into hell, thou art present.

If I take my wings early in the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea:

Even there also shall thy hand lead me: and thy right hand shall hold me.

And I said: Perhaps darkness shall cover me: and night shall be my light in my pleasures.

But darkness shall not be dark to thee, and night shall be light as the day: the darkness thereof, and the light thereof are alike to thee.

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 138, ii

I will praise thee, for thou art fearfully magnified: wonderful are thy works, and my soul knoweth right well.

My bone is not hidden from thee, which thou hast made in secret: and my substance in the lower parts of the earth.

Thy eyes did see my imperfect being, and in thy book all shall be written: days shall be formed, and no one in them.

But to me thy friends, O God, are made exceedingly honourable: their principality is exceedingly strengthened.

I will number them, and they shall be multiplied above the sand: I rose up and am still with thee.

If thou wilt kill the wicked, O God: ye men of blood, depart from me:

Because you say in thought: They shall receive thy cities in vain.

Have I not hated them, O Lord, that hated thee: and pined away because of thy enemies?

I have hated them with a perfect hatred: and they are become enemies to me.

Prove me, O God, and know my heart: examine me, and know my paths.

And see if there be in me the way of iniquity: and lead me in the eternal way.

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 139

Who have devised iniquities in their hearts: all the day long they designed battles.

They have sharpened their tongues like a serpent: the venom of asps is under their lips.

Keep me, O Lord, from the hand of the wicked: and from unjust men deliver me.

Who have proposed to supplant my steps: the proud have hidden a net for me.

And they have stretched out cords for a snare: they have laid for me a stumblingblock by the wayside.

I said to the Lord: Thou art my God: hear, O Lord, the voice of my supplication.

O Lord, Lord, the strength of my salvation: thou hast overshadowed my head in the day of battle.

Give me not up, O Lord, from my desire to the wicked: they have plotted against me; do not thou forsake me, lest they should triumph.

The head of them compassing me about: the labour of their lips shall overwhelm them.

Burning coals shall fall upon them; thou wilt cast them down into the fire: in miseries they shall not be able to stand.

A man full of tongue shall not be established in the earth: evil shall catch the unjust man unto destruction.

I know that the Lord will do justice to the needy, and will revenge the poor.

But as for the just, they shall give glory to thy name: and the upright shall dwell with thy countenance.

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 140

Let my prayer be directed as incense in thy sight; the lifting up of my hands, as evening sacrifice.

Set a watch, O Lord, before my mouth: and a door round about my lips.

Incline not my heart to evil words; to make excuses in sins.

With men that work iniquity: and I will not communicate with the choicest of them.

The just man shall correct me in mercy, and shall reprove me: but let not the oil of the sinner fatten my head.

For my prayer also shall still be against the things with which they are well pleased: their judges falling upon the rock have been swallowed up.

They shall hear my words, for they have prevailed: as when the thickness of the earth is broken up upon the ground.

Our bones are scattered by the side of hell. But to thee, O Lord, Lord, are my eyes: in thee have I put my trust, take not away my soul.

Keep me from the snare, which they have laid for me, and from the stumblingblocks of them that work iniquity.

The wicked shall fall in his net: I am alone until I pass.

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 141

In his sight I pour out my prayer, and before him I declare my trouble:

When my spirit failed me, then thou knewest my paths.

In this way wherein I walked, they have hidden a snare for me.

I looked on my right hand, and beheld, and there was no one that would know me.

Flight hath failed me: and there is no one that hath regard to my soul.

I cried to thee, O Lord: I said: Thou art my hope, my portion in the land of the living.

Attend to my supplication: for I am brought very low.

Deliver me from my persecutors; for they are stronger than I.

Bring my soul out of prison, that I may praise thy name: the just wait for me, until thou reward 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.

Little Chapter, 2 Cor. 1, 3-4

Hymn

Dost order all things, God alone;

By whose decree the teeming earth

To reptile and to beast gave birth:

Instinct with life at thy command,

Are given subdued to humankind

For service in their rank assigned.

Whate’er of thought impure today

Hath been with open action blent,

Or mingled with the heart’s intent.

And grant thy gifts of grace below;

From chains of strife our souls release,

Bind fast the gentle bands of peace.

With Christ, thy sole-begotten Son,

Whom, with the Spirit we adore,

One God, both now and evermore.

Canticle of the Blessed Virgin

Luke 1, 46-55

And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Savior,

Because he hath regarded the humility of his handmaid: for behold from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed,

Because he that is mighty hath done great things to me, and holy is his name,

And his mercy is from generation unto generation to those that fear him.

He hath showed might in his arm; he hath scattered the proud in the conceit of their heart.

He hath put down the mighty from their seat, and hath exalted the humble.

He hath filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he hath sent away empty.

He hath received Israel, his servant, being mindful of his mercy,

As he spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to his seed forever.

Let us pray.

Prayer

(Common of Feasts of the Blessed Virgin Mary)

(if it be said)

Prayer

Let us pray.

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