Little office of the
blessed virgin mary

At the ninth hour (3 P. M.) when the sun begins to decline in the heavens, Our Lord expired on the Cross. The Prayer of the Ninth Hour, therefore, commemorates the death of the Redeemer; and it bids us look forward to the decline of our own days and beg the grace of a happy death.

V: Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee.
R: Blessed art thou amongst women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.

V: Incline unto my aid O God.
R: O Lord make haste to help me.
V: Glory be to the Father, and to the Son: and to the Holy Ghost.
R: as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, * world without end, Amen. Alleluia.
From Septuagesima until Easter instead of Alleluia is said: Praise be thee, O Lord, King of everlasting Glory

Hymn:
Author of grace, sweet Saviour mine,
Remember that Thy flesh divine,
From the unsullied Virgin came,
Made like unto our mortal frame.

O Mary, Mother of all grace,
Mother of Mercy to our race,
Protect us now from Satan’s power,
And own us at life’s closing hour.

All glory be Thee, O Lord,
The Virgin’s son, by all ador’d,
And equal praise forever greet,
The Father and the Paraclete. Amen.

Psalm [128]: The Church of God is invincible: her persecutors come to nothing

Many a time have they fought against me from my youth up, * let Israel now say;
2 Yea, many a time have they fought against me from my youth up; * but they have not prevailed against me.
3 The ungodly have wrought upon my back, * they have lengthened their iniquity.
4 The righteous Lord hath hewn the necks of the ungodly * let them be confounded and turned backward, as many as hate Sion.
6 Let them be even as the grass upon the housetops, * which withereth afore it be grown up;
7 Whereof the mower filleth not his hand, * neither he that bindeth up the sheaves his bosom.
8 And they who go by say not: The blessing of the Lord be upon you; * we have blessed you in the Name of 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.

Psalm [129]: A prayer of a sinner trusting in mercies of God

Out of the depths I have cried unto thee, O Lord; * Lord, hear my voice.
2 O let thine ears be attentive * to the voice of my supplication.
3 If thou, O Lord, shalt observe our iniquities, * Lord, who may endure it?
4 For with thee there is merciful forgiveness : * and by reason of thy law, I have waited for thee, O Lord.
5 My soul hath relied on his word * my soul hath hoped in the Lord.
6 From the morning watch even until night : * let Israel hope in 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.

Psalm [130]: The prophet’s humility.

O Lord, mine heart is not exalted; * nor are mine eyes raised up high.
2 Neither have I walked in great matters * nor in wondrous things above me.
3 If I was not humbly minded, * but exalted my soul.
4 Like as a child that is weaned is towards his mother: * even so is the reward in my soul.
4 Let Israel hope in the Lord * from this time forth for evermore.

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. Blessed Mother and Virgin undefiled, glorious Queen of the world, intercede for us with the Lord.

Little Chapter ECCL. 24

I was exalted like the cedar in Libanus, and like a cypress on Mount Sion. Like a palm tree in Cades was I exalted, and like a rose plant in Jericho.

R: Thanks be to God.

V: God hath chosen her * and preferred her.
R: God hath chosen her * and preferred her.

V: And He maketh her to dwell in His tabernacle.

R: And preferred her.

V: Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.
R: God hath chosen her * and preferred her.
O ever virgin, Mary, holy Mother of God.
R. Intercede for us with Lord our God.
V: O Lord, hear my prayer.
R: And let my cry come unto Thee.

Let us pray

Forgive, we beseech Thee, O Lord, the sins of Thy servants, that we who cannot be pleasing to Thee by our deeds, may be saved by the intercession of the Mother of Thy Son, our Lord, Who with Thee liveth and reigneth 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.

R: Thanks be to God.

V: Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee.
R: Blessed art thou amongst women, and blessed is the Fruit of thy womb, Jesus.