Little office of the
blessed virgin mary

When the sun has set and Vesper, the evening star, has appeared, the Church offers up another Canonical Hour to God, that of Vespers or Evening Praises. The hour for the evening sacrifice of incense in the Temple was 6 P.M. and it was also at this time that Our Lord at the Last Supper instituted the Sacrifice of the Mass. The prayers of Vespers are said very appropriately, therefore, as praises of Our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament.

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

Psalm 109. God is to be praised for His regard to the poor and humble

The Lord said unto my Lord, * Sit thou on my right hand:
2 Until I make thine enemies * thy footstool.
3 The Lord shall send the rod of thy power out of Sion: * be thou ruler, even in the midst among thine enemies.
4 Thine shall be the dominion in the day of thy power, amid the brightness of the saints : * from the womb before the day star have I begotten thee.
5 The Lord sware, and will not repent, * Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedech.
6 The Lord upon thy right hand * shall wound even kings in the day of his wrath.
7 He shall judge among the heathen; he shall fill the places with the dead bodies: * and smite in sunder the heads over divers countries.
8 He shall drink of the brook in the way; * therefore shall he lift up his head.

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 112. God is to be praised for His regard to the poor and humble

Praise the Lord, O ye his servants; * O praise the Name of the Lord.
2 (all bow) Blessed be the Name of the Lord * from this time forth for evermore.
3 From the rising up of the sun unto the going down of the same, * the Lord’s Name be praised.
4 The Lord is high above all nations, * and his glory above the heavens.
5 Who is like unto the Lord our God, that hath his dwelling on high, * and beholdeth what is lowly in heaven and in the earth?
6 He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, * and lifteth the needy out of the dung hill.
7 That he may set him with the princes, * even with the princes of his people.
8 He maketh the barren woman to keep house, * and to be a joyful mother of children..

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 121. The desire and hope of the just for coming of the kingdom of God, and the peace of His Church

1 I was glad † at the things that were said unto me, * †† We will go into the house of the Lord.
2 Our feet shall stand * in thy gates, O Jerusalem.
3 Jerusalem is built as a city * that is at unity in itself.
4 For thither did the tribes go up, even the tribes of the Lord, * to testify unto Israel, to give thanks unto the Name of the Lord.
5 For their seats have sat in judgment, * even the seats upon the house of David.
6 O pray for the peace of Jerusalem; * they shall prosper that love thee.
7 Peace be within thy walls, * and plenteousness within thy palaces.
8 For my brethren and companions’ sakes, * I spake peace of thee.
9 Yea, because of the house of the Lord our God, * I have sought to do thee good.

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 126. Nothing can be done without God’s grace and blessing.

Except the Lord build the house, * they labour in vain that build it.
2 Except the Lord keep the city, * the watchman waketh but in vain.
3 It is vain for you to rise up before the light : * rise ye after ye have sitten, ye that eat the bread of sorrow.
4 When he giveth his beloved sleep : * behold, children are the heritage of the Lord: the reward, and the fruit of the womb.
5 Like as the arrows in the hand of the mighty, * even so are the children of the them that have been shaken.
6 Blessed is the man that hath filled the desire with them; * he shall not be confounded when he shall speak with 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.

Psalm 147. The Church is called upon to praise for His peculiar graces and favors to His people

1 Praise the Lord, O Jerusalem; * praise thy God, O Sion.
2 For he hath made fast the bars of thy gates, * and hath blessed thy children within thee.
3 Who hath placed peace in thy borders, * and filleth thee with the fat of the crops.
4 Who sendeth forth his commandment upon earth, * and his word runneth swiftly.
5 Who giveth snow like wool, * and scattereth the mist like ashes.
6 He sendeth his ice like morsels: * who is able to abide before the face of his frost?
7 He shall send out his word, and shall melt them: * his spirit shall breathe forth, and the waters shall flow.
8 Who declareth his word unto Jacob, * his statutes and judgments unto Israel.
9 He hath not dealt so with every nation; * neither hath he given them knowledge of his judgments.

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. Holy Mother of God, Mary ever virgin, intercede for us with the Lord our God. Mother of God, intercede for us.

Little Chapter ECCL. 24

Like a vine, I gave forth a sweet perfume like cinnamon and aromatical balm:
I yielded an odor of sweetness, like the choicest myrrh.

R: Thanks be to God.

Hymn:
Kneel for the first stanza
Hail, O star of ocean,
God’s own Mother blest,
Ever sinless Virgin,
Gate of heaven’s rest.

Taking that sweet Ave,
Which from Gabriel came.
Peace confirm within us,
Changing Eva’s name.

Break the sinners fetters,
To the blind give day,
Ward all evils from us,
For all blessings pray.

Show thyself a mother,
May the Word Divine,
Born for us thine infant,
Hear our pray’rs through thine.

Virgin all excelling,
Mildest of the mild,
Free from sin preserve us,
Meek and undefil’d.

Keep our lives all spotless,
Make our way secure,
Till we find in Jesus,
Joys that shall endure.

Praise to God the Father,
Honor to the Son,
Be the glory one. Amen.

V: Pray for us, O holy Mother of God.

R: That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

CANTICLE OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY
The Magnificat Luke 1. 46-55

1 My soul * doth magnify the Lord.
2 And my spirit hath rejoiced * in God my Saviour.
3 For he hath regarded the lowliness of his handmaiden : * for behold, from henceforth * all generations shall call me blessed.
4 For he that is mighty hath magnified me; * (Here all make a profound reverence) and holy is his Name.
5 And his mercy is on them that fear him * throughout all generations.
6 He hath shewed strength with his arm; * he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.
7 He hath put down the mighty from their seat, * and hath exalted the humble and meek.
8 He hath filled the hungry with good things; * and the rich he hath sent empty away.
9 He remembering his mercy * hath holpen his servant Israel.
10 As he promised to our forefathers, * Abraham and his seed for ever.
11 Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, * and to the Holy Ghost.
12 As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, * world without end. Amen.

During Advent
Ant. O Virgin of virgins, how will this be done! For thou art seen to have none like thee either before or after. Ye daughters of Jerusalem, why look ye at me in wonder? This mystery which ye see is all divine.

V: O Lord, hear my prayer.

R: And let my cry come unto Thee.

Let us pray
O God, Who wast please that, at the message of an angel, Thy Word should take flesh from the womb of the Blessed Virgin Mary, grant that we, Thy suppliants, who truly believe her to be the Mother of God, may be helped by her intercession with Thee. Through the same Christ our Lord.

R: Amen.

From first Vespers of Christmas to first Vespers of Purification
Ant. O wonderful intercourse! the Creator of human kind, taking unto Himself a living body, vouchsafed to be born of a virgin; and coming forth amongst us, a man without human generation bestowed upon us His divinity.

V: O Lord, hear my prayer.

R: And let my cry come unto Thee.

Let us pray
O God, Who through the fruitful virginity of blessed Mary, hast given to mankind the reward of eternal salvation, grant, we beseech Thee that we may feel the intercession she makes for us, through whom we have been made worthy the Author of Life ,Christ our Lord.

R: Amen.

From the Purification to Easter Sunday

During Paschal Time
Ant. O Queen of heaven, rejoice , alleluia; for He Whom thou didst merit to bear, alleluia, hath risen as He said alleluia; pray to God for us, alleluia.

V: O Lord, hear my prayer.

R: And let my cry come unto Thee.

Let us pray

Grant, we beseech Thee, O Lord God, that we, Thy servants, may enjoy continual health of mind and body; and that, through the glorious intercession of blessed Mary, ever virgin, we may be delivered from present sorrow, and enjoy eternal happiness. Through Christ our Lord.

R: Amen.

From Trinity Sunday to Advent
Ant. Holy Mary, succor the miserable, help the faint hearted, comfort the sorrowful, pray for the people, plead for the clergy, make intercession for the devout female sex.

V: O Lord, hear my prayer.

R: And let my cry come unto Thee.

Let us pray
Grant, we beseech Thee, O Lord God, that we, Thy servants, may enjoy continual health of mind and body; and that, through the intercession of blessed Mary, ever virgin, we may be delivered from present sorrow, and enjoy eternal happiness. Through Christ our Lord.

R: Amen.

DAILY COMMEMORATIONS

Here make Commemorations of the current Dominican Feast.

The following Commemorations are said daily throughout the whole year.

OUR HOLY FATHER, SAINT DOMINIC
Ant. O great and holy Father, Dominic, at the hour of death take us to thyself, and while here regard us always graciously.

V: The mouth of the just man shall speak wisdom.

R: And his tongue shall speak judgment.

Let us pray
O God, Who didst vouchsafe to enlighten Thy Church by the merits and teachings of Thy blessed Confessor, Our Father Dominic, grant through his intercession that it may never be destitute of temporal help, and may always increase in spiritual growth. Through Christ our Lord.

R: Amen.

SAINT CATHERINE OF SIENA
Ant. May the virgin, Catherine, cherishing us by her merits, lead us to the throne of the heavenly kingdom.

V: The sparrow hath found herself a house.

R: And the turtle dove a nest for herself, where she may place her young.

Let us pray
O God, Who didst enable blessed Catherine, graced with a special privilege of virginity and patience, to overcome the assaults of evil spirits, and to stand unshaken in the love of Thy holy Name, grant, we beseech Thee, that, after her example, treading under foot the wickedness of the world and overcoming the wiles of enemies, we may safely pass onward to Thy glory. Through Christ our Lord.

R: Amen.

This Commemoration is made daily except at Lauds of Feast of first or second class. It is also omitted on April 30^th and throughout the octave, in favor of the special Commemoration prayers for the festival.

ALL THE SAINTS OF THE DOMINICAN ORDER
Ant. The holy grace of Christ hath exalted the saints, whom the Order of Father Dominic has raised up. We beg to be helped by their merits and to be commended to God by their prayers.

V: The wisdom of the holy the peoples shall speak.

R: And their praise the Church shall proclaim.

Let us pray
Grant, we beseech Thee, almighty God, that the examples for the saints of our Order may incite us to a better life; that we may imitate the deeds of them whose memory we celebrate. Through Christ our Lord.

R: Amen.

ALL SAINTS
Ant. All ye saints of God vouchsafe to make intercession for our salvation, and for that of all.

V: Pray for us, all ye saints of God

R: That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

Let us pray
Grant, we beseech Thee, O Lord, that all Thy saints may pray for us unceasingly, and vouchsafe in Thy clemency to hear them. Through Christ our Lord.

R: Amen.

FOR PEACE
Ant. Give peace, O Lord, in our days, because there is no other who will fight for us, except Thee, our God.

V: Let peace be in thy strength.

R: And abundance in thy towers.

Let us pray
O God, from Whom are holy desires, right counsels, and just works, grant to Thy servants that peace which the world cannot give; that our hearts being devoted to Thy commandments, and the fear of enemies being taken away, the times may, by Thy protection, be peaceful. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Who with Thee liveth and reignth 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: 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.