Little office of the
blessed virgin mary

The word “Compline” means completion, and the Hour called by this name is the closing prayer of the Office. It was formerly said about 9 P.M, when darkness had spread over the earth and those who had labored throughout the day were preparing to take their repose. Hence it may be called the Night Prayer of the Church. The thoughts that may well inspire our prayers during Compline are the need we have of divine protection against the powers of darkness and the other dangers that encompass us, especially during night and when we shall be entering upon the sleep of 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: Convert us, O God, our Savior.
R: And turn away Thy wrath from us.
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 131. A prayer for the fulfilling of the promises made to David

O Lord, remember David, * and all his meekness:
2 How he swore unto the Lord, * and vowed a vow unto the God of Jacob:
3 I will not come within the tabernacle of mine house, * nor go up into the bed wherein I lie;
4 I will not suffer mine eyes to sleep, * nor mine eyelids to slumber;
5 Neither the temples of my head to take any rest : * until I find out a place for the Lord, a tabernacle for the God of Jacob.
6 Lo, we heard of it at Ephratah, * and found it in the fields of the wood.
7 We will go into his tabernacle, * and worship in the place where his feet stood.
8 Arise, O Lord, into thy resting-place; * thou, and the ark which thou hast sanctified.
9 Let thy priests be clothed with righteousness; * and let thy saints rejoice.
10 For the sake of thy servant David, * turn not away the face of thine anointed.
11 The Lord hath made a faithful oath unto David, and he shall not make it void : * of the fruit of thy womb shall I set upon thy throne.
12 If thy children will keep my covenant, * and my testimonies that I shall teach them.
13 Their children also for evermore : * shall sit upon thy throne.
14 For the Lord hath chosen Sion * he hath chosen it to be an habitation for himself.
15 This shall be my rest for ever and ever: * here will I dwell, for I have chosen it.
16 Blessing I will bless her widow : * and will satisfy her poor with bread.
17 I will clothe her priests with salvation, * and her saints shall rejoice with exceeding great joy.
18 There will I bring forth make a horn unto David : * I have prepared a lantern for mine anointed.
19 His enemies will I clothe with confusion; * but upon him shall my sanctification flourish..

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 132. An exhortation to praise God continually

Behold, how good † and joyful a thing it is, * for brethren to dwell together in unity.
2 It is like the precious oil upon the head, * that ran down upon the beard, even upon the beard of Aaron.
3 That went down to the skirts of his clothing : * like as the dew of Hermon, which fell upon mount Sion.
4 For there the Lord hath commanded blessing, * and life 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.

Psalm 133. The prophet aspireth after God

Behold now, bless the Lord, * all ye servants of the Lord;
2 Ye that stand in the house of the Lord, * even in the courts of the house of our God.
3 Lift up your hands by night in the sanctuary, * and bless ye the Lord.
4 The Lord that made heaven and earth * give thee blessing out of Sion.

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. After childbirth thou didst still remain a virgin undefiled: Mother of God, intercede for us.

Little Chapter ECCL. 24

I am the mother of fair love, and of fear, and of knowledge, and of holy hope.
R: Thanks be to God.

V: Intercede for us, O holy Virgin of virgins * Mary, Mother of God.
R: Intercede for us, O holy Virgin of virgins * Mary, Mother of God.

V: That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.
R: Mary, Mother of God.
V: Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.
R: Intercede for us, O holy Virgin of virgins * Mary, Mother of God.

Hymn:
Virgin all excelling,
Mildest of the mild,
Free from sin preserve us,
Meek and undefiled.

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,
To the Holy Spirit,
Be glory one. Amen.

THE CANTICLE OF SIMEON Luke 2.29-32.

† Now Thou dost dismiss Thy servant, O Lord * according to Thy word.
2 Because mine eyes have seen * Thy salvation,
3 Which thou hast prepared * before the face of all people;
4 A light for the revelation of the gentiles, * and to be the glory of Thy people Israel.

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.

The following Anthem is said kneeling:
Ant. We fly to they patronage, O holy Mother of God; despise not our petitions in our necessities, but deliver us from all dangers, O ever blessed Virgin.

V: O Lord, hear my prayer.

R: And let my cry come unto Thee.

Let us pray
Grant, O merciful God, protection for our frailty: that we who celebrate the memory of the holy Mother of God may, by the help of her intercession, arise from our sins. Through the same Jesus Christ, our Lord, 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.

Blessing

May the blessing of Almighty God , Father, Son and Holy Ghost descend upon and remain with us forever. Amen.

When office is said in choir the Salve and O Lumen should be sung. All should assist at the daily procession that occurs during them. Yet, those who are prevented may say them privately in the order following or terminate the office at this point with the customary Ave Maria.

The Salve and O Lumen are omitted on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday of Holy Week.

Salve Regina

Hail, holy Queen, Mother of mercy, hail, our life, our sweetness, and our hope! To thee do we cry, poor banished children of Eve, to thee do we send up our sighs, mourning and weeping in this vale of tears. Turn then, most gracious advocate, thine eyes of mercy towards us; and after this our exile, show unto us the blessed fruit of thy womb, Jesus. O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary.

V. Make me worthy to praise thee, holy Virgin. P.T. Alleluia.

R. Give me strength against thine enemies. P.T. Alleluia.

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 hapiness. Through Christ our Lord.

R: Amen.

O Lumen

O Light of the Church, doctor of truth, rose of patience, ivory of chastity, freely hast thou dispensed the water of wisdom: preacher of grace, unite us to the blessed. P.T. Alleluia.

Pray for us, blessed Father Dominic. P.T. Alleluia.

That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ. P.T. Alleluia.

Let us pray
Grant, we beseech Thee, almighty God, that we who are oppressed with the weight of our sins may be relieved
by the intercession of Thy Confessor and our Father, the Blessed Dominic Through Christ our Lord.

R: Amen.

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.

Prayer of Saint Bonaventure (To be said at the end of the Office)

To the most holy and undivided Trinity,
To the humanity of our crucified Lord Jesus Christ;
To the fruitful virginity of most blessed and glorious Virgin Mary;
And to the entire Company of the Saints of God, in heaven;
Be praise, honor, power, and glory, from every creature on earth:
And likewise to us sinners may there be full remission of all our sins:
Throughout all ages, world without end.
R. Amen.

Blessed is the womb of the Virgin Mary, which bore the Son of the everlasting Father.
R. And blessed are the breasts which nourished Christ the Lord.

Then for the welfare of Holy Mother Church, pray One Our father, Hail Mary in secret.