Little office of the
blessed virgin mary

The third hour (9 A.M) was sacred as a time of prayer to the Jews and the early Christians; and it was for long spoken of as ” the holy hour,” as it was the time when the Holy Ghost came upon Our Lady and the disciples in the Cenacle, and was later appointed as the hour for the celebration of the Holy Sacrifice. As the sun begins to diffuse warmth upon the earth at this time of the day, it is appropriate that at Terce we would especially ask for an increase of the fire of divine charity.

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 [122]: A prayer in affliction with confidence in God
Unto thee have I lift up mine eyes, * O thou that dwellest in the heavens.
2 Behold, even as the eyes of servants * look unto the hand of their masters,
3 And as the eyes of a maiden are on the hands of her mistress, * even so our eyes wait upon the Lord our God, until he have mercy upon us.
4 Have mercy upon us, O Lord, have mercy upon us; * for we are utterly despised.
5 Our soul is greatly filled; * we are a reproof to the wealthy, and contempt to the proud.
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 [123]: The Church giveth glory to God for her deliverance from the hands of her enemies
If the Lord himself had not been on our side, let Israel now say; * if the Lord himself had not been on our side,
2 When men rose up against us; * perchance they had swallowed us up alive.
3 When they were so wrathfully displeased at us, * perchance their waters had drowned us.
4 Our soul hath passed through the torrent : * perchance our soul had passed through a water insupportable.
5 Blessed be the Lord, * who hath not given us over for a prey unto their teeth.
6 Our soul is escaped even as a bird * out of the snare of the fowler.
7 The snare is broken, * and we are delivered.
8 Our help is in the Name of the Lord, * who hath made heaven and earth.
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 [124]: The just are always under God’s protection
1 They that put their trust in the Lord shall be even as the mount Sion, * he shall stand fast for ever, that dwelleth in Jerusalem.
2 Mountains stand round about; * even so standeth the Lord round about his people, from this time forth for evermore.
3 For the Lord shall not leave the rod of sinners upon the lot of the just: * that the righteous may not stretch forth their hand unto wickedness.
4 Do well, O Lord, unto those that are good * and true of heart.
5 But such as turn aside unto bonds, the Lord shall lead them forth with the evil doers; * peace upon 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.

Ant. Rejoice, O Virgin Mary, thou alone hast destroyed all heresies throughout the whole world.

Little Chapter ECCL. 24
And so in Sion was I established, and in the holy city likewise did I rest, and in Jerusalem was my power.

R: Thanks be to God.

V: Holy Mary, Mother of Christ, * hear thy servants imploring thee.
R: Holy Mary, Mother of Christ, * hear thy servants imploring thee.
V: And bring to us from heaven the pardon thou obtainest.
R: Hear thy servants imploring thee.
V: Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.
R: Holy Mary, Mother of Christ, * hear thy servants imploring thee.
V. Pray for us, O Holy Mother of God.
R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.
V: O Lord, hear my prayer.
R: And let my cry come unto Thee.

The prayer varies according to the season

During Advent

Let us pray
O God, Who wast pleased 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 believe her to be truly the Mother of God, may be helped through her intercession with Thee. Throught the same Jesus Christ our Lord, Thy Son, Who with Thee liveth and reigneth in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God world without end .
R: Amen.

From Christmas to Purification

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 to receive the Author of life, our Lord Jesus Christ our Lord, Thy Son, Who with Thee liveth and reigneth in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God world without end .
R: Amen.

From Purification to Advent
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 our Lord Jesus Christ our Lord, Thy Son, 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.