Lauds
Office III (Christmas To Candlemas), 1909 Dominican calendarPrayers Before the Office
Open, O Lord, my mouth to bless Thy Holy Name: cleanse also my heart from all vain, perverse and distracting thoughts; enlighten my understanding, inflame my will, that I may worthily, attentively and devoutly recite this Office, and deserve to be heard in the presence of Thy Divine Majesty. Through Christ our Lord.
℟ Amen.
O Lord, in union with that divine intention wherewith Thou Thyself, while on earth, didst offer praises unto God, I offer these Hours unto Thee.
Introduction
℣ O God, ✠ come to my assistance;
℟ O Lord, make haste to help 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. (Outside Lent:) Alleluia. (from Septuagesima to Holy Saturday:) Praise be to Thee, O Lord, King of glory everlasting.
Psalms
Psalm 92
- The Lord reigneth: He is clothed with beauty: the Lord is clothed with strength, and hath girded Himself.
- For He hath established the world, which shall not be moved.
- Thy throne is prepared of old: Thou art from everlasting.
- The floods have lifted up, O Lord: the floods have lifted up their voice.
- The floods have lifted up their waves, with the noise of many waters.
- Wonderful are the surges of the sea: wonderful is the Lord on high.
- Thy testimonies are made exceedingly trustworthy: holiness becometh Thy house, O Lord, unto length of days.
- 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 99
- Sing joyfully unto God all the earth: serve ye the Lord with gladness.
- Come in before His presence with exceeding joy.
- Know ye that the Lord He is God: He hath made us, and not we ourselves.
- We are His people and the sheep of His pasture: go ye into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with hymns; and give thanks unto Him.
- Praise ye His name; for the Lord is gracious, His mercy is for ever, and His truth endureth from generation to generation.
- 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 62
- O God, my God, to Thee do I wake at break of day.
- For Thee my soul thirsteth; for Thee my flesh longeth, O how exceedingly!
- In a desert, pathless, and waterless land: so have I come before Thee in the holy place, that I might see Thy power and Thy glory.
- For Thy mercy is better than life: my lips shall praise Thee.
- Thus will I bless Thee all my life long; and in Thy name will I lift up my hands.
- Let my soul be filled as with marrow and fatness; and my mouth shall praise Thee with joyful lips.
- If I have remembered Thee upon my bed, on Thee will I meditate in the morning; because Thou hast been my helper.
- And I will rejoice under the covert of Thy wings: my soul cleaveth unto Thee; Thy right hand upholdeth me.
- But they seek my soul in vain: they shall go into the lower parts of the earth: they shall be delivered into the power of the sword: they shall be portions for foxes.
- But the king shall rejoice in God, all they that swear by Him shall be praised : because the mouth of them that speak wicked things is stopped.
Psalm 66
- God be merciful unto us, and bless us: cause His countenance to shine upon us, and be merciful unto us.
- That we may know Thy way upon earth: Thy salvation in all nations.
- Let the peoples give thanks to Thee, O God: let all the peoples give Thee thanks.
- O let the nations be glad and rejoice; for Thou judgest the peoples with justice, and governest the nations upon earth.
- Let the peoples give thanks to Thee, O God: let all the peoples give Thee thanks.
- May God, even our own God, bless us, may God bless us; and may all the ends of the earth fear Him.
- 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.
Canticum Trium Puerorum
Daniel III
- All ye works of the Lord, bless the Lord, praise and exalt Him above all for ever.
- O ye angels of the Lord, bless the Lord: O ye heavens, bless the Lord.
- O all ye waters that are above the heavens, bless the Lord: O all ye powers of the Lord, bless the Lord.
- O ye sun and moon, bless the Lord; O ye stars of heaven, bless the Lord.
- O every shower and dew, bless ye the Lord; O all ye spirits of God, bless the Lord.
- O ye fire and heat, bless the Lord; O ye cold and heat, bless the Lord.
- O ye dews and hoar-frosts, bless the Lord; O ye frost and cold, bless the Lord.
- O ye ice and snow, bless the Lord; O ye nights and days, bless the Lord.
- O ye light and darkness, bless the Lord; O ye lightnings and clouds, bless the Lord.
- O let the earth bless the Lord; let it praise and exalt Him above all for ever.
- O ye mountains and hills, bless the Lord ; O all ye things that spring up in the earth, bless the Lord.
- O ye fountains, bless the Lord; O ye seas and rivers, bless the Lord.
- O ye whales, and all that move in the waters, bless the Lord; O all ye fowls of the air, bless the Lord.
- O all ye beasts and cattle, bless the Lord; O ye sons of men, bless the Lord.
- O let Israel bless the Lord; let him praise and exalt Him above all for ever.
- O ye priests of the Lord, bless the Lord; O ye servants of the Lord, bless the Lord.
- O ye spirits and souls of the just, bless the Lord ; O ye holy and humble of heart, bless the Lord.
- O Ananias, Azarias, and Misael, bless ye the Lord; praise and exalt Him above all for ever.
- Let us bless the Father, and the Son, with the Holy Ghost; let us praise and magnify Him for ever.
- Blessed art Thou, O Lord, in the firmament of heaven; and worthy of praise, and glorious, and magnified for ever.
Psalm 148
- Praise the Lord from the heavens; praise Him in the heights.
- Praise Him, all ye His angels; praise Him, all His hosts.
- Praise Him, sun and moon; praise Him, all ye stars and light.
- Praise Him, ye heavens of heavens; and let all the waters that are above the heavens, praise the name of the Lord.
- For He spake, and they were made: He commanded, and they were created.
- He hath established them for ever, and for evermore; He hath made a decree, and it shall not pass away.
- Praise the Lord from the earth; ye dragons and all deeps.
- Fire, hail, snow, ice, and stormy winds, which fulfil His word.
- Mountains and all hills; fruitful trees and all cedars.
- Beasts and all cattle; creeping things, and feathered fowls.
- Kings of the earth and all peoples; princes and all judges of the earth.
- Young men and maidens, old men and children, let them praise the name of the Lord; for His name alone is exalted.
- His praise is above heaven and earth; and He hath exalted the horn of His people.
- A song of praise to all His saints; to the children of Israel, a people drawing nigh unto Him.
Psalm 149
- Sing unto the Lord a new song; let His praise be in the Church of the saints.
- Let Israel rejoice in Him that made him; and let the children of Sion be joyful in their King.
- Let them praise Him name in the choir; let them sing unto Him with timbrel and psaltery.
- For the Lord is well pleased with His people; and He will exalt the meek unto salvation.
- The saints shall rejoice in glory: they shall be joyful in their beds.
- The high praises of God shall be in their mouth; and two-edged swords in their hands:
- To execute vengeance upon the nations; and chastisements among the peoples:
- To bind their kings with fetters; and their nobles with chains of iron.
- To execute upon them the judgement that is written: Such glory have all his saints.
Psalm 150
- Praise ye the Lord in his holy places: praise Him in the firmament of his power.
- Praise Him in His might acts: praise Him according to the multitude of His greatness.
- Praise Him with sound of trumpet: praise Him with psaltery and harp.
- Priase him with timbrel and choir: praise Him with strings and organs.
- Praise Him upon the high-sounding cymbals; praise Him upon cymbals of joy: let every spirit praise 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.
Ant. After childbirth thou didst still remain a virgin undefiled: Mother of God, intercede for us.
Little Chapter
Eccl. 24
Like a vine, I gave forth an odor of sweetness: and my flowers are the fruits of honor and riches.
℟ Thanks be to God.
Hymn
O glorious Lady, throned in light,
Sublime above the stary height,
Thine arms thy great Creator pressed,
A suckling at thy sacred breast.
Through the dear Blossom of thy womb,
Thou changest hapless Eva’s doom:
Through thee to contrite souls is given
An opening to their home in heaven.
Thou art the great King’s portal bright,
With pearls and stones of living light,
Come then, ye ransomed nations, sing
The life divine ’twas hers to bring.
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.
℣ God hath chosen her, and preferred her.
℟ And He maketh her dwell in His tabernacle.
Canticle of Zachary
Luke 1
- Blessed be the Lord ✠ God of Israel, because He hath visited and wrought the redemption of His people.
- And hath raised up a horn of salvation to us in the house of David His servant;
- As He spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets, who are from the beginning:
- Salvation from our enemies, and from the hand of all that hate us.
- To perform mercy to our fathers, and to remember His holy testament.
- The oath which He swore to Abraham our father, that He would grant to us,
- That being delivered from the hand of our enemies, we may serve Him without fear,
- In holiness and justice before Him all our days.
- And thou, child, shalt be called the prophet of the Highest; for thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to prepare His ways:
- To give knowledge of salvation to His people, unto the remission of their sins;
- Through the bowels of the mercy of our God, in which the Orient from on high hath visited us.
- To enlighten them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death; to direct our feet into the way of peace.
- 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. A Woman in childbirth brought forth a King Whose name is eternal; and, possessing a mother’s joy with a virgin’s honor, her like hath not appeared before nor since.
Collect
℣ O Lord, hear my prayer.
℟ 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.
℟ Amen.
Commemoration of Our Holy Father Saint Dominic
Ant. Blessed be the Redeemer of all, Who, in providing for the salvation of men, gave Saint Dominic to the world.
℣ The law of his God is in his heart.
℟ And his steps shall not fail.
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 destitude of temporal help, and may always increase in spiritual growth. Through Christ our Lord.
℟ Amen.
Commemoration of All the Saints of the Dominican Order
Ant. O what happiness and glory belong always to the saints, how distinguished the merits of the Preachers, by whose words and deeds the world is adorned, by whose works the mind grows stronger.
℣ The saints shall be joyful in glory.
℟ They shall sing for joy on their couches.
Let us pray.
Grant, we beseech Thee, almighty God, that the examples fo 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.
℟ Amen.
Commemoration of All Saints
Ant. All ye saints of God vouchsafe to make intercession for our salvation, and for that of all.
℣ Pray for us, all ye saints of God.
℟ 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 unceassingly, and vouchsafe in Thy clemency to hear them. Through Christ our Lord.
℟ Amen.
Commemoration for Peace
Ant. Give peace, O Lord, in our days, because there is no other who will fight for us, except Thee, our God.
℣ Let peace be in thy strength.
℟ 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.
℟ Amen.
Conclusion
℣ O Lord, hear my prayer.
℟ And let my cry come unto Thee.
℣ Let us bless the Lord.
℟ Thanks be to God.
℣ Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee.
℟ Blessed art thou amongst women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.
Prayers After the Office
To the most holy and undivided Trinity, to the manhood of our crucified Lord Jesus Christ, to the fruitful virginity of the most blessed and glorious Mary, ever a virgin, to the entire assembly of the saints, be ascribed everlasting praise, honor, power, and glory, by every creature; and to us be granted the remission of all our sins, world without end.
℟ Amen.
℣ Blessed is the Virgin Mary's womb, which bore the Son of the everlasting Father.
℟ And blessed are the breasts which nourished Christ our Lord.
Our Father, who art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation: But deliver us from evil. Amen.
Hail Mary, full of grace; The Lord is with thee; Blessed art thou amongst women, And blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, Pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen.
Original Sources
- Breviarium Juxta Ritum Sacri Ordinis Praedicatorum (1909)
- Office Book for Dominican Sisters (1941)
- The Little Office of the Blessed Virgin, Explained for Dominican Sisters and Tertiaries