Matins

Office III (Christmas To Candlemas), 1909 Dominican calendar

Prayers 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 didst offer praises on earth to God, I offer these Hours to Thee.

Introduction

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee.

℟ Blessed art thou amongst women, And blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.

℣ O Lord, ✠ Thou wilt open my lips.

℟ And my mouth shall declare Thy praise.

℣ Incline unto my aid, ✠ O God

℟ 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.

Invitatory

Psalm 94

• Come let us praise the Lord with joy: let us joyfully sing to God our Saviour: let us approach to his presence in confession, and in Psalms let us make joy unto him.
• Our King, a Virgin’s Son: * Come, let us adore.
• For God is a great Lord, and a great King above all Gods: because our Lord repelleth not his people: for that in his hand are all the bounds of the earth, and he beholdeth the heights of the mountains.
• Come, let us adore.
• For the sea is his, and he made it: and his hands founded the dry land: come let us adore, and fall down before God: let us weep before our Lord, that made us: because he is the Lord our God: we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.
• Our King, a Virgin’s Son: * Come, let us adore.
• Today if ye shall hear his voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation according to the day of temptation in the wilderness: where your fathers tempted me: proved, and saw my works.
• Come, let us adore.
• Forty years was I nigh unto this generation: and said, they always err in heart: and they have not known my ways, to whom I swear in my wrath, if they shall enter into my rest.
• Our King, a Virgin’s Son: * Come, let us adore.
• 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.

Hymn

Whom earth, and sea, and sky proclaim,
The ruler of the triple frame,
He unto Whom their praises,
Within the womb of Mary lies.

Her womb, the seat of every grace,
Is now the Lord’s abiding place,–
That Lord’s to Whom the sun by day,
The moon by night, their service pay.

O Happy Mother that thou art,
Close underneath thy beating heart,
Lies thy Creator-God, who planned,
The world He holds within His hand.

Blest by herald angel’s tongue,
O’er thee God’s shadowing Spirit hung,
And filled thy womb which issued forth,
The long-desired of all the earth.

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,
A Virgin’s son, by all adored;
And equal praise forever greet,
The Father and the Paraclete.

Amen.

Psalm 8

• O Lord, our Lord, how admirable is Thy name in the whole earth!
• For Thy magnificence is exalted above the heavens.
• Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings Thou hast perfected praise because of Thine enemies, that Thou mayest destroy the enemy and the avenger.
• For I will behold Thy heavens, the works of Thy fingers: the moon and the stars which Thou hast set.
• What is man that Thou art mindful of him? or the son of man that Thou visitest him?
• Thou hast made him a little less than the angels, Thou hast crowned him with glory and honor; and hast set him over the works of Thy hands.
• All things Thou hast put under his feet: sheep and all oxen, yea, also the beasts of the field.
• The birds of the air and the fishes of the sea, that pass through the paths of the sea.
• O Lord, our Lord, how admirable is Thy name in all the 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 18

• The heavens are telling the glory of God; and the firmament declareth the works of His hands.
• Day unto day uttereth speech; and night unto night showeth knowledge.
• They are not speeches nor words, whose voices are not heard.
• Unto all the earth their sound hath gone forth, and their words unto the ends of the world.
• In the sun hath He set His tabernacle ; and as a bridegroom cometh out His bride-chamber.
• He hath rejoiced as a giant to run His course. His going forth is from the end of heaven;
• And His course even unto the end thereof: and there is none that is hid from His heat.
• The law of the Lord is without spot, converting souls: the testimony of the Lord is faithful, giving wisdom to little ones.
• The precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing hearts: the commandment of the Lord is lightsome, enlightening the eyes.
• The fear of the Lord is holy, enduring for ever and ever : the judgments of the Lord are true, justified in themselves.
• More to be desired are they than gold and many precious stones ; and sweeter than honey and the honey-comb.
• For Thy servant keepeth them; and in keeping them there is great reward.
• Who understandeth his sins? From my secret ones cleanse me, and from strangers spare Thy servant.
• If they shall have no dominion over me, then shall I be without spot: and I shall be cleansed from grievous sin.
• And the sayings of my mouth and the meditation of my heart in Thy sight shall be ever pleasing.
• O Lord, my helper and my redeemer.
• 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 23

• The earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof: the world and all they that dwell therein.
• For He hath founded it upon the seas; and hath prepared it upon the rivers.
• Who shall go up to the mountain of the Lord? or who shall stand in His holy place?
• He that hath clean hands and a pure heart: who hath not taken his soul in vain, nor sworn deceitfully to his neighbor.
• He shall receive a blessing from the Lord, and mercy from God his Saviour.
• This is the generation of them that seek Him: of them that seek the face of the God of Jacob.
• Lift up your gates, O ye princes, and be ye lifted up, O eternal gates: and the King of glory shall enter in.
• Who is this King of glory? The Lord strong and mighty: the Lord mighty in battle.
• Lift up your gates, O ye princes, and be ye lifted up, O eternal gates; and the King of glory shall enter in.
• Who is this King of glory? The Lord of hosts, He is the King of glory.
• 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.

℣ Grace is poured forth on thy lips.

℟ Therefore hath God blessed thee for ever.

Our Father... [continue silently]

℣ And lead us not into temptation:

℟ But deliver us from evil.

The Blessing

℣ Pray, a blessing.

May the tender Virgin of virgins intercede for us with the Lord.

℟ Amen.

Lesson I

O Holy Mary, Virgin of virgins, Mother and daughter of the King of Kings! bestow upon us thy consolation, that through thee we may deserve the reward of the heavenly kingdom, and reign with the elect of God unto all eternity. But thou, O Lord, have mercy on us.

℟ Thanks be to God.

Responsory

℟ O holy and immaculate Virginity, with what praises to extol thee, I know not for thou gavest from thy bosom Him Whom the heavens could not contain.

℣ Blessed art thou amongst women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb.

℟ For thou gavest from thy bosom Him, Whom the heavens could not contain.

The Blessing

℣ Pray, a blessing.

May the holy Mother of God be our helper.

℟ Amen.

Lesson II

O Holy Mary, most compassionate of all the compassionate, and holiest of all the holy, make intercession for us. Through thee, O Virgin, may He receive our prayers, Who, born for us of thee, reigneth above the skies; that so, by His loving-kindness, our sins may be cleansed away. But Thou, O Lord, have mercy on us.

℟ Thanks be to God.

Responsory

℟ Blessed art thou, O Virgin Mary, who didst bear the Lord, the Creator of the world. Thou didst bring forth Him that made thee and remainest a virgin for ever.

℣ Hail, Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee.

℟ Thou didst bring forth Him that made thee, and remainest a virgin for ever.

The Blessing

℣ Pray, a blessing.

May the Virgin Mary, with her loving Child, bless us.

℟ Amen.

Lesson III

O holy Mother of God, who didst worthily deserve to conceive Him Whom the whole world cannot contain, cleanse away our sins by thy loving intercession that we who have been redeemed may through thee be able to ascend to the seat of perpetual glory, where, with Him, thy Son, thou reignest forever. But Thou, O Lord, have mercy on us.

℟ Thanks be to God.

Responsory

℟ Happy indeed art thou, O holy Virgin Mary, and most worthy of all praise: For out of thee arose the Sun of righteousness, Christ our God.

℣ Pray for the people, intercede for the clergy, plead for religious women. Let all enjoy thine aid who keep holy commemoration of thee.

℟ For out of thee arose the Sun of righteousness, Christ our God.

℣ Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.

℟ Christ our God.

℟ Happy indeed art thou, O holy Virgin Mary, and most worthy of all praise: For out of thee arose the Sun of righteousness, Christ our God.

Te Deum

Hymn of Ss. Ambrose and Agustine

• We praise Thee, O God; we acknowledge Thee to be the Lord.
• Thee, the Father everlasting, all the earth doth worship.
• To Thee all the angels, to Thee the heavens, and all the powers,
• To Thee the cherubim and seraphim cry out without ceasing:

• Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God of hosts.
• Full are the heavens and the earth of the majesty of Thy glory.
• Thee the glorious choir of the apostles.
• Thee the admirable company of the prophets.
• Thee the white-robed army of martyrs doth praise.
• Thee the holy Church throughout the world doth confess.
• The Father of incomprehensible Majesty.
• Thine adorable, true, and only Son.
• And the Holy Ghost the Paraclete.
• Thou, O Christ, art the King of glory.
• Thou art the everlasting Son of the Father.

• Thou, having taken upon Thee to deliver man, didst not disdain the Virgin's womb.
• Thou, having overcome the sting of death, hast opened to believers the kingdom of heaven.
• Thou sittest at the right hand of God, in the glory of the Father.
• Thou, we believe, art the Judge to come.

• We beseech Thee, therefore, to help Thy servants, whom Thou hast redeemed with Thy precious blood.
• Make them to be numbered with Thy saints in glory everlasting.
• O Lord, save Thy people, and bless Thine inheritance.
• And govern them, and exalt them for ever.
• Day by day we bless Thee.

• And we praise Thy name for ever; yea, for ever and ever.
• Vouchsafe, O Lord, this day, to keep us without sin.
• Have mercy on us, O Lord; have mercy on us.
• Let Thy mercy, O Lord, be upon us; as we have trusted in Thee.
• In Thee, O Lord, have I trusted: let me not be confounded for ever.

Before Lauds

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.