Warning / Attention
This is a pre-Vatican II document. Although it is still spiritually beneficial for individual and communal use, all references to pre-Vatican II practices may no longer be valid under current Canon Law and Church Practice.
Table of Contents
- Lauds
- Prime
- Terce
- Sext
- Nones
- Vespers
- Compline
- Appendix to the Little Office of the Blessed Virgin Mary
- Prayer After the Office
- Prayer before a Crucifix
- Litany of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Litany of Loreto)
- Commemoration of St. Joseph
- Commemoration of All Saints
- Prayer for Every Necessity and the Remission of Sins
- Prayer to the Blessed Virgin Mary
- Prayer to the Holy Guardian Angel
- Prayers for a Happy Death
- Prayer to St. Norbert
- Minor Commendation (Prayer for departed Brothers/Sisters)
- Prayer for the Monastery
- Consecration to the Sacred Heart
Father Abbot, you have constantly through the years recited the Office of Our Lady:
You have always rendered honor to and kept faith in St. Joseph, her holy spouse:
You have ever gently but firmly insisted that we, your spiritual sons, should not neglect the Office of Our Lady:
Your love for Mary Immaculate and your confidence in St. Joseph, her spouse, have formed the fiber of our lives:
To you, Father Abbot Bernard H. Pennings, we dedicate this first American edition of the Office of Our Lady according to the rite of the Canons Regular of Premontre.
Rev. L.A.V. De Cleene
Prayer Before Office
O Lord, Open my mouth to bless Your Holy Name; cleanse my heart also from all vain, perverse, and distracting thoughts. Enlighten my understanding, inflame my affections, that I may recite this Office of the Blessed Virgin Mary with worthy attention and devotion, and may deserve to be heard in the sight of Your Divine Majesty.
Through Christ Our Lord,
Amen.
O Lord, I offer these hours (this hour) to You, in union with that divine intention where You Yourself did offer praises to Your Father while you were upon Earth.
V. Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with you.
R. Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb.
V. Thou shalt open my lips, O Lord.
R. And my mouth shall show forth thy praise.
V. O God, stretch forth unto my aid.
R. O Lord, make haste to help me.
V. Glory be to the Father >>> and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
R. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be >>> world without end, Amen.
(Alleluia) After Septuagesima, in place of 'Alleluia' say: Praise be to You Lord, King of everlasting glory.
Invitatory:
Hail Mary, full of grace,
The Lord is with thee.
Psalm 94:
Come, let us rejoice unto the Lord,
let us shout with joy to the Rock of our salvation:
let us come into his presence with praises,
with songs let us rejoice unto him.
Hail Mary, full of grace
the Lord is with thee.
For the Lord is a great God and
a great King over all the Gods,
In his hand are the depths off the earth,
and the heights of the mountains are his.
The Lord is with thee
The sea is his, for he made it,
and the dry land which his hands formed,
Come, let us adore and fall down, and kneel to the Lord who made us,
For he is our God, and we are the people of his pasture
and the sheet of his hand.
Hail Mary, full of grace,
the Lord is with thee.
Oh that you may hear his voice this day,
on the day of Massa in the wilderness,
where your fathers tempted me,
they tried me although they had seen my works.
The Lord is with thee
Forty years long I was offended with that generation,
and I said - they are a people erring in heart,
and they have not learned my ways.
Therefore I swore in my wrath:
they shall not enter into my rest.
Hail Mary, full of grace
the Lord is with thee.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit
As it was in the beginning is now and ever shall be, world without end,
Amen.
The Lord is with thee.
Hail Mary, full of grace
The Lord is with thee.
Hymn:
The God whom earth, and sea and sky
Adore, and laud, and magnify,
Who o'er their threefold fabric reigns,
The Virgin's spotless womb contains.
The God, whose will by moon and sun
And all things in due course is done,
Is borne upon a Maiden's breast,
By fullest heavenly grace possessed.
How blest that Mother, in whose shrine
The great Artificer Divine,
Whose hand contains the earth and sky,
Vouchsafed as in His ark to lie.
Blest in the message Gabriel brought,
Blest, by the work the Spirit wrought,
From whom the Great Desire of earth,
Took human flesh and human birth.
All honor, laud and glory be,
O Lord, Virgin-born to Thee;
All glory, as is ever meet,
To Father and the Paraclete.
Amen.
First Nocturn: Sunday, Monday and Thursday
Ant.: Blessed art thou.
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Psalm 8:
O Lord, our Lord, how glorious is thy name in all the earth,
thou who hast exalted thy majesty above the heavens.
Out of the mouth of little children and babes at breast thou hast prepared praise to confound thine enemies,
that thou mayest check the enemy and revengeful foe.
When I gaze at the heavens, the work of thy fingers,
the moon and the stars which thou hast made;
What is man, that thou art mindful of him?
or the son of man, that thou hast care of him?
And thou hast made him a little lower than the angels,
thou hast crowned him with glory and honor.
Thou hast given him dominion over the works of thy hands;
thou hast put all things under his feet;
Sheep and oxen, all of them,
and the beasts of the field too,
The birds of the heavens and the fishes of the seas;
and whatever traverses the paths of the seas.
O Lord, our Lord,
how wonderful is they name in all the earth!
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,
As it was in the beginning is now and ever shall be, world without end.
Amen.
Ant.: Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb.
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Psalm 18:
Ant.: Like the choicest Myrrh
The heavens declare the glory of God,
and the firmament proclaims the work of his hands.
Day unto day heralds the message
and night unto night makes it known.
There is no speech nor words,
whose voice is not heard;
There sound goes forth unto all the earth,
and their strains unto the farthest bounds of the world.
There he has set his tabernacle for the sun, which like to the bridegroom coming out from the bridal chamber,
he exults like a giant to run his course.
His going forth is from one end of the heavens, and his circuit ends at the other,
nor is there anything that can withdraw from his heat.
The law of the Lord is perfect, wuickening the soul;
the rule of the Lord is steadfast, giving wisdom to the lowly;
The ordinances of the Lord are right, making glad the heart;
the teaching of the Lord is flawless, giving light to the eyes.
The fear of the Lord is holy, abiding forever;
the judgments of the Lord are true, they are all just.
They are more to be desired than gold; than much fine gold,
and sweeter than honey, and the dripping honeycomb.
Although thy servant gives heed to them,
although he is very careful in keeping them.
Yet who can know his faults?
From my hidden offenses, cleans me.
From pride also keep thy servant,
lest it rule within me.
Then shall I be whole, and cleansed
from a great sin.
May the words of my mouth and the thoughts of my heart be accepted
in thy sight, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,
As it was in the beginning is now and ever shall be, world without end.
Amen.
Ant.: Like the choicest myrrh, thou hast yielded an odor of sweetness, O holy Mother of God.
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Ant.: Before the couch
Psalm 23:
The earth is the Lord's and all its fullness;
the world and they that dwell therein.
For he has founded it upon the seas,
and has made it firm upon the waters.
Who can go up to the mountain of the Lord,
or who shall stand in his holy place?
He that has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not set his mind on vain things,
and has not sworn deceitfully to his neighbor.
He shall receive a blessing from the Lord,
and mercy from God his Savior.
This is the generation of them that seek him,
for them that seek the face of the God of Jacob.
Lift up your heads, O ye gates: and be ye lifted up, ye ancient doors,
that the King of glory may go in.
Who is this King of glory?
The Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle.
Lift up your heads, O ye gates: and be ye lifted up, ye ancient doors,
that the King of Glory may go 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 Spirit,
As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end.
Amen.
Ant.: Before the couch of this Virgin sing often unto us sweet chants with solemnity.
V. Hail, Mary, full of grace
R. The Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women.
Our Father . . . in secret, up to . . .
V. And lead us not into temptation.
R. But deliver us from evil.
Then follows the Benediction with Lessons, Responses, and the rest, as below.
Second Nocturn: Tuesdays and Fridays
Ant.: In thy comeliness
Psalm 44:
My heart pours forth a good theme: I recite my poem for the king:
my tongue is the pen of a ready scribe.
Thou are beautiful above the sons of men, grace is poured out on thy lips:
therefore has God blessed thee forever.
Gird thy sword on thy thigh, thou most mighty one,
thy splendor and thy glory!
Go forth victoriously for faith and for justice,
and may thy right hand teach thee wondrous deeds.
Thy arrows are sharp, peoples are brought under thee,
the foes of the king lose heart.
Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever,
the scepter of right is the scepter of thy kingdom.
Thou lovest justice and hatest iniquity: therefore God, thy God, has anointed thee
with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.
Thy robes are fragrant with myrrh, aloes, and cassia;
out of ivory palaces the sound of the strings delights thee.
The daughters of kings come to meet thee,
the queen stands at thy right hand, adorned in the gold of Ophir.
Hearken, O daughter, and see, and incline thy ear,
and forget thy people and thy father's house.
And the king shall greatly desire thy beauty:
he is thy Lord; pay homage to him.
And the people of Tyre come with gifts,
and the richest of the peoople strive for thy favor.
All glorious, the king's daughter goes in:
her robes are of cloth of gold.
Clad in a robe of many colors she is led to the King;
after her, the young maidens, her comapnions, are brought to thee.
They are led in with rejoicing and gladness,
They go into the palace of th eking.
Sons will be given to thee in place of thy fathers;
thou shalt make them princes all over the earth.
I will remember thy name for all generations;
therefore the peoples shall praise thee forever.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,
As it was in the beginning is now, and ever shall be, world without end.
Amen.
Ant.: In thy comeliness and thy beauty go forth, proceed prosperously, and reign.
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Ant.: God shall help her
Psalm 45:
God is a refuge and a strength unto us;
he has greatly shown himself a help in times of trouble.
therefore we fear not, while the earth is overthrown,
and the mountains fall into the midst of the sea.
Let its waters rage and foam,
let the mountains be shaken by its might.
The Lord of hosts is with us;
the God of Jacob is a stronghold unto us.
The streams of the river make glad the city of Go,
the holy tabernacle of the Most High.
God is in its midst: it shall not be moved;
God will come to its help at the break of day.
Nations were in tumult, kingdoms tottered;
he made his voice heard, the earth melted.
The Lord of hosts is with us;
the God of Jacob is a stronghold unto us.
Come, behold ye the works of God,
what wondrous things he has done on the earth.
Who makes wars to cease even unto the end of the earth,
he breaks the bows and sunders the spears, and the shields he burns with fire.
Be still, and acknowledge me to be God,
exalted among the nations, exalted on earth.
The Lord of hosts is with us;
the God of Jacob, is a stronghold unto us.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,
As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end.
Amen.
Ant.: God shall help her with his countenance: God is in the midst of her, she shall not be moved.
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Ant.: Our dwelling in thee.
Psalm 86:
The Lord loves his foundation in the holy mountains;
the gates of Sion more than all the dwellings of Jacob
Glorious things are told of thee,
O City of God!
I will add Rahab and Babel to them that worship me;
behold, Philistaea and Tyre and the people of the Ethiopians: these were born there."
And of Sion it shall be said: "Man by man were born in her,
and the Most High himself made her strong."
The Lord shall write in the book of the peoples:
"These were born there."
And they shall sing as they lead the dance:
"All my fountains are in thee."
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,
As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end.
Amen.
Ant.: Our dwelling in thee is as of all those that rejoice, O holy Mother of God.
V. Thou art become beautiful and sweet in thy delights.
R. O holy Mother of God
Our Father . . . in secret, up to . . .
V. And lead us not into temptation.
R. But deliver us from evil.
Then follows the Benediction with Lessons and the rest, as below.
Third Nocturn: Wednesdays and Saturdays
Ant.: Rejoice, O Virgin Mary.
Psalm 95:
Sing to the Lord a new song,
sing to the Lord, all the earth.
Sing to the Lord, bless his name,
proclaim his salvation from day to day.
Tell his glory among the heathen,
his wonders among all peoples.
For the Lord is great and all worthy of praise,
he is to be feared above all Gods.
For all the gods of the gentiles are idols,
but the Lord made the heavens.
Majesty and beauty go before him;
might and glory are in his holy dwelling place.
Give to the Lord ye kindreds of the peoples, give to the Lord glory and might;
give to the Lord the glory of his name.
Offer sacrifice and go into his courts;
adore the Lord in holy attire.
Tremble before him, all the earth;
say among the heathen: the Lord reigns.
He has established the world, so that it be not moved:
he rules the people with justice.
Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice; let the sea roar and the fulness thereof;
let the field exult and all that is therein.
Then all the trees of the forest shall be joyful before the Lord for he comes,
for he comes to rule the earth.
He will rule the world with justice,
and the peoples with his truth.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,
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 in the whole world.
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Ant.: Vouchsafe that I may praise thee.
Psalm 96:
The Lord reigns: let the earth rejoice,
let many islands be glad.
Clouds and darkness surround him,
justice and right are the foundation of his throne.
Fire goes before him,
and burns up his enemies round about.
His lightnings illumine the world;
the earth sees and trembles.
The mountains melt like wax before the Lord,
before the ruler of the whole earth.
The heavens proclaim his justice;
and all peoples see his glory.
All are confounded that worship graven images and that glory in idols;
all the gods fall down before him.
Sion hears and is glad, and the cities of Judah rejoice
Because of thy judgments, O Lord.
For thou, O Lord, art most high over all the earth,
Supremely eminent among all the gods.
The Lord loves them that hate evil, he watches over the souls of his saints,
he rescues them from the hand of the wicked.
Light springs forth for the just man,
and gladness for the upright of heart.
Rejoice, ye just, in the Lord,
and glorify his holy name.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,
As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end.
Amen.
Ant.: Vouchsafe that I may praise thee, O sacred Virgin: give me strength against thine enemies.
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Throughout the year, Ant.: After childbirth, O Virgin.
In Advent. and within the Octave of the Nativity of the B.V.M., Ant.: Grace is shed forth.
Psalm 97:
Sing to the Lord a new song,
because he has done wonderful things.
His right hand and his holy arm
have prepared for him the victory.
The Lord has made known his salvation;
he has revealed his justice in the sight of the heathen.
He has remembered his goodness and faithfulness
toward the house of Israel.
All the ends of the earth
have seen the salvation of our God.
Shout joyfully to the Lord, all ye lands,
be glad and rejoice and make melody.
Make melody to the Lord with the harp,
with the harp and the sound of the psaltery,
With trumpets and the sound of the horn;
shout joyfully before the Lord the King.
Let the sea roar and the fullness thereof,
the world and those that dwell therein.
Let the rivers clap their hands,
let the mountains rejoice together,
Before the Lord, because he comes,
because he comes to rule the earth.
He will rule the world with justice,
and the peoples with fairness.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,
As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end.
Amen
Throughout the year, ant.: After childbirth thou didst remain a pure virgin; indercede for us, O Mother of God.
In Advent, and within the Octave of the Nativity of the B.V.M., Ant.: Grace is shed forth on thy lips, therefore hath God blessed thee forever.
V. Vouchsafe that I may praise thee, o sacred Virgin:
R. Give me strength against thine enemies.
Our Father . . . in secret, up to . . .
V. And lead us not into temptation.
R. But deliver us from evil.
V. Pray, Lord, a blessing.
Benediction: By the prayers of his Mother may the Son of God the Father bless us.
R. Amen.
Lessons Throughout The Year
Lesson 1, Ecclesiasticus 24:
In all these I sought rest, and I shall abide in the inheritance of the Lord. Then the Creator of all things commanded and said to me: an dHe that made me rested in my tabernacle, and he said to me: Let thy dwelling be in Jacob, and thy inheritance in Israel, and take root in mine elect. But thou, Lord, have mercy on us.
R. Thanks be to god.
R. O holy and immaculate Virgin, with what praises I shall extol thee, I know not; >>> for he whom the heavens could not contain, rested in thy bosom.
V. Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb. >>> For he whom the heavens could not contain, rested in thy bosom.
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Lesson 2:
And so was I established in Sion, and in the holy city likewise I rested, and my power was in Jerusalem. And I took root in an honorable people, and in the portion of my God his inheritance, and my abode is in the full assembly of Saints. But thou, Lord, have mercy on us.
R. Thanks be to God
R. Blessed art thou, O Virgin Mary, who didst bear the Lord, the Creator of the world: >>> Thou wast the mother of him who made thee, and thou remainest a virgin forever.
V. Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. >>> Thou wast the mother of him who made thee, and thou remainest a virgin forever.
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Lesson 3:
I was exalted like a cedar in Lebanon, and as a cypress tree on Mount Sion. I was exalted like a palm tree in Cades and as a rose plant in Jericho. As a fair olive tree in the plains, and as a plane tree by the water in the streets, was I exalted. I gave forth a sweet fragrance like cinnamon and aromatic balm. I yielded a sweetness of odor like the choicest myrrh. But thou, Lord, have mercy on us.
R. Thanks be to God.
R. Surely thou art happy, O holy Virgin Mary, and most worthy of all praise, >>> for out of thee arose the Sun of Justice, Christ our God.
V. Pray for the people, plead for the clergy, intercede for the devout female sex. Let all experience thy assistance, who celebrate thy holy commemoration {note, in feasts of the B.V.M. say instead of 'commemoration' 'solemnity'} >>>for out of thee arose the Sun of Justice, Christ our God.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,
As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end.
Amen.
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Lessons in Advent
Lesson 1, Luke 1:
The angel Gabriel was sent from God into a city of Gallilee, called Nazareth, to a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David, and the virgin's name was Mary. And the angel being come in, said unto her: Hail full of grace, the Lord is with thee; blessed art thou among women. But thou, Lord, have mercy on us.
R. Thanks be to God.
R. The angel Gabriel was sent to Mary, a virgin espoused to Joseph, announcing to her the word, and the virgin was afraid at the light. Fear not, Mary, thou hast found grace with the Lord; >>> Behold, thou shalt conceive, and bear a son, and he shall be called the Son of the Most High.
V. The Lord God shall give unto him the throne of David his father, and he shall reign in the house of Jacob forever. >>> Behold, thou shalt conceive, and bear a son, and he shall be called the Son of the Most High.
Lesson 2:
And when she had heard these things, she was troubled at his saying, and thought within herself what manner of salutation this should be. And the Angel said to her: Fear not, Mary, for thou hast found grace with god. Behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and shalt bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name Jesus. He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of David his father, and he shall reign in the house of Jacob forever: and of his kingdom there shall be no end. But thou, Lord, have mercy on us.
R. Thanks be to God.
R. Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee; >>> The Holy Spirit shall come upon thee, and the power of the Most High shall overshadow thee: for the Holy one which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.
V. How shall this be done, seeing I know not man? And the angel answering said unto her: >>> "The Holy Spirit shall come upon thee, and the power of the Most High shall overshadow thee: for the Holy one which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.
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Lesson 3:
And Mary said to the angel: How shall this be done seeing I know not man? And the angel answering said unto her: The Holy Spirit shall come upon thee, and the power of the Most High shall overshadow thee. And therefore also the Holy one which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God. And behold, thy cousin Elizabeth, she also has conceived a son in her old age, and this is the sixth month with her, which is called barren; for no word shall be impossible with God. And Mary said: Behold the handmaid of the Lord, be it done to me according to thy word. But thou, Lord, have mercy on us.
R. Thanks be to God.
R. Receive, O Virgin Mary, the word which has been communicated to thee by the Lord through the angel: thou shalt conceive and bear a son, who shall be oth God and man. >>> That thou mayest be called blessed among all women.
V. Yea, thou shalt bear a son and shat suffer no detriment in thy virginity: thou shalt be with child, and shalt become a mother, remaining ever a virgin undefiled. >>> That thou mayest be called blessed among all women.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.
As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end.
Amen.
Hymn: Te Deum
The hymn Te Deum is to be said except during Advent and the period from Septuagesima to Easter.
We praise Thee, O God:
we acknowledge Thee to be the Lord.
Thee, the Eternal Father,
all the earth doth worship.
To The all the Angels,
to Thee the Heavens, and all the Powers therein:
To Thee the Cherubim and Seraphim
with unceasing voice cry aloud:
Holy, Holy, Holy
Lord God of Sabaoth.
The heavens and the earth are full
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 throught the world
doth confess,
The Father
of infinite majesty
Thine adorable, true,
and only Son
Also the Holy Spirit,
the Comforter.
Thou, O Christ,
art the King of Glory.
Thou art the Everlasting Son
of the Father.
Thou didst not abhor the Virgin's womb,
when Thou tookest upon Thee human nature to deliver man.
When Thou hadst overcome the sting of death,
Thou didst open 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, help Thy servants
whom Thou hast redeemed with Thy Precious Blood.
Make them to be numbered with Thy Saints,
in glory everlasting.
Save Thy people, O Lord,
and bless Thine inheritance.
And rule them,
and exalt them forever.
Day by day,
we bless Thee.
And we praise Thy Name forever,
yea, forever 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;
even as we have hoped in thee.
In thee O Lord, have I hoped;
let me not be confounded forever
Priestly versicle throughout the year.
V. The Lord has chosen and pre-chosen her.
R. And has made her to dwell in His tabernacle.
Priestly versicle through Advent.
V. Hail Mary, full of grace.
R. The Lord is with thee, blessed art thou among women.