The Little Office of Baltimore: Traditional Catholic Daily Prayer

offices.

SECTION I

DAILY OFFICES

MATINS

V. O Lord, open Thou my lips

R. And my mouth shall declare Thy praise.

V. Come unto my help, 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. Alleluia.

Invitatory

Let us worship the Lord, for He is our Maker.

R. Let us worship the Lord, for He is our Maker.

Psalm 94. Venite exultemus.

O COME, let us exult in the Lord: let us rejoice before God our Savior: let us come into His presence with thanksgiving, and rejoice before Him with psalms.

Let us worship the Lord, for He is our Maker.

For the Lord is a great God, and a great King above all gods; for the Lord doth not repel His people, for in His hand are all the ends of the earth; and the heights of the mountains He beholdeth also.

He is our Maker.

For the sea is His, and He made it, and His hands formed the dry land; O come, let us worship and fall down; and weep before the Lord that made us, for He is the Lord our God; and we are the people of His pasture, and the sheep of His hand.

Let us worship the Lord, for He is our Maker.

Today, if ye shall hear His voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation, and in the day of temptation in the wilderness; where your fathers tempted Me, proved Me, and saw My works.

He is our Maker.

Forty years long was I offended with that generation, and said, They do always err in their heart, and they have not known My ways: so I swore in My wrath that they shall not enter into My rest.

Let us worship the Lord, for He is our Maker.

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.

He is our Maker.

Let us worship the Lord, for He is our Maker.

HYMN

Let us arise and watch by night,

And meditate always;

And chant as in our Maker’s sight

United hymns of praise.

So singing with the saints in bliss,

With them we may attain

Life everlasting after this,

And heaven for earthly pain.

Grant this, O Father, Only Son,

And Spirit, God of grace,

To whom all worship shall be done

In every time and place. Amen.

PROPER PSALM

Here is said the psalm proper to the season or feast, preceded and followed by the corresponding antiphon. After the second antiphon, conclude with:

V. I have remembered Thy name, O Lord, in the night.

R. And have kept Thy law.

Our Father (inaudibly).

LESSON

Here is read the Lesson appointed for the season or feast, for which see its proper section. After the lesson, Lauds may be begun immediately. If Lauds does not follow, Matins concludes as below.

V. O Lord, hear my prayer.

R. And let my cry come unto Thee.

COLLECT

Here is said the Collect of the Day.

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.

V. May the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace.

R. Amen.

LAUDS

V. Come unto my help, O God.

R. 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, Alleluia.*

Ant. Have mercy upon me, O God.

Psalm 50. Miserere.

HAVE mercy upon me, O God: according to Thy great mercy.

And according to the multitude of Thy tender mercies: blot out my iniquity.

Wash me yet more from my iniquity: and cleanse me from my sin.

For I acknowledge my iniquity: and my sin is always before me.

Against Thee only have I sinned, and done evil in Thy sight: that Thou mayest be justified in Thy words, and mayest overcome when Thou art judged.

For behold, I was conceived in iniquities: and in sins did my mother conceive me.

For behold, Thou hast loved truth: the secret and hidden things of Thy wisdom Thou hast made manifest unto me.

Thou shalt sprinkle me with hyssop, and I shall be cleansed: Thou shalt wash me, and I shall be made whiter than snow.

Thou shalt make me hear of joy and gladness: and the bones that were humbled shall rejoice.

Turn away Thy face from my sins: and blot out all my iniquities.

Create in me a clean heart, O God: and renew a right spirit within me.

Cast me not away from Thy face: and take not Thy Holy Spirit from me.

Restore unto me the joy of Thy salvation: and strengthen me with a perfect spirit.

I will teach the unjust Thy ways: and the wicked shall be converted unto Thee.

Deliver me from sins of blood, O God, Thou God of my salvation: and my tongue shall extol Thy justice.

Thou shalt open my lips, O Lord: and my mouth shall declare Thy praise.

For if Thou hadst desired sacrifice, I would surely have given it: with burnt-offerings Thou wilt not be delighted.

A sacrifice unto God is a troubled spirit: a contrite and humble heart, O God, Thou wilt not despise.

Deal favorably, O Lord, in Thy good will with Sion: that the walls of Jerusalem may be built up.

Then shalt Thou accept the sacrifice of justice, oblations, and whole burnt-offerings: then shall they lay calves upon Thine altar.

Glory be to the Father, etc.

Psalm 66. Deus misereatur.

GOD be merciful unto us, and bless us: cause the light of His countenance to shine upon us, and have mercy on us.

That we may know Thy way upon earth: Thy salvation in all nations.

Let the people praise Thee, O God: let all the people praise Thee.

O let the nations be glad and rejoice: for Thou dost judge the people with justice, and govern the nations upon earth.

Let the people praise Thee, O God: let all the people praise Thee: the earth hath yielded her fruit.

May God, even our own God, bless us, may God bless us: and may all the ends of the earth fear Him.

Glory Be, etc.

Antiphons. Alleluia, Alleluia.

Antiphon for Septuagesima and Lent. The king commanded.

THE BENEDICITE

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: bless the Lord, O ye Heavens.

O all ye Waters that are above the Heavens, bless the Lord: bless the Lord, O all ye Powers of the Lord.

O ye Sun and Moon, bless the Lord: bless the Lord, O ye Stars of Heaven. *

O every Shower and Dew, bless ye the Lord: bless the Lord, O all ye Spirits of God.

O ye Fire and Heat, bless the Lord: bless the Lord, O ye Cold and Heat.

O ye Dews and Hoarfrost, bless the Lord: bless the Lord, O ye Frost and Cold.

O ye Ice and Snow, bless the Lord: bless the Lord, O ye Nights and Days.

O ye Light and Darkness, bless the Lord: bless the Lord, O ye Lightnings and Clouds.

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: bless the Lord, O all ye things that spring up in the earth.

O ye Fountains, bless the Lord: bless the Lord, O ye Seas and Rivers.

O ye Whales, and all that move in the Waters, bless the Lord: bless the Lord, O all ye Fowls of the air.

O all ye Beasts and Cattle, bless the Lord: bless the Lord, O ye Sons of men.

O let Israel bless the Lord: let them praise and exalt Him above all for ever.

O ye Priests of the Lord, bless the Lord: bless the Lord, O ye Servants of the Lord.

O ye Spirits and Souls of the Just, bless the Lord: bless the Lord, O ye holy and humble of heart.

O Ananiah, Azariah, 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 exalt Him above all for ever.

Blessed art Thou, O Lord, in the Firmament of Heaven: and worthy to be praised and glorified, and exalted above all for ever.

Antiphon for throughout the year. The king commanded, and the Three Children were cast into the furnace, fearing not the flame of the fire, but saying, Blessed be God!

Antiphon for Paschal time. He that delivered the Three Children from the burning fiery furnace, even Christ, is risen from the grave. Alleluia.

Ant. Let every spirit praise the Lord.

Psalm 148. Laudate Dominum de cœlis.

PRAISE ye the Lord from the heavens: praise Him in the heights.

Praise Him, all ye His Angels: praise ye Him, all His hosts.

Praise Him, O ye sun and moon; praise Him, all ye stars and light.

Praise Him, O ye heaven of heavens: and let all the waters that are above the heavens praise the name of the Lord.

For He spoke, and they were made: He commanded, and they were created.

He hath established them for ever, and for ages of ages: He hath made a decree, and it shall not pass away.

Praise the Lord from the earth: ye dragons, and all ye deeps.

Fire and hail; snow and 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 people: 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.

Ant. Let every spirit praise the Lord.

V. Hear my prayer, O Lord.

R. And let my cry come unto Thee.

Let us pray.

Here is said the proper Collect of the day.

R. Amen.

PRIME

Before Prime are said inaudibly the Our Father, the Hail Mary, and the I believe in God. Then is said aloud:

COME unto my help, O God.

R. O Lord, make haste to help me.

Glory be to the Father, etc.

Alleluia (or, in Lent, Praise to Thee; O Lord, King of eternal glory).

HYMN

THE star of morn to night succeeds;

We therefore meekly pray.

May God, in all our words and deeds,

Keep us from harm this day.

May He in love restrain us still

From tones of strife and words of ill,

And wrap around and close our eyes

To earth’s absorbing vanities.

May wrath and thoughts that gender shame

Ne’er in our breasts abide,

And painful abstinences tame

Of wanton flesh the pride;

So when the weary day is o’er,

And night and stillness come once more,

Blameless and clean from spot of earth

We may repeat with reverent mirth —

To God the Father glory be,

And to His Only Son,

And to the Spirit, One and Three,

While endless ages run. Amen,

Then follow the Psalms, which are said under one Antiphon. For Sundays: Alleluia.

For weekdays: Blessed are they that walk.

Psalm 53.

SAVE me, O God, by Thy name: and judge me in Thy strength.

Hear my prayer, O God: give ear unto the words of my mouth.

For strangers have risen up against me, and the mighty have sought after my soul: and they have not set God before their eyes.

For behold, God is my helper: and the Lord is the protector of my soul.

Turn back evil upon mine enemies: and destroy Thou them in Thy truth.

I will freely sacrifice unto Thee, and will praise

Thy name, O Lord: for it is good:

For Thou hast delivered me out of all my trouble: and mine eye hath looked down upon mine enemies.

Glory be to the Father, etc.

Psalm 118. Beati immaculati.

BLESSED are the undefiled in the way: who walk in the law of the Lord.

Blessed are they that search His testimonies: that seek Him with their whole heart.

For they that work iniquity: have not walked in His ways.

Thou hast commanded that Thy commandments be kept most diligently.

O that my ways may be so directed: that I may keep Thine ordinances.

Then shall I not be confounded: when I shall have regard to all Thy commandments.

I will praise Thee with uprightness of heart: when I shall have learned the judgments of Thy justice.

I will keep Thine ordinances: O forsake me not utterly.

By what doth a young man correct his way? even by keeping Thy words.

With my whole heart have I sought after Thee: let me not stray from Thy commandments.

Thy words have I hidden within my heart: that I may not sin against Thee.

Blessed art Thou, O Lord: O teach me Thine ordinances.

With my lips have I declared: all the judgments of Thy mouth.

I have had delight in the way of Thy testimonies: even as in all riches.

I will meditate on Thy commandments: and I will consider Thy ways.

I will think upon Thine ordinances: I will not forget Thy words.

Glory be to the Father, etc.

DEAL bountifully with Thy servant: quicken Thou me, and I shall keep Thy words.

Open Thou mine eyes: and I shall see the wondrous things of Thy law.

I am a sojourner upon earth: O hide not Thy commandments from me.

My soul hath longed greatly: to desire Thine ordinances at all times.

Thou hast rebuked the proud: cursed are they that do err from Thy commandments.

O take from me shame and contempt: for I have sought after Thy testimonies.

Princes also did sit and speak against me: but Thy servant was occupied in Thy statutes.

For Thy testimonies are my meditation: and Thine ordinances are my counsel.

My soul hath cleaved to the earth: O quicken Thou me according to Thy word.

I have declared my ways, and Thou heardest me: teach me Thy statutes.

Make me to understand the way of Thine ordinances: and I will meditate on Thy wondrous works.

My soul hath slumbered through weariness: strengthen Thou me in Thy words.

Remove from me the way of iniquity: and have mercy on me in Thy law.

I have chosen the way of truth: I have not forgotten Thy judgments,

I have cleaved unto Thy testimonies, O Lord: put me not to shame.

I have run in the way of Thy commandments: when Thou didst enlarge my heart.

Glory be to the Father, etc.

THE CREED OF ST. ATHANASIUS

The creed is said only on Sundays, when the Sunday Office is recited.

WHOSOEVER desires to be saved, before all things it is necessary that he hold the Catholic faith.

Which faith, except every one do keep entire and inviolate, without doubt he shall perish everlastingly.

Now the Catholic faith is this: that we worship one God in Trinity, and Trinity in Unity.

Neither confounding the Persons nor dividing the