# The Little office of the Blessed Virgin Mary/Vespers

THE LITTLE OFFICE
VESPERS
Ave Maria, etc., in silence.
The Ave Maria is always said at the beginning of each of the Hours of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
O God, ✠ hasten to mine aid.
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.
From Septuagesima Sunday until Holy Saturday, instead of Alleluia, is said:
Praise be to Thee, O Lord, King of glory everlasting.
From Candlemas until Advent
Ant. While the King * was at table, my spikenard yielded a sweet smell.
During Advent
Ant. The angel Gabriel was sent * to Mary the Virgin, who was espoused to Joseph.
From Christmas until Candlemas
Ant.O wondrous union! * The Creator of mankind, taking a living body, vouchsafed to be born of a virgin, and becoming man, without man's concurrence, bestowed upon us His Godhead.
PSALM CIX
The Messias, King and Priest, victorious over His enemies
The Lord said to my Lord: Sit Thou at My right hand.
Until I make Thine enemies Thy footstool.
The Lord will send forth the scepter of Thy power out of Sion: rule Thou in the midst of Thine enemies.
Thine is dominion in the day of Thy power, amid the brightness of the saints: from the womb before the day-star have I begotten Thee.
The Lord hath sworn, and He will not repent: Thou art a priest for​ever after the order of Melchisedech.
The Lord upon Thy right hand: hath overthrown kings in the day of His wrath.
He shall judge among the nations;
He shall fill the land with the fallen.
He shall smite in sunder the heads in the land of many.
He shall drink of a brook in the way: therefore shall He lift up His head.
Glory be, etc.
From Candlemas until Advent
Ant. While the King was at table, my spikenard yielded a sweet smell.
Ant. His left hand * is under my head, and His right hand shall embrace me.
During Advent
Ant.The angel Gabriel was sent to Mary the Virgin, who was espoused to Joseph.
Ant. Hail, Mary,* full of grace, the Lord is with thee; blessed art thou amongst women, Alleluia.
From Christmas until Candlemas
Ant.O wondrous union! * The Creator of mankind, taking a living body, vouchsafed to be born of a virgin, and becoming man, without man's concurrence, bestowed upon us His Godhead.
Ant. When Thou wert wondrously born * of a virgin, then were the Scriptures fulfilled: Thou earnest down like the rain upon the fleece, that Thou mightest save mankind. We praise Thee, our God.
PSALM CXII
Glory to God, so infinitely great and so admirably condescending
Praise the Lord, ye servants: praise the name of the Lord.
Blessed be the name of the Lord, from this time forth for evermore.
From the rising of the sun unto its going down, the name of the Lord is worthy to be praised.
The Lord is high above all nations; and His glory is above the heavens.
Who is like unto the Lord our ​God, Who dwelleth on high, yet regardeth lowly things in heaven and on earth?
Who raiseth up the needy from the earth, and lifteth the poor out of the dunghill;
That He may set him with the princes, even with the princes of His people.
Who maketh the barren woman to dwell in her house, the joyful mother of children.
Glory be, etc.
From Candlemas until Advent
Ant. His left hand is under my head, and His right hand shall embrace me.
Ant. I am black, * but beautiful, O ye daughters of Jerusalem: therefore the King hath loved me, and brought me into His chamber.
During Advent
Ant. Hail, Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee; blessed art thou amongst women, Alleluia.
Ant. Fear not, O Mary: * thou hast found grace before the ​Lord. Behold, thou shalt conceive and shalt bring forth a Son, Alleluia.
From Christmas until Candlemas
Ant. When Thou wert wondrously born of a virgin, then were the Scriptures fulfilled: Thou earnest down like the rain upon the fleece, that Thou mightest save mankind. We praise Thee, our God.
Ant. The bush which Moses saw * unconsumed we acknowledge to be thine admirable virginity, which thou didst keep inviolate; Mother of God, plead for us.
PSALM CXXI
Song of the pilgrims in honor of Jerusalem
I was glad at the things that were said unto me: We will go into the house of the Lord.
Our feet were standing within thy courts, O Jerusalem.
Jerusalem, which is built as a city, that is compact together.
For thither the tribes went up, the tribes of the Lord: an ordinance for Israel, to give thanks to the name of the Lord.
​For there are set up thrones of judgment, thrones of the house of David.
Pray ye for the things that are for the peace of Jerusalem; and plenty be to them that love thee.
Let peace be in thy stronghold, and plenty in thy towers.
For my brethren and my neighbors' sake, I spake peace concerning thee.
For the sake of the house of the Lord our God, I have sought good things for thee.
Glory be, etc.
From Candlemas until Advent
Ant. I am black, but beautiful, O ye daughters of Jerusalem: therefore the King hath loved me, and brought me into His chamber.
Ant. Now winter is past, * the rain is over and gone: arise, my love, and come.
During Advent
Ant. Fear not, Mary: thou hast found grace before the ​Lord, Behold, thou shalt conceive and shalt bring forth a Son, Alleluia.
Ant. The Lord shall give Him * the throne of David His father, and He shall reign for ever.
From Christmas until Candlemas
Ant. The bush which Moses saw unconsumed we acknowledge to be thine admirable virginity, which thou didst keep inviolate; Mother of God, plead for us.
Ant. The root of Jesse hath budded, * a star hath arisen out of Jacob; a virgin hath brought forth a Saviour; we give praise to Thee, Our God.
PSALM CXXVI
Man can do nothing without God's help
Unless the Lord build the house, they labor in vain that build it.
Unless the Lord keep the city, he watcheth in vain that keepeth it.
In vain do ye rise before the light: rise not till ye have rested, ye that eat the bread of sorrow.
​When He giveth sleep to His beloved, lo, children are an heritage from the Lord, and the fruit of the womb a reward.
Like as arrows in the hand of the mighty, so are the children of the outcast.
Blessed is the man whose desire is satisfied with them: he shall not be confounded when he speaketh with his enemies in the gate.
Glory be, etc.
From Candlemas until Advent
Ant. Now winter is past, the rain is over and gone: arise, my love, and come.
Ant. Beautiful art thou, * and sweet in thy delight, O holy Mother of God.
During Advent
Ant. The Lord shall give Him the throne of David His father, and He shall reign for ever.
Ant. Behold the handmaid of the Lord,* be it done unto me according to thy word.
From Christmas until Candlemas
Ant. The root of Jesse hath budded, a star hath arisen out of Jacob; a virgin hath brought forth a Saviour; we give praise to Thee, our God.
Ant. Behold, Mary, * hath brought us forth a Saviour, Whom when John saw, he cried aloud, saying: Behold the Lamb of God! Behold Him Who taketh away the sins of the world, Alleluia.
PSALM CXLVII
Thanksgiving for the restoration of Jerusalem
Praise the Lord, O Jerusalem: praise thy God, O Sion.
For He hath strengthened the bars of thy gates: He hath blessed thy children within thee.
Who maketh thy borders peaceful, and filleth thee with the fat of corn.
Who sendeth forth His decree upon earth: very swiftly runneth His word.
Who giveth snow like wool: He scattereth mist like ashes.
He sendeth His ice like morsels: ​who shall stand before the face of His cold?
He sendeth forth His word and melteth them; His wind bloweth, and the waters flow.
Who declareth His word unto Jacob: His justice and judgment to Israel.
He hath not done so to every nation; nor hath He shown them His judgments.
Glory be, etc.
From Candlemas until Advent
Ant. Beautiful art thou, and sweet in thy delight, O holy Mother of God.
During Advent
Ant. Behold the handmaid of the
Lord, be it done unto me according to thy word.
From Christmas until Candlemas
Ant. Behold, Mary hath brought us forth a Saviour, Whom when John saw, he cried aloud, saying: Behold the Lamb of God! Behold Him Who taketh away the sins of the world, Alleluia.
From Christmas until Advent
LITTLE CHAPTER
Ecclus. xxiv
From the beginning, and before the world was I created, and unto the world to come I shall not cease to be, and in the holy dwelling-place have I ministered before Him.
R. Thanks be to God.
During Advent
LITTLE CHAPTER
Is. xi
There shall come forth a rod out of the root of Jesse, and a flower shall rise up out of his root, and the Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon Him.
R. Thanks be to God.
HYMN
Hail, thou star of ocean!
 Portal of the sky!
Ever Virgin Mother
 Of the Lord most high!
Oh! by Gabriel's Ave,
 Uttered long ago,
Eva's name reversing,
 Establish peace below.
Break the captives' fetters,
 Light on blindness pour;
All our ills expelling,
 Every bliss implore.
Show thyself a Mother;
 Offer Him our sighs,
Who for us Incarnate
 Did not thee despise.
Virgin of all virgins!
 To thy shelter take us:
Gentlest of the gentle!
 Chaste and gentle make us.
Still, as on we journey,
 Help our weak endeavor,
Till with thee and Jesus
 We rejoice for ever.
Through the highest heaven,
 To the almighty Three,
Father, Son, and Spirit,
 One same glory be. Amen.
V. Grace is poured forth on thy lips.
R. Therefore God hath blessed thee for ever.
From Candlemas until Advent
Ant. O blessed Mother, * and Virgin undefiled, O glorious Queen of the world, plead for us before the Lord!
During Eastertide, instead of the above, is said
Ant. O Queen of heaven, * rejoice, Alleluia! for He Whom thou wast meet to bear, Alleluia, hath risen, as He said, Alleluia; pray for us to God, Alleluia.
During Advent
Ant. The Holy Ghost * shall come upon thee, Mary; fear not, thou shalt hold within thy womb the Son of God, Alleluia.
From Christmas until Candlemas
Ant. How great the mystery * of our inheritance ! The womb of one that knoweth not man hath become the temple of God! He was not defiled in taking flesh of her. All nations shall come and shall say: Glory be to Thee, O Lord.
CANTICLE OF THE B. V. MARY
Luke i
My soul doth magnify the Lord.
And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.
For He hath regarded the lowliness of His handmaid; for behold from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.
For He that is mighty hath done great things unto me; and holy is His name.
And His mercy is from generation to generation unto them that fear Him.
He hath showed strength with His arm: He hath scattered the proud in the conceit of their heart.
He hath put down the mighty from their seat, and hath exalted the humble.
He hath filled the hungry with good things, and the rich He hath sent empty away.
He hath upholden His servant Israel, being mindful of His mercy.
As He spake unto our fathers, ​unto Abraham and to his seed for ever.
Glory be, etc.
From Candlemas until Advent
Ant. O blessed Mother, and Virgin undefiled, O glorious Queen of the world, plead for us before the Lord.
During Eastertide
Ant. O Queen of heaven, rejoice,
Alleluia, for He Whom
thou wast meet to bear, Alleluia,
hath risen, as He said, Alleluia;
pray for us to God, Alleluia.
During Advent
Ant. The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, Mary; fear not, thou shalt hold within thy womb the Son of God, Alleluia.
From Christmas until Candlemas
Ant. How great the mystery of our inheritance! The womb of one that knoweth not man hath become the temple of God! He was not defiled in taking flesh of her. All nations shall come and shall say: Glory be to Thee, O Lord.
​Lord, have mercy on us.
Christ, have mercy on us.
Lord, have mercy on us.
V. O Lord, hear my prayer.
R. And let my cry come unto Thee.
From Candlemas until Advent
Let us pray
Grant, we beseech Thee, O Lord God, that we, Thy servants, may enjoy perpetual health of mind and body; and, by the glorious intercession of the Blessed Mary, ever virgin, be delivered from present sorrow and possess eternal joy. Through Christ our Lord.
R. Amen.
During Advent
Let us pray
O God, Who didst will that Thine eternal Word should take flesh in the womb of the Blessed Virgin Mary, when the angel delivered his message: grant that Thy petitioners, who verily believe her to be the Mother of God, may be assisted by ​her intercession. Through the same Jesus Christ thy Son, our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, world without end.
R. Amen.
From Christmas until Candlemas
Let us pray
O God, Who, by the fruitful virginity of blessed Mary, hast given to mankind the rewards of eternal salvation; grant, we beseech Thee, that we may experience her intercession for us, by whom we deserved to receive the Author of life, Our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, etc.
R. Amen.
COMMEMORATION OF THE SAINTS
Throughout the year until Advent
Ant. All ye saints of God, vouchsafe to plead for our salvation and for that of all mankind.
V. Be glad in the Lord, and rejoice, ye just.
R. And be joyful, all ye that are of right heart.
Let us pray
Shield, O Lord, Thy people, and ever keep them in Thy care, who put their trust in the pleading of Thine apostles Peter and Paul, and of the other apostles.
May all Thy saints, we beseech Thee, O Lord, everywhere come to our help, that while we do honor to their merits, we may also enjoy their intercession: grant Thine own peace unto our times, and drive away all wickedness from Thy Church; direct our way, our actions, and our wishes and those of all Thy servants in the way of salvation; to our benefactors render everlasting blessings, and to all the faithful departed grant eternal rest. Through Our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end. R. Amen.
COMMEMORATION OF THE SAINTS
During Advent
Ant. Behold, the Lord shall come, and all His saints with ​Him, and in that day there shall be great light, Alleluia.
V. Behold, the Lord shall appear upon a shining cloud.
R. And with Him thousands of saints.
Let us pray
Cleanse our consciences, we beseech Thee, O Lord, by Thy visitation, that when Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Our Lord, shall come with all the saints, He may find within us a resting-place made ready for Him. Who liveth and reigneth with Thee 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.
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.