# The Little office of the Blessed Virgin Mary/Matins

MATINS
Hail Mary, silently
V.Lord, ✠ Thou shalt open my lips.
R. And my mouth shall declare Thy praise.
V. O God, ✠ hasten to mine aid.
R. O Lord, make haste to help me.
Glory be, etc.
Alleluia, or Praise be to Thee, O Lord, King of glory everlasting.
INVITATORY
Hail, Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Hail, Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee.
PSALM XCIV An invitation to praise God, and to obey Him
O come, let us exult in the Lord; let us rejoice before God our Saviour. Let us come into His presence with thanksgiving; and rejoice before Him with psalms.
Hail, Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee.
​For the Lord is a great God, and a great King above all gods; for the Lord will not cast off His people, for in His hand are all the ends of the earth; and the heights of the mountains He beholdeth.
The Lord is with thee.
For the sea is His, and He made it; and His hands formed the dry land. Come, let us worship and fall down before God; let us weep before the Lord that made us; for He is the Lord our God; and we are His people, and the sheep of His pasture.
Hail, Mary, full of grace; the Lord is with thee.
To-day 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.
The Lord is with thee.
Forty years long was I nigh unto that generation, and said: They do always err in their heart; and they ​have not known My ways, to whom I swore in My wrath that they should not enter into My rest.
Hail, Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee.
Glory be, etc.
The Lord is with thee.
Hail, Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee.
HYMN
The Lord, Whom earth, and air, and sea
 With one adoring voice resound; Who rules them all in majesty;
 In Mary's heart a cloister found.
Lo! in a humble virgin's womb
 Overshadowed by almighty power,
He Whom the stars, and sun, and moon,
 Each serve in their appointed hour.
O Mother blest, to whom was given
 Within thy compass to contain
The Architect of earth and heaven,
 Whose hands the universe sustain!
To thee was sent an angel down;
 In thee the Spirit was enshrined;
From thee came forth that mighty One,
 The long-desired of all mankind.
O Jesu! born of virgin bright,
 Immortal glory be to Thee;
Praise to the Father infinite,
 And Holy Ghost eternally. Amen.
The three following Psalms are said on Sunday, Monday, and Thursday at the Nocturn
Ant. Blessed art thou * amongst women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb.
PSALM VIII
God is wonderful in His works; especially in mankind, singularly exalted by the Incarnation of Christ
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, etc.
Ant. Blessed art thou amongst women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb.
Ant. Like unto choice myrrh * thou yieldest a sweet smell,
O holy Mother of God.
PSALM XVIII
The works of God show forth His glory
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 honeycomb.
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, etc.
Ant. Like unto choice myrrh thou yieldest a sweet smell, O holy Mother of God.
Ant. Before this Virgin's couch * sing us again and again the sweet songs of the play.
PSALM XXIII
A song of triumph for the translation of the Ark to Mount Sion
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, etc.
Ant. Before this Virgin's couch sing us again and again the sweet songs of the play.
V. Grace is poured forth on thy lips.
R. Therefore hath God blessed thee for ever.
Our Father, in silence.
V. And lead us not into temptation.
R. But deliver us from evil.
The three following Psalms are said on Tuesday and Friday at the Nocturn
Ant. In Thy comeliness * and Thy beauty, go forth, advance prosperously and reign.
PSALM XLIV
The excellence of Christ's kingdom, and the endowments of His Church
My heart hath uttered a good word: I address my works to the King.
My tongue is the pen of a writer that writeth swiftly.
Thou art beautiful above the sons of men, grace is poured forth on Thy lips; therefore God hath blessed Thee for ever.
Gird Thy sword upon Thy thigh, O Thou most mighty.
With Thy comeliness and Thy beauty, bend [Thy bow], advance prosperously, and reign.
In behalf of truth and meekness and justice; and Thy right hand shall guide Thee wondrously.
Thine arrows are sharp; under Thee shall the peoples fall, into the hearts of the King's enemies.
​Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: the scepter of Thy kingdom is a scepter of uprightness.
Thou lovest justice and hatest iniquity: therefore God, Thy God, hath anointed Thee with the oil of gladness above Thy fellows.
Myrrh and aloes and cassia perfume Thy garments, from out of ivory palaces: from which kings' daughters gladden Thee in Thine honor.
On Thy right hand standeth the Queen, in golden raiment wrought about with variety.
Hearken, O daughter, and consider, and incline thine ear; forget also thine own people and thy father's house.
And the King shall greatly desire thy beauty; for He is the Lord thy God, and Him they shall adore.
And the daughters of Tyre, all the rich ones of the people, with gifts shall entreat thy face.
All her glory [is that] of the King's daughter from within, with fringes of gold, arrayed in divers colors.
​After her shall virgins be brought unto the King: her neighbors shall be brought unto thee.
With joy and gladness shall they be brought: they shall be brought into the temple of the King.
Instead of thy fathers, sons are born to thee: thou shalt make them princes over all the earth.
They shall be mindful of thy name from generation to generation.
Therefore shall the people praise thee for ever: yea for ever and ever.
Glory be, etc.
Ant. In Thy comeliness and Thy beauty, go forth, advance prosperously, and reign.
Ant. God shall help her * with His countenance; God is in the midst of her, she shall not be moved.
PSALM XLV
The Church in persecution trusteth in the protection of God
Our God is a refuge and strength; a helper in troubles, which have come upon us heavily.
Therefore shall we not fear when ​the earth shall be troubled; and the mountains shall be removed into the heart of the sea.
Their waters roar and are troubled: the mountains are troubled at the violence thereof.
The stream of the river maketh glad the city of God: the Most High hath hallowed His tabernacle.
God is in the midst of her, she shall not be moved: God shall help her in the morning early.
Nations were troubled, and kingdoms bowed down: He gave forth His voice: the earth quaked.
The Lord of hosts is with us: the God of Jacob is our helper.
Come ye and behold the works of the Lord: what wonders He hath wrought upon earth, making wars to cease even to the ends of the earth.
He shall break the bow and snap the weapons in sunder; and the shields shall He burn with fire.
Be still, and see that I am God: I will be exalted among the nations, and I will be exalted in the earth.
​The Lord of hosts is with us: the God of Jacob is our helper.
Glory be, etc.
Ant. God shall help her with His countenance; God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved.
Ant. As of people all rejoicing,* so is our dwelling in thee, O holy Mother of God.
PSALM LXXXVI
The glory of the Church of Christ
His foundations are in the holy mountains; the Lord loveth the gates of Sion above all the dwellings of Jacob.
Glorious things are spoken of thee, O city of God.
I will be mindful of Rahab and of Babylon, that know me.
Behold strangers, and Tyre, and the people of the Ethiopians, these were there.
Shall it not be said of Sion: This one, and that one, is born in her: and the Most High Himself hath founded her?
​The Lord shall tell it in His writings of peoples and of princes, of them that have been in her.
As of people all rejoicing, so is our dwelling in thee.
Glory be, etc.
Ant. As of people all rejoicing, so is our dwelling in thee, O holy Mother of God.
V. Grace is poured forth on thy lips.
R. Therefore hath God blessed thee for ever.
Our Father, etc., in silence.
V. And lead us not into temptation.
R. But deliver us from evil.
The three following Psalms are said on Wednesday and Saturday at the Nocturn
Ant. Rejoice, O Virgin Mary,* alone thou hast destroyed all heresies throughout the world.
PSALM XCV
An exhortation to all creatures to praise God
O sing unto the Lord a new song: sing unto the Lord, all the earth.
Sing unto the Lord, and bless His ​name: tell forth His salvation from day to day.
Tell forth His glory among the Gentiles: His wonders amongst all peoples.
For the Lord is great, and highly to be praised: He is to be feared above all gods.
For all the gods of the Gentiles are devils; but the Lord made the heavens.
Praise and beauty are before Him; holiness and majesty are in His sanctuary.
Bring unto the Lord, O ye kindred of the Gentiles, bring unto the Lord glory and honor: bring unto the Lord glory unto His name.
Bring sacrifices, and come into His courts: adore ye the Lord in His holy court.
Let all the earth be moved at His presence: tell ye among the Gentiles that the Lord hath reigned.
For He hath established the world, and it shall not be moved: He will judge the peoples with equity.
​Let the heavens rejoice and let the earth be glad: let the sea be moved, and the fulness thereof; the fields shall be joyful, and all things that are therein.
Then shall all the trees of the woods rejoice before the face of the Lord, for He cometh: for He cometh to judge the earth.
He shall judge the world with equity, and the peoples in His truth.
Glory be, etc.
Ant. Rejoice, O Virgin Mary, alone thou hast destroyed all heresies throughout the world.
Ant. Vouchsafe that I * may praise thee, holy Virgin; grant me might against thine enemies.
PSALM XCVI
Joy at the coming and reign of Christ
The Lord doth reign; let the earth rejoice: let the multitude of the isles be glad.
Clouds and darkness are round about Him: justice and judgment are the foundation of His throne.
​Fire shall go forth before Him, and shall burn up His enemies on every side.
His lightnings shone upon the world: the earth saw, and was moved.
The mountains melted like wax before the face of the Lord; yea, all the earth, at the presence of the Lord.
The heavens declared His justice; and all the peoples saw His glory.
Let them all be confounded that adore graven things; and that glory in their idols.
Adore Him, all ye His angels; Sion heard, and was glad.
And the daughters of Juda rejoiced, because of Thy judgments, O Lord.
For Thou art Lord most high over all the earth: Thou art exalted exceedingly above all gods.
Ye that love the Lord, hate evil: the Lord keepeth the souls of His saints; He will deliver them out of the hand of the sinner.
​Light is risen to the just; and gladness to such as are right of heart.
Rejoice in the Lord, O ye just: and give praise to the remembrance of His holiness. Glory be, etc.
Ant. Vouchsafe that I may praise thee, holy Virgin; grant me might against thine enemies.
Ant. After childbirth, * O Virgin, thou didst remain inviolate; plead for us, O Mother of God.
During Advent
Ant. The angel of the Lord declared unto Mary, and she conceived of the Holy Ghost.
PSALM XCVII
Invitation to praise the Lord for the victories of Christ
Sing unto the Lord a new song: for He hath done wonderful things.
His right hand and His holy arm hath wrought salvation for Him.
The Lord hath made known His salvation: He hath revealed His justice in the sight of the Gentiles.
He hath remembered His mercy and His truth toward the house of Israel.
​All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.
Sing joyfully unto God, all the earth; sing, rejoice, and give praise.
Give praise unto the Lord upon the harp, upon the harp and with voice of psalms: with the long trumpets and sound of the horn.
Sing joyfully before the Lord our King; let the sea be moved, and the fulness thereof; the compass of the earth, and they that dwell therein.
The rivers shall clap their hands, the mountains shall rejoice together at the presence of the Lord, for He cometh to judge the earth.
He shall judge the world with justice, and the peoples with equity.
Glory be, etc.
Ant. After childbirth, O Virgin, thou didst remain inviolate; plead for us, O Mother of God.
During Advent
Ant. The angel of the Lord declared unto Mary, and she conceived of the Holy Ghost.
​V. Grace is poured forth upon thy lips.
R. Therefore God hath blessed thee for ever.
Our Father, etc., in silence.
V. And lead us not into temptation.
R. But deliver us from evil.
The following Lessons, etc., are said throughout the year, except during Advent
THE ABSOLUTION
Through the prayers and merits of blessed Mary, ever a virgin, and of all the saints, may the Lord bring us to the kingdom of heaven.
R. Amen.
V. Pray, a blessing.
THE BLESSING
May the Virgin Mary with her loving Child bless us.
R. Amen.
LESSON I
Ecclus. xxiv
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; ​and He that made me rested in my tabernacle, and He said to me: Let thy dwelling be in Jacob, and thine inheritance in Israel, and take root in My chosen people. Do Thou, Lord, have mercy on us.
R. Thanks be to God.
R. O holy and immaculate virginity, I know not with what praises to extol thee. For Him Whom heaven could not hold thou didst carry at thy bosom.
V. Blessed art thou amongst women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb . For Him Whom heaven could not hold thou didst carry at thy bosom.
V. Pray, a blessing.
THE BLESSING
May the Virgin of virgins herself plead for us before the Lord.
R. Amen.
LESSON II
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 is His inheritance, and my abode is in the full assembly of saints. Do 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 didst bring forth Him that made thee and remainest a virgin for ever.
V. Hail, Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Thou didst bring forth Him that made thee, and remainest a virgin for ever.
When the Te Deum is said y at the end of the Responsory is added
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost. Thou didst bring forth Him that made thee, and remainest a virgin for ever.
V. Pray, a blessing.
THE BLESSING
Through the Virgin Mother may the Lord grant us salvation and peace.
R. Amen.
LESSON III
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 roseplant in Jericho. As a fair olivetree 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 sweet smell like choicest myrrh. Do Thou, Lord, have mercy on us.
R. Thanks be to God.
When the Te Deum is said, the following Responsory is omitted
R.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.
V. 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.
​V. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost. Christ our God.
The following Hymn, Te Deum, is said from Christmas until Septuagesima, and from Easter Sunday until Advent. When it is said, the third Responsory is omitted, and Gloria Patri is said in the second Responsory, as was noted above. In Advent and from Septuagesima until Easter it is said only on festivals of the Blessed Virgin.
TE DEUM
HYMN OF SS. AMBROSE AND AUGUSTINE
We praise Thee, O God; we ao knowledge 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.
The following Lessons, etc., are said in Advent
THE ABSOLUTION
Through the prayers and merits of Blessed Mary, ever a virgin, and of all the saints, may the Lord bring us to the kingdom of heaven.
R. Amen.
V. Pray, a blessing.
THE BLESSING
May the Virgin Mary with her loving Child bless us.
R. Amen.
LESSON I
Luke i
The angel Gabriel was sent from God into a city of Galilee 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 amongst women. Do thou, Lord, have mercy on us.
R. Thanks be to God.
R. The angel Gabriel was sent to Mary, the Virgin, who was espoused to Joseph, declaring to her the word, and the Virgin trembles at the light. Fear not, Mary, thou hast found grace with the Lord: Behold, thou shalt conceive, and shalt bring forth, and He shall be called the Son of the Most High.
V. The Lord shall give unto Him ​the throne of David His father, and He shall reign in the house of Jacob for ever. Behold, thou shalt conceive, and shalt bring forth, and He shall be called the Son of the Most High.
V. Pray, a blessing.
THE BLESSING
May the Virgin of virgins herself plead for us before the Lord.
R. Amen.
LESSON II
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 unto her: Fear not, Mary, for thou hast found grace with God. Behold, thou shalt conceive in the 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 will give unto Him the throne of David His father, and He shall reign in the house of Jacob for ever; and of His kingdom there ​shall be no end. Do thou, Lord, have mercy on us.
R. Thanks be to God.
R. Hail, Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Most High shall overshadow thee; for the Holy 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 Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Most High shall overshadow thee; for the Holy which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.
When the Te Deum is said, add the following:
V. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.
The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Most High shall overshadow thee; for the Holy which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.
V. Pray, a blessing.
THE BLESSING
Through the Virgin Mother may the Lord grant us salvation and peace. R. Amen.
LESSON III
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 Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Most High shall overshadow thee. And therefore also the Holy which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God. And behold, thy cousin Elizabeth, she also hath conceived a son in her old age, and this is the sixth month with her who 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. Do Thou, Lord, etc. R. Thanks be to God.
The following Responsory is omitted when the Te Deum is said.
R. Receive, O Virgin Mary, the word which the Lord hath sent thee ​through an angel: Thou shalt conceive, and shalt bring forth both God and man, that thou mayest be called blessed amongst all women.
V. Yea, thou shalt bring forth a Son, and shalt suffer no loss of virginity: thou shalt be with child, and shalt be a mother ever undefiled. That thou mayest be called blessed amongst all women.
V. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost. That thou mayest be called blessed amongst all women.