First Vespers.

First is said silently:
Open, O Lord, my mouth to bless thy holy Name; cleanse also my heart from all vain, evil, and wandering thoughts; enlighten my understanding and kindle my affections; that I may worthily, attentively, and devoutly say this Office, and so be meet to be heard before the presence of thy divine Majesty. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Lord, in union with that divine intention wherewith thou, whilst here on earth, didst render praises unto God, I desire to offer this my Office of prayer unto thee.Amen,

Then, and all the rest aloud unless noted:
V. O God, come unto my assistance.
R.O lord,make haste to help me.
Glory be to the Father.

Hymn:

O Mary! who to every sigh
Of prayer, thy loving ear dost bend,
Behold us supppliant, hear our cry ,
And thy perpetual succour send.

Ah! succour us, if hateful chains
Of guilt our wretched souls should bind;
Break every fetter that retains
Enslaved to sin our heart or mind.

Ah! succour us, if led astray
By love of earth's seductive toys;
Lest from salvation's path we stray
Forgetting heaven's unfading joys.

Ah! succour us, if cares oppress,
If adverse fortune should impend ;
With peace serene life's journey bless
Till dawns the day that knows no end.

And when death's battle is at hand,
Thy children succour in the strife:
That, helped by thee we faithful stand ,
And win the crown, eternal life.

O Jesu, Virgin's son to thee,
Be glory and eternal praise;
And to the Father equally,
With Holy Ghost through endless days. Amen.


Antiphon I. Blessed art Thou, O Virgin Mary, who didst bear the creator of all the world.
Psalm 112.
Praise the Lord ye children:
praise ye the name of the Lord.
The name of the Lord be blessed:
from henceforth, now and for ever.
From the rising of the sun unto the going down:
the name of the Lord is laudable.
The Lord is high above all nations:
and his glory above the heavens.
Who is as the Lord our God that dwelleth on high:
and beholdeth the humble things in heaven and earth?
Raising up the needy from the earth:
and lifting up the poor out of the dung.
To place him with princes:
with the princes of his people.
Who maketh the barren woman to dwell in a house:
a joyful mother of children.
Glory be.
Antiphon I. Blessed art Thou, O Virgin Mary, who didst bear the creator of all the world.

Ant.II. Thou didst bear him who made thee, and yet remainest a virgin forever.
Psalm 147
O Jerusalem praise the Lord: praise thy God
o Sion.
Because he hath strengthened the locks of thy gates:
he hath blessed thy children in thee.
Who hath placed peace thy borders:
and filleth thee with the fat of corn?
Who sendeth forth his speech to the earth:
his word runneth swiftly.
Who giveth snow as wool:
scattereth mist as ashes.
He casteth his crystal as morsels:
before the face of his cold who shall abide?
He shall send forth his word, and shall melt them:
his spirit shall blow, and flow shall the waters.
Who declareth his word to Jacob:
justices, and his judgments to Israel.
He hath not done in like manner to every nation:
and his judgments he hath not made manifest to them.
Glory be.
Ant.II. Thou didst bear him who made thee, and yet remainest a virgin forever.

Ant.III. Blessed art thou O daughter of the Lord, for through thee we have receive the fruit of life.
Canticle Eph.1;3-10
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
who hath blessed us with spiritual blessings in heavenly places, in Christ:
As he chose us in him before the foundation of the world,
that we should be holy and unspotted in his sight in charity.
Who hath predestinated us unto the adoption of children
through Jesus Christ unto himself:
according to the purpose of his will:
Unto the praise of the glory of his grace,
in which he hath graced us in his beloved son.
In whom we have redemption through his blood,
the remission of sins,
according to the riches of his grace,
Which hath superabounded in us in all wisdom and prudence,
That he might make known unto us the mystery of his will,
according to his good pleasure, which he hath purposed in him,
In the dispensation of the fulness of times,
to re-establish all things in Christ, that are in heaven and on earth, in him.
Glory be to the Father.
Ant.III. Blessed art thou O daughter of the Lord, for through thee we have receive the fruit of life.

Chapter. Gal 4;4-5
But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent his Son, made of a woman, made under the law: That he might redeem them who were under the law: that we might receive the adoption of sons.
Responsory.
V.After child-bearing, thou remainest a virgin forever.
R.After child-bearing, thou remainest a virgin forever.
V. Mother of God, intercede for us.
R.Thou remainest a virgin forever.
V.Glory be to to the Father.
R. After child-bearing, thou remainest a virgin forever.

Ant. The Lord hath regarded my humility, and he who is mighty hath done great things in me.
Magnificat.
My soul: doth magnify the Lord.
And my spirit hath rejoiced: in God my saviour.
Because he hath regarded the humility of his handmaid:
for behold from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.
Because he that is mighty, hath done great things to me:
and holy is his name.
And his mercy from generation unto generations:
to them that fear him.
He hath shewed might in his arm\:
he hath dispersed the proud in the conceit of their heart.
He hath deposed the mighty from their seat:
and hath exalted the humble.
The hungry he hath filled with good things:
and the rich he hath sent away empty.
He hath received Israel his child: being mindful of his mercy.
As he spake to our fathers: to Abraham, and his seed for ever.
Glory be to the Father.
Ant. The Lord hath regarded my humility, and he who is mighty hath done great things in me

Our Father.

In Advent:
O God, which wouldst thy word, should take flesh, of the womb of blessed Mary the virgin, the angel declaring it, grant unto us thy suppliants, that we which truly do believe her to be the mother of God: may be by her intercessions holpen with thee. Through the same Lord Jesus Christ thy son: who liveth and reigneth, God, with thee, in the unity of the holy Ghost, world without end.
In Christmas season:
O God, which by the fruitful virginity of the blessed virgin Mary, hast given unto mankind the rewards of eternal salvation: Grant we beseech thee, that we may perceive her to make intercession for us, by whom we have deserved to receive the author of life, our Lord Jesus Christ thy son. Who liveth and reigneth, God, with thee, in the unity of the holy Ghost, world without end.
In Lent and passiontide:
Grant aid O merciful God unto our fragility: that we which make memory of the holy mother of God: may by the help of her intercession arise from our iniquities. Through our Lord Jesus Christ thy son, who liveth and reigneth, God, with thee, in the unity of the holy Ghost, world without end.
Throughout the year:
O Lord God we beseech thee grant us thy servants, to enjoy perpetual health of mind, and body: and by the glorious intercession of the ever blessed virgin Mary, to be delivered from this present sorrow, and to enjoy gladness everlasting. Through our Lord Jesus Christ thy son: who liveth and reigneth, God, with thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, world without end.
Or:
May we be assisted, we beseech Thee, O Lord, by the worshipful intercession of Thy glorious Mother, the ever-Virgin Mary; that we, who have been enriched by her perpetual blessings, may be delivered from all dangers, and through her loving kindness made to be of one heart and mind: Who livest and reignest for ever and ever. Amen.
Blessing:
May The Lord bless us, and defend us from all evil, and bring us to life everlasting, Amen.

Then may be said silently:
To God Most Holy, in his Divine Majesty of Trinity in Unity;
To Jesus Christ, our Lord and God made man and crucified for us;
To blessed Mary Ever-Virgin, from whose glorious purity he took flesh;
And to the entire Company of the Saints of God, in heaven;
Be praise, honour, power, and glory, from every creature on earth:
And likewise to us sinners may there be full remission of all our sins:
Throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.

V. Blessed is the womb of the Virgin Mary, which bore the Son of the everlasting Father.

R.And blessed are the paps which gave suck to Christ the Lord.