Prayers for all Occasions, Needs, and Intentions

THE LITTLE OFFICE OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY

Join with me in a Prayer of Praise

A SUMMARY EXPLANATION OF THE HOURS OF THE LITTLE OFFICE OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY

Office of Readings | Morning Prayer | Daytime Prayer | Evening Prayer | Night Prayer

Those who pray this Little Office join themselves to the prayer of the Church and through Mary unite themselves with that hymn of praise sung throughout all ages in the halls of heaven; they also receive a taste of the song of praise in heaven, described in the Book of Revelation by John, the song sung continually before the throne of God and of the Lamb (as contained in the Liturgy of the Hours).

Office of Readings  (Matins)

The Office of Readings provide a rich meditation on sacred scripture as contained in the writings of spiritual authors. The Office opens with a hymn. 

The office contains three psalms followed by a biblical reading and then a non-biblical reading usually from one of the Fathers or other writers of the Church. The office closes with a prayer or the Te Deum (Song of Praise) and a prayer. On Sundays outside of Lent, on the days within the octave of Easter and Christmas, on solemnities and feasts, after the second reading, the Te Deum (Song of Praise) is recited; at other times it is omitted.

The Office of Readings may be celebrated at any time during the day or night.

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Morning Prayer  (Lauds)r The reform of   

The Morning and Evening Prayer, as with the Liturgy of the Hours, are now considered the two pivots on which the Little Office turns.

The Morning Prayer is suggested as you start your day and begins with the verse "God, come to my assistance. Lord make haste to help me." The doxology follows, the an appropriate hymn is recited. After the hymn comes the psalmody,* a suitable psalm to start the day, followed by an Old Testament Canticle, then another psalm of praise.

After the psalmody* there is a Scripture reading followed by a reading selected from one of the Fathers or writers of the Church. A responsorial verse to God's word then follows.

The Canticle of Zechariah (Gospel Canticle) offers praise and thanksgiving for the redemption, prayers of consecration for the day's work are offered to the Lord. The Lord's Prayer (Our Father) is then recited. A prayer of the day follows. The Morning Prayer concludes with the "May the Lord bless us, protect us from all evil and bring us to everlasting life. Amen."  

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Daytime Prayer  (Terce, Sext, None) 

Daytime Prayer is opened with the verse "God, come to my assistance, Lord make haste to help me." The doxology next followed by the psalmody,* a biblical reading and a reading provided by one of the Fathers or writers of the Church. A verse follows, the Hour concludes with a prayer and an acclamation of praise.   

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Evening Prayer  (Vespers) 

Evening Prayer provides a way "we might return thanks for all that was given to us, or rightly done by us that day." (St. Basil the Great).

Evening Prayer precedes with the verse "God, come to my assistance, Lord make haste to help me." The doxology follows with an appropriate hymn then recited.

The psalmody* follows the hymn, then two suitable psalms for evening and a Canticle from the New Testament is said.

A responsorial verse to God's word is offered followed by the Canticle of Mary, which expresses words of praise and thanksgiving for the redemption. Intercessions or petitions of prayer are then offered followed by the Lord's Prayer (Our Father), a prayer of the day follows.

The invocation "May the Lord bless us, protect us from all evil and bring us to everlasting life. Amen." concludes the Evening Prayer.   

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Night Prayer  (Compline) 

Night Prayer, the last prayer of the day, is recited before retiring. Night Prayer opens with the verse "God, come to my assistance, Lord make haste to help me." The doxology follows. Then a moment to examine our conscience and offer a prayer of repentance. A hymn followed by a psalm of trust in God if next offered.

After the psalmody * a Scripture reading is read then a second reading from one of the Fathers or other writers of the Church follows.

A responsorial verse to God's word is offered followed by the Canticle of Simeon, at the forefront of the Hour's devotion. 

A concluding prayer is offered then the blessing "May the all-powerful Lord grant us a restful night and a peaceful death. Amen."

The Night Prayer is completed by the recitation of one of the antiphons of the Blessed Virgin Mary. 

* "Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen." Concludes all psalmody.   

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