Vespers

Hail Mary...

V. O God, ✠ come to my assistance;

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. Amen.

Alleluia.

Alleluia at all the hours, throughout the year, except from Septuagesima to Holy Saturday, when, instead of Alleluia, is said : Praise be to thee, O Lord, King of eternal glory.

Ant. Blessed Mother

Psalm 109 [1]
109:1 The Lord said to my Lord: * Sit thou at my right hand:
109:1 Until I make thy enemies * thy footstool.
109:2 The Lord will send forth the sceptre of thy power out of Sion: * rule thou in the midst of thy enemies.
109:3 With thee is the principality in the day of thy strength: in the brightness of the saints: * from the womb before the day star I begot thee.
109:4 The Lord hath sworn, and he will not repent: * Thou art a priest for ever according to the order of Melchisedech.
109:5 The Lord at thy right hand * hath broken kings in the day of his wrath.
109:6 He shall judge among nations, he shall fill ruins: * he shall crush the heads in the land of many.
109:7 He shall drink of the torrent in the way: * therefore shall he lift up the head.
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. Amen.

Psalm 112 [2]
112:1 Praise the Lord, ye children: * praise ye the name of the Lord.
112:2 (bow head) Blessed be the name of the Lord, * from henceforth now and for ever.
112:3 From the rising of the sun unto the going down of the same, * the name of the Lord is worthy of praise.
112:4 The Lord is high above all nations; * and his glory above the heavens.
112:5 Who is as the Lord our God, who dwelleth on high: * and looketh down on the low things in heaven and in earth?
112:7 Raising up the needy from the earth, * and lifting up the poor out of the dunghill:
112:8 That he may place him with princes, * with the princes of his people.
112:9 Who maketh a barren woman to dwell in a house, * the joyful mother of children.
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. Amen.

Psalm 121 [3]
121:1 I rejoiced at the things that were said to me: * We shall go into the house of the Lord.
121:2 Our feet were standing * in thy courts, O Jerusalem.
121:3 Jerusalem, which is built as a city, * which is compact together.
121:4 For thither did the tribes go up, the tribes of the Lord: * the testimony of Israel, to praise the name of the Lord.
121:5 Because their seats have sat in judgment, * seats upon the house of David.
121:6 Pray ye for the things that are for the peace of Jerusalem: * and abundance for them that love thee.
121:7 Let peace be in thy strength: * and abundance in thy towers.
121:8 For the sake of my brethren, and of my neighbours, * I spoke peace of thee.
121:9 Because of the house of the Lord our God, * I have sought good things for thee.
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. Amen.

Psalm 126 [4]
126:1 Unless the Lord build the house, * they labour in vain that build it.
126:1 Unless the Lord keep the city, * he watcheth in vain that keepeth it.
126:2 It is vain for you to rise before light, * rise ye after you have sitten, you that eat the bread of sorrow.
126:3 When he shall give sleep to his beloved, * behold the inheritance of the Lord are children: the reward, the fruit of the womb.
126:4 As arrows in the hand of the mighty, * so the children of them that have been shaken.
126:5 Blessed is the man that hath filled the desire with them; * he shall not be confounded when he shall speak to his enemies in the gate.
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. Amen.
Psalm 147 [5]

147:1 Praise the Lord, O Jerusalem: * praise thy God, O Sion.
147:2 Because he hath strengthened the bolts of thy gates * he hath blessed thy children within thee.
147:3 Who hath placed peace in thy borders: * and filleth thee with the fat of corn.
147:4 Who sendeth forth his speech to the earth: * his word runneth swiftly.
147:5 Who giveth snow like wool: * scattereth mists like ashes.
147:6 He sendeth his crystal like morsels: * who shall stand before the face of his cold?
147:7 He shall send out his word, and shall melt them: * his wind shall blow, and the waters shall run.
147:8 Who declareth his word to Jacob: * his justices and his judgments to Israel.
147:9 He hath not done in like manner to every nation: * and his judgments he hath not made manifest to them.
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. Amen.

Ant. Blessed Mother, and Virgin Inviolate, glorious Queen of the world, intercede for us with the Lord.

Chapter Hymn Verse 
Sir 24:14
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 I have ministered before him.
R. Thanks be to God.

Hymn
The first verse of the following hymn is said genuflecting.
Ave, star of ocean,
Child divine who barest,
Mother, ever-Virgin,
Heaven's portal fairest.

Taking that sweet Ave
Erst by Gabriel spoken,
Eva's name reversing,
Be of peace the token.

Break the sinners' fetters,
Light to blind restoring,
All our ills dispelling,
Every boon imploring.

Show thyself a mother
In thy supplication;
He will hear who chose thee
At his incarnation.

Maid all maids excelling,
Passing meek and lowly,
Win for sinners pardon,
Make us chaste and holy.

As we onward journey
Aid our weak endeavour,
Till we gaze on Jesus
And rejoice forever.

Father, Son, and Spirit,
Three in One confessing,
Give we equal glory
Equal praise and blessing.
Amen.
V. Pray for us, O Holy Mother of God
R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ

Canticum: Magnificat {Antiphon Votive} 

Ant. Holy Mary
(Canticle of the Blessed Virgin * Luke 1:46-55)
1:46 My soul ☩ * doth magnify the Lord.
1:47 And my spirit hath rejoiced * in God my Saviour.
1:48 Because he hath regarded the humility of his handmaid; * for behold from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.
1:49 Because he that is mighty, hath done great things to me; * and holy is his name.
1:50 And his mercy is from generation unto generations, * to them that fear him.
1:51 He hath shewed might in his arm: * he hath scattered the proud in the conceit of their heart.
1:52 He hath put down the mighty from their seat, * and hath exalted the humble.
1:53 He hath filled the hungry with good things; * and the rich he hath sent empty away.
1:54 He hath received Israel his servant, * being mindful of his mercy:
1:55 As he spoke to our fathers, * to Abraham and to his seed for ever.
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. Amen.

Ant. Holy Mary, succour the afflicted, help the fainthearted, comfort the sorrowing, pray for the people, intercede for the clergy, and for the devout female sex.

Prayer. 
Vouchsafe, O Lord God, we beseech thee, to us, thy servants, that we may enjoy perpetual health of mind and body ; and by the glorious intercession of blessed Mary ever Virgin, may be delivered from present sadness, and come to the fruition of eternal joys. Through our Lord Jesus Christ. R. Amen

Ant. O Virgin Mary, there hath not in the world, amongst women, one arisen like unto thee; blooming as the rose, fragrant as the lily: pray for us, O holy Mother of God.

V. Vouchsafe that I may praise thee, O sacred Virgin.
R. Give me strength against thy enemies.

Prayer.
Let us prayWe beseech thee, O Lord, that the august intercession of the blessed and ever-glorious Virgin Mary may protect us, and conduct us to eternal life. Through Christ our Lord.

R. Amen

Compline