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Prayer Before Office
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.
O 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.
Opening Invocation
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Make the Sign of the Cross when beginning Superior or senior Sister acc. to rank
All
Bow at the Glory be... Cantor:
All
Penitential Rite A period of silence follows for examination of conscience All
I confess to Almighty God, and to you my brothers and sisters, that I have sinned through my own fault in my thoughts and in my words, in what I have done and in what I have failed to do: and I ask blessed Mary ever Virgin, all the angels and saints, and you my brothers and sisters, to pray for me to the Lord our God. Cantor
All
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Hymn:
Te Lucis Ante Terminum LM
VIII.
From all ill dreams defend our sight, From fears and terrors of the night; Withhold from us our ghostly foe, That spot of sin we may not know O Father, that we ask be done, Through Jesus Christ, thine only Son, Who, with the Holy Ghost and thee, Doth live and reign eternally. Amen.
Psalmody Antiphon Cantor:
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VIII.
Psalm 91
Psalm is chanted by two choirs, alternating verses. Cantor intones
Choir
He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High * and abides in the shade of the Almighty says to the Lord: “My refuge, * my stronghold, my God in whom I trust!” It is He who will free you from the snare * of the fowler who seeks to destroy you; He will conceal you with His pinions * and under His wings you will find refuge. You will not fear the terror of the night * nor the arrow that flies by day, nor the plague that prowls in the darkness, * nor the scourge that lays waste at noon. A thousand may fall at your side, * ten thousand fall at your right, you, it will never approach; * His faithfulness is buckler and shield. Your eyes have only to look, * to see how the wicked are repaid, You who have said: “Lord, my refuge!” * and have made the Most High your dwelling.
Sit
Upon you no evil shall fall,5 * no plague approach where you dwell. For you has He commanded His angels, * to keep you in all your ways. They shall bear you upon their hands * lest you strike your foot against a stone. On the lion and the viper you will tread * and trample the young lion and the dragon. Since he clings to me in love, I will free him; * protect him for he knows my name. When he calls I shall answer: “I am with you.” * I will save him in distress and give him glory. With length of life I will content him; * I shall let him see my saving power. Stand and bow
Glory be to the Father and to the Son, * and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, * world without end. Amen. All repeat antiphon.
Sit
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Revelation 22:4-5
Reading
They shall see the Lord face to face and bear His name on their foreheads. The night shall be no more. They will need no light from lamps or the sun, for the Lord God shall give them light and they shall reign forever. The Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God
Silent Reflection
Responsory Cantor
VI
All repeat
Cantor
Cantor
All
All
All stand and bow
Gospel Canticle
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Antiphon: Cantor IIIa
Luke 2:29-32 Canticle is chanted by two choirs, alternating verses. Make the Sign of the Cross when beginning Cantor intones
Choir I
IIIa
Choir II
Choir I
Choir II
All Bow
Choir I
All repeat antiphon.
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Prayer
On Sundays and during the Octave of Easter
Lord, We have celebrated today The mystery of the rising of Christ to new life. May we now rest in your peace, Safe from all that could harm us, And rise again refreshed and joyful, To praise you thoughout another day. We ask this though Christ our Lord. Amen. On solemnities that do not occur on Sunday
Lord, We beg you to visit this house And banish from it all the deadly power of the enemy. May Your holy angels dwell here To keep us in peace, And may Your blessing be upon us always. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.
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Final Blessing
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Marian Antiphons
For behold, henceforth all generations will call me blessed; for He who is mighty has done great things for m e ,
11 Alma Redemptoris Mater From Advent to the Feast of the Presentation February 2nd
O Holy Mother of the Redeemer, thou gate leading to heaven and star of the sea; help the falling people who seek you to rise, thou who, all nature wondering, didst give birth to thy Holy Creator. Virgin always, hearing that Ave from Gabriel’s lips, take pity on us sinners.
12 Caelorum Ave Regina From February 3rd to Holy Week
Hail, Queen of Heaven, hail, Lady of the angels. Hail, root and gate from which the light of the world was born. Rejoice, glorious Virgin, fairest of all. Fare thee well, most beautiful, and pray for us to Christ.
13 Caeli Regina During the Easter Season
Queen of Heaven, rejoice! Alleluia! Fro He whom thou wast made worthy to bear, Alleluia! Has risen as He said, Alleluia! Pray for us to God, Alleluia!
Salve Regina 14(Simple Tone) From the Feast of the Holy Trinity to the Friday before the First Sunday of Advent
Hail, Holy Queen, Mother of mercy, our life, our sweetness and our hope! To thee do we cry, poor banished children of Eve; to thee do we send up our sighs, mourning and weeping in this valley of tears. Turn then, O most gracious advocate, thine eyes of mercy toward us, and after this, our exile, show unto us the blessed fruit of thy womb, Jesus. O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary!
15 tone monastic use) Salve Regina (Solemn
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Acknowledgments
This English setting of Compline is based as closely as possible upon the Liber Usualis. English translation of the Liturgy of the Hours © 1970,1973,1975,1976, International Committee on English in the Liturgy. Psalm texts from The Psalms: A New Translation © The Grail (England) 1963. The following musical resources were used as an aid in compiling this setting: Compline Booklet, Church Music Association of America http://www.musicasacra.com/pdf/compline.pdf Parish Book of Chant, Church Musica Assocation of America http://www.musicasacra.com/pbc/ Ad Completorium: The Gasparian Psalter, Fr. Jeffrey Keyes C.PP.S http://chabanelpsalms.org/CHABANEL_PSALM_TOME/ MISCELLANEOUS/4183_ad_Completorium.pdf Image Sources: TheCatholicLibrary.org, gallery/lineart/
http://www.thecatholiclibrary.org/
Images for use in Liturgy Programs, Church Music Association of America http://www.flickr.com/photos/musicasacra sets/
