The Office at Prime

THE OFFICE AT PRIME

THE VERSICLE

Make haste, O God, to deliver me.
Make haste to help me, O Lord.

THE GLORIA PATRI AND ALLELUIA (OR LAUS TIBI)

(From Septuagesima to Holy Saturday, instead of the Alleluia
-- Praise be to Thee, O Lord, King of eternal glory.)

THE HYMN

Now that daylight fills the sky,
We lift our hearts to God on high
That He, in all we do or say,
Would keep us free from harm today.
Would guard our hearts and tongues from strife,
From anger's din would hide our life,
From evil sights would turn our eyes,
Would close our ears to vanities.
So we, when this new day is gone
And night in turn is drawing on,
With conscience by the world unstained
Shall praise His name for victory gained.
To God the Father and the Son
And Holy Spirit, Three in One,
Be endless glory as before
The world began, so evermore.

THE PSALM ANTIPHON

Blessed are those whose way is blameless, who walk in the Law of the Lord.

THE PSALM (119:1-8)

Blessed are those whose way is blameless, who walk in the Law of the Lord. Blessed are those who keep his testimonies, who seek Him with their whole heart, who also do no wrong but walk in His ways. Thou hast commanded Thy precepts to be kept diligently. Oh, that my ways may be steadfast in keeping Thy statutes! Then I shall not be put to shame, having my eyes fixed on all Thy commandments. I will praise Thee with an upright heart when I learn Thy righteous ordinances. I will observe Thy statutes; oh, forsake me not utterly! Glory be to the Father... (The antiphon repeated)

(The Athanasian Creed may be said at this place)

THE CHAPTER (I Tim. 1:17)

To the King of ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.
Thanks be to God.

THE RESPONSORY

O Christ, Son of the living God, have mercy upon us.
O Christ, Son of the living God, have mercy upon us.
Thou that sittest at the right hand of the Father:
Have mercy upon us.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Ghost.
O Christ, Son of the living God, have mercy upon us.
Arise, O Christ, and help us.
And deliver us for Thy name's sake.

THE KYRIE

THE LORD'S PRAYER

THE APOSTLE'S CREED

I believe in God...
The resurrection of the body:
And the life everlasting.
I cry to Thee, O Lord.
In the morning my prayer comes before Thee.
Oh, let my mouth be filled with Thy praise:
And with Thy glory all the day.
Hide Thy face from my sins, O Lord.
And blot out all my iniquities.
Create in me a clean heart, O God.
And put a new and right spirit within me.
Cast me not away from Thy presence.
And take not Thy Holy Spirit from me.
Restore to me the joy of Thy salvation.
And uphold me with a willing spirit.

THE CONFESSION

I confess to God Almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, and before all the company of heaven, that I have sinned in thought, word, and deed, through my fault, my own fault, my most grievous fault; wherefore I pray almighty God to have mercy on me, to forgive me all my sins, and to make clean my heart within me.

May the almighty and merciful Lord grant us pardon and forgiveness of all our sins, grace for true repentance, amendment of life, and the comfort of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Vouchsafe, O Lord:
To keep us this day without sin.
O Lord, have mercy upon us.
Have mercy upon us.
O Lord, let Thy mercy be upon us:
As our trust is in Thee.
O Lord, hear my prayer.
And let my cry come to Thee.

THE COLLECT

O everlasting Jesus, who in the early morning didst give Thyself to be reviled and scoffed at by Thine enemies, visit us, we pray Thee, at this hour with Thy grace and mercy that so throughout the day we may find peace and joy in all that ministers to Thy praise and glory, who livest and reignest with the Father and the Holy Spirit, ever one God, world without end. Amen.

The Lord Almighty order this day and all our doings in His peace. Amen.
Our help is in the name of the Lord:
Who made heaven and earth.
Let us bless the Lord.
Thanks be to God.

THE BLESSING

The Lord bless us and keep us from all evil and bring us to everlasting life. Amen.