Society of the Catholic Commonwealth
Oratory of Saint Mary and Saint Michael
Cambridge, Massachusetts

LITTLE OFFICE

Hymns, proper Versicles and Responses, and Antiphons proper to certain seasons and feasts, may be taken from the Monastic Diurnal, according to the Rubrics. The Psalms and Lessons shall follow the order of the Book of Common Prayer.

The Officiant begins the Office:

Said aloud, in unison according to custom.

Our Father, Hail Mary.

V. O God, make speed to save us.
R. O Lord, make haste to help us.
Glory be. As it was. Alleluia.

Then shall follow the Psalm(s) appointed for the day, each concluded by:

Glory be. As it was.

Ant. Speak, Lord, for thy servants hear.
V. Open thou our eyes.
R. That we may see the wondrous things of thy law.

Let us pray.

ALMIGHTY GOD, whose only-begotten Son for our sakes became the Truth Incarnate and the Teacher of the faithful; Let thy Holy Spirit guide us in the reading of thy Word, that in singleness of heart and honesty of mind we may receive thy revelation; and so be kept very members incorporate in the body of the same thy Son: Who liveth and reigneth with thee in the unity of the same Holy Spirit, ever one God, world without end. R. Amen

Then shall be read the Lesson(s) proper to the day, each with its customary forms of announcement and conclusion. When there are two Lessons, they are read consecutively, without an intervening Canticle.

Ant. Give us understanding, and we shall keep thy law: Yea, we shall keep it with all our hearts.
V. Make us to go in the path of thy commandments.
R. For therein is our desire.

Let us pray.

ALMIGHTY GOD, who through thy holy Prophets, Apostles and Evangelists hast caused thy revelation to be written for our learning; Make us to be numbered among the company of those who hear thy Word, and also do it; understand, and also love it; believe, and also serve it by their works. Through Jesus Christ thy Son, our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, ever one God, world without end. R. Amen.

Here shall follow the proper Office Hymn.

Then, in the morning, on Sundays:

V. The Lord is King, and hath put on glorious apparel.
R. The Lord hath put on his apparel, and girded himself with strength.

On Ferias:

V. O satisfy us with thy mercy, and that soon.
R. So shall we rejoice and be glad all the days of our life.

Then, with its proper Antiphon:

Benedictus Dominus. Glory be. As it was.

Repeat Antiphon.

In the evening, on Sundays and Ferias:

V. Lord, let my prayer be set forth.
R. In thy sight as the incense.

On Saturday evening only:

V. Let our evening prayer come up before thee, O Lord.
R. And let thy mercy come down on us.

Then, with its proper Antiphon:

Magnificat anima mea. Glory be. As it was.

Repeat Antiphon.

V. The Lord be with you.
R. And with thy spirit.

Let us pray.

Collect(s) for the Day.

V. The Lord be with you.
R. And with thy spirit.
V. Let us bless the Lord.
R. Thanks be to God.

Then, if one or more of the Little Hours be said on the same day:

V. Let us go forth in peace.
R. In the name of the Lord, Amen.

If no Little Hour be said, in one recitation of the Little Office shall be substituted the following conclusion:

V. May the souls of the faithful, through the mercy of God, rest in peace.
R. Amen.

Before the hymn, in any recitation of the Little Office, a Meditation may be made.
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INTENTIONS FOR DAILY MASSES

To be selected at the discretion of the Celebrant

1. For God’s Blessing on the Life and Work of the S.C.C.
2. For Friends and Benefactors.
3. For the Conversion of Students and Intellectual Workers to the Catholic Faith.
4. For the Economic and Social Justice: Special Commemoration of the Unemployed and Underprivileged.
5. For Peace: Domestic and International
6. For the Conversion of the So-called Christian Nations to a True Catholicism.
7. For Foreign Missions: Especially those in Africa and the Far East.
8. For the Church in the U.S.S.R.
9. For the Conversion of Protestantism to the Catholic Church.
10. For Reunion within the Catholic Church.
11. For Candidates for Holy Orders (Names should be suggested.)
12. For Bishops, Priests and Deacons of the Church.
13. For the Conversion of the Episcopal Church.
14. For the Increase of the Religious Life in the Anglican Communion: Special Commemoration of the S.C.C.
15. For Integrity of Family Life in the Church: An Increased Sense of the Vocation of Holy Matrimony.
16. For Purity of Mind and Hearth: for Singleness of Purpose and for Holiness in Word and Deed.
17. For God’s Blessing and Help in Daily Meditations.
18. For God’s Blessing upon Reading and Study: for the Intellectual Life of the S.C.C.
19. For Zeal for the Spread of the Kingdom of God here on Earth.
20. For the Faithful Departed (Names should be suggested.)
21. For Prisoners and Captives: Special Commemoration of Prisoners of War and of Political Prisoners.
22. For Pilgrims and Travellers.
23. For the Extinguishing of Race Prejudice and Hatred.
24. For Growth in Charity towards all Men.
25. For Growth in Faith and Hope.
26. For an Increased Sense of Catholic Vocation, Personal and Social.
27. For the Conversion of the Roman Catholic Church.
28. For Peace with Social Justice in the Far East.
29. For an Increase of Prayer and Devotion in the Church.
30. For the Sick and Suffering.
31. For Physicians, Surgeons and Nurses: for Chaplains and Attendants in Hospitals and upon Battlefields.
32. For Good Leadership and Increased Enlightenment of Labour Movements Throughout the World.
33. For Non-combatants and Innocent Sufferers in Wars.
34. For the Conversion of Marxian Materialists to the Catholic Faith.
35. For the Emergence of a Stable and Free Communist Social Order in the U.S.S.R. and the East.
36. For the Conversion of the World to the Catholic Faith.
37. For the Spirit of True Contrition and Penitence.
38. For a More Faithful and Intelligent Use of the Sacraments by All Catholics.
39. For the Extension of a Correct Understanding of, and Belief in, Transubstantiation.
40. For increased Understanding of the World-redeeming Character of the Christian Religion.
41. For God’s Blessing on Writing and Teaching.
42. For God’s Blessing on Work in the "Thetical" Church.
43. For Material Support of the Society of the Catholic Commonwealth.
44. For Members Secular of the S.C.C.: For Increase in the Secular Membership.
45. For the Conversion of Pagans, Lapsed Christians and all Unbelievers.
46. For the United Nations Organization.
47. For Tue Obedience.
48. Thanksgiving.
49. For Peoples and Their Governments (U.S.A., Britain India, China, etc., ad lib.)
50. For Guidance of the Holy Spirit in Social and Economic Analyses and in Practical Judgments.
51. For the Conversion of Working People to the Vocation of the S.C.C.

Adoremus In Aeternum Sanctissimum Sacramentum

Project Canterbury