Psalm 134. Ecce nunc.

EHOLD now, praise the Lord, * all ye servants of the Lord;

Ye that by night stand in the house of the Lord, * even in the courts of the house of our God.

Lift up your hands in the sanctuary, * and praise the Lord.

The Lord that made heaven and earth give thee blessing out of Sion. Antiphon. Have mercy upon me, O Lord, and hearken unto my prayer.

Hymn. Te lucis ante terminum.

BEFO

EFORE the ending of the day, Creator of the world, we pray That with thy wonted favor, thou Wouldst be our guard and keeper now. From all ill dreams defend our eyes, From nightly fears and fantasies; Tread under foot our ghostly foe, That no pollution we may know.

O Father, that we ask be done, Through Jesus Christ, thine only Son; Who, with the Holy Ghost and thee, Shall live and reign eternally. Amen.

T

Short Chapter. Jer. 14. 9.

HOU, O Lord, art in the midst of us, and we are called by thy Name; leave us not, O Lord our God. R. Thanks be to God.

Short R.

Into thy hands, O Lord, *I commend my spirit. Into thy.

V. For thou hast redeemed us, OLord, thou God of truth. R. I commend. Into thy. V. Keep us, O Lord, as the apple of an eye. R. Hide us under the shadow of thy wings. Antiphon. Save us.

SONG OF SIMEON

Nunc dimittis. St. Luke 2. 29.

ORD, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace : according to thy word.

For mine eyes have seen thy salvation,

Which thou hast prepared: before the face of all people;

To be a light to lighten the Gentiles: and to be the glory of thy people Israel.

Glory be to the Father. As it was. Antiphon. Save us waking, O Lord, and guard us sleeping: that awake we may watch with Christ, and may sleep

in

V. The

peace the Lord be with you. R. And with thy spirit.

VISIT

Let us pray.

The Collect.

ISIT, we beseech thee, O Lord, this habitation, and drive far from it all snares of the enemy: let thy holy Angels dwell herein, to preserve us in peace and let thy blessing be always upon us. Through our Lord Jesus

Christ; who liveth and reigneth with thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, ever one God, world without end. R. Amen.

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

Blessing. The Almighty and merciful Lord, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, bless and keep us. R. Amen. Here shall follow one of the Final Antiphons of the Blessed Virgin.

FINAL ANTIPHONS OF THE

BLESSED VIRGIN

1. Until Compline of Wednesday in Holy Week: Ave Regina coelorum.

HAIL, O Mary, Queen of Heaven,

Queen of Angel Worlds on high;

Hail, O Rod to Jesse given,

Blessed Portal of the sky.

Hail, O Lady, bright and glorious,
Mary, peerless in thy fame;
Virgin o'er sin's stain victorious,
We thine intercession claim.

V.Vouchsafe that I may praise thee, O hallowed Virgin.

R. Give me strength against thine enemies.

Let us pray.

RANT, we beseech thee, O merciful God, thy protection to our

frailty; that we who commemorate

Mary the Virgin and Mother of God, may rise from our iniquities by the help of her intercession. Through the same Christ our Lord. R. Amen.

2. After Compline on Holy Saturday:

JOY

Regina coeli laetare.

OY to thee, O queen of heaven, alleluia ;

He whom thou wast meet to bear, alleluia,

As he promised hath arisen, alleluia: Pour for us to God thy prayer, alleluia. V. Rejoice and be glad, O Virgin Mary, alleluia.

R. For the Lord hath risen indeed, alleluia.

Let us pray.

GOD, who by the Resurrection

of thy Son our Lord Jesus Christ hast vouchsafed to bring gladness into the world; Grant, we beseech thee, that through his Mother the Virgin Mary, we may lay hold of the joys of life everlasting. Through the same Christ our Lord. R. Amen.

V.

After the Antiphon is said:

The Divine help remain with

us always.

R. Amen.

Then shall be said secretly Our Father, Hail

Mary, and I believe.

THE

STABAT MATER'

does not form part of the Holy Week liturgical services, but is here inserted for convenience, when said or sung in non-liturgical devotions. T the cross her station keeping Stood the mournful mother weeping, Where He hung, the dying Lord; . For her soul of joy bereaved,

Bowed with anguish deeply grieved,
Felt the sharp and piercing sword.

Oh, how sad and sore distressed
Now was she, that mother blessed
Of the sole-begotten One;
Deep the woe of her affliction,
When she saw the crucifixion
Of her ever-glorious Son.

Who, on Christ's dear mother gazing,
Pierced by anguish so amazing,

Born of woman, would not weep?
Who, on Christ's dear mother thinking,
Such a cup of sorrow drinking,
Would not share her sorrows deep?

For His people's sins chastised,
She beheld her Son despised,
Scourged, and crowned with thorns
entwined:

Saw Him then from judgment taken,
And in death by all forsaken,

Till His spirit He resigned.