Matins or Prayer at Dawn

O Lord, open Thou my mouth that I may bless Thy Holy Name. Cleanse my heart from all vain, evil and wandering thoughts; enlighten my understanding; kindle my affections, that I may pray to, and praise Thee with attention and devotion; and may worthily be heard before the presence of Thy Divine Majesty. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Lord, in union with that Divine Intention wherewith Thou didst Thyself praise God, while as Thou wast on earth, I offer these Hours unto Thee. 

Come, my lips, and wide proclaim 

The blessed Virgin's spotless fame.  

V. O Lady, make speed to befriend me. 

R. From the hands of the enemy mightily defend 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. 

Hymn  

Hail, Queen of the heaven, 

Hail, mistress of earth! 

Hail, Virgin most pure, 

Of immaculate birth!  

Clear star of the morning, 

In beauty enshrin'd, 

O Lady, make speed 

To the help of mankind.

Thee God in the depth 

Of eternity chose; 

And form'd thee all fair 

As His glorious spouse; 

And call'd thee His Word's 

Own Mother to be, 

By whom He created 

The earth, sky, and sea.—Amen. 

V. God elected her, and pre-elected her. 

R. He made her to dwell in His tabernacle. 

V. O Lady, hear my prayer. 

R. And let my cry come unto thee. 

Let Us Pray.

Holy Mary, Queen of heaven, Mother of our Lord Jesus Christ, and Mistress of the world, who forsakest no one, and despisest none; look upon me, O Lady, with an eye of pity, and obtain for me, of thy beloved Son, the forgiveness of all my sins; that, as I now celebrate with devout affection thy holy and Immaculate Conception, so, hereafter, I may receive the prize of eternal blessedness by the grace of Him whom thou, in virginity, didst bring forth, Jesus Christ our Lord; Who, with the Father and the Holy Ghost liveth and reigneth, in perfect Trinity, God, world without end.—Amen.  

V.  O Lady, hear my prayer. 

R. And let my cry come unto thee. 

V.  Let us bless the Lord. 

R. Thanks be to God. 

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

R. Amen.

To the Most Holy and undivided Trinity, to the Manhood of our Lord Jesus Christ Crucified, to the fruitful Virginity of the most blessed and most glorious Mary, always a Virgin, and to the holiness of all the Saints be ascribed everlasting praise, honor, and glory, by all creatures, and to us be granted the forgiveness of all our sins, world without end. Amen.

V. Blessed be the womb of the Virgin Mary which bore the Son of the Eternal Father.

R. And blessed be the paps which gave suck to Christ our Lord.

Then are said the Lord's Prayer and the Angelic Salutation.

(The Roman Breviary, William Blackwood & Sons, Edinburgh & London, 1880).

Continue to Prime or Morning Prayer.