Matins

 

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,
O 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.

O Holy Mary, Queen of heaven, Mother of our Lord Jesus Christ, and Mistress of the world, who forsakest no one, and despises no one; look upon me, O Lady, with an eye of pity, and entreat 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 unity, 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.



Matins Explained

The Apostles Creed

THE APOSTLES’ CREED

I believe in God, the Father almighty, Creator of heaven and earth.

And in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord;

who was conceived by the Holy Ghost,
born of the Virgin Mary;

suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, dead and buried;

He descended into hell;

the third day He rose again from the dead;

He ascended into heaven,
sitteth at the right hand of God the Father almighty;

from thence He shall come to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Ghost;

the holy Catholic Church;
the communion of saints;
the forgiveness of sins;

the resurrection of the body,
and life everlasting.

Amen.

The Angelic Salutation (Hail Mary)

 

Hail, Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now, and at the hour of our death. Amen.

The Lord's Prayer

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name. 

Thy kingdom come. 

Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. 

Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive them that trespass against us. 

And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen.

To Ask, to seek, and to knock

 

Dear Jesus,

You told us to ask, to seek, and to knock—and that You would answer us. So here I am, asking You with my whole heart.

Please give me a real love for You—a love that is gentle and strong. Help me love You not just with my words, but with the way I live, and the little things I do all day long.

I want to keep loving You always, and never stop.

Amen.

And today, I offer You everything I do—joined with all the goodness of Jesus, Mary, and all the saints.

Amen.

Beginning Your Day

I will begin and end each day with Jesus and Mary in my heart. I imagine turning to Jesus and feeling His gentle and loving spirit all around me. It's like He is quietly asking me to follow Him, to stay close.

And then there is Mary, so kind and motherly always ready to help me bring my thoughts back to Jesus. I think she wants me to make my daily prayers and devotions part of my life and something I never forget.
If I can do this every day, maybe my heart will feel a little more like theirs - full of love and peace.