← Little Office of the BVM
Compline
Wednesday, December 9, 2026 • Little Office of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Advent season
Opening
A silent Hail Mary is said.
At the first versicle, the sign of the cross is made with the thumb over the heart.
V. Convert us, O God, our Savior.
R. And turn away your anger from us.
R. And turn away your anger from us.
V. O God, come to my assistance.
R. O Lord, make haste to help me.
R. O Lord, make haste to help me.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. Alleluia.
Hymn
Memento, Rerum Conditor
Remember, O Creator Lord,
That in the Virgin's sacred womb
You were conceived, and of her flesh
Did take our mortal nature on.
That in the Virgin's sacred womb
You were conceived, and of her flesh
Did take our mortal nature on.
Mother of grace, O Mary blessed,
To you, sweet fount of love, we fly;
Shield us through life, and take us hence
To your dear bosom when we die.
To you, sweet fount of love, we fly;
Shield us through life, and take us hence
To your dear bosom when we die.
O Jesus, born of Virgin bright,
Immortal glory be to you;
Praise to the Father infinite
And Holy Spirit, ever true.
Amen.
Immortal glory be to you;
Praise to the Father infinite
And Holy Spirit, ever true.
Amen.
Psalmody
Ant. The Holy Spirit shall come upon you, Mary; fear not, you shall hold within your womb the Son of God.
Psalm 129Out of the Depths I Cry
From the depths I have cried out to you, O Lord; Lord, hear my voice.
Let your ears be attentive to the voice of my supplication.
If you, Lord, observe iniquities, Lord, who will endure it?
For with you there is forgiveness, and because of your law I have waited for you, O Lord.
My soul has patiently waited on his word; my soul has hoped in the Lord.
From the morning watch, even until night, let Israel hope in the Lord.
For with the Lord there is mercy, and with him there is plentiful redemption.
And he will redeem Israel from all his iniquities.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:
as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen.
as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen.
Psalm 130My Soul Is Like a Weaned Child
O Lord, my heart is not exalted, nor are my eyes lofty.
Neither have I walked in great things, nor in wonders beyond me.
If I were not humble, if my soul were not lifted up; as a weaned child is toward his mother, likewise let it be repaid to my soul.
Let Israel hope in the Lord, from this time forward and forevermore.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:
as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen.
as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen.
Psalm 131Remember David's Oath
O Lord, remember David and all his meekness.
How he swore to the Lord; he made a vow to the God of Jacob.
"I will not enter into the tabernacle of my house, nor will I climb into the bed where I lie;"
"I will not give sleep to my eyes, or slumber to my eyelids,"
"or rest to my temples, until I find a place for the Lord, a tabernacle for the God of Jacob."
Behold, we heard of it in Ephrata; we found it in the fields of the forest.
We will enter into his tabernacle; we will adore in the place where his feet have stood.
Arise, O Lord, into your rest, you and the ark of your sanctification.
Let your priests be clothed with justice, and let your holy ones exult.
For the sake of your servant David, do not turn away the face of your Christ.
The Lord has sworn truth to David, and he will not make it void.
"Of the fruit of your womb, I will set upon your throne."
"If your sons will keep my covenant and my testimonies which I will teach them,"
"their sons also, even forever, will sit upon your throne."
For the Lord has chosen Zion; he has chosen it for his dwelling.
"This is my rest forever and ever; here I will dwell, for I have chosen it."
"Blessing, I will bless her widow; her poor I will satisfy with bread."
"Her priests I will clothe with salvation, and her holy ones will exult with exultation."
"There I will raise up a horn for David; I have prepared a lamp for my Christ."
"His enemies I will clothe with confusion, but upon him my sanctification will flourish."
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:
as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen.
as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen.
Ant. The Holy Spirit shall come upon you, Mary; fear not, you shall hold within your womb the Son of God.
Short Reading
Isaiah 7:14
Behold, a virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and his name shall be called Emmanuel: butter and honey shall he eat, that he may know to refuse evil and to choose good.
Nunc Dimittis (Luke 2:29-32)
The Canticle of Simeon (Nunc Dimittis) (Luke 2:29–32)
Ant. The Holy Spirit shall come upon you, Mary; fear not, you shall hold within your womb the Son of God.
Now you release your servant, O Lord, according to your word, in peace.
Because my eyes have seen your salvation,
which you have prepared before the face of all peoples:
a light of revelation to the Gentiles, and a glory for your people Israel.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:
as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen.
as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen.
Ant. The Holy Spirit shall come upon you, Mary; fear not, you shall hold within your womb the Son of God.
Versicle
V. The angel of the Lord declared to Mary.
R. And she conceived by the Holy Spirit.
R. And she conceived by the Holy Spirit.
Kyrie
Lord, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.
Collect
O God, who willed that your eternal Word should take flesh in the womb of the Blessed Virgin Mary at the angel's message: grant to your humble servants that we who truly believe her to be the Mother of God may be helped by her intercession. Through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, world without end. Amen.
Alma Redemptoris Mater
Loving Mother of the Redeemer,
Gate of heaven, star of the sea,
Assist your people who have fallen,
Yet strive to rise again.
To the wonderment of nature
you bore your Creator,
yet remained a virgin after as before.
You who received Gabriel's joyful greeting,
have pity on us poor sinners.
Gate of heaven, star of the sea,
Assist your people who have fallen,
Yet strive to rise again.
To the wonderment of nature
you bore your Creator,
yet remained a virgin after as before.
You who received Gabriel's joyful greeting,
have pity on us poor sinners.
V. The angel of the Lord declared to Mary.
R. And she conceived by the Holy Spirit.
R. And she conceived by the Holy Spirit.
Pour forth, we ask you, O Lord, your grace into our hearts: that we to whom the Incarnation of Christ your Son was made known by the message of an angel, may by his Passion and Cross be brought to the glory of his Resurrection. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Blessing
May the almighty and merciful Lord, Father and Son and Holy Spirit, bless and keep us. Amen.