An office in honor of guardian Angels from the 17th century. The Latin text below is taken from a 1741 edition of the Coeleste Palmetum. |
Ordinaria | Start of all the Hours |
Angelis suis Deus mandavit de te, ut custodiant te in omnibus viis tuis. ( Ps 90:11) | God hath given His Angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways. Ps 90:11 |
Ad Matutinum | At Matins only |
V. Domine labia mea aperies. R. Et os meum annuntiabit laudem tuam. |
V. O Lord, open my lips. R. And my mouth will announce Thy praise. |
Ad Completorium | At Compline only |
V. Converte nos, Deus salutaris noster. R. Et averte iram tuam a nobis. |
V. Convert us, O God our Savior. R. And turn away Thy wrath from us. |
Ad Horas Omnes | At all the Hours |
V. Deus in adiutorium meum intende. R. Domine ad adiuvandum me festina. |
V. O God, come to my aid. R. O Lord, make haste to help me. |
V. Gloria Patri, et Filio, et Spiritui Sancto. R. Sicut erat in principio, et nunc, et semper, et in saecula saeculorum. Alleluia*. |
V. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. R. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Alleluia*. |
*A Septuagesima usque ad Pascha, loco Alleluia, dicitur | *During Lent until Easter, instead of the alleluia the following is said |
Laus tibi, Domine, Rex aeternae gloriae. | Praise to Thee, O Lord, King of everlasting glory. |
Ad Matutinum | At Matins, the start of the Day |
Initium | Start |
CUSTODES hominum psallimus Angelos, naturae fragili quos Pater addidit caelestis comites, insidiantibus ne succumberet hostibus. |
THE Guardians of our race, our Angel Guides we hail; our Father sendeth forth to aid our nature frail these heavenly friends, lest we should suffer overthrow through cunning of our subtle foe. |
Conclusio | Conclusion |
Ad Primam | At Prime, the first hour of the day |
Initium | Start |
NAM, quod corruerit proditor angelus, concessis merito pulsus honoribus, ardens invidia, pellere nititur quos caelo Deus advocat. |
FOR he, who justly lost the honor once his own, the traitor angel, rues his lost and vacant throne, with burning envy strives to make them fall away whom God doth call to heavenly day. |
Conclusio | Conclusion |
Ad Tertiam | At Terce, the third hour of the day 9:00 am |
Initium | Start |
HUC, custos, igitur pervigil advola, avertens patria de tibi credita tam morbos animi, quam requiescere quidquid non sinit incolas. |
THEN, watchful Guardian, spread thy wings and cleave the air, haste hither to our home committed to thy care; drive thence each noxious ill that might the soul infest, nor suffer danger here to rest. |
Conclusio | Conclusion |
Ad Sextam | At Sext, the sixth hour of the day, noon |
Initium | Start |
CHRISTE, sanctorum decus Angelorum Rector humani generis et auctor, nobis aeternum tribue benigne scandere caelum. |
CHRIST, the fair glory of the holy Angels, Thou who hast made us, Thou who o'er us rulest, grant of Thy mercy unto us Thy servants steps up to heaven. |
Conclusio | Conclusion |
Ad Nonam | At Nones, the ninth hour of the day 3:00 pm |
Initium | Start |
ANGELUM pacis, Michael ad istam caelitus mitte, rogitamus aulam: nobis ut crebro veniente crescant prospera cuncta. |
SEND Thy Archangel, Michael, to our succor; Peacemaker blessed, may he banish from us striving and hatred, so that for the peaceful all things may prosper. |
Conclusio | Conclusion |
Ad Vesperas | At Vespers, evening prayer 6:00 pm |
Initium | Start |
ANGELUS fortis Gabriel, ut hostem pellat antiquum, volitet ab alto, saepius templum veniat ad istud visere nostrum. |
SEND Thy Archangel, Gabriel, the mighty, herald of heaven; may he from us mortals spurn the old serpent, watching o'er the temples where Thou art worshiped. |
Conclusio | Conclusion |
Ad Completorium | At Compline, night time prayer before sleep |
Initium | Start |
ANGELUM nobis medicum salutis mitte de caelis Raphael, ut omnes sanet aegrotos, pariterque nostros dirigat actus. |
SEND Thy Archangel, Raphael, the restorer of the misguided ways of men who wander, who at Thy biding strengthens soul and body with Thine anointing. |
Conclusio | Conclusion |
Conclusio Horae | Conclusion of the above Hours |
SANCTI Angeli, custodes nostri, defendite nos in proelio, ut non pereamus in tremendo iudicio. | O ye holy Angels, our guardians, defend us in battle that we may not perish in the awful judgment. |
V. In conspectu Angelorum psallam tibi, Deus meus. R. Adorabo ad templum sanctum tuum et confitebor nomini tuo. |
V. In the sight of Angels I will sing to Thee, O God. R. I will worship facing Thy holy temple and confess Thy name. |
DEUS, qui ineffabili providentia sanctos Angelos tuos ad nostram custodiam mittere digneris, largire supplicibus tuis, et eorum semper protectione defendi, et aeterna sociate gaudere. Per Dominum nostrum Iesum Christum. | O God, who in Thine ineffable providence hast deigned to send Thy holy Angels to watch over us, grant to us, Thy supplicants, to be always defended by their protection and in eternity to share their joy. Through our Lord Jesus Christ. |
Commendatio | Commendation, recited at the end of Compline |
HAS horas canonicas cum devotione Dixi, custos Angele tui ratione: Precor, me custodias mortis in agone, Et praesens me deducas in caeli regione. |
THESE hours Canonical with devotion To thy rule, O Guardian Angel, I didst say: I bid thee guard me at death's hour, And carry me to heaven to live alway. |
ANGELE Dei, qui custos es mei, Me tibi commissum pietate superna; Hac nocte illumina, custodi, rege, et guberna. Amen. |
ANGEL of God, my guardian dear, To whom his love commits me here; Ever this night be at my side, To light and guard, to rule and guide. Amen. |