Roman Breviary

St Joseph (Wednesdays)

Votive of the Spouse of the BVM

Other breviaries and votive offices

Roman Breviary

Rubrics of 1960 Reduced 1955 Divino Afflatu 1954 Divino Afflatu 1939 Tridentine 1906 Tridentine 1888 Tridentine 1570

Monastic Breviary

Monastic 1963 Le Barroux Monastic 1930 Monastic 1617

Votive offices

Office of the Dead Little Office of the BVM Our Lady on Saturday St Joseph (Wednesdays)The Passion (Fridays)

Monastic votive offices

Office of the Dead Little Office of the BVM Our Lady on Saturday The Passion (Fridays)

Start

O God, ✠ come to my assistance;

Deus ✠ in adiutórium meum inténde.

O Lord, make haste to help me.

Dómine, ad adiuvándum me festína.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, * and to the Holy Ghost.

As it was in the beginning, is now, * and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

Glória Patri, et Fílio, * et Spirítui Sancto.

Sicut erat in princípio, et nunc, et semper, * et in sǽcula sæculórum. Amen.

Alleluia.

Allelúia.

Psalms

Psalms & antiphons Votive

Ant.

And Jacob begat Joseph, * the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus, Who is called Christ. Alleluia.

Iacob autem * génuit Ioseph, virum Maríæ, de qua natus est Iesus, qui vocátur Christus, allelúia.

Psalm 92 [1]

92:1 The Lord hath reigned, he is clothed with beauty: * the Lord is clothed with strength, and hath girded himself.

92:1 For he hath established the world * which shall not be moved.

92:2 Thy throne is prepared from of old: * thou art from everlasting.

92:3 The floods have lifted up, O Lord: * the floods have lifted up their voice.

92:3 The floods have lifted up their waves, * with the noise of many waters.

92:4 Wonderful are the surges of the sea: * wonderful is the Lord on high.

92:5 Thy testimonies are become exceedingly credible: * holiness becometh thy house, O Lord, unto length of days.

92:1 Dóminus regnávit, decórem indútus est: * indútus est Dóminus fortitúdinem, et præcínxit se.

92:1 Étenim firmávit orbem terræ, * qui non commovébitur.

92:2 Paráta sedes tua ex tunc: * a sǽculo tu es.

92:3 Elevavérunt flúmina, Dómine: * elevavérunt flúmina vocem suam.

92:3 Elevavérunt flúmina fluctus suos, * a vócibus aquárum multárum.

92:4 Mirábiles elatiónes maris: * mirábilis in altis Dóminus.

92:5 Testimónia tua credibília facta sunt nimis: * domum tuam decet sanctitúdo, Dómine, in longitúdinem diérum.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, * and to the Holy Ghost.

Glória Patri, et Fílio, * et Spirítui Sancto.

As it was in the beginning, is now, * and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

Sicut erat in princípio, et nunc, et semper, * et in sǽcula sæculórum. Amen.

Ant.

And Jacob begat Joseph, the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus, Who is called Christ. Alleluia.

Iacob autem génuit Ioseph, virum Maríæ, de qua natus est Iesus, qui vocátur Christus, allelúia.

Ant.

The Angel Gabriel * was sent from God, unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth, to a Virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph. Alleluia.

Missus est * Ángelus Gábriel a Deo in civitátem Galilǽæ, cui nomen Názareth, ad Vírginem desponsátam viro, cui nomen erat Ioseph, allelúia.

Psalm 99 [2]

99:2 Sing joyfully to God, all the earth: * serve ye the Lord with gladness.

99:2 Come in before his presence * with exceeding great joy.

99:3 Know ye that the Lord he is God: * he made us, and not we ourselves.

99:3 We are his people and the sheep of his pasture. * Go ye into his gates with praise, into his courts with hymns: and give glory to him.

99:4 Praise ye his name: for the Lord is sweet, his mercy endureth for ever, * and his truth to generation and generation.

99:2 Iubiláte Deo, omnis terra: * servíte Dómino in lætítia.

99:2 Introíte in conspéctu eius, * in exsultatióne.

99:3 Scitóte quóniam Dóminus ipse est Deus: * ipse fecit nos, et non ipsi nos.

99:3 Pópulus eius, et oves páscuæ eius: * introíte portas eius in confessióne, átria eius in hymnis: confitémini illi.

99:4 Laudáte nomen eius: quóniam suávis est Dóminus, in ætérnum misericórdia eius, * et usque in generatiónem et generatiónem véritas eius.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, * and to the Holy Ghost.

Glória Patri, et Fílio, * et Spirítui Sancto.

As it was in the beginning, is now, * and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

Sicut erat in princípio, et nunc, et semper, * et in sǽcula sæculórum. Amen.

Ant.

The Angel Gabriel was sent from God, unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth, to a Virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph. Alleluia.

Missus est Ángelus Gábriel a Deo in civitátem Galilǽæ, cui nomen Názareth, ad Vírginem desponsátam viro, cui nomen erat Ioseph, allelúia.

Ant.

And Joseph also went up * from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, unto Judea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem. Alleluia.

Ascéndit autem * Ioseph a Galilǽa de civitáte Názareth in Iudǽam, in civitátem David, quæ vocátur Béthlehem, allelúia.

Psalm 62 [3]

62:2 O God, my God, * to thee do I watch at break of day.

62:2 For thee my soul hath thirsted; * for thee my flesh, O how many ways!

62:3 In a desert land, and where there is no way, and no water: * so in the sanctuary have I come before thee, to see thy power and thy glory.

62:4 For thy mercy is better than lives: * thee my lips shall praise.

62:5 Thus will I bless thee all my life long: * and in thy name I will lift up my hands.

62:6 Let my soul be filled as with marrow and fatness: * and my mouth shall praise thee with joyful lips.

62:7 If I have remembered thee upon my bed, I will meditate on thee in the morning: * because thou hast been my helper.

62:8 And I will rejoice under the covert of thy wings: my soul hath stuck close to thee: * thy right hand hath received me.

62:10 But they have sought my soul in vain, they shall go into the lower parts of the earth: * they shall be delivered into the hands of the sword, they shall be the portions of foxes.

62:12 But the king shall rejoice in God, all they shall be praised that swear by him: * because the mouth is stopped of them that speak wicked things.

62:2 Deus, Deus meus, * ad te de luce vígilo.

62:2 Sitívit in te ánima mea, * quam multiplíciter tibi caro mea.

62:3 In terra desérta, et ínvia, et inaquósa: * sic in sancto appárui tibi, ut vidérem virtútem tuam, et glóriam tuam.

62:4 Quóniam mélior est misericórdia tua super vitas: * lábia mea laudábunt te.

62:5 Sic benedícam te in vita mea: * et in nómine tuo levábo manus meas.

62:6 Sicut ádipe et pinguédine repleátur ánima mea: * et lábiis exsultatiónis laudábit os meum.

62:7 Si memor fui tui super stratum meum, in matutínis meditábor in te: * quia fuísti adiútor meus.

62:8 Et in velaménto alárum tuárum exsultábo, adhǽsit ánima mea post te: * me suscépit déxtera tua.

62:10 Ipsi vero in vanum quæsiérunt ánimam meam, introíbunt in inferióra terræ: * tradéntur in manus gládii, partes vúlpium erunt.

62:12 Rex vero lætábitur in Deo, laudabúntur omnes qui iurant in eo: * quia obstrúctum est os loquéntium iníqua.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, * and to the Holy Ghost.

Glória Patri, et Fílio, * et Spirítui Sancto.

As it was in the beginning, is now, * and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

Sicut erat in princípio, et nunc, et semper, * et in sǽcula sæculórum. Amen.

Ant.

And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, unto Judea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem. Alleluia.

Ascéndit autem Ioseph a Galilǽa de civitáte Názareth in Iudǽam, in civitátem David, quæ vocátur Béthlehem, allelúia.

Ant.

And they came with haste, * and found Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger. Alleluia.

Et venérunt festinántes, * et invenérunt Maríam, et Ioseph, et Infántem pósitum in præsépio, allelúia.

Canticle of the Three Young Men [4]

Dan 3:57-88,56

3:57 All ye works of the Lord, bless the Lord: * praise and exalt him above all for ever.

3:58 O ye angels of the Lord, bless the Lord: * O ye heavens, bless the Lord:

3:59 O all ye waters that are above the heavens, bless the Lord: * O all ye powers of the Lord, bless the Lord.

3:60 O ye sun and moon, bless the Lord: * O ye stars of heaven, bless the Lord.

3:61 O every shower and dew, bless ye the Lord: * O all ye spirits of God, bless the Lord.

3:62 O ye fire and heat, bless the Lord: * O ye cold and heat, bless the Lord.

3:63 O ye dews and hoar frosts, bless the Lord: * O ye frost and cold, bless the Lord.

3:64 O ye ice and snow, bless the Lord: * O ye nights and days, bless the Lord.

3:65 O ye light and darkness, bless the Lord: * O ye lightnings and clouds, bless the Lord.

3:66 O let the earth bless the Lord: * let it praise and exalt him above all for ever.

3:67 O ye mountains and hills, bless the Lord: * O all ye things that spring up in the earth, bless the Lord.

3:68 O ye fountains, bless the Lord: * O ye seas and rivers, bless the Lord.

3:69 O ye whales, and all that move in the waters, bless the Lord: * O all ye fowls of the air, bless the Lord.

3:70 O all ye beasts and cattle, bless the Lord: * O ye sons of men, bless the Lord.

3:71 O let Israel bless the Lord: * let them praise and exalt him above all for ever.

3:72 O ye priests of the Lord, bless the Lord: * O ye servants of the Lord, bless the Lord.

3:73 O ye spirits and souls of the just, bless the Lord: * O ye holy and humble of heart, bless the Lord.

3:74 O Ananias, Azarias, and Misael, bless ye the Lord: * praise and exalt him above all for ever.

3:75 (Bow head) Let us bless the Father and the Son, with the Holy Ghost; * let us praise and exalt him above all for ever.

3:56 Blessed art thou, O Lord, in the firmament of heaven: * and worthy of praise, and glorious for ever.

3:57 Benedícite, ómnia ópera Dómini, Dómino: * laudáte et superexaltáte eum in sǽcula.

3:58 Benedícite, Ángeli Dómini, Dómino: * benedícite, cæli, Dómino.

3:59 Benedícite, aquæ omnes, quæ super cælos sunt, Dómino: * benedícite, omnes virtútes Dómini, Dómino.

3:60 Benedícite, sol et luna, Dómino: * benedícite, stellæ cæli, Dómino.

3:61 Benedícite, omnis imber et ros, Dómino: * benedícite, omnes spíritus Dei, Dómino.

3:62 Benedícite, ignis et æstus, Dómino: * benedícite, frigus et æstus, Dómino.

3:63 Benedícite, rores et pruína, Dómino: * benedícite, gelu et frigus, Dómino.

3:64 Benedícite, glácies et nives, Dómino: * benedícite, noctes et dies, Dómino.

3:65 Benedícite, lux et ténebræ, Dómino: * benedícite, fúlgura et nubes, Dómino.

3:66 Benedícat terra Dóminum: * laudet et superexáltet eum in sǽcula.

3:67 Benedícite, montes et colles, Dómino: * benedícite, univérsa germinántia in terra, Dómino.

3:68 Benedícite, fontes, Dómino: * benedícite, mária et flúmina, Dómino.

3:69 Benedícite, cete, et ómnia, quæ movéntur in aquis, Dómino: * benedícite, omnes vólucres cæli, Dómino.

3:70 Benedícite, omnes béstiæ et pécora, Dómino: * benedícite, fílii hóminum, Dómino.

3:71 Benedícat Israël Dóminum: * laudet et superexáltet eum in sǽcula.

3:72 Benedícite, sacerdótes Dómini, Dómino: * benedícite, servi Dómini, Dómino.

3:73 Benedícite, spíritus, et ánimæ iustórum, Dómino: * benedícite, sancti, et húmiles corde, Dómino.

3:74 Benedícite, Ananía, Azaría, Mísaël, Dómino: * laudáte et superexaltáte eum in sǽcula.

3:75 (Fit reverentia:) Benedicámus Patrem et Fílium cum Sancto Spíritu: * laudémus et superexaltémus eum in sǽcula.

3:56 Benedíctus es, Dómine, in firmaménto cæli: * et laudábilis, et gloriósus, et superexaltátus in sǽcula.

Ant.

And they came with haste, and found Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger. Alleluia.

Et venérunt festinántes, et invenérunt Maríam, et Ioseph, et Infántem pósitum in præsépio, allelúia.

Ant.

And Jesus Himself began to be about thirty years of age, being (as was supposed) the Son of Joseph. Alleluia.

Et ipse Iesus * erat incípiens quasi annórum trigínta, ut putabátur, fílius Ioseph, allelúia.

Psalm 148 [5]

148:1 Praise ye the Lord from the heavens * praise ye him in the high places.

148:2 Praise ye him, all his angels: * praise ye him, all his hosts.

148:3 Praise ye him, O sun and moon: * praise him, all ye stars and light.

148:4 Praise him, ye heavens of heavens: * and let all the waters that are above the heavens, praise the name of the Lord.

148:5 For he spoke, and they were made: * he commanded, and they were created.

148:6 He hath established them for ever, and for ages of ages: * he hath made a decree, and it shall not pass away.

148:7 Praise the Lord from the earth, * ye dragons, and all ye deeps:

148:8 Fire, hail, snow, ice, stormy winds * which fulfill his word:

148:9 Mountains and all hills, * fruitful trees and all cedars:

148:10 Beasts and all cattle: * serpents and feathered fowls:

148:11 Kings of the earth and all people: * princes and all judges of the earth:

148:12 Young men and maidens: let the old with the younger, praise the name of the Lord: * For his name alone is exalted.

148:14 The praise of him is above heaven and earth: * and he hath exalted the horn of his people.

148:14 A hymn to all his saints: to the children of Israel, a people approaching him.

148:1 Laudáte Dóminum de cælis: * laudáte eum in excélsis.

148:2 Laudáte eum, omnes Ángeli eius: * laudáte eum, omnes virtútes eius.

148:3 Laudáte eum, sol et luna: * laudáte eum, omnes stellæ et lumen.

148:4 Laudáte eum, cæli cælórum: * et aquæ omnes, quæ super cælos sunt, laudent nomen Dómini.

148:5 Quia ipse dixit, et facta sunt: * ipse mandávit, et creáta sunt.

148:6 Státuit ea in ætérnum, et in sǽculum sǽculi: * præcéptum pósuit, et non præteríbit.

148:7 Laudáte Dóminum de terra, * dracónes, et omnes abýssi.

148:8 Ignis, grando, nix, glácies, spíritus procellárum: * quæ fáciunt verbum eius:

148:9 Montes, et omnes colles: * ligna fructífera, et omnes cedri.

148:10 Béstiæ, et univérsa pécora: * serpéntes, et vólucres pennátæ:

148:11 Reges terræ, et omnes pópuli: * príncipes, et omnes iúdices terræ.

148:12 Iúvenes, et vírgines: senes cum iunióribus laudent nomen Dómini: * quia exaltátum est nomen eius solíus.

148:14 Conféssio eius super cælum et terram: * et exaltávit cornu pópuli sui.

148:14 Hymnus ómnibus sanctis eius: * fíliis Israël, pópulo appropinquánti sibi.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, * and to the Holy Ghost.

Glória Patri, et Fílio, * et Spirítui Sancto.

As it was in the beginning, is now, * and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

Sicut erat in princípio, et nunc, et semper, * et in sǽcula sæculórum. Amen.

Ant.

And Jesus Himself began to be about thirty years of age, being (as was supposed) the Son of Joseph. Alleluia.

Et ipse Iesus erat incípiens quasi annórum trigínta, ut putabátur, fílius Ioseph, allelúia.

Chapter Hymn Verse

Votive

Gen 49:26

The blessings of thy father are strengthened with the blessings of his fathers: until the desire of the everlasting hills should come; may they be upon the head of Joseph, and upon the crown of the Nazarite among his brethren

Benedictiónes patris tui confortátæ sunt benedictiónibus patrum eius, donec veníret Desidérium cóllium æternórum: fiant in cápite Ioseph, et in vértice Nazarǽi inter fratres suos.

Thanks be to God.

Deo grátias.

Hymn

Joseph, the praise and glory of the heavens,

Sure pledge of life, and safety of the wide world,

As in our joy we sing to thee, in kindness

List to our praises.

Cǽlitum Ioseph, decus atque nostræ

Certa spes vitæ, columénque mundi,

Quas tibi læti cánimus, benígnus

Súscipe laudes.

Thou by the world's Creator wert appointed

Spouse of the Virgin: thee he willed to honour

Naming thee father of the Word, and guardian

Of our salvation.

Te Sator rerum státuit pudícæ

Vírginis sponsum, voluítque Verbi

Te patrem dici, dedit et minístrum

Esse salútis.

Thou thy Redeemer, lying in a stable,

Whom long ago foretold the choir of prophets,

Sawest rejoicing, and thy God adoredst

Humble in childhood.

Tu Redemptórem stábulo iacéntem,

Quem chorus Vatum cécinit futúrum,

Aspicis gaudens, humilísque natum

Numen adóras.

God, King of kings, and Governor of the ages,

He at whose word the powers of hell do tremble,

He whom the adoring heavens ever worship

Called the protector.

Rex Deus regum, Dominátor orbis,

Cuius ad nutum tremit inferórum

Turba, cui pronus famulátur æther,

Se tibi subdit.

Grant us, great Trinity, for Joseph's holy sake,

In highest bliss and love, above the stars to reign,

That we in joy with him may praise our loving God,

And sing our glad eternal strain.

Amen.

Laus sit excélsæ Tríadi perénnis,

Quæ tibi præbens súperos honóres,

Det tuis nobis méritis beátæ

Gáudia vitæ.

Amen.

Thou hast given me the shield of thy salvation.

Dedísti mihi protectiónem salútis tuæ.

And thy right hand hath holden me up.

Et déxtera tua suscépit me.

Canticle: Benedictus

Antiphon Votive

Ant.

Joseph, thou Son of David, * fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife; for That Which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost alleluia.

Ioseph, fili David, * noli timére accípere Maríam cóniugem tuam; quod enim in ea natum est, de Spíritu Sancto est.

Canticle of Zacharias

Luke 1:68-79

1:68 Blessed be the Lord ✠ God of Israel; * because he hath visited and wrought the redemption of his people:

1:69 And hath raised up an horn of salvation to us, * in the house of David his servant:

1:70 As he spoke by the mouth of his holy Prophets, * who are from the beginning:

1:71 Salvation from our enemies, * and from the hand of all that hate us:

1:72 To perform mercy to our fathers, * and to remember his holy testament,

1:73 The oath, which he swore to Abraham our father, * that he would grant to us,

1:74 That being delivered from the hand of our enemies, * we may serve him without fear,

1:75 In holiness and justice before him, * all our days.

1:76 And thou, child, shalt be called the prophet of the Highest: * for thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways:

1:77 To give knowledge of salvation to his people, * unto the remission of their sins:

1:78 Through the bowels of the mercy of our God, * in which the Orient from on high hath visited us:

1:79 To enlighten them that sit in darkness, and in the shadow of death: * to direct our feet into the way of peace.

1:68 Benedíctus ✠ Dóminus, Deus Israël: * quia visitávit, et fecit redemptiónem plebis suæ:

1:69 Et eréxit cornu salútis nobis: * in domo David, púeri sui.

1:70 Sicut locútus est per os sanctórum, * qui a sǽculo sunt, prophetárum eius:

1:71 Salútem ex inimícis nostris, * et de manu ómnium, qui odérunt nos.

1:72 Ad faciéndam misericórdiam cum pátribus nostris: * et memorári testaménti sui sancti.

1:73 Iusiurándum, quod iurávit ad Ábraham patrem nostrum, * datúrum se nobis:

1:74 Ut sine timóre, de manu inimicórum nostrórum liberáti, * serviámus illi.

1:75 In sanctitáte, et iustítia coram ipso, * ómnibus diébus nostris.

1:76 Et tu, puer, Prophéta Altíssimi vocáberis: * præíbis enim ante fáciem Dómini, paráre vias eius:

1:77 Ad dandam sciéntiam salútis plebi eius: * in remissiónem peccatórum eórum:

1:78 Per víscera misericórdiæ Dei nostri: * in quibus visitávit nos, óriens ex alto:

1:79 Illumináre his, qui in ténebris, et in umbra mortis sedent: * ad dirigéndos pedes nostros in viam pacis.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, * and to the Holy Ghost.

Glória Patri, et Fílio, * et Spirítui Sancto.

As it was in the beginning, is now, * and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

Sicut erat in princípio, et nunc, et semper, * et in sǽcula sæculórum. Amen.

Ant.

Joseph, thou Son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife; for That Which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost alleluia.

Ioseph, fili David, noli timére accípere Maríam cóniugem tuam; quod enim in ea natum est, de Spíritu Sancto est.

Weekday Intercessions

omit

Prayer

Votive

O Lord, hear my prayer.

Dómine, exáudi oratiónem meam.

And let my cry come unto thee.

Et clamor meus ad te véniat.

Let us pray.

Orémus.

God, Who in thine unspeakable foreknowledge didst choose thy blessed servant Joseph to be the husband of thine Own most holy Mother; mercifully grant that now that he is in heaven with thee, we who on earth do reverence him for our Defender, may worthily be holpen by the succour of his prayers to thee on our behalf;

Deus, qui ineffábili providéntia beátum Ioseph sanctíssimæ Genitrícis tuæ sponsum elígere dignátus es: præsta, quǽsumus; ut quem protectórem venerámur in terris, intercessórem habére mereámur in cælis:

Who livest and reignest with God the Father in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, world without end.

Qui vivis et regnas cum Deo Patre, in unitáte Spíritus Sancti, Deus, per ómnia sǽcula sæculórum.

Amen.

Commemoration of St. Josaphat, Bishop and Martyr

Ant.

He that hateth his life in this world, shall keep it unto life eternal.

Qui odit ánimam suam in hoc mundo, in vitam ætérnam custódit eam.

The righteous shall flourish like the palm-tree.

Iustus ut palma florébit.

He shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon.

Sicut cedrus Líbani multiplicábitur.

Let us pray.

Orémus.

Stir up in thy Church, we beseech thee, O Lord, that Spirit which so filled blessed Josaphat, thy Martyr and Bishop, that he laid down his life for his flock; that by his intercession we, being likewise animated and strengthened by that same Spirit, may not fear to lay down our lives for our brethren.

Excita, quǽsumus, Dómine, in Ecclésia tua Spíritum, quo replétus beátus Iósaphat Martyr et Póntifex tuus ánimam suam pro óvibus pósuit: ut, eo intercedénte, nos quoque eódem Spíritu moti ac roboráti, ánimam nostram pro frátribus pónere non vereámur.

Through Jesus Christ, thy Son our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the same Holy Ghost, God, world without end.

Per Dóminum nostrum Iesum Christum, Fílium tuum: qui tecum vivit et regnat in unitáte eiúsdem Spíritus Sancti, Deus, per ómnia sǽcula sæculórum.

Amen.

Conclusion

O Lord, hear my prayer.

Dómine, exáudi oratiónem meam.

And let my cry come unto thee.

Et clamor meus ad te véniat.

Let us bless the Lord.

Benedicámus Dómino.

Thanks be to God.

Deo grátias.

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

Fidélium ánimæ per misericórdiam Dei requiéscant in pace.

Amen.

Texts from the Divinum Officium project.