Vigil for the Dead, miniature from a French book of hours ( The Hague, KB, 74 F 1, fol. 133r), c. 1450.

Officium Pro Defunctis

The Office for the Dead

Dicitur integrum cum Invitatorio et tribus Nocturnis, et Antiphonae duplicantur, tam ad Vesperas, quam ad Matutinum, in die omnium Fidelium defunctorum, in die Depositionis, et in Anniversario alicuius defuncti, cum una tantum Oratione, ut infra, et ad Vesperas omittitur Psalmus, Lauda anima mea, et ad Laudes, De profundis, reliquo anni tempore dicitur officium, ut est notatum.

It is to be said wholly, with the Invitatory and three Nocturnes, and the Antiphons doubled, as well at Vespers, as at Matins, on the day of all faithful departed, and the day of the departure, and the years day of anyone deceased, with one only prayer, as followeth, and at Vespers the Psalm, My soul praise, is to be omitted, and at Lauds the Psalm, From the depths, at other times of the year the office is said, as it is noted.

Ad Vesperas

At Vespers

Absolute incipitur:

Is absolutely begun:

Ant: Placebo Domino.

Ant: I will please.

Psalmus [114]:
Dilexi, quoniam exaudiet Dominus: vocem orationis meae.
Quia inclinavit aurem suam mihi: et in diebus meis invocabo.
Circumdederunt me dolores mortis: pericula inferni invenerunt me.
Tribulationem, et dolorem inveni: et nomen Domini invocavi.
O Domine, libera animam meam, misericors Dominus, et iustus: et Deus noster miseretur.
Custodiens parvulos Dominus: humiliatus sum, et liberavit me.
Convertere anima mea in requiem tuam: quia Dominus benefecit tibi.
Quia eripuit animam meam de morte: oculos meos a lacrymis, pedes meos a lapsu.
Placebo Domino: in regione vivorum.

Psalm [114]:
I have loved, because our Lord: will hear the voice of my prayer.
Because he hath inclined his ear to me: and in my days I will call upon him.
The sorrows of death have compassed me: and the pains of hell have found me.
I have found tribulation, and sorrow: and I called on the name of our Lord.
O Lord, deliver my soul, merciful Lord, and just: and our God hath mercy.
Our Lord keepeth little ones: I was humbled, and he hath delivered me.
Turn O my soul into thy rest: because our Lord hath done good to thee.
Because he hath delivered my soul from death: my eyes from tears, my feet from sliding.
I will please our Lord in the country of the living.

Requiem aeternam dona eis Domine: et lux perpetua luceat eis.

Eternal rest give unto them O Lord: and let perpetual light shine unto them.

Ant: Placebo Domino in regione vivorum.

Ant: I will please our Lord in the country of the living.

Ant: Heu mihi.

Ant: Woe is me.

Psalmus [119]:
Ad Dominum cum tribularer, clamavi: et exaudivit me.
Domine libera animam meam a labiis iniquis: et a lingua dolosa.
Quid detur tibi, aut quid apponatur tibi: ad linguam dolosam?
Sagittae potentis acutae: cum carbonibus desolatoriis.
Heu mihi, quia incolatus meus prolongatus est, habitavi cum habitantibus Cedar: multum incola fuit anima mea.
Cum his, qui oderunt pacem, eram pacificus: cum loquebar illis, inpugnabant me gratis.

Psalm [119]:
When I was in tribulation I cried to our Lord: and he heard me.
O Lord Deliver my soul from unjust lips: and from a deceitful tongue.
What may be given to thee, or what may be added unto thee: to a deceitful tongue?
The sharp arrows of the mighty: with coals of desolation.
Woe is unto me, that my sojourning is prolonged, I have dwelt with the inhabitants of Cedar: my soul hath been much a sojourner.
With them, that hated peace, I was peaceable: when I spake to them, they impugned me without cause.

Requiem aeternam dona eis Domine: et lux perpetua luceat eis.

Eternal rest give unto them O Lord: and let perpetual light shine unto them.

Ant: Heu mihi Domine, quia incolatus meus prolongatus est.

Ant: Woe is me O Lord, that my abode is prolonged.

Ant: Dominus.

Ant: Our Lord.

Psalmus [120]:
Levavi oculos meos in montes: unde veniet auxilium mihi.
Auxilium meum a Domino: qui fecit caelum et terram.
Non det in commotionem pedem tuum: neque dormitet, qui custodit te.
Ecce non dormitabit: neque dormiet, qui custodit Israel.
Dominus custodit te, Dominus protectio tua: super manum dexteram tuam.
Per diem sol non uret te: neque luna per noctem.
Dominus custodit te ab omni malo: custodiat animam tuam Dominus.
Dominus custodiat introitum tuum, et exitum tuum: ex hoc nunc, et usque in saeculum.

Psalm [120]:
I have lifted up mine eyes unto the mountains: from whence help shall come to me.
My help is from our Lord: which made heaven and earth.
Let him not give thy foot to be moved: neither let him slumber that keepeth thee.
Lo he shall not slumber: nor sleep, that keepeth Israel.
Our Lord keepeth thee, our Lord is thy protection: upon thy right hand.
By day the sun shall not burn thee: nor the moon by night.
Our Lord doth keep thee from all evil: let our Lord keep thy soul.
Let our Lord keep thy coming in, and thy going out: from henceforth, now and forever.

Requiem aeternam dona eis Domine: et lux perpetua luceat eis.

Eternal rest give unto them O Lord: and let perpetual light shine unto them.

Ant: Dominus custodiat te ab omni malo, custodiat animam tuam Dominus.

Ant: Our Lord doth keep thee from all evil, our Lord can keep thy soul.

Ant: Si iniquitates.

Ant: If thou O Lord.

Psalmus [129]:
De profundis clamavi ad te Domine: Domine exaudi vocem meam.
Fiant aures tuae intendentes: in vocem deprecationis meae.
Si iniquitates observaveris Domine: Domine quis sustinebit?
Quia apud te propitiatio est: et propter legem tuam sustinui te Domine.
Sustinuit anima mea in verbo eius: speravit anima mea in Domino.
A custodia matutina usque ad noctem: speret Israel in Domino.
Quia apud Dominum misericordia: et copiosa apud eum redemptio.
Et ipse redimet Israel: ex omnibus iniquitatibus eius.

Psalm [129]:
From the depths I have cried to thee O Lord: Lord hear my voice.
Let thine ears be attentive: unto the voice of my petition.
If thou wilt observe iniquities O Lord: Lord who shall endure it?
Because with thee there is pitifulness: and for thy law I have expected thee O Lord.
My soul hath stayed in his word: my soul hath hoped in our Lord.
From the morning watch even until night: let Israel hope in our Lord.
Because with our Lord there is mercy: and with him plentiful redemption.
And he shall redeem Israel: from all his iniquities.

Requiem aeternam dona eis Domine: et lux perpetua luceat eis.

Eternal rest give unto them O Lord: and let perpetual light shine unto them.

Ant: Si iniquitates observaveris Domine, Domine quis sustinebit?

Ant: If thou O Lord observe iniquities, O Lord who shall be able to endure it?

Ant: Opera.

Ant: The works.

Psalmus [137]:
Confitebor tibi Domine in toto corde meo: quoniam audisti verba oris mei.
In conspectu angelorum psallam tibi: adorabo ad templum sanctum tuum, et confitebor nomini tuo.
Super misericordia tua, et veritate tua: quoniam magnificasti super omne nomen sanctum tuum.
In quacumque die invocavero te, exaudi me: multiplicabis in anima mea virtutem.
Confiteantur tibi Domine omnes reges terrae: quia audierunt omnia verba oris tui.
Et cantent in viis Domini: quoniam magna est gloria Domini.
Quoniam excelsus Dominus, et humilia respicit: et alta a longe cognoscit.
Si ambulavero in medio tribulationis, vivificabis me: et super iram inimicorum meorum extendisti manum tuam, et salvum me fecit dextera tua.
Dominus retribuet pro me, Domine misericordia tua in saeculum: opera manuum tuarum ne despicias.

Psalm [137]:
I will confess to thee O Lord in my whole heart: because thou hast heard the words of my mouth.
In the sight of Angels I will sing to thee: I will adore toward thy holy temple, and will confess to thy name.
Upon thy mercy and thy truth: because thou hast magnified thy holy name above all things.
In what day soever I shall call on thee, hear me: thou shalt multiply strength in my soul.
Let all the Kings of the earth O Lord confess to thee: because they have heard all the words of thy mouth.
And let them sing in the ways of our Lord: because great is the glory of our Lord.
Because our Lord is high, and he beholdeth low things: and high things he knoweth far off.
If I shall walk in the midst of tribulation, thou wilt quicken me: and upon the wrath of mine enemies thou hast extended thy hand, and thy right hand hath saved me.
Our Lord will repay for me, O Lord thy mercy is forever: despise not the works of thy hands.

Requiem aeternam dona eis Domine: et lux perpetua luceat eis.

Eternal rest give unto them O Lord: and let perpetual light shine unto them.

Ant: Opera manuum tuarum Domine ne despicias.

Ant: The works of thy hands despise not O Lord.

V: Audivi vocem de caelo dicentem mihi.

V: I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me.

R: Beati mortui qui in Domino moriuntur.

R: Blessed are the dead which die in our Lord.

Ant: Omne.

Ant: All.

Canticum Beatae Mariae Virginis [Luc. 1]:
Magnificat: anima mea Dominum .
Et exultavit spiritus meus: in Deo salutari meo .
Quia respexit humilitatem ancillae suae: ecce enim ex hoc beatam me dicent omnes generationes .
Quia fecit mihi magna, qui potens est: et sanctum nomen eius .
Et misericordia eius, a progenie et progenies: timentibus eum .
Fecit potentiam in brachio suo: dispersit superbos mente cordis sui .
Deposuit potentes de sede: et exaltavit humiles .
Esurientes implevit bonis: et divites dimisit inanes .
Suscepit Israel puerum suum: recordatus misericordiae suae.
Sicut locutus est ad patres nostros: Abraham, et semini eius in saecula .

The Song of the Blessed Virgin Mary [Luke 1]:
My soul: doth magnify our Lord.
And my spirit hath rejoiced: in God my saviour.
Because he hath regarded the humility of his handmaid: for behold from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.
Because he that is mighty, hath done great things to me: and holy is his name.
And his mercy from generation unto generations: to them that fear him.
He hath shewed might in his arm: he hath dispersed the proud in the conceit of their heart.
He hath deposed the mighty from their seat: and hath exalted the humble.
The hungry he hath filled with good things: and the rich he hath sent away empty.
He hath received Israel his child: being mindful of his mercy.
As he spake to our fathers: to Abraham, and his seed forever.

Requiem aeternam dona eis Domine: et lux perpetua luceat eis.

Eternal rest give unto them O Lord: and let perpetual light shine unto them.

Ant: Omne, quod dat mihi Pater, ad me veniet, et eum qui venit ad me, non eiiciam foras.

Ant: All, that my Father giveth me, shall come unto me, and he that cometh unto me, I will not cast forth.

Preces infrascriptae in ferialibus diebus dicuntur flexis genibus:

The prayers hereafter set down are to be said on the working days kneeling:

Pater noster, qui es in caelis, sanctificetur nomen tuum: adveniat regnum tuum: fiat voluntas tua, sicut in caelo et in terra: panem nostrum quotidianum da nobis hodie et dimitte nobis debita nostra, sicut et nos dimittimus debitoribus nostris.

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 those who trespass against us.

V: Et ne nos inducas in tentationem.

V: And lead us not into temptation.

R: Sed libera nos a malo.

R: But deliver us from evil.

Psalmus [145]:
Lauda anima mea Dominum: laudabo Dominum in vita mea: psallam Deo meo quamdiu fuero.
Nolite confidere in principibus: in filiis hominum, in quibus non est salus.
Exibit spiritus eius, et revertetur in terram suam: in illa die peribunt omnes cogitationes eorum.
Beatus cuius Deus Iacob adiutor eius, spes eius in Domino Deo ipsius: qui fecit caelum et terram, mare et omnia quae in eis sunt.
Qui custodit veritatem in saeculum, facit iudicium iniuriam patientibus: dat escam esurientibus.
Dominus solvit conpeditos: Dominus illuminat caecos.
Dominus erigit elisos: Dominus diligit iustos.
Dominus custodit advenas, pupillum et viduam suscipiet: et vias peccatorum disperdet.
Regnabit Dominus in saecula, Deus tuus Sion: in generatione et generationem.

Psalm [145]:
My soul praise thou our Lord, I will praise our Lord in my life: I will sing to my God as long as I shall be.
Put not confidence in Princes: in the children of men, in whom there is no salvation.
His spirit shall go forth, and shall return into his earth: in that day all their cogitations shall perish.
Blessed is he whose God of Jacob is his helper his hope in our Lord his God: which made heaven and earth, the sea, and all things that are in them.
Which keepeth truth forever, doth judgement for them that suffer wrong, giveth food to the hungry.
Our Lord looseth the fettered: our Lord lighteneth the blind.
Our Lord lifteth up the bruised: our Lord loveth the just.
Our Lord keepeth strangers, the fatherless and widow he will receive: and the ways of sinners he shall destroy.
Our Lord shall reign forever, thy God O Sion: in generation and generation.

Requiem aeternam dona eis Domine: et lux perpetua luceat eis.

Eternal rest give unto them O Lord: and let perpetual light shine unto them.

V: A porta inferi.

V: From the gate of hell.

R: Erue Domine animas eorum.

R: Deliver their souls O Lord.

V: Requiescant in pace.

V: Let them rest in peace.

R: Amen.

R: Amen.

V: Domine exaudi orationem meam.

V: O Lord hear my prayer.

R: Et clamor meus ad te veniat.

R: And let my cry come unto thee.

Oratio:
Deus, qui inter Apostolicos sacerdotes famulos tuos pontificali seu sacerdotali fecisti dignitate vigere: praesta quaesumus: ut eorum quoque perpetuo aggregentur consortio.
Deus veniae largitor et humanae salutis amator, quaesumus clementiam tuam: ut nostrae congregationis fratres, propinquos, et benefactores, qui ex hoc saeculo transierunt, beata Maria semper virgine intercedente cum omnibus sanctis tuis, ad perpetuae beatitudinis consortium pervenire concedas.
Fidelium Deus omnium conditor, et redemptor animabus famulorum, famularumque tuarum remissionem cunctorum tribue peccatorum: ut indulgentiam, quam semper optaverunt, piis supplicationibus consequantur. Qui vivis et regnas in saecula saeculorum.

Prayer:
O God, which among the Apostolic priests hast made thy servants to have power by pontifical or priestly dignity: Grant we beseech thee: that they may also be joined unto their perpetual society.
O God the giver of pardon, and the lover of human salvation, we beseech thy clemency: that thou grant the brethren of our congregation, kinsfolk, and benefactors, which are departed out of this world, blessed Mary ever virgin making intercession with all the saints, to come to the fellowship of eternal blessedness.
O God the creator, and redeemer of all the faithful, give unto the souls of thy servants men, and women remission of all their sins: that through Godly supplications they may obtain the pardon which they have always wished for. Who livest and reignest world without end.

R: Amen.

R: Amen.

V: Requiem aeternam dona eis Domine.

V: Eternal rest give unto them O Lord.

R: Et lux perpetua luceat eis.

R: And let perpetual light shine unto them.

V: Requiescant in pace.

V: Let them rest in peace.

R: Amen.

R: Amen.

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