Ad Primam
The Morning Offering of Praise
The office begins with a call to prayer, a hymn reflecting on Christ's suffering, and a prayer for mercy.
O God, come to my help, etc.✦ Hymn. You who had your face veiled, Sun of justice, were mocked with bent knees and struck with many blows. We ask you more earnestly that you would be gracious to us, and that through your mercy you would lead us all the way to glory. Praise and honor to Christ, sold and betrayed without cause, who suffered death for the people on the harsh cross. Amen.
The Steadfastness of the Suffering Servant
The antiphon and scripture reading highlight Christ's endurance of mockery and hostility without turning away.
Antiphon. I didn't turn my face away from those who were rebuking me and spitting on me.✦ Psalm 42.1 Judge me, O God, etc. Chapter. Consider him who endured such hostility against himself from sinners, so that you won't grow weary and lose heart.✦ R. Thanks be to God.
The Silent Response of the Lamb
A responsory and litany of mercy emphasize Christ's silence under suffering and the need for divine compassion.
V. When he was insulted, he didn't insult back.✦ R. And when he suffered, he made no threats.✦ Lord, have mercy. Christ, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Prayer.
The Final Petition for Judgment
The concluding prayer reflects on Christ's trial before Pilate and asks for his mercy in our own final judgment.
Lord Jesus Christ, who at the first hour of the day were brought before Pilate the governor and, as the Judge of judges, endured the harshest judgment: we humbly pray that you would help us in our own judgment, so that we may not be condemned to eternal punishment at the final judgment, but may deserve to be joined to your faithful ones in heaven. You who live and reign, etc.
Read the original Latin
Deus, in adiutorium meum intende etc. Hymnus. Tu qui velatus facie Fuisti, sol iustitiae, Flexis illusus genibus, Crebris caesus verberibus. Te petimus attentius, Ut sis nobis propitius, Et per tuam clementiam Perducas nos ad gloriam. Laus, honor Christo vendito Et sine causa prodito, Mortem passo pro populo In aspero patibulo. Amen.
Antiph. Faciem meam non averti ab increpantibus et conspuentibus in me. Psalmus 42. Iudica me, Deus etc. Capitulum. Recogitate eum qui talem sustinuit adversum semetipsum a peccatoribus contradictionem, ut non fatigemini animis vestris deficientes. R. Deo gratias.
V. Cum malediceretur, non maledicebat. R. Et cum pateretur, non comminabatur. Kyrie eleison. Christe eleison. Kyrie eleison. Oratio.
Domine Iesu Christe, qui hora diei prima pro nobis peccatoribus, Pilato praesidi praesentatus, Iudex iudicum durissimum iudicium pertulisti: tibi humiliter supplicamus, ut nobis miseris subvenias iudicandis, ne in extremo iudicio aeterno damnemur supplicio, sed tuis in caelestibus mereamur fidelibus sociari. Qui vivis et regnas etc.
Scripture echoes
- ↩Ps.69.2;Ps.71.1 — Save me, O God, for the waters have come up to my neck. Ps.71.1 — In you, LORD, I have taken refuge; let me never be put to shame.
- ↩Isa.50.6 — I gave my back to those who struck me, and my cheeks to those who pulled out my beard; I did not hide my face from disgrace and spitting.
- ↩Heb.12.3 — For consider him who endured such hostility from sinners against yourselves, so that you may not grow weary, being exhausted in your souls.
- ↩1Pet.2.23 — When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but he entrusted himself to the one who judges justly.
- ↩1Pet.2.23 — When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but he entrusted himself to the one who judges justly.
Notes
- 1 ↩Vulgate Psalm 42 corresponds to Hebrew/English Psalm 43 in many modern Bibles.
Office of the Passion (Long Hours of the Passion) companion
Never lose the rhythm again
Chosen Portion delivers your morning, midday and night office to your phone — the Hours, without the bells.
Chosen Portion is a modern Book of Hours: it turns the fixed-hour structure this collection preserves into scheduled, tappable daily prayer on your phone.
- Three daily prayer moments scheduled around your real calendar, not a monastery's
- Psalms and historic prayers sequenced for you — no page-flipping or decision fatigue
- A visible streak of completed offices, so the rhythm compounds instead of collapsing