Little Office of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Officium parvum Beatæ Mariæ Virginis

The Little Office is a traditional cycle of prayer in honor of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Its psalms, hymns, lessons, and canticles offer a way to return to God throughout the day in the company of Our Lady.

It is arranged in eight hours, from Matins to Compline. “Hour” here means a time of prayer, not sixty minutes. You may begin with one hour, such as Lauds in the morning or Compline before bed, and become familiar with the others gradually.

Choose an hour below to read its prayers. The times are traditional guides for private devotion. Select a seasonal form here, then choose your language on the individual hour’s page. Your choices will follow you as you move from one hour to the next.

The hours of the Little Office

  1. Matins — Night or early morning

    Begin with the invitatory, psalms, and lessons in honor of Our Lady.

  2. Lauds — At dawn

    Greet the new day with psalms of praise and the Benedictus.

  3. Prime — Early morning

    Offer the beginning of the day's work to God.

  4. Terce — Midmorning

    Pause for a short hour of psalms, a hymn, and prayer.

  5. Sext — At midday

    Turn to God in the middle of the day through Mary's intercession.

  6. None — Midafternoon

    Sanctify the afternoon with the last of the little daytime hours.

  7. Vespers — In the evening

    Give thanks at the close of the day with psalms and the Magnificat.

  8. Compline — Before retiring

    Entrust the night to God and ask for Our Lady's protection.

Prayer texts are provided by Divinum Officium, using its Little Office of the Blessed Virgin Mary and 1960 rubrics. Seasonal forms include Advent, Christmastide, the period from Septuagesima through Lent, and Eastertide. Source license.