This period of time comprises:
- Eastertide – From Vespers of the Easter Vigil to None of Vigil of our Lord’s Ascension inclusive
- Ascension – From Vespers of the Wednesday before our Lord’s Ascension to None of vigil of Pentecost inclusive
- Octave of Pentecost – From the Mass of Vigil of Pentecost to None of following Saturday inclusive.
Rubrics during Paschaltide
- In Paschaltide an Alleluia is added at the end of the antiphons and verses unless they already have one.
- The Regina Cœli becomes the Antiphon of the Blessed Virgin during Paschaltide and is recited after the Nunc dimittis from Holy Saturday until Lauds of the Saturday before Trinity Sunday.
- An additional stanza is sung in the Hymns in all hours but Vespers and Compline.
- An additional stanza is sung during the Octave of the Ascension in the Hymns in all hours but Vespers and Compline.
- An additional stanza is sung during the Octave of Pentecost in the Hymns in all hours but Vespers and Compline.
Symbols:
☩ – Large sign of the cross (Sign of the cross from the forehead to the breast and from the left shoulder to the right)
✠ – Sign of the cross over the lips
☨ – Sign of the cross over the heart
Prayers before the Office
Matins
The Invitatory
Psalm 94
Hymn
Colunt, adórant, prædicant,
Trinam regéntem máchinam,
Claustrum Maríæ bájulat.
Adore, and laud, and magnify,
Who o’er their threefold fabric reigns,
The Virgin’s spotless womb contains.
Desérviunt per témpora,
Perfúsa cæli grátia,
Gestant puéllæ víscera.
And all things in due course is done,
Is borne upon a maiden’s breast,
By fullest heavenly grace possest.
Cujus supérnus ártifex
Mundum pugíllo cóntinens,
Ventris sub arca clausus est.
The great artificer divine,
Whose hand contains the earth and sky,
Vouchsafed, as in his ark, to lie.
Fœcúnda sancto Spíritu,
Desiderátus géntibus,
Cujus per alvum fusus est.
Blest, by the work the Spirit wrought;
From whom the great desire of earth
Took human flesh and human birth.
During Paschaltide, the following stanza is inserted just before the concluding stanza.
In hoc pascháli gáudio,
Ab omni mortis ímpetu,
Tuum defénde pópulum.
In this our joy of Eastertide;
Whene’er the assaults of death impend
Thy people strengthen and defend.
During the octave of the Ascension, the following stanza is inserted just before the concluding stanza.
Qui es futúrus præmium:
Sit nostra in te glória,
Per cuncta semper sæcula.
Who art to be our great reward:
Our glory and our boast in Thee
Forever and forever be.
During the octave of Pentecost, the following stanza is inserted just before the concluding stanza.
Tua replesti grátia:
Dimítte nostra crímina,
Et da quiéta témpora.
Didst bid indwelling grace to rest:
This day our sins, we pray, release,
And in our time, O Lord, give peace.
Qui natus es de Vírgine,
Cum Patre, et almo Spíritu
In sempitérna sæcula.
Amen.
O Jesu, Virgin-born to thee;
All glory, as is ever meet,
To Father and to Paraclete.
Amen.
Third Nocturn
(For Wednesdays & Saturdays)
Psalm 95
Psalm 96
Psalm 97
The Lessons
First Lesson – Cant. 3:6; 4:7,12
Second Lesson – Ecclesiasticus 24:22-25
Third Lesson – Ecclesiasticus 24:26-28, 30-31
Te Deum
Next Hour » LAUDS (For Paschaltide)
The Antiphon of Our Lady
The Antiphon of the Blessed Virgin should be recited at the end of Matins if Matins is separated from Lauds.
The Antiphon of Our Lady
Prayer After the Office
To those who, after the Divine Office, shall on their knees recite with devotion the following prayer, Pope Leo X granted indulgence in respect of those shortcomings and faults which they may have committed through human frailty while saying Office.
Then is said secretly an ‘Our Father’ and a ‘Hail Mary’.