Chorister’s Prayer

St Stephen’s Choir of Men and Boys is affiliated with the Royal School of Church Music (RSCM), and the Choir uses the Chorister’s Prayer as their preparation for every service, led by the Head Chorister. A previous Head Chorister indicated an interest in leading the prayer in Latin, and so we provided a translation.

It was Fr Hawtin’s practice to add a quip after the prayer. That quickly became another versicle and response, and it, too, has been translated into Latin.

Here is the Chorister’s Prayer, in English:

℣. The Lord be with you.

℟. And with thy spirit.

℣. Let us pray.

Bless, O Lord, * us thy servants, who minister in thy temple. Grant that what we sing with our lips, we may believe in our hearts; and what we believe in our hearts, we may show forth in our lives. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

℣. Let us do it unto them:

℟. Before it be done unto us.

And here is the Oratio Choristæ, in Latin:

℣. Dominus vobiscum;

℟. Et cum spiritu tuo.

℣. Oremus.

Bénedic Domine * nos servos tuos, qui mínistrant in templum tuum. Dona, ut quod ore cantámus, corde credámus; et quod corde crédimus, opéribus comprobémus; per Christum Dominum nostrum. Amen.

℣. Faciámus iliis:

℟. Ante quod nobis fácere potúerunt.