Deus in adjutorium meum intende

Deus in adjutorium meum intende, with the response Domine ad adjuvandum me festina (respectively, "O God, come to my assistance" and "O LORD, make haste to help me") are the first verse of Psalm 70 (KJV: "Make haste, O God, to deliver me; Make haste to help me, O LORD."). In this form they are a traditional Latin Christian prayer.

These words form the introductory prayer to every Hour of the Roman, Ambrosian, and monastic Breviaries, except during the last three days of Holy Week, and in the Office of the Dead. While these are recited or sung, all present bless themselves with the sign of the cross.

Tradition says that Benedict of Nursia introduced this custom into the monastic Office and that Gregory the Great extended it to all the Roman churches; Cassian (Coll., X, 10), however, says that from the earliest Christian times the monks used this introduction very often, probably outside of the liturgical prayers.

Liturgical use

In placing this supplication at the beginning of every Hour, the Catholic Church implores the assistance of God against distractions in prayer. In the Roman Rite, the "Deus in adjutorium" is preceded in Matins by the "Domine labia mea aperies" ("Open Thou, o LORD my lips), whilst in the monastic Breviary, the order is reversed. In Compline, it is always preceded by the "Converte nos Deus".

In the Mozarabic liturgy the Hours commence with the triple Kyrie Eleison. In all the Latin countries north, east, and west of the Alps, the introduction to the solemn Vespers of Easter Sunday was formed by the nine Kyrie Eleison and Christe Eleison of the Easter Mass. In the churches which observe the Greek Rite, the Trisagion and other prayers open the Hours.

The "Deus in adjutorium" is repeated three times during the conclusional prayers of Prime. In monasteries, Prime was finished immediately after the prayer: "Domine Deus omnipotens"; then the monks went from the choir to the chapter-room, where the Martyrology was read, and the day's work was given out; before dispersing to their several occupations they sang three times the "Deus in adjutorium", to emphasize the union of prayer and labour.

References

Attribution

•  This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Herbermann, Charles, ed. (1913). "Deus in Adjutorium Meum Intende". Catholic Encyclopedia. New York: Robert Appleton.  The entry cites:
  • WOLTER, Psallite sapienter (Freiburg, 1905), II, 658;
  • Nord-amerikanisches Pastoralblatt (Dec., 1907);
  • Batiffol, Tr. BAY-LAY, History of the Roman Breviary (London, 1898);
  • BERNARD, Cours de liturgie romaine: le Breviare (Paris, 1887), II, 148-50.