Itinarium

Today, some of our Sisters will be heading off on a little journey. As is the custom in our community, we prayed the Itinarium (also known as the Office of Travelers). It is a beautiful Office and once prayed, one certainly feels spiritually prepared for a journey! While it is a little too long have the full Office for the Itinarium in this post, here are a few excerpts:

The Office begins by our Superior intoning the opening antiphon:
Antiphon:
Into the way of peace and prosperity direct                                  In viam pacis et prosperitatis dirigat nos omnipotens us, O almighty and merciful God; and may the                            et misericors Dominus: et Angelus Raphael       Angel Raphael accompany us in the way, and                              comitetur nobiscum in via, it cum pace, salute et may we return in peace, health and joy unto our                          gaudio revertamur ad propria.
own home.

The Benedictus

Antiphon: Into the way...

After the Benedictus, we chanted the Kyrie Eleison and many beautiful versicles and responses such as:

V. May the God of our salvation give us a prosperous journey.   
R. Show us Thy ways, O Lord.
V. O that our ways were directed.
R. To keep Thy just statutes.
V. The crooked ways shall be made straight.
R. And the rough ways made plain.
V. God shall give His Angels charge concerning Thee.
R. That they may keep thee in all thy ways.

After the versicles, there are four amazing prayers, such as:

Hearken, we beseech Thee, O Lord, to our supplications, and dispose the way of Thy salvation; that among all the mishaps of the journey and of this life, we may ever be defended by Thy help.

Finally, our Superior closes the Office by intoning:
Procedamus in pace. (Let us proceed in peace)

To which we responded:
In nomine Domini. (In the name of the Lord)
Amen.