Deus, in adiutorium meum intende

"Deus, in adiutorium meum intende", with the response "Domine, ad adiuvandum me festina" (respectively, "O God, come to my assistance" and "O LORD, make haste to help me") are the first verse of Psalm 70 (Psalm 69 in the Vulgate): "Make haste, O God, to deliver me; Make haste to help me, O LORD."; Hebrew: לַ֝מְנַצֵּ֗חַ לְדָוִ֥ד לְהַזְכִּֽיר׃ אֱלֹהִ֥ים לְהַצִּילֵ֑נִי יְ֝הוָ֗ה לְעֶזְרָ֥תִי חֽוּשָֽׁה׃‎ ’Ĕlōhîm lə-haṣṣîlênî Yahweh lə-‘ezrāṯî ḥūšāh. 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, heavily influenced by the writings of Saint John Cassian. Saint Gregory the Great extended it to all the Roman churches. Saint John Cassian (Coll., X, 10) wrote that from the earliest Christian times the monks used this introduction very often, including outside of the liturgical prayers, as an invocation for every situation, for times of temptation, tiredness, and joy.

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 adiutorium" 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 adiutorium" 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.

In popular culture

In the 1964 historical film Becket, Thomas Becket (played by Richard Burton) sings the hymn at Vespers on the day he is martyred by four knights sent by his former friend King Henry II.

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 Company. 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.