LOST TRADITION: The "Modus Terminandi Horas"

As I plumb the depths of my new 1909 Breviarium S.O.P. I find that there is much in it to post about. But where to begin? A good place to start is a set of prayers that I found, at the end of the Psalter.  Unlike my 1962 Breviarium S.O.P., the the special “Laudate” psalms that are used at 1st Vespers on 1st Class feasts are not found at the end of the breviary, in a special section (pp. [1] - [2]), in the 1909 Breviarium they are placed at the end of the Psalter.  After that, comes something called “Modus Terminandi Horas”, or the method of ending the hours.   And then after this comes the entire office of Compline.

The rubrics for this Modus Terminandi Horas state that these versicles, responses, and prayers are to be said after each hour, if another hour, conventual Mass, or Office of the Dead does not immediately follow. The only exception of course, is Compline…which has its own special set of prayers at the end.

The prayers are as follows:

Salve Regina…	Hail holy Queen…
Ana. Pie Pater Dominice, tuorum memor operum, sta coram summo Judice pro tuo coetu pauperum.	Ana.  Loving Father Dominic, be mindful of your works.  Plead before the supreme Judge for your group of poor.
V. Post partum Virgo inviolata permansisti.  R. Dei Genetrix intercede pro nobis.	V.  After childbirth, O Virgin, you remained inviolate.  R.  Mother of God, intercede for us.
V.  Ora pro nobis beate Pater Dominice.  R. Ut digni efficiamur promissionibus Christi.	V. Pray for us, blessed Father Dominic, R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.
V. Fiat pax in virtute tua.  R. Et abundantia in turribus tuis. Dominus vobiscum.  R.  Et cum spiritu tuo.	V. Let peace be in thy strength. R. And abundance in thy towers. O Lord hear my prayer.  R.  And let my cry come unto you.
Oremus.	Let us pray.
Protege Domine famulos tuos subsidiis pacis: et beatae Mariae semper virginis patrociniis confidentes: a cunctis hostibus redde securos.	Protect, O Lord, thy servants with thine armies of peace: and make those who trust in the patronage of the Blessed Mary, ever virgin: secure against all enemies.
Concede, quæsumus, omnipotens Deus, ut qui peccatorum nostrorum pondere premimur, beati Dominici Confessoris tui, Patris nostri, patrocinio sublevemur.	Grant, we beseech Thee, almighty God, that we who are weighed down by the burden of our sins may be relieved through the patronage of the blessed Dominic, Your confessor and our Father.
Ecclesiæ tuæ, quaesumus, Dómine, preces placátus admítte: ut, destrúctis adversitátibus et erróribus univérsis, secúra tibi sérviat libertáte; et pacem tuam nostris concéde temporibus. Per Christum Dóminum nostrum.  R.  Amen.  Pater noster.  secreto.	We beseech Thee, O Lord, mercifully to receive the prayers of Thy Church: that, all adversity and error being destroyed, she may serve Thee in security and freedom, and grant thy peace in our times. Through Christ our Lord, R. Amen.  Pater noster. privately.

So after Terce say, if no other liturgical action were to follow, the above prayers would be recited.  I really like this, and these prayers seem like a wonderful way to end Lauds or Vespers, even even if used only occasionally.  Doing so will not only avail me of the graces of Almighty God which come from offering such beautiful supplications, but it will also join me to the countless armies of Dominican friars, nuns, brothers, and sisters of the past who prayed these very prayers during the day and night.

Also, as it turns out, for some time now I have been looking for a prayer to pray when putting on my scapular in the morning, other than the "O Lumen Ecclesiae" (which I have been using up till now).  I was looking for something that invoked Our Lady's protection over the Order.  The first prayer above (Protege Domine...) seemed perfect, so that is what I now use.