Vespers
INTRODUCTION
God, + come to my assistance.
– Lord, make haste to help me.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:
– as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen. Alleluia.
HYMN
Now thank we all our God,
With heart and hands and voices,
Who wondrous things has done,
In whom his world rejoices;
Who from our mothers’ arms
Has blessed us on our way
With countless gifts of love,
And still is ours today.
O may this gracious God
Through all our life be near us!
With ever joyful hearts,
And blessed peace to cheer us;
Preserve us in his grace,
And guide us in distress,
And free us from all sin,
Till heaven we possess.
All praise and thanks to God
The Father now be given,
The Son and Spirit blest,
Who reigns in highest heaven;
Eternal Triune God,
Whom earth and heavn’n adore;
For thus it was, is now,
And shall be ever more.
Melody: Nun Danket 67.67.66.66
Music: Johann Crüger, 1598-1662
Text: Martin Rinkart, 1586-1649
Translation: Catherine Winkworth, 1829-1878
PSALMODY
Ant. 1 From the rising of the sun to its setting, may the name of the Lord be praised.
Psalm 113
Praise the name of the Lord
He has cast down the mighty and has lifted up the lowly (Luke 1:52).
Praise, O servants of the Lord,
*praise the name of the Lord!
May the name of the Lord be blessed
*both now and for evermore!
From the rising of the sun to its setting
*praised be the name of the Lord!
High above all nations is the Lord,
*above the heavens his glory.
Who is like the Lord, our God,
*who has risen on high to his throne
yet stoops from the heights to look down,
*to look down upon heaven and earth?
From the dust he lifts up the lowly,
*from his misery he raises the poor
to set him in the company of princes,
*yes, with the princes of his people.
To the childless wife he gives a home
*and gladdens her heart with children.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son,
*and to the Holy Spirit:
as it was in the beginning, is now,
*and will be for ever. Amen.
Psalm Prayer
Lord Jesus, Word of God, surrendering the brightness of your glory you became man so that we may be raised from the dust to share your very being. May there be innumerable children of the Church to offer homage to your name from the rising of the sun to its setting.
Ant. From the rising of the sun to its setting, may the name of the Lord be praised.
Ant. 2 I shall take into my hand the saving chalice and invoke the name of the Lord.
Psalm 116:10-19
Thanksgiving in the Temple
Through Christ let us offer God a continual sacrifice of praise (Hebrews 13:15).
I trusted, even when I said:
*“I am sorely afflicted,”
and when I said in my alarm:
*“No man can be trusted.”
How can I repay the Lord
*for his goodness to me?
The cup of salvation I will raise;
*I will call on the Lord’s name.
My vows to the Lord I will fulfill
*before all his people.
O precious in the eyes of the Lord
*is the death of his faithful.
Your servant, Lord, your servant am I;
*you have loosened my bonds.
A thanksgiving sacrifice I make:
*I will call on the Lord’s name.
My vows to the Lord I will fulfill
*before all his people,
in the courts of the house of the Lord,
*in your midst, O Jerusalem.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son,
*and to the Holy Spirit:
as it was in the beginning, is now,
*and will be for ever. Amen.
Psalm Prayer
Father, precious in your sight is the death of the saints, but precious above all is the love with which Christ suffered to redeem us. In this life we will fill up in our own flesh what it is still lacking in the sufferings of Christ; accept this as our sacrifice of praise, and we shall even now taste the joy of the new Jerusalem.
Ant. I shall take into my hand the saving chalice and invoke the name of the Lord.
Ant. 3 The Lord Jesus humbled himself and God exalted him for ever.
Canticle: Philippians 2:6-11
Christ, God’s holy servant
Though he was in the form of God,
†Jesus did not deem equality with God
*something to be grasped at.
Rather, he emptied himself
†and took the form of a slave,
*being born in the likeness of men.
He was known to be of human estate,
*and it was thus that he humbled himself,
obediently accepting even death,
*death on a cross!
Because of this,
*God highly exalted him
and bestowed on him the name
*above every other name,
So that at Jesus’ name
*every knee must bend
in the heavens, on the earth,
*and under the earth,
and every tongue proclaim
†to the glory of God the Father:
*JESUS CHRIST IS LORD!
Glory to the Father, and to the Son,
*and to the Holy Spirit:
as it was in the beginning, is now,
*and will be for ever. Amen.
Ant. The Lord Jesus humbled himself and God exalted him for ever.
READING
Hebrews 13:20-21
May the God of peace, who brought up from the dead the great Shepherd of the sheep by the blood of the eternal covenant, Jesus our Lord, furnish you with all that is good, that you may do his will. Through Jesus Christ may he carry out in you all that is pleasing to him. To Christ be glory forever! Amen.
RESPONSORY
Our hearts are filled with wonder as we contemplate your works, O Lord.
– Our hearts are filled with wonder as we contemplate your works, O Lord.
We praise the wisdom which wrought them all,
– as we contemplate your works, O Lord.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
– Our hearts are filled with wonder as we contemplate your works, O Lord.
CANTICLE OF MARY
Ant. Go, preach the good news of the kingdom; freely you have received, freely give, alleluia.
Luke 1:46-55
The soul rejoices in the Lord
My
+ soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord,
†my spirit rejoices in God my Savior
*for he has looked with favor on his lowly servant.
From this day all generations will call me blessed:
†the Almighty has done great things for me,
*and holy is his Name.
He has mercy on those who fear him
*in every generation.
He has shown the strength of his arm,
*he has scattered the proud in their conceit.
He has cast down the mighty from their thrones,
*and has lifted up the lowly.
He has filled the hungry with good things,
*and the rich he has sent away empty.
He has come to the help of his servant Israel
*for he has remembered his promise of mercy,
the promise he made to our fathers,
*to Abraham and his children for ever.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son,
*and to the Holy Spirit:
as it was in the beginning, is now,
*and will be for ever. Amen.
Ant. Go, preach the good news of the kingdom; freely you have received, freely give, alleluia.
INTERCESSIONS
Christ had compassion on the hungry and performed a miracle of love for them. Mindful of this, let us pray:
Show us your love, Lord.
Lord, we recognize that all the favors we have received today come through your generosity,
– do not let them return to you empty, but let them bear fruit.
Show us your love, Lord.
Light and salvation of all nations, protect the missionaries you have sent into the world,
– enkindle in them the fire of your Spirit.
Show us your love, Lord.
Grant that man may shape the world in keeping with human dignity,
– and respond generously to the needs of our time.
Show us your love, Lord.
Healer of body and spirit, comfort the sick and be present to the dying,
– in your mercy visit and refresh us.
Show us your love, Lord.
May the faithful departed be numbered among the saints,
– whose names are in the Book of Life.
Show us your love, Lord.
THE LORD’S PRAYER
(Gathering our prayer and praises into one, let us offer the prayer Christ himself taught us:
)
Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name;
thy kingdom come;
thy will be done on earth
as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread;
and forgive us our trespasses
as we forgive those who trespass against us;
and lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
CONCLUDING PRAYER
Almighty God,
our hope and our strength,
without you we falter.
Help us to follow Christ
and to live according to your will.
We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit
one God, for ever and ever.
– Amen.
Or:
O God, strength of those who hope in you,
graciously hear our pleas,
and, since without you mortal frailty can do nothing,
grant us always the help of your grace,
that in following your commands
we may please you by our resolve and our deeds.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever.
– Amen.
DISMISSAL
May the Lord bless
+ us,
protect us from all evil
and bring us to everlasting life.
– Amen.
Compline
INTRODUCTION
God,
+ come to my assistance.
– Lord, make haste to help me.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:
– as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen. Alleluia.
Examination of Conscience
A brief examination of conscience may be made. In the communal celebration of the Office, a Penitential Rite using the formulas of the Mass may be inserted here.
[I confess to almighty God
and to you, my brothers and sisters,
that I have greatly sinned,
in my thoughts and in my words,
in what I have done and in what I have failed to do,
And, striking their breast, they say:
through my fault, through my fault,
through my most grievous fault;
Then they continue:
therefore I ask blessed Mary ever-Virgin,
all the Angels and Saints,
and you, my brothers and sisters,
to pray for me to the Lord our God.
The absolution by the Priest follows:
May almighty God have mercy on us,
forgive us our sins,
and bring us to everlasting life.
– Amen.
]
HYMN
All praise to you, O God, this night,
For all the blessings of the light;
Keep us, we pray, O king of kings,
Beneath your own almighty wings.
Forgive us, Lord, through Christ your Son
Whatever wrong this day we’ve done;
Your peace give to the world, O Lord,
That all might live in one accord.
Enlighten us, O Blessed Light,
And give us rest throughout this night.
O strengthen us, that for your sake,
We all may serve your when we awake.
Melody: Tallis Canon L.M.Music: Thomas Tallis, 1515-1585Text: Thomas Ken, 1637-1711, alt.
PSALMODY
Ant. 1 Have mercy, Lord, and hear my prayer.
Psalm 4Thanksgiving
The resurrection of Christ was God’s supreme and wholly marvelous work (Saint Augustine).
When I call, answer me, O God of justice;
*from anguish you released me, have mercy and hear me!
O men, how long will your hearts be closed,
*will you love what is futile and seek what is false?
It is the Lord who grants favors to those whom he loves;
*the Lord hears me whenever I call him.
Fear him; do not sin: ponder on your bed and be still.
*Make justice your sacrifice, and trust in the Lord.
“What can bring us happiness?” many say.
*Let the light of your face shine on us, O Lord.
You have put into my heart a greater joy
*than they have from abundance of corn and new wine.
I will lie down in peace and sleep comes at once
*for you alone, Lord, make me dwell in safety.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son,
*and to the Holy Spirit:
as it was in the beginning, is now,
*ad will be for ever. Amen.
Ant. Have mercy, Lord, and hear my prayer.
Ant. 2 In the silent hours of night, bless the Lord.
Psalm 134Evening prayer in the Temple
Praise our God, all you his servants, you who fear him, small and great (Revelation 19:5).
O come, bless the Lord,
*all you who serve the Lord,
who stand in the house of the Lord,
*in the courts of the house of our God.
Lift up your hands to the holy place
*and bless the Lord through the night.
May the Lord bless you from Zion,
*he who made both heaven and earth.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son,
*and to the Holy Spirit:
as it was in the beginning, is now,
*and will be for ever. Amen.
Ant. In the silent hours of night, bless the Lord.
READING
Deuteronomy 6:4-7
Hear, O Israel! The Lord is our God, the Lord alone! Therefore, you shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength. Take to heart these words which I enjoin on you today. Drill them into your children. Speak of them at home and abroad, whether you are busy or at rest.
RESPONSORY
Into your hands, Lord, I commend my spirit.
– Into your hands, Lord, I commend my spirit.
You have redeemed us, Lord God of truth.
– I commend my spirit.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
– Into your hands, Lord, I commend my spirit.
GOSPEL CANTICLE
Ant. Protect us, Lord, as we stay awake; watch over us as we sleep, that awake, we may keep watch with Christ, and asleep, rest in his peace.
Luke 2:29-32Christ is the light of the nations and the glory of Israel
Lord,
+ now you let your servant go in peace;
*your word has been fulfilled:
my own eyes have seen the salvation
*which you have prepared in the sight of every people:
a light to reveal you to the nations
*and the glory of your people Israel.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son,
*and to the Holy Spirit:
as it was in the beginning, is now,
*and will be for ever. Amen.
Ant. Protect us, Lord, as we stay awake; watch over us as we sleep, that awake, we may keep watch with Christ, and asleep, rest in his peace.
CONCLUDING PRAYER
Let us pray.
Lord,
be with us throughout this night.
When day comes may we rise from sleep
to rejoice in the resurrection of your Christ,
who lives and reigns for ever and ever.
– Amen.
BLESSING
May the all-powerful Lord
grant us a restful night
and a peaceful death.
– Amen.
Antiphon or song in honor of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Hail, holy Queen, mother of mercy,
our life, our sweetness, and our hope.
To you do we cry,
poor banished children of Eve.
To you do we send up our sighs
mourning and weeping in this vale of tears.
Turn then, most gracious advocate,
your eyes of mercy toward us,
and after this exile
show us the blessed fruit of your womb, Jesus.
O clement, O loving,
O sweet Virgin Mary.
Or:
Hail Mary, full of grace,
the Lord is with you!
Blessed are you among women,
and blessed is the fruit of your womb, Jesus.
Holy Mary, Mother of God,
pray for us sinners,
now and at the hour of our death.
Or:
Salve, Regina, mater misericordiae;
vita, dulcedo et spes nostra, salve,
Ad te clamamus, exsules filii Evae.
Ad te suspiramus, gementes et flentes
in hac lacrimarum valle.
Eia ergo, advocata nostra,
illos tuos misericordes occulos
ad nos converte.
Et Iesum, benedictum fructum ventris tui,
nobis post hoc exilium ostende.
O clemens, o pia, o dulcis Virgo Maria.
Or:
Loving mother of the Redeemer,
gate of heaven, star of the sea,
assist your people who have fallen yet strive to rise again.
To the wonderment of nature you bore your Creator,
yet remained a virgin after as before.
You who received Gabriel’s joyful greeting,
have pity on us poor sinners.