Vespers
The Optional Memorial of Saint Paulinusof Nola, Bishop, may be observed today using the ferial texts with the Proper Closing Prayer. If it is desired to use any texts from the Common, these may be taken from the Common of Pastors: For a Bishop, found in the ëPrayersí section of the iBreviary.
The Optional Memorial of Saint John Fisher, Bishop, and Saint Thomas More, Martyrs, may be observed today using the ferial texts with the Proper Closing Prayer. If it is desired to use any texts from the Common, these may be taken from the Common of Martyrs: For Several Martyrs, found in the ëPrayersí section of the iBreviary.
INTRODUCTION
God,
+ come to my assistance.
ñ Lord, make haste to help me.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:
ñ as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen. Alleluia.
HYMN
When, in his own image,
God created man,
He included freedom
In creationís plan.
For he loved us even
From before our birth:
By his grace he made us
Freemen of this earth.
God to man entrusted
Life as gift and aim.
Sin became our prison,
Turning hope to shame.
Man against his brother
Lifted hand and sword,
And the Fatherís pleading
Went unseen, unheard.
Then in time, our maker
Chose to intervene,
Set his love in person
In the human scene.
Jesus broke the circle
Of repeated sin,
So that manís devotion
Newly might begin.
Choose we now in freedom
Where we should belong.
Let us turn to Jesus,
Let our choice be strong.
May the great obedience
Which in Christ we see
Perfect all our service:
Then we shall be free!
Melody: Kingís Weston 65.65 DMusic: R. Vaughn Williams, 1875-1958Text: Fred Kaan, 1929-2009
Or:
Maker of men, who from thy throne
Dost order all things, God alone;
By whose decree the teeming earth
To reptile and to beast gave birth:
The mighty forms that fill the land,
Instinct with life at thy command,
Are givín subdued to humankind
For service in their rank assigned.
From all thy servants drive away
Whateíer of thought impure today
Hath been with open action blent,
Or mingled with the heartís intent.
In heavín thine endless joys bestow,
And grant thy gifts of grace below;
From chains of strife our souls release,
Blind fast the gentle bands of peace.
O Father, that we ask be done,
Through Jesus Christ, thine only Son;
Who, with the Holy Ghost and thee,
Doth live and reign eternally. Amen.
Melody: Quebec L.M.
Music: Henry Baker, 1866
Text: Plasmator hominis, Deus, attributed to Saint Gregory the Great, 540-604.
Translation: From The Psalter, 1852, John David Chambers, 1803-1893
PSALMODY
Ant. 1 Great is the Lord, our God, transcending all other gods.
Psalm 135
Praise for the wonderful things God does for us
He has won us for himself. . . and you must proclaim what he has done for you. He has called you out of darkness into his own wonderful light (see 1 Peter 2:9).
I
Praise the name of the Lord,
*praise him, servants of the Lord,
who stand in the house of the Lord
*in the courts of the house of our God.
Praise the Lord for the Lord is good.
*Sing a psalm to his name for he is loving.
For the Lord has chosen Jacob for himself
*and Israel for his own possession.
For I know the Lord is great,
*that our Lord is high above all gods.
The Lord does whatever he wills,
*in heaven, on earth, in the seas.
He summons clouds from the ends of the earth;
Ümakes lightning produce the rain;
*from his treasuries he sends forth the wind.
The first-born of the Egyptians he smote,
*of man and beast alike.
Signs and wonders he worked
Üin the midst of your land, O Egypt,
*against Pharaoh and all his servants.
Nations in their greatness he struck
*and kings in their splendor he slew.
Sihon, king of the Amorites,
ÜOg, the king of Bashan,
*and all the kingdoms of Canaan.
He let Israel inherit their land;
*on his people their land he bestowed.
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. Great is the Lord, our God, transcending all other gods.
Ant. 2 House of Israel, bless the Lord! Sing psalms to him, for he is merciful.
II
Lord, your name stands for ever,
*unforgotten from age to age:
for the Lord does justice for his people;
*the Lord takes pity on his servants.
Pagan idols are silver and gold,
*the work of human hands.
They have mouths but they cannot speak;
*they have eyes but they cannot see.
They have ears but they cannot hear;
*there is never a breath on their lips.
Their makers will come to be like them
*and so will all who trust in them!
Sons of Israel, bless the Lord!
*Sons of Aaron, bless the Lord!
Sons of Levi, bless the Lord!
*You who fear him, bless the Lord!
From Zion may the Lord be blessed,
*he who dwells in 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, your name and your memory last forever. We stand to pray in your house and praise you with psalms of joy. We ask you in your kindness to have mercy on us in our lowliness.
Ant. House of Israel, bless the Lord! Sing psalms to him, for he is merciful.
Ant. 3 All nations will come and worship before you, O Lord.
Canticle: Revelation 15:3-4
Hymn of adoration
Mighty and wonderful are your works,
*Lord God Almighty!
Righteous and true are your ways,
*O King of the nations!
Who would dare refuse you honor,
*or the glory due your name, O Lord?
Since you alone are holy,
*all nations shall come
and worship in your presence.
*Your mighty deeds are clearly seen.
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. All nations will come and worship before you, O Lord.
READING
James 1:2-4
My brothers, count it pure joy when you are involved in every sort of trial. Realize that when your faith is tested this makes for endurance. Let endurance come to its perfection so that you may be fully mature and lacking in nothing.
RESPONSORY
Christ loved us and washed away our sins, in his own blood.
ñ Christ loved us and washed away our sins, in his own blood.
He made us a nation of kings and priests,
ñ in his own blood.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
ñ Christ loved us and washed away our sins, in his own blood.
CANTICLE OF MARY
Ant. The Lord has come to the help of his servants, for he has remembered his promise of mercy.
Luke 1:46-55The soul rejoices in the Lord
My
+ soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord,
Ümy 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:
Üthe 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. The Lord has come to the help of his servants, for he has remembered his promise of mercy.
INTERCESSIONS
Because of our sins the Father gave the Lord Jesus up to death, and for our justification he raised him up again. Let us pray:
Have mercy on your people, Lord.
Hear our prayers and spare us as we confess our sins,
ñ grant us forgiveness and peace.
Have mercy on your people, Lord.
Your Apostle said: ìWhere sin abounds, grace abounds all the more,î
ñ forgive us our transgressions.
Have mercy on your people, Lord.
Lord, we have sinned, yet we have also acknowledged your infinite mercy,
ñ bring us to conversion.
Have mercy on your people, Lord.
Save your people from their sins, Lord,
ñ make them pleasing to you.
Have mercy on your people, Lord.
You opened Paradise to the thief who believed in you,
ñ do not close the gates of heaven to the faithful departed.
Have mercy on your people, Lord.
THE LORDíS PRAYER
(Let us again offer our praise to God and pray in the words of Christ:
)
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
Father,
in your loving plan
Christ your Son became the price of our salvation.
May we be united with him in his suffering
so that we may experience the power of his resurrection
in the kingdom
where he lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever..
ñ Amen.
DISMISSAL
May the Lord bless
+ us,
protect us from all evil
and bring us to everlasting life.
ñ Amen.
For the Memorial of Saint Paulinus of Nola:
Lord,
you made Saint Paulinus
renowned for his love of poverty
and concern for his people.
May we who celebrate his witness to the Gospel
imitate his example of love for others.
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.
ñ Amen.
Or:
O God, who made the Bishop Saint Paulinus of Nola
outstanding for love of poverty and for pastoral care,
graciously grant that, as we celebrate his merits,
we may imitate the example of his charity.
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.
ñ Amen.
DISMISSAL
May the Lord bless
+ us,
protect us from all evil
and bring us to everlasting life.
ñ Amen.
For the Memorial of Saints John Fisher and Thomas More:
Father,
you confirm the true faith
with the crown of martyrdom.
May the prayers of Saints John Fisher and Thomas More
give us the courage to proclaim our faith
by the witness of our lives.
Grant this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever.
ñ Amen.
Or:
O God, who in martyrdom
have brought true faith to its highest expression,
graciously grant
that, strengthened through the intercession
of Saints John Fisher and Thomas More,
we may confirm by the witness of our life
the faith we profess with our lips.
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.
ñ Amen.
DISMISSAL
May the Lord bless
+ us,
protect us from all evil
and bring us to everlasting life.
ñ Amen.
Compline
INTRODUCTION
God,
+ come to my assistance.
ñ Lord, make haste to help me.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:
ñ 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.
ñ Amen.
]
HYMN
Holy God, we praise thy Name!
Lord of all, we bow before thee!
All on earth they scepter claim,
All in heaven above adore thee!
Infinite thy vast domain,
Everlasting is thy reign.
Hark the loud celestial hymn
Angel choirs above are raising;
Cherubim and Seraphim,
In unceasing chorus praising,
Fill the heavens with sweet accord:
Holy, Holy, Holy Lord!
Holy Father, Holy Son,
Holy Spirit, Three we name thee,
While in essence only One,
Undivided God we claim thee;
And adoring bend the knee,
While we own the mystery.
Melody: Grofler Gott 78.78.77Music: Katholisches Gesangbuch, Vienna, c. 1774Text: Ignaz Franz, 1719-1790Translation: Clarence Walsworth, 1820-1900
PSALMODY
Ant. Day and night I cry to you, my God.
Psalm 88Prayer of a very sick person
This is your hour when darkness reigns (Luke 22:53).
Lord my God, I call for help by day;
*I cry at night before you.
Let my prayer come into your presence.
*O turn your ear to my cry.
For my soul is filled with evils;
*my life is on the brink of the grave.
I am reckoned as one in the tomb:
*I have reached the end of my strength,
like one alone among the dead;
*like the slain lying in their graves;
like those you remember no more,
*cut off, as they are, from your hand.
You have laid me in the depths of the tomb,
*in places that are dark, in the depths.
Your anger weighs down upon me:
*I am drowned beneath your waves.
You have taken away my friends
*and made me hateful in their sight.
Imprisoned, I cannot escape;
*my eyes are sunken with grief.
I call to you, Lord, all the day long;
*to you I stretch out my hands.
Will you work your wonders for the dead?
*Will the shades stand and praise you?
Will your love be told in the grave
*or your faithfulness among the dead?
Will your wonders be known in the dark
*or your justice in the land of oblivion?
As for me, Lord, I call to you for help:
*in the morning my prayer comes before you.
Lord, why do you reject me?
*Why do you hide your face?
Wretched, close to death from my youth,
*I have borne your trials; I am numb.
Your fury has swept down upon me;
*your terrors have utterly destroyed me.
They surround me all the day like a flood,
*they assail me all together.
Friend and neighbor you have taken away:
*my one companion is darkness.
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. Day and night I cry to you, my God.
READING
Jeremiah 14:9a
You are in our midst, O Lord,
your name we bear:
do not forsake us, O Lord, our God!
RESPONSORY
Into your hands, Lord, I commend my spirit.
ñ Into your hands, Lord, I commend my spirit.
You have redeemed us, Lord God of truth.
ñ I commend my spirit.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
ñ Into your hands, Lord, I commend my spirit.
CANTICLE OF SIMEON
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.
All-powerful God
keep us united with your Son
in his death and burial
so that we may rise to new life with him,
who lives and reigns for ever and ever.
ñ Amen.
BLESSING
May the all-powerful Lord
grant us a restful night
and a peaceful death.
ñ 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 Gabrielís joyful greeting,
have pity on us poor sinners.