Vespers (Evening Prayer)

O God, come to my aid.
O Lord, make haste to help me.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,
as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,
world without end.
Amen. Alleluia.

A suitable hymn may be inserted at this point.

Psalm 136 (137)
By the rivers of Babylon
By the rivers of Babylon we sat and wept remembering Sion. On the willow-trees of Babylon we hung up our harps. In that place they asked us, those who had captured us, to sing them a song: “Sing us”, they said, “a song of Sion”. They had brought us affliction and asked us for joy. How shall we sing the songs of the Lord in a foreign land? Jerusalem, if I forget you, send my right hand to oblivion; let my tongue stick in my throat if I do not remember – if I do not rank Jerusalem the first of my joys. Remember, Lord, the Edomites on the day of Jerusalem: “Raze it”, they said, “to the ground”. Babylon’s daughter, destroyer – blessed be he that takes his revenge, that smashes your child on a rock. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

Psalm 136 (137)

By the rivers of Babylon

By the rivers of Babylon
we sat and wept
remembering Sion.
On the willow-trees of Babylon
we hung up our harps.

In that place they asked us,
those who had captured us,
to sing them a song:
“Sing us”, they said,
“a song of Sion”.
They had brought us affliction
and asked us for joy.

How shall we sing the songs of the Lord
in a foreign land?
Jerusalem, if I forget you,
send my right hand to oblivion;
let my tongue stick in my throat
if I do not remember –
if I do not rank Jerusalem
the first of my joys.

Remember, Lord, the Edomites
on the day of Jerusalem:
“Raze it”, they said, “to the ground”.
Babylon’s daughter, destroyer –
blessed be he that takes his revenge,
that smashes your child on a rock.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,
as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,
world without end.
Amen.

Psalm 137 (138)
Thanksgiving
I will praise you, Lord, with all my heart, for you have heard the words of my mouth. In the presence of the angels I will make music to you, worship before your holy temple. I will praise your name because of your mercy and faithfulness: high above all other names is the greatness of your word. Each day that I call on you, Lord, listen to me, strengthen my spirit. All the kings of the earth will proclaim your glory, Lord, when they hear your word. They will sing of the paths of the Lord, so great is his glory. For the Lord is on high but he cares for the humble; and he knows the proud from afar. If I walk in the midst of troubles, you will give me life. If my enemies rise up against me, your right hand will keep me safe. The Lord does all that I need. Lord, your kindness lasts for ever: do not forsake the work of your hands. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

Psalm 137 (138)

Thanksgiving

I will praise you, Lord, with all my heart, for you have heard the words of my mouth.
In the presence of the angels I will make music to you, worship before your holy temple.
I will praise your name because of your mercy and faithfulness: high above all other names is the greatness of your word.

Each day that I call on you, Lord, listen to me, strengthen my spirit.
All the kings of the earth will proclaim your glory, Lord, when they hear your word.
They will sing of the paths of the Lord, so great is his glory.
For the Lord is on high but he cares for the humble; and he knows the proud from afar.

If I walk in the midst of troubles, you will give me life. If my enemies rise up against me, your right hand will keep me safe.
The Lord does all that I need. Lord, your kindness lasts for ever: do not forsake the work of your hands.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,
as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,
world without end.
Amen.

Canticle	Apocalypse 4,5
The song of the redeemed
You are worthy, our Lord and our God, to receive glory and honour and power; for you made all things, and it is by your will that they existed and were created. You are worthy, Lord, to receive the book and open its seals, for you were killed, and with your blood you have ransomed people from every tribe and language and people and nation, and made them rulers and priests for God; and they will rule over the earth. The Lamb is worthy, who was killed, to receive power and riches and wisdom, strength and honour, glory and blessing. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

Canticle

Apocalypse 4,5

The song of the redeemed

You are worthy, our Lord and our God, to receive glory and honour and power;
for you made all things, and it is by your will that they existed and were created.

You are worthy, Lord, to receive the book and open its seals,
for you were killed, and with your blood you have ransomed people from every tribe and language and people and nation,
and made them rulers and priests for God; and they will rule over the earth.

The Lamb is worthy, who was killed, to receive power and riches and wisdom, strength and honour, glory and blessing.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,
as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,
world without end.
Amen.

A short Bible reading and responsory may follow here.

Canticle	Magnificat
My soul rejoices in the Lord
My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God, my salvation. For he has shown me such favour – me, his lowly handmaiden. Now all generations will call me blessed, because the mighty one has done great things for me. His name is holy, his mercy lasts for generation after generation for those who revere him. He has put forth his strength: he has scattered the proud and conceited, torn princes from their thrones; but lifted up the lowly. He has filled the hungry with good things; the rich he has sent away empty. He has come to the help of his servant Israel, he has remembered his mercy as he promised to our fathers, to Abraham and his children for ever. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

Canticle

Magnificat

My soul rejoices in the Lord

My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord,
and my spirit rejoices in God, my salvation.
For he has shown me such favour –
me, his lowly handmaiden.
Now all generations will call me blessed,
because the mighty one has done great things for me.
His name is holy,
his mercy lasts for generation after generation
for those who revere him.

He has put forth his strength:
he has scattered the proud and conceited,
torn princes from their thrones;
but lifted up the lowly.
He has filled the hungry with good things;
the rich he has sent away empty.

He has come to the help of his servant Israel,
he has remembered his mercy as he promised to our fathers,
to Abraham and his children for ever.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,
as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,
world without end.
Amen.

Some short prayers may follow here, to offer up the day's work to God.

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 that trespass against us,
and lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.

A concluding prayer may follow here.

May the Lord bless us and keep us from all harm; and may he lead us to eternal life.

A M E N

The Word Among Us

Tuesday, February 28, 2006

Meditation
Mark 10:28-31

We have left everything and followed you! (Mark 10:28)

When Peter followed Jesus, he gave up his life as he knew it. Can you imagine doing what he did? Lent starts tomorrow. We’re about to dedicate forty days to preparing for Easter. So what will you “give up” or “do” for Lent that will help you follow Jesus and receive him with a pure heart?

When we do give up or do something for Lent, it is important that we hold on to the spiritual reason why we are doing it. Imagine how much grace can flow, for instance, if we decided to fast so that we could have more time for intercession, strengthen our prayer, and develop a deeper hunger for Jesus. What would it be like if we gave up some special food, and we put the money we would have spent on that food in the poor box each week or bought items for a local homeless shelter?

What would happen in our lives and in the lives of those around us if we were to develop some plan for almsgiving that was marked by a desire to be like Jesus, who became poor so we could become rich? How would our lives change if we gave up television and spent the time saying the rosary, reading Scripture, or visiting the sick? Could we give up the radio in the car and instead play a religious tape or even have silent time to reflect on God or time to pray for others traveling around us?

Giving up something can be a powerful reminder that we want to draw closer to God. Take time today to pray about what you should do for Lent. Consider picking one or two sacrifices you can make that will help you draw closer to God and his people. Believe that if you do these things with a pure and humble heart, if you hold fast to the spiritual realities that these actions signify, you will become a vessel of Christ in ways so powerful that you will be speechless come Easter!

“Holy Spirit, I want to grow closer to Jesus this Lent. Please give me your wisdom and guidance so that I will know the best way to prepare my heart for Easter.”

1 Peter 1:10-16; Psalm 98:1-4