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 109 (110)
The Messiah, king and priest
O great and holy act! When life died on this tree, death died for ever.
The Lord has said to my lord: “Sit at my right hand while I make your enemies your footstool.” From Zion the Lord will give you a sceptre, and you will rule in the midst of your foes. Royal power is yours in the day of your strength, among the sacred splendours. Before the dawn, I begot you from the womb. The Lord has sworn, and he will not repent: “You are a priest for ever, a priest of the priesthood of Melchisedech.” The Lord is at your right hand, and on the day of his anger he will shatter kings. He will drink from the stream as he goes – he will hold his head high. 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.
O great and holy act! When life died on this tree, death died for ever.

Psalm 115 (116B)
Thanksgiving in the Temple
We worship your cross, O Lord, and we recall your glorious passion. You who suffered for us, take pity on us.
Still I trusted, even when I said “I am greatly afflicted,” when I said in my terror, “all men are liars.” How shall I repay the Lord for all he has done for me? I will take up the cup of salvation and call on the name of the Lord. I will fulfil my vows to the Lord before all his people. Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his faithful. O Lord, I am your servant, your maidservant’s son. You have torn apart my chains: I will make you a sacrifice of praise, I will call on the name of the Lord. I will fulfil my vows to the Lord before all his people, in the courts of the house of the Lord, within your walls, Jerusalem. 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.
We worship your cross, O Lord, and we recall your glorious passion. You who suffered for us, take pity on us.

Canticle	Apocalypse 4,5
The song of the redeemed
We worship you, Christ, and bless you, because through your cross you redeemed the world.
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 exist 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.
We worship you, Christ, and bless you, because through your cross you redeemed the world.

Short reading	1 Corinthians 1:23-24 ©
We preach a crucified Christ; to the Jews an obstacle that they cannot get over, to the pagans madness, but to those who have been called, whether they are Jews or Greeks, a Christ who is the power and the wisdom of God.

Canticle	Magnificat
My soul rejoices in the Lord
O holy cross, standard of victory! Lead us in triumphant procession in the halls of heaven.
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.
O holy cross, standard of victory! Lead us in triumphant procession in the halls of heaven.

Prayers and Intercessions	?
Christ has redeemed us by his cross, and so with faith we pray: – By your cross, raise us to your kingdom. Christ, you emptied yourself, took the form of a slave and became like us: grant that the members of Church may imitate your humility. – By your cross, raise us to your kingdom. Christ, you humbled yourself to become obedient even to death, even death on a cross: make your servants as obedient and patient as you. – By your cross, raise us to your kingdom. Christ, God raised you up and gave you the name that is above every name: grant your servants perseverance until the end. – By your cross, raise us to your kingdom. Christ, at your name every knee shall bend, in heaven, on the earth and below: fill men with love so that they worship you in peace. – By your cross, raise us to your kingdom. Christ, every tongue shall profess that you are Lord in the glory of God the Father: receive our deceased brethren into the kingdom of eternal blessedness. – By your cross, raise us to your kingdom.

Prayers and Intercessions

Christ has redeemed us by his cross, and so with faith we pray: