Vespers (Evening Prayer)
INTRODUCTION
O God, come to our aid.
O Lord, make haste to help us.
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.
Hymn
O Blessed Joseph, yours the praise
The choirs of angels sing,
The guardian of the Virgin blest,
And of her Child and King.
The prophets told of God to come:
The Son of God on earth;
Yours was the glory then to be
There at the Saviour’s birth.
To him, the Father’s only Son
You served as father here;
He was subjected to your will
He, whom the heavens revere.
As once you sought and found again
The Christ, the Lord of light;
So may we walk with him, like you
All humble in his sight.
O Father, Son and Holy Ghost,
The God of truth and grace,
By holy Joseph’s prayers grant
That we may see your face.
Stanbrook Abbey Hymnal
Psalm 14 (15)
Who is worthy to face the Lord?
The parents of Jesus found him in the temple, seated among the doctors, listening to them and asking them questions.
Lord, who will live in your tent?
Who will dwell on your holy mountain?
Whoever comes there without stain,
acts rightly, speaks truth in his heart.
Whoever does not speak deceitfully,
or do harm to his neighbour, or slander him.
Whoever despises the evil-doer,
but reveres those who fear the Lord.
Whoever swears and keeps his word, come what may
– lends his money without usury –
takes no bribe to condemn the innocent.
Whoever lives like this
will stand firm 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.
The parents of Jesus found him in the temple, seated among the doctors, listening to them and asking them questions.
Psalm 111 (112)
How blessed are the just
The mother of Jesus said to him: ‘Son, why have you treated us like this? Your father and I have been looking for you anxiously.’
Blessed is the man who fears the Lord
and loves his commands above all things.
His seed will be powerful on earth:
the descendants of the just will be blessed.
Glory and riches will fill his house,
and his righteousness will stand firm for ever.
He rises up in the darkness,
a light for the upright,
compassionate, generous, and just.
Happy the man who takes pity and lends,
who directs his affairs with wisdom –
he will never be shaken.
The just man will be remembered for ever,
no slander will he fear.
His heart is ready, hoping in the Lord;
his heart is strong, it will not fear,
until he looks down on his defeated enemies.
He gives alms and helps the poor:
his righteousness will endure for ever,
his future will be glorious.
The transgressor will see, and be enraged:
he will grind his teeth and fade away.
The desires of the wicked will perish.
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.
The mother of Jesus said to him: ‘Son, why have you treated us like this? Your father and I have been looking for you anxiously.’
Canticle
Apocalypse 15
A hymn of adoration
Jesus went down with them to Nazareth and lived under their authority.
Great and wonderful are your deeds,
O Lord God the Almighty!
Just and true are your ways,
O King of the ages!
Who shall not fear and glorify your name, O Lord?
For you alone are holy.
All nations shall come and worship you,
for your judgements have been revealed.
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.
Jesus went down with them to Nazareth and lived under their authority.
Short Reading
Colossians 3:23-24
©
Whatever your work is, put your heart into it as if it were for the Lord and not for men, knowing that the Lord will repay you by making you his heirs. It is Christ the Lord that you are serving.
Short Responsory
The virtuous man will bloom like the lily.
– The virtuous man will bloom like the lily.
He will grow for ever before the Lord.
– The virtuous man will bloom like the lily.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.
– The virtuous man will bloom like the lily.
Canticle
Magnificat
My soul rejoices in the Lord
When Jesus started to teach, he was about thirty years old, being the son, as it was thought, of Joseph.
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.
When Jesus started to teach, he was about thirty years old, being the son, as it was thought, of Joseph.
Prayers and intercessions
Let us pray to God our Father, for from him all fatherhood in heaven and on earth takes its name.
– Father, hallowed be your name
Father, in your Son you revealed to Joseph the mystery kept secret for endless ages:
help us to acknowledge your Son as God and man.
– Father, hallowed be your name
Father, you enabled Joseph to spend his life in your service:
set our minds on your kingdom and your justice before all other things.
– Father, hallowed be your name
Father, your will is that every man should accept and answer your call:
by the prayer of Joseph, give us the grace to live in accord with your will.
– Father, hallowed be your name
Creator of all things, you have entrusted your work to our hands:
grant that our labours may prove worthy of you.
– Father, hallowed be your name
Father, in whom all men live, grant to those who have died new life, through your Son;
with Mary, and Joseph, and all your saints for ever.
– Father, hallowed be your name
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.
Almighty God,
at the beginnings of our salvation,
when Mary conceived your Son and brought him forth in to the world,
you placed them under Joseph’s watchful care.
May his prayer still help your Church
to be an equally faithful guardian of your mysteries
and a sign of Christ to mankind.
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.
The Lord bless us, and keep us from all evil, and bring us to everlasting life.
Amen.
