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. Alleluia.
Hymn
Come, Holy Ghost, Creator, come
from thy bright heav’nly throne.
Come, take possession of our souls
and make them all thine own.
Thou who art called the Paraclete,
blest gift of God above,
the living spring, the living fire,
sweet unction and true love.
Thou who art sev’nfold in thy grace,
finger of God’s right hand;
his promise, teaching little ones
to speak and understand.
O guide our minds with thy blest light,
with love our hearts in-flame;
and with thy strength, which ne’er decays
confirm our mortal frame.
Far from us drive our deadly foe,
true peace unto us bring;
and through all perils lead us safe
beneath thy sacred wing.
Through thee may we the Father know,
through thee th’eternal Son,
and thee the Spirit of them both,
thrice-blessèd Three in One.
Psalm 109 (110)
The Messiah, king and priest
When he had made purification for sin, he sat at the right hand of the Majesty on high. Alleluia.
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.
When he had made purification for sin, he sat at the right hand of the Majesty on high. Alleluia.
Psalm 110 (111)
Great are the works of the Lord
The Lord has delivered his people. Alleluia.
I will give thanks to the Lord with all my heart
in the council of the upright and the assembly.
Great are the works of the Lord,
to be studied by all who delight in them.
His works are splendour and majesty,
his righteousness lasts for ever and ever.
He gives us a record of the wonders he has worked,
the Lord, the kind and compassionate.
He gives food to those who fear him:
for all ages he will remember his covenant.
He has shown to his people the power of his deeds,
he has given them the inheritance of the nations.
Steadfastness and justice
are the works of the Lord.
All his precepts are to be trusted,
they stand firm for ever and ever:
they were laid down in faithfulness and justice.
He has sent deliverance to his people;
he has set up his covenant for ever.
Holy is his name, and much to be feared.
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.
To those who fear him comes true understanding,
and his praise endures for ever and 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 Lord has delivered his people. Alleluia.
Canticle
(Apocalypse 19)
The wedding of the Lamb
Alleluia. The Lord our God is king: let us rejoice and give glory to him. Alleluia.
Alleluia.
Salvation and glory and power belong to our God,
because his judgements are true and just.
Alleluia.
Alleluia.
Praise our God, all his servants,
and you who fear him, small and great.
Alleluia.
Alleluia.
For the Lord reigns, our God, the Almighty:
let us rejoice and exult and give him glory.
Alleluia.
Alleluia.
The marriage of the Lamb has come,
and his spouse has made herself ready.
Alleluia.
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. The Lord our God is king: let us rejoice and give glory to him. Alleluia.
Short Reading
Hebrews 10:12-14
©
Christ has offered one single sacrifice for sins, and then taken his place forever, at the right hand of God, where he is now waiting until his enemies are made into a footstool for him. By virtue of that one single offering, he has achieved the eternal perfection of all whom he is sanctifying.
Short Responsory
The Holy Spirit is the Advocate, alleluia, alleluia.
– The Holy Spirit is the Advocate, alleluia, alleluia.
He will teach you everything.
– The Holy Spirit is the Advocate, alleluia, alleluia.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.
– The Holy Spirit is the Advocate, alleluia, alleluia.
Canticle
Magnificat
My soul rejoices in the Lord
Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, so that they may always see the glory you have given me. Alleluia. (Year C)
Or: I will send you the Advocate, the Spirit of truth who comes from the Father. He will be my witness, alleluia.
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.
Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, so that they may always see the glory you have given me. Alleluia. (Year C)
Or: I will send you the Advocate, the Spirit of truth who comes from the Father. He will be my witness, alleluia.
Prayers and intercessions
Christ our Lord urged us to pray and the Holy Spirit came to fill our hearts and minds.
– May the Holy Spirit plead for us.
Eternal shepherd, give to the pastors of your Church wisdom and understanding;
may they lead your faithful people in the way of salvation.
– May the Holy Spirit plead for us.
Heavenly Christ, you are rich in mercy and compassion;
do not forget the poor and the needy you have left behind on earth.
– May the Holy Spirit plead for us.
By the power of the Holy Spirit you were conceived of the Virgin Mary;
preserve in religious women the spirit of loving service.
– May the Holy Spirit plead for us.
Christ, our priest, you give glory to the Father in the Holy Spirit;
unite all men together in your hymn of praise.
– May the Holy Spirit plead for us.
Grant to the dead the glorious freedom of God’s sons
and the completion of bodily redemption.
– May the Holy Spirit plead for 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.
Lord God,
we believe that the Saviour of mankind
is enthroned with you in majesty.
Listen to our prayer,
and, according to his promise,
let us feel his presence among us
to the end of time.
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.
