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
A single moment holds
Eternity’s vast span
As wondering earth beholds
God’s heaven revealed in man.
Both sun and moon grow dim
And lesser stars yield place
As Light from Light they hymn
In Christ’s transfigured face.
Now Law and Prophets speak
Of what must soon befall
The one who dares to seek
Salvation for us all.
Here Peter, James and John
Stand awed by this strange sight
As whom they gaze upon
Shines whiter than the light.
The Father’s voice is heard
Bright cloud hides all around
His Son, the listening Word,
Alone, alone is found.
Stanbrook Abbey Hymnal
Psalm 109 (110)
The Messiah, king and priest
Jesus took Peter, James, and John the brother of James, and led them up a high mountain where they were alone; and in their presence he was transfigured.
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.
Jesus took Peter, James, and John the brother of James, and led them up a high mountain where they were alone; and in their presence he was transfigured.
Psalm 120 (121)
The guardian of the people
A bright cloud overshadowed them and they heard a voice from the cloud saying ‘This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.’
I shall lift my eyes to the hills:
where is my help to come from?
My help will come from the Lord,
who made heaven and earth.
He will not let your foot slip:
he will not doze, your guardian.
Behold, he will not doze or sleep,
the guardian of Israel.
The Lord is your guardian, the Lord is your shade;
he is at your right hand.
By day the sun will not strike you;
nor the moon by night.
The Lord will guard you from all harm;
the Lord will guard your life.
The Lord will guard your coming and your going
both now and 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.
A bright cloud overshadowed them and they heard a voice from the cloud saying ‘This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.’
Canticle
(1 Timothy 3)
The mystery and glory of Christ
As they were coming down from the mountain Jesus said to them, ‘Tell no man about this vision until the Son of Man has risen from the dead.’ Alleluia.
Praise the Lord, all you nations!
He was manifested in flesh, justified in spirit
– praise the Lord, all you nations!
He was seen by the angels, he was preached to the nations
– praise the Lord, all you nations!
The world believed in him, he was taken up in glory
– praise the Lord, all you nations!
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.
As they were coming down from the mountain Jesus said to them, ‘Tell no man about this vision until the Son of Man has risen from the dead.’ Alleluia.
Short Reading
Romans 8:16-17
©
The Spirit himself and our spirit bear united witness that we are children of God. And if we are children we are heirs as well: heirs of God and coheirs with Christ, sharing his sufferings so as to share his glory.
Short Responsory
Majesty and power are his, alleluia, alleluia.
– Majesty and power are his, alleluia, alleluia.
State and splendour are in his holy place.
– Majesty and power are his, alleluia, alleluia.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.
– Majesty and power are his, alleluia, alleluia.
Canticle
Magnificat
My soul rejoices in the Lord
When the disciples heard they fell on their faces, overcome with fear. But Jesus came up and touched them, saying, ‘Stand up and do not be afraid,’ 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.
When the disciples heard they fell on their faces, overcome with fear. But Jesus came up and touched them, saying, ‘Stand up and do not be afraid,’ alleluia.
Prayers and intercessions
On this day we pray to the Son of God, who revealed himself to his friends in the fullness of his glory, and we say:
– Lord, that we may see.
Bless the Church ever more with your risen life:
so that the world may see in her the integrity of your mission.
– Lord, that we may see.
You appeared with Elijah and Moses, accepting their homage:
may the world accept your word, and live by your law of love.
– Lord, that we may see.
Even before your passion your disciples saw your risen glory:
give us the vision to accept both suffering and joy.
– Lord, that we may see.
Emptied of glory, you preached the kingdom of God, and your own people did not accept you:
help us to find you in the poor and deprived, and to love them in your name.
– Lord, that we may see.
You showed to your friends the splendour of the living God:
take to yourself those who have died and make them glorious.
– Lord, that we may see.
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.
Father,
at the Transfiguration in glory of your Only-Begotten Son,
you confirmed the mysteries of faith
by the witness to Jesus of the prophets Moses and Elijah.
You foreshadowed there what we shall be
when you bring our sonship to its perfection.
Grant that by listening to the voice of Jesus
we may become heirs with him,
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.
