Tuesday 21 July 2020
Tuesday of week 16 in Ordinary Time
or Saint Laurence of Brindisi, Priest, Doctor
Vespers (Evening Prayer)
Introduction (without Invitatory)
If this is the first Hour that you are reciting today, use the version with the Invitatory Psalm instead.
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
This hymn dates from the 7th or 8th century; its author is unknown. As night comes on it beseeches the Lord for his help.
Sator princépsque témporum,
clarum diem labóribus
noctémque qui sopóribus
fixo distínguis órdine,
Mentem tu castam dírige,
obscúra ne siléntia
ad dira cordis vúlnera
telis patéscant ínvidi.
Vacent ardóre péctora,
faces nec ullas pérferant,
quæ nostro hæréntes sénsui
mentis vigórem sáucient.
Præsta, Pater piíssime,
Patríque compar Unice,
Cum Spíritu Paráclito
regnans per omne sǽculum. Amen.
O Begetter and Prince of times,
Who, with a fixed order, separate
The clear day for work
And the night for sleep,
Guide our chaste soul,
Lest the dark silence open a way
For the weapons of the Evil One
To inflict deep wounds on our heart.
May our breast be free of passion;
May it not bear in it any defilement
Which, by adhering to our senses,
Might wound the strength of our soul.
Grant this, O most merciful Father,
And O One equal to the Father,
With the Spirit Paraclete,
Reigning for ever and ever. Amen.
________
Psalm 136 (137)
By the rivers of Babylon
“This bodily captivity of the people must be understood as pointing to their spiritual captivity” (St Hilary).
If I forget you, Jerusalem, let my right hand wither!
By the rivers of Babylon
there we sat and wept,
remembering Sion;
on the poplars that grew there
we hung up our harps.
For it was there that they asked us,
our captors, for songs,
our oppressors, for joy.
‘Sing to us,’ they said,
‘one of Sion’s songs.’
O how could we sing
the song of the Lord
on alien soil?
If I forget you, Jerusalem,
let my right hand wither!
O let my tongue
cleave to my mouth
if I remember you not,
if I prize not Jerusalem
above all my joys!
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.
If I forget you, Jerusalem, let my right hand wither!
Psalm-prayer
Lord, remember your pilgrim Church. We sit weeping at the streams of Babylon. Do not let us be drawn into the current of the passing world, but free us from every evil and raise our thoughts to the heavenly Jerusalem.
Or:
Our Father in heaven, you willed to make us citizens of your country and singers of your kind mercy. Do not abandon us in the land of exile to weep at the streams of an earthly Babylon, but bring us to the heavenly Jerusalem chanting your songs.
________
Psalm 137 (138)
Thanksgiving
“The kings of the earth will bring glory and honour to the holy city” (cf Rev 21:24).
Before the angels I will bless you, my God.
I thank you, Lord, with all my heart:
you have heard the words of my mouth.
In the presence of the angels I will bless you.
I will adore before your holy temple.
I thank you for your faithfulness and love,
which excel all we ever knew of you.
On the day I called, you answered;
you increased the strength of my soul.
All earth’s kings shall thank you
when they hear the words of your mouth.
They shall sing of the Lord’s ways:
‘How great is the glory of the Lord!’
The Lord is high yet he looks on the lowly
and the haughty he knows from afar.
Though I walk in the midst of affliction
you give me life and frustrate my foes.
You stretch out your hand and save me,
your hand will do all things for me.
Your love, O Lord, is eternal,
discard not 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.
Before the angels I will bless you, my God.
Psalm-prayer
Look down from your holy temple, Lord, and we will proclaim you with all our heart. Listen to the words of our lips and pardon the sins of your people.
Or:
Listen to the prayers of your Church, Lord God; in the presence of the angels we praise your name. You keep the proud at a distance and look upon the lowly with favour. Stretch out your hand to us in our suffering, perfect in us the work of your love and bring us to life.
________
Canticle
Apocalypse 4,5
The song of the redeemed
Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive glory and honour.
Worthy are you, our Lord and God,
to receive glory and honour and power,
for you created all things,
and by your will they existed and were created.
Worthy are you, O Lord,
to take the scroll and to open its seals,
for you were slain,
and by your blood you ransomed men for God
from every tribe and tongue and people and nation.
You have made us a kingdom and priests to our God,
and we shall reign on earth.
Worthy is the Lamb who was slain
to receive power and wealth
and wisdom and might
and honour and 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.
Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive glory and honour.
________
Short Reading
Colossians 3:16
Let the message of Christ, in all its richness, find a home with you. Teach each other, and advise each other, in all wisdom. With gratitude in your hearts sing psalms and hymns and inspired songs to God.
________
Short Responsory
You will give me the fullness of joy in your presence, O Lord.
– You will give me the fullness of joy in your presence, O Lord.
I will find happiness at your right hand for ever.
– You will give me the fullness of joy in your presence, O Lord.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.
– You will give me the fullness of joy in your presence, O Lord.
________
Canticle
Magnificat
My soul rejoices in the Lord
Do great things for us, O Lord, for you are mighty, and Holy is your name.
My soul glorifies the Lord,
my spirit rejoices in God, my Saviour.
He looks on his servant in her lowliness;
henceforth all ages will call me blessed.
The Almighty works marvels for me.
Holy his name!
His mercy is from age to age,
on those who fear him.
He puts forth his arm in strength
and scatters the proud-hearted.
He casts the mighty from their thrones
and raises the lowly.
He fills the starving with good things,
sends the rich away empty.
He protects Israel, his servant,
remembering his mercy,
the mercy promised to our fathers,
to Abraham and his sons 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.
Do great things for us, O Lord, for you are mighty, and Holy is your name.
________
Prayers and intercessions
Christ taught us to set our hearts on the Kingdom of God, and on its justice. In that Kingdom all that we need will be given to us. Until then, let us pray:
– Your Kingdom come, O Lord.
Blessed are those who know their need of God:
lead us to seek your face in purity of heart.
– Your Kingdom come, O Lord.
Blessed are those who work for no reward, those who suffer for what is right:
comfort them with your presence, lighten their burden.
– Your Kingdom come, O Lord.
Blessed are the gentle, those who show mercy, and forgive;
they shall know your forgiveness at the end of time.
– Your Kingdom come, O Lord.
Blessed are the peacemakers, those who reconcile conflict and hate:
they are indeed the sons of God.
– Your Kingdom come, O Lord.
Bring consolation to all who mourn the dead:
may they share the blessed hope of all who have died in the peace of Christ.
– Your Kingdom come, O Lord.
________
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.
________
As we pray before you, Lord,
we ask you, in your mercy, for the grace
always to ponder in our hearts
what we proclaim with our lips.
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.
Copyright © 1996-2020 Universalis Publishing Limited: see www.universalis.com. Scripture readings from the Jerusalem Bible are published and copyright © 1966, 1967 and 1968 by Darton, Longman & Todd, Ltd and Doubleday, a division of Random House, Inc, and used by permission of the publishers. Text of the Psalms: Copyright © 1963, The Grail (England). Used with permission of A.P. Watt Ltd. All rights reserved.