Tuesday 18 May 2021
Tuesday of the 7th week of Eastertide
or Saint John I, Pope, Martyr
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
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 124 (125)
The Lord guards his people
“Peace to the Israel of God” (Gal 6:16).
Peace be with you, it is I: do not be afraid. Alleluia.
Those who put their trust in the Lord
are like Mount Sion, that cannot be shaken,
that stands for ever.
Jerusalem! The mountains surround her,
so the Lord surrounds his people
both now and for ever.
For the sceptre of the wicked shall not rest
over the land of the just
for fear that the hands of the just
should turn to evil.
Do good, Lord, to those who are good,
to the upright of heart;
but the crooked and those who do evil,
drive them away!
On Israel, peace!
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.
Peace be with you, it is I: do not be afraid. Alleluia.
Psalm-prayer
Surround your people, Lord, within the safety of your Church, which you preserve on her rock foundation. Do not let us stretch out our hands to evil deeds, nor be destroyed by the insidious snares of the enemy, but bring us to share the lot of the saints in light.
________
Psalm 130 (131)
Childlike trust in God
“Learn from me, for I am gentle and humble of heart” (Mt 11:29).
O Israel, hope in the Lord. Alleluia.
O Lord, my heart is not proud
nor haughty my eyes.
I have not gone after things too great
nor marvels beyond me.
Truly I have set my soul
in silence and peace.
A weaned child on its mother’s breast,
even so is my soul.
O Israel, hope in the Lord
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.
O Israel, hope in the Lord. Alleluia.
Psalm-prayer
Lord Jesus, gentle and humble of heart, you declared that whoever receives a little child in your name receives you, and you promised your kingdom to those who are like children. Never let pride reign in our hearts, but may the Father’s compassion reward and embrace all who willingly bear your gentle yoke.
________
Canticle
Apocalypse 4,5
The song of the redeemed
May your whole creation serve you, for you spoke and they came into being. Alleluia.
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.
May your whole creation serve you, for you spoke and they came into being. Alleluia.
________
Short Reading
Romans 8:26-27
The Spirit comes to help us in our weakness. For when we cannot choose words in order to pray properly, the Spirit himself expresses our plea in a way that could never be put into words, and God who knows everything in our hearts knows perfectly well what he means, and that the pleas of the saints expressed by the Spirit are according to the mind of God.
________
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
The power of the Holy Spirit will come into you; you will be my witnesses to the very ends of the earth. Alleluia.
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.
The power of the Holy Spirit will come into you; you will be my witnesses to the very ends of the earth. Alleluia.
________
Prayers and intercessions
To Christ be honour and glory. He has made his people sharers of the Holy Spirit.
– Christ, hear us.
Send from the Father the Holy Spirit into the Church;
may he purify, strengthen and perfect it.
– Christ, hear us.
Guide rulers and governments by your Holy Spirit;
give them the gifts of wisdom and courage.
– Christ, hear us.
Send your Holy Spirit to the poor;
help and support all those who are in need.
– Christ, hear us.
We pray for your servants who are stewards of God’s mysteries;
keep them always faithful to their ministry of grace.
– Christ, hear us.
Grant to the bodies and souls of the dead the fullness of redemption;
strengthen us in your passion, resurrection and ascension.
– Christ, hear 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.
________
God of power and mercy,
grant that when the Holy Spirit comes
he may dwell in us
and make us a temple filled with his glory.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God, for ever and ever.
Amen.
________
The Lord bless us, and keep us from all evil, and bring us to everlasting life.
Amen.
Copyright © 1996-2021 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.