Monday 28 June 2021
Saint Irenaeus, Bishop, Martyr
on Monday of week 13 in Ordinary Time
(First Vespers of tomorrow, SS. Peter and Paul)
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
Now let the heavens with joy resound,
And earth the chant re-echo round;
Nor heaven nor earth too high can raise
The great Apostles’ glorious praise.
Theirs was the steadfast faith of saints,
The unconquered hope that never faints,
The perfect love of Christ to know,
That lays the praise of this world low.
In them the Father’s glory shone,
In them the Spirit’s will was done;
The Son’s glad praise to them is given,
With joy resound the courts of heaven.
To thee, Redeemer, now we cry,
That with this glorious band on high,
Through endless ages, by thy grace,
Thy servants also may have place.
________
Psalm 116 (117)
Praise of the merciful Lord
“I ask the nations to give praise to God for his mercy” (Rom 15:8,9).
‘You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.’ ‘Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jona!’
O praise the Lord, all you nations,
acclaim him all you peoples!
Strong is his love for us;
he is faithful 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.
‘You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.’ ‘Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jona!’
Psalm-prayer
God our Father, may all nations and peoples praise you. May Jesus, who is called faithful and true and who lives with you eternally, possess our hearts for ever.
Or:
Lord God, everything you have promised has been done to show your faithfulness; and you have revealed your kindness to all peoples. Gather all nations into your Church that in all the various tongues of this world one hymn of praise may be offered you.
________
Psalm 147 (147B)
God, the foundation of Jerusalem
“Come, and I will show you the bride that the Lamb has chosen” (Rev 21:9).
You are Peter, and upon this Rock I will build my Church.
O praise the Lord, Jerusalem!
Sion, praise your God!
He has strengthened the bars of your gates
he has blessed the children within you.
He established peace on your borders,
he feeds you with finest wheat.
He sends out his word to the earth
and swiftly runs his command.
He showers down snow white as wool,
he scatters hoar-frost like ashes.
He hurls down hailstones like crumbs.
The waters are frozen at his touch;
he sends forth his word and it melts them:
at the breath of his mouth the waters flow.
He makes his word known to Jacob,
to Israel his laws and decrees.
He has not dealt thus with other nations;
he has not taught them his decrees.
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.
You are Peter, and upon this Rock I will build my Church.
Psalm-prayer
Lord, you established peace within the borders of Jerusalem. Give the fullness of peace now to your faithful people. May peace rule us in this life and possess us in eternal life. You are about to fill us with the best of wheat; grant that what we see dimly now as in a mirror, we may come to perceive clearly in the brightness of your truth.
Or:
All-powerful God, it is through your Church, generously endowed with gifts of grace and fortified by the Holy Spirit, that you send out your word to all nations. Strengthen your Church with the best of all food and make her dauntless in faith. Multiply her children to celebrate with one accord the mysteries of your love at the altar on high.
________
Canticle
Ephesians 1
God the Saviour
You are the chosen instrument of God, Saint Paul, apostle, the preacher of truth in all the world.
Blessed be the God and Father
of our Lord Jesus Christ,
who has blessed us in Christ
with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places.
He chose us in him
before the foundation of the world,
that we should be holy
and blameless before him.
He destined us in love
to be his sons through Jesus Christ,
according to the purpose of his will,
to the praise of his glorious grace
which he freely bestowed on us in the Beloved.
In him we have redemption through his blood,
the forgiveness of our trespasses,
according to the riches of his grace
which he lavished upon us.
He has made known to us
in all wisdom and insight
the mystery of his will,
according to his purpose
which he set forth in Christ.
His purpose he set forth in Christ
as a plan for the fullness of time,
to unite all things in him,
things in heaven and things on earth.
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.
You are the chosen instrument of God, Saint Paul, apostle, the preacher of truth in all the world.
________
Short Reading
Romans 1:1-3,7
From Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus who has been called to be an apostle, and specially chosen to preach the Good News of his Son that God promised long ago through his prophets in the scriptures. To you all, who are God’s beloved in Rome, called to be saints, may God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ send grace and peace.
________
Short Responsory
The apostles proclaimed the word of God and feared no one.
– The apostles proclaimed the word of God and feared no one.
They gave testimony to the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
– The apostles proclaimed the word of God and feared no one.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.
– The apostles proclaimed the word of God and feared no one.
________
Canticle
Magnificat
My soul rejoices in the Lord
Glorious are the apostles of Christ; they loved each other in this life; they are not separated in death.
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.
Glorious are the apostles of Christ; they loved each other in this life; they are not separated in death.
________
Prayers and intercessions
We pray to Christ who built his Church on the foundation of the apostles and prophets.
– Lord, be with your people.
Simon the fisherman was called by you to be a fisher of men:
call others today to share in his task.
– Lord, be with your people.
When the disciples feared that the ship was sinking, you commanded the sea and there was calm:
protect your Church in the midst of trouble, and give her the peace that the world cannot give.
– Lord, be with your people.
After your resurrection you gathered your Church around Peter:
gather all your people now into the unity for which you prayed.
– Lord, be with your people.
You sent Paul as an apostle to all men:
let your good news be preached today through all creation.
– Lord, be with your people.
You entrusted the keys of your kingdom to your Church:
open the gates of life to the dead who put their trust in you.
– Lord, be with your people.
________
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 our God,
may the blessed apostles Peter and Paul support us by their prayers.
Through them you first taught your Church
the Christian faith.
Provide us now, by their intercession,
with help for our eternal salvation.
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.