Vespers

V. O God, make speed to save us.
R. O Lord, make haste to help us.
V. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.
R. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be: world without end. Amen.
 

Alleluia.

[From Septuagesima to Wednesday in Holy Week, inclusive, instead of Alleluia is said:
Praise be to Thee, O Lord, King of eternal glory.]


Antiphon: Sit thou * on My right hand: said the Lord my God.

 

 

Dixit Dominus.     Psalm cx.

    THE LORD said unto my Lord, * Sit thou on my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool.
    The LORD shall send the rod of thy power out of Sion: * be thou ruler, even in the midst among thine enemies.
    In the day of thy power shall thy people offer themselves willingly with an holy worship: * thy young men come to thee as dew from the womb of the morning.
    The LORD sware, and will not repent, * Thou art a Priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek.
    The Lord upon thy right hand * shall wound even kings in the day of his wrath.
    He shall judge among the heathen; * he shall fill the places with the dead bodies, and smite in sunder the heads over divers countries.
    He shall drink of the brook in the way; * therefore shall he lift up his head.

Glory be, etc.

Antiphon: Sit Thou * on My right hand: said the Lord my God.

 

Confitebor tibi.     Psalm cxi.

Antiphon: All His commandments * are true: they stand fast for ever and ever.

    I WILL give thanks unto the LORD with my whole heart, * secretly among the faithful, and in the congregation.
    The works of the LORD are great, * sought out of all them that have pleasure therein.
    His work is worthy to be praised and had in honour, * and his righteousness endureth for ever.
    The merciful and gracious LORD hath so done his marvellous works, * that they ought to be had in remembrance.
    He hath given meat unto them that fear him; * he shall ever be mindful of his covenant.
    He hath showed his people the power of his works, * that he may give them the heritage of the heathen.
    The works of his hands are verity and judgment; * all his commandments are true.
    They stand fast for ever and ever, * and are done in truth and equity.
    He sent redemption unto his people; * he hath commanded his covenant for ever; holy and reverend is his Name.
    The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; * a good understanding have all they that do thereafter; his praise endureth for ever.

Glory be, etc.

Antiphon: All His commandments * are true: they stand fast for ever and ever.

Antiphon: He hath great delight * in His commandments.

 

Beatus vir.     Psalm cxii.

    BLESSED is the man that feareth the LORD; * he hath great delight in his commandments.
    His seed shall be mighty upon earth; * the generation of the faithful shall be blessed.
    Riches and plenteousness shall be in his house; * and his righteousness endureth for ever.
    Unto the godly there ariseth up light in the darkness; * he is merciful, loving, and righteous.
    A good man is merciful, and lendeth; * and will guide his words with discretion.
    For he shall never be moved: * and the righteous shall be had in everlasting remembrance.
    He will not be afraid of any evil tidings; * for his heart standeth fast, and believeth in the LORD.
    His heart is stablished, and will not shrink, * until he see his desire upon his enemies.
    He hath dispersed abroad, and given to the poor. * and his righteousness remaineth for ever; his horn shall be exalted with honour.
    The ungodly shall see it, and it shall grieve him; * he shall gnash with his teeth, and consume away; the desire of the ungodly shall perish.

Glory be, etc.

Antiphon: He hath great delight * in His commandments.

Antiphon: Blessed be the Name * of the Lord: from this time forth for evermore.

 

Laudate, pueri.     Psalm cxiii.

    PRAISE the LORD, ye servants; * O praise the Name of the LORD.
    Blessed be the Name of the LORD * from this time forth for evermore.
    The LORD'S Name is praised * from the rising up of the sun unto the going down of the same.
    The LORD is high above all nations, * and his glory above the heavens.
    Who is like unto the LORD our God, that hath his dwelling so high, * and yet humbleth himself to behold the things that are in heaven and earth!
    He taketh up the simple out of the dust, * and lifteth the poor out of the mire;
    That he may set him with the princes, * even with the princes of his people.
    He maketh the barren woman to keep house, * and to be a joyful mother of children.

Glory be, etc.

Antiphon: Blessed be the Name * of the Lord: from this time forth for evermore.

Antiphon: But we who live * will praise the Lord.

 

In exitu Israel.     Psalm cxiv.

    WHEN Israel came out of Egypt, * and the house of Jacob from among the strange people,
    Judah was his sanctuary, * and Israel his dominion.
    The sea saw that, and fled; * Jordan was driven back.
    The mountains skipped like rams, * and the little hills like young sheep.
    What aileth thee, O thou sea, that thou fleddest? * and thou Jordan, that thou wast driven back?
    Ye mountains, that ye skipped like rams? * and ye little hills, like young sheep?
    Tremble, thou earth, at the presence of the Lord: * at the presence of the God of Jacob;
    Who turned the hard rock into a standing water, * and the flint-stone into a springing well.

Here is not said Glory be, etc.

 

Non nobis, Domine.     Psalm cxv.

    NOT unto us, O LORD, not unto us, but unto thy Name give the praise; * for thy loving mercy, and for thy truth's sake.
    Wherefore shall the heathen say, * Where is now their God?
    As for our God, he is in heaven: * he hath done whatsoever pleased him.
    Their idols are silver and gold, * even the work of men's hands.
    They have mouths, and speak not; * eyes have they, and see not.
    They have ears, and hear not; * noses have they, and smell not.
    They have hands, and handle not; feet have they, and walk not; * neither speak they through their throat.
    They that make them are like unto them; * and so are all such as put their trust in them.
    But thou, house of Israel, trust thou in the LORD; * he is their helper and defender.
    Ye house of Aaron, put your trust in the LORD; * he is their helper and defender.
    Ye that fear the LORD, put your trust in the LORD; * he is their helper and defender.
    The LORD hath been mindful of us, and he shall bless us; * even he shall bless the house of Israel, he shall bless the house of Aaron.
    He shall bless them that fear the LORD, * both small and great.
    The LORD shall increase you more and more, * you and your children.
    Ye are the blessed of the LORD, * who made heaven and earth.
    All the whole heavens are the LORD'S; * the earth hath he given to the children of men.
    The dead praise not thee, O LORD, * neither all they that go down into silence.
    But we will praise the LORD, * from this time forth for evermore.     Praise the LORD.

Glory be, etc.

Antiphon: But we who live * will praise the Lord.

 

The Chapter.     II Thessalonians iii.

THE Lord direct your hearts into the love of God, and into the patient waiting for Christ.
R. Thanks be to God.

 

Hymn. Lucis Creator optime.

 

O BLEST creator of the light,
Who mak'st the day with radiance bright,
And o'er the forming world didst call
The light from chaos first of all

Whose wisdom joined in meet array
The morn and eve, and named them day:
Night comes with all its darkling fears
Regard Thy people's prayers and tears.

Lest, sunk in sin, and whelmed with strife,
They lose the gift of endless life;
While thinking but the thoughts of time,
They weave new chains of woe and crime.

But grant them grace that they may strain
The heavenly gate, and prize to gain;
Each harmful lure aside to cast,
And purge away each error past.

O Father, that we ask be done,
Through Jesus Christ, Thine only Son;
Who, with the Holy Ghost, and Thee,
Shall live and reign eternally. Amen

V. Lord, let my prayer be set forth.
R. In Thy sight as the incense.

 

The Song of the Blessed Virgin.     Magnificat.     St. Luke i.

My soul doth magnify the Lord, and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.
For he hath regarded the lowliness of his handmaiden.
For behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.
For he that is mighty hath magnified me; and holy is his Name.
And his mercy is on them that fear him throughout all generations.
He hath showed strength with his arm; he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.
He hath put down the mighty from their seat, and hath exalted the humble and meek;.
He hath filled the hungry with good things; and the rich he hath sent empty away.
He remembering his mercy hath holpen his servant Israel; as he promised to our forefathers, Abraham and his seed, for ever.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

Glory be, etc.

V. The Lord be with you.
R. And with thy spirit.

Let us pray.
 

The Collect (as in the Proper Season)

V. The Lord be with you.
R. And with thy spirit.
V. Bless we the Lord.
R. Thanks be to God.
 

MEMORIALS
used as appropriate within the Seasons

 

Memorial of the Holy Cross.

Antiphon: Save us, O Christ our Saviour, by the virtue of the Holy Cross: as Thou savedst Peter in the sea; and have mercy upon us all.
V. All the world shall worship Thee, and sing of Thee.
R. And praise Thy Name.

Let us pray.

KEEP, we beseech Thee, O Lord, in perpetual peace, those whom Thou hast vouchsafed to redeem by the wood of the Holy Cross, O Saviour of the world, Who livest and reignest with the Father and the Holy Ghost, ever one God, world without end. Amen.

 

Memorial of St. Mary.

Antiphon: In the bush which Moses saw unconsumed: we recognize thy glorious virginity, O Mother of God.
V. Thou art fairer than the children of men.
R. Full of grace are thy lips.

Let us pray.

ALMIGHTY, everlasting God, by the right hand of Thy power defend Thy servants from all perils; and, blessed Mary, ever-virgin gloriously interceding, grant us prosperity both now and hereafter; through Jesus Christ our Lord; Who livest and reignest with the Father and the Holy Ghost, ever one God, world without end. Amen.
 

Memorial of All Saints.

Antiphon: O how glorious is the kingdom where all the Saints rejoice with Christ: they are clothed with white Robes and follow the Lamb whithersoever He goeth.
V. Let the Saints be joyful with glory.
R. Let them rejoice in their beds.

Let us pray.

GRANT, we beseech Thee, O Lord, that all Thy Saints may always pray for us: and vouchsafe always to hear their prayers; through Jesus Christ our Lord; Who livest and reignest with the Father and the Holy Ghost, ever one God, world without end. Amen.
 

V. The Lord be with you.
R. And with thy spirit.
V. Bless we the Lord.
R. Thanks be to God.

 

Here ends the Order for Vespers