THE ORDER OF VESPERS
Vespers is the Church’s evening prayer. This simple order is intended not just for use at Church, but also in the home or school.]
O Lord, open my lips,
And my mouth will declare Your praise.
Make haste, O God, to deliver me.
Make haste to help me, O Lord.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit;
as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen.
Praise to You, O Christ. Alleluia!
PSALMODY
Psalms (each ending with Glory be to the Father...)
Office Hymn
READINGS
Readings from Holy Scripture
(after each reading:)
O Lord, have mercy on us.
Thanks be to God.
Responsory (Common)
Teach me Your way, O Lord, that I may walk in Your truth.
Your Word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.
Unite my heart to fear Your name, that I may walk in Your truth.
Your Word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.
Your Word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.
CANTICLE
Let my prayer rise before You as incense,
And the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice.
Magnificat
My soul magnifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior.
For He has regarded the lowliness of His handmaiden.
For behold from this day all generations will call me blessed.
For the Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is His name.
And His mercy is on those who fear Him from generation to generation.
He has shown strength with His arm;
He has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.
He has cast down the mighty from their thrones,
And has exalted the lowly.
He has filled the hungry with good things,
And the rich He has sent empty away.
He has helped His servant Israel, in remembrance of His mercy,
As He spoke to our fathers, to Abraham, and to His seed forever.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,
As it was in beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen.
PRAYER
Kyrie
Lord, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.
Our Father
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.
For Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever and ever! Amen!
Collects (concluding with this, the Collect for Peace)
O God, from whom come all holy desires, all good counsels, and all just works, give to us, Your servants, that peace which the world cannot give, that our hearts may be set to obey Your commandments and also that we, being defended from the fear of our enemies, may live in peace and quietness; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
Amen.
Benedicamus
Let us bless the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
Benediction
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit, be with you all.
Amen.
