The Catholic's pocket prayer-book/Vesper Service
Vesper-Service.
Recite silently the Our Father and Hail Mary.
V. O God, come to my assistance.
R. O Lord, make haste to help me.
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.
Psalm 109.
The Lord said to my Lord: Sit Thou at My right hand.
Until I make Thy enemies the footstool of Thy feet.
The Lord will send the sceptre of Thy power out of Sion: rule Thou in the midst of Thy enemies.
Dominion shall be with Thee in the day of Thy power, in the brightness of the saints: from the womb before the day star I begot Thee.
The Lord swore, and he will not repent: Thou art a priest for ever, according to the order of Melchisedech.
The Lord at Thy right hand hath broken kings in the day of His wrath.
He shall judge among nations, He shall fill ruins: He shall crush the heads in the land of many.
He shall drink of the torrents in the way: therefore shall he lift up the head.
Glory be to the Father, etc.
Psalm 110.
I will praise Thee, O Lord, with my whole heart: in the council of the just, and in the congregation.
Great are the works of the Lord: sought ought according to all His wills.
His work is praise and magnificence: and His justice continueth for ever and ever.
He hath made a remembrance of His wonderful works, being a merciful and gracious Lord: He hath given food to them that fear Him.
He will be mindful forever of His covenant: He will show forth to His people the power of His works.
That He may give them the inheritance of the Gentiles: the works of His hands are truth and judgment.
All His commandments are faithful: confirmed for ever and ever, made in truth and equity.
He hath sent redemption to His people; He hath commanded His covenant for ever.
Holy and terrible is His name: the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.
A good understanding to all that do it: His praise continueth for ever and ever.
Glory be to the Father, etc.
Psalm 111.
Blessed is the man that feareth the Lord: he shall delight exceedingly in His commandments.
His seed shall be mighty upon earth: the generation of the righteous shall be blessed.
Glory and wealth shall be in His house: and His justice remaineth for ever and ever.
To the righteous a light is risen up in darkness: He is merciful, and compassionate and just.
Acceptable is the man that showeth mercy and lendeth: he shall order his words with judgment: because he shall not be moved for ever.
The just shall be in everlasting remerabrance: he shall not fear the evil hearing.
His heart is ready to hope in the Lord: his heart is strengthened, he shall not be moved, until he look over his enemies.
He hath distributed, he hath given to the poor, his justice remaineth for ever and ever: his horn shall be exalted in glory.
The wicked shall see, and shall be angry, he shall gnash with his teeth and pine away: the desire of the wicked shall perish.
Glory be to the Father, etc.
Psalm 112.
Praise the Lord, ye children: praise ye the name of the Lord.
Blessed be the name of the Lord: from henceforth now and for ever.
From the rising of the sun unto the going down of the same: the name of the Lord is worthy of praise.
The Lord is high above all nations: and His glory above the heavens.
Who is as the Lord our God, who dwelleth on high: and looketh down on the low things in heaven and in earth?
Raising up the needy from the earth: and lifting up the poor out of the dung-hill:
That He may place them with princes: with the princes of His people.
Who maketh a barren woman to dwell in a house: the joyful mother of children.
Glory be to the Father, etc.
Psalm 113.
When Israel went out of Egypt: the house of Jacob from a barbarous people:
Judea was made his sanctuary: Israel his dominion.
The sea saw and fled: the Jordan was turned back.
The mountains skipped like rams: and the hills like the lambs of the flock.
What aileth thee, thou sea: that thou didst flee; and thou, O Jordan, that thou wast turned back?
Ye mountains, that ye skipped like rams: and ye hills, like lambs of the flock?
At the presence of the Lord the earth was moved: at the presence of the God of Jacob;
Who turned the rock into pools of water: and the stony-hill into fountains of waters.
Not to us, O Lord, not to us: but to Thy name give glory:
For Thy mercy, and for Thy truth's sake: lest the Gentiles should say: Where is their God?
But our God is in heaven: He hath done all things whatsoever He would.
The idols of the Gentiles are silver and gold: the works of the hands of men.
They have mouths, and speak not: they have eyes, and see not:
They have ears, and hear not: they have noses, and smell not:
They have hands, and feel not; they have feet, and walk not; neither shall they cry out through their throat.
Let them that make them become like unto them: and all such as trust in them.
The house of Israel hath hoped in the Lord: he is their helper and their protector.
The house of Aaron hath hoped in the Lord: he is their helper and their protector.
They that fear the Lord have hoped in the Lord: he is their helper and their protector.
The Lord hath been mindful of us: and hath blessed us.
He hath blessed the house of Israel: he hath blessed the house of Aaron.
He hath blessed all that fear the Lord: both little and great.
May the Lord add blessings upon you: upon you, and upon your children.
Blessed be ye of the Lord: who made heaven and earth.
The heaven of heaven is the Lord's: but the earth he hath given to the children of men.
The dead shall not praise thee, O Lord: nor any of them that go down to hell.
But we that live bless the Lord: from this time now and forever.
Glory, etc.
The following is sung on sundry festivals, in place of the foregoing:
Psalm 116.
O praise the Lord, all ye nations: praise Him all ye people.
For his mercy is confirmed upon us: and the truth of the Lord remaineth for ever.
Glory be to the Father, etc.
The Little Chapter, 2 Cor. 1.
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation.
R. Thanks be to God.
The Hymn.
Creator of the radiant light,
Fountain of bliss, essential sight,
Emitting splendor's orient beam,
The world's creation to proclaim.
Who, with the morn's enliv'ning ray,
Dispellst the shades and call'st the day:
Approaching night o'erspreads the spheres,
Now gracious hear our sighs and tears.
Disdained with guilt and foul offence,
Let not a sudden summons hence,
Present us at Thy awful seat,
Victims of fleeting vain deceit.
But rather while at mercy's door,
Contrite, our treasons we deplore,
Admit Thy suppliants; grant us peace,
That triumph of Thy saving grace.
Eternal Father, lend Thine ear;
Coequal Son, receive our prayer;
O Holy Ghost, we cry to Thee,
God! three in one eternally.
Amen.
V. Let my prayer, like incense
R. Ascend to Thee, O Lord.
The Song of the Blessed Virgin Mary, called the Magnificat.
Luke 1.
My soul doth magnify the Lord:
And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.
Because He hath regarded the humility of his handmaid: for behold from henceforth all generations shall call Me blessed.
For He that is mighty hath done great things to me: and holy is His name.
And His mercy is from generation to generation: to them that fear Him.
He hath showed might in His arm: He hath scattered the proud in the conceit of their heart;
He hath put down the mighty from their seat: and hath exalted the humble.
He hath filled the hungry with good things: and the rich He hath sent away empty.
He hath received Israel His servant: being mindful of His mercy.
As He spoke to our fathers: to Abraham and to his seed for ever.
Glory be to the Father, etc.
After the proper Anthem and Collect, and the commemorations, if any, the celebrant adds:
The Lord be with you.
R. And with thy spirit.
Let us bless the Lord.
R. Thanks be to God.
May the souls of the faithful, through the mercy of God, rest in peace.
R. Amen.
Our Father, etc.
Our Lord grant us his peace
R. And life everlasting. Amen.