December 7, 2020 – vespers

monk INTRODUCTION
HYMN—Come Thou Long Expected Jesus
PSALMODY
pope INCENSE PSALM
Ant. Let my prayer be set forth in your sight as incense, the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice.
Psalm 141
O LORD, I call to you; come to me quickly; *
hear my voice when I cry to you.
Let my prayer be set forth in your sight as incense, *
the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice.
Set a watch before my mouth, O LORD,
and guard the door of my lips; *
let not my heart incline to any evil thing.
Let me not be occupied in wickedness with evildoers, *
nor eat of their choice foods.
Let the righteous smite me in friendly rebuke;
let not the oil of the unrighteous anoint my head; *
for my prayer is continually against their wicked deeds.
Let their rulers be overthrown in stony places, *
that they may know my words are true.
As when a plowman turns over the earth in furrows, *
let their bones be scattered at the mouth of the grave.
But my eyes are turned to you, Lord GOD; *
in you I take refuge;
do not strip me of my life.
Protect me from the snare which they have laid for me *
and from the traps of the evildoers.
Let the wicked fall into their own nets, *
while I myself escape.

Glory 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.
Ant. Let my prayer be set forth in your sight as incense, the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice.
Ant. 1. Yours is more than mortal beauty; every word you speak is full of grace.
Psalm 45
My heart is stirring with a noble song;
let me recite what I have fashioned for the king;
my tongue shall be the pen of a skilled writer,
You are the fairest of men;
grace flows from your lips,
because God has blessed you forever.
Strap your sword upon your thigh, O mighty warrior,
in your pride and in your majesty.
Ride out and conquer in the cause of truth
and for the sake of justice.
Your right hand will show you marvelous things;
your arrows are very sharp, O mighty warrior.
The peoples are falling at your feet,
and the king’s enemies are losing heart.
Your throne, O God, endures forever and ever,
a scepter of righteousness is the scepter of your kingdom;
you love righteousness and hate iniquity.
Therefore God, your God, has anointed you
with the oil of gladness above your fellows.
All your garments are fragrant with myrrh, aloes, and cassia,
and the music of strings from ivory palaces makes you glad.
Kings’ daughters stand among the ladies of the court;
on your right hand is the queen,
adorned with the gold of Ophir.
Hear, O daughter; consider and listen closely;
forget your people and your father’s house.
The king will have pleasure in your beauty;
he is your master; therefore do him honor.
The people of Tyre are here with a gift;
the rich among the people seek your favor:
All glorious is the princess as she enters;
her gown is cloth-of-gold.
In embroidered apparel she is brought to the king;
after her the bridesmaids follow in procession.
With joy and gladness they are brought,
and enter into the I palace of the king.
In place of fathers, O king, you shall have sons;
you shall make them princes I over all the earth.
I will make your name to be remembered
from one generation to another;
therefore nations will praise you forever and ever;

Glory 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.

Psalm Prayer

When you took on flesh, Lord Jesus, you made a marriage of mankind with God. Help us to be faithful to your word and endure our exile bravely, until we are called to the heavenly marriage feast, to which the Virgin Mary, exemplar of your Church, has preceded us.
Ant. 1. Yours is more than mortal beauty; every word you speak is full of grace.
Ant. 2. God planned in the fullness of time to restore all things in Christ.
Canticle: Ephesians 1:3-10
Blessed are you,
the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
for you have blest us in Christ Jesus
with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places.

You chose us to be yours in Christ
before the foundation of the world,

That we should be holy and blameless before you.
in love you destined us for adoption as your children,
through Jesus Christ,

According to the purpose of your will,
to the praise of your glorious grace,

Which you freely bestowed on us in the Beloved.
in you, we have redemption
through the blood of Christ,

The forgiveness of our sins,
according to the riches of your grace,

Which you have lavished upon us.
you have made known to us, in all wisdom and insight,

The mystery of your will,
according to your purpose
which you set forth in Christ,

As a plan for the fullness of time,
to unite all things in Christ,
things in heaven and things on earth.
Ant. 2. God planned in the fullness of time to restore all things in Christ.
READING
Romans 8:30
Those God predestined he likewise called; those he called he also justified, and those he justified he in turn glorified.
CANTICLE OF MARY
Ant. 3. What is born of the flesh is flesh, and what is born of the spirit is spirit, alleluia.
Luke 1:46-55
My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord,
And my spirit rejoices in God my Savior.
For he has looked with favor on his lowly servant.
From this day all generations will call me blessed.
The Almighty has done great things for me,
and holy is his Name.
He has mercy on those who fear him
In every generation.
He has shown the strength of his arm,
He has scattered the proud in their conceit.
He has cast down the mighty from their thrones,
And has lifted up the lowly.
He has filled the hungry with good things,
And the rich he has sent away empty.
He has come to the help of his servant Israel
For he has remembered the promise of mercy.
The promise he made to our fathers,
To Abraham and his children forever.

Glory 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.
Ant. 3.What is born of the flesh is flesh, and what is born of the spirit is spirit, alleluia.
INTERCESSIONS
Let us praise Christ, who loves, nourishes and supports his Church. With faith let us cry out to him:
Answer the prayers of your people, Lord.

Lord Jesus, grant that all men be saved,
– and come to the knowledge of truth.
Answer the prayers of your people, Lord.

Preserve our holy father, Pope Francis, and N., our bishop,
– come with your power to help them.
Answer the prayers of your people, Lord.

Remember those who long for honest work,
– so that they may lead a life of peaceful security.
Answer the prayers of your people, Lord.

Lord, be the refuge of the poor,
– their help in distress.
Answer the prayers of your people, Lord.

We commend to your care all bishops, priests and deacons who have died,
– may they sing your praises for ever around your heavenly throne.
Answer the prayers of your people, Lord.
THE LORD’S PRAYER
(And now let us pray as the Lord told 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.
CONCLUDING PRAYER
Lord our God, help us to prepare for the coming of Christ your Son.
May he find us waiting, eager in joyful prayer.
We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.

Amen
DISMISSAL
May the Lord + bless us,
protect us from all evil
and bring us to everlasting life.
– Amen.
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