January 25, 2021 – vespers

monk INTRODUCTION
HYMN—Abide With Me
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. Willingly I glory in my infirmities, that the healing power of Christ may dwell in me.
Psalm 116
I love the LORD, because he has heard the voice of my supplication, *
because he has inclined his ear to me whenever I called upon him.
The cords of death entangled me;
the grip of the grave took hold of me; *
I came to grief and sorrow.
Then I called upon the Name of the LORD: *
“O LORD, I pray you, save my life.”
Gracious is the LORD and righteous; *
our God is full of compassion.
The LORD watches over the innocent; *
I was brought very low, and he helped me.
Turn again to your rest, O my soul, *
for the LORD has treated you well.
For you have rescued my life from death, *
my eyes from tears, and my feet from stumbling.
I will walk in the presence of the LORD *
in the land of the living.
I believed, even when I said,
“I have been brought very low.” *
In my distress I said, “No one can be trusted.”
How shall I repay the LORD *
for all the good things he has done for me?
I will lift up the cup of salvation *
and call upon the Name of the LORD.
I will fulfill my vows to the LORD *
in the presence of all his people.
Precious in the sight of the LORD *
is the death of his servants.
O LORD, I am your servant; *
I am your servant and the child of your handmaid;
you have freed me from my bonds.
I will offer you the sacrifice of thanksgiving *
and call upon the Name of the LORD.
I will fulfill my vows to the LORD *
in the presence of all his people,
In the courts of the LORD’S house, *
in the midst of you, O Jerusalem.
Hallelujah!

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

God of power and mercy, though your Son’s passion and resurrection you have freed us from the bonds of death and the anguish of separation from you. Be ever with us on our pilgrimage; then we shall sing rather than weep. Keep our feet from stumbling, so that we may be able to follow you until we come to eternal rest.
Ant. 1. Willingly I glory in my infirmities, that the healing power of Christ may dwell in me.
Ant. 2. I planted the seed; Apollos watered it, but it was God who gave the increase.
Psalm 126
When the LORD restored the fortunes of Zion, *
then were we like those who dream.
Then was our mouth filled with laughter, *
and our tongue with shouts of joy.
Then they said among the nations, *
“The LORD has done great things for them.”
The LORD has done great things for us, *
and we are glad indeed.
Restore our fortunes, O LORD, *
like the watercourses of the Negev.
Those who sowed with tears *
will reap with songs of joy.
Those who go out weeping, carrying the seed, *
will come again with joy, shouldering their sheaves.

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
Lord, you have raised us from the earth; may you let the seeds of justice, which we have sown in tears, grow and increase in your sight. May we reap in joy the harvest we hope for patiently.
Ant. 2. I planted the seed; Apollos watered it, but it was God who gave the increase.
Ant. 3. For me life is Christ, and death is gain. God forbid that I should boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus 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. 3. For me life is Christ, and death is gain. God forbid that I should boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ.
READING
1 Corinthians 15:9-10
In this way, nothing is lacking to you in any grace, as you await the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ. And he, too, will strengthen you, even until the end, without guilt, until the day of the advent of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful. Through him, you have been called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
CANTICLE OF MARY
Ant. 4. Andrew served Christ and loyally preached the Gospel; with his brother Peter, he laid down his life for God.
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. 4. Andrew served Christ and loyally preached the Gospel; with his brother Peter, he laid down his life for God.
INTERCESSIONS
My brothers and sisters, we build on the foundation of the apostles. Let us pray to our almighty Father for his holy people and say:
Be mindful of your Church, O Lord.

Father, you wanted your Son to be seen first by the apostles after the resurrection from the dead,
– we ask you to make us his witnesses to the farthest corners of the world.
Be mindful of your Church, O Lord.

You sent your Son to preach your good news to the poor,
– help us to preach this Gospel to every creature.
Be mindful of your Church, O Lord.

You sent your Son to sow the seed of unending life,
– grant that we who work at sowing the seed may share the joy of the harvest.
Be mindful of your Church, O Lord.

You sent your Son to reconcile all to you through his blood,
– help us all to work toward achieving this reconciliation.
Be mindful of your Church, O Lord.

Your Son sits at your right hand in heaven,
– let the dead enter your kingdom of joy.
Be mindful of your Church, O Lord.

You went down among the dead to bring them the good news of the Gospel,
– be the great joy and hope of all the dead.
Lord, establish your kingdom in the world.
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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