June 23, 2021 – vespers

monk INTRODUCTION
HYMN—Ave Verum Corpus
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. Lord, how wonderful is your wisdom, so far beyond my understanding.
Psalm 139
LORD, you have searched me out and known me; *
you know my sitting down and my rising up;
you discern my thoughts from afar.
You trace my journeys and my resting-places *
and are acquainted with all my ways.
Indeed, there is not a word on my lips, *
but you, O LORD, know it altogether.
You press upon me behind and before *
and lay your hand upon me.
Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; *
it is so high that I cannot attain to it.
Where can I go then from your Spirit? *
where can I flee from your presence?
If I climb up to heaven, you are there; *
if I make the grave my bed, you are there also.
If I take the wings of the morning *
and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea,
Even there your hand will lead me *
and your right hand hold me fast.
If I say, “Surely the darkness will cover me, *
and the light around me turn to night,”
Darkness is not dark to you;
the night is as bright as the day; *
darkness and light to you are both alike.
For you yourself created my inmost parts; *
you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
I will thank you because I am marvelously made; *
your works are wonderful, and I know it well.
My body was not hidden from you, *
while I was being made in secret
and woven in the depths of the earth.
Your eyes beheld my limbs, yet unfinished in the womb;
all of them were written in your book; *
they were fashioned day by day,
when as yet there was none of them.
How deep I find your thoughts, O God! *
how great is the sum of them!
If I were to count them, they would be more in number
than the sand; *
to count them all, my life span would need to
be like yours.
Oh, that you would slay the wicked, O God! *
You that thirst for blood, depart from me.
They speak despitefully against you; *
your enemies take your Name in vain.
Do I not hate those, O LORD, who hate you? *
and do I not loathe those who rise up against you?
I hate them with a perfect hatred; *
they have become my own enemies.
Search me out, O God, and know my heart; *
try me and know my restless thoughts.
Look well whether there be any wickedness in me *
and lead me in the way that is everlasting.

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

You watch over heaven and earth, Lord Jesus. Your death brought light to the dead; your resurrection gave joy to the saints; your ascension made the angels rejoice. Your power exceeds all power. Lead us to life eternal, and watch over us with your love. May your friends be filled with honor and join you in heaven.
Ant. 1. Lord, how wonderful is your wisdom, so far beyond my understanding.
Canticle: Colossians 1:12-20
The Father has delivered us from the dominion of darkness, •
and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son;

In whom we have redemption, •
the forgiveness of our sins.

He is the image of the invisible God, •
the firstborn of all creation.

For in him all things were created, •
in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible.

All things were created through him and for him, •
he is before all things and in him all things hold together.

He is the head of the body, the Church, •
he is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead.
In him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell; •
and through him God was pleased to reconcile all things.
Ant. 2. Through him all things were made; he holds all creation together in himself.
READING
Acts 13:23-25
According to his promise, God has brought forth from David’s descendants Jesus, a savior for Israel. John heralded the coming of Jesus by proclaiming a baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel. As John’s career was coming to an end, he would say, “What you suppose me to be I am not. Rather, look for one who comes after me. I am not worthy to unfasten the sandals of his feet.”
CANTICLE OF MARY
Ant. 4. From him, through him, and in him all things exist; glory to him for ever, alleluia.
Luke 1:46-55
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 bless-ed.
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 Spirit;
As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen
Ant. 4. From him, through him, and in him all things exist; glory to him for ever, alleluia.
INTERCESSIONS
With joyful hearts, let us praise the Eternal Father whose mercy toward his people is exalted to the heavens:
Let all who hope in you rejoice, Lord.

Remember, Lord, that you sent your Son into the world to be its savior, not its judge,
– let his glorious death bring us salvation.
Let all who hope in you rejoice, Lord.

You ordained your priests to be ministers of Christ and stewards of your marvelous gifts,
– fill them with fidelity, wisdom and love.
Let all who hope in you rejoice, Lord.

You have called men and women to chastity for the sake of the kingdom,
– let them faithfully follow your Son.
Let all who hope in you rejoice, Lord.

From the beginning you intended husband and wife to be one,
– keep all families united in sincere love.
Let all who hope in you rejoice, Lord.

You sent Christ Jesus into the world to absolve the sins of men,
– free all the dead from their sins.
Let all who hope in you rejoice, 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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