Tuesday, December 30

The Vespers Office To Be Observed on the Hour or Half Hour Between 5 and 8 p.m.

The Commemoration of the Holy Innocents

The Call to Prayer

Praise the LORD, all you nations;* laud him, all you peoples. For his loving-kindness toward us is great,* and the faithfulness of the LORD endures for ever. . . .

Psalm 117:1–2

The Request for Presence

O LORD, do not forsake me;* be not far from me, O my God. Make haste to help me,* O LORD of my salvation.

Psalm 38:21–22

The Greeting

You are my refuge and shield;* my hope is in your word.

Psalm 119:114

The Hymn

Lully, lullay, you little tiny child, bye-bye, lully lullay O sisters, too, how may we do for to preserve this day this poor youngling for whom we sing bye-bye, lully, lullay? Lully, lullay, you little tiny child, bye-bye, lully lullay Herod the King, in his raging charged he had this day his men of might, in his own sight, all young children to slay. Lully, lullay, you little tiny child, bye-bye, lully lullay That woe is me, poor child for thee! And every morn and day, for thy parting nor say nor sing bye-bye, lully lullay.

15th Century

The Refrain for the Vespers Lessons

. . . it is good for me to be near God;* I have made the Lord GOD my refuge.

Psalm 73:28

The Vespers Psalm

But the souls of the upright are in the hands of God, And no torment can touch them. To the unenlightened, they appeared to die, Their departure was regarded as a disaster, Their leaving us like annihilation; But they are at peace. If, as it seemed to us, they suffered punishment, Their hope was rich with immortality; Slight was their correction, great will their blessings be. He has tested them like gold in a furnace, And accepted them as a perfect burnt offering. At their time of visitation, they will shine out; As sparks run through stubble, so will they. They will judge nations, rule over peoples, And the Lord will be their king for ever. Those who trust in him will understand the truth, Those who are faithful will live with him in love; For grace and mercy await his holy ones, And he intervenes on behalf of his chosen.

Wisdom 3:1ff

The Refrain

. . . it is good for me to be near God;* I have made the Lord GOD my refuge.

The Gloria

Glory be to God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, so it is now and so it shall ever be, world without end. Alleluia.* Amen.

The Lord's Prayer

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be your Name. May your kingdom come, and your will be done, on earth as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil; for yours are the kingdom and the power and the glory forever and ever. Amen.

The Prayer Appointed for the Week

Almighty God, you have given your only-begotten Son to take our nature upon him, and to be born of a pure virgin: Grant that I, who have been born again and made your child by adoption and grace, may daily be renewed by your Holy Spirit; through my Lord Jesus Christ, to whom with you and the same Spirit be honor and glory, now and for ever. Amen.†

Concluding Prayers of the Church

Give rest, O Christ, to your servants, where sorrow and pain are no more, neither sighing, but life everlasting. Amen.† Save me, O Lord, while I am awake, and keep me while I sleep that I may wake in Christ and rest in peace.

adapted from THE SHORT BREVIARY