O·R·A·T·I·O   V·E·S·P·E·R·T·I·N·A

«  ORATIO VESPERTINA - A BOOK OF EVENING PRAYER AND PRAISE »

by V.G.L.

Stanbrook Abbey Press, 1941

All rights reserved

Ave Maria (silently)

V.  DOMINUS ILLUMINATIO MEA: et salus mea, quem timébo?

 

R.  Dóminus protéctor vitae meae et salus mea quem timébo?

V.  THE LORD IS MY LIGHT: and my Salvation, whom then need I fear?

 

R.   The Lord is my life's shield: and my Salvation, whom then need I fear?

The above is said in a subdued voice and at a low pitch; then the Reader, making the sign of the Cross, says in a higher tone:

V.  Deus, in adjutórium meum inténde.

R.  Dómine, ad adjuvándum me festína.

 

Glória Patri, et Fílio, et Spiritui Sancto: Sicut erat in principio, et nunc, et semper, et in sáecula saeculórum Amen. Allelúia.

V.  God come now to mine aid.

R.  O Lord, haste Thee to help me.

 

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

.

From Septuagesima until Holy Week inclusive instead of Alleluia is said:

Laus tibi, Dómine, Rex aetérae glóriae. Praise be to Thee, O Lord, King of endless glory.

Then are said the Psalms with their Antiphon, according to the day of the month as given in the PSALTER, after which the Reader, in a clear voice, says the following

LITTLE CHAPTER

FRATRES, vigiláte, oráte, state in fide, viríliter àgite et confortámini in Dómino; et ómnia vestra in caritáte fiant. R.   Deo grátias.

 

R.  In pace, in idípsum: dórmiam et requiéscam.

V.  Si dédero somnum óculis meis et pálpebris meis dormitatiónem.

R.  Dórmiam et requiéscam.

V. Glória Patri, et Fílio, et Spirítui Sancto.

R.  In pace, in idipsum : dórmiam et requiescam.

BRETHREN, watch ye and pray; stand fast in the Faith; quit you manfully and be ye strong in the Lord; and let all your works be done ill charity.  R. Thanks be to God.

 

R.   In Peace and perfect safety, I will sleep and take my rest.

V.  When I give sleep to mine eyes and slumber to mine eyelids.

R.   I will sleep and take my rest.

V.  Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.

R.   In Peace and perfect safety, I will sleep and take my rest.

 

 

HYMN

 

CHRISTE qui Lux es et dies,

Noctis tenébras détegis :

Lucísque lumen créderis,

Lumen beátum práedicans.

 

 

Precámur sancte Dómine,

Defénde nos in hac nocte :

Sit nobis in te réquies,

Quiétam noctem tríbue.

 

 

Oculi somnum cápiant,

Cor ad te semper vígilet :

Déxtera tua prótegat

Fàmulos qui te díligunt.

 

 

Meménto nostri Dómine,

In gravi isto córpore :

Qui es defénsor ánimae

Adésto nobis Dómine.

 

 

Deo Patri sit glória,

Ejúsque soli Filio,

Cum Spíritu Paráclito,

Et nunc, et in perpétuum.

Amen.

 

 

O CHRIST, Thou art the LIGHT and day

Who drivest far the clouds of :night

Thou art the very Light of light

Who dost the heavenly Light make known.

 

 

All holy Lord, our pleading hear,

Keep us this night from perils free :

grant us true repose in Thee,

A quiet night and perfect end.

 

 

What though the eyes in slumber close?

The heart will aye its vigil keep:

And, while this night thy loved ones sleep,

Thy strong right Hand shall guard their rest.

 

 

Remember us, dear Lord, we pray,

Here in the body sore opprest :

O Thou, the soul’s defender blest,

Be present, as the night draws on.

 

 

To God the Father glory be,

And praise to his eternal San :

So too, while endless ages run,

Like glory to the Paraclete.

Amen.

 

 

V.   Custódi nos, Dómine, ut pupillam óculi.

R.   Sub umbra alárum tuàrum prótege nos,

V.   Guard us, O Lord, as the apple of thine eye.

R.   Under the shadow of thy wings protect us.

 

CANTICLE OF SIMEON

Antiphona:   Lucem tuam.

 

NUNC dirnittis servum tuum, Dómine, * secúndum verbum tuum in pace.

 

Quia vidérunt óculi mei * salutáre tuum.

 

Quod parásti * ante fáciem omnium populórum.

 

LUMEN ad revelatiónem géntium * et glóriam plebis tuae Israel.

 

Glória Patri et Filio * et Spirítui Sancto.

 

Sicut erat in principio, et nunc, et semper * et in sáecula saeculórum. Amen.

 

Antiphona:  Lucem tuam, Dómine, nobis concéde, ut destitútis córdium ténebris, perveníre póssimus ad LUMEN quod est CHRISTUS.

 

Antiphon:   Let thy Iight.

 

LORD, suffer now thy servant to depart, in peace, according to thy word.

 

For mine eyes have seen thy Salvation.

Which thou hast prepared before the face of all peoples.

 

To be a LIGHT to enlighten the nations,

and to be the glory of thy people Israel.

 

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.

 

As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

 

Antiphon:   Let thy light, O Lord, so shine upon us, that the darkness of our hearts being wholly done away, we may attain to the true LIGHT which is CHRIST.

.

 

 

 

Kyrie eléison.

Christe eléison.

Kyrie eléison

Lord have rnercy.

Christ have mercy,

Lord have mercy

 

PATER NOSTER, qui es in caelis, sanctificétur nomen tuum. Advéniat regnum tuurn. Fiat volúntas tua, sicut in caelo et in terra. Panem nostrum quotidiánum da nobis hódie. Et dimítte nobis débita nostra, sicut et nos dimíttimus debitóribus nostris. Et ne nos indúcas in tentatiónem: sed líbera nos a malo. Amen.

 

CREDO in Deum, Patrem omnipoténtem, Creatórem caeli et terrae Et in Jesum Christum Fílium ejus únicum, Dóminum nostrum : qui concéptus est de Spiritu Sancto, natus ex Maria Vírgine, passus sub Póntio Piláto, crucifíxus, mórtuus, et sepúltus : descéndit ad ínferos; tértia die resurréxit a mórtuis; ascéndit ad caelos; sedet ad déxteram Dei Patris omnipoténtis : inde ventúrus est judicáre vivos et mórtuos. Credo in Spíritum Sanctum, sanctam Ecclésiam cathólicam, Sanctórum communiónem, remissiónem peccatórum, carnis resurrectiónem, vitam aetérnam Amen.

OUR FATHER who art in Heaven, hallowed be thy Name: thy kingdom come; thy wìll be done on earth as it is in Heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses as we forgive them that trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation. But deliver us from evil. Amen.

 

I BELIEVE in God, the Father Almighty, Creator of Heaven and earth. And in Jesus Christ, his only Son our Lord: who was conceived by the Holy Ghost; born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead and buried. He descended into hell; the third day He rose again from the dead; He ascended into Heaven, sitteth at the right Hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence He shall come to judge the livìng and the dead. I betieve in the Holy Ghost; the Holy Catholic Church, the communion of Saints; the forgiveness of sins; the resurrection of the body and life everlasting. Amen.

 

V.  Benedicámus Patrem et Filium cum Sancto Spiritu.

R.  Laudémus et superexaltémus eum in sáecula.

V.   Let us bless the Father and the Son with the Holy Spirit.

R.   Let us praise and exalt Him above all for ever.

Here let a pause be made to examine one’s conscience.

Then shall be said by all together, in a low voice:

CONFITEOR Deo omnipoténti, beátae Maríae semper Vírgini, beáto Michaéli Archángelo, beáto Joánni Baptístae, sanctis Apóstolis Petro et Paulo, et ómnibus Sanctis, quia peccávi nimis cogitatióne, verbo et opere : mea culpa, mea culpa, rnea máxima culpa. Ideo precor beátam Maríam semper Virginem, beátum Michaélem Archángelum, beátum Joánnem Baptístam, sanctos Apóstolos Petrum et Paulum, et omnes Sanctos, oráre pro me ad Dóminum Deum nostrum.

I CONFESS to Almighty God, to blessed Mary ever Virgin, to blessed 4ichael the Archangel, to blessed John the Baptist, to the holy Apostles Peter and Paul and to all the Saints, that I have sinned exceedingly in thought, word and deed : through my fault, through my own fault, through my most grievous fault. Therefore I beseech blessed Mary ever Virgin, blessed Michael the Archangel, blessed John the Baptist, the holy Apostles Peter and Paul, and all the Saints, to pray for me to the Lord our God.

The Reader then says:

MISEREATUR nostri omnípotens Deus, et dimissis peccátis nostris, perdúcat nos ad vitam aetérnam. R.  Amen.

 

INDULGENTIAM, absolutiónem, et remissiónem peccatórum nostrórum tríbuat nobis omnípotens et miséricors Dóminus. R.  Amen.

V.  Dignáre, Dómine, nocte ista.

R   Sine peccáto nos custodire.

V.  Miserére nostri, Dómine

R.  Miserére nostri.

May Almighty God have mercy upon us, forgive us our sins and bring us to life everlasting.   R.  Amen.

 

May the Almighty and merciful Lord grant us pardon, absolution and remission of our sins.  R.  Amen.

V.  Deign, O Lord, during this night.

R.  To keep us from all sin.

V.  Have mercy on us, O Lord.

R.  Have mercy on us.

 

V.  Dómine, exáudi oratiónem meam.

R.   Et clamor meus ad te véniat.

 

Orémus.

ILLUMINA,quaesumus Domine, ténebras nostras, et tótius noctis insidias tu a nobis semper repélle propítius. Noctem istam illúmina, quáesumus Dómine sancte, Pater ommnípotens, aetérne Deus, et fac nos, púeros tuos, sine peccátis obdormire, et virtútibus Angelórum excitári; ut ad diem clarum, te auxiliánte, salvi et protécti pervenire mereámur. Per Christum Dóminum nostrum.  R.  Amen.

 

V.   Benedícat et exáudiat nos Deus.

R.  Amen.

V.  Dormiámus in pace.

R.  Vigilémus in Christo.

V.  Benedicámus Dómino.

R.  Deo grátias.

V.  Noctem quiétam et finem perféctum concédat nobis Dóminus omnípotens.

R.   Amen.

 

 

V.   Hearken, O Lord, to my prayer.

R.   And let my cry come unto Thee.

 

Let us pray.

LIGHTEN our darkness, we beseech Thee, O Lord, and mercifully defend us from all perils of the night. Enlighten this night, we pray Thee, O Lord most Holy, Father Almighty, Eternal God, and grant that we, thy children, may fall asleep without sin and by the powers of thy holy Angels be awakened; so by thy gracious protection, we may in safety attain to the light of another day. Through Christ our Lord.  R.  Amen.

 

V.   May the Lord bless us and hear us.

R.   Amen.

V.  May we sleep in peace.

R.   And watch in Christ.

V.   Let us bless the Lord.

R.   Thanks be to God.

V.  May the Almighty Lord grant us a quiet night and a perfect end

R.  Amen.

Finis Orationis Vespertinae

Added January 12, 2001