Oblate Sunday: Vespers

Today is our monthly Oblate Sunday. Our local Oblates, layfolk belonging to the monastery’s extended family, will gather at 3:30 p.m. for a conference on the Rule of Saint Benedict followed by Vespers and Eucharistic adoration. Vespers are sung in Latin and in Gregorian Chant. Today the psalmody and the reading will be in English. Here is the Office as we will celebrate it this evening.

Our guests are invited join in chanting the parts of the Office that are in English, and to listen to the parts that are in Latin.
PSALM 109
Christ has taken His place as our high priest, to win us blessings that still lie in the future. (Hebrews 9:11)
Antiphon
I saw the Lamb standing upon the mountain, and from beneath his feet flowed forth a living spring, alleluia.
The Lord said to my Lord, Sit at my right hand *
while I make your enemies a footstool under your feet.
The Lord will make your sceptre spring up like a branch out of Sion; *
You are to bear rule in the midst of your enemies.
From birth, princely state shall be yours, *
in the brightness of the saints;
From the womb before the morning-star, *
–I begot you.
The Lord has sworn an oath there is no retracting; *
You are a priest for ever according to the order of Melchisedech.
At your right hand, the Lord will shatter kings *
in the day of His wrath;
He will pass sentence on the nations,
heap high the bodies, *
scatter far and wide the heads of the slain.
Now that He has drunk of the brook by the wayside, *
He will lift up His head in victory.
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.
PSALM 110
How rich God is in mercy, with what an excess of love He loved us. (Ephesians 2:4)
My heart goes out to the Lord in thanksgiving, *
before the council where the just are gathered.
Chant we the Lord’s wondrous doings, *
delight and study of all who love Him.
Ever His deeds are high and glorious, *
faithful He abides to all eternity.
Wonderful deeds He keeps still in remembrance! *
He, the Lord, is kind and merciful.
In abundance he fed the men who feared him, *
keeping forever His covenant.
Lordly the power He showed His people, *
making the lands of the heathen their possession.
No act but shows Him just and faithful; *
of His decrees there is no relenting.
Perpetual time shall leave them changeless; *
right and truth are their foundation.
So He has brought His people redemption; *
to all eternity stands His covenant.
Unutterable is His name and terrible; *
vain the wisdom that begins not with fear of the Lord.
Wise evermore are you who follow it; *
His praise endures forever.
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.
PSALM 111
Once you were all darkness; now in the Lord, you are all daylight. You must live as men native to the light. (Ephesians 5:8)
A blessed man is he, who fears the Lord, *
bearing great love to His commandments.
Children of his shall be acclaimed in their country; *
do right, and your sons shall find a blessing.
Ease shall dwell in his house, and great prosperity; *
fame shall ever record his bounty.
Good men see a light dawn in darkness; *
His light, who is merciful, compassionate, and just.
It goes well with the man who lends in pity, *
just and merciful in his dealings.
Length of days shall leave him still unshaken; *
men will remember the just for ever.
No fear shall he have of evil tidings; *
on the Lord his hope is fixed unchangeably.
Patient his heart remains and fixed in hope, *
quietly he waits for the downfall of his enemies.
Rich are his alms to the needy; *
still his bounty abides in memory.
The Lord will exalt his horn in glory: *
ungodly men are ill content to see it.
Vainly they gnash their teeth in envy; *
worldly hopes must fade and disappear.
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.
PSALM 112
You alone are the Holy One, You alone are the Lord, You alone are the Most High, Jesus Christ, with the Holy Spirit, in the glory of God the Father.
Praise the Lord, you that are His servants, *
praise the name of the Lord together.
Blessed be the Lord’s name at all times, *
from this day to all eternity;
from the rising of the sun to its setting *
let the Lord’s name be praised unceasingly.
The Lord is sovereign king of all the nations; *
His glory is high above the heavens.
Who is like the Lord our God, so high above us, *
that stoops to regard both heaven and earth,
lifting up the poor from the dust he lay in, *
raising the beggar out of his dung-hill,
to find him a place among the princes, *
the princes that rule over His people?
He gives the barren woman a home to dwell in, *
a mother rejoicing in her children.
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.
Antiphon
I saw the Lamb standing upon the mountain, and from beneath his feet flowed forth a living spring, alleluia.
Chapter: Apocalypse 21:2-5
I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God,
prepared as a bride adorned for her husband; and I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling of God is with men. He will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself will be with them; he will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning nor crying nor pain any more, for the former things have passed away.” And he who sat upon the throne said, “Behold, I make all things new.”
R. Thanks be to God.
Responsory
Hymn: Ad cenam Agni providi
The Lamb’s high banquet called to share,
arrayed in garments white and fair,
the Red Sea past, we now would sing
to Jesus our triumphant King.
Upon the altar of the cross
his Body hath redeemed our loss;
and, tasting of his precious Blood,
our life is hid with him in God.
Protected in the paschal night
from the destroying angel’s might,
in triumph went the ransomed free
from Pharoah’s cruel tyranny.
Now Christ our Passover is slain,
the Lamb of God without a stain;
his flesh, the true unleavened bread,
is freely offered in our stead.
O all-sufficient Sacrifice,
beneath thee hell defeated lies;
thy captive people are set free,
and endless life restored in thee.
We hymn thee rising from the grave,
from death returning, strong to save;
thine own right hand the tyrant chains,
and paradise for man regains.
All praise is thine, O risen Lord,
from death to endless life restored;
all praise to God the Father be
and Holy Ghost eternally. Amen.
MAGNIFICAT, Luke 1, 46-55
More honorable than the Cherubim, and more glorious beyond compare than the Seraphim: without defilement you gave birth to God the Word: true Theotokos, we magnify you.
Antiphon
I have a new commandment to give you, that you are to love one another; that your love for one another is to be like the love I have borne you, alleluia.
My soul magnifies the Lord; *
my spirit has found joy in God, who is my Saviour,
Because He has looked graciously upon the lowliness of His handmaid; *
behold, from this day forward all generations will count me blessed;
Because He who is mighty, He whose name is holy, *
has wrought for me His wonders.
He has mercy upon those who fear Him, *
from generation to generation;
He has done valiantly with the strength of His arm, *
driving the proud astray in the conceit of their hearts;
He has put down the mighty from their seat, *
and exalted the lowly;
He has filled the hungry with good things, *
and sent the rich away empty-handed.
He has protected His servant Israel, *
keeping His merciful design in remembrance,
According to the promise which He made to our forefathers, *
Abraham and His posterity for evermore.
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.
Antiphon
I have a new commandment to give you, that you are to love one another; that your love for one another is to be like the love I have borne you, alleluia.
Kyrie, eleison. R. Christe, eleison. Kyrie, eleison.
All bow profoundly while Father Prior sings the Lord’s Prayer
over everyone, responding at the end:
R. Sed libera nos a malo.
Collect of the Day
Antiphon to the Blessed Virgin Mary
V. Rejoice and be glad, O Virgin Mary, alleluia.
R. For the Lord is risen indeed, alleluia.

Benedicamus Domino. Deo gratias.
V. May the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace.
R. Amen.
V. May the divine assistance remain always with us.
R. And with our absent brethren. Amen.