First Vespers

[℣. O God, come to my assistance;

℟. O Lord, make haste to help me.

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. Alleluia.]

Antiphon. (Although practice varied according to place and time, the antiphon in the medieval liturgy was often only sung in its entirety after the Psalm.) Christ the Lord, a priest forever after the order of Melchizedech, offered bread and wine. [Ps 109 (110):4b; Heb 5:6; Gen 14:18]

Sung to Gloria tibi Trinitas from the feast of the Trinity.

Psalm 109 (110)

The Lord said to my Lord: * sit at my right hand:

until I make your enemies * your footstool.

The Lord will send forth the scepter of your power out of Zion: * rule in the midst of your enemies.

With you is the principality in the day of your strength: in the brightness of the saints: * from the womb before the day star I begot you.

The Lord has sworn, and he will not repent: * you are a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedech.

The Lord at your right hand * has broken kings in the day of his wrath.

He shall judge among the nations; he shall fill ruins: * he shall crush the heads in the land of the many.

He shall drink of the torrent in the way: * therefore shall he lift up the head.

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.

Antiphon. The merciful Lord gave food to those who fear him in memory of his wonderful works. [Cf. Ps 110 (111):4]

Sung to Totus orbis from the feast of St. Thomas [of Canterbury].

Psalm 110 (111)

I will praise you, O Lord, with my whole heart; * in the council of the just: and in the congregation.

Great are the works of the Lord: * sought out according to all his wills.

His work is praise and magnificence: * and his justice continues forever and ever.

He has made a remembrance of his wonderful works, being a merciful and gracious Lord: * he has given food to those who fear him.

He will be mindful forever of his covenant: * he will show forth to his people the power of his works.

That he may give them the inheritance of the Gentiles: * the works of his hands are truth and judgment.

All his commandments are faithful: confirmed forever and ever, * made in truth and equity.

He has sent redemption to his people: * he has commanded his covenant forever.

Holy and terrible is his name: * the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.

A good understanding to all that do it: * his praise continues forever and 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.

Antiphon. I will take up the chalice of salvation and I will offer up a sacrifice of praise. [Cf. Ps 115:4, 7 (Ps 116:13, 17)]

Sung to Pudore bono from the feast of St. Nicholas.

Psalm 115 (116:10–19)

I have believed; therefore I have spoken; * but I have been humbled exceedingly.

I said in my excess: * every man is a liar.

What shall I render to the Lord, * for all the things he has rendered unto me?

I will take the chalice of salvation; * and I will call upon the name of the Lord.

I will pay my vows to the Lord before all his people: * precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints.

O Lord, for I am your servant: * I am your servant, and the son of your handmaid.

You have broken my bonds: * I will sacrifice to you the sacrifice of praise, and I will call upon the name of the Lord.

I will pay my vows to the Lord in the sight of all his people: * in the courts of the house of the Lord, in your midst, O Jerusalem.

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.

Antiphon. Let the sons of the Church be like olive shoots around the table of the Lord. [Cf. Ps 127 (128):3]

Sung to Iuste et sancte vivendo from the feast of St. Nicholas.

Psalm 127 (128)

Blessed are all those who fear the Lord: * that walk in his ways.

For you shall eat the labors of your hands: * blessed are you, and it shall be well with you.

Your wife as a fruitful vine, * on the sides of your house.

Your children as olive plants, * round about your table.

Behold, thus shall the man be blessed * who fears the Lord.

May the Lord bless you out of Zion: * and may you see the good things of Jerusalem all the days of your life.

And may you see your children’s children, * peace upon Israel.

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.

Antiphon. He imposes peace in the territory of the Church; the Lord fills us with the finest grain. [Cf. Ps 147:3 (147:14)]

Sung to Innocenter puerilia iura from the feast of St. Nicholas.

Psalm 147 (147:12–20)

Praise the Lord, O Jerusalem: * praise your God, O Zion.

Because he has strengthened the bolts of your gates, * he has blessed your children within you.

Who has placed peace in your borders: * and fills you with the fat of corn.

Who sends forth his speech to the earth: * his word runs swiftly.

Who gives snow like wool: * scatters mists like ashes.

He sends his crystal like morsels: * who shall stand before the face of his cold?

He shall send out his word, and shall melt them: * his wind shall blow, and the waters shall run.

Who declares his word to Jacob: * his justices and his judgments to Israel.

He has not done in like manner to every nation: * and his judgments he has not made manifest to them.

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.

Chapter

1 Corinthians 11:23–24

The Lord Jesus Christ, on the night he was betrayed, took bread and, giving thanks, broke it and said: take and eat. This is my Body, which will be given up for you.

[℟. Thanks be to God.]

Responsory

℟. A man once gave a great feast and sent his servant at the hour of the feast to tell those invited to come, * because all was prepared. [Cf. Luke 14:16–17]

℣. Come eat my bread and drink the wine which I have mixed for you. [Prov 9:5] * Because all was prepared. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. * Because all was prepared.

Sung to Virgo flagellatur from the feast of St. Catherine.

Hymn

Pange lingua gloriosi corporis mysterium

Praise, my tongue, the mystery of the glorious Body and of the precious Blood, which the King of nations, fruit of a noble womb, poured out in ransom of the world.

• Given to us, born to us from a pure Virgin, and having lived in the world, the seed of his word having been scattered, he closed in a wondrous way his span of life.
• At the night of the last supper, reclining with his brothers, the law of permitted foods having been fully observed, he gives himself as food with his own hands to the group of twelve.
• The Word made flesh changes true bread into Flesh by a word. And pure wine becomes Christ’s Blood. And if the sense fails, only faith suffices to convince the sincere heart.
• Therefore let us eagerly venerate such a great sacrament. Let the old example cede to the new rite. Let faith render assistance to the limitations of the senses.
• To the Father, and to the Son be praise and jubilation, salvation, honor, strength, and blessing. To the One who proceeds from them both be equal praise. Amen.
• Sung to Pange lingua gloriosi praelium certaminis from the feast of the Passion of the Lord.

Versicle

[Wis 16:20–21]

℣. You have furnished them with the bread of heaven, alleluia.

℟. Having in it every delight, alleluia. (BNF 1143 has no indications for the music for this versicle or for any of the versicles that follow. Thus the music here has been adapted from Cambrai, Médiathèque d’agglomération, Ms. 38.)

Magnificat

Luke 1:46–55

Antiphon for the Magnificat. O how kind is your Spirit Lord, who, to show your sweetness towards your children, provides the sweetest bread from heaven, filling the hungry with good things, sending the haughty rich away empty. [Cf. Wis 12:1; 16:21; Luke 1:53]

Sung to O Christi pietas from the feast of St. Nicholas.

My soul * magnifies the Lord.

And my spirit has rejoiced * in God my Savior.

Because he has regarded the humility of his handmaid; * for behold from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.

Because he who is mighty, has done great things to me; * and holy is his name.

And his mercy is from generation unto generations, * to those who fear him.

He has showed might in his arm: * he has scattered the proud in the conceit of their heart.

He has put down the mighty from their seat, * and has exalted the humble.

He has filled the hungry with good things; * and the rich he has sent empty away.

He has received Israel his servant, * being mindful of his mercy:

as he spoke to our fathers, * to Abraham and to his seed 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. * ℟. Ant.

Prayer

[℣. O Lord, hear my prayer. ℟. And let my cry come unto you.]

Let us pray. God, who has left us in a wonderful sacrament a memorial of your Passion, grant, we ask, that we may venerate the sacred mystery of your Body and Blood, so that we may always feel in ourselves the fruit of your redemption. Who lives and reigns with God the Father in unity with the Holy Spirit, God, world without end. Amen.

[℣. O Lord, hear my prayer.
℟. And let my cry come unto you.
℣. Let us bless the Lord.
℟. Thanks be to God.
℣. May the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace.
℟. Amen.]