Monday, December 1
The Vespers Office To Be Observed on the Hour or Half Hour Between 5 and 8 p.m

First Week of Advent


The Call to Prayer
Sing to the LORD a new song;* sing to the LORD, all the whole earth. For great is the LORD and greatly to be praised;* he is more to be feared than all gods.
Psalm 96:1, 4

The Request for Presence
Give ear, O LORD, to my prayer,* and attend to the voice of my supplications.
Psalm 86:6


The Greeting

Your way, O God, is holy;* who is so great a god as our God?
Psalm 77:13

The Hymn

Rejoice, Rejoice, Believers!

Rejoice! Rejoice, believers, and let your lights appear! The evening is advancing, and darker night is near. The Bridegroom is arising, and soon he will draw nigh; Up, watch in expectation! At midnight comes the cry. See that your lamps are burning, replenish them with oil; Look now for your salvation, the end of sin and toil. The marriage feast is waiting, the gates wide open stand; Rise up, you heirs of glory, the Bridegroom is at hand! Our hope and expectation, O Jesus, now appear; Arise, you Sun so longed for, above this darkened sphere! With hearts and hands uplifted, we plead, O Lord, to see The day of earth’s redemption, and ever be with thee!
Laurentis Laurenti

The Refrain for the Vespers Lessons

He will judge the world with righteousness* and the peoples with his truth.
Psalm 96:13

The Vespers Psalm

Light Shines in Darkness for the Upright

Light shines in the darkness for the upright;* the righteous are merciful and full of compassion. It is good for them to be generous in lending* and to manage their affairs with justice. For they will never be shaken;* the righteous will be kept in everlasting remembrance. They will not be afraid of any evil rumors;* their heart is right; they put their trust in the Lord. Their heart is established and will not shrink,* until they see their desire upon their enemies. They have given freely to the poor,* and their righteousness stands fast for ever; they will hold up their head with honor. The wicked will see it and be angry; they will gnash their teeth and pine away;* the desires of the wicked will perish.
Psalm 112:4-10

The Refrain

He will judge the world with righteousness* and the peoples with his truth.
Psalm 96:13

The Small Verse

Come forth, O Christ, and help me. For your name’s sake deliver me.

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, give all of us grace to cast away the works of darkness, and put on the armor of light, now in the time of this mortal life in which your Son Jesus Christ came to visit us in great humility; that in the last day, when he shall come again in his glorious majesty to judge both the living and the dead, we may rise to the life immortal; through him who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.†

The Concluding Prayer of the Church

O God of unchangeable power and eternal light: Look favorably on your whole Church, that wonderful and sacred mystery; by the effectual working of your providence, carry out in tranquility the plan of salvation; let the whole world see and know that things which are cast down are being raised up, and things which had grown old are being made new, and that all things are being brought to their perfection by him though whom all things were made, your Son Jesus Christ our Lord; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.†