Sunday, April 27
The Vespers Office To Be Observed on the Hour or Half Hour Between 5 and 8 p.m


The Call to Prayer
Enter his gates with thanksgiving; go into his courts with praise;* give thanks to him and call upon his Name.
Psalm 100:3

The Request for Presence
May God give us his blessing,* and may all the ends of the earth stand in awe of him.
Psalm 67:7


The Greeting

O LORD, my God, my Savior,* by day and night I cry to you.
Psalm 88:1

The Hymn

Fairest Lord Jesus

Fairest Lord Jesus, ruler of all nature, O you of God and man the Son, You will I cherish, You will I honor, You, my soul’s glory, joy, and crown. Fair are the meadows, fairer still the woodlands, Robed in blooming garb of spring; Jesus is fairer, Jesus is purer, Who makes the woeful heart to sing. Fair is the sunshine, fairer still the moonlight, And all the twinkling starry host: Jesus shines brighter, Jesus shines purer Than all the angels heaven can boast. Beautiful Savior! Lord of all the nations! Son of God and Son of Man! Glory and honor, Praise, adoration, Now and for evermore be thine.
from MÜNSTER GESANGBUCH

The Refrain for the Vespers Lessons

I will fulfill my vows to the LORD* in the presence of all his people.
Psalm 116:16

The Vespers Psalm

The LORD Will Make Good His Purpose for Me

I will give thanks to you, O LORD, with my whole heart;* before the gods I will sing your praise. I will bow down toward your holy temple and praise your Name,* because of your love and faithfulness; For you have glorified your Name* and your word above all things. When I called, you answered me;* you increased my strength within me. All the kings of the earth will praise you, O LORD,* when they have heard the words of your mouth. They will sing of the ways of the LORD,* that great is the glory of the LORD. Though the LORD be high, he cares for the lowly;* he perceives the haughty from afar. Though I walk in the midst of trouble, you keep me safe;* you stretch forth your hand against the fury of my enemies; your right hand shall save me. The LORD will make good his purpose for me;* O LORD, your love endures for ever; do not abandon the works of your hands.
Psalm 138

The Refrain

I will fulfill my vows to the LORD* in the presence of all his people.

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

I thank you, heavenly Father, that you have delivered me from the dominion of sin and death and brought me into the kingdom of your Son; and I pray that, as by his death he has recalled me to life, so by his love he may raise me to eternal joys; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. †

The Concluding Prayer of the Church

Pour upon me and all who have fed on Your Paschal mysteries, O Lord, the Spirit of Your love and grant that by Your gracious mercy we may come to be of one mind in Your service. I pray this in the name of Jesus, my Lord, who with You and the Holy Spirit reigns one God world without end. Amen.
adapted from THE SHORT BREVIARY