Thursday, September 23
The Vespers Office To Be Observed on the Hour or Half Hour Between 5 and 8 p.m.


The Call to Prayer
Open my lips, O Lord,* and my mouth shall proclaim your praise. Had you desired it, I would have offered sacrifice,* but you take no delight in burnt-offerings. The sacrifice of God is a troubled spirit;* a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.
Psalm 51:16–18

The Request for Presence
Out of the depths have I called to you, O LORD; LORD, hear my voice;* let your ears consider well the voice of my supplication.
Psalm 130:1


The Greeting

You have put gladness in my heart,* more than when grain and wine and oil increase. I lie down in peace; at once I fall asleep;* for only you, LORD, make me dwell in safety.
Psalm 4:7–8

The Hymn

Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus

Turn your eyes upon Jesus, Look full in His wonderful face, And the things of earth Will grow strangely dim In the light of His glory and grace.
Helen K. Hemmel

The Refrain for the Vespers Lessons

The LORD has sworn an oath to David;* in truth, he will not break it: “Ason, the fruit of your body* will I set upon your throne.”
Psalm 132:11–12

The Vespers Psalm

My Heart Shall Meditate on Understanding

Hear this, all you peoples; hearken, all you who dwell in the world,* you of high degree and low, rich and poor together. My mouth shall speak of wisdom,* and my heart shall meditate on understanding. I will incline my ear to a proverb* and set forth my riddle upon the harp. Why should I be afraid in evil days,* when the wickedness of those at my heels surrounds me, The wickedness of those who put their trust in their goods,* and boast of their great riches? We can never ransom ourselves,* or deliver to God the price of our life; For the ransom of our life is so great,* that we should never have enough to pay it, But God will ransom my life;* he will snatch me from the grasp of death. Do not be envious when some become rich,* or when the grandeur of their house increases; For they will carry nothing away at their death,* nor will their grandeur follow them. Though they thought highly of themselves while they lived,* and were praised for their success, They shall join the company of their forebears,* who will never see the light again. Those who are honored, but have no understanding,* are like the beasts that perish.
Psalm 49:1–7, 15–20

The Refrain

The LORD has sworn an oath to David;* in truth, he will not break it: “Ason, the fruit of your body* will I set upon your throne.”

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

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

Grant that I, Lord, may not be anxious about earthly things, but love things heavenly; and even now, while I am placed among things that are passing away, hold fast to those that shall endure; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.†

The Concluding Prayer of the Church

As my heart opens up under your touch I hear your call to death, Jesus, faint, whispering in peace offering my flesh in sacrifice waiting, waiting tenderly for my hour knowing that I am hidden in the hand the heart the womb of your father I await in silence the wedding.
Jean Vanier