JEM@BLogger Specials: EVENING PRAYER FOR THE VIGIL OF NASCENT HUMAN LIFE ON THE EVE OF THE FIRST SUNDAY OF ADVENT

Evening Prayer for the Vigil of Nascent Human Life

November 27, 2010, 6pm to 12mn

Following the call of His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI to pray and have vigil for the defense of the Human life on the eve of the First Sunday of Advent, I would now share with you a copy of the Vespers to be used for tonight, November 27, 2010, the eve of the New Liturgical Year.

It shall be recited before the Rosary, either in the community or in the parish (which the Holy Father strongly recommends) or alone (in the instance that your community or parish does not have a vigil tonight, or you are still on work or at school like me).

We hope that through our efforts to pray for human life in the womb, we may altogether work for it in our government systems. I am one with the Holy Father in proclaiming: this is a call for us not to be silent anymore, but to pray and work for human life!

I would like to thank 100% Katolikong Pinoy for the copy of the Vespers.

If you are reading this on the main page of the blogsite, please click the link 'read on...' to view the whole Vespers.

VESPERS

Opening Verses

God, come to my assistance.

- Lord, make haste to help me.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.

- As it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen.

Opening Hymn

O Come, Emmanuel (or other Advent or Christmas religious songs)

PSALMODY

Psalm 141:1-9

Antiphon 1: Proclaim the good news among the nations: Our God will come to save us.

I have called to you Lord; hasten to help me!

Hear my voice when I cry to you.

Let my prayer arise before you like incense,

the raising of my hands like an evening oblation.

Set, O Lord, a guard over my mouth;

keep watch at the door of my lips!

Do not turn my heart to things that are wrong,

to evil deeds with men who are sinners.

Never allow me to share in their feasting.

If a good man strikes or reproves me it is kindness;

but let the oil of the wicked not anoint my head.

Let my prayer be ever against their malice.

Their princes were thrown down by the side of the rock:

then they understood that my words were kind.

As a millstone is shattered to pieces on the ground,

so their bones were strewn at the mouth of the grave.

To you, Lord God, my eyes are turned:

in you I take refuge; spare my soul!

From the trap they have laid for me keep me safe:

keep me from the snares of those who do evil. Glory…

Antiphon 1: Proclaim the good news among the nations: Our God will come to save us.

Psalm 142

Antiphon 2: Know that the Lord is coming and with him all his saints; that day will come with a wonderful light, alleluia.

With all my heart I cry to the Lord,

with all my voice I entreat the Lord.

I pour out my trouble before him;

I tell him all my distress

while my spirit faints within me.

But you, O Lord, know my path.

On the way where I shall walk

they have hidden a snare to entrap me.

Look on my right and see:

there is not one who takes my part.

I have no means of escape,

not one who cares for my soul.

I cry to you, O Lord.

I have said: “You are my refuge,

all I have left in the land of the living.”

Listen then to my cry

for I am in the depths of distress.

Rescue me from those who pursue me

for they are stronger than I.

Bring my soul out of this prison

and then I shall praise your name.

Around me the just will assemble

because of your goodness to me. Glory…

Antiphon 2: Know that the Lord is coming and with him all his saints; that day will come with a wonderful light, alleluia.

Philippians 2:6-11

Antiphon 3: The Lord will come with mighty power; all mortal eyes shall see him.

Though he was in the form of God,

Jesus did not deem equality with God

something to be grasped at.

Rather, he emptied himself

and took the form of a slave,

being born in the likeness of men.

He was known to be of human estate,

and it was thus that he humbled himself,

obediently accepting even death,

death on a cross!

Because of this

God highly exalted him

and bestowed on him the name

above every other name,

So that at Jesus’ name

every knee must bend

in the heavens, on the earth,

and under the earth,

and every tongue proclaim

to the glory of God the Father:

JESUS CHRIST IS LORD! Glory...

Antiphon 3: The Lord will come with mighty power; all mortal eyes shall see him.

READING

Reader: From the first letter of Paul to the Thessalonians (5:23-24)

May the God of peace make you perfect in holiness. May he preserve you whole and entire, spirit, soul, and body, irreproachable at the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ. He who calls us is trustworthy, therefore he will do it.

Reader: The Word of the Lord

Others: Thanks be to God

HOMILY or REFLECTION

Responsory

Lord, show us your mercy and love.

—Lord, show us your mercy and love.

And grant us your salvation,

—your mercy and love

Glory to the Father, and to the son, and to the Holy Spirit

—Lord, show us your mercy and love.

Canticle of Mary

Luke 1:46-55

Antiphon: See the Lord coming from afar; his splendor fills the earth.

My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord,

my spirit rejoices in God my Savior

for he has looked with favor on his lowly servant.

From this day all generations will call me blessed:

the Almighty has done great things for me,

and holy is his Name.

He has mercy on those who fear him

in every generation.

He has shown the strength of his arm

he has scattered the proud in their conceit.

He has cast down the mighty from their thrones,

and has lifted up the lowly.

He has filled the hungry with good things,

and the rich he has sent away empty.

He has come to the help of his servant Israel

for he has remembered his promise of mercy,

the promise he has made to our fathers,

to Abraham and his children for ever. Glory…

Antiphon: See the Lord coming from afar; his splendor fills the earth.

Intercessions

Jesus Christ is the joy and happiness of all who look forward to his coming. Let us call upon him and say:

Come, Lord, and do not delay!

In joy, we wait for your coming,

— come, Lord Jesus.

Before time began, you shared life with the Father,

— come now and save us.

You created the world and all who live in it,

— come to redeem the work of your hands.

You did not hesitate to become man, subject to death,

— come to free us from the power of death.

You came to give us life to the full,

— come and give us unending life.

You desire all people to live in love in your kingdom,

— come and bring together those who long to see your face.

Presider: And so, we pray altogether with the words of Jesus:

All: Our Father . . . (etc)

PRAYER

Father in Heaven,

our hearts desire the warmth of your love

and our minds are searching for the light of your Word.

Increase our longing for Christ our Savior

and give us the strength to grow in love,

that the dawn of his coming

may find us rejoicing in his presence

and welcoming the light of his truth.

We ask this in the name of Jesus the Lord.

All: Amen

(Optional yet strongly suggested prayer)

(All) St. Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle. Be our defense against the wickedness and snares of the Devil. May God rebuke him, we humbly pray, and do thou, O Prince of the heavenly hosts, by the power of God, thrust into hell Satan, and all the evil spirits, who prowl about the world seeking the ruin of souls. Amen.

RECITATION OF THE HOLY ROSARY