The Pontifical Office: Vespers, Translated.

[thesmellypocket 1859]

The Pontifical Office: Vespers

FOR USE IN SEMINARIES, MONASTERIES, CHURCHES AND HOMES.

Translated, Written and Collected by Father Humbert, O.S.J. Published Posthumously by Philip Pius Coppinger.

 

Vespers is the second last hour of prayer. Since Lauds is the second and contains the Confiteor, so too does Vespers, being the second last, the aim being humility at the end and beginning of the day. It is prayed in early-mid evening. Also, similar to Matins, it contains the Canticle, which has been composed in the most splendid polyphony, but is here seen in Chant.

 

`It was very frustrating to me that no permanent prayer rule had survived in order that we Judites might pray the Liturgy of the Hours.Therefore, the task has fallen on me, God’s unworthy Slave, to do something. This was written for the Judites, but can also be used by nuns, priests and laymen. The Hours should especially be prayed in seminaries. It can be prayed alone or together, or sung in Chant. I have left my settings of the Chants so that people may use them. Thy humble Slave in God,

 

-Father Humbert, O.S.J.’

 

C = Main Celebrant.

R=Response.

Antiphon = part repeated by all at the beginning and end of the Psalm.

 

C  (All crossing themselves): Adjutorium nostrum in nomine Domini. [Our help is in the name of the Lord.]

 

R : Qui fecit caelum et terram. [Who made heaven and earth.]

 

C : Gloria Patri, et Horeno, et Omnibus Sanctis! [Glory be to the Father, and to Horen, and to all the Saints!]

 

R : Sicut erat in principio, et nunc, et semper, et in saecula saeculorum. Amen. [As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be. World without end. Amen.]

 

Psalm XII: CONVERSA ME.

 

 

Antiphon: Domine salvum fac, regina nostram N., et exaudi nos in die, qua invocaverimus te. [O Lord save our Queen N., and hear us on this day, we who invoke thy name.]

 

 

C : Conserva me, Domine, quoniam speravi in te. [Preserve me, O Lord, for I have put my trust in thee.]

 

R : Dixi Domino : Deus meus es tu, quoniam bonorum meorum non eges. [I have said to the Lord, thou art my God, for thou hast no need of my goods.]

 

C : Sanctis, qui sunt in terra ejus, mirificavit omnes voluntates meas in eis. [To the saints, who are in his land, he hath made wonderful all my desires in them.]

 

R : Multiplicatae sunt infirmitates eorum, postea acceleraverunt. [Their infirmities were multiplied: afterwards they made haste.]

 

C : Non congregabo conventicula eorum de sanguinibus; nec memor ero nominum eorum per labia mea. [I will not gather together their meetings for blood offerings: nor will I be mindful of their names by my lips.]

 

R : Dominus pars haereditatis meae, et calicis mei : tu es qui restitues haereditatem meam mihi. [The Lord is the portion of my inheritance and of my cup: it is thou that wilt restore my inheritance to me.]

 

C : Funes ceciderunt mihi in praeclaris; etenim haereditas mea praeclara est mihi. [The lines are fallen unto me in goodly places: for my inheritance is goodly to me.]

 

R : Benedicam Dominum qui tribuit mihi intellectum; insuper et usque ad noctem increpuerunt me renes mei. [I will bless the Lord, who hath given me understanding: moreover my reins also have corrected me even till night.]

 

C : Providebam Dominum in conspectu meo semper, quoniam a dextris est mihi, ne commovear. [I set the Lord always in my sight: for he is at my right hand, that I be not moved.]

 

R : Propter hoc laetatum est cor meum, et exsultavit lingua mea; insuper et caro mea requiescet in spe. [Therefore my heart hath been glad, and my tongue hath rejoiced: moreover my flesh also shall rest in hope.]

 

C : Quoniam non derelinques animam meam in inferno, nec dabis sanctum tuum videre corruptionem. [Because thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; nor wilt thou give thy holy one to see corruption.]

 

R : Notas mihi fecisti vias vitae; adimplebis me laetitia cum vultu tuo : delectationes in dextera tua usque in finem. [Thou hast made known to me the ways of life, thou shalt fill me with joy with thy countenance: at thy right hand are delights even to the end.]

 

C : Gloria Patri et Horeno, et Omnibus Sanctis.

 

R : Sicut erat in principio, et nunc et semper, et in saecula saeculorum. Amen!

 

Confiteor

 

[All kneel. The celebrant bows his head and recites or sings the Confiteor, inclining his head to his brothers as he asks them to pray for him. Lifting up his head, the others bow their heads and say theirs’.]

 

C : Confiteor Deo Omnipotenti, beato Horeno semper fideli, beato Carolo Petri, beato Hadriano Fortissimo, beatae Juliae, sanctis Papis Danieli et Sixto, omnibus Sanctis, et vobis, fratres, quia peccavi nimis cogitatione, verbo, et opere: mea culpa, mea culpa, mea maxima culpa. (Striking his breast thrice.) Ideo precor beatum Horenum semper fidelem, beatum Carolum Petri, beatum Hadrianum Fortissimum, beatam Juliam, sanctos Papos Danielem et Sixtum, omnes Sanctos, et vos fratres, orare pro me ad Dominum Deum nostrum. Amen.

 

[I confess to almighty God, blessed Horen ever-faithful, blessed Carl of Petrus,blessed Adrian most brave, blessed Julia, the holy Pontiffs Daniel and Sixtus, all the Saints, and you, my brothers, that I have sinned by thought, word and action: my fault, my fault, my most grievous fault.  Therefore I beseech blessed Horen ever-faithful, blessed Carl of Petrus, blessed Adrian most brave, blessed Julia, the holy Pontiffs Daniel and Sixtus, all the Saints, and you, brothers, to pray for me before the Lord our God.]

 

R : Misereatur omnipotens tui Deus, et dimissis peccatis tuis, perducat te ad vitam aeternam. [May almighty God have mercy upon thee, forgive thee thy sins, and bring thee to life everlasting.]

 

C : Amen.

 

[In like manner to the celebrant, the others bow their heads, and incline their heads toward the celebrant as they say ‘tibi pater.’]

 

R : Confiteor Deo Omnipotenti, beato Horeno semper fideli, beato Carolo Petri, beato Hadriano Fortissimo, beatae Juliae, sanctis Papis Danieli et Sixto, omnibus Sanctis, et tibi pater, quia peccavi nimis cogitatione, verbo, et opere: mea culpa, mea culpa, mea maxima culpa (Striking their breasts thrice.) Ideo precor beatum Horenum semper fidelem, beatum Carolum Petri, beatum Hadrianum Fortissimum, beatam Juliam, sanctos Papos Danielem et Sixtum, omnes Sanctos, et te pater, orare pro me ad Dominum Deum nostrum. Amen. 

 

[I confess to almighty God...and to thee, father…’]

 

C : Misereatur vestri omnipotens Deus, et dimissis peccatis vestris, perducat vos ad vitam aeternam. [May almighty God have mercy upon you, forgive you your sins, and bring you to everlasting life.]

 

R : Amen.

 

C (All crossing themsleves): Indulgentiam, absolutionem et remissionem peccatorum nostrorum, tribuat nobis omnipotens et misericors Dominus. [May the almighty and merciful Lord grant us pardon, absolution, and remission of our sins.]

 

R : Amen.

 

NOTE: The male-centric language can be replaced with feminine pronouns, etc., when in a congregation of nuns. E.g ‘et tibi, mater’ - ‘and to thee, mother.’

 

The Canticle

Antiphon at the MAGNIFICAT:  Regina quondam terrestris nunc assistit Dei dextris in veste deaurata ornatu variata! [The once-earthly queen now sits at the right hand of God, cloaked in glorious vestments!]

 

C : Gloria Patri, et Horeno, et Omnibus Sanctis!

 

R: Sicut erat in principio, et nunc et semper, et in saecula saeculorum. Amen! 

 

(Repeat antiphon.)

 

 

C : Magnificat anima mea Domninum. [My soul doth magnify the Lord.]

 

R: Et exsultavit spiritus meus in Deo salutari meo. [And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my saviour.]

 

C : Quia respexit humilitatem ancillae suae; ecce enim ex hoc beatam me dicent omnes generationes. [For he hath regarded the humility of his handmaid; for behold from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.]

 

R: Quia fecit mihi magna qui potens est, et sanctum nomen ejus, [For he that is mighty, hath done great things to me, and holy is his name,]

 

C : Et misericordia ejus a progenie in progenies timentibus eum. [And his mercy is from generation unto generations: to them that fear him.]

 

R: Fecit potentiam in bracchio suo; Dispersit superbos mente cordis sui. [He hath shown power in his arm; he hath scattered the proud in the conceit of their heart.]

 

C : Deposuit potentes de sede, et exaltavit humiles. [He hath put down the mighty from their seat, and hath exalted the humble.]

 

R: Esurientes implevit bonis, et divites dimisit inanes. [The poor he hath filled with good things, and the rich he hath sent empty away.]

 

C : Suscepit Oreniam, puerum suum, recordatus misericordiae suae, [He hath helped Oren his servant, remembering his mercy,]

 

R: Sicut locutus est ad maritiam suae, Horenum et semini eius in saecula. [As he spoke to my husband, to Horen and his seed for ever.]

 

C : Gloria Patri et Horeno, et Omnibus Sanctis!  [Glory be…]

 

R: Sicut erat in principio, et nunc, et semper, et in saecula saeculorum. Amen. [As it was…]

 

C : Oremus. [Let us pray.]

 

Gloria in excelsis Deo, et in terra pax hominibus bonae voluntatis! Laudamus te. Benedicimus te. Adoramus te. Glorificamus te. Gratias agimus tibi propter magnam gloriam tuam. [Glory to God in the highest, and peace on earth to all men of good will! We praise thee, we bless we, we adore thee; we glorify thee. We give thee thanks of Thy great glory.]

 

R: Deo gratias! [Thanks be to God.]