Second Sunday of Advent, First Vespers

The Monastic Office at St. Emma Monastery

We combine our traditional Monastic Office with the "newer" Roman Office.

We chant the Antiphons and Psalms using simplified Gregorian Chant melodies, and use a different arraignment of Psalms.

First Vespers 2nd Sunday of Advent



Psalms of Saturday 

1st Ant:  Behold, the Lord shall come, in the clouds of heaven with great power, Alleluia

Psalm 144 - (145) vs. 10-21

~All your creatures shall thank you O Lord~

2nd Ant: Sion is the city of our strength, the savior will be its wall and bulwark: open the gates, for God is with us, alleluia.

Psalm 145 (146)

~My soul, give praise to the Lord~

3rd Ant: Behold, the Lord shall appear, and will not deceive us: though He tarry, wait for Him, for He will come and will not delay, alleluia.

Psalm 146 (147)

~Praise the Lord, for he is good~

4th Ant: Behold our Lord shall come with power, to enlighten the eyes of his servants, alleluia.

Psalm 147 (148)

~O praise the Lord, Jerusalem!~

READING 1 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.

Short Responsory:

Show us, O Lord,  Your Mercy,

~Show us, O Lord, Your Mercy,

And grant us Your salvation.

~Your Mercy

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit

~Show us, O Lord, Your Mercy,

Hymn,

V. Drop down dew, you heavens, from above, and let the clouds rain the Just One.

R. Let the earth be opened, and but forth the Savior.

I Magnificat Ant:   (Saturday)

Come, O Lord, visit us in peace, that we may rejoice before You with perfect heart.

Luke 1:46-55
The soul rejoices in the Lord

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 made to our fathers,
to Abraham and his children for ever.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son,
and to the Holy Spirit:
as it was in the beginning, is now,
and will be for ever. Amen.

INTERCESSIONS
Jesus is Lord, born of the Virgin Mary. Let us pray to him with joyful hearts:
– Come, Lord Jesus!
Son of God, you will come again as the true messenger of the covenant,
help the world to recognize and accept you.
– Come, Lord Jesus!
Born in your Father’s heart, you became man in the womb of the Virgin Mary,
free us from the tyranny of change and decay.
– Come, Lord Jesus!
In your life on earth, you came to die as a man,
save us from everlasting death.
– Come, Lord Jesus!
When you come to judge, show us your loving mercy,
and forgive us our weaknesses.
– Come, Lord Jesus!
Lord Jesus, by your death you have given hope to those who have died,
be merciful to those for whom we now pray.
– Come, Lord Jesus!


Our Father who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name.
Thy kingdom come.
Thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread,
and forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us,
and lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.


Concluding Prayer
Almighty and merciful God,
may no earthly undertaking hinder those
who set out in haste to meet your Son,
but may our learning of heavenly wisdom
gain us admittance to his company.
Who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever.
– Amen.