Evening Prayer II
Ribbon Placement:
Liturgy of the Hours Vol. I:
Ordinary: Page 667
Propers: Page 936
Psalter: Sunday, Week III, Page 936
Christian Prayer:
Ordinary: 694
Propers: Page 91
Psalter: Sunday, Week III, Page 861
Evening Prayer II for the Third Sunday of Advent
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 for ever. Amen. Alleluia
Hymn
Adam Lay Ybounden relates the events of Genesis, Chapter 3, namely the Fall of Man following Adam’s temptation by Eve and the serpent. The third verse suggests the subsequent redemption of man by the birth of Jesus by Mary. This “fortunate fall” is called felix culpa.
Adam lay ybounden,
Bounden in a bond;
Four thousand winter,
Thought he not too long.
And all was for an apple,
An apple that he took.
As clerkes finden,
Written in their book.
Ne had the apple taken been,
The apple taken been,
Ne had never our ladie,
Abeen heav’ne queen.
Blessed be the time
That apple taken was,
Therefore we moun singen.
Deo gracias!
Text: 15th Century macaronic English text of unknown authorship; Source: Sloane Manuscript 2593; Performed by: Gloriae Dei Cantores
PSALMODY
Ant. 1 Our Lord will come to claim his glorious throne in the assembly of the princes.
Psalm 110:1-5, 7
The Messiah, king and priest
Christ’s reign will last until all his enemies are made subject to him (1 Corinthians 15:25).
The Lord’s revelation to my Master:
“Sit on my right:
your foes I will put beneath your feet.”
The Lord will wield from Zion
your scepter of power:
rule in the midst of all your foes.
A prince from the day of your birth
on the holy mountains;
from the womb before the dawn I begot you.
The Lord has sworn an oath he will not change.
“You are a priest for ever,
a priest like Melchizedek of old.”
The Master standing at your right hand
will shatter kings in the day of his great wrath.
He shall drink from the stream by the wayside
and therefore he shall lift up his head.
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.
Ant. Our Lord will come to claim his glorious throne in the assembly of the princes.
Ant. 2 Let the mountains break out with joy and the hills with answering gladness, for the world’s true light, the Lord, comes with power and might.
Psalm 111
God’s marvelous works
We are lost in wonder at all that you have done for us, our Lord and mighty God (Revelation 15:3).
I will thank the Lord with all my heart
in the meeting of the just and their assembly.
Great are the works of the Lord;
to be pondered by all who love them.
Majestic and glorious his work,
his justice stands firm for ever.
He makes us remember his wonders.
The Lord is compassion and love.
He gives food to those who fear him;
keeps his covenant ever in mind.
He has shown his might to his people
by giving them the lands of the nations.
His works are justice and truth:
his precepts are all of them sure,
standing firm for ever and ever:
they are made in uprightness and truth.
He has sent deliverance to his people
and established his covenant for ever.
Holy his name, to be feared.
To fear the Lord is the beginning of wisdom;
all who do so prove themselves wise.
His praise shall last 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.
Ant. Let the mountains break out with joy and the hills with answering gladness, for the world’s true light, the Lord, comes with power and might.
Ant. 3 Let us live in holiness and love as we patiently await our blessed hope, the coming of our Savior.
Canticle – See Revelation 19:1-7
The wedding of the Lamb
Alleluia.
Salvation, glory, and power to our God:
his judgments are honest and true.
Alleluia.
Alleluia.
Sing praise to our God, all you his servants,
all who worship him reverently, great and small.
Alleluia.
Alleluia.
The Lord our all-powerful God is King,
let us rejoice, sing praise, and give him glory.
Alleluia.
Alleluia.
The wedding feast of the Lamb has begun,
and his bride is prepared to welcome him.
Alleluia.
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.
Ant. Let us live in holiness and love as we patiently await our blessed hope, the coming of our Savior.
READING Philippians 4:4-7
Rejoice in the Lord always! I say it again. Rejoice! Everyone should see how unselfish you are. The Lord is near. Dismiss all anxiety from your minds. Present your needs to God in every form of prayer and in petitions full of gratitude. Then God’s own peace, which is beyond all understanding, will stand guard over your hearts and minds, in Christ Jesus.
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.
Gospel Canticle
Ant. Are you the One whose coming was foretold, or should we look for another? Tell John what you see: the blind have their sight restored, the dead are raised to life, the poor have the good news preached to them, alleluia.
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.
Ant. Are you the One whose coming was foretold, or should we look for another? Tell John what you see: the blind have their sight restored, the dead are raised to life, the poor have the good news preached to them, alleluia.
Intercessions
To Jesus Christ, our Redeemer, the way, the truth, and the life, let us make our humble prayer:
– Come and stay with us, Lord.
Son of the Most High, your coming was announced to the Virgin Mary by Gabriel, come and rule over your people for ever.
– Come and stay with us, Lord.
Holy One of God, in your presence John the Baptist leapt in Elizabeth’s womb, bring the joy of salvation to all the earth.
– Come and stay with us, Lord.
Jesus the Savior, the angel revealed your name to Joseph the just man, come and save your people from their sins.
– Come and stay with us, Lord.
Light of the world, for whom Simeon and all the just waited,
come and comfort us.
– Come and stay with us, Lord.
O Rising Sun that never sets, Zechariah foretold that you would visit us from above, come and shine on those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death.
– Come and stay with us, Lord.
The Lord’s Prayer
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
Lord God, may we, your people, who look forward to the birthday of Christ experience the joy of salvation and celebrate that feast with love and thanksgiving.
We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.
– Amen.
Dismissal
May the Lord bless us, protect us from all evil and bring us to everlasting life.
– Amen.
