Sunday Vespers

A glimpse into the kingdom of God

Vespers, or Evensong, is the evening prayer of the Church.  This is the hour of thanksgiving for the graces bestowed during the day of salvation that has just passed.  In Sunday Vespers we review gratefully the history of God's kingdom in the Church and in individual souls.  We see Christ our victorious King in his power (Ps. 109) and God's care over his chosen ones (Ps. 110); we hear of the fundamental laws of the kingdom: love (fear) of God, love of neighbour (Ps. 111), humility (Ps. 112); we see the Church at first as childless, then as a mother happy in her children (Ps. 112), finally as a pilgrim, in the image of the Jewish people, setting out from the slavery of Egypt into the promised land (Ps. 110, 113).  There are two principal objects to our Vesper prayers: thanksgiving and new courage to continue our pilgrimage.

Psalm 109.  Dixit Dominus

King and Priest

A famous Messiánic psalm: in colourful pictures, the royal psalmist paints the mission, conflict, and triumph of our Saviour.  We ought to pray this psalm with sentiments of deepest devotion, homage, and adoration; for Christ has applied these words of prophecy to himself.

Appointed King by God

Dixit Dóminus Dómino meo: * Sede a dextris meis:
2  Donec ponam inimícos tuos, * scabéllum pedum tuórum.
3  Virgam virtútis tuæ emíttet Dóminus ex Sion: * domináre in médio inimicórum tuórum.
4  Tecum princípium in die virtútis tuæ in splendóribus sanctórum: * ex útero ante lucíferum génui te.

THE Lord said unto my Lord, * Sit thou on my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool.
2  The Lord shall send the rod of thy power out of Sion: * be thou ruler, even in the midst among thine enemies.
3  In the day of thy power shall the people offer themselves willingly with an holy worship: * the dew of thy birth is of  the womb of the morning.

Appointed Priest by God

5  Jurávit Dóminus, et non pœnitébit eum: * Tu es sacérdos in ætérnum secúndum órdinem Melchísedech.

4  The Lord sware, and will not repent, * Thou art a Priest for ever after the order of Melchisedech.

Conqueror and Judge in God

6  Dóminus a dextris tuis, * confrégit in die iræ suæ reges.
7  Judicábit in natiónibus, implébit ruínas: * conquassábit cápita in terra multórum.
8  De torrénte in via bibet: * proptérea exaltábit caput.

5  The Lord upon thy right hand * shall wound even kings in the day of his wrath.
6  He shall judge among the heathen; * he shall fill the places with the dead bodies, and smite in sunder the heads over divers countries.
7  He shall drink of the brook in the way; * therefore shall he lift up his head.

Psalm 110.  Confitebor

Thanksgiving for deliverance out of Egypt

This psalm is a hymn in thanksgiving for God's care over his chosen people, especially in delivering them out of Egypt (a type of our redemption).  We pray it as the thanksgiving prayer of the Church (and of souls) journeying through the world, away from the bondage of the devil and into the promised land of heaven.

Státement of theme

CONFITÉBOR tibi, Dómine, in toto corde meo: * in consílio justórum, et congregatióne.

I WILL give thanks unto the Lord with my whole heart, * secretly among the faithful, and in the congregation.

Divine Providence in the history of his people

2  Magna ópera Dómini: * exquisíta in omnes voluntátes ejus.
3  Conféssio et magnificéntia opus ejus: * et justítia ejus manet in sæculum sæculi.
4  Memóriam fecit mirabílium suórum, miséricors et miserátor Dóminus: * escam dedit timéntibus se.
5  Memor erit in sæculum testaménti sui: * virtútem óperum suórum annuntiábit pópulo suo:
6  Ut det illis hereditátem géntium: * ópera mánuum ejus véritas, et judícium.

2  The works of the Lord are great, * sought out of all them that have pleasure therein.
3  His work is worthy to be praised and had in honour, * and his righteousness endureth for ever.
4  The merciful and gracious Lord hath so done his marvellous works, * that they ought to be had in remembrance.
5  He hath given meat unto them that fear him; * he shall ever be mindful of his covenant.
6  He hath shewed his people the power of his works, * that he may give them the heritage of the heathen.

In the holy Covenant

7  Fidélia ómnia mandáta ejus: confirmáta in sæculum sæculi, * facta in veritáte et æquitáte.
8  Redemptiónem misit pópulo suo: * mandávit in ætérnum testaméntum suum.
9  (fit reverentia) Sanctum, et terríbile nomen ejus: * inítium sapiéntiæ timor Dómini.

7  The works of his hands are verity and judgment; * all his commandments are true.
8  They stand fast for ever and ever, * and are done in truth and equity.
9  He sent redemption unto his people; * he hath commanded his covenant for ever; (all bow) holy and reverend is his Name.

Finale

10  Intelléctus bonus ómnibus faciéntibus eum: * laudátio ejus manet in sæculum sæculi.

10  The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; * a good understanding have all they that do thereafter; his praise endureth for ever.

Psalm 111.  Beátus vir

The song of the godly

This is the complement of the previous psalm: the good God (Ps. 110)—the virtuous man (Ps. 111).  The sequence of thought in the latter is rather free.  The Church holds a mirror before my soul: are you such a virtuous person?  I will think of the Man who has shewn the highest sanctity, our blessed Lord, and of his Saints; every day the Church is leading me into the gallery of his Saints.

Love of God's commandments

BEÁTUS vir, qui timet Dóminum: * in mandátis ejus volet nimis.

BLESSED is the man that feareth the Lord; * he hath great delight in his commandments.

Blessings of holy fear

2  Potens in terra erit semen ejus: * generátio rectórum benedicétur.
3  Glória, et divítiæ in domo ejus: * et justítia ejus manet in sæculum sæculi.
4  Exórtum est in ténebris lumen rectis: * miséricors, et miserátor, et justus.
5  Jucúndus homo qui miserétur et cómmodat, dispónet sermónes suos in judício: * quia in ætérnum non commovébitur.
6  In memória ætérna erit justus: * ab auditióne mala non timébit.
7  Parátum cor ejus speráre in Dómino, confirmátum est cor ejus: * non commovébitur donec despíciat inimícos suos.
8  Dispérsit, dedit paupéribus: justítia ejus manet in sæculum sæculi, * cornu ejus exaltábitur in glória.

2  His seed shall be mighty upon earth; * the generation of the faithful shall be blessed.
3  Riches and plenteousness shall be in his house; * and his righteousness endureth for ever.
4  Unto the godly there ariseth up light in the darkness; * he is merciful, loving, and righteous.
5  A good man is merciful, and lendeth; * and will guide his words with discretion.
6  For he shall never be moved: * and the righteous shall be had in everlasting remembrance.
7  He will not be afraid of any evil tidings; * for his heart standeth fast, and believeth in the Lord.
8  His heart is stablished, and will not shrink, * until he see his desire upon his enemies.
9  He hath dispersed abroad, and given to the poor, * and his righteousness remaineth for ever; his horn shall be exalted with honour.

Frustration of the wicked

9  Peccátor vidébit, et irascétur, déntibus suis fremet et tabéscet: * desidérium peccatórum períbit.

10  The ungodly shall see it, and it shall grieve him; * he shall gnash with his teeth, and consume away; the desire of the ungodly shall perish.

Psalm 112.  Laudáte, pueri

The hymn of the humble

Humility, the foundation of God's kingdom, is the theme of this hymn; he who humbles himself will be exalted.  I see the Church, an unfruitful mother in the eyes of the world, elevated as Mother of God's countless children.  I see the Saints, as little ones in the dust, and yet placed as princes in the kingdom; I see the "Man of Sorrows", humíliated unto the death of the Cross, but lifted up as King of that kingdom.  Do I wish to go by any other way?

Praise God always

LAUDÁTE, púeri, Dóminum: * laudáte nomen Dómini.
2  (fit reverentia) Sit nomen Dómini benedíctum, * ex hoc nunc, et usque in sæculum.

PRAISE the Lord, ye servants; * O praise the Name of the Lord.
2  (all bow) Blessed be the Name of the Lord * from this time forth for evermore.

Praise God's exalted Name

3  A solis ortu usque ad occásum, * laudábile nomen Dómini.
4  Excélsus super omnes gentes Dóminus, * et super cælos glória ejus.

3  The Lord's Name is praised * from the rising up of the sun unto the going down of the same.
4  The Lord is high above all nations, * and his glory above the heavens.

Praise God's gracious condéscension

5  Quis sicut Dóminus, Deus noster, qui in altis hábitat, * et humília réspicit in cælo et in terra?
6  Súscitans a terra ínopem, * et de stércore érigens páuperem:
7  Ut cóllocet eum cum princípibus, * cum princípibus pópuli sui.
8  Qui habitáre facit stérilem in domo, * matrem filiórum lætántem.

5  Who is like unto the Lord our God, that hath his dwelling so high, * and yet humbleth himself to behold the things that are in heaven and earth!
6  He taketh up the simple out of the dust, * and lifteth the poor out of the mire;
7  That he may set him with the princes, * even with the princes of his people.
8  He maketh the barren woman to keep house, * and to be a joyful mother of children.

Psalm 113.  In éxitu Israel

Religion and idolatry

This psalm consists of two distinct songs.  The first in its naive simplicity is full of poetry: nature rejoices as it sees God marching by in the Ark of the Covenant.  In our prayers, this is God's solemn procession through time in the forward progress of his Church.  Christ is in procession, a Corpus Christi procession; and it is our privilege to march along with him.

The second song probably dates from the exile, and sets out to strengthen our trust in God who alone can help us, and our contempt of idols.  In our prayers, this means God in his procession through the earth.  Along the path, the idols of the world are beckoning to us: riches, pleasure, honour, power.  We renounce the devil and all his works.

I  God and his people

IN éxitu Israël de Ægýpto, * domus Jacob de pópulo bárbaro:
2  Facta est Judæa sanctificátio ejus, * Israël potéstas ejus.

WHEN Israel came out of Egypt, * and the house of Jacob from among the strange people,
2  Judah was his sanctuary, * and Israel his dominion.

Nature's holy fear

3  Mare vidit, et fugit: * Jordánis convérsus est retrórsum.
4  Montes exsultavérunt ut aríetes, * et colles sicut agni óvium.
5  Quid est tibi, mare, quod fugísti: * et tu, Jordánis, quia convérsus es retrórsum?
6  Montes, exsultástis sicut aríetes, * et colles, sicut agni óvium.
7  A fácie Dómini mota est terra, * a fácie Dei Jacob.
8  Qui convértit petram in stagna aquarum, * et rupem in fontes aquarum.

3  The sea saw that, and fled; * Jordan was driven back.
4  The mountains skipped like rams, * and the little hills like young sheep.
5  What aileth thee, O thou sea, that thou fleddest? * and thou Jordan, that thou wast driven back?
6  Ye mountains, that ye skipped like rams? * and ye little hills, like young sheep?
7  Tremble, thou earth, at the presence of the Lord: * at the presence of the God of Jacob;
8  Who turned the hard rock into a standing water, * and the flint-stone into a springing well.

II  God alone be praised

9  Non nobis, Dómine, non nobis: * sed nómini tuo da glóriam.
10  Super misericórdia tua, et veritáte tua: * nequándo dicant gentes: Ubi est Deus eórum?

9  Not unto us, O Lord, not unto us, but unto thy Name give the praise; * for thy loving mercy, and for thy truth's sake.
10  Wherefore shall the heathen say, * Where is now their God?

God and idols

11  Deus autem noster in cælo: * ómnia quæcúmque vóluit, fecit.
12  Simulácra géntium argéntum, et aurum, * ópera mánuum hóminum.
13  Os habent, et non loquéntur: * óculos habent, et non vidébunt.
14  Aures habent, et non áudient: * nares habent, et non odorábunt.
15  Manus habent, et non palpábunt: pedes habent, et non ambulábunt: * non clamábunt in gútture suo.
16  Símiles illis fiant qui fáciunt ea: * et omnes qui confídunt in eis.

11  As for our God, he is in heaven: * he hath done whatsoever pleased him.
12  Their idols are silver and gold, * even the work of men's hands.
13  They have mouths, and speak not; * eyes have they, and see not.
14  They have ears, and hear not; * noses have they, and smell not.
15  They have hands, and handle not; feet have they, and walk not; * neither speak they through their throat.
16  They that make them are like unto them; * and so are all such as put their trust in them.

Song of blessing

17  Domus Israël sperávit in Dómino: * adjútor eórum et protéctor eórum est,
18  Domus Aaron sperávit in Dómino: * adjútor eórum et protéctor eórum est,
19  Qui timent Dóminum, speravérunt in Dómino: * adjútor eórum et protéctor eórum est.
20  Dóminus memor fuit nostri: * et benedíxit nobis:
21  Benedíxit dómui Israël: * benedíxit dómui Aaron.
22  Benedíxit ómnibus, qui timent Dóminum, * pusíllis cum majóribus.
23  Adjíciat Dóminus super vos: * super vos, et super fílios vestros.
24  Benedícti vos a Dómino, * qui fecit cælum, et terram.
25  Cælum cæli Dómino: * terram autem dedit fíliis hóminum.
26  Non mórtui laudábunt te, Dómine: * neque omnes, qui descéndunt in inférnum.
27  Sed nos qui vívimus, benedícimus Dómino, * ex hoc nunc et usque in sæculum.

17  But thou, house of Israel, trust thou in the Lord; * he is their helper and defender.
18  Ye house of Aaron, put your trust in the Lord; * he is their helper and defender.
19  Ye that fear the Lord, put your trust in the Lord; * he is their helper and defender.
20  The Lord hath been mindful of us, and he shall bless us; * even he shall bless the house of Israel, he shall bless the house of Aaron.
21  He shall bless them that fear the Lord, * both small and great.
22  The Lord shall increase you more and more, * you and your children.
23  Ye are the blessed of the Lord, * who hath made heaven and earth.
24  All the whole heavens are the Lord's; * the earth hath he given to the children of men.
25  The dead praise not thee, O Lord, * neither all they that go down into silence.
26  But we will praise the Lord, * from this time forth for evermore.