the divine office. evening prayer (vespers)

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The Divine Office Evening Prayer (Vespers) © Elizabeth Sheppard STB 2013

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The Divine Office, the seven times daily prayer of the Christian Church, includes one prayer hour that is used throughout the Christian world - Evening Prayer or as it is often called, vespers. This Powerpoint Presentation provides a brief description of its forms and organisation. More detailed descriptions are available through each Church denomination.

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Page 1: The Divine Office. Evening Prayer (Vespers)

The Divine Office

Evening Prayer (Vespers)

© Elizabeth Sheppard STB 2013

Page 2: The Divine Office. Evening Prayer (Vespers)

Evening Prayer (Vespers) is …

The Evening Prayer of the whole Church prayed in community or in public, worldwide

a daily offering of praise and thanks for God’s daily blessings, gifts, and grace

a time for recollection and offering

a time for resolving to do better

a time for resting in God’s presence

Vespers I of Sunday are sung on Saturday evening

Vespers II of Sundays are sung on Sunday evening

a particular Christian prayer liturgy, with set form, texts and music, customarily candlelit, sometimes with a procession

Page 3: The Divine Office. Evening Prayer (Vespers)

Vespers may be … Monastic

celebrated in an Abbey or Monastery or Convent Church by religious sisters or brothers, and led by an Abbess, Abbot or congregational music director

Cathedral celebrated in a Cathedral by diocesan clergy, e.g. a Dean,

a Bishop, an Archbishop, or a Diocesan Priest, with Cathedral Chapter members and Cathedral parishioners

Canonical celebrated in a Parish Church by lay people: may be led by

a Parish Priest, an Assistant Priest, a Deacon, or a Cantor

Ecumenical Celebrated in an agreed Church venue by members of

different Christian denominations who wish to pray together, and jointly led by clergy responsible for local ecumenical prayer and dialogue, or their authorized delegates

Page 4: The Divine Office. Evening Prayer (Vespers)

Vespers includes …

Set texts, readings and music for each liturgical day

Approved translations from Hebrew, Greek, and Latin

Approved Church Publications for Vespers (e.g. Anglican Evening Prayer, the Liturgy of the Hours, Divine Office)

Approved Vespers music, which may change each day, and is published by each Church in its liturgical books. New Evening Prayer / Vespers music is selected by music committees

Set Monastic, Cathedral, and Canonical forms of Vespers prescribed by each Church for monastic, cathedral and lay use

An agreed Ecumenical form for use by ecumenical gatherings, agreed by Churches in consultation, and promoted by Church leaders

Page 5: The Divine Office. Evening Prayer (Vespers)

Monastic Vespers is …

Prayed by monks or nuns in Abbeys or Monasteries has a Monastic form suited to religious life

is one of the seven daily Church Prayer Offices

is sung alternately by two groups led by two Cantors, in an approved modal form of ecclesiastical chant

requires chant training, Cantors to lead responses, and an organist who can support tuning without dominating

an ancient traditional liturgy that includes set Hymns, Antiphons, Psalms, Prayers, Readings, Responsories, a Canticle, Doxologies, and a Blessing

Monastic liturgical books usually provide two forms of Sunday Vespers. Vespers I of Sunday are sung on Saturday evening, and Vespers II are sung on Sunday evening

Page 6: The Divine Office. Evening Prayer (Vespers)

Cathedral Vespers is

Prayed in a Cathedral by Diocesan clergy and Cathedral Chapter members has a Cathedral Vespers form suited to Diocesan

life

chanted responsorially

provides training and practice in the forms of chant

led by trained clerical or lay Cantors

an ancient traditional liturgy that includes set Hymns, Antiphons, Psalms, Prayers, Readings, Responsories, a Canticle, Doxologies, and a Blessing.

Page 7: The Divine Office. Evening Prayer (Vespers)

Canonical Vespers is

Prayed in a Parish Church by Parish clergy and parishioners sung or chanted with Simple Psalm Tones

an ancient Office liturgy which, according to the Canon Law of several Churches, must always include music

in a Canonical Parish form faithful to the spirit and teachings of each Parish Church, and adapted to the needs of lay people

an ancient traditional liturgy that includes set Hymns, Antiphons, Psalms, Prayers, Readings, Responsories, a Canticle, Doxologies, and a Blessing

Page 8: The Divine Office. Evening Prayer (Vespers)

Canonical Vespers Has texts, music and liturgical forms

selected by each Parish Church community Clergy, parishioners, and their music staff review the

range of available Vespers forms, texts, and music

The texts, music and liturgical forms of Canonical Vespers are chosen with the consent of parishioners

Vespers liturgies may (with the permission of local Church authorities) be adapted to the local culture of each Parish community, in order to promote the faith

Innovative Vespers texts, music and liturgical forms may not be imposed by the clergy without parishioners’ approval and consent

Page 9: The Divine Office. Evening Prayer (Vespers)

Ecumenical Vespers is

Prayed by gathered Christians from many Churches, led by representatives of each Church present includes common texts of the traditional Vespers psalms

and hymns: music may not be omitted

has an Ecumenical form faithful to the common Creed, doctrine and customs of the ecumenical Church, suited to laity

conforms to the ancient ecumenical Vespers liturgical form found in the earliest Church Councils, that includes traditional Hymns, Antiphons, responsorial Psalms, Prayers, Readings, Responsories, a Canticle, Doxologies, and a Blessing

Page 10: The Divine Office. Evening Prayer (Vespers)

Preparing Evening Prayer (Vespers)

Consult with Clergy & Music Directors

Look up these references: The Liturgy of the Hours for daily (Proper) texts Chant source books for chant tones Hymn books for hymn texts and tunes Your own Church’s guidelines on Evening Prayer /

Vespers Adaptation guidelines for non-Western forms

Seek guidance from: Parish and Cathedral Clergy Local Religious Orders who pray Evening Prayer /

Vespers Your Church’s Liturgical or Worship Committees Church Libraries and Schools Cathedral Music Ministers Parish Music Ministers

Page 11: The Divine Office. Evening Prayer (Vespers)

Liturgical & Sacred Music Commissions

Church Music Committees are appointed by all Churches

These Committees consult with Church leaders, clergy, liturgists and musicians to govern Church worship and prayer forms

Prayer texts, rules and music selections are approved by Church leaders after consultation with worship Committees

New Vespers texts, rules and music are commissioned for

e.g. Vespers before a Memorial Service or Church Feast Vespers for the Consecration or Installation of a Church

Leader Vespers for the Dedication of a new Cathedral or Church

Page 12: The Divine Office. Evening Prayer (Vespers)

Evening Prayer (Vespers) is

The Evening Prayer of the whole Church prayed in Community or in public

a daily offering of praise and thanks for God’s blessings, gifts, and grace

a time for recollection and offering

a time for resolving to do better

a time for resting in God’s presence

a particular liturgical form of Christian prayer, with a set structure, texts and music

Page 13: The Divine Office. Evening Prayer (Vespers)

Vespers Online … is one of God’s gifts to the Church in this age

can be placed on your Parish or Cathedral Website if a link to an approved Evening Prayer / Vespers website is provided

can unify and strengthen your local Church’s intercession and praise of God for his daily blessings, gifts and grace

can gather your community in recollection each day, can reduce excessive worries and stress, and can strengthen your resolve to follow Christ, amend faults and do better

enables Church communities to rest peacefully in God’s caring presence as we prepare for tomorrow together

Page 14: The Divine Office. Evening Prayer (Vespers)

Thanks be to Godfor the gift of

Evening Prayer(Vespers)

to the Churches

Page 15: The Divine Office. Evening Prayer (Vespers)

The Divine Office

Evening Prayer (Vespers)