Date post: | 11-May-2015 |
Category: |
Spiritual |
Upload: | elizabeth-sheppard |
View: | 1,311 times |
Download: | 1 times |
The Divine Office
Evening Prayer (Vespers)
© Elizabeth Sheppard STB 2013
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
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
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
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
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.
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
Thanks be to Godfor the gift of
Evening Prayer(Vespers)
to the Churches
The Divine Office
Evening Prayer (Vespers)