Evening Prayer I
Common of Virgins

______

God, come to my assistance.
- Lord, make haste to help me.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,
as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,
world without end.
Amen.


HYMN

Now let us praise a woman noble, great,
A valiant servant of the God of Hosts;
her holiness is famed, renowned abroad.
Alleluia! Alleluia!

Afire with shafts of holy love she turned
From earthly joys to yearn for those of heaven;
Eternal triumph now her soul's reward!
Alleluia! Alleluia!

Her earthly prison penance kept subdued;
She fed her soul on prayer's sweet food alone;
Thus did she seek the glory of her Spouse.
Alleluia! Alleluia!

All strength and honor praise and glory be
To God the Father, and His only Son,
And Holy Spirit ever Three in One:
Alleluia! Alleluia!

Melody: Sine Nomine 10.10.10 with Alleluias
Music: Ralph Vaughn Williams
Text: Breviary Hymn for the Office of Holy Women



PSALMODY

Antiphon: Come daughters, draw close to the Lord, and share the splendor of his light (alleluia).


Psalm 113    
Laudate, pueri

Praise, O servants of the Lord,
praise the name of the Lord!
May the name of the Lord be blessed
both now and for evermore!
From the rising of the sun to its setting
praised be the name of the Lord!

High above all nations is the Lord,
above the heavens his glory.
Who is like the Lord, our God,
who has risen on high to his throne
yet stoops from the heights to look down,
to look down upon heaven and earth?

From the dust he lifts up the lowly,
from the dungheap he raises the poor
to set them in the company of princes,
yes, with the princes of his people.
To the childless wife he gives a home
and gladdens her heart with children. Glory...


Antiphon: Come daughters, draw close to the Lord, and share the splendor of his light (alleluia).


Antiphon: With all our heart we follow you in awe; we long to see you face to face. Lord, do not disappoint our hope (alleluia).


Psalm 147:12-20    
Lauda, Jerusalem

O praise the Lord, Jerusalem!
Zion praise your God!

He has strengthened the bars of your gates
he has blessed the children within you.
He established peace on your borders,
he feeds you with finest wheat.

He sends out his word to the earth
and swiftly runs his command.
He showers down snow white as wool,
he scatters hoar-frost like ashes.

He hurls down hailstones like crumbs.
The waters are frozen at his touch;
he sends forth his word and it melts them:
at the breath of his mouth the waters flow.

He makes his word known to Jacob,
to Israel his laws and decrees.
He has not dealt thus with other nations;
he has not taught them his decrees.

Glory...


Antiphon: With all our heart we follow you in awe; we long to see you face to face. Lord, do not disappoint our hope (alleluia).


Antiphon: Sing for joy, virgins of Christ; he is your spouse for all eternity (alleluia).

Canticle – Ephesians 1:3-10


Praised be the God and Father *
of our Lord Jesus Christ,
who has bestowed on us in Christ *
every spiritual blessing in the heavens.

God chose us in him *
before the world began
to be holy *
and blameless in his sight.

He predestined us *
to be his adopted sons through Jesus Christ,
such was his will and pleasure, †
that all might praise the glorious favor *
he has bestowed on us in his beloved.

In him and through his blood, we have been redeemed, *
and our sins forgiven,
so immeasurably generous *
is God's favor to us.

God has given us the wisdom *
to understand fully the mystery,
the plan he was pleased *
to decree in Christ.

A plan to be carried out *
in Christ, in the fullness of time,
to bring all things into one in him, *
in the heavens and on earth.

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.


Antiphon: Sing for joy, virgins of Christ; he is your spouse for all eternity (alleluia).

READING

1 Corinthians 7:32b, 34a

The unmarried man is busy with the Lord's affairs, concerned with pleasing the Lord. The virgin - indeed, any unmarried woman - is concerned with the things of the Lord, in pursuit of holiness in body and spirit.

RESPONSORY
The virgins are led into the presence of the King, amid gladness and joy.
 - The virgins are led into the presence of the King, amid gladness and joy.
They are brought into the King's dwelling place,
 - amid gladness and joy.
Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.
 - The virgins are led into the presence of the King, amid gladness and joy.


MAGNIFICAT (Canticle of Mary)
Antiphon for a virgin and martyr: With courageous heart she followed the Lamb, who was crucified for love of us; she offered herself as a chaste and spotless victim (alleluia).

Antiphon for a virgin: When the Bridegroom came, he found the wise virgin ready to enter the wedding feat with him (alleluia).


Antiphon for several virgins: Keep watch with love, wise virgins, with your lamps alight. See, the Bridegroom comes; go out to welcome him (alleluia).


INTERCESSIONS

Christ extolled those who practiced virginity for the sake of the kingdom: let us praise him joyfully and pray to him.

            Jesus, example of virgins, hear us.

Christ, you presented the Church to yourself as a chaste virgin to her spouse:
 - keep her holy an inviolate.

Christ, the holy virgins went out to meet you with their lamps alight:
 - keep the fidelity of your consecrated handmaids burning brightly.

Lord, your virgin Church has always kept its faith whole and untarnished:
 - grant all Christians a whole and untarnished faith.

You have given your people joy in celebrating the feast of your holy virgin N.,
 - give us constant joy through her intercession.

You have admitted the holy virgins to your marriage banquet:
- in your mercy lead the dead to your heavenly feast.

Our Father…



PRAYER

If there is no proper prayer, one of the following is said:

Lord,
you have told us that you live for ever
in the hearts of the chaste.
By the prayers of the virgin, N.,
help us to live by your grace
and remain a temple of your Spirit.
Grant this...

Or:

Lord,
hear the prayers of those who recall the devoted life of the virgin N.
Guide us on our way and help us to grow
in love and devotion as long as we live.
We ask this...

For several virgins:
Lord,
increase in us your gift of mercy and forgiveness.
May we who rejoice at this celebration in honor of the virgins N. and N.
receive the joy of sharing eternal life with them.
We ask this...





 
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