Holy God, Holy and Mighty, Holy Immortal One,
have mercy on us.
Agios o theos, agios ischyros, agios athanatos,
eleison imas.
Sanctus Deus, Sanctus Fortis, Sanctus Immortális,
miserére nobis.


Opening Processional Chant:

The angel said to Mary, + Rejoice most favored one!
The Lord is with you.

God has been gracious to you, Mary; + you will conceive and bear a son,
and you shall give him the name Jesus.

The Holy Spirit will come upon you, + and the power of the Most High will overshadow you:
therrefore the holy child to be born will be called Son of God.

Mary said, + I am the Lord's servant;
as you have spoken so be it.

God's blessing is on you + above all women,
and his blessing is on the fruit of your womb.


O God, make speed to save us.
O Lord, make haste to help us.

Holy God, Holy and Mighty, Holy Immortal One,
Have mercy on us
Gk. Hagios Theos, hagios ischyros, hagios athanatos,
Eleison imas
Latin. Sanctus Deus, sanctus fortis, sanctus et immortalis
Miserere nobis.


What we proclaim to you:
what was from the beginning,
what we have heard,
what we have seen with our eyes,
what we looked upon
and our hands have touched -
we speak of the Word of life.
This life became visible;
we have seen it and bear witness to it
and we proclaim to you the eternal life
that was present to the Father
and became visible to us. - 1 John 1:1-2


VESPERS HYMN:

Agnoscat omne saeculum venisse vitae praemium; post hostis asperi iugum apparuit redemptio. Isaias quae praecinit completa sunt in Virgine; annuntiavit Angelus, Sanctus replevit Spiritus. Maria ventre concipit verbi fidelis semine; quem totus orbis non capit, portant puellae viscera. Adam vetus quod polluit, Adam novus hoc abluit; tumens quod ille deicit, humillimus hic erigit. Christo sit omnis gloria, Dei Parentis Filio, quem Virgo felix concipit Sancti sub umbra Spiritus.

Let all ages acknowledge that he is come who is the reward of life. After the enemy's cruel yoke Our Redemption appeared. What Isaias foretold, has been fulfilled in the Virgin; an Angel announced the mystery to her, and filled her with the Holy Spirit Mary conceived in her womb. The Word, the faithful Seed whom the whole world cannot contain was carried in the Virgin's womb. What the old Adam polluted the new Adam has washed; His sores he cast aside, and raises the humble. All glory be to Christ, the Son of God the Father whome the happy Virgin conceived under the shadow of the Holy Spirit.

Or:

The God, whose will by moon and sun
and all things in due course is done,
is nourished at a maiden's breast
by fullest heavenly grace possessed.

How blessed that Mother, in whose shrine
the world's Creator, Lord divine,
whose hand contains the earth and sky,
once deigned, as in his ark, to lie.

Blessed in the message Gabriel brought,
blessed by the work the Spirit wrought;
from whom the great Desire of earth
took human form and human birth.

O Jesus, virgin-born, we raise
to you our hymn of grateful praise;
and to the Father tribute bring
as by the Spirit here we sing.

O Lord, the Virgin-born, to thee
eternal praise and glory be,
whom with the Father we adore
and Holy Ghost for evermore.



PSALMODY

Psalm 110:1-5, 132    
Dixit Dominus

Antiphon:The angel of the Lord brought tidings to Mary, and she conceived by the Holy Spirit.

1

The LORD said to my Lord, "Sit at my right hand, *
     until I make your enemies your footstool."

2

The LORD will send the scepter of your power out of Zion, *
     saying, "Rule over your enemies round about you.

3

Princely state has been yours from the day of your birth; *
     in the beauty of holiness have I begotten you,
     like dew from the womb of the morning."

4

The LORD has sworn and he will not recant: *
     "You are a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek."

5

The Lord who is at your right hand
will smite kings in the day of his wrath; *
     he will rule over the nations.

Antiphon: Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God. Behold, you shall conceive and bear a son, and he will be called the Son of the Most High.

1

LORD, remember David, *
     and all the hardships he endured;

2

How he swore an oath to the LORD *
     and vowed a vow to the Mighty One of Jacob:

3

"I will not come under the roof of my house, *
     nor climb up into my bed;

4

I will not allow my eyes to sleep, *
     nor let my eyelids slumber;

5

Until I find a place for the LORD, *
     a dwelling for the Mighty One of Jacob."

6

"The ark! We heard it was in Ephratah; *
     we found it in the fields of Jearim.

7

Let us go to God's dwelling place; *
     let us fall upon our knees before his footstool."

8

Arise, O LORD, into your resting-place, *
     you and the ark of your strength.

9

Let your priests be clothed with righteousness; *
     let your faithful people sing with joy.

10

For your servant David's sake, *
     do not turn away the face of your Anointed.

11

The LORD has sworn an oath to David; *
     in truth, he will not break it:

12

"A son, the fruit of your body *
     will I set upon your throne.

13

If your children keep my covenant
and my testimonies that I shall teach them, *
     their children will sit upon your throne for evermore."

14

For the LORD has chosen Zion; *
     he has desired her for his habitation:

15

"This shall be my resting-place for ever; *
     here will I dwell, for I delight in her.

16

I will surely bless her provisions, *
     and satisfy her poor with bread.

17

I will clothe her priests with salvation, *
     and her faithful people will rejoice and sing.

18

There will I make the horn of David flourish; *
     I have prepared a lamp for my Anointed.

19

As for his enemies, I will clothe them with shame; *
     but as for him, his crown will shine."