Wednesday 23 April 2025    (other days)
Easter Wednesday 

Using calendar: England - Portsmouth - Hampshire - Solent Area. You can change this.

Vespers (Evening Prayer)

INTRODUCTION
Deus, in adiutórium meum inténde.
  Dómine, ad adiuvándum me festína.
Glória Patri et Fílio*
  et Spirítui Sancto.
Sicut erat in princípio et nunc et semper*
  et in sǽcula sæculórum.
Amen. Allelúia.
INTRODUCTION
O God, come to our aid.
  O Lord, make haste to help us.
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. Alleluia.
Hymnus
Ad cenam Agni próvidi,
stolis salútis cándidi,
post tránsitum maris Rubri
Christo canámus príncipi.
Cuius corpus sanctíssimum
in ara crucis tórridum,
sed et cruórem róseum
gustándo, Deo vívimus.
Protécti paschæ véspero
a devastánte ángelo,
de Pharaónis áspero
sumus erépti império.
Iam pascha nostrum Christus est,
agnus occísus ínnocens;
sinceritátis ázyma
qui carnem suam óbtulit.
O vera, digna hóstia,
per quam frangúntur tártara,
captíva plebs redímitur,
reddúntur vitæ prǽmia!
Consúrgit Christus túmulo,
victor redit de bárathro,
tyránnum trudens vínculo
et paradísum réserans.
Esto perénne méntibus
paschále, Iesu, gáudium
et nos renátos grátiæ
tuis triúmphis ággrega.
Iesu, tibi sit glória,
qui morte victa prǽnites,
cum Patre et almo Spíritu,
in sempitérna sǽcula.
Amen.
Hymn
The Lamb’s high banquet we await,
In snow-white robes of royal state;
And now, the Red Sea’s channel past,
To Christ our Prince we sing at last.
Upon the altar of the Cross
His body hath redeemed our loss;
And tasting of his scarlet blood,
Our life is hid with him in God.
Now Christ our paschal Lamb is slain,
The Lamb of God that knows no stain,
The true oblation offered here,
Our own unleavened bread sincere.
O thou, from whom hell’s monarch flies,
O great, O very Sacrifice,
Thy captive people are set free,
And endless life restored in thee.
To thee who, dead, again dost live,
All glory, Lord, thy people give:
All glory, as is ever meet,
To Father and to Paraclete.

Ps 109:1-5,7
Messias rex et sacerdos

“Oportet illum regnare, donec ponat omnes inimicos sub pedibus eius” (1 Cor 15, 25).

Venérunt ad monuméntum María Magdaléne et áltera María vidére sepúlcrum, allelúia.
1Dixit Dóminus Dómino meo:*
  «Sede a dextris meis,
donec ponam inimícos tuos*
  scabéllum pedum tuórum».
2Virgam poténtiæ tuæ emíttet Dóminus ex Sion:*
  domináre in médio inimicórum tuórum.
3Tecum principátus in die virtútis tuæ,†
  in splendóribus sanctis,*
  ex útero ante lucíferum génui te.
4Iurávit Dóminus et non pænitébit eum:*
  «Tu es sacérdos in ætérnum secúndum órdinem Melchísedech».
5Dóminus a dextris tuis,*
  conquassábit in die iræ suæ reges.
7De torrénte in via bibet,*
proptérea exaltábit caput.
Glória Patri et Fílio*
  et Spirítui Sancto.
Sicut erat in princípio et nunc et semper*
  et in sǽcula sæculórum.
Amen.
Venérunt ad monuméntum María Magdaléne et áltera María vidére sepúlcrum, allelúia.

Psalm 109 (110)
The Messiah, king and priest

Mary Magdalen came with the other Mary to see the tomb where the Lord had been laid, alleluia.
The Lord has said to my lord:
  “Sit at my right hand
  while I make your enemies your footstool.”
From Zion the Lord will give you a sceptre,
  and you will rule in the midst of your foes.
Royal power is yours in the day of your strength,
  among the sacred splendours.
  Before the dawn, I begot you from the womb.
The Lord has sworn, and he will not repent:
  “You are a priest for ever,
  a priest of the priesthood of Melchisedech.”
The Lord is at your right hand,
  and on the day of his anger he will shatter kings.
He will drink from the stream as he goes –
  he will hold his head high.
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.
Mary Magdalen came with the other Mary to see the tomb where the Lord had been laid, alleluia.

How to listen

Ps 113A:1-8
Israel ex Ægypto liberatur

“Cognoscite etiam vos exiisse ab Ægýpto, qui huic sæculo renuntiastis” (S. Augustinus).

Veníte, et vidéte locum ubi pósitus erat Dóminus, allelúia.
1In éxitu Israel de Ægýpto,*
  domus Iacob de pópulo bárbaro,
2factus est Iuda sanctuárium eius,*
  Israel potéstas eius.
3Mare vidit et fugit,*
  Iordánis convérsus est retrórsum;
4montes saltavérunt ut aríetes,*
  et colles sicut agni óvium.
5Quid est tibi, mare, quod fugísti?*
  Et tu, Iordánis, quia convérsus es retrórsum?
6Montes, quod saltástis sicut aríetes,*
  et colles, sicut agni óvium?
7A fácie Dómini contremísce, terra,*
  a fácie Dei Iacob,
8qui convértit petram in stagna aquárum*
  et sílicem in fontes aquárum.
Glória Patri et Fílio*
  et Spirítui Sancto.
Sicut erat in princípio et nunc et semper*
  et in sǽcula sæculórum.
Amen.
Veníte, et vidéte locum ubi pósitus erat Dóminus, allelúia.

Psalm 113A (114)
Israel set free from Egypt

Come and see where the Lord was laid, alleluia.
When Israel came out of Egypt,
  Jacob’s people from a land of strangers,
Judah became his sanctuary
  and Israel his domain.
The sea saw it, and fled;
  the Jordan flowed backwards at the sight;
the mountains leapt like rams;
  the hills, like yearling sheep.
Sea, what was it, what made you flee?
  And you, Jordan, why did you flow uphill?
Mountains, why did you leap like rams?
  Hills, like yearling sheep?
Tremble, Earth, at the presence of the Lord,
  the presence of the Lord of Jacob,
who has turned the rock into a pool of water
  and made a fountain out of the flint.
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.
Come and see where the Lord was laid, alleluia.
Canticumcf. Ap 19

De nuptiis Agni

Ait Iesus: Nolíte timére; ite, nuntiáte frátribus meis ut eant in Galilǽam; ibi me vidébitis, allelúia.
Allelúia.
1Salus et glória et virtus Deo nostro,*
(℟. Allelúia.)
2quia vera et iusta iudícia eius.
℟. Allelúia (allelúia).
Allelúia.
5Laudem dícite Deo nostro, omnes servi eius*
(℟. Allelúia.)
et qui timétis eum, pusílli et magni!
℟. Allelúia (allelúia).
Allelúia.
6Quóniam regnávit Dóminus, Deus noster omnípotens.*
(℟. Allelúia.)
7Gaudeámus et exsultémus et demus glóriam ei.
℟. Allelúia (allelúia).
Allelúia.
Quia venérunt núptiæ Agni,*
(℟. Allelúia.)
et uxor eius præparávit se.
℟. Allelúia (allelúia).
Glória Patri et Fílio*
  et Spirítui Sancto.
Sicut erat in princípio et nunc et semper*
  et in sǽcula sæculórum.
Amen.
Ait Iesus: Nolíte timére; ite, nuntiáte frátribus meis ut eant in Galilǽam; ibi me vidébitis, allelúia.
Canticle(Apocalypse 19)

The wedding of the Lamb

Jesus said: ‘Go, and tell my brothers that they are to leave for Galilee: they will see me there.’ Alleluia.
Alleluia.
Salvation and glory and power belong to our God,
  because his judgements are true and just.
Alleluia.
Alleluia.
Praise our God, all his servants,
  and you who fear him, small and great.
Alleluia.
Alleluia.
For the Lord reigns, our God, the Almighty:
  let us rejoice and exult and give him glory.
Alleluia.
Alleluia.
The marriage of the Lamb has come,
  and his spouse has made herself ready.
Alleluia.
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.
Jesus said: ‘Go, and tell my brothers that they are to leave for Galilee: they will see me there.’ Alleluia.
Lectio brevisHebr 7:24-27
Iesus eo quod manet in ætérnum, intransgressíbile habet sacerdótium, unde et salváre in perpétuum potest accedéntes per semetípsum ad Deum, semper vivens ad interpellándum pro eis. Talis enim et decébat, ut nobis esset póntifex, sanctus, ínnocens, impollútus, segregátus a peccatóribus et excélsior cælis factus, qui non habet necessitátem cotídie, quemádmodum pontífices, prius pro suis delíctis hóstias offérre, deínde pro pópuli; hoc enim fecit semel semetípsum offeréndo.
Scripture ReadingHebrews 7:24-27
Jesus, because he remains for ever, can never lose his priesthood. It follows, then, that his power to save is utterly certain, since he is living for ever to intercede for all who come to God through him. To suit us, the ideal high priest would have to be holy, innocent and uncontaminated, beyond the influence of sinners, and raised up above the heavens; one who would not need to offer sacrifices every day, as the other high priests do for their own sins and then for those of the people, because Jesus Christ our Lord has done this once and for all by offering himself.
Responsorium breve
Hæc dies quam fecit Dóminus: exsultémus et lætémur in ea, allelúia.
Short Responsory
This is the day which was made by the Lord: let us rejoice and be glad, alleluia.
Canticum

Exsultatio animæ in Domino

Intrávit Iesus cum illis; et factum est, dum recúmberet, accépit panem, benedíxit ac fregit, et porrigébat illis, allelúia.
Magníficat*
  ánima mea Dóminum,
et exsultávit spíritus meus*
  in Deo salvatóre meo,
quia respéxit humilitátem ancíllæ suæ.*
  Ecce enim ex hoc beátam me dicent omnes generatiónes,
quia fecit mihi magna, qui potens est,*
  et sanctum nomen eius,
et misericórdia eius in progénies et progénies*
  timéntibus eum.
Fecit poténtiam in bráchio suo,*
  dispérsit supérbos mente cordis sui;
depósuit poténtes de sede*
  et exaltávit húmiles;
esuriéntes implévit bonis*
  et dívites dimísit inánes.
Suscépit Israel púerum suum,*
  recordátus misericórdiæ,
sicut locútus est ad patres nostros,*
  Abraham et sémini eius in sǽcula.
Glória Patri et Fílio*
  et Spirítui Sancto.
Sicut erat in princípio et nunc et semper*
  et in sǽcula sæculórum.
Amen.
Intrávit Iesus cum illis; et factum est, dum recúmberet, accépit panem, benedíxit ac fregit, et porrigébat illis, allelúia.
CanticleMagnificat

My soul rejoices in the Lord

He went in to stay with them, and while they were sitting at table, he took the bread and said the blessing; then he broke it and handed it to them, alleluia.
My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord,
  and my spirit rejoices in God, my salvation.
For he has shown me such favour –
  me, his lowly handmaiden.
Now all generations will call me blessed,
  because the mighty one has done great things for me.
His name is holy,
  his mercy lasts for generation after generation
  for those who revere him.
He has put forth his strength:
  he has scattered the proud and conceited,
  torn princes from their thrones;
  but lifted up the lowly.
He has filled the hungry with good things;
  the rich he has sent away empty.
He has come to the help of his servant Israel,
  he has remembered his mercy as he promised to our fathers,
  to Abraham and his children for ever.
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.
He went in to stay with them, and while they were sitting at table, he took the bread and said the blessing; then he broke it and handed it to them, alleluia.
Preces
Christum, qui a mórtuis resurréxit atque ad déxteram Patris sedet, súpplices implorémus, dicéntes:
– Christe, semper vivens, exáudi nos.
Meménto, Dómine, ómnium in tuo servítio ministrántium,
  ut prǽbeant exémplum vitæ sanctæ pópulo tuo.
– Christe, semper vivens, exáudi nos.
Reipúblicæ moderatóribus spíritum iustítiæ et pacis concéde,
  ut in civitáte hóminum concórdes vívere valeámus.
– Christe, semper vivens, exáudi nos.
Dies nostros ad salútem dispóne,
  et, ad indigéntes iuvándos, terræ ubertátem adáuge.
– Christe, semper vivens, exáudi nos.
Christe salvátor, qui mundum univérsum illuminásti et omnem creatúram, corruptióni subiéctam, ad vitam vocásti,
  frátribus nostris defúnctis lucem concéde perpétuam.
– Christe, semper vivens, exáudi nos.
Prayers and intercessions
Let us pray to Christ, who rose from the dead and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
– Ever-living Christ, hear us.
Lord, remember those who are consecrated to your service;
  may they set before your holy people the example of their lives.
– Ever-living Christ, hear us.
Grant to those who rule us your spirit of justice and peace;
  May men be united, heart and soul.
– Ever-living Christ, hear us.
Make our daily life a pilgrimage of salvation;
  let the earth be rich and plentiful to meet the needs of the poor.
– Ever-living Christ, hear us.
Christ, our Saviour, light of the world, you have called all mortal men to imperishable life;
  shed eternal light on our departed brothers.
– Ever-living Christ, hear us.
Pater noster, qui es in cælis:
sanctificétur nomen tuum;
advéniat regnum tuum;
fiat volúntas tua, sicut in cælo et in terra.
Panem nostrum cotidiánum da nobis hódie;
et dimítte nobis débita nostra,
sicut et nos dimíttimus debitóribus nostris;
et ne nos indúcas in tentatiónem;
sed líbera nos a malo.
Our Father, who art in heaven,
  hallowed be thy name.
Thy kingdom come.
  Thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread,
  and forgive us our trespasses,
  as we forgive those who trespass against us,
and lead us not into temptation,
  but deliver us from evil.
Deus, qui nos resurrectiónis domínicæ ánnua sollemnitáte lætíficas, concéde propítius, ut, per temporália festa quæ ágimus, perveníre ad gáudia ætérna mereámur.
Per Dóminum nostrum Iesum Christum, Fílium tuum,
qui tecum vivit et regnat in unitáte Spíritus Sancti, Deus,
per ómnia sǽcula sæculórum.
Amen.
God our Father,
  you give us the joy of celebrating the Lord’s resurrection
  each passing year.
Let this yearly feast
  bring us to eternal joy.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God, for ever and ever.
Amen.
Dóminus nos benedícat, et ab omni malo deféndat, et ad vitam perdúcat ætérnam.
  Amen.
The Lord bless us, and keep us from all evil, and bring us to everlasting life.
  Amen.

The psalms and canticles here are our own translation from the Latin. The Grail translation of the psalms, which is used liturgically in most of the English-speaking world, cannot be displayed on the Web for copyright reasons. The Universalis apps and programs do contain the Grail translation of the psalms.

You can also view this page in English only.

Copyright © 1996-2025 Universalis Publishing Limited: see www.universalis.com. Scripture readings from the Jerusalem Bible are published and copyright © 1966, 1967 and 1968 by Hodder & Stoughton and Doubleday, a division of Random House, Inc, and used by permission of the publishers.
 		 This web site © Copyright 1996-2025 Universalis Publishing Ltd · Contact us · Cookies/privacy
(top)