Wednesday 30 April 2025    (other days)
Saint Pius V, Pope 
 on Wednesday of the 2nd week of Eastertide

Using calendar: Malta. You can pick a diocese or region.

Vespers (Evening Prayer)

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.
Hymn
Who are these like stars appearing,
these, before God’s throne who stand?
Each a golden crown is wearing;
who are all this glorious band?
Alleluia! Hark, they sing,
praising loud their heavenly King.
Who are these of dazzling brightness,
clothed in God’s own righteousness?
These, whose robes of purest whiteness,
shall their lustre still possess,
still untouched by time’s rude hand?
Whence came all this glorious band?
These are they who have contended
for their Saviour’s honour long,
wrestling on till life was ended,
following not the sinful throng;
these who well the fight sustained,
triumph through the Lamb have gained.
These are they whose hearts were riven,
sore with woe and anguish tried,
who in prayer full oft have striven
with the God they glorified;
now, their painful conflict o’er,
God has bid them weep no more.
These, the Almighty contemplating,
did as priests before him stand,
soul and body always waiting
day and night at his command:
now in God’s most holy place
blest they stand before his face.

Psalm 61 (62)
Peace in God

Do not let your hearts be troubled: only have faith in me. Alleluia.
My soul, find peace in God alone:
  from him comes my salvation.
It is he who is my refuge and my safeguard,
  my stronghold: I shall never be shaken.
How long will you assail a man
  and band together to crush him,
  like a toppling wall or a falling fence?
They plan to thrust him down from his high place.
  They delight in lies:
  with their lips they bless, but a curse is in their hearts.
My soul, find peace in God alone,
  for he gives me strength to endure.
It is he who is my God and my safeguard,
  my stronghold: I shall never be shaken.
In God is my salvation and my glory,
  God is my strength – my refuge is with God.
Trust in him, all you people together,
  pour out your hearts before him;
  God is our refuge.
The children of Adam are as nothing;
  the children of men are a deceit.
Weigh them in the scales, and they rise:
  they are lighter than a puff of smoke.
Put no trust in violence,
  do not be seduced into robbery;
  and if riches come, do not count upon them.
God has spoken once and for all.
  Two things have I heard him say:
  that strength belongs to God,
  and that mercy, Lord, belongs to you.
For to each of us you give
  whatever our actions have deserved.
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.
Do not let your hearts be troubled: only have faith in me. Alleluia.

How to listen

Psalm 66 (67)
All peoples, praise the Lord

Let the peoples praise you, O God; let them rejoice in your saving help. Alleluia.
O God, take pity on us and bless us,
  and let your face shine upon us,
so that your ways may be known across the world,
  and all nations learn of your salvation.
Let the peoples praise you, O God,
  let all the peoples praise you.
Let the nations be glad and rejoice,
  for you judge the peoples with fairness
  and you guide the nations of the earth.
Let the peoples praise you, O God,
  let all the peoples praise you.
The earth has produced its harvest:
  may God, our God, bless us.
May God bless us,
  may the whole world revere him.
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.
Let the peoples praise you, O God; let them rejoice in your saving help. Alleluia.
Canticle(Colossians 1)

Christ, firstborn of all creatures and firstborn from the dead

His majesty covers the heavens, the earth is filled with his praise. Alleluia.
Let us give thanks to God the Father,
  who has made us worthy to share in the light that is the saints’ inheritance.
He has rescued us from the power of the shadows
  and brought us to the kingdom of his beloved Son,
in whom we have redemption
  and the forgiveness of sins.
He is the image of the invisible God,
  the first-born of all creation,
for in him all things were created,
  in heaven and on earth,
  visible and invisible,
thrones and dominations,
  principalities and powers.
All things were created through him and for him:
  he is before all things,
  and in him all things hold together.
And he is the head of the body, the Church.
  He is the beginning, the first-born from the dead,
  and so he is pre-eminent above all.
For it was the Father’s will that the fullness of God should dwell in him,
  and that through him all things should be reconciled to himself.
Through the blood of the Cross he brought peace to all things,
  both on Earth and in the heavens.
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.
His majesty covers the heavens, the earth is filled with his praise. Alleluia.
Scripture Reading1 Peter 5:1-4
Now I have something to tell your elders: I am an elder myself, and a witness to the sufferings of Christ, and with you I have a share in the glory that is to be revealed. Be the shepherds of the flock of God that is entrusted to you: watch over it, not simply as a duty but gladly, because God wants it; not for sordid money, but because you are eager to do it. Never be a dictator over any group that is put in your charge, but be an example that the whole flock can follow. When the chief shepherd appears, you will be given the crown of unfading glory.
Short Responsory
This is a man who loves his brothers and intercedes for the people. Alleluia, alleluia.
– This is a man who loves his brothers and intercedes for the people. Alleluia, alleluia.
He laid down his life for his brothers.
– This is a man who loves his brothers and intercedes for the people. Alleluia, alleluia.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.
– This is a man who loves his brothers and intercedes for the people. Alleluia, alleluia.
CanticleMagnificat

My soul rejoices in the Lord

This is the faithful and wise steward whom the Master placed over his household to give them their measure of food at the proper time. Alleluia.
Or: I thank you, Christ, for honouring me by leading me to this glory. You are the good shepherd; I pray that the sheep which you have placed in my charge will share with me in your glory for ever. 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.
This is the faithful and wise steward whom the Master placed over his household to give them their measure of food at the proper time. Alleluia.
Or: I thank you, Christ, for honouring me by leading me to this glory. You are the good shepherd; I pray that the sheep which you have placed in my charge will share with me in your glory for ever. Alleluia.
Prayers and intercessions
Let us pray to Christ, the high priest, who was appointed to represent men in their relations with God.
– Lord, save your people.
Lord Jesus, in times past you have lighted the way for your people through wise and holy leaders;
  may Christians always enjoy this sign of your loving kindness.
– Lord, save your people.
You forgave the sins of your people when holy pastors prayed;
  continually cleanse your Church through their powerful intercession.
– Lord, save your people.
In the presence of their brothers, you anointed your holy ones and poured on them your Spirit;
  fill with your Holy Spirit all the leaders of your people.
– Lord, save your people.
Nothing could ever separate the holy pastors from your love;
  do not lose even one of those whom you redeemed by your passion.
– Lord, save your people.
Through the pastors of your Church you give your sheep eternal life, and no one can steal them from you;
  save the faithful departed, for whom you laid down your life.
– Lord, save your people.
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.
Lord God, in your providence you called Pope Saint Pius
  to defend the faith
  and to enhance the dignity of divine worship.
Give us grace, through his prayer,
  to worship you in your sacred mysteries
  with an ardent faith and an active charity.
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.
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.

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