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SERVICE OF LIGHT
Greeting/Invocation
We light the Evening Vesper Candle and say or sing:
Light and peace in Jesus Christ our Love!
~Thanks be to God!
O God, come to my assistance;
O Love, make haste to help me. Glory…
Evening Hymn for St. Benedict
While he kept prophetic vigil, Gazing o’er the darkened land,
Benedict, from open window, saw the world, God’s loving plan.
How the first day of creation, Light was born by God’s command:
From the royal throne in heaven, Leapt down light from God’s right hand.
There he saw the whole world’s beauty In a single ray of light;
In one penetrating pen-stroke Every book that we could write;
Shining spear-shaft piercing darkness, Bears God’s angel-army’s might.
By that solitary beacon Every ship could sail aright.
Fire Elijah called from heaven On the true God’s sacrifice;
Burning coal pressed by God’s angel On Isaiah’s unclean lips;
Glowing coals through storm clouds flashing, God of David riding winds:
Tongue of flame which speaks each languages Shone in this man’s blessed eyes.
Fullest joy and perfect knowledge Uttered in one holy Name;
Earth and heaven, light and darkness, In God’s truth are one and same.
One dim flicker hid all power, Every splendor of the day,
Benedict, the single-hearted saw God’s world a single ray.
Text: Gethsemani Abbey (1971); Tune: IN BABILONE 87.87.D
SERVICE OF THE WORD
EVENING PSALMODY
Antiphon
This man of God, Benedict, was filled with the Spirit of all the just.
He lived as he taught and has given us a way of life and discipline
in the service of Christ our Love.
Psalm 111/112
Happy are those who love God
and delight in the whole of Torah!
Their children shall be blest,
strong and upright in the land.
The households of the just will flourish
their integrity stands firm forever.
A light shines from them for others
for they are generous, merciful and just.
The good lend freely to others
and conduct their affairs with honor.
They never waver from doing what is right
their justice is remembered forever.
They do not fear evil news
with strong hearts they trust in God.
Steadfast and without fear
they will watch the wicked crumble.
Open-handed they share with the poor;
their integrity stands firm forever.
this strength will bring them honor.
But hatred devours the wicked
who grind their teeth and depart;
their hopes all turn to ashes.
Glory to the ONE and to the WORD
And to the BREATH of Love!
As always before, so now and evermore. Amen
This man of God, Benedict, was filled with the Spirit of all the just.
He lived as he taught and has given us a way of life and discipline
in the service of Christ our Love.
READING Galatians 6: 14-18
May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. For neither does circumcision mean anything, nor does uncircumcision,but only a new creation. Peace and mercy be to all who follow this rule* and to the Israel of God. From now on, let no one make troubles for me; for I bear the marks of Jesus* on my body. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.
Responsory
R. Uphold me, O God, according to your promise and I shall live. And do not confound me in my expectations. V. I bind myself to do your will, do not disappoint me. V. I will run the way of your commands, you give freedom to my heart. V. Glory to the One and the Word, and the Breath of Love.
Gospel Canticle of Mary
Antiphon
Advancing by life together and faith, we will run with hearts expanded
by the delight of love the way of God’s commands. Alleluia!
It is customary to make the sign of the cross at the beginning of the Gospel Canticle.
My heart + is radiant with the Lord,
My whole being delights in God my Savior.
All people now will call me blessed
For God has loved this humble handmaid.
The Almighty has shown me great favor
Holy is the NAME,
Whose mercy embraces the faithful,
From one generation to the next.
The mighty arm of God,
Scatters the proud in their own conceit,
Pulls tyrants from their thrones
While lifting up the lowly:
Fills the famished with bounty,
And reveals the emptiness of riches.
Rescues lowly Israel,
Sharing such loving kindness,
As promised to our ancestors
To Abraham and Sarah, and their descendants forever.
Glory to the ONE and to WORD
And to the BREATH of Love!
As always before,
so now and evermore. Amen.
Advancing by life together and faith, we will run with hearts expanded
by the delight of love the way of God’s commands. Alleluia!
SERVICE OF PRAYER
Intercessory Prayer
You inspired St. Benedict to establish a school of the Lord’s service,
~bless all those who seek you in the monastic way of life.
Benedict taught that we should prefer nothing to daily prayer–joining our hearts and voices to the constant praise rendered by creation; ~bless our daily prayer and use it to deepen our sense of your presence and love at every moment of the day and in all of creation.
Benedict was blessed with a vision of the whole of creation contained in a single ray of sunlight, ~bless us with a profound awareness of the unity of creation and of our small but important part in it.
Benedict taught that all the objects we use should be respected as vessels of the altar; ~teach us to treat everything with reverence and care.
Benedict died surrounded by his brothers, with his hands uplifted in prayer, ~bless us with the grace of a peaceful death, and bring to eternal life those who have died.
Prayer of Jesus
Our Dear Abba in heaven …
Closing Prayer & Blessing
Holy One and God of endless Compassion, you are the praise of all your saints and the joy of all creation. You called St. Benedict to share his wisdom in a simple and balanced rule for communities dedicated to contemplative prayer and sustainable living. You call each of us to devote ourselves to prayer and works of compassion and love. May our hearts and our lives be in harmony with the words that we pray and our whole lives help to build your reign on Earth as it is in heaven where you live and love One God for ever and ever. Amen.
May we learn to prefer nothing to the love of Christ and may he bring us all to + everlasting life: ~Amen.
Let us bless Adonai.
~Thanks be to God.
Those who wish may end evening prayer with the Marian Antiphon.
Salve Regina, Mater misericordiae, Vita dulcedo et Spes nostra, salve!
Ad te clamamus, exsules filii Evae; Ad te suspiramus, gementes et flentes in hac lacrimarum vale. Eia, ergo, Advocata nostra, illos tuos misericordes oculos, ad nos converte; et Jesum benedictum fructum ventris tui, nobis, post hoc exilium ostende. O Clemens, O Pia, O Dulcis, Virgo Maria!
Pray for us, O Holy Mother of God;
~ That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.
Let us pray. Holy, Mighty and Immortal God, through the working of the Holy Spirit, you prepared the body and soul of the glorious virgin Mother Mary, as a worthy dwelling for your Word; grant that we, who celebrate her memory each evening, may with the help of her prayers, be freed from ever-present evil, and come to share the fulness of life eternal. Amen.