Evening Prayer II
0811 Virgins Feast
Hymn
Her daughters came to render praise
In triumph for their mother dear;
The brothers all their voices raise,
In joyful praise now gathered here.
Receive their praise, O virgin bright,
Who, born to shine upon the earth,
Their hearts illumine with your light,
That all the world may know your worth.
Within your Father's house you live,
From early days you showed your light
And to the world that light you give
To shine upon the earth's dark night.
You stretch your hand to those in need,
By messengers who go to all
Their hungry lives to kindly feed;
Denying self, you hear their call.
With bitter stripes and biting fast
Your tender body serves your mind.
Your nights in sleeplessness are passed,
More hours for loving prayer you find.
To Father now, who lives in light,
To living flame of God's own Son
And to the Spirit, fire so bright
Be praise while endless ages run. Amen.
Psalmody
Psalm 112
Ant. 1:Clare has filled the whole world with her splendour; her holiness has borne devout offspring.
Praise, O servants of the Lord, *
praise the name of the Lord!
May the name of the Lord be blessed *
both now and for ever more!
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 his misery he raises the poor
to set him 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 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.
Ant. 1:Clare has filled the whole world with her splendour; her holiness has borne devout offspring.
Psalm 145
Ant. 2:To gain Christ she rejected the fickle glory of the world, trusting in the Lord her God.
My soul, give praise to the Lord; +
I will praise the Lord all my days, *
make music to my God while I live.
Put no trust in princes, *
in mortal men in whom there is no help.
Take their breath, they return to clay *
and their plans that day come to nothing.
He is happy who is helped by Jacob's God *
whose hope is in the Lord his God,
who alone made heaven and earth, *
the seas and all they contain.
It is he who keeps faith forever, *
who is just to those who are oppressed.
It is he who gives bread to the hungry, *
the Lord, who sets prisoners free.
The Lord who gives sight to the blind, *
who raises up those who are bowed down,
the Lord, who protects the stranger *
and upholds the widow and orphan.
It is the Lord who loves the just *
but thwarts the path of the wicked.
The Lord will reign for ever, *
Sion's God, from age to age.
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.
Ant. 2:To gain Christ she rejected the fickle glory of the world, trusting in the Lord her God.
Canticle: Eph. 1, 3-10
Ant. 3:In her joy the virgin Clare had a wonderful insight into the manifold wisdom of Christ.
Blessed be the Lord God and Father *
of our Lord Jesus Christ,
who has blessed us in Christ *
with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places.
He chose us in him *
before the foundation of the world,
that we should be holy *
and blameless before him.
He destined us in love *
to be his sons through Jesus Christ,
according to the purpose of his will, +
to the praise of his glorious grace *
which he freely bestowed on us in the Beloved.
In him we have redemption through his blood, *
the forgiveness of our trespasses,
according to the riches of his grace *
which he lavished upon us.
He has made known to us +
in all wisdom and insight *
the mystery of his will,
according to his purpose *
which he set forth in Christ.
His purpose he set forth in Christ, *
as a plan for the fullness of time,
to unite all things in him, *
things in heaven and things 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.
Ant. 3:In her joy the virgin Clare had a wonderful insight into the manifold wisdom of Christ.
Scripture Reading [Song of Songs 6,2&8, 6-7]
I am my Beloved s, and my Beloved is mine. He pastures his flock among the lilies. Set me like a seal on your heart, like a seal on your arm. For love is strong as death, jealousy relentless as Sheol. The flash of it is a flash of fire, a flame of the Lord himself. Love no flood can quench, no torrents drown.
Short Responsory
【V】:She was led before the king
【R】:and he placed a crown upon her head.
【V】:A crown of holiness, glory and honour.
【R】:and he placed a crown upon her head.
【V】:Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit;
【R】:and he placed a crown upon her head.
Magnificat Antiphon
I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, for he has clothed me with holiness, and crowned me like a bride.
My soul glorifies the Lord, *
my spirit rejoices in God, my Saviour.
He looks on his servant in her lowliness; *
henceforth all ages will call me blessed.
The Almighty works marvels for me. *
Holy his name!
His mercy is from age to age, *
on those who fear him.
He puts forth his arm in strength *
and scatters the proud-hearted.
He casts the mighty from their thrones *
and raises the lowly.
He fills the starving with good things, *
sends the rich away empty.
He protects Israel, his servant, *
remembering his mercy,
the mercy promised to our fathers, *
to Abraham and his sons for ever.
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.
Magnificat Antiphon
I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, for he has clothed me with holiness, and crowned me like a bride.
Intercessions
Christ the Lord is the spouse of virgins and the Lamb unspotted whom virgins follow wherever he goes; let us proclaim his love and pray.
【R】Jesus, King of virgins, hear us.
Christ our Lord, you praised those who follow the way of virginity for the sake of the kingdom of heaven
- grant that we may rightly understand your words, and be united to you by a chaste body and a pure mind.【R】
Christ our Lord, you offered your body on the wood of the cross as a sacrifice to the Father for our salvation
- grant that, crucifying the flesh with its passions and desires, we may complete what is lacking in your sufferings.【R】
Christ our Lord, you presented the Church to yourself, as a chaste virgin to her only husband; make her holy and faultless
- and grant us a faith that is true and complete.【R】
Christ our Lord, you bring joy to the lives of your faithful as they celebrate the feast of your holy virgin Clare
- may we always rejoice in her constant intercession.【R】
Christ our Lord, you have welcomed your holy virgins to the wedding feast of heaven
- invite all the dead to the feast of eternal life.【R】
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.
Concluding Prayer
Lord God, in your mercy you led Saint Clare to the love of poverty. Help us, by her intercession, to follow Christ in poverty of spirit, so that, in the kingdom of heaven, we may see you in your glory: we ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen.
Her daughters came to render praise
In triumph for their mother dear;
The brothers all their voices raise,
In joyful praise now gathered here.
Receive their praise, O virgin bright,
Who, born to shine upon the earth,
Their hearts illumine with your light,
That all the world may know your worth.
Within your Father's house you live,
From early days you showed your light
And to the world that light you give
To shine upon the earth's dark night.
You stretch your hand to those in need,
By messengers who go to all
Their hungry lives to kindly feed;
Denying self, you hear their call.
With bitter stripes and biting fast
Your tender body serves your mind.
Your nights in sleeplessness are passed,
More hours for loving prayer you find.
To Father now, who lives in light,
To living flame of God's own Son
And to the Spirit, fire so bright
Be praise while endless ages run. Amen.
Psalmody
Psalm 112
Ant. 1:Clare has filled the whole world with her splendour; her holiness has borne devout offspring.
Praise, O servants of the Lord, *
praise the name of the Lord!
May the name of the Lord be blessed *
both now and for ever more!
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 his misery he raises the poor
to set him 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 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.
Ant. 1:Clare has filled the whole world with her splendour; her holiness has borne devout offspring.
Psalm 145
Ant. 2:To gain Christ she rejected the fickle glory of the world, trusting in the Lord her God.
My soul, give praise to the Lord; +
I will praise the Lord all my days, *
make music to my God while I live.
Put no trust in princes, *
in mortal men in whom there is no help.
Take their breath, they return to clay *
and their plans that day come to nothing.
He is happy who is helped by Jacob's God *
whose hope is in the Lord his God,
who alone made heaven and earth, *
the seas and all they contain.
It is he who keeps faith forever, *
who is just to those who are oppressed.
It is he who gives bread to the hungry, *
the Lord, who sets prisoners free.
The Lord who gives sight to the blind, *
who raises up those who are bowed down,
the Lord, who protects the stranger *
and upholds the widow and orphan.
It is the Lord who loves the just *
but thwarts the path of the wicked.
The Lord will reign for ever, *
Sion's God, from age to age.
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.
Ant. 2:To gain Christ she rejected the fickle glory of the world, trusting in the Lord her God.
Canticle: Eph. 1, 3-10
Ant. 3:In her joy the virgin Clare had a wonderful insight into the manifold wisdom of Christ.
Blessed be the Lord God and Father *
of our Lord Jesus Christ,
who has blessed us in Christ *
with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places.
He chose us in him *
before the foundation of the world,
that we should be holy *
and blameless before him.
He destined us in love *
to be his sons through Jesus Christ,
according to the purpose of his will, +
to the praise of his glorious grace *
which he freely bestowed on us in the Beloved.
In him we have redemption through his blood, *
the forgiveness of our trespasses,
according to the riches of his grace *
which he lavished upon us.
He has made known to us +
in all wisdom and insight *
the mystery of his will,
according to his purpose *
which he set forth in Christ.
His purpose he set forth in Christ, *
as a plan for the fullness of time,
to unite all things in him, *
things in heaven and things 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.
Ant. 3:In her joy the virgin Clare had a wonderful insight into the manifold wisdom of Christ.
Scripture Reading [Song of Songs 6,2&8, 6-7]
I am my Beloved s, and my Beloved is mine. He pastures his flock among the lilies. Set me like a seal on your heart, like a seal on your arm. For love is strong as death, jealousy relentless as Sheol. The flash of it is a flash of fire, a flame of the Lord himself. Love no flood can quench, no torrents drown.
Short Responsory
【V】:She was led before the king
【R】:and he placed a crown upon her head.
【V】:A crown of holiness, glory and honour.
【R】:and he placed a crown upon her head.
【V】:Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit;
【R】:and he placed a crown upon her head.
Magnificat Antiphon
I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, for he has clothed me with holiness, and crowned me like a bride.
My soul glorifies the Lord, *
my spirit rejoices in God, my Saviour.
He looks on his servant in her lowliness; *
henceforth all ages will call me blessed.
The Almighty works marvels for me. *
Holy his name!
His mercy is from age to age, *
on those who fear him.
He puts forth his arm in strength *
and scatters the proud-hearted.
He casts the mighty from their thrones *
and raises the lowly.
He fills the starving with good things, *
sends the rich away empty.
He protects Israel, his servant, *
remembering his mercy,
the mercy promised to our fathers, *
to Abraham and his sons for ever.
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.
Magnificat Antiphon
I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, for he has clothed me with holiness, and crowned me like a bride.
Intercessions
Christ the Lord is the spouse of virgins and the Lamb unspotted whom virgins follow wherever he goes; let us proclaim his love and pray.
【R】Jesus, King of virgins, hear us.
Christ our Lord, you praised those who follow the way of virginity for the sake of the kingdom of heaven
- grant that we may rightly understand your words, and be united to you by a chaste body and a pure mind.【R】
Christ our Lord, you offered your body on the wood of the cross as a sacrifice to the Father for our salvation
- grant that, crucifying the flesh with its passions and desires, we may complete what is lacking in your sufferings.【R】
Christ our Lord, you presented the Church to yourself, as a chaste virgin to her only husband; make her holy and faultless
- and grant us a faith that is true and complete.【R】
Christ our Lord, you bring joy to the lives of your faithful as they celebrate the feast of your holy virgin Clare
- may we always rejoice in her constant intercession.【R】
Christ our Lord, you have welcomed your holy virgins to the wedding feast of heaven
- invite all the dead to the feast of eternal life.【R】
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.
Concluding Prayer
Lord God, in your mercy you led Saint Clare to the love of poverty. Help us, by her intercession, to follow Christ in poverty of spirit, so that, in the kingdom of heaven, we may see you in your glory: we ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen.