Divine Office

Vespers

Advent

1st Week

Psalter Week 1

Saturday

December

2025

Invitatory

Lord, ✛ open my lips, *
and my mouth will proclaim Your praise.

An Invitation to Praise God

Psalm 95

UMB-EN

Antiphon

Ant.

The King who is to come, it's the Lord. Come, let us adore him.

Come, let us sing praise to the LORD. *

Shout with joy to the Rock of our salvation.

Let us enter His presence with a song of thanksgiving, *

singing joyful songs to Him.

[ANT]

For the LORD is a great God, *

and the great King above all gods.

In His hand are the depths of the earth, *

and the mountain peaks are His as well.

The sea is His for He made it, *

His hands formed the dry land.

[ANT]

Come, let us bow down and worship. *

LORDus kneel before the LORD our maker,

for He is our God, and we are the people of His pasture, *

and the flock of His hand.

[ANT]

Today, will you hear His voice? †

"Do not harden your hearts, *

as at Meribah and during the temptation in the wilderness,

where your ancestors tested and provoked Me, *

although they were witness to My work."

[ANT]

"Forty years that generation disgusted Me", †

and I said, "They are a people whose hearts go astray, *

and they do not know My ways."

So I swore in My anger, *

"Never shall they enter into My rest."

[ANT]

Gloria

Glory to the Father, to the Son,
and to the Holy Spirit,
As it was in the beginning, is now,
and will be forever.
Amen
Alleluia

Introduction

God, ✛ come to my assistance; *
Lord, make haste to help me.

Gloria

Glory to the Father, to the Son,
and to the Holy Spirit,
As it was in the beginning, is now,
and will be forever.
Amen
Alleluia

Psalmody

Psalm 119

UMB-EN

Antiphon

Ant.

Strengthen * the failing hands, take courage, and say: "Behold our God, He comes to save us, hallelujah!"

Gloria

Glory to the Father, to the Son,
and to the Holy Spirit,
As it was in the beginning, is now,
and will be forever.
Amen
Alleluia

Antiphon

Ant.

Strengthen * the failing hands, take courage, and say: "Behold our God, He comes to save us, hallelujah!"

The Lord is my Portion

Psalm 16

UMB-EN

Antiphon

Ant.

Zion * is our strong city. There the Lord has built a wall and fortification. Open the gates! God is with us, hallelujah!

Protect me, my God! *

For in You, I take refuge.

I said to the LORD, "You are my God! *

I have nothing good apart from You."

As for the saints of the earth, the majestic ones, *

all my delight is in them.

Those who have drawn near to other gods, *

will see their sorrows multiplied.

For I will not pour out blood offerings to them, *

or even let the names of other gods be on my lips.

The LORD is my portion and my cup, *

You sustain my lot.

These boundary lines have fallen into pleasant places for me; *

indeed, my inheritance is beautiful.

I will bless the LORD who counseled me; *

indeed, my heart instructs me through the nights.

I have always set the LORD before me. *

With Him at my right hand, I will not be shaken.

Therefore, my heart is glad †

and my tongue rejoices; *

also, my flesh will dwell in safety.

For You will not abandon me to Sheol, *

nor will You let Your holy one rot in the pit of death.

You will show me the way of life; †

in Your presence is joy perfected; *

in Your right hand are pleasures forever.

Gloria

Glory to the Father, to the Son,
and to the Holy Spirit,
As it was in the beginning, is now,
and will be forever.
Amen
Alleluia

Antiphon

Ant.

Zion * is our strong city. There the Lord has built a wall and fortification. Open the gates! God is with us, hallelujah!

The Song of Christ's Glory

Philippians 2:6-11

UMB-EN

Antiphon

Ant.

The Lord * is our judge, the Lord is our King. He will come and save us.

Christ Jesus, who was in the form of God, *

did not consider equality with God something to be grasped.

He instead emptied Himself by taking the form of a servant †

and being born in human likeness. *

Being found in human form,

He humbled Himself †

by becoming obedient to death, *

even death on a cross.

For this reason, God exalted Him †

to the highest place *

and gave Him the name above every name.

So that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, *

in heaven, on the earth, and under the earth.

And every tongue will confess *

"Jesus Christ is Lord!" to the glory of God the Father.

Gloria

Glory to the Father, to the Son,
and to the Holy Spirit,
As it was in the beginning, is now,
and will be forever.
Amen
Alleluia

Antiphon

Ant.

The Lord * is our judge, the Lord is our King. He will come and save us.

Reading

First Epistle to the Church in Thessaloniki 5:23-24

May the God of peace Himself completely sanctify you. May your whole spirit, soul, and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Faithful is He who calls you, and He will also see it through to the end.

Silence for Reflection

Brief Response

℣ Let us see You Lord, and Your mercy.

℟ Let us see You Lord, * and Your mercy.

℣ And give us Your salvation.

℟ and Your mercy.

℣ Glory to the Father, to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.

℟ Let us see You Lord, * and Your mercy.

Gospel Canticle

My Soul Magnifies

Luke 1:46-55

UMB-EN

Antiphon

Ant.

One is coming * who is mightier than me, whose sandal strap I am unworthy to untie.

My soul ✛ magnifies the greatness of the Lord; *

my spirit bursts, rejoicing in God my Savior.

For He knew the humility of His servant. *

From today all generations will call me blessed.

The Almighty has done great things for me, *

and holy is His name.

He has mercy for those who fear Him, *

from generation to generation.

He has shown the strength of His arm, *

and scattered the proud for the thoughts of their hearts.

He has torn the mighty from their thrones, *

and lifted up the lowly.

He has filled the hungry with good things, *

and sent the rich away empty.

He has given help to His servant Israel, *

and remembered His promise of mercy.

The promise made to our ancestors, *

to Abraham and His children forever.

Gloria

Glory to the Father, to the Son,
and to the Holy Spirit,
As it was in the beginning, is now,
and will be forever.
Amen
Alleluia

Antiphon

Ant.

One is coming * who is mightier than me, whose sandal strap I am unworthy to untie.

Intercessory Prayers of Petition

Beloved siblings, let us humbly implore Christ the Lord, born of the Virgin Mary, and let us call on Him with joy:

Come, Lord Jesus!

Only Son of God, who is coming to be the true messenger of the Covenant,

– grant that creation welcomes and recognizes You.

Come, Lord Jesus!

You who was begotten within the Father's bosom, You took on flesh from the Virgin Mary,

– cleanse us of the corruption of our human condition.

Come, Lord Jesus!

You who are life, came to endure death,

– spare us from the terrors of our deaths.

Come, Lord Jesus!

And since Your gift of salvation awaits us at the Judgment, might Your constant tenderness be given us until then,

And Your gift of salvation awaits us at the Judgment, let Your constant tenderness be given today,

– which gives relief to us for all our remaining days.

Come, Lord Jesus!

Lord Christ, by dying You helped all the dead,

– we pray You welcome the deceased with tenderness.

Come, Lord Jesus!

Lord's Prayer

Our Father, who is in heaven,
    hallowed be Your Name.
Your kingdom come,
    Your will be done,
    on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins,
    as we forgive those who sin against us.
Lead us not into temptation,
    but deliver us from evil;
for the kingdom, the power,
    and the glory are Yours without end.
Amen

Collect

Let us pray.

Almighty and merciful God, † do not let our earthly efforts hinder us on our journey to meet Your Son. * Instead, draw us onward with heavenly wisdom and instruction. Prepare our hearts to see Jesus, to welcome Him, and allow us to accept His invitation to share life with Him who lives and reigns in unity with You and the Holy Spirit. God, now and forever. Amen.

Blessing

May the Lord bless us,
keep us from all evil,
and bring us to everlasting life.
Amen