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Today (Wednesday, December 31, 2025): vigils lauds prime terce sext none vespers compline

Sunday, December 21, 2025
The Fourth Sunday of Advent
Vespers

Introduction
O God, make speed to save us.
O Lord, make haste to help us.
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. Alleluia.

Antiphon 1 Blow the trumpet in Zion, for the day of the Lord is near: behold, he will come to save us, alleluia, alleluia.

Psalm 109 (110)    Dixit Dominus
The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at my right hand,
until I make your enemies your footstool.”

The Lord will send the scepter of your power out of Zion,
saying, “Rule over your enemies round about you.

“Princely state has been yours from the day of your birth;
in the beauty of holiness have I begotten you,
like dew from the womb of the morning.”

The Lord has sworn and he will not recant:
“You are a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek.”

The Lord who is at your right hand
will smite kings in the day of his wrath;
he will rule over the nations.

He will heap high the corpses;
he will smash heads over the wide earth.

He will drink from the brook beside the road;
therefore he will lift high his head.

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.

Antiphon Blow the trumpet in Zion, for the day of the Lord is near: behold, he will come to save us, alleluia, alleluia.

Antiphon 2 Behold, the desire of all nations shall come, and the house of the Lord will be filled with glory, alleluia.

Psalm 110 (111)    Confitebor tibi
Alleluia!

I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart,
in the assembly of the upright, in the congregation.
Great are the deeds of the Lord!
they are studied by all who delight in them.

His work is full of majesty and splendor,
and his righteousness endures for ever.
He makes his marvelous works to be remembered;
the Lord is gracious and full of compassion.

He gives food to those who fear him;
he is ever mindful of his covenant.
He has shown his people the power of his works
in giving them the lands of the nations.

The works of his hands are faithfulness and justice;
all his commandments are sure.
They stand fast for ever and ever,
because they are done in truth and equity.

He sent redemption to his people;
he commanded his covenant for ever;
holy and awesome is his Name.

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom;
those who act accordingly have a good understanding;
his praise endures 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.

Antiphon Behold, the desire of all nations shall come, and the house of the Lord will be filled with glory, alleluia.

Antiphon 3 The crooked shall be made straight, and the rough ways made smooth. Come, O Lord, and do not delay, alleluia.

Psalm 111 (112)    Beatus vir
Alleluia!

Happy are they who fear the Lord
and have great delight in his commandments!
Their descendants will be mighty in the land;
the generation of the upright will be blessed.

Wealth and riches will be in their house,
and their righteousness will last for ever.
Light shines in the darkness for the upright;
the righteous are merciful and full of compassion.

It is good for them to be generous in lending
and to manage their affairs with justice.
For they will never be shaken;
the righteous will be kept in everlasting remembrance.

They will not be afraid of any evil rumors;
their heart is right;
they put their trust in the Lord.
Their heart is established and will not shrink,
until they see their desire upon their enemies.

They have given freely to the poor,
and their righteousness stands fast for ever;
they will hold up their head with honor.

The wicked will see it and be angry;
they will gnash their teeth and pine away;
the desires of the wicked will perish.

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.

Antiphon The crooked shall be made straight, and the rough ways made smooth. Come, O Lord, and do not delay, alleluia.

Antiphon 4 Your almighty word, O Lord, will come from your royal throne, alleluia.

Psalm 112 (113)    Laudate, pueri
Alleluia!

Give praise, you servants of the Lord;
praise the Name of the Lord.
Let the Name of the Lord be blessed,
from this time forth for evermore.
From the rising of the sun to its going down
let the Name of the Lord be praised.

The Lord is high above all nations,
and his glory above the heavens.
Who is like the Lord our God, who sits enthroned on high,
but stoops to behold the heavens and the earth?

He takes up the weak out of the dust
and lifts up the poor from the ashes.
He sets them with the princes,
with the princes of his people.
He makes the woman of a childless house
to be a joyful mother of 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.

Antiphon Your almighty word, O Lord, will come from your royal throne, alleluia.

Short Lesson: 1 Corinthians 4:5
Do not pronounce judgment before the time, before the Lord comes, who will bring to light the things now hidden in darkness and will disclose the purposes of the heart. Then each one will receive commendation from God.

Responsory
Show us your mercy, O Lord.
Show us your mercy, O Lord.
And grant us your salvation, your mercy, O Lord.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Show us your mercy, O Lord.

Hymn     Verbum salutis omnium
Receive O Mary, Virgin pure,
within your chaste and blessed womb
the saving Word proclaimed for all,
proceeding from the Father’s mouth.

The fruitful Spirit’s shadow comes
and fills you now with heaven’s light,
that you may carry Christ the Lord,
the Father’s own co-equal Son.

She is the sacred temple gate,
for ever sealed and barred to all;
yet for the heavenly Prince alone
the blessed threshold opens wide.

Foretold by prophets long ago
and born before the morning star,
the one whom Gabriel now proclaims
is Christ the Lord come down to earth.

Rejoice together, Angel hosts!
Let all the peoples sing for joy.
The Most High comes, a humble child,
to save and ransom what was lost.

To you, O Christ, most loving King,
and to the Father, glory be,
one with the Spirit Paraclete,
for endless ages evermore. Amen.

Verse
Shower, O heavens, from above, and let the skies rain down righteousness.
Let the earth open, that salvation may spring up.

Antiphon O Rising Sun, brightness of eternal light and sun of righteousness: Come and shine on those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death.

Canticle: Luke 1:46-55    Magnificat anima mea
My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord,
my spirit rejoices in God my Savior;
for he has looked with favor on his lowly servant.

From this day all generations will call me blessed:
the Almighty has done great things for me,
and holy is his Name.
He has mercy on those who fear him
in every generation.

He has shown the strength of his arm,
he has scattered the proud in their conceit.
He has cast down the mighty from their thrones,
and has lifted up the lowly.
He has filled the hungry with good things,
and the rich he has sent away empty.

He has come to the help of his servant Israel,
for he has remembered his promise of mercy,
the promise he made to our fathers,
to Abraham and his children 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.

Antiphon O Rising Sun, brightness of eternal light and sun of righteousness: Come and shine on those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death.

Litany
Kyrie eleison.
Christe eleison.
Kyrie eleison.

Lord’s Prayer
Our Father in heaven,
  hallowed be your Name,
your kingdom come,
  your will be done, on earth as in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
  Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us.
Save us from the time of trial,
and deliver us from evil.

Collect
Purify our conscience, Almighty God, by your daily visitation, that your Son Jesus Christ, at his coming, may find in us a mansion prepared for himself; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Conclusion
Let us bless the Lord.
Thanks be to God.