Reading, Responsory, Intercessions
In our learning to pray the Liturgy of the Hours, specifically Evening Prayer/Vespers, we have discussed the Introduction, the antiphons, and the Psalms and Canticles. In your prayer aid, whether a book or an app, you may have found a Psalm Prayer after each Psalm. This prayer is optional, and we omit this prayer during evening Prayer at St. Joseph’s. We will now review the remaining prayers.
The third Antiphon introduces a Canticle. Most often this is Colossians 1:12-20, but not always. This Canticle is followed by a Reading. The Reading is either an Epistle or passage from Revelations. The reading may be chanted. At St. Joseph’s, however, the Reading, Responsory, Intercessions, Lord’s Prayer, and Concluding Prayer are spoken.
During the Responsory, the leader prayers the first line, everyone responds with the second line. The third stanza of the Responsory is always the initial words of the Glory Be.
The Gospel Canticle follows the Responsory. At evening Prayer, this canticle is the Magnificat. During Morning Prayer, this Canticle is the Canticle of Zechariah. These canticles are chanted at St. Joseph’s.
The Prayers of Intercession are prayed after the Gospel Canticle. In the Intercessions, those assembled pray for the needs of the Church and the world. These Intercessions often include a prayer for those who have died. These may be chanted, but at St. Joseph’s, they are spoken. These are prayed in the same manner as the Prayers of the Faithful during Mass. The leader offers the petitions and the people respond to each one as indicated.
Evening Prayer concludes with the Lord’s Prayer, a Concluding Prayer, and the Dismissal. These prayers may be chanted or spoken. When Father McDuffie or a deacon prays Evening Prayer at St. Joseph’s, the Concluding Prayer and Dismissal is replaced with Benediction.
Recall that the Liturgy of the Hours, particularly Morning Prayer and Evening Prayer were frequently prayed by the people in a time when it was more difficult to attend Mass. How fortunate for us that we may continue this tradition during this time when we are unable to celebrate Mass together in our churches.