For some time now, each Wednesday at 6 pm, St. Joseph’s Chapel has resonated with the sound of voices chanting Vespers, Evening Prayer. Puzzled by what that means? Have you seen this activity listed on the parish calendar and wondered what it is all about? Perhaps the following will shed some light on this prayerful practice.
As Roman Catholics, we know that the Eucharist is the “source and summit of the Christian life” (Vatican II). Indeed “all ecclesiastical ministries and works of the apostolate, are bound up with the Eucharist and are oriented toward it. For in the blessed Eucharist is contained the whole spiritual good of the Church, namely Christ himself, our Pasch” (CCC Ed 2 #1324). The Mass is where every dimension of Christian life comes together. However, the Liturgy of the Hours, joined with the Mass, constitute the public prayer life of the Church.
The Liturgy of the Hours or Divine Office, like the Mass itself, has its roots in the Old Testament. The 150 Psalms-prayers of the Old Testament- form the basis for this liturgy. In the Old Testament, the Jewish people prayed the psalms at regular hours each day. This practice was maintained by the early Christians.
In the fourth century, Christians began to build churches and meet there to pray at the beginning and end of each day. “… Christians gathered in the church. If a bishop was present, he would lead; otherwise a priest would lead. The people would sing the psalms provided for the morning or the evening. Because they did not vary, the people could learn them by heart and sing them tunefully” (Gallagher). At the same time, monasteries were forming, and the monks would also gather at specific hours throughout each day to pray the psalms and other prayers. Eventually, the practice of praying this liturgy waned significantly among the laity.
The praying of the Liturgy of the Hours can be seen as obedience to the biblical exhortation to “pray without ceasing” (1 Thess. 5:17), for the entire cycle is composed of psalms prayed at (approximate times): 6 am. 9 am. Noon. 3 pm, 6 pm. And 9 pm.
At St. Joseph’s, the faithful are invited to gather for Evening Prayer (Vespers) with Father McDuffie on Wednesdays at 6 pm. The Psalms and Canticles are chanted to very simple tones that are easy to learn-much like the Responsorial Psalm sung at Mass. Evening Prayer concludes with Benediction.
During this time of social distancing, as with the suspension of public celebrations of the Mass, Evening Prayer, is not being celebrated publicly. The resources on the parish website, however, have links to these prayers and chanting of Vespers. In addition, recordings of the chanting of Vespers at St. Joseph’s Chapel, will be available on Sunday and Wednesday evenings at 6pm on the parish Facebook or YouTube page, with additional days to follow. Consider making this part of your prayer life and a way to pray without ceasing.