Vespers | Latin Prayers | Latin Audio | at the National Shrine of Saint Francis of Assisi in San Francisco, California, USA

A detail from a painting by Giovanni Cimabue, in the lower level of the Basilica at Assisi.

The National Shrine of Saint Francis of Assisi in San Francisco

Vespers, the Evening Prayer
Of the Church

Introduction | The Format of Vespers | The Magnificat | The Marian Antiphons

The name Vespers comes from the Latin word vesper which means “evening.” The Latin, in turn derives from the Greek word hesperos which means either “western” or “evening.” Hence Vespers refers to the evening prayer of the Church’s traditional Liturgy of the Hours. Moreover, because the Liturgy of the Hours can be celebrated privately, the term Vespers today usually refers specifically to the public celebration of the office.

“From ancient times the Church has had the custom of celebrating each day the liturgy of the hours. In this way the Church fulfills the Lord’s precept to pray without ceasing, at once offering its praise to God the Father and interceding for the salvation of the world”

—from the Decree from the Office of the Sacred Congregation
for Divine Worship,
Easter Sunday, April 11, 1971.

Although communities of monks, nuns, and other religious celebrate the Liturgy of the Hours by rule or according to their constitutions, the laity “must learn, especially in liturgical actions, how to adore God the Father in spirit and in truth, and be reminded that through public worship and prayer they are in touch with all mankind and can contribute in no small degree to the salvation of the whole world” (General Instruction to the Liturgy of the Hours, no. 27).

Saint Francis at prayer, one of the murals in Saint Francis of Assisi church.

The Format of Evening Prayer (Vespers)

“When evening approaches and the day is already far spent,” evening prayer is celebrated as a thanksgiving; as a recollection of our redemption; as a reminder of the evening sacrifice of our Lord’s last supper and of his evening sacrifice the next day on the cross; as a reminder to fix our hope on Christ, the light that knows no setting; and to sing joyfully in praise of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (see General Instruction of the Liturgy of the Hours [GILH], 39).

• All stand for the entrance procession.

On approaching the sactuary, those in the procession reverence the altar, or genuflect before the blessed Sacrament if the tabernacle is behind the altar (see Ceremonial of Bishops [CB], 195). Those who carry articles used in the celebration (e.g., censer, cross, candles, Book of the Gospels) neither bow nor genuflect (see CB, 70).

• Evening prayer begins as follows (cf. GILH, 41):

O God, come to my assistance.
—O Lord, make haste to help me.
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.

• Then an appropriate hymn is sung immediately. The purpose of the hymn is to set the tone for the hour or the feast and, especially in celebrations with a congregation, to form a simple and pleasant introduction to prayer (cf. GILH, 42).

• After the hymn the psalmody follows, which consists of two psalms (or two parts of a longer psalm) and a canticle from the letters of the apostles or from the Book of Revelation (cf. GILH, 43).

• After the psalmody there is a reading (cf. GILH, 44).

• As a response to the word of God, a responsorial chant or short responsory is provided (cf. GILH, 49).

• Next is the solemn recitation of the gospel canticle of Mary, the Magnificat (see below). The antiphon for the canticle is determined by the character of the day, the season, or the feast (cf. GILH, 50).

During the singing of the antiphon, the celebrant puts incense into the censer (see CB, 203).

When the choir begins the canticle, all stand and make the sign of the cross (see CB, 203).

While the gospel canticle is being sung, the incensation of altar, cross, relics, statues, and others present is carried out (see CB, 204).

• After the canticle, come the intercessions (cf. GILH, 51).

• After the intercessions the Lord’s Prayer is said by all (cf. GILH, 52).

• Immediately after the Lord’s Prayer there follows the concluding prayer (cf. GILH, 53).

• Then, if a priest or deacon is presiding, he dismisses the congregation (cf. GILH, 54)

with the greeting,
The Lord be with you.
—And also with you.

and the blessing,
May almighty God bless you, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
—Amen.

He adds the invitation,
Go in peace.
—Thanks be to God.

In the absence of a priest or deacon the celebration concludes with
May the Lord bless us, protect us from all evil, and bring us to everlasting life.
—Amen.

• The Franciscan tradition is to sing a Marian antiphon (see below) to conclude the celebration.

• The celebrant (if a priest or deacon) kisses the altar. All those in the sanctuary (chancel) leave in the order in which they entered, reverencing the altar, or genuflecting before the blessed Sacrament if the tabernacle is behind the altar (see CB, 208).

For more information:

How To Pray the Liturgy of the Hours
(A step-by-step guide —external link.)

The Magnificat

The gospel canticle of Mary (see Luke 1:46–55) has long been called the Magnificat after its first word in Latin. This theologically profound song by the most important woman in history receives, along with the other central gospel canticles, special respect in the tradition of the Church:

“The gospel canticles of Zechariah, of Mary and of Simeon are to be treated with the same solemnity and dignity as are customary at the proclamation of the gospel” (General Instruction to the Liturgy of the Hours, no. 138).

“All make the sign of the cross, from forehead to breast and from left shoulder to right:
(a) at the beginning of the Hours, when God, come to my assistance is being said;
(b) at the beginning of the gospel canticles of Zechariah, of Mary and of Simeon” (General Instruction to the Liturgy of the Hours, no. 266, emphasis added).

The Magnificat is often chanted in its original Latin; a more-or-less literal English translation is provided that, though not approved for liturgical use, may help those not familiar with Latin to appreciate the original text.

The Pronunciation of Ecclesiastical and Classical Latin

Listen to the Latin

MAGNIFICAT anima mea Dominum.
Et exultavit spiritus meus
in Deo salutari meo.
My soul magnifies the Lord.
And my spirit rejoices
in God my savior.

Quia respexit humilitatem ancillae suæ:
ecce enim ex hoc beatam me dicent
omnes generationes. For he has respected the humility of his servant:
behold, therefore, from this day all generations will call me blessed.

Quia fecit mihi magna qui potens est
et sanctum nomen eius. For he has done great things for me[, he] who is powerful
and his name holy.

Et misericordia eius
a progenie in progenies
timentibus eum. And his mercy
from generation to generation
of those who fear him.

Fecit potentiam in brachio suo,
dispersit superbos mente cordis sui. He has shown the strength in his arm,
he has scattered the proud in the mind of their heart.

Deposuit potentes de sede
et exaltavit humiles. He has cast down rulers from the throne,
and he has lifted up the lowly.

Esurientes implevit bonis
et divites dimisit inanes. The hungry he has filled with good,
and the rich he has sent away empty.

Suscepit Israel puerum suum,
recordatus misericordiæ suæ.
Sicut locutus est ad patres nostros,
Abraham et semini eius in sæcula. He has come to the aid of his servant Israel,
in the remembrance of his mercy.
As it was spoken to our fathers,
Abraham and his seed through the ages.

Gloria Patri et Filio et Spiritui Sancto,
sicut erat in principio
et nunc et semper
et in sæcula sæculorum. Amen. Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,
as it was in the beginning
and now and always
and in the age of ages. Amen.

A homily about the Magnificat, by Saint Bede the Venerable

The Marian Antiphons

The Franciscan tradition is to sing a Marian antiphon at the last office recited in community.

In addition to the original Latin, a more-or-less literal English translation is provided that, though not approved for liturgical use, may help those not familiar with Latin to appreciate the original texts.

Alma Redemptoris Mater

From the First Sunday of Advent to the Feast of the Presentation

Listen to the Latin

Alma Redemptoris Mater, quae pervia caeli Loving mother of the Redeemer, that passage to heaven,

porta manes, et stella maris, succurre cadenti, gate of the morning, and star of the sea, assist the fallen,

sugere qui currat, populo: tu quae genuisti lift up, [you] who cure, the people: you who bore

natura mirante, tuum sanctum Genitorem to the wonderment of nature, your holy Creator,

Virgo prius ac posterius, Gabrielis ab ore Virgin before and after, who received from Gabriel

sumens illud Ave, peccatorum miserere.
that joyful greeting, have mercy on us sinners.

See the musical notation
for the Alma Redemptoris Mater

Ave Regina Cælorum

After the Presentation to Holy Saturday

Listen to the Latin

Ave, Regina caelorum,
ave, Domina angelorum,
salve, radix, salve porta,
ex qua mundo lux est orta.
Hail, Queen of the heavens,
hail, Lady of the angels,
hail, root [of Jesse], hail gate [of heaven],
from whom light has come into the world.

Gaude, Virgo gloriosa,
super omnes speciosa;
vale, o valde decora,
et pro nobis Christum exora. Rejoice, Virgin most glorious,
Above all most beautiful;
hail, o most highly honored,
and entreat Christ for us.

See the musical notation
for the Ave Regina Caelorum

Regina Cæli

From Easter to Pentecost

Listen to the Latin

Regina caeli, laetare, alleluia,
quia quem meruisti portare, alleluia,
resurrexit sicut dixit, alleluia;
ora pro nobis Deum, alleluia.    Queen of heaven, rejoice, alleluia,
for he whom you were merited to bear, alleluia,
was resurrected as he said, alleluia;
entreat God for us, alleluia.

Gaude et laetare, Virgo Maria, alleluia.
Quia surrexit Dominus vere, alleluia.      Be joyful and rejoice, Virgin Mary, alleluia,
Because the Lord has truly risen, alleluia.

See the musical notation
for the Regina Caeli

Salve Regina

After Pentecost until the First Sunday of Advent

Listen to the Latin

Salve, Regina, mater misericordiae;
vita dulcedo et spes nostra, salve,
Ad te clamamus, exsules filii Evae.
Ad te surpiramus, gementes et flentes
in hac lacrimarum valle.
Hail, Queen, mother of mercies;
life, sweetness, and our hope, hail,
To you do we cry, exiled children of Eve.
To you do we sigh, moaning and weeping
in this vale of tears.

Eia ergo, advocata nostra,
illos tuos misericordes oculos
ad nos converte.
Et Iesum, benedictum fructum ventris tui,
nobis post hoc exsilium ostende.
O clemens, o pia, o dulcis Virgo Maria. Ho! therefore, our advocate,
Those your merciful eyes
turn to us.
And Jesus, the blessed fruit of your womb,
Show to us after this exile.
O clement, O holy, O sweet Virgin Mary.

See the musical notation
for the Salve Regina