Vespers of the Dead

STAND and PROFOUND INCLINATION

When Vespers does not immediately follow  upon the bringing of the body into the Church and the consequent litrugical devotions, or upon some liturgical function for the Dead, or after Vespers of the day, the Dual Prayer is first said secretly; otherwise Vespers is begun with the Antiphon below.  And the Antiphons are not doubled except as directed in the Rubrics.

STAND

No Opening Versicles are said, but the Office commences with the singing of the first Antiphon.  After the Cantor has intoned the first half of the first verse of the Psalm, all sit and remain sitting until the end of the Psalms.

Ant.    Placébo Dómino * in regióne vivórum.

Ant.    I will walk before the Lord * in the land of the living.

Psalmus 114.  Diléxi, quóniam

Diléxi, quóniam exáudiet Dóminus * vocem oratiónis meæ.
2  Quia inclinávit aurem suam mihi: * et in diébus meis invocábo.
3  Circumdedérunt me dolóres mortis: * et perícula inférni invenérunt me.
4  Tribulatiónem et dolórem invéni: * et nomen Dómini invocávi.
5  O Dómine, líbera ánimam meam: * miséricors Dóminus, et justus, et Deus noster miserétur.
6  Custódiens párvulos Dóminus: * humiliátus sum, et liberávit me.
7  Convértere, ánima mea, in réquiem tuam: * quia Dóminus benefécit tibi.
8  Quia erípuit ánimam meam de morte: * óculos meos a lácrimis, pedes meos a lapsu.
9  Placébo Dómino * in regióne vivórum.
10  Réquiem ætérnam * dona eis, Dómine.
11  Et lux perpétua * luceat eis.

MY delight is in the Lord; * because he hath heard the voice of my prayer;
2  Because he hath inclined his ear unto me; * therefore will I call upon him as long as I live.
3  The snares of death compassed me round about, * and the pains of hell gat hold upon me.
4  I found trouble and heaviness; then called I upon the Name of the Lord; * O Lord, I beseech thee, deliver my soul.
5  Gracious is the Lord, and righteous; * yea, our God is merciful.
6  The Lord preserveth the simple: * I was in misery, and he helped me.
7  Turn again then unto thy rest, O my soul; * for the Lord hath rewarded thee.
8  And why? thou hast delivered my soul from death, * mine eyes from tears, and my feet from falling.
9  I will walk before the Lord * in the land of the living.
10  Eternal rest * grant unto them, O Lord.
11  And let perpetual light * shine upon them.

Ant.    Placébo Dómino in regióne vivórum.

Ant.    I will walk before the Lord in the land of the living.

Ant.    Hei mihi, Dómine, * quia incolátus meus prolongátus est.

Ant.    Woe is me, O Lord, * that I am constrained to dwell among them that are enemies unto peace.

Psalmus 119.  Ad Dóminum

Ad Dóminum cum tribulárer clamávi: * et exaudívit me.
2  Dómine, líbera ánimam meam a lábiis iníquis, * et a lingua dolósa.
3  Quid detur tibi, aut quid apponátur tibi * ad linguam dolósam?
4  Sagíttæ poténtis acútæ, * cum carbónibus desolatóriis.
5  Heu mihi, quia incolátus meus prolongátus est: habitávi cum habitántibus Cedar: * multum íncola fuit ánima mea.
6  Cum his, qui odérunt pacem, eram pacíficus: * cum loquébar illis, impugnábant me gratis.
7  Réquiem ætérnam * dona eis, Dómine.
8  Et lux perpétua * luceat eis.

Psalm 119.  Ad Dóminum

WHEN I was in trouble, I called upon the Lord, * and he heard me.
2  Deliver my soul, O Lord, from lying lips, * and from a deceitful tongue.
3  What reward shall be given or done unto thee, thou false tongue? * even mighty and sharp arrows, with hot burning coals.
4  Woe is me, that I am constrained to dwell with Meshech, * and to have my habitation among the tents of Kedar!
5  My soul hath long dwelt among them * that are enemies unto peace.
6  I labour for peace; but when I speak unto them thereof, * they make them ready to battle.
7  Eternal rest * grant unto them, O Lord.
8  And let perpetual light * shine upon them.

Ant.    Hei mihi, Dómine, quia incolátus meus prolongátus est.

Ant.    Woe is me, O Lord, that I am constrained to dwell among them that are enemies unto peace.

Ant.    Dóminus custódit te * ab omni malo : custódiat ánimam tuam Dóminus.

Ant.    The Lord shall preserve thee * from all evil ; yea, it is even he that shall keep thy soul.

Psalmus 120.  Levávi óculos

Levávi óculos meos in montes, * unde véniet auxílium mihi.
2  Auxílium meum a Dómino, * qui fecit cælum et terram.
3  Non det in commotiónem pedem tuum: * neque dormítet qui custódit te.
4  Ecce, non dormitábit neque dórmiet, * qui custódit Israël.
5  Dóminus custódit te, Dóminus protéctio tua, * super manum déxteram tuam.
6  Per diem sol non uret te: * neque luna per noctem.
7  Dóminus custódit te ab omni malo: * custódiat ánimam tuam Dóminus.
8  Dóminus custódiat intróitum tuum, et éxitum tuum: * ex hoc nunc, et usque in sæculum.
9  Réquiem ætérnam * dona eis, Dómine.
10  Et lux perpétua * luceat eis.

Psalm 120.  Levávi óculos

I WILL lift up mine eyes unto the hills; * from whence cometh my help?
2  My help cometh even from the Lord, * who hath made heaven and earth.
3  He will not suffer thy foot to be moved; * and he that keepeth thee will not sleep.
4  Behold, he that keepeth Israel * shall neither slumber nor sleep.
5  The Lord himself is thy keeper; * the Lord is thy defence upon thy right hand;
6  So that the sun shall not burn thee by day, * neither the moon by night.
7  The Lord shall preserve thee from all evil; * yea, it is even he that shall keep thy soul.
8  The Lord shall preserve thy going out, and thy coming in, * from this time forth for evermore.
9  Eternal rest * grant unto them, O Lord.
10  And let perpetual light * shine upon them.

Ant.    Dóminus custódit te ab omni malo : custódiat ánimam tuam Dóminus.

Ant.    The Lord shall preserve thee from all evil ; yea, it is even he that shall keep thy soul.

Ant.    Si iniquitátes * observáveris, Dómine : Dómine, quis sustinébit?

Ant.    If thou, Lord, wilt be extreme * to mark what is done amiss, O Lord, who may abide it?

Psalmus 129.  De profúndis

De profúndis clamávi ad te, Dómine: * Dómine, exáudi vocem meam :
2  Fiant aures tuæ intendéntes: * in vocem deprecatiónis meæ.
3  Si iniquitátes observáveris, Dómine: * Dómine, quis sustinébit?
4  Quia apud te propitiátio est: * et propter legem tuam sustínui te, Dómine.
5  Sustínuit ánima mea in verbo ejus: * sperávit ánima mea in Dómino.
6  A custódia matutína usque ad noctem: * speret Israël in Dómino.
7  Quia apud Dóminum misericórdia: * et copiósa apud eum redémptio.
8  Et ipse rédimet Israël: * ex ómnibus iniquitátibus ejus.
9  Réquiem ætérnam * dona eis, Dómine.
10  Et lux perpétua * luceat eis.

Psalm 129.  De profúndis

OUT of the deep have I called unto thee, O Lord; * Lord, hear my voice.
2  O let thine ears consider well * the voice of my complaint.
3  If thou, Lord, wilt be extreme to mark what is done amiss, * O Lord, who may abide it?
4  For there is mercy with thee; * therefore shalt thou be feared.
5  I look for the Lord; my soul doth wait for him; * in his word is my trust.
6  My soul fleeth unto the Lord before the morning watch; * I say, before the morning watch.
7  O Israel, trust in the Lord; for with the Lord there is mercy, * and with him is plenteous redemption.
8  And he shall redeem Israel * from all his sins.
9  Eternal rest * grant unto them, O Lord.
10  And let perpetual light * shine upon them.

Ant.    Si iniquitátes observáveris, Dómine : Dómine, quis sustinébit?

Ant.    If thou, Lord, wilt be extreme to mark what is done amiss, O Lord, who may abide it?

Ant.    Opera * mánuum tuárum, Dómine, ne despícias.

Ant.    Despise not, O Lord, * the works of thine own hands.

Psalmus 137.  Confitébor tibi

Confitébor tibi, Dómine, in toto corde meo: * quóniam audísti verba oris mei.
2  In conspéctu Angelórum psallam tibi: * adorábo ad templum sanctum tuum, et confitébor nómini tuo.
3  Super misericórdia tua, et veritáte tua: * quóniam magnificásti super omne, nomen sanctum tuum.
4  In quacúmque die invocávero te, exáudi me: * multiplicábis in ánima mea virtútem.
5  Confiteántur tibi, Dómine, omnes reges terræ: * quia audiérunt ómnia verba oris tui.
6  Et cantent in viis Dómini: * quóniam magna est glória Dómini.
7  Quóniam excélsus Dóminus, et humília réspicit: * et alta a longe cognóscit.
8  Si ambulávero in médio tribulatiónis, vivificábis me: * et super iram inimicórum meórum extendísti manum tuam, et salvum me fecit déxtera tua.
9  Dóminus retríbuet pro me: * Dómine, misericórdia tua in sæculum: ópera mánuum tuárum ne despícias.
10  Réquiem ætérnam * dona eis, Dómine.
11  Et lux perpétua * luceat eis.

Psalm 137.  Confitébor tibi

I WILL give thanks unto thee, O Lord, with my whole heart; * even before the gods will I sing praise unto thee.
2  I will worship toward thy holy temple, and praise thy Name, because of thy loving-kindness and truth; * for thou hast magnified thy Name, and thy word, above all things.
3  When I called upon thee, thou heardest me; * and enduedst my soul with much strength.
4  All the kings of the earth shall praise thee, O Lord; * for they have heard the words of thy mouth.
5  Yea, they shall sing of the ways of the Lord, * that great is the glory of the Lord.
6  For though the Lord be high, yet hath he respect unto the lowly; * as for the proud, he beholdeth them afar off.
7  Though I walk in the midst of trouble, yet shalt thou refresh me; * thou shalt stretch forth thy hand upon the furiousness of mine enemies, and thy right hand shall save me.
8  The Lord shall make good his loving-kindness toward me; * yea, thy mercy, O Lord, endureth for ever; despise not then the works of thine own hands.
9  Eternal rest * grant unto them, O Lord.
10  And let perpetual light * shine upon them.

Ant.    Opera mánuum tuárum, Dómine, ne despícias.

Ant.    Despise not, O Lord, the works of thine own hands.

STAND

V.  Audívi vocem de cælo dicéntem mihi.
R.  Beáti mórtui qui in Dómino moriúntur.

V.  I heard a voice from heaven, saying unto me.
R.  Blessed are the dead, which die in the Lord.

Ad Magnif. Ant:  Omne * quod dat mihi Pater, ad me véniet ; et eum qui venit ad me, non ejíciam foras.

Ant. on Magnif:  All * that the Father hath given unto me shall come unto me, and him that cometh unto me I will in no wise cast out.

CANTICUM BEATÆ MARIÆ VIRGINIS

Luc. 1. 46-55

MAGNIFICAT † : * ánima mea Dóminum.
2  Et exsultávit spíritus meus: * in Deo, salutári meo.
3  Quia respéxit humilitátem ancíllæ suæ: * ecce enim ex hoc beátam me dicent omnes generatiónes.
4  Quia fecit mihi magna, qui potens est: * et sanctum nomen ejus.
5  Et misericórdia ejus, a progénie in progénies: * timéntibus eum.
6  Fecit poténtiam in bráchio suo: * dispérsit supérbos mente cordis sui.
7  Depósuit poténtes de sede: * et exaltávit húmiles.
8  Esuriéntes implévit bonis: * et dívites dimísit inánes.
9  Suscépit Israël púerum suum: * recordátus misericórdiæ suæ.
10  Sicut locútus est ad patres nostros: * Abraham, et sémini ejus in sæcula.
11  Réquiem ætérnam * dona eis, Dómine.
12  Et lux perpétua * luceat eis.

CANTICLE OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY

Luc. 1. 46-55

MY SOUL doth magnify the Lord, † * and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.
2  For he hath regarded * the lowliness of his handmaiden.
3  For behold, from henceforth * all generations shall call me blessed.
4  For he that is mighty hath magnified me; * (Here all make a profound reverence) and holy is his Name.
5  And his mercy is on them that fear him * throughout all generations.
6  He hath shewed strength with his arm; * he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.
7  He hath put down the mighty from their seat, * and hath exalted the humble and meek.
8  He hath filled the hungry with good things; * and the rich he hath sent empty away.
9  He remembering his mercy hath holpen his servant Israel; * as he promised to our forefathers, Abraham and his seed for ever.
10  Eternal rest * grant unto them, O Lord.
11  And let perpetual light * shine upon them.

Ant:  Omne quod dat mihi Pater, ad me véniet ; et eum qui venit ad me, non ejíciam foras.

Ant:  All that the Father hath given unto me shall come unto me, and him that cometh unto me I will in no wise cast out.

KNEEL

Our Father aloud, then secretly as far as:
V.  And lead us not into temptation.
R.  But deliver us from evil.

The following Psalm 145, Lauda anima mea, is not said on the day of death, nor on the day of burial of the deceased, nor is it said on whatsoever day the Office is recited according to the rank of Double.

Psalmus 145.  Lauda, ánima mea

Lauda, ánima mea, Dóminum, laudábo Dóminum in vita mea: * psallam Deo meo quámdiu fúero.
2  Nolíte confídere in princípibus: * in fíliis hóminum, in quibus non est salus.
3  Exíbit spíritus ejus, et revertétur in terram suam: * in illa die períbunt omnes cogitatiónes eórum.
4  Beátus, cujus Deus Jacob adjútor ejus, spes ejus in Dómino Deo ipsíus: * qui fecit cælum et terram, mare et ómnia, quæ in eis sunt.
5  Qui custódit veritátem in sæculum, facit judícium injúriam patiéntibus: * dat escam esuriéntibus.
6  Dóminus solvit compedítos: * Dóminus illúminat cæcos.
7  Dóminus érigit elísos: * Dóminus díligit justos.
8  Dóminus custódit ádvenas, pupíllum et víduam suscípiet: * et vias peccatórum dispérdet.
9  Regnábit Dóminus in sæcula, Deus tuus, Sion, * in generatiónem et generatiónem.
10  Réquiem ætérnam * dona eis, Dómine.
11  Et lux perpétua * luceat eis.

Psalm 145.  Lauda, ánima mea

PRAISE the Lord, O my soul: while I live, will I praise the Lord; * yea, as long as I have any being, I will sing praises unto my God.
2  O put not your trust in princes, nor in any child of man; * for there is no help in them.
3  For when the breath of man goeth forth, he shall turn again to his earth, * and then all his thoughts perish.
4  Blessed is he that hath the God of Jacob for his help, * and whose hope is in the Lord his God:
5  Who made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that therein is; * who keepeth his promise for ever;
6  Who helpeth them to right that suffer wrong; * who feedeth the hungry.
7  The Lord looseth men out of prison; * the Lord giveth sight to the blind.
8  The Lord helpeth them that are fallen; * the Lord careth for the righteous.
9  The Lord careth for the strangers; he defendeth the fatherless and widow: * as for the way of the ungodly, he turneth it upside down.
10  The Lord thy God, O Sion, shall be King for evermore, * and throughout all generations.
11  Eternal rest * grant unto them, O Lord.
12  And let perpetual light * shine upon them.

V.  A porta ínferi.
R.  Erue, Dómine, ánimam ejus (ánimas eórum).

V.  From the gates of hell.
R.  Deliver his (her, their) soul(s), O Lord.

THE COLLECTS FOR THE DEAD

In the Office for the Dead throughout the year the following Collects are said.  However, special Collects for the Dead may be said according to the circumstances and the deceased person.  Whenever one or more of these Collects for the Dead are to be used, the appropriate one is said: and thereafter, V. Requiem æternam as given below for the end of the Office.

If the body be absent, the Officiant says the following Collect (which same is said in the singular number, or in the plural, as occasion demands).

In the Office for the Dead throughout the year

Oratio          Orémus.
Deus, qui inter apostólicos sacerdótes fámulos tuos pontificáli seu sacerdotáli fecísti dignitáte vigére : præsta, quæsumus ; ut eórum quoque perpétuo aggregéntur consórtio.

Collect          Let us pray.
O God, who didst cause thy servants, for whom we pray, to enjoy the dignity of the priesthood, and some to be bishops, after the order of thine Apostles : grant unto them, we beseech thee, finally to rejoice in the company of those Saints in heaven whose ministry they did sometime share on earth.

Deus, véniæ largítor et humánæ salútis amátor : quæsumus cleméntiam tuam  ; ut nostræ congregatiónis fratres, propínquos et benefactóres, qui ex hoc sæculo transiérunt, beáta María semper Vírgine intercedénte cum ómnibus Sanctis tuis, ad perpétuæ beatitúdinis consórtium perveníre concédas.

O God, who desirest not the death of a sinner but rather that all mankind should be saved : we beseech thee mercifully to grant that the brethren, kinsfolk, and benefactors of our congregation, who have passed out of this world, may by the intercession of blessed Mary Ever-Virgin and of all thy Saints come to enjoy with them everlasting blessedness.

Fidélium, Deus, ómnium cónditor et redémptor, animábus famulórum famularúmque tuárum remissiónem cunctórum tríbue peccatórum : ut indulgéntiam, quam semper optavérunt, piis supplicatiónibus consequántur : Qui vivis et regnas cum Deo Patre in unitáte Spíritus Sancti Deus, per ómnia sæcula sæculórum.
R.  Amen.

O God, the Creator and Redeemer of all them that believe : grant unto the souls of thy servants and handmaidens the remission of all their sins ; that as they have ever desired thy merciful pardon, so by the supplications of their brethren they may receive the same.  Who livest and reignest with the Father, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, ever one God, world without end.
R.  Amen.

V.  Réquiem ætérnam dona eis, Dómine.
R.  Et lux perpétua luceat eis.

V.  Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord.
R.  And let perpetual light shine upon them.

Office of the Dead