Columbia Young Adult Catholics

June 23, 2010,

7 oclock in the evening
St Peters Catholic Church

Vespers & Matins in Vigil for the

For upcoming meetings and events please visit our blog at

http://www.imbibingthespirit.blogspot.com.

From there you can navigate to our facebook page and join our group,
as well as to the yahoo groups page if you wish to join our list-serv. All
are fantastic sources of information for Young Adult Catholics in the
Columbia-Metro area.

Hope you can join us for our Summer Liturgy Series our next outing
will be to the Maronite Church in Greer, SC on July 18th!

Please note that in July Vespers will be July 7 & 21 at St Thomas

Solemnity of the Nativity of
More.

Saint John the Baptist

Patron Saint of the Diocese of Charleston
From The General Instructions on the Liturgy of the Hours, an Exhortation

20. The liturgy of the hours, like other liturgical services, is not a private matter but belongs
to the whole Body of the Church, whose life it both expresses and affects. [91] This liturgy
stands out most strikingly as an ecclesial celebration when, through the bishop surrounded
by his priests and ministers, [92] the local Church celebrates it. For "in the local Church the
one, holy, catholic, and apostolic Church is truly present and at work." [93] Such a celebra-
tion is therefore most earnestly recommended. When, in the absence of the bishop, a chapter
of canons or other priests celebrate the liturgy of the hours, they should always respect the
true time of day and, as far as possible, the people should take part. The same is to be said
of collegiate chapters.

21. Wherever possible, other groups of the faithful should celebrate the liturgy of the hours
communally in church. This especially applies to parishes - the cells of the diocese, estab- DISMISSAL
lished under their pastors, taking the place of the bishop; they "represent in some degree the
visible Church established throughout the world." [94]
22. Hence, when the people are invited to the liturgy of the hours and come together in God our Father,
unity of heart and voice, they show forth the Church in its celebration of the mystery of You raised up John the Baptist
Christ. [95]
To prepare a perfect people for Christ the Lord.
27. Lay groups gathering for prayer, apostolic work, or any other reason are encouraged to Give your Church joy in spirit
fulfill the Church's duty, [103] by celebrating part of the liturgy of the hours. The laity must And guide those who believe in you
learn above all how in the liturgy they are adoring God the Father in spirit and in truth; Into the way of salvation and peace.
[104] they should bear in mind that through public worship and prayer they reach all hu-
manity and can contribute significantly to the salvation of the whole world. [105] We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and
reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God forever and ever.
Key Left indentation is said by the left
quire
Red shading, indicates instruction/ If a priest is present:
action Right indentation is said by the right
quire The Lord be with you.
Italics, said by Priest/Presider only
Central & Bold indentation is said by
the entire assembly - And also with you

May Almighty God bless you, (
) the Father, and the Son, and the Holy
INVATORY Spirit.
God come to my assistance -Amen

)Lord, make haste to help me.
- (

If a priest is not present, then the presider leads:
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:
As it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever May the Lord bless us, (
) protect us from all evil and bring us to ever-
lasting life.
-Amen
HYMN
PSALMODY
Antiphon 1

Elizabeth, the wife of Zechariah, gave birth to a great man, John the
Baptist, who prepared the way for the Lord.

Psalm 113

Praise, O servants of the Lord,

Praise the name of the Lord!
May the name of the Lord be blessed
Both now and for evermore!
From the rising of the sun to its setting
Praised be the name of the Lord!

High above all nations is the Lord,

Above the heavens his glory.
Who is like the Lord, our God,
Who has risen on high to his throne
Yet stoops from the heights to look down,
To look down upon heaven and earth?

From the dust he lifts up the lowly,

From his misery he raises the poor
To set him in the company of princes,
Yes, with the princes of his people.
To the childless wife he gives a home
And gladdens her heart with children.

Glory to the Father, the Son

and the Holy Spirit

As it was in the beginning, is now,

and will be forever

All repeat Antiphon 1

HYMN Antiphon 2
Te Deum
John, the forerunner of the Lord, was born of an old and childless cou-
ple.

Psalm 146

My soul, give praise to the Lord;

I will praise the Lord all my days,
Make music to my God while I live.
Put no trust in princes,
In mortal men in whom there is no help.
Take their breath, they return to clay
And their plans that day come to nothing.
He is happy who is helped by Jacobs God,
Whose hope is in the Lord his God,
Who alone made heaven and earth,
The seas and all they contain.
It is he who keeps faith for ever,
Who is just to those who are oppressed.
It is he who gives bread to the hungry,
The Lord, who protects the stranger
And upholds the widow and orphan
It is the Lord who loves the just
But thwarts the path of the wicked.
The Lord will reign for ever,
Zions God from age to age.
Glory to the Father, the Son
and the Holy Spirit
As it was in the beginning, is now,
and will be forever

All repeat Antiphon 2

 He is like a tree planted beside the waters
Antiphon 3 That stretches out its roots to the stream:
It fears not the heat when it comes,
There is no man born of women greater than John the Baptist. Its leaves stay green;
In the year of drought it shows no distress,
Canticle Ephesians 1:3-10 But still bears fruit.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son
Praised be the God and Father and to the Holy Spirit
Of our Lord Jesus Christ, As it was in the beginning is now and will be forever.
Who bestowed on us in Christ
Every spiritual blessing in the heavens. All repeat Canticle Antiphon
God chose us in him
Before the world began, THIRD READING
To be holy From the Gospel according to St. Luke 1:5-17
And blameless in his sight.
In the days of Herod, King of Judea, there was a priest named Zechariah of
He predestined us the priestly division of Abijah; his wife was from the daughters of Aaron,
to be his adopted sons through Jesus Christ, and her name was Elizabeth. Both were righteous in the eyes of God, ob-
Such was his will and pleasure, serving all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blamelessly. But
That all might praise the glorious favor they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren and both were advanced in
He has bestowed on us in his beloved. years. Once when he was serving as priest in his division's turn before God,
In him and through his blood, we have been redeemed, according to the practice of the priestly service, he was chosen by lot to en-
And our sins forgiven, ter the sanctuary of the Lord to burn incense. Then, when the whole assem-
So immeasurably generous bly of the people was praying outside at the hour of the incense offering, the
Is Gods favor to us. angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing at the right of the altar of in-
God has given us the wisdom cense. Zechariah was troubled by what he saw, and fear came upon him. But
To understand fully the mystery, the angel said to him, "Do not be afraid, Zechariah, because your prayer has
The plan he was pleased been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall name him
To decree in Christ. John. And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth,
A plan to be carried out for he will be great in the sight of (the) Lord. He will drink neither wine nor
strong drink. He will be filled with the Holy Spirit even from his mother's
In Christ, in the fullness of time,
womb, and he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God.
To bring all things into one in him, He will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah to turn the hearts of
In the heavens and on the earth. fathers toward children and the disobedient to the understanding of the right-
Glory be to the Father and to the Son eous, to prepare a people fit for the Lord."
and to the Holy Spirit
As it was in the beginning is now and will be forever.
HOMILY / REFLECTION
All repeat Antiphon 3
nothing but the age of prophecy lying hidden, obscured, as it were, and
concealed before the preaching of Christ. At Johns arrival Zechariahs
voice is released, and it becomes clear at the coming of the one who
was foretold. The release of Zechariahs voice at the birth of John is a
parallel to the rending of the veil at Christs crucifixion. If John were
announcing his own coming, Zechariahs lips would not have been
opened. The tongue is loosened because a voice is born. For when John
was preaching the Lords coming he was asked: Who are you? And he
replied: I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness. The voice is
John, but the Lord in the beginning was the Word. John was a voice that
lasted only for a time; Christ, the Word in the beginning, is eternal.
RESPONSORY Luke 1:76-77
You my child, shall be called the prophet of the Most High,
For you will go before the Lord to prepare his way.
To give his people knowledge of salvation
By the forgiveness of their sins.
For you will go before the Lord to prepare his way.
Canticle Antiphon
Kings and princes will rise up and acknowledge you; they will adore
the Lord God who chose you.
Canticle: Jeremiah17:7-8
Blessed are those who hope in the Lord
Blessed are they who hear the word of God and Keep it (Luke 11:28)
Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord,
Whose hope is the Lord.
READING
Acts 13:23-25
According to his promise, God has brought forth from Davids descen-
dants Jesus, a savior for Israel. John heralded the coming of Jesus by
proclaiming a baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel. As
Johns career was coming to an end, he would say, What you suppose
me to be I am not. Rather, look for the one who comes after me. I am
not worthy to unfasten the sandals on his feet.
RESPONSORY
Prepare the way of the Lord; make straight his paths.
-Prepare the way of the Lord; make straight his paths.
He who is to come after me existed before me.
-Make straight his paths.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:
-Prepare the way of the Lord; make straight his paths
MAGNIFICAT
Antiphon
Zechariah entered the temple of the Lord, and the angel Gabriel ap-
peared to him, standing on the right of the altar of incense.
Canticle of Mary
The soul rejoices in the Lord
My soul proclaims (

) the greatness of the Lord,
My spirit rejoices in God my Saviour
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 he 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 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 forever.
All repeat Antiphon
INTERCESSIONS
Let us pray joyfully to God our Father who called John the Baptist to
proclaim the coming of the kingdom of Christ:
O Lord, guide our feet into the way of peace.
You called John the Baptist from his mothers womb
to prepare the way of your Son
Help us to follow in that path which
the Baptist opened before the Lord Jesus
O Lord, guide our feet into the way of peace.
May your Church, in imitation of the Baptist,
Fearlessly point out the Lamb of God,
SECOND READING
From a sermon by Saint Augustine, bishop
(Sermo 293, 1-3: PL38, 1327-1328)
The voice of one crying in the wilderness
The Church observes the birth of John as a hallowed event. We
have no such commemoration for any other fathers; but it is significant
that we celebrate the birthdays of John and Jesus. This day cannot be
passed by. And even if my explanation does not match the dignity of the
feast, you may still meditate on it with great depth and profit.
John was born of a woman too old for childbirth; Christ was born
of a youthful virgin. The news of Johns birth was met with incredulity,
and his father was struck dumb. Christs birth was believed, and he was
conceived through faith.
Such is the topic, as I have presented it, for our inquiry and dis-
cussion. But as I said before, if I lack either the time or the ability to
study the implications of so profound a mystery, he who speaks within
you even when I am not here will teach you better; it is he whom you
contemplate with devotion, whom you have welcomed into your hearts,
whose temples you have become.
John, then, appears as the boundary between the two testaments,
the old and the new. That he is a sort of boundary the Lord himself
bears witness, when he speaks of the law and the prophets up until John
the Baptist. Thus he represents times past and is the herald of the new
era to come. As a representative of the past, he is born of aged parents;
as a herald of a new era, he is declared to be a prophet while still in his
mothers womb. For when yet unborn, he leapt in his mothers womb at
the arrival of blessed Mary. In that womb he had already been desig-
nated a prophet, even before he was born; it was revealed that he was to
be Christs precursor, before they ever saw one another. These are di-
vine happenings, going beyond the limits of our human frailty. Eventu-
ally he is born, he receives his name, his fathers tongue is loosened.
See how these events reflect reality.
Zechariah is silent and loses his voice until John, the precursor of
the Lord, is born and restores his voice. The silence of Zechariah is

READINGS & RESPONSORIES
FIRST READING
From the book of the prophet Jeremiah 1:4-10, 17-19
The call of the prophet
The word of the Lord came to me thus: Before I formed you in the
womb I knew you, before you were born I dedicated you a prophet to
the nations I appointed you.
Ah, Lord God! I said, I know not how to speak; I am too young.
But the Lord answered me,
Say not, I am to young. To whomever I send you, you shall go; what-
ever I command you, you shall speak. Have no fear before them, be-
cause I am with you to deliver you, says the Lord.
Then the Lord extended his hand and touched my mouth saying,
See, I place my words in your mouth! This day I set you over nations
and over kingdoms, to root up and to tear down, to destroy and to de-
molish, to build and to plant. But do you gird your loins; stand up and
tell them all that I command you. Be not crushed on their account, as
though I would leave you crushed before them. For it is I this day who
have made you a fortified city, a pillar of iron, a wall of brass, against
the whole land: Against Judahs kings and princes, against its priests
and people. They will fight against you, but not prevail over you, for I
am with you to deliver you, says the Lord.
RESPONSORY Jeremiah 1:5, 9, 10
Before I formed you in the womb I knew you;
Before you were born I consecrated you,
And I appointed you a prophet to the nations
I have placed my words in your mouth;
I have set you over nations and over kingdoms.
And I appointed you a prophet to the nations
So that people in every age
may acknowledge that the Lord comes to them
O Lord, guide our feet into the way of peace.
John the Baptist did not exalt himself
But acknowledged his role
as forerunner of the Christ
Teach us to acknowledge that you are the giver
Of all our good gifts and that we
Must use them in your service.
O Lord, guide our feet into the way of peace.
You called John the Baptist to give testimony
To you by his life and even by his death
Help us to imitate his unceasing witness to your truth
O Lord, guide our feet into the way of peace.
Remember those who have died,
Give them a place of light, happiness and peace
O Lord, guide our feet into the way of peace.
At this time the Priest/presider may ask the assembly to proclaim addi-
tional intercessions
PATER NOSTER
The Lords Prayer
Our Father who art in Heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy Kingdom
come. They will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven. Give us this day
our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who
trespass against us. Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from
evil.
 Prayer
Antiphon 3
All-powerful God,
John testified: He who is to comoe after me existed before me.
Help your people to walk the path to salvation.
By following the teaching of John the Baptist,
II
May we come to your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ,
Who lives and reigns with you and the Hholy Spirit,
See how your enemies perish;
One God, for ever and ever.
All doers of evil are scattered.
Amen
To me you give the wild-oxs strength;
You anoint me with the purest oil.
My eyes looked in triumph on my foes;
My ears heard gladly of their fall.
The just will flourish like the palm-tree
And grow like a Lebanon cedar.

Planted in the house of the Lord

They will flourish in the courts of our God,
Still bearing fruit when they are old,
Still full of sap, still green,
To proclaim that the Lord is just.
In him, my rock, there is no wrong.

Glory to the Father, the Son

and the Holy Spirit

As it was in the beginning, is now,

We will observe a few moments of before beginning the office of readings, for- and will be forever
mally known as Matins. This time may be used for silent prayer, reflection or as a
period to examine your conscience. All repeat Antiphon 3

VERSES
He came to bear witness to the light.

That all might believe through him.

 Antiphon 2

The Lord made my tongue a sharp sword; he hid me in the shadow of

his hand.

Psalm 92
I

It is good to give thanks to the Lord,

To make music to your name, O Most High,
To proclaim your love in the morning
And your truth in the watches of the night,
On the ten-stringed lyre and the lute,
With the murmuring sound of the harp.

Your deeds, O Lord, have made me glad;

For the work of your hands I shout with joy.
O Lord, how great are your works!
How deep are your designs!
The foolish man cannot know this
And the fool cannot understand.

Though the wicked spring up like grass

And all who do evil thrive:
They are doomed to be eternally destroyed.
But you, Lord, are eternally on high.

Glory to the Father, the Son

and the Holy Spirit

As it was in the beginning, is now,

and will be forever

All repeat Antiphon 2

 PSALMODY
Antiphon 1

The Lord called me before I was born; from my mothers womb he

named me.

Psalm 21:2-8, 14

O Lord, your strength gives joy to the king;

How your saving help makes him glad!
You have granted him his hearts desire;
You have not refused the prayer of his lips.

You came to meet him with the blessings of success,

You have set on his head a crown of pure gold.
He asked you for life and this you have given,
INVATORY Days that will last from age to age.

Your saving help has given him glory.

Lord, open my lips.
You have laid upon him majesty and splendor,
- And my mouth will proclaim your praise.
You have granted your blessings to him for ever.
You have made him rejoice with the joy of your presence.
Antiphon
The king has put his trust in the Lord:
Come, let us worship the Lord, the Lamb of God, proclaimed by John.
Through the mercy of the Most High he shall stand firm.
O Lord, arise in your strength;
Psalm 95
We shall sing and praise your power.
A call to praise God
Encourage each other daily while it is still today (Hebrews 3:13)
Glory to the Father, the Son
and the Holy Spirit
(The antiphon is recited and then repeated)
As it was in the beginning, is now,
Come, let us sing to the Lord
and will be forever
And shout with joy to the Rock who saves us.
Let us approach him with praise and thanksgiving
All repeat Antiphon 1
And sing joyful songs to the Lord

(antiphon is repeated)
HYMN
The Lord is God, the mighty God,
The great king over all the gods.
He holds in his hands the depths of the earth
And the highest mountains as well.
He made the sea; it belongs to him,
The dry land, too, for it was formed by his hands.

(antiphon is repeated)

Come, then, let us bow down and worship,

Bending the knee before the Lord, our maker.
For he is our God and we are his people,
The flock he shepherds.

(antiphon is repeated)

Today, listen to the voice of the Lord:

Do not grow stubborn, as your fathers did
In the wilderness,
When at Meriba and Massah
They challenged me and provoked me,
Although they had seen all my works.

(antiphon is repeated)

Forty years I endured that generation.

I said, They are a people who hearts go astray
And they do not know my ways.
So I swore in my anger,
They shall not enter into my rest.

(antiphon is repeated)

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 is repeated)