Category:Vespers

The office of Vespers is traditionally recited at sunset and consists of the invitory Deus in adjutorium, 5 psalms with their proper antiphons, a proper hymn, and a Magnificat with antiphon (see also the O antiphons of Advent). Often the seasonal votive antiphon (Alma Redemptoris Mater, Ave Regina coelorum, Regina coeli, or Salve Regina) is added at the end.

The Anglican service of Evensong combines elements of Vespers with the succeeding office of Compline. The current Catholic brevary shortens the psalms to two and adds a canticle from the Book of Revelations.

Mozart and others composed only the 5 psalms and Magnificat, expecting the other items to be sung to plainchant.

In 1911 the assignment of Psalms was formalized according to the following schema, differing only slightly from that of the Council of Trent: Sunday: 109; 110; 111; 112; 113; Monday: 114; 115; 119; 120; 121; Tuesday: 122; 123; 124; 125; 126; Wednesday: 127; 128; 129; 130; 131; Thursday: 132; 135i; 135ii; 136; 137 Friday: 138i; 138ii; 139; 140; 141 Saturday: 143i; 143ii; 144i; 144ii; 144iii

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