Does Your Church Have Vespers And Compline?

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Seamus_L

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Such an enriching part of church life that’s absent from so many parishes.
 
Yep. Wish we had them more often, though… and more lay people interested in them.

Grace and peace,
 
Our local NO parish is lucky to unlock the doors 5 days a week. Its probably been 40+ years since anyone has done Vespers.
 
Unfortunately no. Once in awhile we meet with some friends and pray Vespers in the church but it is not “sponsored” by the parish. I think the pastor might be open to it but all our energy right now is being spent trying to get perpetual adoration up and running.
 
No, but a neighboring parish is run by the Norbertines and they do Morning, Daytime and Evening Prayer every day. If you are looking for a church that does them check out those that are run by an order.
 
No, not the parish I belong to now. I have never been to vespers or compline at an ordinary diocesean parish. Was it truly common in the past? Say 60 years ago, would an ordinary parish in a mid-sized US town truly have had an organized vespers service? I know that churches or chapels attached to religious communities may allow lay people to participate in their community vespers services.
 
Ours, St. Jude’s in Vancouver, B.C. has beautifully sung Vespers on Sundays. I believe we are the only parish in our diocese which has Vespers. Anyone coming to Vancouver…is welcome. You will be impressed.

Pax
 
Yep. Every weekday - along with Matins & Lauds, midday prayer, and Rosary prior to Vespers. Our Parish is about as Traditional as it gets.

E.A.
 
I know Vespers were common in the 1930’s, people who had already attended morning mass came back over to church for them.
One of the churches I attend the TLM at, has them at 2:30, so I'll socialize a bit after the 12:30 mass and then attend vespers. Compline is about 15 minutes after the evenng mass I think.
 
Mrs_Sally said:
No, not the parish I belong to now. I have never been to vespers or compline at an ordinary diocesean parish. Was it truly common in the past? Say 60 years ago, would an ordinary parish in a mid-sized US town truly have had an organized vespers service? I know that churches or chapels attached to religious communities may allow lay people to participate in their community vespers services.
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My experience of 50-70 years ago is limited to the New England area. Never heard of it there being any participation in the Divine office by laity.

The Catholic Encyclopedia [circa 1900],Privileges and restrictions of the laity, has it as a privilege for the laity and lay organizations, but seems not to be aware of any recitation as a parish activity.
With these exceptions, there is nothing to prevent the laity from using the liturgical prayers in their private devotions, from reciting the Divine Office, or the various Little Offices drawn up particularly for them, or from joining in associations or confraternities to practise together and according to rule certain pious exercises, the confraternities having been formed lawfully in virtue of episcopal approbation.
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The Cathedral in Seattle has Vespers & Benediction every Sunday afternoon and the “Noon” or Daytime prayer every weekday throughout the year. During the Triduum they offer “Morning Praise”, which is basically the Morning Office with a large choir. Compline is only offered on Holy Thursday.

There’s a nice upright Dominican parish a few miles to the north of the Cathedral that has Morning Prayer and the Office of Readings/Evening Prayer every weekday. They used to have a wonderful Dominican Compline once a quarter and also during Lent. I’m not sure if they still offer that, at least to the public.

Interesting side note: The Episcopal Cathedral in Seattle has offered Compline every Sunday night for many years and it’s a popular attraction for young people of all faiths and non-faiths. It’s broadcast live on the local classical music station and I often listen. The similarities are remarkable and, of course, are to be expected.
 
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