Vespers/Compline?

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NorthTexan88

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Does the church still celebrate these offices? I have been looking for a place to attend this but I have not found one parish in my diocese or the one next to it that offers them, maybe I am looking at the wrong thing?
I have been attending the Evensong at my old Anglo-Catholic church instead but would love to go to a Catholic one. Any advice?
 
Yes, but most do Vespers & Compline in the Daily Office. You’d probably have to go to monastery in our area to attend these every day. If you learn the Liturgy of the Hours, you’ll be able to pray Vespers & Compline at home.

Someone in my parish offered Vespers once a month. In the nine months he did it, only three people showed up. My parish does offer Vespers during Lent, and it is well attended. It is done after Stations of the Cross. You may ask someone in your parish office, for it may be a seasonal thing like at mine.

I try to attend Great Vespers every Saturday at a local Orthodox Church (it’s also offered once during the week).
 
These are still official parts of the Church’s liturgy. But very hard to find a communal celebration outside of a religious community. I recite the LOTH at home and work daily. Most diocesan clergy recite it privately as well. When I can I attend Vespers or occasionally Lauds at a local monastery. And when I go on retreat there I attend all the offices.
 
My understanding is the Liturgy of the Hours is compulsory for clergy, but only recommended for the laity. I wouldn’t think to look for it anywhere but a monastery or convent.
 
NorthTexan88 said:
Does the church still celebrate these offices? I have been looking for a place to attend this but I have not found one parish in my diocese or the one next to it that offers them, maybe I am looking at the wrong thing?
I have been attending the Evensong at my old Anglo-Catholic church instead but would love to go to a Catholic one. Any advice?
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Yes, the Church does still celebrate Vespers and Compline, which have, respectively, the alternate names of Evening Prayer and Night Prayer. It’s not common to find these celebrated in parishes. Parish clergy, who have an obligation to pray these Hours, usually recite them privately. You would need to find a religious community who would allow you to attend. Alternatively, you could start a group in your parish to recite these Offices at least on one night per week and build from there.
 
NorthTexan88 said:
Does the church still celebrate these offices? I have been looking for a place to attend this but I have not found one parish in my diocese or the one next to it that offers them, maybe I am looking at the wrong thing?
I have been attending the Evensong at my old Anglo-Catholic church instead but would love to go to a Catholic one. Any advice?
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Rarely will you find public celebration of vespers (outside of religious communities), although the church intends that there should be.

I would second the note about looking for an orthodox vespers service. I hear they’re great.
 
I know two parishes in NY that have Vespers regularly. There may be more.

One has a diocesan TLM and Vespers is prayed Sunday afternoons and one parish is run by Dominicans and they have vespers once during the week as well.

It’s quite a blessing.
 
TrueLight said:
I know two parishes in NY that have Vespers regularly. There may be more.

One has a diocesan TLM and Vespers is prayed Sunday afternoons and one parish is run by Dominicans and they have vespers once during the week as well.

It’s quite a blessing.
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Hey TrueLight!
From reading some of your posts in the past, I have to say that I am jealous of the area you live in. It seems like there are a good many places that would be great to attend. I might be thinkinking about another forum member but I think I remeber you posting on this stuff previously.
 
Come to Austin, my parish has the Compline on Sundays at 9:00pm with the schola cantorum (just a bunch of guys) that puts in quite a good effort.
 
NorthTexan88 said:
Does the church still celebrate these offices? I have been looking for a place to attend this but I have not found one parish in my diocese or the one next to it that offers them, maybe I am looking at the wrong thing?
I have been attending the Evensong at my old Anglo-Catholic church instead but would love to go to a Catholic one. Any advice?
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I know this will be no use to you, but I thought I would mention it anyway, in case you ever come to London :): Westminster Cathedral does choral Vespers every day at 5pm sung by the gentlemen of the choir (it claims to be the last catholic cathedral in the world to sing the daily office). Also Brompton Oratory does Solemn Vespers and Benediction but at the very early time of 3.30pm. Compline is ocassionaly sung but you need to look out for it.

That’s Vespers: Choral Evensong in London in the autumn as the light goes down is a really beautiful experience. But I’ll save that for another time.
 
Cristiano said:
Come to Austin, my parish has the Compline on Sundays at 9:00pm with the schola cantorum (just a bunch of guys) that puts in quite a good effort.
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Hows it goin? I actually come to Austin from time to time to see friends. Would you mind PM’ing me and letting me know what parish it is?
 
liturgyluver said:
I know this will be no use to you, but I thought I would mention it anyway, in case you ever come to London :): Westminster Cathedral does choral Vespers every day at 5pm sung by the gentlemen of the choir (it claims to be the last catholic cathedral in the world to sing the daily office). Also Brompton Oratory does Solemn Vespers and Benediction but at the very early time of 3.30pm. Compline is ocassionaly sung but you need to look out for it.

That’s Vespers: Choral Evensong in London in the autumn as the light goes down is a really beautiful experience. But I’ll save that for another time.
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I was there a couple of years ago and wish I would have gone to check it out, I went to St. Paul’s instead…(wasnt Catholic at the time). Hopefull I will be able to go back for the Olympics coming up, if so I will definently check it out!
 
NorthTexan88 said:
I was there a couple of years ago and wish I would have gone to check it out, I went to St. Paul’s instead…(wasnt Catholic at the time). Hopefull I will be able to go back for the Olympics coming up, if so I will definently check it out!
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You should definately check it out, and let me know when you come over. BTW if you mean St Paul’s Cathedral, it is not Catholic - still most definately Anglican: On Sunday’s BCP Holy Communion at 8am, Matins at 10am, Sung Eucharist at 11.30am, Evesong at 3pm, Eucharist at 6pm. During the week choral evensong at 5, with communion at 8 and 12.
 
I should mention that in my parish on days when no weekday Mass is available there is communal celebration of Lauds.
 
liturgyluver said:
You should definately check it out, and let me know when you come over. BTW if you mean St Paul’s Cathedral, it is not Catholic - still most definately Anglican: On Sunday’s BCP Holy Communion at 8am, Matins at 10am, Sung Eucharist at 11.30am, Evesong at 3pm, Eucharist at 6pm. During the week choral evensong at 5, with communion at 8 and 12.
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Yea I know ha, that was during the brief period when I was an Anglo-Catholic before deciding to become actual Catholic lol
 
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