Vespers with priests and incense

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I’ve noticed that there are some vespers with clergy in choir dress and/or vestments. I’ve also noticed the presence of Altar Servers and Incense.
Could anybody elucidate the nature of this prayer and its practice?
 
Not exactly sure of what you are asking, but when vespers is celebrated solemnly–most likely on a Sunday–it may celebrated with servers and incense.
 
The Second Vatican Council called for the solemn, public celebration of Vespers in parish churches, especially on Sundays and in cathedrals. Our local cathedral celebrates Vespers every Sunday (shortly before the 5 PM mass) and lauds every morning, though only the Vespers is celebrated in a solemn manner.
In the Eastern Churches it remains the norm to solemnly celebrate vespers in the parish church on Saturday night with the Eucharistic divine liturgy served Sunday mornings. In some Eastern Catholic Churches either satisfies the Sunday obligation (Saturday night Great Vespers or Sunday morning Divine Liturgy).
 
^ Didn’t know that. A shame no parishes round here do so, it sounds beautiful.
 
twf said:
The Second Vatican Council called for the solemn, public celebration of Vespers in parish churches, especially on Sundays and in cathedrals. Our local cathedral celebrates Vespers every Sunday (shortly before the 5 PM mass) and lauds every morning, though only the Vespers is celebrated in a solemn manner.
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The cathedral in Sherbrooke Quebec does the same. Our schola helps them do it in Gregorian chant at least once during Advent and Lent. We also do Lauds (at the cathedral also) in Gregorian chant on Holy Saturday, but usually Lauds is said, not sung, during most of the year.
 
OraLabora said:
The cathedral in Sherbrooke Quebec does the same. Our schola helps them do it in Gregorian chant at least once during Advent and Lent. We also do Lauds (at the cathedral also) in Gregorian chant on Holy Saturday, but usually Lauds is said, not sung, during most of the year.
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Vespers with a proper schola would be wonderful.
 
twf said:
Vespers with a proper schola would be wonderful.
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That would be us 🙂

To be fair: we do the opening verse, the hymn and all the antiphons in Latin; we do Ps. 109 in Latin but usually the second psalm in French on Gregorian tones, and we do the Magnificat (or Benedictus on Holy Saturday) in Latin.

The deacon does the readings, and intercessions, in French.

Four years ago, for the 100th anniversary celebration of our monastery, the monks went to the cathedral and sung solemn Monastic Vespers for the 2nd Sunday of Easter, all in Latin except reading and intercessions (which is the practice at the abbey). The cathedral was packed, so there is a “market” as it were. I was involved in that effort in a support role; the monks travelled by bus, but I took their vestments and a lectern in my car.
 
I wasn’t aware that RC churches still have Solemn Vespers.

My Anglo-Catholic church has Solemn Vespers (evensong) and Benediction every Sunday at 5 pm.
 
jschwartz said:
I wasn’t aware that RC churches still have Solemn Vespers.

My Anglo-Catholic church has Solemn Vespers (evensong) and Benediction every Sunday at 5 pm.
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Our cathedral concludes solemn vespers with Benediction.
 
OraLabora said:
That would be us 🙂

To be fair: we do the opening verse, the hymn and all the antiphons in Latin; we do Ps. 109 in Latin but usually the second psalm in French on Gregorian tones, and we do the Magnificat (or Benedictus on Holy Saturday) in Latin.

The deacon does the readings, and intercessions, in French.

Four years ago, for the 100th anniversary celebration of our monastery, the monks went to the cathedral and sung solemn Monastic Vespers for the 2nd Sunday of Easter, all in Latin except reading and intercessions (which is the practice at the abbey). The cathedral was packed, so there is a “market” as it were. I was involved in that effort in a support role; the monks travelled by bus, but I took their vestments and a lectern in my car.
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I’ve rarely seen a proper schola involved outside of an EF community. St Jude’s in Vancouver did have a small schola that did Gregorian chant for a Novus Ordo mass (all sung Latin except for the readings which were chanted in English) - but I’m not sure what the status is now that the priest was transferred elsewhere. There are at least three parishes around that offer regular EF masses, but Latin chant in an OF setting is always harder to find. Though cathedral will have the Gloria, Sanctus and Agnus Dei sung in Latin quite regularly and use various polyphonic motets for the hymns.
 
Solemn Lauds and Vespers would have incense, since the altar will be incensed during the Gospel Canticle.

Reminds me when I attended the diocesan formation for Altar Servers. We had Solemn Lauds, though, but a layman presided over it and was the one who incensed the altar during the Gospel Canticle.
 
GoGoDiego said:
Solemn Lauds and Vespers would have incense, since the altar will be incensed during the Gospel Canticle.

Reminds me when I attended the diocesan formation for Altar Servers. We had Solemn Lauds, though, but a layman presided over it and was the one who incensed the altar during the Gospel Canticle.
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A layman should never incense the altar. When a layman leads Lauds, there are no incensations.
 
layman should never incense the altar. When a layman leads Lauds, there are no incensations

why is that the practice?
 
cmodrmac said:
layman should never incense the altar. When a layman leads Lauds, there are no incensations

why is that the practice?
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Because of the unique relationship between the priest and the altar.
 
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