Solemn Sunday Vespers in Tulsa

Solemn Sunday Vespers begins October 28, 2007 at Holy Family Cathedral

Bishop Slattery will lead Solemn Vespers at the Holy Family Cathedral (820 S. Boulder, Tulsa [map]) at 6:30 PM on the last Sunday of each month, beginning October 28, 2007. The following article was published in the Eastern Oklahoma Catholic (Vol. 33 No. 19) on October 14, 2007.

175 people attended Solemn Vespers on Sunday October 28 -- almost six times as many as were expected. There is more information on the Diocese of Tulsa web site.

Acknowledging that “the time is long overdue to restore the cherished custom of Solemn Sunday Vespers,” Bishop Edward J. Slattery announced he will inaugurate the monthly practice of singing Evening Prayer on the last Sunday of the month at Holy Family Cathedral, beginning at 6:30 p.m. Oct. 28.

The Church consistently has maintained the scriptural practice of consecrating the hours of each day to God (Acts 10:3, 9; 16:25; etc.), and this daily Liturgy of the Hours is an essential part of the Church’s public prayer.

“The Liturgy of the Hours and the Mass plus the Sacraments are the only public prayers in the Church,” said Bishop Slattery, who explained that when the canonical hours are prayed, it is the prayer of the whole Church.

“Even when only a handful of the faithful are present, we know that Our Lady and the saints are also there praying with us, in union with Christ as He worships the Father.”

Until the reforms of the Second Vatican Council, it was unusual for lay people to pray the Hours, although it was the hope of the Council Fathers that parishes and communities of the faithful would begin to open up and benefit from the enormous spiritual richness of the office.

“More and more parishes in the Diocese and a surprising number of people are already praying Morning Prayer and Evening Prayer on their own, but as Bishop, I want to gather the people around me to pray with me as Sunday draws to a close and we recall the graces we received that morning at Mass.”

Everyone in the Diocese is invited to come to the monthly Vespers with Benediction, which will last about 45 minutes. Booklets will be provided for those who do not have their own copy of the Liturgy of the Hours.

Basic instructions as to how to chant the psalms will also be given 10 minutes before the 6:30 p.m. start of each month’s Evening Prayer.

Those who would like more information on these solemn Vespers are invited to call 307-4955 or send email to liturgicalinstitute@dioceseoftulsa.org for a fuller explanation.