versicle

Each Hour concludes with a prayer followed by a short versicle and response.

It is also sung as a versicle at the end of all Offices.

Versicle: O give me the comfort of thy help again.

In some cases, the following versicle, response, and collect are added:

Versicle: O let my mouth be filled with thy praise.

The reading is followed by a versicle.

Versicle: Make wisdom our guide, - help us walk in newness of life.

Versicle: And lead us not into temptation.

Versicle: Cast me not away from thy presence.

Versicle: Blessed be our God and Father: he hears the prayers of his children.

Versicle: O Lord, turn thy face from my sins.

Here, too, we find the capitulum, versicle, and canticle of the "Magnificat".

The hymn, which varies according to season and feast, is sung, followed by its versicle and response.

Throughout Advent it occurs daily as the versicle and response after the hymn at Vespers.

Versicle: Lord, give us your strength in our weakness: - when we meet problems give us courage to face them.

After the opening versicle, a hymn, prayer, and/or canticle are said or sung.

"The Versicle calls us to give thanks and introduces the Thanksgiving Collect.

Versicle: We thank you, Father for sending us your Son: - let us keep him before our eyes throughout this day.

Versicle: Lord, have mercy upon us.

Versicle: The Resurrection of the body.

Unless the Invitatory is used, each Hour begins with the versicle "God, come to my assistance.

An Invitatory precedes the canonical hours of the day beginning with the versicle "Lord, open my lips.

These are followed by a short reading from Scripture, once referred to as a "little chapter" (capitulum), and by a versicle and response.

It resembles these also in composition, the psalmody being accompanied by a hymn, an antiphon, capitulum, versicle, and prayer.

Then follows the opening versicle, an antiphon and the Venite or another psalm or canticle.