Vespertina synaxis

Tonight I had the privilege to be invited to join the monks for the Vespers at the Abbey of Notre-Dame de Leffe.

The evening hour Vespers, or vespertina synaxis, is composed of four psalms, a capitulum, a response, a hymn, a versicle, a canticle from the Gospel, litany (Kyrie eleison, Christe eleison), Pater with the ordinary finale, oratio, or prayer, and dismissal (Regula Sancti Benedicti, xvii).

It was quite something to see and hear a small group of monks contemplating their religion through centuries old psalms combined with a strictly defined pattern of rituals... Impressive.

Also ate a dish involving pig's ears this evening but let's not drift away from the serenity of this post.


Vesper definition kindly taken from this website with more background on Vespers