Using the "O" Antiphons during Vespers

If you look at the Vespers service in The Lutheran Hymnal (page 42) or Lutheran Service Book (page 231) you will notice that the Magnificat appears to already have an antiphon, it just doesn't repeat at the end of the canticle.

From TLH:
V: Let my prayer be set forth before Thee as incense:
R: And the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice.

My soul doth magify the Lord...


From LSB:
L: Let my prayer rise before You as incense:
C: The lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice.

My soul magnifies the Lord...

According to Deacon Dulas, the response of "Let my prayer..." is not an antiphon.  It is a versicle. 

ABOUT VERSICLES, by Iggy Antiochus

Simply put, a versicle is a short text from Scripture laid out in two parts:

* The pastor or leader begins the text: Let my prayer...
* The congregation or group responds: [And] the lifting up...

Note: Lutheran Service Book provides rubrics so that Vespers may be prayed in a congregational setting or in a private setting such as a father leading his family, students gathering for prayer, devotional time before studying the Word, etc.

So, if you are going to use the O Antiphons in Vespers, Deacon Dulas suggests the following order:

Versicles: 

Let my prayer..

And the lifting up...

Antiphon:

O Adonai...

Magnificat:

My soul doth magnify...

Antiphon:

O Adonai...

Listen to the "O" Antiphons each day between now and December 23 at LutheranTimeOut.org.