Evening Prayer
INTRODUCTION
God, + come to my assistance.
– Lord, make haste to help me.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:
– as it was in the beginning, is now, will be for ever. Amen. Alleluia.
HYMN
Lord Jesus Christ, abide with us,
Now that the sun has run its course;
Let hope not be obscured by night,
But may faith’s darkness be as light.
Lord Jesus Christ, grant us your peace,
And when the trials of earth shall cease,
Grant us the morning light of grace,
The radiant splendor of your face.
Immortal, Holy, Threefold Light,
Yours be the kingdom, pow’r, and might;
All glory be eternally
To you, life-giving Trinity!
Tune: Old 100th L.M.
Music: Louis Bourgeois, 1551
Text: Saint Joseph’s Abbey, 1967, 1968
Go to the Psalmody
Or:
O boundless Wisdom, God most high,
O Maker of the earth and sky,
Who bid’st the parted waters flow
In heaven above, on earth below.
The streams on earth, the clouds in heaven,
By thee their ordered bounds were giv’n,
Lest ‘neath the untempered fires of day
The parchèd soil should waste away.
E’en so on us who seek thy face
Pour forth the waters of thy grace;
Renew the fount of life within,
And quench the wasting fires of sin.
Let faith discern th’ eternal Light
Beyond the darkness of the night,
And through the mists of falsehood see
The path of truth revealed by thee.
O Father, that we ask be done,
Through Jesus Christ, thine only Son;
Who, with the Holy Ghost and thee,
Doth live and reign eternally.
Tune: Illsley L.M.
Music: John Bishop, A Set of New Psalm Tunes, circa 1710
Text: Immense caeli Conditor, sixth century
Translation: Gabriel Gillett, 1873-1948, in The English Hymnal, 1906
PSALMODY
Ant. 1 The Lord looks tenderly on those who are poor.
Psalm 11
God is the unfailing support of the just
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for justice; they shall be satisfied (Matthew 5:6).
In the Lord I have taken my refuge. †
How can you say to my soul: *
“Fly like a bird to its mountain.
See the wicked one bracing his bow; *
they are fixing their arrows on the string
to shoot upright men in the dark. *
Foundations once destroyed, what can the just do?”
The Lord is in his holy temple, *
the Lord, whose throne is in heaven.
His eyes look down on the world; *
his gaze tests mortal men.
The Lord tests the just and the wicked: *
the lover of violence he hates.
He sends fire and brimstone on the wicked; *
he sends a scorching wind as their lot.
The Lord is just and loves justice: *
the upright shall see his face.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, *
and to the Holy Spirit:
as it was in the beginning, is now, *
and will be for ever. Amen.
Psalm Prayer
Lord God, you search the hearts of all, both the good and the wicked. May those who are in danger for love of you, find security in you now, and, in the day of judgment, may they rejoice in seeing you face to face.
Ant. The Lord looks tenderly on those who are poor.
Ant. 2 Blessed are the pure of heart, for they shall see God.
Psalm 15
Who is worthy to stand in God’s presence?
You have come to Mt. Zion, to the city of the living God (Hebrews 12:22).
Lord, who shall be admitted to your tent *
and dwell on your holy mountain?
He who walks without fault: *
he who acts with justice
and speaks the truth from his heart; *
he who does not slander with his tongue;
he who does no wrong to his brother, *
who casts no slur on his neighbor,
who holds the godless in disdain, *
but honors those who fear the Lord;
he who keeps his pledge, come what may; *
who takes no interest on a loan
and accepts no bribes against the innocent. *
Such a man will stand firm for ever.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, *
and to the Holy Spirit:
as it was in the beginning, is now, *
and will be for ever. Amen.
Psalm Prayer
Make our lives blameless, Lord. Help us to do what is right and to speak what is true, that we may dwell in your tent and find rest on your holy mountain.
Ant. Blessed are the pure of heart, for they shall see God.
Ant. 3 God chose us in his Son to be his adopted children.
Canticle: Ephesians 1:3-10
God our savior
Praised be the God and Father *
of our Lord Jesus Christ,
who has bestowed on us in Christ *
every spiritual blessing in the heavens.
God chose us in him †
before the world began *
to be holy
and blameless in his sight.
He predestined us †
to be his adopted sons through Jesus Christ, *
such was his will and pleasure,
that all might praise the glorious favor *
he has bestowed on us in his beloved.
In him and through his blood, we have been redeemed, *
and our sins forgiven,
so immeasurably generous *
is God’s favor to us.
God has given us the wisdom *
to understand fully the mystery,
the plan he was pleased *
to decree in Christ.
A plan to be carried out *
in Christ, in the fullness of time,
to bring all things into one in him, *
in the heavens and on earth.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, *
and to the Holy Spirit:
as it was in the beginning, is now, *
and will be for ever. Amen.
Ant. God chose us in his Son to be his adopted children.
READING
Colossians 1:9b-11
May you attain full knowledge of God’s will through perfect wisdom and spiritual insight. Then you will lead a life worthy of the Lord and pleasing to him in every way. You will multiply good works of every sort and grow in the knowledge of God. By the might of his glory you will be endowed with the strength needed to stand fast, even to endure joyfully whatever may come.
RESPONSORY
Lord, you alone can heal me, for I have grieved you by my sins.
– Lord, you alone can heal me, for I have grieved you by my sins.
Once more I say: O Lord, have mercy on me,
– for I have grieved you by my sins.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
– Lord, you alone can heal me, for I have grieved you by my sins.
GOSPEL CANTICLE
Ant. My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord, for he has looked with favor on his lowly servant.
Canticle of Mary
Luke 1:46-55
The soul rejoices in the Lord
My + soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord, †
my spirit rejoices in God my Savior *
for he has looked with favor on his lowly servant.
From this day all generations will call me blessed: †
the Almighty has done great things for me, *
and holy is his Name.
He has mercy on those who fear him *
in every generation.
He has shown the strength of his arm, *
he has scattered the proud in their conceit.
He has cast down the mighty from their thrones, *
and has lifted up the lowly.
He has filled the hungry with good things, *
and the rich he has sent away empty.
He has come to the help of his servant Israel *
for he has remembered his promise of mercy,
the promise he made to our fathers, *
to Abraham and his children for ever.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, *
and to the Holy Spirit:
as it was in the beginning, is now, *
and will be for ever. Amen.
Ant. My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord, for he has looked with favor on his lowly servant.
INTERCESSIONS
God has made an everlasting covenant with his people, and he never ceases to bless them. Grateful for these gifts, we confidently direct our prayer to him:
Lord, bless your people.
Save your people, Lord,
– and bless your inheritance.
Lord, bless your people.
Gather into one body all who bear the name of Christian,
– that the world may believe in Christ whom you have sent.
Lord, bless your people.
Give our friends and our loved ones a share in divine life,
– let them be symbols of Christ before men.
Lord, bless your people.
Show your love to those who are suffering,
– open their eyes to the vision of your revelation.
Lord, bless your people.
Be compassionate to those who have died,
– welcome them into the company of the faithful departed.
Lord, bless your people.
THE LORD’S PRAYER
(Gathering our prayer and praises into one, let us offer the prayer Christ himself taught us:)
Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name;
thy kingdom come;
thy will be done
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread;
and forgive us our trespasses
as we forgive those who trespass against us;
and lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
CONCLUDING PRAYER
Father,
may this evening pledge of our service to you
bring you glory and praise.
For our salvation you looked with favor,
on the lowliness of the Virgin Mary;
lead us to the fullness of the salvation
you have prepared for us.
We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever.
– Amen.
DISMISSAL
If a priest or deacon presides, he dismisses the people:
The Lord be with you.
– And with your spirit.
May almighty God bless you,
the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
– Amen.
Another form of the blessing may be used, as at Mass.
Then he adds:
Go in peace.
– Thanks be to God.
In the absence of a priest or deacon and in individual recitation, Evening Prayer concludes:
May the Lord + bless us,
protect us from all evil
and bring us to everlasting life.
– Amen.
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