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, and will be for ever. Amen. Alleluia.
HYMN
Now thank we all our God
With heart and hands and voices,
Who wondrous things hath done,
In Whom His world rejoices;
Who from our mother’s arms
Hath blessed us on our way
With countless gifts of love,
And still is ours today.
O may this gracious God
Through all our life be near us,
With ever joyful hearts,
And blessed peace to cheer us;
Preserve us in His grace,
And guide us in distress,
And free us from all sin,
Till heaven we possess.
All praise and thanks to God
The Father now be given,
The Son and Spirit blest,
Who reigns in highest heaven;
Eternal Triune God,
Whom earth and heav’n adore;
For thus it was, is now,
And shall be ever more.
Tune: Nun Danket 67.67.66.66
Music: Johann Crüger, 1598-1662
Text: Martin Rinkart, 1586-1649
Translation: Catherine Winkworth, 1827-1878
PSALMODY
Ant. 1 Like burning incense, Lord, let my prayer rise up to you.
Psalm 141:1-9
A prayer when in danger
An angel stood before the face of God, thurible in hand. The fragrant incense soaring aloft was the prayer of God’s people on earth (Revelation 8:4).
I have called to you, Lord; hasten to help me! *
Hear my voice when I cry to you.
Let my prayer arise before you like incense, *
the raising of my hands like an evening oblation.
Set, O Lord, a guard over my mouth; *
keep watch at the door of my lips!
Do not turn my heart to things that are wrong, *
to evil deeds with men who are sinners.
Never allow me to share in their feasting. *
If a good man strikes or reproves me it is kindness;
but let the oil of the wicked not anoint my head. *
Let my prayer be ever against their malice.
Their princes were thrown down by the side of the rock: *
then they understood that my words were kind.
As a millstone is shattered to pieces on the ground, *
so their bones were strewn at the mouth of the grave.
To you, Lord God, my eyes are turned: *
in you I take refuge; spare my soul!
From the trap they have laid for me keep me safe: *
keep me from the snares of those who do evil.
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, from the rising of the sun to its setting your name is worthy of all praise. Let our prayer come like incense before you. May the lifting up of our hands be as an evening sacrifice acceptable to you, Lord our God.
Ant. Like burning incense, Lord, let my prayer rise up to you.
Ant. 2 You are my refuge, Lord; you are all that I desire in life.
Psalm 142
You, Lord, are my refuge
What is written in this psalm was fulfilled in our Lord’s passion (Saint Hilary).
With all my voice I cry to the Lord, *
with all my voice I entreat the Lord.
I pour out my trouble before him; *
I tell him all my distress
while my spirit faints within me. *
But you, O Lord, know my path.
On the way where I shall walk *
they have hidden a snare to entrap me.
Look on my right and see: *
there is not one who takes my part.
I have no means of escape, *
not one who cares for my soul.
I cry to you, O Lord. †
I have said: “You are my refuge, *
all I have left in the land of the living.”
Listen then to my cry *
for I am in the depths of distress.
Rescue me from those who pursue me *
for they are stronger than I.
Bring my soul out of this prison *
and then I shall praise your name.
Around me the just will assemble *
because of your goodness to me.
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, we humbly ask for your goodness. May you help us to hope in you, and give us a share with your chosen ones in the land of the living.
Ant. You are my refuge, Lord; you are all that I desire in life.
Ant. 3 The Lord Jesus humbled himself, and God exalted him for ever.
Canticle: Philippians 2:6-11
Christ, God’s holy servant
Though he was in the form of God, †
Jesus did not deem equality with God *
something to be grasped at.
Rather, he emptied himself †
and took the form of a slave, *
being born in the likeness of men.
He was known to be of human estate, *
and it was thus that he humbled himself,
obediently accepting even death, *
death on a cross!
Because of this, *
God highly exalted him
and bestowed on him the name *
above every other name,
So that at Jesus’ name *
every knee must bend
in the heavens, on the earth, *
and under the earth,
and every tongue proclaim †
to the glory of God the Father: *
JESUS CHRIST IS LORD!
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. The Lord Jesus humbled himself, and God exalted him for ever.
READING
Romans 11:33-36
How deep are the riches and the wisdom and the knowledge of God! How inscrutable his judgments, how unsearchable his ways! For “who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been his counselor? Who has given him anything so as to deserve return?” For from him and through him and for him all things are. To him be glory forever. Amen.
RESPONSORY
Our hearts are filled with wonder as we contemplate your works, O Lord.
– Our hearts are filled with wonder as we contemplate your works, O Lord.
We praise the wisdom which wrought them all,
– as we contemplate your works, O Lord.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
– Our hearts are filled with wonder as we contemplate your works, O Lord.
GOSPEL CANTICLE
Ant. Give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar, but to God what belongs to God, alleluia.
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. Give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar, but to God what belongs to God, alleluia.
INTERCESSIONS
We give glory to the one God—Father, Son and Holy Spirit—and in our weakness we pray:
Lord, be with your people.
Holy Lord, Father all-powerful, let justice spring up on the earth,
– then your people will dwell in the beauty of peace.
Lord, be with your people.
Let every nation come into your kingdom,
– so that all peoples will be saved.
Lord, be with your people.
Let married couples live in your peace,
– and grow in mutual love.
Lord, be with your people.
Reward all who have done good to us, Lord,
– and grant them eternal life.
Lord, be with your people.
Look with compassion on victims of hatred and war,
– grant them heavenly peace.
Lord, be with your people.
THE LORD’S PRAYER
(Gathering our prayers 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
All-powerful and ever-living God,
our source of power and inspiration,
give us strength and joy
in serving you as followers of Christ,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever.
– Amen.
Or:
Almighty ever-living God,
grant that we may always conform our will to yours
and serve your majesty in sincerity of heart.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of 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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