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
O God, who shaped the human race,
alone you order all that is;
you bid the fertile earth bring forth
all kinds of beasts and creeping things.
And at the sound of your command
all living creatures huge and strong
are subject to the human race,
that each may serve in rank and kind.
Drive far from all your servants here
whatever through impurity
shall make its way into our acts
or plant itself in habits formed.
Grant us rewards of lasting joy,
bestow your many gifts of grace,
undo the bonds of bitter strife,
confirm your covenants of peace.
Most loving Father, hear our prayer,
and you, O Christ coequal Son,
who with the Spirit Paraclete
now reign for all eternity. Amen.
Tune: OLD HUNDRETH, 8 8 8 8
Music: from the Genevan Psalter, 1551
or Mode D, melody 128; Liber Hymnarius, Solesmes, 1983
Text: Psalmator hominis, attributed to Saint Gregory the Great, ca. 540-604, © 2023 ICEL
PSALMODY
Ant. 1 Lord, lay your healing hand upon me, for I have sinned.
Psalm 41
Prayer of a sick person
One of you will betray me, yes, one who eats with me (Mark 14:18).
Happy the man who considers the poor and the weak. *
The Lord will save him in the day of evil,
will guard him, give him life, make him happy in the land *
and will not give him up to the will of his foes.
The Lord will help him on his bed of pain, *
he will bring him back from sickness to health.
As for me, I said: “Lord, have mercy on me, *
heal my soul for I have sinned against you.”
My foes are speaking evil against me. *
“How long before he dies and his name be forgotten?”
They come to visit me and speak empty words, *
their hearts full of malice, they spread it abroad.
My enemies whisper together against me. *
They all weigh up the evil which is on me:
“Some deadly thing has fastened upon him, *
he will not rise again from where he lies.”
Thus even my friend, in whom I trusted, *
who ate my bread, has turned against me.
But you, O Lord, have mercy on me. *
Let me rise once more and I will repay them.
By this I shall know that you are my friend, *
if my foes do not shout in triumph over me.
If you uphold me I shall be unharmed *
and set in your presence for evermore.
Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel *
from age to age. Amen. Amen.
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 Jesus, healer of soul and body, you said: Blessed are the merciful, they will obtain mercy. Teach us to come to the aid of the needy in a spirit of brotherly love, that we in turn may be received and strengthened by you.
Ant. Lord, lay your healing hand upon me, for I have sinned.
Ant. 2 The mighty Lord is with us; the God of Jacob is our stronghold.
Psalm 46
God our refuge and strength
He shall be called Emmanuel, which means: God-with-us (Matthew 1:23).
God is for us a refuge and strength, *
a helper close at hand, in time of distress:
so we shall not fear though the earth should rock, *
though the mountains fall into the depths of the sea,
even though its waters rage and foam, *
even though the mountains be shaken by its waves.
The Lord of hosts is with us: *
the God of Jacob is our stronghold.
The waters of a river give joy to God’s city, *
the holy place where the Most High dwells.
God is within, it cannot be shaken; *
God will help it at the dawning of the day.
Nations are in tumult, kingdoms are shaken: *
he lifts his voice, the earth shrinks away.
The Lord of hosts is with us: *
the God of Jacob is our stronghold.
Come, consider the works of the Lord, *
the redoubtable deeds he has done on the earth.
He puts an end to wars over all the earth; †
the bow he breaks, the spear he snaps. *
He burns the shields with fire.
“Be still and know that I am God, *
supreme among the nations, supreme on the earth!”
The Lord of hosts is with us: *
the God of Jacob is our stronghold.
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
All-powerful Father, the refuge and strength of your people, you protect in adversity and defend in prosperity those who put their trust in you. May they persevere in seeking your will and find their way to you through obedience.
Ant. The mighty Lord is with us; the God of Jacob is our stronghold.
Ant. 3 All nations will come and worship before you, O Lord.
Canticle: Revelation 15:3-4
Hymn of adoration
Mighty and wonderful are your works, *
Lord God Almighty!
Righteous and true are your ways, *
O King of the nations!
Who would dare refuse you honor, *
or the glory due your name, O Lord?
Since you alone are holy, *
all nations shall come
and worship in your presence. *
Your mighty deeds are clearly seen.
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. All nations will come and worship before you, O Lord.
READING
Romans 15:1-3
We who are strong in faith should be patient with the scruples of those whose faith is weak; we must not be selfish. Each should please his neighbor so as to do him good by building up his spirit. Thus, in accord with Scripture, Christ did not please himself: “The reproaches they uttered against you fell on me.”
RESPONSORY
Christ loved us and washed away our sins, in his own blood.
— Christ loved us and washed away our sins, in his own blood.
He made us a nation of kings and priests,
— in his own blood.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
— Christ loved us and washed away our sins, in his own blood.
GOSPEL CANTICLE
Ant. The Lord has come to the help of his servants, for he has remembered his promise of mercy.
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. The Lord has come to the help of his servants, for he has remembered his promise of mercy.
INTERCESSIONS
Blessed be God, who hears the prayers of the needy, and fills the hungry with good things. Let us pray to him in confidence:
Lord, show us your mercy.
Merciful Father, upon the cross Jesus offered you the perfect evening sacrifice,
— we pray now for all the suffering members of his Church.
Lord, show us your mercy.
Release those in bondage, give sight to the blind,
— shelter the widow and the orphan.
Lord, show us your mercy.
Clothe your faithful people in the armor of salvation,
— and shield them from the deceptions of the devil.
Lord, show us your mercy.
Let your merciful presence be with us, Lord, at the hour of our death,
— may we be found faithful and leave this world in your peace.
Lord, show us your mercy.
Lead the departed into the light of your dwelling-place,
— that they may gaze upon you for all eternity.
Lord, show us your mercy.
THE LORD’S PRAYER
(Let us again offer our praise to God and pray in the words of Christ:)
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
God our Father,
help us to follow the example
of your Son’s patience in suffering.
By sharing the burden he carries,
may we come to share his glory
in the kingdom where he lives with you and the Holy Spirit,
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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