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 Trinity of blessed light,
O Unity of princely might,
The fiery sun now goes his way;
Shed thou within our hearts thy ray.
To thee our morning song of praise,
To thee our evening prayer we raise;
Thy glory suppliant we adore
For ever and for evermore.
All laud to God the Father be;
All praise eternal Son, to thee;
All glory, as is ever meet,
To God the Holy Paraclete. Amen.
Tune: Mainzer L.M
Music: Joseph Mainzer, 1801-1851
Text: Lucis creátor óptime, attributed to Saint Ambrose of Milan, 337?-397
Translation: John Mason Neale, 1818-1866
PSALMODY
Ant. 1 Christ our Lord is a priest for ever, like Melchizedek of old, alleluia.
Psalm 110:1-5, 7
The Messiah, king and priest
Christ’s reign will last until all his enemies are made subject to him (1 Corinthians 15:25).
The Lord’s revelation to my Master: †
“Sit on my right: *
your foes I will put beneath your feet.”
The Lord will wield from Zion †
your scepter of power: *
rule in the midst of all your foes.
A prince from the day of your birth †
on the holy mountains; *
from the womb before the dawn I begot you.
The Lord has sworn an oath he will not change. †
“You are a priest for ever, *
a priest like Melchizedeck of old.”
The Master standing at your right hand *
will shatter kings in the day of his wrath.
He shall drink from the stream by the wayside *
and therefore he shall lift up his head.
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
Almighty God, bring the kingdom of Christ, your anointed one, to its fullness. May the perfect offering of your Son, eternal priest of the new Jerusalem, be offered in every place to your name and make all nations a holy people for you.
Ant. Christ our Lord is a priest for ever, like Melchizedek of old, alleluia.
Ant. 2 God dwells in highest heaven; he has power to do all he wills, alleluia.
Psalm 115
Praise of the true God
You have renounced idol worship to serve the living and true God (1 Thessalonians 1:9).
Not to us, Lord, not to us, *
but to your name give the glory
for the sake of your love and your truth, *
lest the heathen say: “Where is their God?”
But our God is in the heavens; *
he does whatever he wills.
Their idols are silver and gold, *
the work of human hands.
They have mouths but they cannot speak; *
they have eyes but they cannot see;
they have ears but they cannot hear; *
they have nostrils but they cannot smell.
With their hands they cannot feel; †
with their feet they cannot walk. *
No sound comes from their throats.
Their makers will come to be like them *
and so will all who trust in them.
Sons of Israel, trust in the Lord; *
he is their help and their shield.
Sons of Aaron, trust in the Lord; *
he is their help and their shield.
You who fear him, trust in the Lord; *
he is their help and their shield.
He remembers us, and he will bless us; †
he will bless the sons of Israel. *
He will bless the sons of Aaron.
The Lord will bless those who fear him, *
the little no less than the great:
to you may the Lord grant increase, *
to you and all your children.
May you be blessed by the Lord, *
the maker of heaven and earth.
The heavens belong to the Lord *
but the earth he has given to men.
The dead shall not praise the Lord, *
nor those who go down into the silence.
But we who live bless the Lord *
now and for ever. 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
Father, creator and ruler of heaven and earth, you made man in your likeness to subdue the earth and master it, and to recognize the work of your hands in created beauty. Grant that your children, thus surrounded on all sides by signs of your presence, may live continually in Christ, praising you through him and with him.
Ant. God dwells in highest heaven; he has power to do all he wills, alleluia.
Ant. 3 Praise God, all you who serve him, both great and small, alleluia.
Canticle: See Revelation 19:1-7
The wedding of the Lamb
The following canticle is said with the Alleluia when Evening Prayer is sung; when the Office if recited, the Alleluia may be said at the beginning and end of each strophe.
Alleluia.
Salvation, glory, and power to our God: *
(Alleluia).
his judgments are honest and true. *
Alleluia (alleluia).
Alleluia.
Sing praise to our God, all you his servants, *
(Alleluia).
all who worship him reverently, great and small. *
Alleluia (alleluia).
Alleluia.
The Lord our all-powerful God is King; *
(Alleluia).
Let us rejoice, sing praise, and give him glory. *
Alleluia (alleluia).
Alleluia.
The wedding feast of the Lamb has begun, *
(Alleluia).
and his bride is prepared to welcome him. *
Alleluia (alleluia).
Alleluia.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, *
(Alleluia).
and to the Holy Spirit: *
Alleluia (alleluia).
Alleluia.
as it was in the beginning, is now, *
(Alleluia).
and will be for ever. Amen. *
Alleluia (alleluia).
Ant. Praise God, all you who serve him, both great and small, alleluia.
READING
2 Thessalonians 2:13-14
We are bound to thank God for you always, beloved brothers in the Lord, because you are the first fruits of those whom God has chosen for salvation, in holiness of spirit and fidelity to truth. He called you through our preaching of the good news so that you might achieve the glory of our Lord, Jesus Christ.
RESPONSORY
Our Lord is great, mighty is his power.
– Our Lord is great, mighty is his power.
His wisdom is beyond compare,
– mighty is his power.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
– Our Lord is great, mighty is his power.
GOSPEL CANTICLE
Ant. Blessed are you who are poor, for the kingdom of God is yours. And blessed are you who hunger now; you shall be satisfied.
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. Blessed are you who are poor, for the kingdom of God is yours. And blessed are you who hunger now; you shall be satisfied.
INTERCESSIONS
All praise and honor to Christ! He lives for ever to intercede for us, and he is able to save those who approach the Father in his name. Sustained by our faith, let us call upon him:
Remember your people, Lord.
As the day draws to a close, Sun of Justice, we invoke your name upon the whole human race,
– so that all men may enjoy your never failing light.
Remember your people, Lord.
Preserve the covenant which you have ratified in your blood,
– cleanse and sanctify your Church.
Remember your people, Lord.
Remember your assembly, Lord,
– your dwelling place.
Remember your people, Lord.
Guide travelers along the path of peace and prosperity,
– so that they may reach their destinations in safety and joy.
Remember your people, Lord.
Receive the souls of the dead, Lord,
– grant them your favor and the gift of eternal glory.
Remember your people, Lord.
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
God our Father,
you have promised to remain for ever
with those who do what is just and right.
Help us to live in your presence.
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.
Or:
O God, who teach us that you abide
in hearts that are just and true,
grant that we may be so fashioned by your grace
as to become a dwelling pleasing to you.
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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