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
Sublime Creator of the light,
in bringing forth the light of day,
from fountains of that pristine light
you form the fabric of the world.
The morning joined to evening hour
is named the day at your command;
as formless dark steals over us,
in mercy heed our prayers and tears.
Let not our soul, weighed down by faults,
be exiled from the gift of life
and, heedless of eternal good,
ensnare itself in bonds of guilt.
But let it knock at heaven’s gate
to gain the prize of lasting life;
let us avoid all harm from sin
and purge away all base desire.
Most loving Father, hear our prayer,
and you, O Christ coequal Son,
who with the Spirit Paraclete
now reign for all eternity. Amen.
Tune: WAREHAM, 8 8 8 8
Music: William Knapp, 1698-1768
or Mode VIII, melody 102; Antiphonale Sacrosanctæ Ecclesiæ Romanæ, Typis Polyglottis Vaticanis, 1912
Text: Lucis creator optime, attributed to Saint Gregory the Great, ca 540-604, © 2023 ICEL
PSALMODY
Ant. 1 The Lord said to my Master: Sit at my right hand, 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 Melchizedek of old.”
The Master standing at your right hand *
will shatter kings in the day of his great 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
Father, we ask you to give us victory and peace. In Jesus Christ, our Lord and King, we are already seated at your right hand. We look forward to praising you in the fellowship of all your saints in our heavenly homeland.
Ant. The Lord said to my Master: Sit at my right hand, alleluia.
Ant. 2 Our compassionate Lord has left us a memorial of his wonderful work, alleluia.
Psalm 111
God’s marvelous works
We are lost in wonder at all you have done for us, our Lord and mighty God (Revelation 15:3).
I will thank the Lord with all my heart *
in the meeting of the just and their assembly.
Great are the works of the Lord, *
to be pondered by all who love them.
Majestic and glorious his work, *
his justice stands firm for ever.
He makes us remember his wonders. *
The Lord is compassion and love.
He gives food to those who fear him; *
keeps his covenant ever in mind.
He has shown his might to his people *
by giving them the lands of the nations.
His works are justice and truth, *
his precepts are all of them sure,
standing firm for ever and ever; *
they are made in uprightness and truth.
He has sent deliverance to his people †
and established his covenant for ever. *
Holy his name, to be feared.
To fear the Lord is the first stage of wisdom; †
all who do so prove themselves wise. *
His praise shall last 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
Merciful and gentle Lord, you are the crowning glory of all the saints. Give us, your children, the gift of obedience which is the beginning of wisdom, so that we may do what you command and be filled with your mercy.
Ant. Our compassionate Lord has left us a memorial of his wonderful work, alleluia.
Ant. 3 All power is yours, Lord God, our mighty King, 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. All power is yours, Lord God, our mighty King, alleluia.
READING
1 Peter 1:3-5
Praised be the God and Father
of our Lord Jesus Christ,
he who in his great mercy
gave us new birth;
a birth unto hope which draws its life
from the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead;
a birth to an imperishable inheritance,
incapable of fading or defilement,
which is kept in heaven for you
who are guarded with God’s power through faith;
a birth to a salvation which stands ready
to be revealed in the last days.
RESPONSORY
The whole creation proclaims the greatness of your glory.
— The whole creation proclaims the greatness of your glory.
Eternal ages praise
— the greatness of your glory.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
— The whole creation proclaims the greatness of your glory.
GOSPEL CANTICLE
Ant. Teacher, what is the greatest commandment in the law? Jesus said to him: You shall love the Lord your God with your whole heart.
[ET] Quis tibi vidétur próximus fuísse illi, qui íncidit in latrónes? Et ait illi: Qui fecit misericórdiam in illum. Vade et tu fac simíliter.
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. Teacher, what is the greatest commandment in the law? Jesus said to him: You shall love the Lord your God with your whole heart.
[ET] Quis tibi vidétur próximus fuísse illi, qui íncidit in latrónes? Et ait illi: Qui fecit misericórdiam in illum. Vade et tu fac simíliter.
INTERCESSIONS
The world was created by the Word of God, re-created by his redemption, and it is continually renewed by his love. Rejoicing in him we call out:
Renew the wonders of your love, Lord.
We give thanks to God whose power is revealed in nature,
— and whose providence is revealed in history.
Renew the wonders of your love, Lord.
Through your Son, the herald of reconciliation, the victor of the cross,
— free us from empty fear and hopelessness.
Renew the wonders of your love, Lord.
May all those who love and pursue justice,
— work together without deceit to build a world of true peace.
Renew the wonders of your love, Lord.
Be with the oppressed, free the captives, console the sorrowing, feed the hungry, strengthen the weak,
— in all people reveal the victory of your cross.
Renew the wonders of your love, Lord.
After your Son’s death and burial you raised him up again in glory,
— grant that the faithful departed may live with him.
Renew the wonders of your love, 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,
your light of truth
guides us to the way of Christ.
May all who follow him
reject what is contrary to the Gospel.
We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
God, for ever and ever.
— Amen.
Or:
O God, who show the light of your truth
to those who go astray,
so that they may return to the right path,
give all who for the faith they profess
are accounted Christians
the grace to reject whatever is contrary to the name of Christ
and to strive after all that does it honor.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of 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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