Evening Prayer
In those places where this Memorial is observed as a Solemnity or Feast, please use the texts found in the ‘Prayers’ Section of the iBreviary with the proper texts found below.
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
Let us together praise in song
this woman of a valiant heart,
who shines in splendor, far and wide,
with glory born of holiness.
When wounded by a holy love,
she spurned all worldly, vain delights
and trod the steep, ascending path,
to make her way through heaven’s gates.
By fasting she subdued the flesh,
yet by the sweet repast of prayer
that gently fed her mind and heart
she gained a share in heaven’s joys.
O King, true strength of all the strong,
O Christ, sole source of mighty deeds,
at her petition, we implore:
With loving kindness hear our prayer.
To you, Lord Jesus, glory be,
who grant that we may place our hope
both in this blessed servant’s prayers
and in rewards that never end. Amen.
Tune: WAREHAM, 8 8 8 8
Music: William Knapp, 1698-1768
or Mode II, melody 48; Liber Hymnarius, Solesmes, 1983
Text: Fortem virili pectore, Silvio Antoniano, 1540-1603, © 2023 ICEL
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 bracing their 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 Mount 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
Romans 8:28-30
We know that God makes all things work for the good for those who have been called according to his decree. Those whom he foreknew he predestined to share the image of his Son, so the Son might be the first-born among many brothers. Those he predestined he likewise called; those he called he also justified; and those he justified he also glorified.
RESPONSORY
The Lord has chosen her, his loved one from the beginning.
— The Lord has chosen her, his loved one from the beginning.
He has taken her to live with him,
— his loved one from the beginning.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
— The Lord has chosen her, his loved one from the beginning.
The antiphon for the Gospel Canticle and the Intercessions may be taken from the Daily Office.
GOSPEL CANTICLE
Ant. I tell you solemnly, what you did for the least of men you did for me. Come, my Father delights in you; receive the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.
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. I tell you solemnly, what you did for the least of men you did for me. Come, my Father delights in you; receive the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.
INTERCESSIONS
Through the intercession of holy women let us pray for the Church in these words:
Be mindful of your Church, Lord.
Through all the women martyrs who conquered bodily death by their courage,
— strengthen your Church in the hour of trial.
Be mindful of your Church, Lord.
Through married women who have advanced in grace by holy matrimony,
— make the apostolic mission of your Church fruitful.
Be mindful of your Church, Lord.
Through widows who eased their loneliness and sanctified it by prayer and hospitality,
— help your Church reveal the mystery of your love to the world.
Be mindful of your Church, Lord.
Through mothers who have borne children for the kingdom of God and the human community,
— help your Church bring all men to a rebirth in life and salvation.
Be mindful of your Church, Lord.
Through all your holy women who have been worthy to contemplate the light of your countenance,
— let the deceased members of your Church exult in that same vision for ever.
Be mindful of your Church, 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
Father,
you helped Elizabeth of Hungary
to recognize and honor Christ
in the poor of this world.
Let her prayers help us to serve our brothers and sisters
in time of trouble and need.
We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with your and the Holy Spirit,
God, forever and ever.
— Amen.
Or:
O God, by whose gift Saint Elizabeth of Hungary
recognized and revered Christ in the poor,
grant, through her intercession,
that we may serve with unfailing charity
the needy and those afflicted.
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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