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
Alternate Hymn
O God, the source of all that is,
when you had finished all your works,
the compass of the universe
was filled with gifts in vast array.
And after forming such a world,
you took your rest, as it is said,
that we might find most welcome rest
and rise refreshed for daily work.
Now grant us in this mortal life
to weep in sorrow for our sins,
to persevere in righteousness
and prosper in your gracious gifts,
That when the final terror dawns,
before the dread and fearful Judge,
we all may find our perfect joy
together in your blessed 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: TRURO, 8 8 8 8
Music: from Thomas Williams’s Psalmodia Evangelica, Part II, 1789
or Mode I, melody 3; Liber Hymnarius, Solesmes, 1983*
Text: Rerum, Deus, fons omnium, unknown author, © 2023 ICEL
PSALMODY
Ant. 1 Your word, O Lord, is the lantern to light our way, alleluia.
Psalm 119:105-112
XIV (Nun)
A meditation on God’s law
This is my commandment: that you should love one another (John 15:12).
Your word is a lamp for my steps *
and a light for my path.
I have sworn and have made up my mind *
to obey your decrees.
Lord, I am deeply afflicted: *
by your word give me life.
Accept, Lord, the homage of my lips *
and teach me your decrees.
Though I carry my life in my hands, *
I remember your law.
Though the wicked try to ensnare me *
I do not stray from your precepts.
Your will is my heritage for ever, *
the joy of my heart.
I set myself to carry out your will *
in fullness, 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
Let your Word, Father, be a lamp for our feet and a light to our path, so that we may understand what you wish to teach us and follow the path your light marks out for us.
Ant. Your word, O Lord, is the lantern to light our way, alleluia.
Ant. 2 When I see your face, O Lord, I shall know the fullness of joy, alleluia.
Psalm 16
The Lord himself is my heritage
The Father raised up Jesus, freeing him from the grip of death (Acts 2:24).
Preserve me, God, I take refuge in you. †
I say to the Lord: “You are my God. *
My happiness lies in you alone.”
He has put into my heart a marvelous love *
for the faithful ones who dwell in his land.
Those who choose other gods increase their sorrows. †
Never will I offer their offerings of blood. *
Never will I take their name upon my lips.
O Lord, it is you who are my portion and cup; *
it is you yourself who are my prize.
The lot marked out for me is my delight: *
welcome indeed the heritage that falls to me!
I will bless the Lord who gives me counsel, *
who even at night directs my heart.
I keep the Lord ever in my sight: *
since he is at my right hand, I shall stand firm.
And so my heart rejoices, my soul is glad; *
even my body shall rest in safety.
For you will not leave my soul among the dead, *
nor let your beloved know decay.
You will show me the path of life, †
the fullness of joy in your presence, *
at your right hand happiness 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
Lord Jesus, uphold those who hope in you and give us your counsel, so that we may know the joy of your resurrection and deserve to be among the saints at your right hand.
Ant. When I see your face, O Lord, I shall know the fullness of joy, alleluia.
Ant. 3 Let everything in heaven and on earth bend the knee at the name of Jesus, alleluia.
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. Let everything in heaven and on earth bend the knee at the name of Jesus, alleluia.
READING
Colossians 1:2b-6a
May God our Father give you grace and peace. We always give thanks to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, in our prayers for you because we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and the love you bear toward all the saints—moved as you are by the hope held in store for you in heaven. You heard of this hope through the message of truth, the gospel, which has come to you, has borne fruit, and has continued to grow in your midst, as it has everywhere in the world.
RESPONSORY
From the rising of the sun to its setting,
may the name of the Lord be praised.
— From the rising of the sun to its setting,
may the name of the Lord be praised.
His splendor reaches far beyond the heavens;
— may the name of the Lord be praised.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
— From the rising of the sun to its setting,
may the name of the Lord be praised.
GOSPEL CANTICLE
Ant. My yoke is easy and my burden is light, says the Lord.
[ET] Messis quidem multa, operárii autem pauci. Rogáte ergo Dóminum messis, ut mittat operários in messem suam.
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. My yoke is easy and my burden is light, says the Lord.
[ET] Messis quidem multa, operárii autem pauci. Rogáte ergo Dóminum messis, ut mittat operários in messem suam.
INTERCESSIONS
God aids and protects the people he has chosen for his inheritance. Let us give thanks to him and proclaim his goodness:
Lord, we trust in you.
We pray for N., our Pope, and N., our bishop,
— protect them and in your goodness make them holy.
Lord, we trust in you.
May the sick feel their companionship with the suffering Christ,
— and know that they will enjoy his eternal consolation.
Lord, we trust in you.
In your goodness have compassion on the homeless,
— help them to find proper housing.
Lord, we trust in you.
In your goodness give and preserve the fruits of the earth,
— so that each day there may be bread enough for all.
Lord, we trust in you.
(Or:
Graciously protect our nation from evil,
— that it may prosper in your peace.
Lord, we trust in you.)
Lord, you attend the dying with great mercy,
— grant them an eternal dwelling.
Lord, we trust in you.
THE LORD’S PRAYER
(Let us conclude our prayer with the Lord’s prayer:)
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,
through the obedience of Jesus,
your servant and your Son,
you raised a fallen world.
Free us from sin
and bring us the joy that lasts for ever.
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 in the abasement of your Son
have raised up a fallen world,
fill your faithful with joy,
for on those you have rescued from slavery to sin
you bestow eternal gladness.
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.
******
DONATE to support the continued development of the iBreviary
SUBSCRIBE iBreviary newsletter
At the name of Jesus
Ev’ry knee shall bow,
Ev’ry tongue confess him
King of glory now;
’Tis the Father’s pleasure,
We should call him Lord,
Who from the beginning
Was the mighty Word.
Humbled for a reason,
To receive a name
From the lips of sinners,
Unto whom he came,
Faithfully he bore it,
Spotless to the last,
Brought it back victorious,
When from death he passed.
Bore it up triumphant,
With its human light,
Through all ranks of creatures,
To the central height,
To the throne of Godhead,
To the Father’s breast;
Filled it with the glory
Of that perfect rest.
In your hearts enthrone him;
There, let him subdue
All that is not holy,
All that is not true;
May your voice entreat him
In temptation’s hour;
Let his will enfold you
In its light and power.
Brothers, this Lord Jesus
Shall return again,
With his Father’s glory,
O’er the earth to reign;
He is God the Savior,
He is Christ the Lord,
Ever to be worshiped,
Always blest, adored.
Tune: King’s Weston 65.65 D
Music: R. Vaughn Williams, 1872-1958
Text: Caroline Maria Noel, 1817-1877, alt.
Continue with the Psalmody
