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 mighty Author of the world,
you thrust chaotic waters back
and drew the dry land from the deep
to set the earth unmoved and still.
That burgeoning in fitting growth,
adorned with radiant bloom and flow’r,
she might be fertile, bearing fruit
and yielding welcome, pleasing food.
Now cleanse with fresh and verdant grace
the wounded soul that sin has parched,
that she, by tears, may purge her guilt
and wear away corrupt desire.
Then let her yield to your commands,
and keep her safe from evil ways;
may she delight in all good things
and know no deed that leads to death.
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: Telluris ignens conditor, attributed to Saint Gregory the Great, 540-604, © 2023 ICEL
PSALMODY
Ant. 1 God has crowned his Christ with victory.
Psalm 20
A prayer for the king’s victory
Whoever calls upon the name of the Lord will be saved (Acts 2:21).
May the Lord answer in time of trial; *
may the name of Jacob’s God protect you.
May he send you help from his shrine *
and give you support from Zion.
May he remember all your offerings *
and receive your sacrifice with favor.
May he give you your heart’s desire *
and fulfill every one of your plans.
May we ring out our joy at your victory †
and rejoice in the name of our God. *
May the Lord grant all your prayers.
I am sure now that the Lord *
will give victory to his anointed,
will reply from his holy heaven *
with the mighty victory of his hand.
Some trust in chariots or horses, *
but we in the name of the Lord.
They will collapse and fall, *
but we shall hold and stand firm.
Give victory to the king, O Lord, *
give answer on the day we call.
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, you accepted the perfect sacrifice of your Son upon the cross. Hear us during times of trouble and protect us by the power of his name, that we who share his struggle on earth may merit a share in his victory.
Ant. God has crowned his Christ with victory.
Ant. 2 We celebrate your mighty works with songs of praise, O God.
Psalm 21:2-8, 14
Thanksgiving for the king’s victory
He accepted life that he might rise and live for ever (Saint Hilary).
O Lord, your strength gives joy to the king; *
how your saving help makes him glad!
You have granted him his heart’s desire; *
you have not refused the prayer of his lips.
You came to meet him with the blessings of success, *
you have set on his head a crown of pure gold.
He asked you for life and this you have given, *
days that will last from age to age.
Your saving help has given him glory. *
You have laid upon him majesty and splendor,
you have granted your blessings to him for ever. *
You have made him rejoice with the joy of your presence.
The king has put his trust in the Lord: *
through the mercy of the Most High he shall stand firm.
O Lord, arise in your strength; *
we shall sing and praise your power.
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, you have given us life on this earth and have met us with the grace of redemption. Bestow your greatest blessing on us, the fullness of eternal life.
Ant. We celebrate your mighty works with songs of praise, O Lord.
Ant. 3 Lord, you have made us a kingdom and priests for God our Father.
Canticle: Revelation 4:11;5-9, 10, 12
Redemption hymn
O Lord our God, you are worthy *
to receive glory and honor and power.
For you have created all things; *
by your will they came to be and were made.
Worthy are you, O Lord, *
to receive the scroll and break open its seals.
For you were slain; *
with your blood you purchased for God
men of every race and tongue, *
of every people and nation.
You made of them a kingdom, †
and priests to serve our God, *
and they shall reign on earth.
Worthy is the Lamb that was slain *
to receive power and riches,
wisdom and strength, *
honor and glory and praise.
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. Lord, you have made us a kingdom and priests for God our Father.
READING
1 John 3:1-3
See what love the Father has bestowed on us
in letting us be called the children of God.
Yet that is what we are.
Dearly beloved,
we are God’s children now;
what we shall later be has not yet come to light.
We know that when it comes to light
we shall be like him,
for we shall see him as he is.
RESPONSORY
Through all eternity, O Lord, your promise stands unshaken.
— Through all eternity, O Lord, your promise stands unshaken.
Your faithfulness will never fail;
— your promise stands unshaken.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
— Through all eternity, O Lord, your promise stands unshaken.
GOSPEL CANTICLE
Ant. My spirit rejoices in God my Savior.
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 spirit rejoices in God my Savior.
INTERCESSIONS
Let us praise Christ the Lord, who lives among us, the people he redeemed, and let us say:
Lord, hear our prayer.
Lord, king and ruler of nations, be with all your people and their governments,
— inspire them to pursue the good of all according to your law.
Lord, hear our prayer.
You made captive our captivity,
— to our brothers who are enduring bodily or spiritual chains, grant the freedom of the sons of God.
Lord, hear our prayer.
May our young people be concerned with remaining blameless in your sight,
— and may they generously follow your call.
Lord, hear our prayer.
May our children imitate your example,
— and grow in wisdom and grace.
Lord, hear our prayer.
Accept our dead brothers and sisters into your eternal kingdom,
— where we hope to reign with you.
Lord, hear our prayer.
THE LORD’S PRAYER
(Now let us offer together the prayer our Lord Jesus Christ 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
Almighty God,
we give you thanks
for bringing us safely
to this evening hour.
May this lifting up of our hands in prayer
be a sacrifice pleasing in your sight.
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.
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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The setting sun now dies away,
And darkness comes at close of day;
Your brightest beams, dear Lord, impart,
And let them shine within our heart.
We praise your name with joy this night:
Please watch and guide us till the light;
Joining the music of the blest,
O Lord, we sing ourselves to rest.
To God the Father, God the Son,
And Holy Spirit, Three in One,
Trinity blest, whom we adore,
Be praise and glory evermore.
Tune: Angelus L.M.
Music: Georg Joseph, 1657
Text: Jam sol recedit igneus, based upon the hymn O Lux Beata Trinitas, ascribed to Saint Ambrose (340-397), modified by Pope Urban VIII, +1644
Translation: Geoffrey Laycock, based on version in Primer, 1706
Continue with the Psalmody