Evening Prayer
In those places where this Memorial is observed as a Solemnity or Feast, please use the texts found in the Common of Holy Men: For a Religious with the proper texts 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
Venerable teacher, prudent legislator,
your highest merit shines through ev’ry region;
Benedict, Father, fill the world with radiance,
Christ’s light renewing.
Under your guidance, a new order flourished,
wondrous communion formed from ev’ry nation;
sweetly commanding, you won their obedience
to holy precepts.
Through the great pattern of your rule all holy,
all were disciples, slave and free, no longer;
prayer joined and fostered, as with love they labored
in the Lord’s service.
Still, with your guidance, may they live as fam’ly,
loved by the people, zealous in their efforts,
always rejoicing to restore and foster
peace ever blessed.
Splendor and worship to the eternal Father,
Christ Sole-begotten, and the Holy Spirit;
their grace has filled you with so great a measure
of light and glory. Amen.
Tune: CHRISTE SANCTORUM, 11 11 11 5
Music: From François de La Feillée’s Methode de plain-chant, 1782
or Mode VIII, melody 119; Liber Hymnarius, Solesmes, 1983*
Text: Legifer prudens, venerande doctor, Anselmo Lentini, O.S.B., 1901-1989, © 2023 ICEL
PSALMODY
Ant. 1 Lord, keep my soul from death, never let me stumble.
Psalm 116:1-9
Thanksgiving
We must endure many trials before entering God’s kingdom (Acts 14:21).
I love the Lord for he has heard *
the cry of my appeal;
for he turned his ear to me *
in the day when I called him.
They surrounded me, the snares of death, *
with the anguish of the tomb;
they caught me, sorrow and distress. *
I called on the Lord’s name.
O Lord, my God, deliver me!
How gracious is the Lord, and just; *
our God has compassion.
The Lord protects the simple hearts; *
I was helpless so he saved me.
Turn back, my soul, to your rest *
for the Lord has been good;
he has kept my soul from death, †
my eyes from tears *
and my feet from stumbling.
I will walk in the presence of the Lord *
in the land of the living.
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
God of power and mercy, through your Son’s passion and resurrection you have freed us from the bonds of death and the anguish of separation from you. Be ever with us on our pilgrimage; then we shall sing rather than weep. Keep our feet from stumbling, so that we may be able to follow you until we come to eternal rest.
Ant. Lord, keep my soul from death, never let me stumble.
Ant. 2 My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.
Psalm 121
Guardian of his people
Never again will they hunger and thirst, never again know scorching heat (Revelation 7:16).
I lift up my eyes to the mountains: *
from where shall come my help?
My help shall come from the Lord *
who made heaven and earth.
May he never allow you to stumble! *
Let him sleep not, your guard.
No, he sleeps not nor slumbers, *
Israel’s guard.
The Lord is your guard and your shade; *
at your right side he stands.
By day the sun shall not smite you *
nor the moon in the night.
The Lord will guard you from evil, *
he will guard your soul.
The Lord will guard your going and coming *
both now and 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 Christ, you have prepared a quiet place for us in your Father’s eternal home. Watch over our welfare on this perilous journey, shade us from the burning heat of day, and keep our lives free of evil until the end.
Ant. My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.
Ant. 3 King of all the ages, your ways are perfect and true.
Canticle: Revelation 15:3-4
Hymn of adoration
Mighty and wonderful are your works, *
Lord God Almighty!
Righteous and true are your ways, *
O King of the nations!
Who would dare refuse you honor, *
or the glory due your name, O Lord?
Since you alone are holy, *
all nations shall come
and worship in your presence. *
Your mighty deeds are clearly seen.
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. King of all the ages, your ways are perfect and true.
READING
Romans 8:28-30
We know that God makes all things work together for the good of those who have been called according to his decree. Those whom he foreknew he predestined to share the image of his Son, that the Son might be the first-born of many brothers. Those he predestined he likewise called; those he called he also justified; and those he justified he in turn glorified.
RESPONSORY
Just is the Lord, in justice he delights.
— Just is the Lord, in justice he delights.
He looks with favor on the upright man;
— in justice he delights.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
— Just is the Lord, in justice he delights.
GOSPEL CANTICLE
Ant. He received the Lord’s blessing and the merciful saving power of God; such is the fortune of those who seek the Lord.
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. He received the Lord’s blessing and the merciful saving power of God; such is the fortune of those who seek the Lord.
INTERCESSIONS
Let us pray to the Father, the source of all holiness, and ask him to lead us to holiness of life through the example and intercession of his saints.
May we be holy as you are holy.
Holy Father, you want us to be called your sons and truly to be such,
— grant that your holy Church may proclaim you throughout the world.
May we be holy as you are holy.
Holy Father, you want us to walk worthily and please you in all we do,
— let us abound in doing good works.
May we be holy as you are holy.
Holy Father, you have reconciled us to yourself through Christ,
— preserve us in your name so that all may be one.
May we be holy as you are holy.
Holy Father, you have called us to a heavenly banquet,
— through the bread that came down from heaven make us worthy to grow in perfect love.
May we be holy as you are holy.
Holy Father, forgive the offenses of every sinner,
— let the dead perceive the light of your countenance.
May we be holy as you are holy.
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 made Saint Benedict an outstanding guide
to teach men how to live in your service.
Grant that by preferring your love to everything else,
we may walk in the way of your commandments.
We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
God, forever and ever.
— Amen.
Or:
O God, who made the Abbot Saint Benedict
an outstanding master in the school of divine service,
grant, we pray,
that, putting nothing before love of you,
we may hasten with a loving heart
in the way of your commands.
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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