Evening Prayer
In those places where this Memorial is observed as a Solemnity or Feast, please use the texts found in the Common of One Martyr or the Common of Virgins 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
Child of the Virgin, Maker of your Mother,
Jesus, once carried in the womb of Mary,
we sing of triumph on this Virgin’s feast day:
heed our petitions.
Faithful and blessed in her twofold portion,
striving to master her own human weakness,
your holy Virgin mastered worldly cruelty
in her own body.
So, fearing nothing, neither shameful dying,
nor death’s companions, savage pain and torment,
she shed her lifeblood, meriting to enter
heaven’s high portal.
Lord, God all-loving, by this Virgin’s merits,
pardon our failings, tear from us our vices,
that through all ages, hearts made pure and holy
echo your praises. Amen.
Tune: ISTE CONFESSOR (ROUEN/POITIERS) 11 11 11 5
Music: Poitiers Antiphoner , 1746
or Mode I, melody 5; Liber Hymnarius, Solesmes, 1983*
Text: Virginis Proles opifexque Matris, ca. 9th c,, © 2023 ICEL
PSALMODY
Ant. 1 Lord, lay your healing hand upon me, for I have sinned.
Psalm 41
Prayer of a sick person
One of you will betray me, yes, one who eats with me (Mark 14:18).
Happy the man who considers the poor and the weak. *
The Lord will save him in the day of evil,
will guard him, give him life, make him happy in the land *
and will not give him up to the will of his foes.
The Lord will help him on his bed of pain, *
he will bring him back from sickness to health.
As for me, I said: “Lord, have mercy on me, *
heal my soul for I have sinned against you.”
My foes are speaking evil against me. *
“How long before he dies and his name be forgotten?”
They come to visit me and speak empty words, *
their hearts full of malice, they spread it abroad.
My enemies whisper together against me. *
They all weigh up the evil which is on me:
“Some deadly thing has fastened upon him, *
he will not rise again from where he lies.”
Thus even my friend, in whom I trusted, *
who ate my bread, has turned against me.
But you, O Lord, have mercy on me. *
Let me rise once more and I will repay them.
By this I shall know that you are my friend, *
if my foes do not shout in triumph over me.
If you uphold me I shall be unharmed *
and set in your presence for evermore.
Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel *
from age to age. Amen. Amen.
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, healer of soul and body, you said: Blessed are the merciful, they will obtain mercy. Teach us to come to the aid of the needy in a spirit of brotherly love, that we in turn may be received and strengthened by you.
Ant. Lord, lay your healing hand upon me, for I have sinned.
Ant. 2 The mighty Lord is with us; the God of Jacob is our stronghold.
Psalm 46
God our refuge and strength
He shall be called Emmanuel, which means: God-with-us (Matthew 1:23).
God is for us a refuge and strength, *
a helper close at hand, in time of distress:
so we shall not fear though the earth should rock, *
though the mountains fall into the depths of the sea,
even though its waters rage and foam, *
even though the mountains be shaken by its waves.
The Lord of hosts is with us: *
the God of Jacob is our stronghold.
The waters of a river give joy to God’s city, *
the holy place where the Most High dwells.
God is within, it cannot be shaken; *
God will help it at the dawning of the day.
Nations are in tumult, kingdoms are shaken: *
he lifts his voice, the earth shrinks away.
The Lord of hosts is with us: *
the God of Jacob is our stronghold.
Come, consider the works of the Lord, *
the redoubtable deeds he has done on the earth.
He puts an end to wars over all the earth; †
the bow he breaks, the spear he snaps. *
He burns the shields with fire.
“Be still and know that I am God, *
supreme among the nations, supreme on the earth!”
The Lord of hosts is with us: *
the God of Jacob is our stronghold.
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
All-powerful Father, the refuge and strength of your people, you protect in adversity and defend in prosperity those who put their trust in you. May they persevere in seeking your will and find their way to you through obedience.
Ant. The mighty Lord is with us; the God of Jacob is our stronghold.
Ant. 3 All nations will come and worship before you, O Lord.
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. All nations will come and worship before you, O Lord.
READING
[Martyrs] 1 Peter 4:13-14
Rejoice, beloved, in the measure that you share Christ’s sufferings. When his glory is revealed, you will rejoice exultantly. Happy are you when you are insulted for the sake of Christ, for then God’s Spirit in its glory has come to rest on you.
RESPONSORY
The Lord chose her, his loved one from the beginning.
— The Lord chose 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 chose her, his loved one from the beginning.
Or:
READING
[Virgins] 1 Corinthians 7:32b, 34
The unmarried man is busy with the Lord’s affairs, concerned with pleasing the Lord. The virgin — indeed, any unmarried woman — is concerned with things of the Lord, in pursuit of holiness in body and spirit.
RESPONSORY
The virgins are led into the presence of the King, amid gladness and joy.
— The virgins are led into the presence of the King, amid gladness and joy.
They are brought into the King’s dwelling-place,
— amid gladness and joy.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
— The virgins are led into the presence of the King, amid gladness and joy.
GOSPEL CANTICLE
Ant. Saint Cecilia kept the Gospel of Christ ever near her heart; day or night she never ceased praying and speaking with God.
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. Saint Cecilia kept the Gospel of Christ ever near her heart; day or night she never ceased praying and speaking with God.
INTERCESSIONS
[Martyrs]
This is the hour when the King of martyrs offered his life in the upper room and laid it down on the cross. Let us thank him and say:
We praise you, O Lord.
We praise you, O Lord, our Savior, inspiration and example for every martyr, for loving us to the end:
We praise you, O Lord.
For calling all repentant sinners to the rewards of life:
We praise you, O Lord.
For entrusting to your Church the blood of the new and everlasting covenant poured out for the remission of sin:
We praise you, O Lord.
For our perseverance in your grace today:
We praise you, O Lord.
For incorporating our dead brothers and sisters into your own death today:
We praise you, O Lord.
[Virgins]
Christ extolled those who practiced virginity for the sake of the kingdom. Let us praise him joyfully and pray to him:
Jesus, example of virgins, hear us.
Christ, you presented the Church to yourself as a chaste virgin to her spouse,
— keep her holy and inviolate.
Jesus, example of virgins, hear us.
Christ, the holy virgins went out to meet you with their lamps alight,
— keep the fidelity of your consecrated handmaids burning brightly.
Jesus, example of virgins, hear us.
Lord, your virgin Church has always kept its faith whole and untarnished,
— grant all Christians a whole and untarnished faith.
Jesus, example of virgins, hear us.
You have given your people joy in celebrating the feast of your holy virgin Cecilia,
— give us constant joy through her intercession.
Jesus, example of virgins, hear us.
You have admitted the holy virgins to your marriage banquet,
— in your mercy lead the dead to your heavenly feast.
Jesus, example of virgins, hear us.
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
Lord of mercy,
be close to those who call upon you.
With Saint Cecilia to help us
hear and answer our prayers.
Grant 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 gladden us each year
with the feast day of your handmaid Saint Cecilia,
grant, we pray,
that what has been devoutly handed down concerning her
may offer us examples to imitate
and proclaim the wonders worked in his servants
by 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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