Evening Prayer
In those places where this Memorial is observed as a Solemnity or Feast, please use the texts found in the Common of the Blessed Virgin 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
Hail, O star of ocean,
God’s own loving Mother,
yet a virgin always,
blessed Gate of heaven.
Heeding that great “Ave”
from the mouth of Gabriel,
in your peace confirm us,
Eva’s name transforming.
Break the bonds of sinners,
offer light to blindness,
drive away our evil,
beg for us all blessing.
Show yourself our Mother:
pray that he may hear us,
who for our salvation
deigned to be your offspring.
Peerless holy Virgin,
meek beyond all others,
free us from our failings,
make us chaste and humble.
Keep us pure and faithful,
guard us on life’s journey,
that on seeing Jesus
we rejoice for ever.
Praise to God the Father,
glory to Christ Jesus
and the Holy Spirit:
to all three one honor. Amen.
Tune: RAVENSHAW, 6 6 6 6
Music: Medieval German melody, adapted by William Henry Monk, 1823-1899
or Mode I, melody 16; Liber Hymnarius, Solesmes, 1983
Text: Ave maris stella, 7-8th c., © 2023 ICEL
PSALMODY
Ant. 1 I cried to you, Lord, and you healed me; I will praise you for ever.
Psalm 30
Thanksgiving for deliverance from death
Christ, risen in glory, gives continual thanks to his Father (Cassian).
I will praise you, Lord, you have rescued me *
and have not let my enemies rejoice over me.
O Lord, I cried to you for help *
and you, my God, have healed me.
O Lord, you have raised my soul from the dead, *
restored me to life from those who sink into the grave.
Sing psalms to the Lord, you who love him, *
give thanks to his holy name.
His anger lasts but a moment; his favor through life. *
At night there are tears, but joy comes with dawn.
I said to myself in my good fortune: *
“Nothing will ever disturb me.”
Your favor had set me on a mountain fastness, *
then you hid your face and I was put to confusion.
To you, Lord, I cried, *
to my God I made appeal:
“What profit would my death be, my going to the grave? *
Can dust give you praise or proclaim your truth?”
The Lord listened and had pity. *
The Lord came to my help.
For me you have changed my mourning into dancing, *
you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy.
So my soul sings psalms to you unceasingly. *
O Lord my God, I will thank you 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
God our Father, glorious in giving life, and even more glorious in restoring it, when his last night on earth came, your Son shed tears of blood, but dawn brought incomparable gladness. Do not turn away from us, or we shall fall back into dust, but rather turn our mourning into joy by raising us up with Christ.
Ant. I cried to you, Lord, and you healed me; I will praise you for ever.
Ant. 2 The one who is sinless in the eyes of God is blessed indeed.
Psalm 32
They are happy whose sins are forgiven
David speaks of the happiness of the man who is holy in God’s eyes not because of his own worth, but because God has justified him (Romans 4:6).
Happy the man whose offense is forgiven, *
whose sin is remitted.
O happy the man to whom the Lord †
imputes no guilt, *
in whose spirit is no guile.
I kept it secret and my frame was wasted. *
I groaned all the day long
for night and day your hand *
was heavy upon me.
Indeed, my strength was dried up *
as by the summer’s heat.
But now I have acknowledged my sins; *
my guilt I did not hide.
I said: “I will confess *
my offense to the Lord.”
And you, Lord, have forgiven *
the guilt of my sin.
So let every good man pray to you *
in the time of need.
The floods of water may reach high *
but him they shall not reach.
You are my hiding place, O Lord; †
you save me from distress. *
You surround me with cries of deliverance.
I will instruct you and teach you *
the way you should go;
I will give you counsel *
with my eye upon you.
Be not like horse and mule, unintelligent, †
needing bridle and bit, *
else they will not approach you.
Many sorrows has the wicked †
but he who trusts in the Lord, *
loving mercy surrounds him.
Rejoice, rejoice in the Lord, *
exult, you just!
O come, ring out your joy, *
all you upright of heart.
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
You desired, Lord, to keep from us your indignation and so did not spare Jesus Christ, who was wounded for our sins. We are your prodigal children, but confessing our sins we come back to you. Embrace us that we may rejoice in your mercy together with Christ your beloved Son.
Ant. The one who is sinless in the eyes of God is blessed indeed.
Ant. 3 The Father has given Christ all power, honor and kingship; all people will obey him.
Canticle: Revelation 11:17-18; 12:10b-12a
The judgment of God
We praise you, the Lord God Almighty, *
who is and who was.
You have assumed your great power, *
you have begun your reign.
The nations have raged in anger, *
but then came your day of wrath
and the moment to judge the dead: *
the time to reward your servants the prophets
and the holy ones who revere you, *
the great and the small alike.
Now have salvation and power come, †
the reign of our God and the authority *
of his Anointed One.
For the accuser of our brothers is cast out, *
who night and day accused them before God.
They defeated him by the blood of the Lamb †
and by the word of their testimony; *
love for life did not deter them from death.
So rejoice, you heavens, *
and you that dwell therein!
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. The Father has given Christ all power, honor and kingship; all people will obey him.
READING
Galatians 4:4-5
When the designated time had come, God sent forth his Son born of a woman, born under the law, to deliver from the law those who were subjected to it, so that we might receive our status as adopted sons.
RESPONSORY
Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with you.
— Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with you.
Blessed are you among women and blessed is the fruit of your womb.
— The Lord is with you.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
— Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with you.
GOSPEL CANTICLE
Ant. Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb.
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. Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb.
INTERCESSIONS
Let us praise God our Almighty Father, who wished that Mary, his Son’s mother, be celebrated by each generation. Now in need we ask:
Mary, full of grace, intercede for us.
O God, worker of miracles, you made the Immaculate Virgin Mary share body and soul in your Son’s glory in heaven,
— direct the hearts of your children to that same glory.
Mary, full of grace, intercede for us.
You made Mary our mother. Through her intercession grant strength to the weak, comfort to the sorrowing, pardon to sinners,
— salvation and peace to all.
Mary, full of grace, intercede for us.
You made Mary full of grace,
— grant to all men the joyful abundance of your grace.
Mary, full of grace, intercede for us.
Make your Church of one mind and one heart in love,
— and help all those who believe to be one in prayer with Mary, the mother of Jesus.
Mary, full of grace, intercede for us.
You crowned Mary queen of heaven,
— may all the dead rejoice in your kingdom with the saints for ever.
Mary, full of grace, intercede for us.
Or:
Let us praise God our almighty Father, who wished that Mary, his Son’s mother, be celebrated by each generation. Now in need, we ask:
Mary, full of grace, intercede for us.
You made Mary the mother of mercy,
— may all who are faced with trials feel her motherly love.
Mary, full of grace, intercede for us.
You wished Mary to be the mother of the family in the home of Jesus and Joseph,
— may all mothers of families foster love and holiness through her intercession.
Mary, full of grace, intercede for us.
You gave Mary strength at the foot of the cross and filled her with joy at the resurrection of your Son,
— lighten the hardships of those who are burdened and deepen their sense of hope.
Mary, full of grace, intercede for us.
You made Mary open to your word and faithful as your servant,
— through her intercession make us servants and true followers of your Son.
Mary, full of grace, intercede for us.
You crowned Mary queen of heaven,
— may all the dead rejoice in your kingdom with the saints for ever.
Mary, full of grace, intercede for us.
THE LORD’S PRAYER
(Remember us, Lord, when you come to your kingdom and teach us how to pray:)
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
Eternal Father,
we honor the holiness and glory of the Virgin Mary.
May her prayers bring us
the fullness of your life and love.
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:
As we venerate the glorious memory
of the most holy Virgin Mary,
grant, we pray, O Lord, through her intercession,
that we, too, may merit to receive
from the fullness of your grace.
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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