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, will be for ever. Amen. Alleluia.
HYMN
O blessed Author of the world,
O Christ, Redeemer of us all,
true God, the Son come forth from God,
and from the Father’s light, true Light:
Your love compelled you to assume
a mortal body, flesh and blood,
that you, new Adam, might restore
what Adam had of old destroyed.
O Maker, moved by that great love,
which made the earth and sea and stars,
with mercy on our fathers’ faults
you broke apart our captive bonds.
Let not the force of that great love
abate and vanish from your heart,
that nations from this font may draw
the grace of pardon for their sin.
For this your heart endured the lance,
so bitter in the piercing wound,
that it might cleanse us from all stain
in streams of water and of blood.
To you Lord Jesus, glory be,
who from your heart pour forth all grace,
with God the Father, ever blest,
and loving Spirit, ever one. Amen.
Tune: FULDA, 8 8 8 8
Music: attributed to William Gardiner, in his Sacred Melodies, Volume II, 1815
or Mode I, melody 14; Liber Hymnarius, Solesmes, 1983*
Text: Auctor beate sæculi, Filippo Bruni, d. 1771, © 2023 ICEL
PSALMODY
Ant. 1 Lord, rule in the midst of your enemies with your gentle yoke.
Psalm 110:1-5, 7
The Messiah, king and priest
Christ’s reign will last until all his enemies are made subject to him (1 Corinthians 15:25).
The Lord’s revelation to my Master: †
“Sit on my right: *
your foes I will put beneath your feet.”
The Lord will wield from Zion †
your scepter of power: *
rule in the midst of all your foes.
A prince from the day of your birth †
on the holy mountains; *
from the womb before the dawn I begot you.
The Lord has sworn an oath he will not change. †
“You are a priest for ever, *
a priest like Melchizedek of old.”
The Master standing at your right hand *
will shatter kings in the day of his great wrath.
He shall drink from the stream by the wayside *
and therefore he shall lift up his head.
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, we ask you to give us victory and peace. In Jesus Christ, our Lord and King, we are already seated at your right hand. We look forward to praising you in the fellowship of all your saints in our heavenly homeland.
Ant. Lord, rule in the midst of your enemies with your gentle yoke.
Ant. 2 The Lord is loving and merciful; he gives food to those who fear him.
Psalm 111
God’s marvelous works
We are lost in wonder at all that you have done for us, our Lord and mighty God (Revelation 15:3).
I will thank the Lord with all my heart *
in the meeting of the just and their assembly.
Great are the works of the Lord, *
to be pondered by all who love them.
Majestic and glorious his work, *
his justice stands firm for ever.
He makes us remember his wonders. *
The Lord is compassion and love.
He gives food to those who fear him; *
keeps his covenant ever in mind.
He has shown his might to his people *
by giving them the lands of the nations.
His works are justice and truth: *
his precepts are all of them sure,
standing firm for ever and ever: *
they are made in uprightness and truth.
He has sent deliverance to his people †
and established his covenant for ever. *
Holy his name, to be feared.
To fear the Lord is the first stage of wisdom; †
all who do so prove themselves wise. *
His praise shall last 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
Merciful and gentle Lord, you are the crowning glory of all the saints. Give us, your children, the gift of obedience which is the beginning of wisdom, so that we may do what you command and be filled with your mercy.
Ant. The Lord is loving and merciful; he gives food to those who fear him.
Ant. 3 This is the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.
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. This is the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.
READING
Ephesians 2:4-7
God is rich in mercy; because of his great love for us he brought us to life with Christ when we were dead in sin. By this favor you were saved. Both with and in Christ Jesus he raised us up and gave us a place in the heavens, that in the ages to come he might display the great wealth of his favor, manifested by his kindness to us in Christ Jesus.
RESPONSORY
Christ has loved us, and in his blood he has washed away our sins.
— Christ has loved us, and in his blood he has washed away our sins.
He has made us a kingdom and priests to serve God our Father.
— And in his blood he has washed away our sins.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
— Christ has loved us, and in his blood he has washed away our sins.
GOSPEL CANTICLE
Ant. The Lord has lifted us up and drawn us to his heart, for he has remembered his promise of mercy, alleluia.
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. The Lord has lifted us up and drawn us to his heart, for he has remembered his promise of mercy, alleluia.
INTERCESSIONS
Brethren, let us pray to the Lord Jesus, the refuge of our souls; let us ask him:
Most loving Lord, have mercy on us.
Jesus, whose heart when pierced by a lance poured forth blood and water and gave birth to your spouse the Church,
— cleanse and sanctify us.
Most loving Lord, have mercy on us.
Jesus, holy temple of God, slain by men and raised up again by the Father,
— make your Church the dwelling place of the Most High.
Most loving Lord, have mercy on us.
Jesus, King and center of all hearts, you love us and lead us to yourself with unending love and mercy,
— renew your covenant with all men.
Most loving Lord, have mercy on us.
Jesus, our peace and reconciliation, you unite all in the peace of the new creation and put enmity to death through the cross,
— show us the path to the Father.
Most loving Lord, have mercy on us.
Jesus, our life and resurrection, you refresh the burdened and give rest to the weary,
— draw all sinners to yourself.
Most loving Lord, have mercy on us.
Jesus, because you loved us with so great a love, you were obedient even to death on the cross,
— raise up again all who sleep in your peace.
Most loving Lord, have mercy on us.
THE LORD’S PRAYER
(Remember us, Lord, when you come into your kingdom, and teach us 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
Father,
we rejoice in the gifts of love
we have received from the heart of Jesus your Son.
Open our hearts to share his life
and continue to bless us with his 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:
Grant, we pray, almighty God,
that we, who glory in the Heart of your beloved Son
and recall the wonders of his love for us,
may be made worthy to receive
an overflowing measure of grace
from that fount of heavenly gifts.
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.
Or:
O God, who in the Heart of your Son,
wounded by our sins,
bestow on us in mercy
the boundless treasures of your love,
grant, we pray,
that, in paying him the homage of our devotion,
we may also offer worthy reparation.
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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