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
Mary, blest woman, Magdala’s great glory,
all, with devotion, show you love and rev’rence,
for Christ has bound you to himself in friendship,
love’s holy cov’nant.
When you beheld him wondrous and almighty,
driving out demons, vanquishing their powers,
faith strong and grateful bound you to your healer,
filled you with gladness.
Henceforth you joined him; fervent love compelled you:
treading the footsteps of your holy Master,
as a companion, faithfully you served him
with zeal and fervor.
Then you stood weeping by his Cross in sorrow,
ardently grieving at the Lord’s great Passion;
gently anointing, you prepared his body
for his entombment.
May Christ unite us, whom his love engendered,
to his great triumph, that we all may join you
now and for ever singing joyful praises
to the Beloved. Amen.
Tune: CHRISTE SANCTORUM 11 11 11 5
Music: from François de la Feillée’s Méthode de plain-chant
or Mode II, melody 31; Liber Hymnarius, Solesmes, 1983
Text: Magdalæ sidus, mulier beata, Anselmo Lentini, O.S.B., 1901-1989, © 2023 ICEL
PSALMODY
Ant. 1 Jesus said to Mary: Woman, why are you weeping? Whom do you seek?
Psalm 122
The Holy city, Jerusalem
You have come to Mount Zion, to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem (Hebrews 12:22).
I rejoiced when I heard them say: *
“Let us go to God’s house.”
And now our feet are standing *
within your gates, O Jerusalem.
Jerusalem is built as a city *
strongly compact.
It is there that the tribes go up, *
the tribes of the Lord.
For Israel’s law it is, *
there to praise the Lord’s name.
There were set the thrones of judgment *
of the house of David.
For the peace of Jerusalem pray: *
“Peace be to your homes!
May peace reign in your walls, *
in your palaces, peace!”
For love of my brethren and friends *
I say: “Peace upon you!”
For love of the house of the Lord *
I will ask for your good.
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
When you rose from the dead, Lord Jesus, you formed the Church into your new body, and made of it the new Jerusalem, united in your Spirit. Give us peace in our day. Make all nations come to your Church to share in your gifts in fellowship, that they may render you thanks without end and come to your eternal city.
Ant. Jesus said to Mary: Woman, why are you weeping? Whom do you seek?
Ant. 2 They have taken my Lord away, and I do not know where they have put him.
Psalm 127
Apart from God our labors are worthless
You are God’s building (1 Corinthians 3:9).
If the Lord does not build the house, *
in vain do its builders labor;
if the Lord does not watch over the city, *
in vain do the watchers keep vigil.
In vain is your earlier rising, *
your going later to rest,
you who toil for the bread you eat, *
when he pours gifts on his beloved while they slumber.
Truly sons are a gift from the Lord, *
a blessing, the fruit of the womb.
The sons of youth *
are like arrows in the hand of a warrior.
O the happiness of the man *
who has filled his quiver with these arrows.
He will have no cause for shame *
when he disputes with his foes in the gateways.
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 command the seed to rise, Lord God, though the farmer is unaware. Grant that those who labor for you may trust not in their own work but in your help. Remembering that the land is brought to flower not with human tears but with those of your Son, may the Church rely only upon your gifts.
Ant. They have taken my Lord away, and I do not know where they have put him.
Ant. 3 Jesus said: Mary. She turned to him and said: Rabboni, which means teacher.
Canticle: Ephesians 1:3-10
God our Savior
Praised be the God and Father *
of our Lord Jesus Christ,
who has bestowed on us in Christ *
every spiritual blessing in the heavens.
God chose us in him *
before the world began
to be holy *
and blameless in his sight.
He predestined us *
to be his adopted sons through Jesus Christ,
such was his will and pleasure, †
that all might praise the glorious favor *
he has bestowed on us in his beloved.
In him and through his blood, we have been redeemed, *
and our sins forgiven,
so immeasurably generous *
is God’s favor to us.
God has given us the wisdom *
to understand fully the mystery,
the plan he was pleased *
to decree in Christ.
A plan to be carried out *
in Christ, in the fullness of time,
to bring all things into one in him, *
in the heavens and on earth.
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. Jesus said: Mary. She turned to him and said: Rabboni, which means teacher.
READING
Romans 8:28-30
We know that God makes all things work for the good for those who have been called according to his decree. Those whom he foreknew he predestined to share the image of his Son, so the Son might be the first-born among many brothers. Those he predestined he likewise called; those he called he also justified; and those he justified he also glorified.
RESPONSORY
Mary, do not weep; the Lord is risen from the dead.
— Mary, do not weep; the Lord is risen from the dead.
Go to my brothers and say to them:
— The Lord is risen from the dead.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
— Mary, do not weep; the Lord is risen from the dead.
GOSPEL CANTICLE
Ant. Mary ran and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord, 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. Mary ran and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord, alleluia.
INTERCESSIONS
Through the intercession of holy women let us pray for the Church in these words:
Be mindful of your Church, Lord.
Through all the women martyrs who conquered bodily death by their courage,
— strengthen your Church in the hour of trial.
Be mindful of your Church, Lord.
Through married women who have advanced in grace by holy matrimony,
— make the apostolic mission of your Church fruitful.
Be mindful of your Church, Lord.
Through widows who eased their loneliness and sanctified it by prayer and hospitality,
— help your Church reveal the mystery of your love to the world.
Be mindful of your Church, Lord.
Through mothers who have borne children for the kingdom of God and the human community,
— help your Church bring all men to a rebirth in life and salvation.
Be mindful of your Church, Lord.
Through all your holy women who have been worthy to contemplate the light of your countenance,
— let the deceased members of your Church exult in that same vision for ever.
Be mindful of your Church, Lord.
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
Father,
your Son first entrusted to Mary Magdalene
the joyful news of his resurrection.
By her prayers and example
may we proclaim Christ as our living Lord
and one day see him in glory,
for he lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
God, forever and ever.
— Amen.
Or:
O God, whose Only Begotten Son
entrusted Mary Magdalene before all others
with announcing the great joy of the Resurrection,
grant, we pray,
that through her intercession and example
we may proclaim the living Christ
and come to see him reigning in your glory.
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.