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
Let us praise angel hosts, guarding the human race,
friends from heaven on high, gifts of the Father’s love;
they keep our fragile frame safe from deceit and guile,
lest we yield to our dreaded foes.
Since that proud angel fell, traitor from heaven’s hosts,
justly stripped of his rank, honors received from God,
he burns with envious hate, striving to lead astray
those whom God calls to heaven’s height.
Come, therefore, angel guard, fly to our aid and watch,
cast from this earthly home, given in trust to you,
each ill that wastes the soul and ev’rything that thwarts
all peace and rest for us within.
Let all sing living hymns, praising the Three in One,
by God’s undying will, heaven and earth and hell,
ordered, stand firm and sure under his sov’reign rule,
who reigns glorious from age to age. Amen.
Tune: CHORIAMBUS, 12 12 12 8
Music: ICEL, 2021
or Mode III, melody 52; Liber Hymnarius, Solesmes, 1983
Text: Custodes hominum psallimus angelos, attributed to Saint Robert Bellarmine, S.J., 1542-1621, © 2023 ICEL
PSALMODY
Ant. The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him, to rescue them.
Psalm 34
God the savior of the just
You have tasted the sweetness of the Lord (1 Peter 2:3).
I
I will bless the Lord at all times, *
his praise always on my lips;
in the Lord my soul shall make its boast. *
The humble shall hear and be glad.
Glorify the Lord with me. *
Together let us praise his name.
I sought the Lord and he answered me; *
from all my terrors he set me free.
Look towards him and be radiant; *
let your faces not be abashed.
This poor man called; the Lord heard him *
and rescued him from all his distress.
The angel of the Lord is encamped *
around those who revere him, to rescue them.
Taste and see that the Lord is good. *
He is happy who seeks refuge in him.
Revere the Lord, you his saints. *
They lack nothing, those who revere him.
Strong lions suffer want and go hungry *
but those who seek the Lord lack no blessing.
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 angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him, to rescue them.
Ant. 2 Our God is a living God, for his angel has protected me.
II
Come, children, and hear me *
that I may teach you the fear of the Lord.
Who is he who longs for life *
and many days, to enjoy his prosperity?
Then keep your tongue from evil *
and your lips from speaking deceit.
Turn aside from evil and do good; *
seek and strive after peace.
The Lord turns his face against the wicked *
to destroy their remembrance from the earth.
The Lord turns his eyes to the just *
and his ears to their appeal.
They call and the Lord hears *
and rescues them in all their distress.
The Lord is close to the broken-hearted; *
those whose spirit is crushed he will save.
Many are the trials of the just man *
but from them all the Lord will rescue him.
He will keep guard over all his bones, *
not one of his bones shall be broken.
Evil brings death to the wicked; *
those who hate the good are doomed.
The Lord ransoms the souls of his servants. *
Those who hide in him shall not be condemned.
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
Graciously hear us, Lord, for we seek only you. You are near to those whose heart is right. Open yourself to accept our sorrowful spirit; calm our bodies and minds with the peace which surpasses understanding.
Ant. Our God is a living God, for his angel has protected me.
Ant. 3 Glorify the God of heaven, sing praise to him before all living creatures, for he has shown you such great mercy.
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. Glorify the God of heaven, sing praise to him before all living creatures, for he has shown you such great mercy.
READING
Revelation 8:3-4
An angel came in holding a censer of gold. He took his place at the altar of incense and was given large amounts of incense to deposit on the altar of gold in front of the throne, together with the prayers of all God’s holy ones. From the angel’s hand the smoke of the incense went up before God, and with it the prayers of God’s people.
RESPONSORY
God gave his angels charge over you.
— God gave his angels charge over you.
To protect you in all your ways.
— God gave his angels charge over you.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
— God gave his angels charge over you.
GOSPEL CANTICLE
Ant. The angels will always see the face of my heavenly Father.
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 angels will always see the face of my heavenly Father.
INTERCESSIONS
The angels carry out God’s will. Let us pray that we too may listen carefully for his voice and hear his call as we say:
With the angels we sing your glory.
O God, you made your angels messengers of your marvelous works,
— help us to proclaim your wonderful deeds to all men.
With the angels we sing your glory.
The angels unceasingly proclaim that you are holy and exalted,
— may your people on earth join their voices to the angelic song of praise.
With the angels we sing your glory.
You commanded your angels to watch over your servants in all their ways,
— guide those who are traveling and bring them home safely in joy and peace.
With the angels we sing your glory.
You gave the angels the mission of announcing peace to men,
— inspire counsels of peace in the hearts of leaders and people of all nations.
With the angels we sing your glory.
When you send forth the angels to gather together your chosen people from every corner of the earth,
— do not let them pass over any of your children, but bring them all to the unending gladness of your kingdom.
With the angels we sing your glory.
THE LORD’S PRAYER
(Let us conclude our prayer with the Lord’s prayer:)
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,
in your loving providence
you send your holy angels to watch over us.
Hear our prayers, defend us always by their protection
and let us share your life with them for ever.
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:
O God, who in your unfathomable providence
are pleased to send your holy Angels to guard us,
hear our supplication as we cry to you,
that we may always be defended by their protection
and rejoice eternally in their company.
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.
******
You holy angels bright
Who wait at God’s right hand,
Or through the realms of light
Fly at your Lord’s command,
Assist our song,
For else the theme
Too high will seem
For mortal tongue.
You blessed souls at rest,
Who ran this earthly race,
And now, from sin released,
Behold the Savior’s face;
His praises sound,
As in his sight
With sweet delight
You all abound.
Let all who toil below
Adore our heav’nly King,
And onward as we go
Our joyful anthem sing:
With one accord,
Through good or ill,
We praise him still,
Eternal Lord.
My soul, now take your part,
Acclaiming God above;
And with a well-tuned heart
Sing out the songs of love,
Let all our days
Till life shall end,
Whate’er he send,
Be filled with praise.
Tune: Darwall’s 148th
Music: John Darwall, 1731-1789
Text: Richard Baxter, 1615-1691, et al., adapted by Anthony G. Petti