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
O loving Maker of the stars,
believers’ everlasting light,
O Christ, Redeemer of us all,
with kindness hear our humble prayer.
With pity, you beheld the fate
that death imposed on ages past;
you gave the guilty healing grace
and saved a weak and fallen world.
When evening fell upon the earth,
as bridegroom from the bridal room,
from honored cloister forth you came,
born from the Virgin Mother pure.
Before your strong and steadfast might,
on earth and in the heav’ns above
all knees bend low, all hearts confess
submission to your sov’reign will.
With faith we beg you, Holy Lord,
the Judge of ages still to come,
that in our time you keep us safe
from snares of our deceitful foe.
To you, O Christ, most loving King,
and to the Father, glory be,
one with the Spirit Paraclete,
from age to age for evermore. Amen.
Tune: WINCHESTER NEW, 8 8 8 8
Music: adapted from a chorale in Musicalisches Hand-Buch, Hamburg, 1690
or Mode IV, melody 71; Antiphonale Sacrosanctæ Ecclesiæ Romanæ, Typis Polyglottis Vanticanis, 1912
Text: Conditor alme siderum, 9th c., © 2023 ICEL.
PSALMODY
Ant. 1 See how glorious he is, coming forth as Savior of all peoples!
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. See how glorious he is, coming forth as Savior of all peoples!
Ant. 2 Crooked paths will be straightened, and rough ways made smooth. Come, O Lord, do not delay, alleluia.
Psalm 112
The happiness of the just man
Live as children born of the light. Light produces every kind of goodness and justice and truth (Ephesians 5:8-9).
Happy the man who fears the Lord, *
who takes delight in all his commands.
His sons will be powerful on earth; *
the children of the upright are blessed.
Riches and wealth are in his house; *
his justice stands firm for ever.
He is a light in the darkness for the upright: *
he is generous, merciful and just.
The good man takes pity and lends, *
he conducts his affairs with honor.
The just man will never waver: *
he will be remembered for ever.
He has no fear of evil news; *
with a firm heart he trusts in the Lord.
With a steadfast heart he will not fear; *
he will see the downfall of his foes.
Open-handed, he gives to the poor; †
his justice stands firm for ever. *
His head will be raised in glory.
The wicked man sees and is angry, †
grinds his teeth and fades away; *
the desire of the wicked leads to doom.
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 God, you are the eternal light which illumines the hearts of good people. Help us to love you, to rejoice in your glory, and so to live in this world as to avoid harsh judgment in the next. May we come to see the light of your countenance.
Ant. Crooked paths will be straightened, and rough ways made smooth. Come, O Lord, do not delay, alleluia.
Ant. 3 Ever wider will his kingdom spread, eternally at peace, alleluia.
Canticle: See Revelation 19:1-7
The wedding of the Lamb
The following canticle is said with the Alleluia when Evening Prayer is sung; when the Office if recited, the Alleluia may be said at the beginning and end of each strophe.
Alleluia.
Salvation, glory, and power to our God: *
(℟. Alleluia).
his judgments are honest and true. *
℟. Alleluia (alleluia).
Alleluia.
Sing praise to our God, all you his servants, *
(℟. Alleluia).
all who worship him reverently, great and small. *
℟. Alleluia (alleluia).
Alleluia.
The Lord our all-powerful God is King; *
(℟. Alleluia).
Let us rejoice, sing praise, and give him glory. *
℟. Alleluia (alleluia).
Alleluia.
The wedding feast of the Lamb has begun, *
(℟. Alleluia).
and his bride is prepared to welcome him. *
℟. Alleluia (alleluia).
Alleluia.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, *
(℟. Alleluia).
and to the Holy Spirit: *
℟. Alleluia (alleluia).
Alleluia.
as it was in the beginning, is now, *
(℟. Alleluia).
and will be for ever. Amen. *
℟. Alleluia (alleluia).
Ant. Ever wider will his kingdom spread, eternally at peace, alleluia.
READING
Philippians 4:4-5
Rejoice in the Lord always! I say it again. Rejoice! Everyone should see how unselfish you are. The Lord is near.
RESPONSORY
Lord, show us your mercy and love.
— Lord, show us your mercy and love.
And grant us your salvation,
— your mercy and love.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
— Lord, show us your mercy and love.
GOSPEL CANTICLE
Ant. O Radiant Dawn, splendor of eternal light, sun of justice: come, shine on those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death.
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. O Radiant Dawn, splendor of eternal light, sun of justice: come, shine on those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death.
INTERCESSIONS
To Christ the Lord, who was born of the Virgin Mary, let us pray with joyful hearts:
Come, Lord Jesus!
Lord Jesus, in the mystery of your incarnation you revealed your glory to the world,
— give us new life by your coming.
Come, Lord Jesus!
You have taken our weakness upon yourself,
— grant us your mercy.
Come, Lord Jesus!
You redeemed the world from sin by your first coming in humility,
— free us from all guilt when you come again in glory.
Come, Lord Jesus!
You live and rule over all,
— in your goodness bring us to our eternal inheritance.
Come, Lord Jesus!
You sit at the right hand of the Father,
— gladden the souls of the dead with your light.
Come, Lord Jesus!
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,
fill our hearts with your love,
and as you revealed to us by an angel
the coming of your Son as man,
so lead us through his suffering and death
to the glory of his resurrection,
for he lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
God, for ever and ever.
— Amen.
Or:
Pour forth, we beseech you, O Lord,
your grace into our hearts,
that we, to whom the Incarnation of Christ your Son
was made known by the message of an Angel,
may by his Passion and Cross
be brought to the glory of his Resurrection.
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, Morning Prayer concludes:
May the Lord + bless us,
protect us from all evil
and bring us to everlasting life.
— Amen.
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Lo, how a Rose e’er blooming
From tender stem has sprung!
Of Jesse’s lineage coming
As seers of old have sung.
It came a blossom bright,
Amid the cold of winter
When half-spent was the night.
Isaiah ‘twas foretold it,
The Rose I have in mind.
With Mary we behold it,
The Virgin Mother kind.
To show God’s love aright,
She bore to us a Savior,
When half spent was the night.
O Flow’r, whose fragrance tender
With sweetness fills the air,
Dispel in glorious splendor
The darkness everywhere;
True man, yet very God,
From sin and death now save us;
And share our every load.
Tune: Es ist ein Ros Entsprungen 76.76.676
Music: Michael Praetorius, Speier Gesangbuch, 1599
Text: In the public domain
Or:
Once in royal David’s city
Stood a lowly cattle shed,
Where a mother laid her baby
In a manger for his bed:
Mary was that mother mild,
Jesus Christ her little child.
He came down to earth from heaven,
Who is God and Lord of all,
And his shelter was a stable,
And his cradle was a stall;
With the poor, the scorned, the lowly,
Lived on earth our Savior holy.
And, through all his wondrous childhood,
He would honor and obey,
Love and watch the lowly maiden
In whose gentle arms he lay:
Christian people all must be
Mild, obedient, good as he.
For he is our childhood’s pattern,
Day by day like us he grew;
He was little, weak and helpless,
Tears and smiles like us he knew.
And he feels for all our sadness,
And he shares in all our gladness.
And our eyes at last shall see him,
Through his own redeeming love;
For that Child who seemed so helpless
Is our Lord in heaven above;
And he leads his children on
To the place where he is gone.
Not in that poor lowly stable,
With the oxen standing round,
We shall see him; but in heaven,
Set at God’s right hand on high;
When like stars his children crowned,
All in white shall wait around.
Tune: Irby 87.87.87
Music: Henry John Gauntlett, 1805-1876
Text: Cecil Frances Alexander 1818-1895, alt.
Or:
O quickly come, great Judge of all;
For glorious will your advent be,
All shadows from the truth will fall,
O come and heal that we may see!
O quickly come, for doubt and fear
Like clouds dissolve when you are near.
O quickly come, great King of all;
Reign all around us and within;
Let sin no more our souls enthrall,
Let pain and sorrow die with sin:
O quickly come, for you alone
Can make your scattered people one.
O quickly come, true Life of all,
For death is mighty all around;
On ev’ry home its shadows fall,
On ev’ry heart its mark is found:
O quickly come, for grief and pain
Cannot obscure your glorious reign.
O quickly come, sure Light of all,
For gloomy night broods o’er our way;
And weakened souls begin to fall
With weary watching for the day:
O quickly come, for round your throne
No eye is blind, no night is known.
Tune: Das Neugeborne Kindelein (Jena) or Melita (Dykes) 88.88.88.
Music: Melchior Vulpius, c. 1560-1616 (Jena) John Bacchus Dykes 1823-1876 (Dykes)
Text: Lawrence Tuttiette, 1825-1897, Hymns for Churchmen, 1854, alt
Or:
O come, O come, Emmanuel,
And ransom captive Israel,
That mourns in lonely exile here
Until the Son of God appear.
Refrain: Rejoice! Rejoice! O Israel
To you shall come Emmanuel!
O come, O wisdom from on high,
And order all things far and nigh;
To us the path of knowledge show,
And teach us in her ways to go.
Refrain: Rejoice! Rejoice! O Israel
To you shall come Emmanuel!
O come, O come, O Lord of might,
Who to your tribes on Sinai’s height
In ancient times did give the law,
In cloud, and majesty, and awe.
Refrain: Rejoice! Rejoice! O Israel
To you shall come Emmanuel!
O come, O rod of Jesse’s stem,
From ev’ry foe deliver them
That trust your mighty power to save,
And give them vict’ry o’er the grave.
Refrain: Rejoice! Rejoice! O Israel
To you shall come Emmanuel!
O come, O key of David, come,
And open wide our heav’nly home,
Make safe the way that leads on high,
That we no more have cause to sigh.
Refrain: Rejoice! Rejoice! O Israel
To you shall come Emmanuel!
O come, O Dayspring from on high,
And cheer us by your drawing nigh;
Disperse the gloomy clouds of night
And death’s dark shadow put to flight.
Refrain: Rejoice! Rejoice! O Israel
To you shall come Emmanuel!
O come, Desire of nations, bind
In one the hearts of humankind;
Bid every strife and quarrel cease
And fill the world with heaven’s peace.
Refrain: Rejoice! Rejoice! O Israel
To you shall come Emmanuel!
Tune: Veni, Veni, Emmanuel 88.88 with Refrain
Music: Thomas Helmore, 1811-1890, adapted from a first Mode Responsory in a fifteenth century French Processional
Text: Veni, Veni, Emmanuel, a paraphrase of the Latin twelfth-thirteenth century “Great O” antiphons in Psalteriolum Cantionum Catholicarum
Translation: Thomas Helmore, 1811-1890, John Mason Neale, 1818-1866, and others