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.
HYMN
Truths once predicted by the noble prophets
singing in chorus, prompted by the Spirit,
now are accomplished, clearly seen in Mary,
God’s holy Mother.
Worthy and holy, she conceived as virgin
God of high heaven, Lord of earth and Ruler;
virgin she bore him, yet remained untainted,
virgin for ever.
Simeon, righteous, elderly and faithful,
took up the infant, blessing God with gladness,
for in the Temple he beheld in wonder
Christ, long awaited.
Mary, O Mother of the King eternal,
show us your favor, hear our supplications,
graciously pouring gifts of light upon us
from your Son’s goodness.
Christ, light and glory of the heav’nly Father,
opn’ning the riches of the Father’s wisdom,
grant us to praise you in the halls of heaven,
light everlasting. Amen.
Tune:ISTE CONFESSOR (ANGERS), 11 11 11 5
Music: Angers melody in the Chartres Antiphoner, 1784
or Mode VIII, melody 94; Liber Hymnarius, Solesmes, 1983*
Text: Quod chorus vatum venerandus olim, attributed to Rabanus Maurus, O.S.B., ca. 780-856, © 2023 ICEL
PSALMODY
Ant. 1 The Holy Spirit had revealed to Simeon that he would not see death until he had seen the Lord.
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. The Holy Spirit had revealed to Simeon that he would not see death until he had seen the Lord.
Ant. 2 As the law prescribed, they offered to the Lord a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons.
Psalm 130
A cry from the depths
He himself will save his people from their sins (Matthew 1:21).
Out of the depths I cry to you, O Lord, *
Lord, hear my voice!
O let your ears be attentive *
to the voice of my pleading.
If you, O Lord, should mark our guilt, *
Lord, who would survive?
But with you is found forgiveness: *
for this we revere you.
My soul is waiting for the Lord, *
I count on his word.
My soul is longing for the Lord *
more than watchman for daybreak.
Let the watchman count on daybreak *
and Israel on the Lord.
Because with the Lord there is mercy *
and fullness of redemption,
Israel indeed he will redeem *
from all its iniquity.
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
Listen with compassion to our prayers, Lord. The forgiveness of sins is yours. Do not look on the wrong we have done, but grant us your merciful kindness.
Ant. As the law prescribed, they offered to the Lord a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons.
Ant. 3 My own eyes have seen the salvation which you have prepared in the sight of every people.
Canticle: Colossians 1:12-20
Christ the first-born of all creation and the first-born from the dead
Let us give thanks to the Father *
for having made you worthy
to share the lot of the saints *
in light.
He rescued us *
from the power of darkness
and brought us *
into the kingdom of his beloved Son.
Through him we have redemption, *
the forgiveness of our sins.
He is the image of the invisible God, *
the first-born of all creatures.
In him everything in heaven and on earth was created, *
things visible and invisible.
All were created through him; *
all were created for him.
He is before all else that is. *
In him everything continues in being.
It is he who is head of the body, the church! *
he who is the beginning,
the first-born of the dead, *
so that primacy may be his in everything.
It pleased God to make absolute fullness reside in him *
and, by means of him, to reconcile everything in his person,
both on earth and in the heavens, *
making peace through the blood of his cross.
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. My own eyes have seen the salvation which you have prepared in the sight of every people.
READING
Hebrews 4:15-16
We do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who was tempted in every way that we are, yet never sinned. So let us confidently approach the throne of grace to receive mercy and favor and to find help in time of need.
RESPONSORY
The Lord has made known his saving power.
— The Lord has made known his saving power.
Which he has prepared in the sight of every people.
— His saving power.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
— The Lord has made known his saving power.
GOSPEL CANTICLE
Ant. Today, the Blessed Virgin Mary presented the Child Jesus in the temple; and Simeon, inspired by the Holy Spirit, took him in his arms, and gave thanks to God.
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. Today, the Blessed Virgin Mary presented the Child Jesus in the temple; and Simeon, inspired by the Holy Spirit, took him in his arms, and gave thanks to God.
INTERCESSIONS
Today our Savior was presented in the temple. Let us adore him as we say:
Lord, may our eyes see your saving power.
Christ Jesus, you are the light that enlightens all nations,
— shine upon those who do not know you, that they may come to believe in you, the one, true God.
Lord, may our eyes see your saving power.
You are the redeemer and glory of your people Israel,
— may your Church proclaim your salvation to the ends of the earth.
Lord, may our eyes see your saving power.
Jesus, desire of the nations, Simeon, the just man, rejoiced at your coming,
— lead all men to recognize that you still come to them.
Lord, may our eyes see your saving power.
Lord, when you were presented in the temple, Simeon foretold that a sword of sorrow would pierce your mother’s heart,
— strengthen us to accept the sufferings we endure for the sake of your name.
Lord, may our eyes see your saving power.
Christ Jesus, joy of all the saints, Simeon longed to see you before he died, and his prayer was answered,
— hear our plea for all the dead who still yearn to see you face to face.
Lord, may our eyes see your saving power.
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
All-powerful Father,
Christ your Son became man for us
and was presented in the temple.
May he free our hearts from sin
and bring us into your presence.
We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you and Holy Spirit
God, for ever and ever.
— Amen.
Or:
Almighty ever-living God,
we humbly implore your majesty
that, just as your Only Begotten Son
was presented on this day in the Temple
in the substance of our flesh,
so, by your grace,
we may be presented to you with minds made pure.
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.
Beginning this Evening, the Antiphon Ave Regina Cælorum to the Blessed Virgin Mary is traditionlly sung at Night Prayer until the beginning of the Easter Season.
******