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 God has loved us with an everlasting love; therefore, when he was lifted up from the earth, in his mercy he drew us to his heart.
Psalm 113
Praise the name of the Lord
He has cast down the mighty and has lifted up the lowly (Luke 1:52).
Praise, O servants of the Lord, *
praise the name of the Lord!
May the name of the Lord be blessed *
both now and for evermore!
From the rising of the sun to its setting *
praised be the name of the Lord!
High above all nations is the Lord, ;*
above the heavens his glory.
Who is like the Lord, our God, *
who has risen on high to his throne
yet stoops from the heights to look down, *
to look down upon heaven and earth?
From the dust he lifts up the lowly, *
from his misery he raises the poor
to set him in the company of princes, *
yes, with the princes of his people.
To the childless wife he gives a home *
and gladdens her heart with children.
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 Jesus, Word of God, surrendering the brightness of your glory you became man so that we may be raised from the dust to share your very being. May there be innumerable children of the Church to offer homage to your name from the rising of the sun to its setting.
Ant. God has loved us with an everlasting love; therefore, when he was lifted up from the earth, in his mercy he drew us to his heart.
Ant. 2 Learn from me, for I am gentle and humble of heart.
Psalm 146
Those who trust in God know what it is to be happy
To praise God in our lives means all we do must be for his glory (Arnobius).
My soul, give praise to the Lord; †
I will praise the Lord all my days, *
make music to my God while I live.
Put no trust in princes, *
in mortal men in whom there is no help.
Take their breath, they return to clay *
and their plans that day come to nothing.
He is happy who is helped by Jacob’s God, *
whose hope is in the Lord his God,
who alone made heaven and earth, *
the seas and all they contain.
It is he who keeps faith for ever, *
who is just to those who are oppressed.
It is he who gives bread to the hungry, *
the Lord, who sets prisoners free,
the Lord who gives sight to the blind, *
who raises up those who are bowed down,
the Lord, who protects the stranger *
and upholds the widow and orphan.
It is the Lord who loves the just *
but thwarts the path of the wicked.
The Lord will reign for ever, *
Zion’s God, from age to age.
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
God of glory and power, those who have put all their trust in you are happy indeed. Shine the brightness of your light on us, that we may love you always with a pure heart.
Ant. Learn from me, for I am gentle and humble of heart.
Ant. 3 I am the Good Shepherd; I pasture my sheep and I lay down my life for them.
Canticle: Revelation 4:11; 5:9, 10, 12
Redemption hymn
O Lord our God, you are worthy *
to receive glory and honor and power.
For you have created all things; *
by your will they came to be and were made.
Worthy are you, O Lord, *
to receive the scroll and break open its seals.
For you were slain; *
with your blood you purchased for God
men of every race and tongue, *
of every people and nation.
You made of them a kingdom, †
and priests to serve our God, *
and they shall reign on the earth.
Worthy is the Lamb that was slain *
to receive power and riches,
wisdom and strength, *
honor and glory and praise.
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. I am the Good Shepherd; I pasture my sheep and I lay down my life for them.
READING
Ephesians 5:25b-27
Christ loved the church. He gave himself up for her to make her holy, purifying her in the bath of water by the power of the word, to present to himself a glorious church, holy and immaculate, without stain or wrinkle or anything of that sort.
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. I have come to cast fire upon the earth; how I long to see the flame leap up.
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. I have come to cast fire upon the earth; how I long to see the flame leap up.
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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