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
Christ, we implore you, send your angel Michael,
gracious and peaceful, to this humble dwelling,
that all the blessings from his frequent visits,
may grow within us.
May your swift angel, Gabriel the mighty,
visit our temple, flying down from heaven,
strong to defend us from the ancient serpent,
zealous, unfailing.
And send from heaven Raphael the angel,
holy physician and our sure protector,
bringing salvation, health to all the ailing,
guiding our actions.
Christ, radiant glory of the holy angels,
let them draw near us, that we may together
sing joyful praises to the Triune Godhead
through all the ages. Amen.
Tune: ISTE CONFESSOR (ANGERS), 11 11 11 5
Music: Angers Church melody in the Chartres Antiphoner, 1784
or Mode I, melody 5; Liber Hymnarius, Solesmes, 1983*
Text: Angelum pacis Michael ad istam, ca. 10th c., © 2023 ICEL
PSALMODY
Ant. 1 Your majesty is praised above the heavens, O King of the angels.
Psalm 8
The majesty of the Lord and man’s dignity
The Father gave Christ lordship of creation and made him head of the Church (Ephesians 1:22).
How great is your name, O Lord our God, *
through all the earth!
Your majesty is praised above the heavens; *
on the lips of children and of babes
you have found praise to foil your enemy, *
to silence the foe and the rebel.
When I see the heavens, the work of your hands, *
the moon and the stars which you arranged,
what is man that you should keep him in mind, *
mortal man that you care for him?
Yet you have made him little less than a god; *
with glory and honor you crowned him,
gave him power over the works of your hands, *
put all things under his feet.
All of them, sheep and cattle, *
yes, even the savage beasts,
birds of the air, and fish *
that make their way through the waters.
How great is your name, O Lord our God *
through all the 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.
Psalm Prayer
Almighty Lord, how wonderful is your name. You have made every creature subject to you; make us worthy to give you service.
Ant. Your majesty is praised above the heavens, O King of the angels.
Ant. 2 In the company of the angels I will sing psalms to you, my God.
Psalm 138
Thanksgiving
The kings of the earth will bring his glory and honor into the holy city (see Revelation 21:24).
I thank you, Lord, with all my heart, *
you have heard the words of my mouth.
In the presence of the angels I will bless you. *
I will adore before your holy temple.
I thank you for your faithfulness and love *
which excel all we ever knew of you.
On the day I called, you answered; *
you increased the strength of my soul.
All earth’s kings shall thank you *
when they hear the words of your mouth.
They shall sing of the Lord’s ways: *
“How great is the glory of the Lord!”
The Lord is high yet he looks on the lowly *
and the haughty he knows from afar.
Though I walk in the midst of affliction *
you give me life and frustrate my foes.
You stretch out your hand and save me, *
your hand will do all things for me.
Your love, O Lord, is eternal, *
discard not the work of your hands.
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 to the prayers of your Church, Lord God; in the presence of the angels we praise your name. You keep the proud at a distance and look upon the lowly with favor. Stretch out your hand to us in our suffering, perfect in us the work of your love and bring us to life.
Ant. In the company of the angels I will sing psalms to you, my God.
Ant. 3 I saw the lamb, which appeared to have been slain, standing in the center of the throne, and I heard the sound of angelic choirs around the throne.
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. I saw the lamb, which appeared to have been slain, standing in the center of the throne, and I heard the sound of angelic choirs around the throne.
READING
Revelation 1:4b-5
Grace and peace—from him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven spirits before his throne, and from Jesus Christ the faithful witness, the first-born from the dead and ruler of the kings of earth, who loves us and freed us from our sins by his own blood.
RESPONSORY
Clouds of incense rose in the presence of the Lord.
— Clouds of incense rose in the presence of the Lord.
From the hand of the angel incense rose
— in the presence of the Lord.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
— Clouds of incense rose in the presence of the Lord.
GOSPEL CANTICLE
Ant. The angel Gabriel spoke to Mary and said: You will conceive and bear a son, and you shall name him Jesus.
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 angel Gabriel spoke to Mary and said: You will conceive and bear a son, and you shall name him Jesus.
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:
We beg you, hear us.
That our prayers may rise like a pleasant fragrance before you,
— through the hands of your angels.
We beg you, hear us.
That our prayers may be brought to your altar on high,
— through the hands of your angels.
We beg you, hear us.
That we may proclaim glory to God in the highest and peace to his people on earth,
— with the multitude of the heavenly hosts.
We beg you, hear us.
That the angels may receive us at the end of our days,
— and lead us home to paradise.
We beg you, hear us.
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 a wonderful way you guide the work of angels and men.
May those who serve you constantly in heaven
keep our lives safe from all harm on earth.
Grant 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 dispose in a marvelous order
ministries both angelic and human,
graciously grant
that our life on earth may be defended
by those who watch over us
as they minister perpetually to you in heaven.
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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