Evening Prayer / Liturgy of the Hours
Introduction to the Liturgy
This may be read by a reader:
This evening we have the opportunity to celebrate Evening Prayer, known as Vespers. Christ taught us: "You must pray at all times and not lose heart" (Lk. 18:1). The Church has been faithful in obeying this instruction throughout the generations. As the fading sun dies away, we gather with lighted candles in a hopeful act of defiance against the darkness. As Saint John the Evangelist recounts: “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it.” (John 1:5) We sing psalms and canticles to the Lord in praise and thanksgiving for all God has done, is doing, and will do for us. We conclude by offering prayers of intercession to God, lifting up all the needs and failures of the world to his providential care and merciful forgiveness.
For countless generations, Christians have responded to the call to pray at all time. In our time, the followers of Jesus throughout the world “make their evening prayer to the Lord” each evening for forgiveness of their sins and for protection throughout the coming night. In union with those who have gone before us in the faith, with those now living and with all those who are yet to come, let us wholeheartedly join together in prayer this evening. May this prayer call us and support us in our vocation as baptized Christians to be witness to the world of the transforming power of God’s love.
LUCENARIUM (Service of Light)
Proclamation of the Light
(The church is dimly lit as the ministers enter in silence, carrying incense, a large lighted candle, and the Gospels.)
Leader (from the back of the church): Light and peace, in Jesus Christ our Lord.
All: Thanks be to God.
Processional Hymn
At this time the procession with the Paschal Candle moves through the church and the congregation is able to light their tapers from it. Normally this happens in silence, however, if you wish, you may play soft instrumental music or sing a suitable “light” hymn of praise to Christ who is the Light of the World.
Evening Thanksgiving
Leader: Let us give thanks to God the Father, always and for everything.
All: In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Leader: God our Father, we give you thanks for all your gifts so freely bestowed upon us: for the beauty and
wonder of your creation, in earth and sky and sea; for all that is gracious in the lives of men and women, revealing the light of Christ; for minds to muse and hearts to love and hands to serve; for health and strength to work, for leisure to rest and play; for communion with your saints, in all times and places; and above all, for the great promises and mercies given to us in Christ Jesus our Lord. To him be praise and glory, with you and the Holy Spirit, now and for ever.
All: Amen.
Evening Hymn
14G (or another suitable evening hymn)
PSALMODY
THE FIRST PSALM
Introduction
A reader may read the following introduction to situate the psalm in our faith tradition.
In the words of Psalm 27, we express our joy that the Lord is our light and our salvation. In his exchange of gifts with us, he calls us to be the light of the world, even as he is our light. He is light for our path, he saves us from sin, he keeps us safe from the many dangers that beset us, just as they beset the Psalmist, who put his trust in God and found refuge in him. In the midst of the temptations and enticements of the world, we seek to walk with our heads held high, our eyes fixed on Christ, the light of the nations, the teacher and friend of the young. It is he who promises and gives us the joy above all joys: to live for ever in his house, to be present in the world as his Church, and to taste forever the sweetness of the Lord in the glory of our true homeland, towards which we journey together on a pilgrimage of light and hope.
PSALM 27:1-6
The cantor goes to the ambo to sing the psalm. The refrain of the psalm is sung by the cantor and is repeated with the congregation. Then the cantor sings the verses of the psalm. After each verse the congregation sings the refrain.
Witness
At this point if it is desirable a young person may give a brief reflection on how Christ is their personal light and salvation.
PSALM PRAYER
After a brief silence, all stand and the presider says:
Leader: Let us pray.
All pray silently for a brief period of time. Then the presider extends his hands and sings or says the following prayer:
Leader: Father, you protect and strengthen those who hope in you; you heard the cry of your Son and kept him safe in your tent in the day of evil. Grant that your servants who seek your face in time of trouble may see your goodness in the land of the living. We ask this through Christ our Lord.
All: Amen.
THE SECOND PSALM
Introduction
A reader may read the following introduction to situate the psalm in our faith tradition.
Our prayer, the prayer of youth, rises to heaven this evening, like the incense burning in the brazier, spreading its fragrance through this praying community. It is our evening sacrifice, the offering of our pure lips and our burning hearts, a gift acceptable to the Father of all. The power of our prayer is rooted wholly in Christ. He offered his life to the Father as an acceptable sacrifice, when he raised his arms to him on the Cross and embraced the whole world with his love; thus he left the earth infused forever with the sweet fragrance of his evening sacrifice. In communion with him who is our Lord and Master, and guided by his Spirit, let us join our praise to the eternal song of the saints in heaven.
PSALM 141: 1-9
The cantor goes to the ambo to sing the psalm. The refrain of the psalm is sung by the cantor and is repeated with the congregation. Then the cantor sings the verses of the psalm. After each verse the congregation sings the refrain. Some form of incensation may accompany the singing of this psalm.
Witness by a Young Person
At this point if it is desirable a young person may give a brief reflection on the power of prayer, i.e., how Christ has responded to the person’s prayer.
Psalm Prayer
After a brief silence, all stand and the presider says:
Leader: Let us pray.
All pray silently for a brief period of time. Then the presider extends his hands and sings or says the following prayer:
Leader: Holy Father, Creator of heaven and earth, in goodness and infinite wisdom you have made all things: listen to the cry of your sons and daughters; may the offering of our hands stretched out to you be accepted as our evening sacrifice of praise, and, with our witness of life, may it send forth the good fragrance of Christ which draws to you the whole of humanity and all creation. We ask this through Christ our Lord.
All: Amen.
Canticle
Introduction
A reader may read the following introduction to situate the canticle in our faith tradition.
The Hymn from the Letter to the Philippians is a confession of faith and praise from the early Church. But we, the young people of the Third Millennium, also confess Christ as Saviour of the world, true God and true man; born for us of the Virgin Mary by the working of the Holy Spirit. We adore him in the sacrifice of the Cross, which is his supreme act of obedience to the Father and of love for us. We acclaim him as the glorious and holy Lord. We want him to be known, loved and adored by all, in heaven, on earth and under the earth. In the joy of the Holy Spirit, we proclaim him present in his Church. May the whole world hear and welcome our cry: Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father!
Philippians 2: 5-11
The cantor goes to the ambo to sing the canticle. The refrain of the canticle is sung by the cantor and is repeated with the congregation. Then the cantor sings the verses of the canticle. After each verse the congregation sings the refrain.
WITNESS BY A YOUNG PERSON
At this point if it is desirable a young person may give a brief reflection on how they experience Christ as their saviour and the joy of proclaiming and living Christ.
CANTICLE PRAYER
After a brief silence, all stand and the presider says:
Leader: Let us pray.
All pray silently for a brief period of time. Then the presider extends his hands and sings or says the following prayer:
Leader: Father, your only Son learned obedience through suffering and became for all who obey him the source of eternal salvation. In the body he was put to death, but in the spirit you raised him to new life. By the power of your Holy Spirit help us to embrace his cross and so live out the paschal mystery to its ultimate fulfilment in the fullness of your reign. We ask this through Christ our Lord.
All: Amen
WORD OF GOD
Proclamation of the Reading
The word of God is now proclaimed from the ambo. It may be the first reading of the day, the prescribed reading for today’s evening prayer or one of the following readings: Romans 5:6-11, 1 Corinthians 9:24-27, Galatians 6:7-10, Ephesians 6:10-18, Philippians 4:4-9, Colossians 3:12-17, Titus 2:11-14, 1 Timothy 6:12-16, Hebrews 12:1-2, 1 Peter 5:6-11, 1 John 4:7-12, Revelation 22:1-5, John 12:20-26 or Matthew 2: 1-4, 9-12.
Period of Silent Reflection and Homily
After a period of silence a brief homily on the reading may be given. If there is no homily the period of silence after the reading is extended to allow the Holy Spirit time to speak to the hearts of the hearers of the Word of God.
PRAISE AND INTERCESSION
CANTICLE OF MARY
Introduction
A reader may read the following introduction to situate the canticle in our faith tradition.
The Magnificat has occupied an important place in the Liturgy of the Church since the fourth century. The canticle is taken from the Gospel of Luke (1:46-55) where the events of the Visitation of Mary to her cousin Elizabeth are recorded. Elizabeth, who was pregnant with John the Baptist at the time, greeted Mary with the well-known phrase “Blessed art thou amongst women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb Jesus.” Mary responded with this canticle. As every evening we pray the Magnificat during Vespers we encounter a wonderful model of Christian spirituality in Mary our mother, who according to the Second Vatican Council is “a model of the Church in faith, charity, and perfect union with Christ.” (GS 63)
Canticle of Mary
The cantor goes to the ambo to lead the congregation in singing the canticle. All stand. Some form of incensation may accompany the singing of the canticle.
Prayers of Intercession
The presider says:
Baptized in the one faith and assembled in a hope that does not disappoint, let us acclaim Christ, the Light of the World. Inspired by the Holy Spirit let us implore our heavenly Father to hear our prayers of petition that we now place before him.
Petitions: R/. Lord hear our voice
Son of God and Son of Mary, you grew in wisdom and grace,
- come and enable all young people to mature in your love and to become responsible citizens of the Kingdom. R/.
Eternal Word, you created the universe and in the fullness of time became flesh for our sake,
- come and grant us the grace of reconciliation with the Father, with our brothers and sisters and with the whole of creation. R/.
True Light, you enlighten every man, woman and child,
- come and dispel the religious, ethnic and racial prejudice which stands in the way of the full communion of your people. R/.
Righteous Judge, you sit at the right hand of the Father,
- come, and enkindle within us the passion for comprehensive justice, the burning desire for lasting peace and the openness for sincere dialogue. /.
Only-Begotten Son, you live in communion with the Father,
- come, enlighten and sustain with your Spirit our Holy Father, Pope John Paul II and all ministers of the Gospel. R/.
Liberator and Saviour, you are the one who sets us free,
- come and bring relief to the suffering, confidence to the wavering, freedom to the oppressed, courage to the fainthearted,
healing to the sick and new life to the dead. R/.
THE LORD’S PRAYER
Standing, the presider sings or says the invitation to the Lord’s Prayer:
Leader: Praecéptis salutáribus móniti,
et divína institutióne formáti,
audémus dícere:
All: Pater noster, qui es in cælis:
Sanctificétur nomen tuum;
Advéniat regnum tuum;
Fiat volúntas tua, sicut in cælo, et in terra.
Panem nostrum cotidiánum da nobis hódie;
Et dimítte nobis débita nostra,
Sicut et nos dimíttimus debitóribus nostris;
Et ne nos indúcas in tentatiónem;
Sed líbera nos a malo. Amen.
Concluding Prayer
Leader: Father of light, unchanging God, You reveal to people of faith the resplendent reality of the Word made flesh. Your light is strong, your love is near; Draw us beyond the limits which this world imposes, to the life where your Spirit makes all life complete. We ask this through Christ our Lord.
All: Amen
Dismissal
Leader: The Lord be with you.
All: And also with you.
Leader: May almighty God bless you, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
All: Amen.
Leader: Go in peace to love and serve the Lord.
All: Thanks be to God.
In the absence of a priest or deacon the prayer leader says: May the Lord bless us, protect us from all evil and bring us to everlasting life.
All: Amen.
Sign of Peace
At this time all present may offer each other a sign of Christ’s peace.
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