Prayer for the Evening (Wednesday, December 15)

Prayer for the Evening

The reign of God is at hand: come, let us rejoice!

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

Look up, O drooping hearts, today,

The King is very near;

O cast your griefs and fears away,

For, lo, your help is here!

Hope on, O broken hearts, at last

The King comes in his might;

He loved us in the ages past

When we lay wrapped in night.

Psalm 9:8-13

Turn to me and be safe,/ all you ends of the earth,/ for I am God; there is no other! (Is 45:22)

The people of John the Baptist’s day expected some other God than the one who came in human flesh not to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many. His might is love—a power that the world of our day does not yet appreciate as strength rather than weakness.

The Lord sits enthroned for ever.

He has set up his throne for judgment;

[he] will judge the world with justice,

he will judge the peoples with his truth.

For the oppressed let the Lord be a stronghold,

a stronghold in times of distress.

Those who know your name will trust you:

you will never forsake those who seek you.

Sing psalms to the Lord who dwells in Zion.

Proclaim his mighty works among the peoples;

for the Avenger of blood has remembered them,

has not forgotten the cry of the poor.

Glory to the Father….

Word of God. Luke 4:18-19

The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,/ because he has anointed me/ to bring glad tidings to the poor./ He has sent me to proclaim liberty to captives/ and recovery of sight to the blind,/ to let the oppressed go free,/ and to proclaim a year acceptable to the Lord.

The people who walked in darkness/

have seen a great light;/ Upon those who dwelt

in the land of gloom/ a light has shone. (Is 9:1)

Canticle of Mary

Jesus said to them, “Today this scripture passage is fulfilled in your hearing.” (cf. Lk 4:21)

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…

Intercessions

The Lord will judge with justice, setting right all wrongs. In faith let us pray:

R/You will never forsake those who seek you.

For the poor:

– may the generosity of others be a sign to them that the Gospel is truth. R/

For captives of every kind:

– may the compassion of those who work in prisons and courts, in rehabilitation programs and health care institutions, bring them your gift of freedom. R/

For the blind of eye, the blind of mind, and the blind of heart:

– may the light of your people’s lives shine upon their darkness and give them hope. R/

For the oppressed:

– may the courage of those who work for justice ­proclaim to them that your reign is at hand. R/

(Personal intentions)

Our Father….

May the Lord, our God, bless us in all our works and undertakings. Amen. (cf. Dt 15:10)

Marian Antiphon

O Mary, ever Virgin, rejoice,

you who were worthy to bear Christ,

the Creator of heaven and earth;

for from your womb

you brought forth the Savior of the world, alleluia.

Alma Redemptoris Mater

Alma Redemptoris Mater, quæ pervia cæli

porta manes, et stella maris, succurre cadenti,

surgere qui curat, populo: tu quæ genuisti,

natura mirante, tuum sanctum Genitorem,

Virgo prius ac posterius, Gabrielis ab ore

sumens illud Ave, peccatorum miserere.

Loving mother of the Redeemer

Loving mother of the Redeemer,

gate of heaven, star of the sea,

assist your people who have fallen yet strive to rise again.

To the wonderment of nature you bore your Creator,

yet remained a virgin after as before.

You who received Gabriel’s joyful greeting,

have pity on us, poor sinners.