PRAYER FOR THIS EVENING (FRIDAY, DECEMBER 11)

Prayer for the Evening

Christ is the light: come, let us seek his way!

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

O Son of God, O sovereign Word,

What human thought may span

The mystery of how in time

You came as Son of Man.

Bring light into our hearts and touch

With fire our languid minds;

The herald bids us loose with love

Whatever sin still binds.

That when as judge you come to pay

The wages of desire,

To give your kingdom to the just

And to the wicked fire,

We may not then in pride join those

Who spurn your gracious word,

But with the blest eternally

May sing your praises, Lord.

PSALM 25:8-14

I, the Lord, your God,/ teach you what is for your good,/ and lead you on the way you should go. (Is 48:17)

Let us walk toward the rising of the Sun of Justice, whose light will dawn upon the waiting world at Advent’s end, and at time’s end.

The Lord is good and upright.

He shows the path to those who stray,

he guides the humble in the right path;

he teaches his way to the poor.

His ways are faithfulness and love

for those who keep his covenant and law.

Lord, for the sake of your name

forgive my guilt; for it is great.

If anyone fears the Lord

he will show him the path he should choose.

His soul shall live in happiness

and his children shall possess the land.

The Lord’s friendship is for those who revere him;

to them he reveals his covenant.

Glory to the Father….

Word of God (John 12:35-36)

Walk while you have the light, so that darkness may not overcome you. Whoever walks in the dark does not know where he is going. While you have the light, believe in the light, so that you may become children of the light.

Lord, make me know your ways./

Lord, teach me your paths. (Ps 25:4)

CANTICLE OF MARY

I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life. (Jn 8:12)

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

Let us pray for the light to walk in Christ’s footsteps toward the coming of the morning for which we hope:

R/You teach your way to the poor!

For those who have never known you:

– open to them the road to your kingdom by the words and example of your people. R/

For those who have known you but have left your paths:

– bring them back again to celebrate with joy the feast of your coming. R/

For those who are lost in darkness:

– guide them into your everlasting light. R/

(Personal intentions)

Our Father….

May the God of infinite goodness drive far from us the darkness of vice and illumine our hearts with the light of virtue. Amen.

MARIAN ANTIPHON

Antiphon for the Solemnity of Christmas,

December 25

This day a Virgin inviolate

has brought forth God for us,

clothed in tender members,

whom she was found worthy to suckle;

let us all adore him,

who has come to save us.

Alma Redemptoris Mater, quae pervia caeli

porta manes, et stella maris, succurre cadenti,

surgere qui curat, populo: tu quae genuisti,

natura mirante, tuum sanctum Genitorem,

Virgo prius ac posterius, Gabrielis ab ore

sumens illud Ave, peccatorum miserere.

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.

V/ Pray for us, O holy Mother of God,

R/ That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.