Prayer for the Evening
Vigil of the Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul
Let us adore Christ, Lord of the Apostles.
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
By all your saints still striving,
For all your saints at rest,
Your holy Name, O Jesus,
For evermore be blessed.
You rose, our King victorious,
That they might wear the crown
And ever shine in splendor
Reflected from your throne.
We praise you for Saint Peter;
We praise you for Saint Paul.
They taught both Jew and Gentile
That Christ is all in all.
To cross and sword they yielded
And saw the kingdom come:
O God, your two apostles
Won life through martyrdom.
Then let us praise the Father
And worship God the Son
And sing to God the Spirit,
Eternal Three in One,
Till all the ransomed number
Who stand before the throne,
Ascribe all power and glory
And praise to God alone.
CANTICLE OF JEREMIAH 31:10-14
May they all be one, as you, Father, are in me and I in you, that they also may be in us, that the world may believe that you sent me. (cf. Jn 17:21)
By celebrating the memory of these two great saints together, we remember how valiantly—and humanly—they struggled to bring together into one Church under one Gospel those who were divided by the differing heritage and belief of Jew and Gentile.
Hear the word of the Lord, O nations,
proclaim it on distant coasts, and say:
He who scattered Israel, now gathers them together,
he guards them as a shepherd his flock.
The Lord shall ransom Jacob,
he shall redeem him from the hand of his conqueror.
Shouting, they shall mount the heights of Zion,
they shall come streaming to the Lord’s blessings:
The grain, the wine, and the oil,
the sheep and the oxen;
They themselves shall be like watered gardens,
never again shall they languish.
Then the virgins shall make merry and dance,
and young men and old as well.
I will turn their mourning into joy,
I will console and gladden them after their sorrows.
I will lavish choice portions upon the priests,
and my people shall be filled with my blessings,
says the Lord.
Glory to the Father….
Word of God (Ephesians 2:13-18)
Now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have become near by the blood of Christ.
For he is our peace, he who made both one and broke down the dividing wall of enmity, through his flesh, abolishing the law with its commandments and legal claims, that he might create in himself one new person in place of the two, thus establishing peace, and might reconcile both with God, in one body, through the cross, putting that enmity to death by it. He came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near, for through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father.
Love one another as I have loved you, says the Lord. (cf. Jn 13:34)
TE DEUM
I have given them the glory you gave me, so that they may be one, as we are one. (Jn 17:22)
You are God: we praise you;
You are the Lord: we acclaim you;
You are the eternal Father:
All creation worships you.
To you all angels, all the powers of heaven,
Cherubim and Seraphim, sing in endless praise:
Holy, holy, holy, Lord, God of power and might,
heaven and earth are full of your glory.
The glorious company of apostles praise you.
The noble fellowship of prophets praise you.
The white-robed army of martyrs praise you.
Throughout the world the holy Church acclaims you:
Father, of majesty unbounded,
your true and only Son, worthy of all worship,
and the Holy Spirit, advocate and guide.
You, Christ, are the king of glory,
the eternal Son of the Father.
When you became man to set us free
you did not spurn the Virgin’s womb.
You overcame the sting of death,
and opened the kingdom of heaven to all believers.
You are seated at God’s right hand in glory.
We believe that you will come, and be our judge.
Come then, Lord, and help your people,
bought with the price of your own blood,
and bring us with your saints
to glory everlasting.
INTERCESSIONS
Through the intercession of Saints Peter and Paul, let us pray:
R/Make all one, O Lord.
For those who do not believe in God and those who seek to serve them: R/
For those who have not heard the Gospel and those whom you have sent to proclaim it: R/
For all Christians who are divided by ignorance, prejudice, or differing beliefs: R/
(Personal intentions)
Our Father….
May the God of endurance and encouragement grant us to think in harmony with one another, in keeping with Christ Jesus, that with one accord we may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen. (cf. Rom 15:5-6)
MARIAN ANTIPHON
Mary is the immaculate lily,
who brought forth Christ the imperishable rose.
O holy Mother of God,
immaculate sheep,
who gave birth to Christ the Lamb,
the Word incarnate from you;
O most holy Virgin,
who have astonished the hosts of angels;
stupendous is the miracle in heaven:
a woman clothed with the sun
carrying in her arms the Light.
Salve, Regina, mater misericordiae;
vita, dulcedo, et spes nostra, salve.
Ad te clamamus, exsules filii Evae.
Ad te suspiramus, gementes et flentes
in hac lacrimarum valle.
Eia ergo, advocata nostra,
illos tuos misericordes oculos
ad nos converte.
Et Iesum, benedictum fructum ventris tui,
nobis post hoc exsilium ostende.
O clemens, O pia, O dulcis Virgo Maria.
Hail, holy Queen, mother of mercy,
our life, our sweetness, and our hope.
To you do we cry,
poor banished children of Eve.
To you do we send up our sighs,
mourning and weeping in this valley of tears.
Turn then, O most gracious advocate,
your eyes of mercy toward us,
and after this our exile
show unto us the blessed fruit of your womb, Jesus.
O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary.
V/ Pray for us, O holy Mother of God,
R/ That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.
