Prayer for the Evening
Vigil of the Solemnity of the Nativity of John the Baptist
Praise the name of the Lord!
Glory to the Father…. Alleluia!
HYMN
Meter: LM
This hymn can be sung to the tune used for
On Jordan’s Bank
Of woman born shall never be
A greater prophet than was he,
Whose mighty deeds exalt his fame
To greater than a prophet’s name.
But why should mortal accents raise
The hymn of John the Baptist’s praise?
Of whom, or e’er his course was run,
Thus spoke the Father to the Son?
“Behold, my herald, who shall go
Before your face your way to show,
And shine, as with the day-star’s gleam,
Before your own eternal beam.”
PSALM 113
The Lord will be your light for ever,/ and the days of your mourning shall be at an end. (Is 60:20)
John’s parents were elderly and childless, but God gladdened them with a child. The old Israel, patiently awaiting the promised Messiah, seemed barren, but God sent the Prophet John to announce that the long-awaited dawn of the Messiah’s day would soon break upon the world.
Praise, O servants of the Lord,
praise the name of the Lord!
May the name of the Lord be blessed
both now and for evermore!
From the rising of the sun to its setting
praised be the name of the Lord!
High above all nations is the Lord,
above the heavens his glory.
Who is like the Lord, our God,
who has risen on high to his throne
yet stoops from the heights to look down,
to look down upon heaven and earth?
From the dust he lifts up the lowly,
from his misery he raises the poor
to set him in the company of princes,
yes, with the princes of his people.
To the childless wife he gives a home
and gladdens her heart with children.
Glory to the Father….
Word of God (John 1:6-9)
A man named John was sent from God. He came for testimony, to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. He was not the light, but came to testify to the light. The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world.
He was a burning and shining lamp, and for a while you were content to rejoice in his light. (Jn 5:35)
TE DEUM
In the tender compassion of our God/ the dawn from on high shall break upon us. (cf. Lk 1:78)
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
God, who is ever faithful, chose John the Baptist to announce the coming of Christ. Let us pray with joy:
R/Guide our feet into the way of peace.
John was called from his mother’s womb to prepare the way for your Son:
– open the way into the depths of all hearts. R/
John went into the desert and there your word came to him:
– grant us the wisdom to seek the solitude and silence of prayer. R/
John pointed toward the Lamb of God, Jesus Christ:
– make of your Church a living sign of Christ’s presence in the world. R/
(Personal intentions)
Our Father….
May the Lord strengthen our hearts, to be blameless in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his holy ones. Amen. (cf. 1 Thes 3:13)
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.
