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Evening Prayer

Tuesday, December 23, 2025 • Saint John of Kanty, Priest
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Opening

O God, come to my assistance.

Lord, make haste to help me.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:
as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen.

Hymn
O Come, O Come, Emmanuel
O come, O come, Emmanuel,
and ransom captive Israel,
that mourns in lonely exile here,
until the Son of God appear.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
shall come to thee, O Israel!
O come, O Wisdom from on high,
who ordered all things mightily;
to us the path of knowledge show,
and teach us in her ways to go.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
shall come to thee, O Israel!
O come, thou Dayspring, from on high,
and cheer us by thy drawing nigh;
disperse the gloomy clouds of night,
and death's dark shadow put to flight.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
shall come to thee, O Israel!
Psalmody
Psalm 137I Give Thanks With My Whole Heart
Ant. The Lord is near; do not be anxious about anything.
I will confess to you, O Lord, with my whole heart, for you have heard the words of my mouth.
In the sight of the angels, I will sing to you; I will adore toward your holy temple, and I will confess to your name.
Your mercy and your truth, for you have magnified your holy oracle above all things.
In whatever day I will call upon you, hear me; you will increase virtue in my soul.
Let all the kings of the earth confess to you, O Lord; for they have heard all the words of your mouth.
And let them sing in the ways of the Lord; for the glory of the Lord is great.
For the Lord is exalted, yet he looks toward the humble; and he knows the lofty one from a distance.
If I walk in the midst of tribulation, you will enliven me; and you stretched forth your hand against the wrath of my enemies, and your right hand has saved me.
The Lord will repay on my behalf; O Lord, your mercy is forever; do not despise the works of your hands.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:
as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen.
Ant. The Lord is near; do not be anxious about anything.
Psalm 138Lord, You Have Searched Me
Ant. The Lord is near; do not be anxious about anything.
Lord, you have examined me and known me.
You have known my sitting down and my rising up.
You have understood my thoughts from afar; my path and my way of life you have investigated.
And you have foreseen all my ways; for there is no word on my tongue.
Behold, O Lord, you have known all things, the last and the first.
You have formed me, and you have placed your hand over me.
Knowledge of you has become a wonder to me; it has been made strong, and I am not able to attain it.
Where will I go from your spirit? And where will I flee from your face?
If I ascend into heaven, you are there; if I descend into hell, you are present.
If I take up my wings in early morning and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea,
even there your hand will lead me, and your right hand will hold me.
And I said: "Perhaps darkness will trample me down," and night will be my illumination in my delights.
For darkness will not be made dark by you, and night will be made bright like the day; as its darkness, so also its light.
For you have possessed my inmost being; you have received me from the womb of my mother.
I will confess to you, for you are fearfully magnified; your works are wonderful, as my soul knows very well.
My bone, which you made in secret, is not hidden from you, and my substance is in the lower regions of the earth.
Your eyes foresaw my imperfection, and all will be written in your book.
The days will be formed, and no one else is in them.
But to me, your friends have been greatly honored, O God; their principality has been greatly strengthened.
I will number them, and they will be multiplied beyond the sand.
I rose up and I am still with you.
But if only you would slay the wicked, O God; you men of blood, depart from me.
For you say in thought: "They will receive your cities in vain."
Have I not hated those who hate you, O Lord; and have I not wasted away over your enemies?
I have hated them with perfect hatred; they have become enemies to me.
Try me, O God, and know my heart; examine me, and know my paths.
And see if there is any way of iniquity in me, and lead me along the eternal 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 forever. Amen.
Ant. The Lord is near; do not be anxious about anything.
New Testament Canticle
New Testament Canticle (Revelation 15:3–4)
Great and wonderful are your works, O Lord God Almighty.
Just and true are your ways, O King of the ages.
Who will not fear you, O Lord, and glorify your name?
For you alone are holy.
For all nations will approach and adore in your sight,
because your judgments have been made manifest.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:
as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen.
Gospel Canticle: Magnificat (Luke 1:46-55)
The Canticle of Mary (Magnificat) (Luke 1:46–55)
Ant. The Lord will come; go out to meet him, saying: "Great is his dominion, and his peace will have no end."
My soul magnifies the Lord.
And my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior.
Because he has regarded the humility of his handmaid; for behold, from henceforth all generations will call me blessed.
Because he who is powerful has done great things for me, and holy is his name.
And his mercy is from generation to generation for those who fear him.
He has shown might with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the conceit of their heart.
He has deposed the powerful from their seat, and he has exalted the humble.
He has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent away empty.
He has received Israel, his servant, being mindful of his mercy.
As he spoke to our fathers: to Abraham and to his offspring forever.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:
as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen.
Ant. The Lord will come; go out to meet him, saying: "Great is his dominion, and his peace will have no end."
Short Reading
Malachi 3:1
Now I am sending my messenger — he will prepare the way before me; and the lord whom you seek will come suddenly to his temple.
Responsory
V. Come and set us free, Lord God of power.
R. Let your face shine on us and we shall be saved.
V. Show us your steadfast love, O Lord,
R. and grant us your salvation.
Evening Intercessions
As evening falls during this holy season of waiting, let us pray to the Lord who comes, saying:
For the church, that our Advent waiting may be active and hopeful, not passive or fearful: we pray to you, O Lord.
Come, Lord Jesus.
For those who hunger for justice and for peace, that the promise of your kingdom may sustain them: we pray to you, O Lord.
Come, Lord Jesus.
For the sick and those who care for them, that the healing touch of Christ may be near: we pray to you, O Lord.
Come, Lord Jesus.
For all who will travel during this season, that they may journey safely: we pray to you, O Lord.
Come, Lord Jesus.
For those who have died, especially those we remember in our hearts this evening, that they may share in the joy of the Lord's coming: we pray to you, O Lord.
Come, Lord Jesus.
For our parish community, that our Advent journey together may prepare us well for the joy of Christmas: we pray to you, O Lord.
Come, Lord Jesus.
The Lord's Prayer
Let us pray as the Lord himself has taught us:
Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name;
thy kingdom come,
thy will be done
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread,
and forgive us our trespasses
as we forgive those who trespass against us;
and lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory,
forever and ever. Amen.
Concluding Prayer
O God of the promise, you fulfilled your word by sending your Son. As we await his final coming, grant us patience in hope and fidelity in love; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Marian Antiphon
Alma Redemptoris Mater
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.
Dismissal

The Lord be with you.
And with your spirit.

May almighty God bless us: the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
Amen.

Go in peace to love and serve the Lord.
Thanks be to God.