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Evening Prayer

Tuesday, January 6, 2026 • The Epiphany of the Lord

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

Silent Night, Holy Night

Silent night, holy night!
All is calm, all is bright.
Round yon virgin mother and child,
holy infant, so tender and mild;
sleep in heavenly peace,
sleep in heavenly peace.

Silent night, holy night!
Shepherds quake at the sight.
Glories stream from heaven afar,
heavenly hosts sing alleluia;
Christ the Savior is born,
Christ the Savior is born.

Silent night, holy night!
Son of God, love's pure light
radiant beams from thy holy face,
with the dawn of redeeming grace;
Jesus, Lord, at thy birth,
Jesus, Lord, at thy birth.

Psalmody

Psalm 49God the Judge

Ant. Today Christ is born for us; glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to people of good will.

The God of gods, the Lord has spoken, and he has called the earth from the rising of the sun to its setting.

From Zion, the perfection of his beauty, God will shine forth.

Our God will come openly; our God will come and not keep silence.

A fire will blaze in his sight, and around him is a great tempest.

He will call upon the heavens above and the earth, to separate his people.

"Gather his holy ones to him, who arrange his covenant over sacrifices."

And the heavens will announce his justice; for God is the judge.

"Hear, O my people, and I will speak; O Israel, and I will testify against you: I am God, your God."

"I will not rebuke you for your sacrifices; and your burnt offerings are before me always."

"I will not receive calves from your house, nor he-goats from your flocks."

"For all the wild animals of the forest are mine: the beasts on the mountains and the oxen."

"I know all the birds of the heavens, and the beauty of the field is with me."

"If I were hungry, I would not tell you; for the world is mine and its fullness."

"Will I eat the flesh of bulls? Or will I drink the blood of goats?"

"Immolate to God the sacrifice of praise, and repay your vows to the Most High."

"And call upon me in the day of tribulation; I will rescue you, and you will honor me."

But to the sinner God has said: "Why do you declare my justices and take up my covenant in your mouth?"

"Yet you have hated discipline, and you have cast my words behind you."

"If you saw a thief, you ran with him, and with adulterers you set your portion."

"Your mouth has abounded with malice, and your tongue has framed deceits."

"Sitting, you spoke against your brother, and you set up a scandal against your mother's son."

"These things you have done, and I was silent. You thought, unjustly, that I would be like you."

"But I will reprove you and set your crimes before your face."

"Understand these things, you who forget God; lest at any time he snatch you away, and there will be no one to rescue you."

"The sacrifice of praise will honor me; and in that way I will show him the salvation of God."

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. Today Christ is born for us; glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to people of good will.

Psalm 50A Penitential Psalm

Ant. Today Christ is born for us; glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to people of good will.

Have mercy on me, O God, according to your great mercy.

And according to the multitude of your compassions, wipe away my iniquity.

Wash me yet more from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.

For I know my iniquity, and my sin is always before me.

Against you alone have I sinned, and I have done evil before you.

And so you are justified in your words, and you will prevail when you are judged.

For behold, I was conceived in iniquities, and in sin my mother conceived me.

For behold, you have loved truth; the unknown and secret things of your wisdom you have made clear to me.

You will sprinkle me with hyssop, and I will be cleansed; you will wash me, and I will be made whiter than snow.

To my hearing you will give joy and gladness, and the humbled bones will rejoice.

Turn your face away from my sins, and wipe away all my iniquities.

Create a clean heart in me, O God, and renew a right spirit within my inmost being.

Cast me not away from your face, and take not your holy spirit from me.

Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and strengthen me with a princely spirit.

I will teach the unjust your ways, and the impious will be converted to you.

Rescue me from blood, O God, the God of my salvation, and my tongue will extol your justice.

O Lord, you will open my lips, and my mouth will proclaim your praise.

For if you had wanted sacrifice, I would certainly have given it; but with burnt offerings you will not be delighted.

A sacrifice to God is a broken spirit; a contrite and humbled heart, O God, you will not despise.

Deal kindly, O Lord, in your good will with Zion, so that the walls of Jerusalem may be built up.

Then you will accept the sacrifice of justice, oblations and burnt offerings; then they will lay calves upon your altar.

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. Today Christ is born for us; glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to people of good will.

New Testament Canticle

New Testament Canticle (Ephesians 1:3–10)

Blessed is God and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavens, in Christ.

Just as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, so that we would be holy and immaculate in his sight, in charity.

He predestined us into the adoption of sons through Jesus Christ for himself,

according to the purpose of his will, unto the praise of the glory of his grace,

with which he has favored us in his beloved Son.

In him, we have redemption through his blood, the remission of sins, according to the riches of his grace,

which has abounded in us with all wisdom and prudence.

So that he might make known to us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure,

as he purposed in him, for the stewardship of the fullness of time,

to recapitulate all things in Christ, those in the heavens and those on earth.

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. Holy Mother of God, ever-virgin Mary, who have given birth to the King of kings, intercede for us.

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. Holy Mother of God, ever-virgin Mary, who have given birth to the King of kings, intercede for us.

Short Reading

John 3:16

For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life.

Responsory

V. A holy day has dawned upon us. Come, you nations, and adore the Lord.

R. For today a great light has descended upon the earth. Alleluia.

V. Sing to the Lord a new song,

R. for he has done marvelous things. Alleluia.

Evening Intercessions

As evening falls during this Christmas season, let us pray in the name of the one who was born for us, saying:

For peace in our world, that the peace proclaimed at Bethlehem may become a reality among nations: we pray to you, O Lord.

Glory to God in the highest.

For those who are isolated or forgotten at this time of year, that they may know they are not alone: we pray to you, O Lord.

Glory to God in the highest.

For children, that this season may be one of wonder, security, and love for them: we pray to you, O Lord.

Glory to God in the highest.

For all who mourn, especially those who have lost a loved one since last Christmas, that hope may comfort them: we pray to you, O Lord.

Glory to God in the highest.

For our bishop and all who lead our church, that they may reflect the light of Christ in their ministry: we pray to you, O Lord.

Glory to God in the highest.

For those who have died, that they may share in the eternal Christmas of heaven: we pray to you, O Lord.

Glory to God in the highest.

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

Lord of the incarnation, as evening falls on this holy season, renew our awe at the mystery of the Word made flesh, and deepen our love for the one who came to save us; 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.