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Evening Prayer

Wednesday, January 7, 2026 • Saint Raymond of Penafort, Priest

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 62Seeking God in the Desert

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

O God, my God, for you I watch at the break of day.

My soul has thirsted for you; in how many ways has my flesh longed for you.

In a desert land, without way or water, so in the holy land I have appeared before you, to see your power and your glory.

For your mercy is better than life; my lips will praise you.

In this way, I will bless you throughout my life; and in your name I will lift up my hands.

Let my soul be filled as if with marrow and fatness, and my mouth will praise you with joyful lips.

I have remembered you upon my bed; in the morning I will meditate on you.

For you have been my helper, and under the cover of your wings I will rejoice.

My soul has adhered to you; your right hand has upheld me.

But they have sought my soul in vain; they will enter the lower parts of the earth;

they will be delivered to the power of the sword; they will be the portions of foxes.

But the king will rejoice in God; all who swear by him will be praised; for the mouth of those who speak iniquities has been stopped.

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 66May the Nations Praise God

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

May God have mercy on us and bless us; may he cause the light of his face to shine upon us, and may he have mercy on us.

So that we may know your way on earth, your salvation in all nations.

Let the peoples confess to you, O God; let all peoples give praise to you.

Let the nations rejoice and exult, for you judge the peoples with equity and direct the nations on the earth.

Let the peoples confess to you, O God; let all peoples give praise to you.

The earth has yielded its fruit.

May God, our God, bless us; may God bless us, and all the ends of the earth fear him.

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 (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. 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

1 John 1:2

The life was made visible; we have seen it and testify to it and proclaim to you the eternal life that was with the Father and was made visible to us.

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

Loving God, on this Christmas night the angels sang their praises. Accept our evening song of thanks for the gift of your Son and keep us ever grateful for your saving 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.