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Evening Prayer

Wednesday, March 4, 2026 • Saint Casimir

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

Lift High the Cross

In the evening of this day, O Lord, we come to you,
contrite hearts and broken spirits, seeking to be made new;
for our sins are heavy burdens, and the way is long and steep;
grant us mercy, Lord, and pardon, as we cry to you and weep.

Let the cross of Jesus be the sign before our eyes,
his great love poured out in sorrow, his great death our sacrifice;
and the stone rolled back in glory, and the tomb forever bare:
this the sign that sins are conquered, this the gift beyond compare.

Now the evening lamps are lighted, and the darkness gathers near;
grant us peace beyond all asking, keep us safe from doubt and fear;
in the night may angels watch us, and at morning may we rise
to the glory of your mercy shining bright before our eyes.

Psalmody

Psalm 109A Prayer Against Enemies

Ant. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin.

O God, do not be silent in my praise.

For the mouth of the wicked and the mouth of the deceitful have been opened against me.

They have spoken against me with a deceitful tongue, and they surrounded me with words of hatred.

And they fought against me without cause.

In return for my love, they were detractors; but I prayed.

And they repaid me evil for good, and hatred for my love.

Set the sinner over him, and may the devil stand at his right hand.

When he is judged, may he go out condemned; and may his prayer be turned to sin.

May his days be few, and may another receive his episcopate.

May his sons be orphans, and his wife a widow.

Let his sons be wandering and begging, and let them be cast out of their dwellings.

May a moneylender search out all of his goods, and let strangers pillage his labors.

May there be no one to help him, nor any to have mercy on his fatherless children.

May his posterity be destroyed; in one generation may his name be blotted out.

May the iniquity of his fathers return to the remembrance of the Lord, and may the sin of his mother not be erased.

Let them be in the sight of the Lord always, and may their memorial be removed from the earth.

Because he did not remember to show mercy, and he persecuted a poor and needy man.

And the brokenhearted, so as to put him to death.

And he loved cursing, and it will come upon him; and he did not will a blessing, so it will be far from him.

And he clothed himself with cursing like a garment, and it entered into his interior like water, and like oil in his bones.

May it be to him like a garment that covers him, and like a belt that always girds him.

This is the work of those who detract me before the Lord, and who speak evil against my soul.

But you, O Lord, Lord, do for me according to your name; for your mercy is sweet.

Rescue me, for I am poor and needy, and my heart is troubled within me.

I have been taken away like a shadow when it declines; and I have been scattered like locusts.

My knees have been weakened from fasting, and my flesh has been changed because of oil.

And I have become a reproach to them; they saw me and they shook their heads.

Help me, O Lord my God; save me according to your mercy.

And let them know that this is your hand, and that you, O Lord, have done it.

They will curse, and you will bless; let those who rise up against me be confounded, but your servant will rejoice.

Let those who detract me be clothed with shame, and let them be covered with their confusion as with a double cloak.

I will confess greatly to the Lord with my mouth, and in the midst of many I will praise him.

Because he has stood at the right hand of the poor, to save my soul from those who persecute it.

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. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin.

Psalm 111Praise for God's Wonders

Ant. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin.

I will confess to you, O Lord, with my whole heart, in the council of the just and in the congregation.

Great are the works of the Lord, exquisite in all his purposes.

His work is praise and magnificence, and his justice remains forever and ever.

He has made a remembrance of his wonders, being the merciful and compassionate Lord.

He has given food to those who fear him; he will be mindful of his covenant forever.

He will proclaim the power of his works to his people, so that he may give them the inheritance of the Gentiles.

The works of his hands are truth and judgment; all his commandments are faithful,

confirmed forever and ever, made in truth and equity.

He has sent redemption to his people; he has commanded his covenant forever.

Holy and terrible is his name; the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.

All who practice it have good understanding; his praise endures forever and ever.

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. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin.

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. Turn to the Lord your God, for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and of great kindness.

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. Turn to the Lord your God, for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and of great kindness.

Short Reading

Romans 5:8

But God proves his love for us in that while we were still sinners Christ died for us.

Responsory

V. Turn to me, O Lord, and have mercy on me.

R. Give your strength to your servant.

V. Do not forsake me, O Lord;

R. be not far from me, O my God.

Evening Intercessions

At the close of this Lenten day, let us lay our prayers before the Lord, saying:

For the church, that this Lenten season may lead to a deeper love of God and neighbor: we pray to you, O Lord.

Lord, have mercy.

For catechumens preparing for Easter baptism, that their formation in faith may be fruitful: we pray to you, O Lord.

Lord, have mercy.

For those suffering from addiction, violence, or poverty, that they may find relief and support: we pray to you, O Lord.

Lord, have mercy.

For those we have hurt or neglected, that God may heal the wounds we have caused: we pray to you, O Lord.

Lord, have mercy.

For all who are dying, that they may face death with hope and peace: we pray to you, O Lord.

Lord, have mercy.

For the faithful departed, that they may come to the fullness of life: we pray to you, O Lord.

Lord, have mercy.

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, receive the sacrifices of this Lenten day as an offering pleasing to you. Whatever we have done well, count it to your glory; whatever we have failed in, pardon in your mercy; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Marian Antiphon

Ave Regina Caelorum

Hail, O Queen of heaven enthroned! Hail, by angels Mistress owned! Root of Jesse, Gate of morn, whence the world's true Light was born: glorious Virgin, joy to thee, loveliest whom in heaven they see: fairest thou where all are fair, plead with Christ our sins to spare.

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.