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Evening Prayer

Wednesday, March 11, 2026 • Lent, Week 3 — Wednesday
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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
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 139Deliver Me From Evil Men (Part I)
Ant. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin.
Rescue me, O Lord, from evil men; free me from the unjust man.
Those who have devised iniquities in their heart; all day long they incited conflicts.
They have sharpened their tongue like a serpent; the venom of asps is under their lips.
Guard me, O Lord, from the hand of the sinner, and free me from unjust men.
Those who have planned to supplant my steps.
The arrogant have hidden a snare for me, and they have extended cords as a trap.
Beside the path they have set a stumbling block for me.
I said to the Lord: "You are my God." Hear, O Lord, the voice of my petition.
O Lord, Lord, the power of my salvation: you cast a shadow over my head in the day of battle.
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 139Deliver Me From Evil Men (Part II)
Ant. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin.
Do not hand me over, O Lord, to the desire of the wicked; they have conspired against me; do not abandon me, lest they prevail.
The head of their encirclement: the labor of their lips will overwhelm them.
Burning coals will fall upon them; you will cast them into the fire, into miserable ruin, and they will not endure.
A man of tongue will not be established on the earth; evil will capture the unjust man for his destruction.
I know that the Lord will effect the judgment of the poor, and the vindication of the needy.
Yet truly the just will confess to your name, and the upright will dwell with your face.
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 (Revelation 19:1–7)
Alleluia! Salvation and glory and power belong to our God.
For his judgments are true and just; for he has judged the great harlot who corrupted the earth with her fornication.
And he has avenged the blood of his servants from her hands.
Alleluia! And her smoke ascends forever and ever.
And the twenty-four elders and the four living creatures fell down and adored God, seated upon the throne, saying: Amen. Alleluia.
And a voice went out from the throne, saying: "Give praise to our God, all you servants of God, and those who fear him, the small and the great."
And I heard as if a voice of a great multitude, and like the voice of many waters, and like the voice of great thunders, saying: "Alleluia! For the Lord our God, the Almighty, has reigned."
"Let us be glad and rejoice and give glory to him; for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and his wife has prepared herself."
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.