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Evening Prayer

Saturday, March 21, 2026 • Lent, Week 4 — Saturday
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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 119Your Testimonies Are Wonderful (Ain)
Ant. Do not forsake me, O Lord; be not far from me, O my God.
Your testimonies are wonderful; therefore my soul has sought them.
The declaration of your words illuminates, and it gives understanding to little ones.
I opened my mouth and drew breath, because I longed for your commandments.
Look upon me and have mercy on me, according to the judgment of those who love your name.
Direct my steps according to your word, and let no iniquity have dominion over me.
Rescue me from the slander of men, and I will keep your commandments.
Make your face shine upon your servant, and teach me your justifications.
My eyes have sent forth springs of water, because they have not kept your law.
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. Do not forsake me, O Lord; be not far from me, O my God.
Psalm 122To You I Lift My Eyes
Ant. Do not forsake me, O Lord; be not far from me, O my God.
To you I have lifted up my eyes, you who dwell in heaven.
Behold, like the eyes of servants towards the hands of their masters,
like the eyes of a handmaid towards the hands of her mistress,
so are our eyes towards the Lord our God, until he has mercy on us.
Have mercy on us, O Lord, have mercy on us; for we are greatly filled with contempt.
For our soul has been greatly filled; a reproach to those who are at ease, and a contempt for the arrogant.
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. Do not forsake me, O Lord; be not far from me, O my God.
New Testament Canticle
New Testament Canticle (1 Peter 2:21–24)
Christ also suffered on your behalf, leaving you an example so that you would follow his footsteps.
"He had committed no sin, and deceit was not found in his mouth."
When he was reviled, he did not revile. When he suffered, he did not threaten.
Instead, he handed himself over to the one who judged him unjustly.
He himself carried our sins in his body upon the cross,
so that, being dead to sins, we would live to justice,
"by his wounds you have been healed."
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
Psalm 86:5
For you, O Lord, are good and forgiving, abounding in kindness to all who call upon you.
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
Lord Jesus, you came not to condemn but to save. Look with compassion on all who are troubled in body, mind, or spirit, and bring healing where there is pain; who lives and reigns with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. 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.