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Evening Prayer

Friday, March 27, 2026 • Lent, Week 5 — Friday
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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 116Praise the Lord, All Nations
Ant. My sacrifice is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart you will not despise.
Praise the Lord, all nations; praise him, all peoples.
For his mercy has been strengthened upon us; and the truth of the Lord remains 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. My sacrifice is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart you will not despise.
Psalm 120I Lift My Eyes to the Mountains
Ant. My sacrifice is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart you will not despise.
I have lifted up my eyes to the mountains, from which help will come to me.
My help is from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.
May he not allow your foot to be moved; may he not slumber who guards you.
Behold, he who guards Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.
The Lord is your guardian; the Lord is your protection at your right hand.
The sun will not burn you by day, nor the moon by night.
The Lord guards you from all evil; may the Lord guard your soul.
May the Lord guard your going out and your coming in, from this time forward and forevermore.
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. My sacrifice is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart you will not despise.
New Testament Canticle
New Testament Canticle (Revelation 5:9–14)
Worthy are you to take the book and to open its seals;
for you were slain, and you have redeemed us for God in your blood.
And you have made us into a kingdom and priests for our God.
Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and divinity and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and blessing.
To him who sits upon the throne, and to the Lamb: blessing and honor and glory and power, 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.
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
Micah 7:18
Who is there like you, the God who removes guilt and pardons sin for the remnant of his inheritance; who does not persist in anger forever, but delights rather in clemency.
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
Gracious God, you ask us to fast not merely from food but from sin and selfishness. Help us to share our bread with the hungry and to set free those who are oppressed; through 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.