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Evening Prayer

Saturday, March 28, 2026 • Lent, Week 5 — Saturday

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 128They Have Often Afflicted Me

Ant. Do not forsake me, O Lord; be not far from me, O my God.

Often they have fought against me from my youth; let Israel now say.

Often they have fought against me from my youth; but they could not prevail over me.

Upon my back, sinners have constructed; they have prolonged their iniquity.

The Lord is just; he will cut asunder the neck of sinners.

Let them all be confounded and turned back, who hate Zion.

Let them become like the grass on the rooftops, which withers before it is pulled up.

Of which the reaper does not fill his hand, nor he who gathers the sheaves his bosom.

And let those who pass by not say: "The blessing of the Lord be upon you; we have blessed you in the name of the Lord."

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 129Out of the Depths I Cry

Ant. Do not forsake me, O Lord; be not far from me, O my God.

From the depths I have cried out to you, O Lord; Lord, hear my voice.

Let your ears be attentive to the voice of my supplication.

If you, Lord, observe iniquities, Lord, who will endure it?

For with you there is forgiveness, and because of your law I have waited for you, O Lord.

My soul has patiently waited on his word; my soul has hoped in the Lord.

From the morning watch, even until night, let Israel hope in the Lord.

For with the Lord there is mercy, and with him there is plentiful redemption.

And he will redeem Israel from all his iniquities.

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 1:3–9)

Blessed is God and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to his great mercy has regenerated us into a living hope, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.

Into an inheritance that is incorruptible and undefiled and unfading, reserved in heaven for you.

You are guarded in the virtue of God through faith, unto salvation, which is ready to be revealed in the last time.

In this you will exult, even though now for a little while it is necessary for you to be made sorrowful by diverse trials.

So that the testing of your faith, much more precious than gold which is tested through fire, may be found unto praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

Him you love without having seen him; in him you believe though you do not see him; and believing, you will rejoice with an inexpressible and glorious joy.

Attaining the end of your faith: the salvation of souls.

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.