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Evening Prayer

Monday, December 14, 2026 • Saint John of the Cross, Priest and Doctor
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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
O Come, O Come, Emmanuel
O come, O come, Emmanuel,
and ransom captive Israel,
that mourns in lonely exile here,
until the Son of God appear.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
shall come to thee, O Israel!
O come, O Wisdom from on high,
who ordered all things mightily;
to us the path of knowledge show,
and teach us in her ways to go.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
shall come to thee, O Israel!
O come, thou Dayspring, from on high,
and cheer us by thy drawing nigh;
disperse the gloomy clouds of night,
and death's dark shadow put to flight.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
shall come to thee, O Israel!
Psalmody
Psalm 45God Is Our Refuge and Strength
Ant. Come, Lord, and do not delay; have mercy on us, who have sinned against you.
God is our refuge and strength, a helper in the troubles that have found us greatly.
Therefore we will not fear when the earth will be troubled, and the mountains will be transferred into the heart of the sea.
Their waters roared and were troubled; the mountains were troubled by his strength.
The outflows of the river make the city of God joyful; the Most High has sanctified his tabernacle.
God is in its midst, it will not be moved; God will help it at the break of dawn.
The nations were troubled, and the kingdoms were bowed down; he gave forth his voice, the earth was moved.
The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our support.
Come and see the works of the Lord, what wonders he has placed upon the earth,
making wars cease even to the ends of the earth.
He will destroy the bow and break the armor, and he will burn the shields in fire.
"Be empty and see that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations and exalted on the earth."
The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our support.
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. Come, Lord, and do not delay; have mercy on us, who have sinned against you.
Psalm 46The Great King Over All the Earth
Ant. Come, Lord, and do not delay; have mercy on us, who have sinned against you.
All you nations clap your hands; shout to God with a voice of jubilation.
For the Lord Most High is terrible; he is a great king over all the earth.
He has subdued peoples under us and nations under our feet.
He has chosen for us his inheritance, the beauty of Jacob which he has loved.
God has ascended with jubilation and the Lord with the voice of the trumpet.
Sing praises to our God, sing praises; sing praises to our king, sing praises.
For God is the king of all the earth; sing wisely.
God will reign over the nations; God sits on his holy throne.
The rulers of the people have gathered together with the God of Abraham.
For the mighty ones of the earth have been greatly exalted; he is the shield of the 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.
Ant. Come, Lord, and do not delay; have mercy on us, who have sinned against you.
New Testament Canticle
New Testament Canticle (Revelation 4:11; 5:9–10, 12)
Worthy are you, O Lord our God, to receive glory and honor and virtue;
for you created all things, and by your will they were and have been created.
Worthy are you, O Lord, to take the book and to open its seals;
for you were slain, and you have redeemed us for God in your blood,
from every tribe and tongue and people and nation.
And you have made us into a kingdom and priests for our God, and we will reign upon the earth.
Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and divinity and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and blessing.
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. The Lord will come; go out to meet him, saying: "Great is his dominion, and his peace will have no end."
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. The Lord will come; go out to meet him, saying: "Great is his dominion, and his peace will have no end."
Short Reading
Isaiah 45:8
Let justice descend, O heavens, like dew from above, like gentle rain let the skies drop it down. Let the earth open and salvation bud forth; let justice also spring up.
Responsory
V. Come and set us free, Lord God of power.
R. Let your face shine on us and we shall be saved.
V. Show us your steadfast love, O Lord,
R. and grant us your salvation.
Evening Intercessions
As evening falls during this holy season of waiting, let us pray to the Lord who comes, saying:
For the church, that our Advent waiting may be active and hopeful, not passive or fearful: we pray to you, O Lord.
Come, Lord Jesus.
For those who hunger for justice and for peace, that the promise of your kingdom may sustain them: we pray to you, O Lord.
Come, Lord Jesus.
For the sick and those who care for them, that the healing touch of Christ may be near: we pray to you, O Lord.
Come, Lord Jesus.
For all who will travel during this season, that they may journey safely: we pray to you, O Lord.
Come, Lord Jesus.
For those who have died, especially those we remember in our hearts this evening, that they may share in the joy of the Lord's coming: we pray to you, O Lord.
Come, Lord Jesus.
For our parish community, that our Advent journey together may prepare us well for the joy of Christmas: we pray to you, O Lord.
Come, Lord Jesus.
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
Come, Lord Jesus, as we await your coming in glory. Let the hope of your coming fill our prayers tonight and let us wake tomorrow ready to serve you; who lives and reigns with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen.
Marian Antiphon
Alma Redemptoris Mater
Loving Mother of the Redeemer, gate of heaven, star of the sea, assist your people who have fallen, yet strive to rise again. To the wonderment of nature you bore your Creator, yet remained a virgin after as before. You who received Gabriel's joyful greeting, have pity on us poor sinners.
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.