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Evening Prayer

Wednesday, December 16, 2026 • Advent, Week 2 — 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
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 62Seeking God in the Desert
Ant. Let justice surge like water, and goodness like an unfailing stream.
O God, my God, for you I watch at the break of day.
My soul has thirsted for you; in how many ways has my flesh longed for you.
In a desert land, without way or water, so in the holy land I have appeared before you, to see your power and your glory.
For your mercy is better than life; my lips will praise you.
In this way, I will bless you throughout my life; and in your name I will lift up my hands.
Let my soul be filled as if with marrow and fatness, and my mouth will praise you with joyful lips.
I have remembered you upon my bed; in the morning I will meditate on you.
For you have been my helper, and under the cover of your wings I will rejoice.
My soul has adhered to you; your right hand has upheld me.
But they have sought my soul in vain; they will enter the lower parts of the earth;
they will be delivered to the power of the sword; they will be the portions of foxes.
But the king will rejoice in God; all who swear by him will be praised; for the mouth of those who speak iniquities has been stopped.
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. Let justice surge like water, and goodness like an unfailing stream.
Psalm 66May the Nations Praise God
Ant. Let justice surge like water, and goodness like an unfailing stream.
May God have mercy on us and bless us; may he cause the light of his face to shine upon us, and may he have mercy on us.
So that we may know your way on earth, your salvation in all nations.
Let the peoples confess to you, O God; let all peoples give praise to you.
Let the nations rejoice and exult, for you judge the peoples with equity and direct the nations on the earth.
Let the peoples confess to you, O God; let all peoples give praise to you.
The earth has yielded its fruit.
May God, our God, bless us; may God bless us, and all the ends of the earth fear him.
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. Let justice surge like water, and goodness like an unfailing stream.
New Testament Canticle
New Testament Canticle (Revelation 15:3–4)
Great and wonderful are your works, O Lord God Almighty.
Just and true are your ways, O King of the ages.
Who will not fear you, O Lord, and glorify your name?
For you alone are holy.
For all nations will approach and adore in your sight,
because your judgments have been made manifest.
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 40:9–10
Cry out at the top of your voice, Jerusalem, herald of glad tidings. Behold, your God comes with power, his arm bringing him authority; his reward is with him, his recompense before him.
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
Lord, prepare our hearts for the great gift of Christmas. As we grow closer to that holy day, increase in us the spirit of expectation and the readiness to receive your Son with joy; through the same Jesus Christ our Lord. 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.