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Evening Prayer

Wednesday, December 23, 2026 • Saint John of Kanty, Priest
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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 109A Prayer Against Enemies
Ant. Let justice surge like water, and goodness like an unfailing stream.
O God, do not be silent in my praise.
For the mouth of the wicked and the mouth of the deceitful have been opened against me.
They have spoken against me with a deceitful tongue, and they surrounded me with words of hatred.
And they fought against me without cause.
In return for my love, they were detractors; but I prayed.
And they repaid me evil for good, and hatred for my love.
Set the sinner over him, and may the devil stand at his right hand.
When he is judged, may he go out condemned; and may his prayer be turned to sin.
May his days be few, and may another receive his episcopate.
May his sons be orphans, and his wife a widow.
Let his sons be wandering and begging, and let them be cast out of their dwellings.
May a moneylender search out all of his goods, and let strangers pillage his labors.
May there be no one to help him, nor any to have mercy on his fatherless children.
May his posterity be destroyed; in one generation may his name be blotted out.
May the iniquity of his fathers return to the remembrance of the Lord, and may the sin of his mother not be erased.
Let them be in the sight of the Lord always, and may their memorial be removed from the earth.
Because he did not remember to show mercy, and he persecuted a poor and needy man.
And the brokenhearted, so as to put him to death.
And he loved cursing, and it will come upon him; and he did not will a blessing, so it will be far from him.
And he clothed himself with cursing like a garment, and it entered into his interior like water, and like oil in his bones.
May it be to him like a garment that covers him, and like a belt that always girds him.
This is the work of those who detract me before the Lord, and who speak evil against my soul.
But you, O Lord, Lord, do for me according to your name; for your mercy is sweet.
Rescue me, for I am poor and needy, and my heart is troubled within me.
I have been taken away like a shadow when it declines; and I have been scattered like locusts.
My knees have been weakened from fasting, and my flesh has been changed because of oil.
And I have become a reproach to them; they saw me and they shook their heads.
Help me, O Lord my God; save me according to your mercy.
And let them know that this is your hand, and that you, O Lord, have done it.
They will curse, and you will bless; let those who rise up against me be confounded, but your servant will rejoice.
Let those who detract me be clothed with shame, and let them be covered with their confusion as with a double cloak.
I will confess greatly to the Lord with my mouth, and in the midst of many I will praise him.
Because he has stood at the right hand of the poor, to save my soul from those who persecute it.
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 111Praise for God's Wonders
Ant. Let justice surge like water, and goodness like an unfailing stream.
I will confess to you, O Lord, with my whole heart, in the council of the just and in the congregation.
Great are the works of the Lord, exquisite in all his purposes.
His work is praise and magnificence, and his justice remains forever and ever.
He has made a remembrance of his wonders, being the merciful and compassionate Lord.
He has given food to those who fear him; he will be mindful of his covenant forever.
He will proclaim the power of his works to his people, so that he may give them the inheritance of the Gentiles.
The works of his hands are truth and judgment; all his commandments are faithful,
confirmed forever and ever, made in truth and equity.
He has sent redemption to his people; he has commanded his covenant forever.
Holy and terrible is his name; the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.
All who practice it have good understanding; his praise endures 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.
Ant. Let justice surge like water, and goodness like an unfailing stream.
New Testament Canticle
New Testament Canticle (Ephesians 1:3–10)
Blessed is God and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavens, in Christ.
Just as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, so that we would be holy and immaculate in his sight, in charity.
He predestined us into the adoption of sons through Jesus Christ for himself,
according to the purpose of his will, unto the praise of the glory of his grace,
with which he has favored us in his beloved Son.
In him, we have redemption through his blood, the remission of sins, according to the riches of his grace,
which has abounded in us with all wisdom and prudence.
So that he might make known to us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure,
as he purposed in him, for the stewardship of the fullness of time,
to recapitulate all things in Christ, those in the heavens and those on 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.
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.