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Evening Prayer

Saturday, January 2, 2027 • Saints Basil the Great and Gregory Nazianzen, Bishops and Doctors

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

Silent Night, Holy Night

Silent night, holy night!
All is calm, all is bright.
Round yon virgin mother and child,
holy infant, so tender and mild;
sleep in heavenly peace,
sleep in heavenly peace.

Silent night, holy night!
Shepherds quake at the sight.
Glories stream from heaven afar,
heavenly hosts sing alleluia;
Christ the Savior is born,
Christ the Savior is born.

Silent night, holy night!
Son of God, love's pure light
radiant beams from thy holy face,
with the dawn of redeeming grace;
Jesus, Lord, at thy birth,
Jesus, Lord, at thy birth.

Psalmody

Psalm 33Taste and See the Goodness of the Lord

Ant. Today Christ is born for us; glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to people of good will.

I will bless the Lord at all times; his praise will always be in my mouth.

My soul will be praised in the Lord; let the meek hear and rejoice.

Magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together.

I sought the Lord and he heard me, and he rescued me from all my troubles.

Approach him and be enlightened, and your faces will not be confounded.

This poor man cried out and the Lord heard him, and he saved him from all his troubles.

The Angel of the Lord will encompass those who fear him and will rescue them.

Taste and see that the Lord is sweet; blessed is the man who hopes in him.

Fear the Lord, all you his saints, for there is no indigence for those who fear him.

The rich have been in need and have been hungry, but those who seek the Lord will not be deprived of any good thing.

Come, sons, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the Lord.

Who is the man who desires life? Who loves to see good days?

Restrain your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking deceit.

Turn away from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it.

The eyes of the Lord are upon the just, and his ears attend to their prayers.

But the countenance of the Lord is upon those who do evil, to destroy their remembrance from the earth.

The just cried out, and the Lord heard them and rescued them from all their tribulations.

The Lord is near to those who are troubled in heart, and he will save the humble of spirit.

Many are the afflictions of the just, and from all of them the Lord will rescue them.

The Lord keeps all their bones; not one of them will be broken.

The death of sinners is terrible, and those who hate the just will be guilty.

The Lord will redeem the souls of his servants, and none of those who hope in him will be guilty.

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. Today Christ is born for us; glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to people of good will.

Psalm 34Prayer Against Enemies

Ant. Today Christ is born for us; glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to people of good will.

Judge, O Lord, those who harm me; fight against those who fight against me.

Take up a shield and armor, and rise up as my help.

Draw out a sword and close in against those who pursue me; say to my soul: "I am your salvation."

Let those who seek my soul be confounded and ashamed; let those who consider evils for me be turned back and be confounded.

Let them be like dust before the wind, and the Angel of the Lord afflicting them.

Let their way become dark and slippery, and the Angel of the Lord pursuing them.

For without cause they have hidden their snare for me unto destruction; without cause they have reproached my soul.

Let the snare he has not seen come upon him, and let the trap he has hidden catch him; and let him fall into that snare.

But my soul will exult in the Lord and will delight in his salvation.

All my bones will say: "Lord, who is like to you? You rescue the poor man from the hand of those stronger than him, the needy and the poor from those who plunder him."

Unjust witnesses have risen up, asking me things I know nothing about.

They repaid me evil things for good things, to the desolation of my soul.

But when they troubled me, I was clothed with a haircloth, and I humbled my soul with fasting, and my prayer would return to my bosom.

I acted pleasing to my neighbor as to a brother of mine; as one mourning and sorrowing, so was I humbled.

And they rejoiced against me and were gathered together; scourges were gathered together against me, and I did not know it.

They were scattered, yet they were not compunctious; they tempted me, they mocked me with mockery; they gnashed their teeth against me.

O Lord, when will you look upon this? Restore my soul from their malice, my only life from the lions.

I will confess to you in the great church; among a formidable people I will praise you.

Let those who are my adversaries unjustly not rejoice over me; those who hate me without cause and wink their eyes.

For truly they spoke peaceably with me, and speaking with anger, they thought up deceits.

And they opened their mouths wide against me; they said, "Well done, well done! Our eyes have seen it."

You have seen, O Lord; do not be silent; O Lord, do not withdraw from me.

Arise and be attentive to my judgment, to my cause, O my God and my Lord.

Judge me according to your justice, O Lord my God, and let them not rejoice over me.

Let them not say in their hearts: "Well done, well done, to our soul." Neither let them say: "We have swallowed him up."

Let them be ashamed and fear all at once who rejoice at my evils; let them be clothed with shame and shame who speak great things against me.

Let those who approve of my justice exult and rejoice; and let those who desire the peace of his servant always say: "The Lord be magnified."

And my tongue will meditate on your justice, your praise all the day long.

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. Today Christ is born for us; glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to people of good will.

New Testament Canticle

New Testament Canticle (Titus 3:4–7)

But when the goodness and kindness of God our Savior appeared,

not by the works of justice that we have done, but according to his mercy, he saved us,

through the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit,

whom he has poured out upon us abundantly, through Jesus Christ our Savior.

So that, being justified by his grace, we may be heirs according to the hope of life everlasting.

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. Holy Mother of God, ever-virgin Mary, who have given birth to the King of kings, intercede for us.

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. Holy Mother of God, ever-virgin Mary, who have given birth to the King of kings, intercede for us.

Short Reading

1 Timothy 3:16

Undeniably great is the mystery of devotion, who was manifested in the flesh, vindicated in the spirit, seen by angels, proclaimed to the Gentiles, believed in throughout the world, taken up in glory.

Responsory

V. A holy day has dawned upon us. Come, you nations, and adore the Lord.

R. For today a great light has descended upon the earth. Alleluia.

V. Sing to the Lord a new song,

R. for he has done marvelous things. Alleluia.

Evening Intercessions

As evening falls during this Christmas season, let us pray in the name of the one who was born for us, saying:

For peace in our world, that the peace proclaimed at Bethlehem may become a reality among nations: we pray to you, O Lord.

Glory to God in the highest.

For those who are isolated or forgotten at this time of year, that they may know they are not alone: we pray to you, O Lord.

Glory to God in the highest.

For children, that this season may be one of wonder, security, and love for them: we pray to you, O Lord.

Glory to God in the highest.

For all who mourn, especially those who have lost a loved one since last Christmas, that hope may comfort them: we pray to you, O Lord.

Glory to God in the highest.

For our bishop and all who lead our church, that they may reflect the light of Christ in their ministry: we pray to you, O Lord.

Glory to God in the highest.

For those who have died, that they may share in the eternal Christmas of heaven: we pray to you, O Lord.

Glory to God in the highest.

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

O God, who gave us your only Son, in whom every gift is given: fill us with gratitude for your generosity, and make us generous in turn to all in need; 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.