basic prayers

A certain memorization of some essential prayers, far from opposing the dignity of young Christians, or obstructing personal dialogue with the Lord, constitutes a real need. What is memorized must at the same time be absorbed and gradually understood in depth, in order to become a source of Christian life.¹

The Christian begins his day, his prayers, and his activities with the Sign of the Cross. The sign of the cross strengthens us in temptations and difficulties.

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

By the sign of the cross de-liver us from our enemies, you who are our God. In the name . .

In nómine Patris, et Fílii, et Spíritus Sancti. Amen.

Per signum crucis de inimícis nostris líbera nos, Deus noster. In nómine Patris, . . .

“In the Our Father, the object of the first three petitions is the glory of the Father: the sanctification of his name, the coming of the kingdom, and the fulfillment of his will. The four others present our wants to him: they ask that our lives be nourished, healed of sin, and made victorious in the struggle of good over evil.

“By the final ‘Amen’, we express our ‘fiats’ concerning the seven petitions: ‘So be it.’”²

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. Amen.

Pater noster, qui es in cælis: sanctificétur nomen tuum; advéniat regnum tuum; fiat volúntas tua, sicut in cælo, et in terra.

Panem nostrum cotidiánum da nobis hódie; et dimítte nobis débita nostra sicut et nos dimíttimus debitóribus nostris; et ne nos indúcas in tentatiónem; sed líbera nos a malo. Amen.

“Hail Mary”, the greeting of the angel Gabriel, opens this prayer. It is God himself who, through his angel as intermediary, greets Mary. Our prayer dares to take up this greeting to Mary with the regard God had for the lowliness of ‘his humble servant and to exult in the joy he finds in her.

“Full of grace, the Lord is with thee.” These two phrases of the angel’s greeting shed light on one another. The grace with which Mary is filled is the presence of Him who is the source of all grace.

“Blessed art thou among women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.” After the angel’s greeting, we make Elizabeth’s greeting our own. “Filled with the Holy Spirit “Elizabeth is the first in the long succession of generations who have called Mary blessed.” “Blessed is she who believed....” Mary is “blessed among women” because she believed in the fulfillment of the Lord’s word, thus becoming the mother of believers, through whom all nations of the earth receive him who is God’s own blessing: Jesus, the “fruit of thy womb.”

“Holy Mary, Mother of God.” Mary is Mother of God and our mother; we can entrust all our cares and petitions to her: she prays for us as she prayed for herself: “Let it be to me according to your word.” By entrusting ourselves to her prayer, we abandon ourselves to the will of God together with her.

“Pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death.” By asking Mary to pray for us, we acknowledge ourselves to be poor sinners and we address ourselves to the “Mother of Mercy,” the All-Holy One. And our trust broadens further to surrender “the hour of our death” wholly to her care. May she be there as she was at her son’s death on the cross. May she welcome us as our mother at the hour of our passing to lead us to her son, Jesus, in paradise.³

Hail, Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee; blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb Jesus.

Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen.

Ave, María, grátia plena, Dóminus tecum; benedícta tu in muliéribus, et benedíctus fructus ventris tui, Iesus.

Sancta María, Mater Dei, ora pro nobis peccatóribus, nunc et in hora mortis nostræ. Amen.

The Glory Be, perhaps derived from Christ command: “Baptized in the Name of the Father and of the son and of the Holy Spirit”, has been recited since the first centuries of Christianity. This hymn of praise to the triune God joins us with the heavenly hosts in glorifying God. With the Glory Be we also profess, in a formula against the heresies of Arius (who denied the divinity of the Son) and Macedonius (who denied the divinity of the Holy Spirit), our faith in the most fundamental and basic mystery of revelation: the mystery of the Holy Trinity.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.

As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

Glória Patri, et Fílio, et Spirítui Sancto.

Sicut erat in princípio et nunc et semper et in saécula sæculórum. Amen.

The Apostles’ Creed is so called because it is rightly considered to be a faithful summary of the Apostle's faith. It is the ancient baptismal symbol of the Church of Rome.⁴

I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth. I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord. He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended to the dead. On the third day he rose again. He ascended into heaven, and is seated the right hand of the Father. He will come again to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.

Credo in Deum, Patrem omnipoténtem, Creatórem cæli et terræ. Et in Iesum Christum, Fílium eius únicum, Dóminum nostrum: qui concéptus est de Spíritu Sancto, natus ex María Vírgine, passus sub Póntio Piláto, crucifíxus, mórtuus, et sepúltus; descéndit ad ínferos; tértia die resurréxit a mórtuis; ascéndit ad cælos; sedet ad déxteram Dei Patris omnipoténtis; inde ventúrus est iudicáre vivos et mórtuos. Credo in Spíritum Sanctum, sanctam Ecclésiam cathólicam, Sanctórum communiónem, remissiónem peccatórum, carnis resurrectiónem, vitam ætérnam. Amen.

O Jesus, through the Immaculate Heart of Mary, I offer you my prayers, works, joys and sufferings of this day for all the intentions of your Sacred Heart, in union with the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass throughout the world, in reparation for my sins, for the intentions of all my relatives and friends and in particular for the intentions of the Holy Father. Amen.

My Queen and my Mother, I give myself entirely to you and in proof of my affection, I give you my eyes, my ears, my tongue, my heart, my whole being without reserve. Since I am your own, keep me and guard me as your property and possession. Amen.

Angel of God, my guardian dear, to whom his love commits me here ever this day (or night), be at my side, to light and guard, to rule and guide. Amen.

Angele Dei, qui custos es mei, me tibi commissum pietates superna illumina, custodi, rege et guberna. Amen.

O my God, I firmly believe that you are one God in three divine persons, Father, Son and Holy Spirit; I believe that your divine Son became man and died for our sins, and that he shall come to judge the living and the dead. I believe these and all the truths that the holy Catholic Church teaches, because you have revealed them, who can neither deceive nor be deceived.

O my God, relying on your almighty power and infinite mercy and promises, I hope to obtain pardon for my sins, the help of your grace, and life everlasting, through the merits of Jesus Christ, my Lord and Redeemer.

O my God, I love you above all things, with my whole heart and soul, because you are all-good and worthy of all love. I love my neighbor as myself for the love of you. I forgive all who have injured me, and ask pardon of all whom I have injured.

Direct, we beg you, O Lord, our actions by your holy inspirations, and carry them on by your gracious assistance, that every prayer and work of ours may begin always with you, and through you be happily ended. Amen.

Lord, God Almighty, you have brought us safely to the beginning of this day. Defend us today by your mighty power, that we may not fall into any sin, but that all our words may so proceed and all our thoughts and actions be so directed, as to be always just in your sight. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

In all things may the most holy, the most just, and the most lovable will of God be done, praised, and exalted above all for ever. Your will be done, O Lord, your will be done. The Lord has given, the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.

Lord Jesus Christ, Shepherd of souls, who called the apostles to be fishers of men, raise up new apostles in your holy Church. Teach them that to serve you is to reign: to possess you is to possess all things. Kindle in the young hearts of our people the fire of zeal for souls. Make them eager to spread your Kingdom upon earth. Grant them courage to follow you, who are the Way, the Truth and the Life; who lives and reigns for ever and ever. Amen.

This hymn of adoration to God was an introduction to the Sabbath liturgy of the Synagogue. The Church has placed it at the beginning of each day's divine office.

Come, let us sing to the Lord and shout with joy to the Rock who saves us. Let us approach him with praise and thanksgiving and sing joyful songs to the Lord.

The Lord is God, the mighty God, the great king over all the gods. He holds in his hands the depths of the earth and the highest mountains as well. He made the sea; it belongs to him, the dry land, too, for it was formed by his hands.

Come, then, let us bow down and worship, bending the knee before the Lord, our maker. For he is our God and we are his people, the flock he shepherds.

Today, listen to the voice of the Lord: Do not grow stubborn, as your fathers did in the wilderness, when at Meriba and Massah they challenged me and provoked me, Although they had seen all of my works.

Forty years I endured that generation. I said, “They are a people whose hearts go astray and they do not know my ways.”

So I swore in my anger, “They shall not enter into my rest.” Glory be . . .

Veníte, exsultémus Dómino; iubilémus Deo salutári nostro. Præoccupémus fáciem eius in confessióne et in psalmis iubilémus ei.

Quóniam Deus magnus Dóminus et rex magnus super omnes deos. Quia in manu eius sunt profúnda terræ, et altitúdines móntium ipsíus sunt. Quóniam ipsíus est mare, et ipse fecit illud, et siccam manus eius formavérunt.

Veníte, adorémus et procidámus et génua flectámus ante Dóminum, qui fecit nos, quia ipse est Deus noster, et nos pópulus páscuæ eius et oves manus eius.

Utinam hódie vocem eius audiátis: “Nolíte obduráre corda vestra, sicut in Meríba secúndum diem Massa in desérto, ubi tentavérunt me patres vestri: probavérunt me, etsi vidérunt ópera mea.

Quadragínta annis taéduit me generatiónis illíus,

et dixi: Pópulus errántium corde sunt isti.

Et ipsi non cognovérunt vias meas; ídeo iurávi in ira mea: Non introíbunt in réquiem meam”. Glória Patri . . .

The mystery of Christ, his Incarnation and Passover, which we celebrate in the Eucharist especially at Sunday Mass, permeates and transfigures the time of each day, through the celebration of the Liturgy of the Hours, “the divine office.” This celebration, faithful to the apostolic exhortations to “pray constantly,” is “so devised that the whole course of the day and night is made holy by the praise of God.” In this “public prayer of the Church,” the faithful (clergy, religious, and lay people) exercise the royal priesthood of the baptized.

The Liturgy of the Hours, which is like an extension of the sacrifice of the Mass, does not exclude but rather in a complementary way calls forth the various devotions of the People of God, especially adoration and worship of the Blessed Sacrament.

The Psalms constitute the masterwork of prayer in the Old Testament. They present two inseparable qualities: the personal, and the communal. They extend to all dimensions of history, recalling God’s promises already fulfilled and looking for the coming of the Messiah.⁵

Gatherings of the laity–for prayer, apostolic work or any other reason–are encouraged to fulfill the Church’s office by celebrating part of the Liturgy of the Hours.⁶

Morning Prayer, celebrated as the light of a new day is dawning, recalls the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, the true light enlightening all mankind (Jn 1:9) and “the Sun of justice” (Ml 4:2), “rising from on high” (Lk 1:78).⁷

God, come to my assistance.

℟. Lord, make haste to help me.

Glory be to the Father . . .

As it was in the beginning. . . . Alleluia.

Ant. 1 It is you whom I invoke, O Lord. In the morning you hear me.

Morning prayer for help Psalm 5:2-10,12-13

Those who have received the Word of God which dwells within will rejoice for ever.

To my words give ear, O lord, * give heed to my groaning.

Attend to the sound of my cries, * my King and my God.

It is you whom I invoke, O Lord. * In the morning you hear me;

in the morning I offer you my prayer, * watching and waiting.

You are no God who loves evil; * no sinner is your guest.

The boastful shall not stand their ground * before your face.

You hate all who do evil: * you destroy all who lie.

The deceitful and bloodthirsty man * the Lord detests.

But I through the greatness of your love * have access to your house.

I bow down before your holy temple, * filled with awe.

Lead me, Lord, in your justice, + because of those who live in wait; * make clear your way before me.

No truth can be found in their mouths, * their heart is all mischief,

their throat a wide-open grave, * all honey their speech.

All those you protect shall be glad * and ring out their joy.

You shelter them; in you they rejoice, * those who love your name.

It is you who bless the just man, Lord: * you surround him with favor as with a shield. Glory be . . .

Ant. It is you whom I invoke, O Lord. In the morning you hear me.

Ant. 2 We praise your glorious name, O Lord, our God.

Canticle

Glory and honor are due to God alone 1 Chronicles 29:10-13

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ (Eph 1:3).

Blessed may you be, O Lord, + God of Israel our father, * from eternity to eternity.

Yours, O Lord, are grandeur and power, * majesty, splendor, and glory.

For all in heaven and on earth is yours; + yours, O Lord, is the sovereignty: * you are exalted as head over all.

Riches and honor are from you, * and you have dominion over all.

In your hands are power and might; * it is yours to give grandeur and strength to all.

Therefore, our God, we give you thanks * and we praise the majesty of your name. Glory be . . .

Ant. We praise your glorious name, O Lord, our God.

Ant. 3 Adore the Lord in his holy court.

A tribute of praise to the Word of God Psalm 29

A voice was heard from heaven, saying, ‘This is my beloved Son’ (Mt 3:17)

O give the Lord you sons of God, * give the Lord glory and power;

give the Lord the glory of his name. * Adore the Lord in his holy court.

The Lord’s voice resounding on the waters, * the Lord on the immensity of waters;

the voice of the Lord, full of power, * the voice of the Lord, full of splendor.

The Lord’s voice shattering the cedars, * the Lord shatters the cedars of Lebanon;

he makes Lebanon leap like a calf * and Sirion like a young wild-ox.

The Lord’s voice flashes flames of fire. + The Lord’s voice shaking the wilderness * The Lord’s shakes the wilderness of Kadesh;

the Lord’s voice rending the oak tree * and stripping the forest bare.

The God of glory thunders. * In his temple they all cry: “Glory!”

The Lord sat enthroned over the flood; the Lord sits as king for ever.

The Lord will give strength to his people, * the Lord will bless his people with peace. Glory be . . .

Ant. Adore the Lord in his holy court.

We gave you a rule when we were with you: not to let anyone have any food if he refused to do any work. Now we hear that there are some of you who are living in idleness, doing no work themselves but interfering with everyone else’s. In the Lord Jesus Christ, we order and call on people of this kind to go on quietly working and earning the food that they eat. My bro-thers, never grow tired of doing what is right.

℟. Blessed be the Lord our God, * blessed from age to age. Repeat R.

His marvelous works are beyond compare,* blessed from age to age. Glory be . . . R.

Ant. Blessed be the Lord our God.

Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel; * he has come to his people and set them free.

He has raised up for us a mighty savior, * born of the house of his servant David.

Through his holy prophets he promised of old + that he would save us from our enemies, * from the hands of all who hate us.

He promised to show mercy to our fathers * and to remember his holy covenant.

This was the oath he swore to our father Abraham: + to set us free from the hands of our enemies, * free to worship him without fear,

holy and righteous in his sight * all the days of our life.

You, my child, shall be called the prophet of the Most High; * for you will go before the Lord to prepare his way,

to give his people knowledge of salvation * by the forgiveness of their sins.

In the tender compassion of our God * the dawn from on high shall break upon us,

to shine on those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death, * and to guide our feet into the way of peace. Glory be . . .

Ant. Blessed be the Lord our God.

As the new day begins let us praise Christ, in whom is the fullness of grace and the Spirit of God.

℟. Lord, give us your Spirit.

We praise you, Lord, —and we thank you for all your blessings. R. Give us peace of mind and generosity of heart; —grant us health and strength to do your will R. May your love be with us during the day; —guide us in our work. R. Be with all those who have asked our prayers, —and grant them all their needs. R.

Our Father . . .

Father, may everything we do begin with your inspiration and continue with your saving help. Let our work always find its origin in you and through you reach completion.

We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.

℟. Amen.

If a priest or deacon presides, he dismisses the people as at Mass.

Otherwise Morning Prayer concludes:

May the Lord bless us, protect us from all evil and bring us to everlasting life. R. Amen.

For centuries the Church has recited the Angelus several times each day, especially at noon, in honor of the Incarnation and the Blessed Mother of God.

℣. The angel of the Lord declared unto Mary;

℟. And she conceived by the Holy Spirit.

Hail Mary . . .

℣. Behold the handmaid of the Lord.

℟. Be it done unto me according to your word.

Hail Mary . . .

℣. And the Word was made flesh.

℟. And dwelt among us.

Hail Mary . . .

℣. Pray for us, O holy Mother of God.

℟. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

Let us pray.

Pour forth, we beseech you, O Lord, your grace into our hearts, that we to whom the incarnation of Christ, your Son, was made known by the message of an angel, may by his passion and cross be brought to the glory of his resurrection, through the same Christ our Lord.

℟. Amen.

℣. Angelus Dómini, nuntiávit Maríæ.

℟. Et concépit de Spíritu Sancto.

Ave María . . .

℣. Ecce ancílla Dómini.

℟. Fiat mihi secúndum verbum tuum.

Ave María . . .

℣. Et Verbum caro factum est.

℟. Et habitávit in nobis.

Ave María . . .

℣. Ora pro nobis, sancta Dei Génetrix.

℟. Ut digni efficiámur promissiónibus Christi.

Orémus.

Grátiam tuam, quaésumus, Dómine, méntibus nostris infúnde; ut qui, ángelo nuntiánte, Christi Fílii tui incarnatiónem cognóvimus, per passiónem eius et crucem, ad resurrectiónis glóriam perducámur. Per eúndem Christum Dóminum nostrum.

℟. Amen.

℣. Queen of heaven, rejoice! Alleluia.

℟. For he whom you did merit to bear. Alleluia.

℣. Has risen, as he said. Alleluia.

℟. Pray for us to God. Alleluia.

℣. Rejoice and be glad, O Virgin Mary. Alleluia.

℟. For the Lord is truly risen. Alleluia.

Let us pray.

O God, who gave joy to the world through the resurrection of your Son our Lord Jesus Christ, grant, we beseech you, that through the intercession of the Virgin Mary, his Mother, we may obtain the joys of everlasting life, through the same Christ our Lord. R. Amen.

℣. Regína cæli, lætáre. Allelúia.

℟. Quia quem meruísti portáre. Allelúia.

℣. Resurréxit, sicut dixit. Allelúia.

℟. Ora pro nobis, Deum. Allelúia.

℣. Gaude et lætáre, Virgo María. Allelúia.

℟. Quia surréxit Dóminus vere. Allelúia.

Orémus.

Deus, qui per resurrectiónem Fílii tui, Dómini nostri Iesu Christi, mundum lætificáre dignátus es: præsta, quaésumus; ut, per eius Genitrícem Vírginem Maríam, perpétuæ capiámus gáudia vitæ. Per eúndem Christum Dóminum nostrum. R. Amen

Make a brief examination of conscience before going to rest at night. Two or three minutes are enough.

• Place yourself in the presence of God recognizing his strength and your weakness. Tell him: “Lord, if you will, you can make me clean.”

• Ask your guardian angel for light to acknowledge your defects and virtues: What have I done wrong? What have I done right? What could I have done better?

• Examine your conscience with sincerity:

- Did I often consider that God is my Father? Did I offer him my work? Did I make good use of my time? Did I pray slowly and with attention?

- Did I try to make life pleasant for other people? Did I criticize anyone? Was I forgiving? Did I pray and offer some sacrifices for the Church, the Pope and for all those around me?

- Did I allow myself to be carried away by sensuality? By pride?

• Sorrow. Make an act of contrition asking our Lord’s pardon.

• Resolution. Make a specific resolution for tomorrow:

- Staying away from certain temptations.

- Avoiding some specific faults.

- Exerting special effort to practice some virtue.

- Taking advantage of occasions for improvement.

• Pray three Hail Marys to the Virgin Mary asking for the virtue of purity for yourself and your loved ones.

O my God, I am heartily sorry for having offended you and I detest all my sins, because I dread the loss of heaven and the pains of hell; but most of all because they offend you, my God, who are all good and deserving of all my love. I firmly resolve, with the help of your grace, to confess my sins, to do penance, and to amend my life. Amen.

I confess to almighty God, to blessed Mary ever Virgin, to blessed Michael the archangel, to blessed John the Baptist, to the holy apostles Peter and Paul, and to all the saints, that I have sinned exceedingly in thought, word and deed, through my fault, through my fault, through my most grievous fault. Therefore, I beseech blessed Mary ever Virgin, blessed Michael the archangel, blessed John the Baptist, the holy apostles Peter and Paul, and all the saints, to pray for me to the Lord our God.

Confíteor Deo omnipoténti, beátæ Maríæ semper Vírgini, beáto Michaéli Archángelo, beáto Ioánni Baptístæ, sanctis apóstolis Petro et Paulo, ómnibus Sanctis, et vobis, fratres: quia peccávi nimis cogitatióne, verbo et ópere: mea culpa, mea culpa, mea máxima culpa. Ideo precor beátam Maríam semper Vírginem, beátum Michaélem Archángelum, beátum Ioánnem Baptístam, sanctos apóstolos Petrum et Paulum, omnes Sanctos, et vos, fratres, oráre pro me ad Dóminum, Deum nostrum.

℣. Let us pray for our Sovereign Pontiff N.

℟. May the Lord preserve him and give him life, and make him blessed upon the earth, and deliver him not to the will of his enemies.

℣. Oremus pro Pontífice nostro N.

℟. Dóminus conservet eum et vivíficet eum, et beatum faciat eum in terra, et non tradat eum in ánimam inimicórum eius.

O Lord, my God, from this moment on I accept with a good will, as something coming from your hand, whatever kind of death you want to send me, with all its anguish, pain and sorrow.

℣. Jesus, Mary and Joseph.

℟. I give you my heart and my soul.

℣. Jesus, Mary and Joseph

℟. Assist me in my last agony.

℣. Jesus, Mary and Joseph.

℟. May I sleep and take my rest in peace with you.

David the contrite king, model of repentance, confesses his sins. He asks for forgiveness with true contrition and begs for the continuance of the friendship of God. He promises to show his gratitude by serving Him and teaching others to do His will.

Have mercy on me, God, in your kindness. In your compassion blot out my offense. O wash me more and more from my guilt and cleanse me more from sin.

My offenses truly I know them; my sin is always before me. Against you, you alone, have I sinned; what is evil in your sight I have done.

That you may be justified when you give sentence and be without reproach when you judge. O see, in guilt I was born, a sinner was I conceived.

Indeed you love truth in the heart; then in the secret of my heart teach me wisdom. O purify me, then I shall be clean; O wash me, I shall be whiter than snow.

Make me hear rejoicing and gladness, that the bones you have crushed may revive. From my sins turn away your face and blot out all my guilt.

A pure heart create for me, O God, put a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me away from your presence, nor deprive me of your Holy Spirit.

Give me again the joy of your help; with a spirit of fervor sustain me, that I may teach transgressors your ways and sinners may return to you.

O rescue me, God, my helper, and my tongue shall ring out your goodness. O Lord, open my lips and my mouth shall declare your praise.

For in sacrifice you take no delight, burnt offering from me you would refuse, my sacrifice, a contrite spirit. A humbled, contrite heart you will not spurn.

In your goodness, show favor to Zion: rebuild the walls of Jerusalem. Then you will be pleased with lawful sacrifice, (burnt offerings wholly consumed), then you will be offered young bulls on your altar.

Miserére mei, Deus,* secúndum misericórdiam tuam; et secúndum multitúdinem miseratiónum tuárum* dele iniquitátem meam. Amplius lava me ab iniquitáte mea* et a peccáto meo munda me.

Quóniam iniquitátem meam ego cognósco,* et peccátum meum contra me est semper.

Tibi, tibi soli peccávi* et malum coram te feci, ut iustus inveniáris in senténtia tua* et æquus in iudício tuo.

Ecce enim in iniquitáte generátus sum,* et in peccáto concépit me mater mea. Ecce enim veritátem in corde dilexísti* et in occúlto sapiéntiam manifestásti mihi.

Aspérges me hyssópo, et mundábor;* lavábis me, et super nivem dealbábor. Audíre me fácies gáudium et lætítiam*, et exsultábunt ossa, quæ contrivísti.

Avérte fáciem tuam a peccátis meis* et omnes iniquitátes meas dele. Cor mundum crea in me, Deus,* et spíritum firmum ínnova in viscéribus meis.

Ne proícias me a fácie tua* et spíritum sanctum tuum ne áuferas a me. Redde mihi lætítiam salutáris tui* et spíritu promptíssimo confírma me.

Docébo iníquos vias tuas,* et ímpii ad te converténtur. Líbera me de sanguínibus, Deus, Deus salútis meæ,*

et exsultábit lingua mea iustítiam tuam.

Dómine, lábia mea apéries,* et os meum annuntiábit laudem tuam. Non enim sacrifício delectáris,* holocáustum, si ófferam, non placébit. Sacrifícium Deo spíritus contribulátus,* cor contrítum et humiliátum, Deus, non despícies.

Benígne fac, Dómine, in bona voluntáte tua Sion,* ut ædificéntur muri Ierúsalem. Tunc acceptábis sacrifícium iustítiæ, oblatiónes et holocáusta;* tunc impónent super altáre tuum vítulos.

Gloria…

Evening Prayer is celebrated in order that we may give thanks for what has been given us or what we have done well during the day. We also recall our redemption and that evening sacrifice of the Lord’s Supper with the apostles. There he instituted the most holy sacrament of the Eucharist. He was anticipating the sacrifice he was to offer to the Father on the next day. We ask Christ to give us the grace of eternal light which knows no setting.*

God, come to my assistance.

℟. Lord, make haste to help me.

Glory be. . . . Alleluia.

Ant. 1 The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?

Trust in time of affliction Psalm 26(27)

God now truly dwells with me (Rv 21:3)

I

The Lord is my light and my help; * whom shall I fear?

The Lord is the stronghold of my life; * before whom shall I shrink?

When evil-doers draw near * to devour my flesh,

it is they, my enemies and foes, * who stumble and fall.

Though an army encamp against me * my heart would not fear.

Though war break out against me * even then would I trust.

There is one thing I ask of the Lord, * for this I long,

to live in the house of the Lord, * all the days of my life,

to savor the sweetness of the Lord. * to behold his temple.

For there he keeps me safe in his tent * in the day of evil.

He hides me in the shelter of his tent, * on a rock he sets me safe.

And now my head shall be raised * above my foes who surround me

and I shall offer within his tent + a sacrifice of joy.*

I will sing and make music for the Lord.

Glory be . . .

Ant. The Lord is my light and my help; whom shall I fear?

Ant. 2 I long to look on you, O Lord; do not turn your face from me.

II

Some rose to present lies and false evidence against Jesus (Mk 14:57)

O Lord, hear my voice when I call; * have mercy and answer.

Of you my heart has spoken: * ”Seek his face.”

It is your face, O Lord, that I seek; * hide not your face.

Dismiss not your servant in anger; * you have been my help.

Do not abandon or forsake me, * O God my help!

Though father and mother forsake me, * the Lord will receive me.

Instruct me, Lord, in your way; * on an even path lead me.

When they lie in ambush protect me * from my enemy’s greed.

False witnesses rise against me, * breathing out fury.

I am sure I shall see the Lord’s goodness * in the land of the living.

Hope in him, hold firm and take heart. * Hope in the Lord!

Glory be . . .

Ant. I long to look on you, O Lord; do not turn your face from me.

Ant. 3 He is the firstborn of all creation; he is supreme over all creatures.

Canticle Colossians 1:12-20

Christ the first-born of all creation and the first-born from the dead

Let us give thanks to the Father, + who has qualified us to share * in the inheritance of the saints in light.

He has delivered us from the dominion of darkness * and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son,

in whom we have redemption, * the forgiveness of sins.

He is the image of the invisible God, * the firstborn of all creation,

for in him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, * visible and invisible.

All things were created * through him and for him.

He is before all things, * and in him all things hold together.

He is the head of the body, the Church; * he is the beginning,

the firstborn from the dead, * that in everything he might be preeminent,

For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, * and through him to reconcile to himself all things,

whether on earth or in heaven, * making peace by the blood of his cross.

Glory be . . .

Ant. He is the firstborn of all creation; he is supreme over all creatures.

You must do what the Word tells you, and not just listen to it and deceive yourselves. But the man who looks steadily at the perfect law of freedom and makes that his habit—not listening and then forgetting, but actively putting it into practice—will be happy in all that he does.

℟. Claim me once more as your own, Lord * and have mercy on me. Repeat R.

Do not abandon me with the wicked; * have mercy on me. Glory be . . . R.

Ant. The Almighty has done great things for me, and holy is his Name.

My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord, * my spirit rejoices in God my Savior for he has looked with favor on his lowly servant. *

From this day all generations will call me blessed: the Almighty has done great things for me, * and holy is his Name.

He has mercy on those who fear him * in every generation.

He has shown the strength of his arm, * he has scattered the proud in their conceit.

He has cast down the mighty from their thrones, * and has lifted up the lowly.

He has filled the hungry with good things, * and the rich he has sent away empty.

He has come to the help of his servant Israel * for he has remembered his promise of mercy, the promise he made to our fathers, * to Abraham and his children for ever. Glory be . . .

Ant. The Almighty has done great things for me, and holy is his Name.

Let us praise God, our almighty Father, who wished that Mary, his Son’s mother, be celebrated by each generation. Now in need we ask:

℟. Mary, full of grace, intercede for us.

You made Mary the mother of mercy, —may all who are faced with trials feel her motherly love. R. You wished Mary to be the mother of the family in the home of Jesus and Joseph, —may all mothers of families foster love and holiness through her intercession. R. You gave Mary strength at the foot of the cross and filled her with joy at the resurrection of your Son, —lighten the hardships of those who are burdened and deepen their sense of hope. R. You made Mary open to your word and faithful as your servant, —through her intercession make us servants and true followers of your Son. R. You crowned Mary queen of heaven, —may all the dead rejoice in your kingdom with the saints for ever. R.

Our Father, . . .

Stay with us, Lord Jesus, for evening draws near, and be our companion on our way to set our hearts on fire with new hope. Help us to recognize your presence among us in the Scriptures we read, and in the breaking of bread, for you live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God for ever and ever. R. Amen.

If a priest or deacon presides, he dismisses the people as if at Mass.

Otherwise Evening Prayer concludes:

May the Lord bless us, protect us from all evil and bring us to everlasting life. R. Amen.

1John Paul II, Catechesis Tradendæ 55

2CCC 2857, 2865

3Cf. CCC 2676-2677

4Cf. CCC 194

5Cf. CCC 1174, 1178, 2586.

6Cf. General Instruction of the Liturgy of the Hours 27.

7Cf. General Instruction of the Liturgy of the Hours 37.

* Cf. GILH, n. 37