AFTER EVENING PRAYER I OF SUNDAYS AND SOLEMNITIES
V/ O God, come to your aid…
R/ O Lord, make haste to help us!
Glory be…
Penitential act
HYMN
Now it is evening; time to cease from labour,
Father, according to thy will and pleasure,
Through the night-season, have thy faithful people
Safe in thy keeping.
Far from our dwellings drive the evil spirits;
Under the shadow of thy wings protect us;
Be thou our guardian through the hours of darkness,
Strong to defend us.
Call we, ere sleeping, on the name of Jesus;
Rise we at day-break, strong to serve thee better;
Order our goings, well begun and ended,
All to thy glory.
Fountain of goodness, bless the sick and needy;
Visit the captive, solace the afflicted;
Shelter the stranger, feed your starving children;
Strengthen the dying.
Father, who neither slumberest nor sleepest,
Thou, to whom darkness is as clear as noonday,
Safe in thy keeping.
P. Herbert 1571
PSALMODY
Ant.1: Lord, have mercy and hear me.
Psalm 4
When I call, answer me, O God of justice;
from anguish you released me, have mercy and hear me!
O men, how long will your hearts be closed,
will you love what is futile and seek what is false?
It is the Lord who grants favours to those whom he loves;
the Lord hears me whenever I call him.
Fear him; do not sin: ponder on your bed and be still.
Make justice your sacrifice and trust in the Lord.
‘What can bring us happiness?’ many say.
Let the light of your face shine on us, O Lord.
You have put into my heart a greater joy
than they have from abundance of corn and new wine.
I will lie down in peace and sleep comes at once
for you alone, Lord, make me dwell in safety.
Ant. Lord, have mercy and hear me.
Ant.2: Bless the Lord through the night.
Psalm 133(134)
O come, bless the Lord,
all you who serve the Lord,
who stand in the house of the Lord,
in the courts of the house of our God.
Lift up your hands to the holy place
And bless the Lord through the night.
May the Lord bless you from Sion,
he who made both heaven and earth.
Ant. Bless the Lord through the night.
SCRIPTURE READING
Deut 6,4-7
Hear, O Israel: the Lord our God is one Lord; and you shall love the Lord your God with all your hear, and with all your soul, and with your might. And these words which I command you this day shall be upon your heart; and you shall teach them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.
SHORT RESPONSORY
R/ Into you hands, Lord, I commend my spirit. Repeat R/
V/ You have redeemed us, Lord God of truth. R/ Glory be. R/
Ant. Save us, Lord, while we are awake; protect us while we sleep; that we may keep watch with Christ and rest with him in peace.
Nunc dimittis
Canticle: Lk 2,29-32
At last, all-powerful Master,
you give leave to your servant
to go in peace, according to your promise.
For my eyes have seen your salvation
which you have prepared for all nations,
the light to enlighten the Gentiles
and give glory to Israel, your people.
Ant. Save us, Lord, while we are awake; protect us while we sleep; that we may keep watch with Christ and rest with him in peace.
CONCLUDING PRAYER
Sundays:
Come to visit us, Lord, this night,
so that by your strength we may rise at daybreak
to rejoice in the resurrection of Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns for ever and ever.
Solemnities which do not occur on a Sunday:
Visit this house, we pray you, Lord:
drive far away from it all the snares of the enemy.
May your holy angels stay here and guard us in peace,
and let your blessing be always upon us.
Through Christ our Lord.
AFTER EVENING PRAYER II
OF SUNDAYS AND SOLEMNITIES
HYMN
Lead, kindly Light, amid the encircling gloom,
Lead thou me on;
Keep thou my feet; I do not ask to see
The distant scene; one step enough for me.
I was not ever thus, nor prayed that thou
Shouldst lead me on;
I loved to choose and see my path, but now
Lead me on.
I loved the garish day, and, spite of fears,
Pride ruled my will: remember not past years.
So long thy power hath blest me, sure it still
Will lead me on
O’er moor and fen, o’er crag and torrent, till
The night is gone,
And with the morn those Angel faces smile,
Which I have loved long since, and lost awhile.
J.H Newman 1801-90
PSALMODY
Ant. He will conceal you with his wings; you will not fear the terror of the night.
Psalm 90(91)
He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High
and abides in the shade of the Almighty
says to the Lord: ‘My refuge,
my stronghold, my God in whom I trust!’
It is he who will free you from the snare
of the fowler who seeks to destroy you;
he will conceal you with his pinions
and under his wings you will find refuge.
You will not fear the terror of the night
nor the arrow that flies by day,
nor the plague that prowls in the darkness
nor the scourge that lays waste at noon.
A thousand may fall at your side,
ten thousand fall at your right,
you, it will never approach;
his faithfulness is buckler and shield.
Your eyes have only to look
to see how the wicked are repaid,
you who have said: ‘Lord, my refuge!’
and have made the Most High your dwelling.
Upon you no evil shall fall,
no plague approach where you dwell.
For you has he commanded his angels,
to keep you in all your ways.
They shall bear you upon their hands
lest you strike your foot against a stone.
On the lion and the viper you will tread
And trample the young lion and the dragon.
Since he clings to me in love, I will free him;
Protect him for he knows my name.
When he calls I shall answer: ‘I am with you.’
I will save him in distress and give him glory.
With length of life I will content him;
I shall let him see my saving power.
Ant. He will conceal you with his wings; you will not fear the terror of the night.
SCRIPTURE READING
Rev 22,4-5
They will see the Lord face to face, and his name be written on their foreheads. It will never be night again and they will not need lamplight or sunlight, because the Lord God will be shining on them. They will reign for ever and ever.
SHORT RESPONSORY
R/ Into you hands, Lord, I commend my spirit. Repeat R/
V/ You have redeemed us, Lord God of truth. R/ Glory be. R/
Ant. Save us, Lord, while we are awake; protect us while we sleep; that we may keep watch with Christ and rest with him in peace.
Nunc dimittis
Canticle: Lk 2,29-32
At last, all-powerful Master,
you give leave to your servant
to go in peace, according to your promise.
For my eyes have seen your salvation
which you have prepared for all nations,
the light to enlighten the Gentiles
and give glory to Israel, your people.
Ant. Save us, Lord, while we are awake; protect us while we sleep; that we may keep watch with Christ and rest with him in peace.
CONCLUDING PRAYER
Sundays:
God our Father,
as we have celebrated today the mystery of the Lord’s resurrection,
grant our humble prayer:
free us from all harm
that we may sleep in peace
and rise in joy to sing your praise.
Through Christ our Lord.
Solemnities which do not occur on a Sunday:
Visit this house, we pray you, Lord:
drive far away from it all the snares of the enemy.
May your holy angels stay here and guard us in peace,
and let your blessing be always upon us.
Through Christ our Lord.
MONDAY
HYMN
Abide with me; fast falls the eventide;
The darkness deepens; Lord, with me abide;
When other helpers fail, and comforts flee,
Help of the helpless, O abide with me.
Swift to its close ebbs out life’s little day;
Earth’s joys grow dim, its glories pass away;
Change and decay in all around I see;
O thou who changes not, abide with me.
Hold thou thy Cross before my closing eyes;
Shine through the gloom, and point me to the skies;
Heaven’s morning breaks, and earth’s vain shadows flee;
In life, in death, O Lord, abide with me.
H.F. Lyre 1793-1847
PSALMODY
Ant. You, Lord God, are slow to anger, abounding in love.
Psalm 85 (86)
Turn your ear, O Lord, and give answer
for I am poor and needy.
Preserve my life, for I am faithful:
Save the servant who trusts is you.
You are my God, have mercy on me, Lord,
for I cry to you all the day long.
Give joy to your servant, O Lord,
for to you I lift up my soul.
O Lord, you are good and forgiving,
full of love to all who call.
Give heed, O Lord, to my prayer
and attend to the sound of my voice.
In the day of distress I will call
and surely you will reply.
Among the gods there is none like you, O Lord;
nor work to compare with yours.
All the nations shall come to adore you
and glorify your name, O Lord:
for you are great and do marvellous deeds,
you who alone are God.
Show me, Lord, your way
so that I may walk in your truth.
Give my heart to fear your name.
I will praise you, Lord my God, with all my heart
and glorify your name for ever;
for your love to me has been great:
you have saved me from the depths of the grave.
The proud have risen against me;
ruthless men seek my life:
to you they pay no heed.
But you, God of mercy and compassion,
slow to anger, O Lord,
abounding in love and truth,
turn and take pity on me.
O give your strength to your servant
and save your handmaid’s son.
Show me a sign of your favour
that my foes may see to their shame
that you console me and give me your help.
Ant. You, Lord God, are slow to anger, abounding in love.
SCRIPTURE READING
I Thess 5,9-10
God chose us to possess salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us in order that we might live together with him, whether we are alive or dead when he comes.
SHORT RESPONSORY
R/ Into you hands, Lord, I commend my spirit. Repeat R/
V/ You have redeemed us, Lord God of truth. R/ Glory be. R/
Ant. Save us, Lord, while we are awake; protect us while we sleep; that we may keep watch with Christ and rest with him in peace.
Nunc dimittis
Canticle: Lk 2,29-32
At last, all-powerful Master,
you give leave to your servant
to go in peace, according to your promise.
For my eyes have seen your salvation
which you have prepared for all nations,
the light to enlighten the Gentiles
and give glory to Israel, your people.
Ant. Save us, Lord, while we are awake; protect us while we sleep; that we may keep watch with Christ and rest with him in peace.
CONCLUDING PRAYER
Lord, give our bodies restful sleep;
and let the work we had done today
be sown for an eternal harvest.
Through Christ our Lord.
TUESDAY
HYMN
The day thou gavest, Lord, is ended.
The darkness fall at thy behest,
To thee our morning hymns ascended,
Thy praise shall sanctify our rest.
We thank thee that thy Church unsleeping.
While earth rolls onward into light,
Through all the world her watch is keeping,
And rest not now by day or night.
As over continent and island
The dawn leads on another day,
The voice of prayer is never silent,
Nor dies the strain of praise away.
The sun that bids us rest is waking
Our brethren ‘neath the western sky,
And hour by hour fresh lips are making
Thy wondrous doings heard on high.
So be it, Lord, thy throne shall never,
Like earth’s proud empires, pass away;
Thy kingdom stands, and grows for ever,
Till all they creatures own thy sway.
J. Ellerton 1826-93
PSALMODY
Ant. Do not hide your face from me, for in you have I put my trust.
Psalm 142(143):I-II
Lord, listen to my prayer:
turn your ear to my appeal.
You are faithful, you are just; give answer.
Do not call your servant to judgement
for no one is just in your sight.
The enemy pursues my soul;
he has crushed my life to the ground;
he has made me dwell in darkness
like the dead, long forgotten.
Therefore my spirit fails,
my heart is numb within me.
I remember the days that are past:
I ponder all your works.
I muse on what your hand has wrought
and to you I stretch out my hands.
Like a parched land my soul thirsts for you.
Lord, make haste and answer;
for my spirit fails within me.
Do not hide your face
Lest I become like those in the grave.
In the morning let me know your love
for I put my trust in you.
Make me know the way I should walk:
to you I lift up my soul.
Rescue me, Lord, from my enemies;
I have fled to you for refuge.
Teach me to do your will
for you, Lord, are my God.
Let your good spirit guide me
in ways that are level and smooth.
For your name’s sake, Lord, save my life;
in your justice save my soul from distress.
Ant. Do not hide your face from me, for in you have I put my trust.
SCRIPTURE READING
I Pet 5,8-9
Be calm but vigilant, because your enemy the devil is prowling round like a roaring lion, looking for someone to eat. Stand up to him, strong in faith.
SHORT RESPONSORY
R/ Into you hands, Lord, I commend my spirit. Repeat R/
V/ You have redeemed us, Lord God of truth. R/ Glory be. R/
Ant. Save us, Lord, while we are awake; protect us while we sleep; that we may keep watch with Christ and rest with him in peace.
Nunc dimittis
Canticle: Lk 2,29-32
At last, all-powerful Master,
you give leave to your servant
to go in peace, according to your promise.
For my eyes have seen your salvation
which you have prepared for all nations,
the light to enlighten the Gentiles
and give glory to Israel, your people.
Ant. Save us, Lord, while we are awake; protect us while we sleep; that we may keep watch with Christ and rest with him in peace.
CONCLUDING PRAYER
In your mercy, Lord,
dispel the darkness of this night.
Let your household so sleep in peace,
That at the dawn of a new day,
they may, with joy, waken in your name.
Through Christ our Lord.
WEDNESDAY
HYMN
Now thank we all our God,
With hearts and hands and voices,
Who wondrous things hath done,
In whom his world rejoices;
Who from our mother’s arms
Hath blessed us on our way
With countless gifts of love,
And still is ours today.
O may this bounteous God
Through all our life be near us,
With ever joyful hearts
And blessed peace to cheer us;
And keep us in his grace,
And guide us when perplexed,
And free us from all ills
In this world and the next.
All praise and thanks to God
The Father now be given,
The Son, and him who reigns
With them in highest heaven,
The one eternal God,
Whom earth and heaven adore;
For thus it was, is now
And shall be evermore.
M. Rinkart 1586-1649
PSALMODY
Ant.1. O God, be my protector and my refuge.
Psalm 30(31):1-6
In you, O Lord, I take refuge.
Let me never be put to shame.
In your justice, set me free,
hear me and speedily rescue me.
Be a rock of refuge for me,
a mighty stronghold to save me,
for you are my rock, my stronghold.
For your name’s sake lead me and guide me.
Release me from the snares they have hidden
for you are my refuge, Lord.
Into your hands I commend my spirit.
It is you who will redeem me, Lord.
Ant. O God, be my protector and my refuge.
Ant.2. Out of the depths I cry to you, O Lord.
Psalm 129(130)
Out of the depths I cry to you, O Lord,
Lord, hear my voice!
O let your ears be attentive
to the voice of my pleading.
If you, O Lord, should mark our guilt,
Lord, who would survive?
But with you is found forgiveness:
for this we revere you.
My soul is waiting for the Lord,
I count on his word.
My soul is longing for the Lord
more than watchman count for daybreak.
Let the watchman count on daybreak
and Israel on the Lord.
Because with the Lord there is mercy
and fullness of redemption,
Israel indeed he will redeem
from all its iniquity.
Ant. Out of the depths I cry to you, O Lord.
SCRIPTURE READING
Eph 4,26-27
Do not let resentment lead you into sin; the sunset must not find you still angry. Do not give the devil his opportunity.
SHORT RESPONSORY
R/ Into you hands, Lord, I commend my spirit. Repeat R/
V/ You have redeemed us, Lord God of truth. R/ Glory be. R/
Ant. Save us, Lord, while we are awake; protect us while we sleep; that we may keep watch with Christ and rest with him in peace.
Nunc dimittis
Canticle: Lk 2,29-32
At last, all-powerful Master,
you give leave to your servant
to go in peace, according to your promise.
For my eyes have seen your salvation
which you have prepared for all nations,
the light to enlighten the Gentiles
and give glory to Israel, your people.
Ant. Save us, Lord, while we are awake; protect us while we sleep; that we may keep watch with Christ and rest with him in peace.
CONCLUDING PRAYER
Lord Jesus Christ,
meek and humble of heart,
you offer to those who follow you
a yoke that is good to bear
a burden that is light.
Accept, we beg you, our prayer and work of this day,
that we may be ever more willing to serve you,
who live and reign for ever and ever.
THURSDAY
HYMN
Lord of all hopefulness, Lord of all joy,
Whose trust, ever childlike, no care could destroy,
Be there at our waking, and give us, we pray,
Your bliss in our hearts, Lord, at the break of the day.
Lord of all eagerness, Lord of all faith,
Whose strong hands were skilled at the plane and
the lathe,
Be there at our labours, Lord of all grace,
Your hands swift to welcome, your arms to embrace,
Be there at our homing, and give us, we pray,
Your love in our hearts, Lord, at the eve of the day.
Lord of all gentleness, Lord of all calm,
Whose voice is contentment, whose presence is balm,
Be there at our sleeping, and give us, we pray,
Your peace in our hearts, Lord at the end of the day.
Jan Struther 1901-53
PSALMODY
Ant. My body shall rest in safety.
Psalm 15(16)
Preserve me, God, I take refuge in you.
I say to the Lord: ‘You are my God’.
My happiness lies in your alone.
He has put into my heart a marvellous love
for the faithful ones who dwell in his land.
Those who choose other gods increase their sorrows.
Never will I offer their offerings of blood.
Never will I take their name upon my lips.
O Lord, it si you who are my portion and cup;
it is you yourself who are my prize.
The lot marked out for me is my delight:
welcome indeed the heritage that falls to me!
I will bless the Lord who gives me counsel,
who even at night directs my heart.
I keep the Lord ever in my sight:
since he is at my right hand, I shall stand firm.
And so my heart rejoices, my soul is glad;
even my body shall rest in safety.
For you will not leave my soul among the dead,
nor let your beloved know decay.
You will show me the path of live,
the fullness of joy in your presence,
at your right hand happiness for ever.
Ant. My body shall rest in safety.
SCRIPTURE READING
I Thess 5,23
May the God who gives us peace make you completely his, and keep your whole being, spirit and soul, and body, free from all fault, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
SHORT RESPONSORY
R/ Into you hands, Lord, I commend my spirit. Repeat R/
V/ You have redeemed us, Lord God of truth. R/ Glory be. R/
Ant. Save us, Lord, while we are awake; protect us while we sleep; that we may keep watch with Christ and rest with him in peace.
Nunc dimittis
Canticle: Lk 2,29-32
At last, all-powerful Master,
you give leave to your servant
to go in peace, according to your promise.
For my eyes have seen your salvation
which you have prepared for all nations,
the light to enlighten the Gentiles
and give glory to Israel, your people.
Ant. Save us, Lord, while we are awake; protect us while we sleep; that we may keep watch with Christ and rest with him in peace.
CONCLUDING PRAYER
Lord, our God,
restore us again by the repose of sleep
after the fatigue of our daily work;
so that, continually renewed by your help,
we may serve you in body and soul.
Through Christ our Lod.
FRIDAY
HYMN
Sweet Saviour, bless us e’er we go,
Thy word intou our minds instil,
And make our lukewarm hearts to glow
Through life’s long day and death’s dark night,
O gentle Jesus, be our light.
The day is done, its hours have run,
And thou hast taken count of all,
The scanty triumphs grace hat won,
The broken vow, the frequent fall.
Through life’s long day and death’s dark night,
O gentle Jesus, be our light.
For all we love, the poor, the sad,
The sinful, – unto thee we call;
O let thy mercy make us glad;
Thou art our Jesus and our All.
Through life’s long day and death’s dark night,
O gentle Jesus, be our light.
PSALMODY
Ant. Lord my God, I call for help by day; I cry at night before you.
Psalm 87(88)
Lord my God, I call for help by day;
I cry at night before you.
Let my prayer come into your presence.
O turn your ear to my cry.
For my soul is filled with evils;
my life is on the brink of the grave.
I am reckoned as one in the tomb:
I have reached the end of my strength,
Like one alone among the dead;
like the slain lying in their graves;
like those you remember no more,
cut off, as they are, from your hand.
You have laid me in the depths of the tomb,
in places that are dark, in the depths.
Your anger weighs down upon me:
I am drowned beneath your waves.
You have taken away my friends
and made me hateful in their sight.
Imprisoned, I cannot escape;
my eyes are sunken with grief.
I call to you, Lord, all the day long;
to you I stretch our my hands.
Will you work you wonders for the dead?
Will the shades stand and praise you?
Will your love be told in the grave
or your faithfulness among the dead?
Will your wonders be known in the dark
or your justice in the land of oblivion?
As for me, Lord I call to you for help:
in the morning my prayer come before you.
Lord, why do you reject me;
Why do you hide your face?
Wretched, close to death from my youth,
I have borne your trials; I am numb.
Your fury has swept down upon me;
your terrors have utterly destroyed me.
They surround me all the day like a flood,
They assail me all together.
Friend and neighbour you have taken away:
my one companion is darkness.
Ant. Lord my God, I call for help by day; I cry at night before you.
SCRIPTURE READING
Jer 14,9
Lord, you are in our midst, we are called by your name. Do not desert us, O Lord our God.
SHORT RESPONSORY
R/ Into you hands, Lord, I commend my spirit. Repeat R/
V/ You have redeemed us, Lord God of truth. R/ Glory be. R/
Ant. Save us, Lord, while we are awake; protect us while we sleep; that we may keep watch with Christ and rest with him in peace.
Nunc dimittis
Canticle: Lk 2,29-32
At last, all-powerful Master,
you give leave to your servant
to go in peace, according to your promise.
For my eyes have seen your salvation
which you have prepared for all nations,
the light to enlighten the Gentiles
and give glory to Israel, your people.
Ant. Save us, Lord, while we are awake; protect us while we sleep; that we may keep watch with Christ and rest with him in peace.
CONCLUDING PRAYER
Give us grace, almighty God,
so to unite ourselves in faith with your only Son,
who underwent death and lay buried in the tomb
that we may rise again in newness of life with him,
who lives and reigns for ever and ever.
FINAL ANTHEMS TO THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY
[117] Alma Redemptoris Mater, quae pervia caeli
Porta manes, et stella maris, succurre cadenti,
Surgere qui curat, populo: tu quae genuisti,
Natura mirante, tuum sanctum Genitorem,
Virgo prius ac posterius, Gabrielis ab ore
Sumens illud Ave, peccatorum Miserere.
[118] Mother of Christ! Hear thou thy people’s cry,
Star of the deep, and portal of heaven!
Mother of him who thee from nothing made,
Sinking we strive, and call to thee for aid:
Oh, by that joy which Gabriel brought to thee,
Thou Virgin first and last, let us thy mercy see.
[119] Ave Regina caelorum!
Ave, Domina angelorum;
Salve radix, salve porta
Ex qua mundo lux est orta.
Gaude, Virgo gloriosa,
Super omnes speciosa.
Vale, o valde decora!
Et pro nobis Christum exorta.
[120] Hail, Queen of Heaven, beyond compare,
To whom the angels homage pay;
Hail, Root of Jesse, Gate of light,
That opened for the world’s new Day.
Rejoice, O Virgin unsurpassed,
In whom our ransom was begun,
For all your loving children pray
To Christ, our Saviour, and your Son.
Stanbrook Abbey
