Week 20 of Ordinary Time

Evening Prayer

Thursday, August 20, 2026

Opening

Holy Spirit, breath of God, still my hurry and teach me to remain.

Hymn

The day Thou gavest, Lord, is ended, The darkness falls 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 rests not now by day or night. — John Ellerton (public domain)

Psalmody

Antiphon

You have been bountiful to me; teach my soul to rest.

Psalm

Hear my voice, O Lord, with which I have cried out to you. Have mercy on me, and hear me. My heart has spoken to you; my face has sought you. I yearn for your face, O Lord. Do not turn your face away from me. In your wrath, do not turn aside from your servant. Be my helper. Do not abandon me, and do not despise me, O God, my Savior.

Psalm 26:7–9 · Catholic Public Domain Version (public domain)

Glory Be

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.

Antiphon

You have been bountiful to me; teach my soul to rest.

Reading

Colossians 1:21–23 And you, though you had been, in times past, understood to be foreigners and enemies, with works of evil, yet now he has reconciled you, by his body of flesh, through death, so as to offer you, holy and immaculate and blameless, before him. So then, continue in the faith: well-founded and steadfast and immovable, by the hope of the Gospel that you have heard, which has been preached throughout all creation under heaven, the Gospel of which I, Paul, have become a minister. — Colossians 1:21–23 · Catholic Public Domain Version (public domain)

Reflection

Review the day without harshness. Thank God for three gifts. Ask mercy for one failure. Rest in being a beloved child, not a finished project.

Intercession

For hearts that are tired, bring rest. For hearts that are restless, bring purpose. For hearts that are hard, bring compassion. For the world you love, kindle justice and peace. Lord, hear our prayer.

Closing prayer

Father, I place this hour in your hands. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Silence

If you can, rest in quiet for half a minute before you rise.

Scripture: Psalm 26:7–9 · Catholic Public Domain Version (public domain); Colossians 1:21–23 · Catholic Public Domain Version (public domain)

An original Prayer on Fire offering for the hours of the day