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Week 23 of Ordinary Time

Evening Prayer · The Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Tuesday, September 8, 2026

Prayer Reading Mode: Prayer Space

Hours Depth: Medium

About today

Nine months after the Immaculate Conception the Church keeps Mary’s birthday on 8 September. The Gospels do not narrate her infancy; the feast simply rejoices that the Mother of the Lord was born among us. Salvation has a human beginning in a child of Israel, born like us so that the Word might have a Mother. The feast is a birthday of hope. Ask today for gratitude that God works through families and hidden years, and for a welcome like hers when the Word draws near.

Original – Prayer on Fire.

The Nativity of the Blessed Virgin MaryChoose how you want to pray this hour:

Opening

God, come to my assistance. Lord, make haste to help me.

Hymn

Mary, lifted into glory, Still you teach a humble yes. In your song the poor are lifted; In your trust the world is blessed. Lead us closer to your Jesus, Keep us steady, keep us kind. May our lives, like quiet embers, Leave a holy light behind.

Original, Prayer on Fire

Psalm I

Antiphon

Handmaid of the Lord, help us say yes when we are afraid.

Psalm 103 (102):1–4

Catholic Public Domain Version (public domain)

Psalm

Bless the Lord, O my soul, and bless his holy name, all that is within me. Bless the Lord, O my soul, and do not forget all his recompenses. He forgives all your iniquities. He heals all your infirmities. He redeems your life from destruction. He crowns you with mercy and compassion.

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

Handmaid of the Lord, help us say yes when we are afraid.

Psalm II

Antiphon

Mary, quiet flame of faith, keep us near your Son.

Psalm 118 (117):1, 14–17

Catholic Public Domain Version (public domain)

Psalm

Confess to the Lord, for he is good, for his mercy is forever. The Lord is my strength and my praise, and he has become my salvation. A voice of exultation and salvation is in the tabernacles of the just. The right hand of the Lord has wrought virtue. The right hand of the Lord has exalted me. The right hand of the Lord has wrought virtue. I will not die, but I will live. And I will declare the works of the Lord.

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

Mary, quiet flame of faith, keep us near your Son.

Silence

A moment of silence

Reading of the feast

Galatians 4:4–5

Catholic Public Domain Version (public domain)

But when the fullness of time arrived, God sent his Son, formed from a woman, formed under the law, so that he might redeem those who were under the law, in order that we might receive the adoption of sons.

Responsory

The Almighty has done great things for me. Holy is his name. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.

Magnificat

Antiphon

He fills the hungry; feed us with what lasts into the night.

Luke 1:46–55

Catholic Public Domain Version (public domain)

Canticle

And Mary said: “My soul magnifies the Lord. And my spirit leaps for joy in God my Savior. For he has looked with favor on the humility of his handmaid. For behold, from this time, all generations shall call me blessed. For he who is great has done great things for me, and holy is his name. And his mercy is from generation to generations for those who fear him. He has accomplished powerful deeds with his arm. He has scattered the arrogant in the intentions 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 taken up his servant Israel, mindful of his mercy, just as he spoke to our fathers: to Abraham and to his offspring forever.”

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

He fills the hungry; feed us with what lasts into the night.

Intercessions

For the Church, that Mary’s yes may still teach us how to trust.

R. Speak, Lord, we are listening.

For the lowly, that they may be lifted as she was lifted.

R. Speak, Lord, we are listening.

For the dying, that they may be received into the same joy.

R. Speak, Lord, we are listening.

For our own hearts, that we may keep the Word as she kept it.

R. Speak, Lord, we are listening.

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.

Closing prayer

God our Father, on this Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, you lifted her into the joy of your presence. Receive our praise this day, and keep us near her Son until we too are gathered home. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

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