Opening
God, come to my assistance. Lord, make haste to help me.
Hymn
The sun goes down, yet You remain, Unfailing light of every soul. We lay the day’s unfinished stories Into Your hands that make us whole. Forgive the sharp word and the silence; Bless what was done in simple care. And as the shadows lengthen gently, Keep hope alive in evening prayer.
Original, Prayer on Fire
Psalm I
Antiphon
You have been bountiful to me; teach my soul to rest.
Psalm 141 (140):1–2
Catholic Public Domain Version (public domain)
Psalm
O Lord, I have cried out to you, hear me. Intend to my voice, when I cry out to you. Let my prayer be guided like incense in your sight: the lifting up of my hands, like the evening sacrifice.
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.
Psalm II
Antiphon
Forgive what was harsh; heal what was hurried; keep what was true.
Psalm 24 (23):7–10
Catholic Public Domain Version (public domain)
Psalm
Lift up your gates, you princes, and be lifted up, eternal gates. And the King of Glory shall enter. Who is this King of Glory? The Lord who is strong and powerful; the Lord powerful in battle. Lift up your gates, you princes, and be lifted up, eternal gates. And the King of Glory shall enter. Who is this King of Glory? The Lord of virtue. He himself is the King of Glory.
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
Forgive what was harsh; heal what was hurried; keep what was true.
Silence
Let the last verse rest in you.
Reading
1 Peter 3:8–12
Catholic Public Domain Version (public domain)
And finally, may you all be of one mind: compassionate, loving brotherhood, merciful, meek, humble, not repaying evil with evil, nor slander with slander, but, to the contrary, repaying with blessings. For to this you have been called, so that you may possess the inheritance of a blessing. For whoever wants to love life and to see good days should restrain his tongue from evil, and his lips, so that they utter no deceit. Let him turn away from evil, and do good. Let him seek peace, and pursue it. For the eyes of the Lord are upon the just, and his ears are with their prayers, but the countenance of the Lord is upon those who do evil.
Responsory
Into your hands I return this day. You have been our dwelling place. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Magnificat
Antiphon
Mercy from generation to generation — remember our house tonight.
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
Mercy from generation to generation — remember our house tonight.
Intercessions
For this city as lights come on.
R. Lord, hear our prayer.
For those who work the night shift.
R. Lord, hear our prayer.
For the unhoused looking for a safe corner.
R. Lord, hear our prayer.
For police, nurses, and all who keep watch.
R. Lord, hear our prayer.
For peace on our streets.
R. Lord, hear our prayer.
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
Bless those we met and those we missed. Make us a quiet blessing as the day declines. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.