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
As light fades, gather what this day has been — and bless it.
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
As light fades, gather what this day has been — and bless it.
Psalm II
Antiphon
Thank you for every unnoticed grace of these hours.
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
Thank you for every unnoticed grace of these hours.
Silence
Let the last verse rest in you.
Reading
1 Peter 1:18–23
Catholic Public Domain Version (public domain)
For you know that it was not with corruptible gold or silver that you were redeemed away from your useless behavior in the traditions of your fathers, but it was with the precious blood of Christ, an immaculate and undefiled lamb, foreknown, certainly, before the foundation of the world, and made manifest in these latter times for your sake. Through him, you have been faithful to God, who raised him up from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope would be in God. So chastise your souls with the obedience of charity, in fraternal love, and love one another from a simple heart, attentively. For you have been born again, not from corruptible seed, but from what is incorruptible, from the Word of God, living and remaining for all eternity.
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
Holy is his name; we lay down the day’s greatness at his feet.
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
Holy is his name; we lay down the day’s greatness at his feet.
Intercessions
For the Church at the turning of the day, still a lamp in the world.
R. Lord, hear our prayer.
For those who work through the evening, and those who have no rest.
R. Lord, hear our prayer.
For children falling asleep, and parents who keep watch.
R. Lord, hear our prayer.
For our city, that bitterness may not keep the last word.
R. Lord, hear our prayer.
For thanksgiving that outlasts the fading sky.
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
Father of mercies, we thank you for the day now ending — for gifts noticed and unnoticed. Let gratitude remain as the light declines. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.