Evening Prayer

Tuesday, January 2^nd, 2024

Memorial of Saints Basil the Great and Gregory Nazianzen

Celebrant: The Most Reverend John O. Barres

Bishop of Rockville Centre

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

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:
— as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen. Alleluia.

HYMN

This yearly feast brings solemn joy,
the day on which we celebrate
with fitting worship and due praise
the holy shepherds of the sheep.

See how they guard and tend their flocks:
they work and toil without reprieve
to keep them safe with watchful care
and nourish them with wholesome food.

They fend off wolves from their domains
and drive the robbers far away;
with richest food they fill the sheep
and never once forsake the flock.

Most holy Pastors of the flocks,
who now possess abundant joy,
implore the Judge to pardon us
when we appear before his throne.

Eternal glory, equal praise
to you, O Christ, High Priest and Lord,
with God the Father, ever blest,
and loving Spirit, ever one. Amen.

Tune: MELCOMBE, 8 8 8 8
Music: Samuel Webbe the Elder, 1740-1816
Text: Sacrata nobis gaudia, Pietro Piacenza. D. 1919, © 2023 ICEL

PSALMODY

Ant.1               God has crowned his Christ with victory. 

Psalm 20

A prayer for the king’s victory

Side 1:             May the Lord answer in time of trial;
may the name of Jacob’s God protect you. 

Side 2:             May he send you help from his shrine
and give you support from Zion.
May he remember all your offerings
and receive your sacrifice with favor. 

Side 1:             May he give you your heart’s desire
and fulfill every one of your plans.
May we ring out our joy at your victory
and rejoice in the name of our God.
May the Lord grant all your prayers. 

Side 2:             I am sure now that the Lord
will give victory to his anointed,
will reply from his holy heaven
with the mighty victory of his hand.

Side 1:             Some trust in chariots or horses,
but we in the name of the Lord.
They will collapse and fall,
but we shall hold and stand firm.

Side 2:             Give victory to the king, O Lord,
give answer on the day we call.

Side 1:             Glory to the Father, and to the Son,

and to the Holy Spirit: 

Side 2:             as it was in the beginning, is now,

and will be forever. Amen.

All:                  God has crowned his Christ with victory.

Ant. 2              We celebrate your mighty works with songs of praise, O God.   

Psalm 21:2-8, 14
Thanksgiving for the king’s victory

Side 1:             O Lord, your strength gives joy to the king;
how your saving help makes him glad!
You have granted him his heart’s desire;
you have not refused the prayer of his lips.

Side 2:             You came to meet him with the blessings of success,
you have set on his head a crown of pure gold.
He asked you for life and this you have given,
days that will last from age to age.

Side 1:             Your saving help has given him glory.
You have laid upon him majesty and splendor,
you have granted your blessings to him for ever.
You have made him rejoice with the joy of your presence.

Side 2:             The king has put his trust in the Lord:
through the mercy of the Most High he shall stand firm.
O Lord, arise in your strength;
we shall sing and praise your power.

Side 1:             Glory to the Father, and to the Son,

and to the Holy Spirit:

Side 2:             as it was in the beginning, is now,

and will be forever. Amen.

All:                  We celebrate your mighty works with songs of praise, O Lord.

Ant. 3              Lord, you have made us a kingdom and priests for God our Father.   

Canticle: Revelation 4:11; 5-9, 10, 12

Redemption Hymn

Side 1:             O Lord our God, you are worthy

to receive glory and honor and power

Side 2:             For you have created all things;

by your will they came to be and were made.

Side 1:             Worthy are you, O Lord

to receive the scroll and break open its seals.

Side 2:             For you were slain;

with your blood you purchased for God

men from every race and tongue,

of every people and nation.

Side 1:             You made of them a kingdom,

and priests to serve our God,

and they shall reign on earth.

Side 2:             Worthy is the Lamb that was slain

to receive power and riches,

wisdom and strength,

honor and glory and praise.

Side 1:             Glory to the Father, and to the Son,

and to the Holy Spirit:

Side 2:             as it was in the beginning, is now,

and will be forever. Amen.

All:                  Lord, you have made us a kingdom and priests for God our Father.

READING

1 Peter 5:1-4

To the elders among you, I, a fellow elder, a witness of Christ’s sufferings and sharer in the glory that is to be revealed, make this appeal. God’s flock is in your midst; give it a shepherd’s care. Watch over it willingly, as God would have you do, not under constraint, and not for shameful profit, either, but generously. Be examples to the flock, not lording it over those assigned to you, so that when the chief Shepherd appears, you will win for yourselves the unfading crown of glory. 

RESPONSORY

These are men who loved their brethren and ever prayed for them.
— These are men who loved their brethren and ever prayed for them.

They spent themselves in their service,
— and ever prayed for them.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
— These are men who loved their brethren and ever prayed for them. 

GOSPEL CANTICLE

Ant.                 The man who not only teaches but does what is right will be counted great in the kingdom of God.

Canticle of Mary

Luke 1:46-55

All:                  My + soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord,

my spirit rejoices in God my Savior

for he has looked with favor on his lowly servant. 

From this day all generations will call me blessed:

the almighty has done great things for me,

and holy is his Name. 

He has mercy on those who fear him

in every generation.

He has shown the strength of his arm,

he has scattered the proud in their conceit. 

He has cast down the mighty from their thrones,

and has lifted up the lowly. 

He has filled the hungry with good things,

and the rich he has sent away empty. 

He has come to the help of his servant Israel

for he has remembered his promise of mercy,

the promise he made to our fathers,

to Abraham and his children forever. 

Glory to the Father, and to the Son,

and to the Holy Spirit:

as it was in the beginning, is now,

and will be forever. Amen. 

Ant.                 The man who not only teaches but does what is right will be counted great in the kingdom of God.   

INTERCESSIONS

Presider:          Jesus Christ is worthy of all praise, for he was appointed high priest among men and their representative before God. We honor him and in our weakness we pray:

All: Bring salvation to your people, Lord.

Lector:             You marvelously illuminated your Church through distinguished leaders and holy men and women, let Christians rejoice always in such splendor.   

All: Bring salvation to your people, Lord.

Lector:             You forgave the sins of your people when their holy leaders like Moses sought your compassion, through their intercession continue to purify and sanctify your holy people.   

All: Bring salvation to your people, Lord.

Lector:             In the midst of their brothers and sisters you anointed your holy ones and filled them with the Holy Spirit, fill all the leaders of your people with the same Spirit.  

All: Bring salvation to your people, Lord.

Lector:             You yourself are the only visible possession of our holy pastors, let none of them, won at the price of your blood, remain far from you.  

All: Bring salvation to your people, Lord.

Lector:             The shepherds of your Church keep your flock from being snatched out of your hand. Through them you give your flock eternal life, save those who have died, those for whom you gave up your life.   

All: Bring salvation to your people, Lord.

THE LORD’S 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.

CONCLUDING PRAYER

O God, who were pleased to give light to your Church
by the example and teaching
of the Bishops Saints Basil and Gregory,
grant, we pray,
that in humility we may learn your truth
and practice it faithfully in charity.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God, for ever and ever.
— Amen.

DISMISSAL

The Lord be with you.
— And with your spirit.

May almighty God bless you,
the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
— Amen.

Go in peace.
— Thanks be to God.