COMMON OF DOCTORS OF THE CHURCH
Evening Prayer I
Prudent in judgment, gentle toward all others, Open, unselfish in the love he offered. All of his days the Gospel was his wisdom, Christ his true teacher.
Brother was he to all the world’s forgotten; Lonely and ill, they came to him for healing. God gave him power, gifts for our salvation: Love, health, and pardon.
One, then, in songs of praise we sing his glory, Calling to mind the peace and joy God gave him, Asking his prayers to help us in life's battle, All through the ages.
Glory and praise be to our God forever, Radiant in splendor, awesome in his power Guiding creation onward toward fulfillment, One God, Three Persons. Text: Iste Confessor, 8th Century; Melody: Herr Deinen Zorn 11.11.11.5; Music: Johann Crueger, 1653 PSALMODY Antiphon: I will give you shepherds after my own heart; they will nourish you with knowledge and sound teaching (alleluia). Psalm 113 Praise, O servants of the Lord, praise the name of the Lord! May the name of the Lord be blessed both now and for evermore! From the rising of the sun to its setting praised be the name of the Lord!
High above all nations is the Lord, above the heavens his glory. Who is like the Lord, our God, who has risen on high to his throne yet stoops from the heights to look down, to look down upon heaven and earth?
From the dust he lifts up the lowly, from the dungheap he raises the poor to set them in the company of princes, yes, with the princes of his people. To the childless wife he gives a home and gladdens her heart with children. Glory... Antiphon: I will give you shepherds after my own heart; they will nourish you with knowledge and sound teaching (alleluia). Antiphon: I shall feed my flock; I shall search for the lost and lead back those who have strayed (alleluia). Psalm 146 My soul, give praise to the Lord; I will praise the Lord all my days, make music to my God while I live.
Put no trust in princes, In mortal men in whom there is no help. Take their breath, they return to clay and their plans that day come to nothing.
He is happy who is helped by Jacob's God, whose hope is in the Lord his God, who alone made heaven and earth, the seas and all they contain.
It is the Lord who keeps faith for ever, who is just to those who are oppressed. It is he who gives bread to the hungry, the Lord, who sets prisoners free,
the Lord who gives sight to the blind, who raises up those who are bowed down, the Lord, who protects the stranger and upholds the widow and orphan.
It is the Lord who loves the just but thwarts the path of the wicked. The Lord will reign for ever, Zion's God, from age to age. Glory... Antiphon: I shall feed my flock; I shall search for the lost and lead back those who have strayed (alleluia). Antiphon: The Good Shepherd laid down his life for his sheep (alleluia). Canticle - Ephesians 1:3-10 Praised be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has bestowed on us in Christ every spiritual blessing in the heavens.
God chose us in him before the world began to be holy and blameless in his sight.
He predestined us to be his adopted sons through Jesus Christ, such was his will and pleasure, that all might praise the glorious favor he has bestowed on us in his beloved.
In him and through his blood, we have been redeemed, and our sins forgiven, so immeasurably generous is God’s favor to us.
God has given us the wisdom to understand fully the mystery, the plan he was pleased to decree in Christ.
A plan to be carried out in Christ, in the fullness of time, to bring all things into one in him, in the heavens and on earth. Glory... Antiphon: The Good Shepherd laid down his life for his sheep (alleluia). READING James 3:17-18 But the wisdom from above is first of all pure, then peaceable, gentle, compliant, full of mercy and good fruits, without inconstancy or insincerity. And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace for those who cultivate peace. RESPONSORY
Bring salvation to your people, Lord.
You marvelously illuminated your Church through distinguished leaders and holy men and women, - let Christians rejoice always in such splendor.
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.
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.
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.
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. Our Father… PRAYER Lord God, you filled Saint N. with heavenly wisdom. By his help may we remain true to his teaching and put it into practice. We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever. May the Lord bless us, protect us from all evil and bring us to everlasting life. Amen.