Evening Prayer I - Holy Cross

Evening Prayer I
The Exaltation of the Holy Cross
September 14
______
O God, make speed to save us.
O Lord, make haste to help us.

Holy God, Holy and Mighty, Holy Immortal One.
Have mercy on us (3x)

We proclaim Christ crucified, a stumbling-block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. - 1 Cor 1:23-24

Hymn
Tune: Pange Lingua

FAITHFUL Cross! above all other,
one and only noble Tree!
None in foliage, none in blossom,
none in fruit thy peers may be;
sweetest wood and sweetest iron!
Sweetest Weight is hung on thee!

Lofty tree, bend down thy branches,
to embrace thy sacred load;
oh, relax the native tension
of that all too rigid wood;
gently, gently bear the members
of thy dying King and God.

Tree, which solely wast found worthy
the world's Victim to sustain.
harbor from the raging tempest!
ark, that saved the world again!
Tree, with sacred blood anointed
of the Lamb for sinners slain.

Blessing, honor, everlasting,
to the immortal Deity;
to the Father, Son, and Spirit,
equal praises ever be;
glory through the earth and heaven
to Trinity in Unity. Amen.

The Psalter

Psalm 147
Laudate Dominum

Ant. 1: Our Crucified and risen Lord has redeemed us, alleluia.

¹ O praise the Lord,

² The Lord is rebuilding Jerusalem *
     he is gathering together the scattered outcasts of Israel.

³ He heals the broken in spirit *
     and binds up their wounds.

⁴ He counts the number of the stars *
     and calls them all by name.

⁵ Great is our Lord, and great is his power *
     there is no measuring his understanding.

⁶ The Lord restores the humble *
     but he brings down the wicked to the dust.

⁷ O sing to the Lord a song of thanksgiving *
     sing praises to our God upon the harp.

⁸ He covers the heavens with cloud,
and prepares rain for the earth *
     and makes the grass to sprout upon the mountains.

⁹ He gives the cattle their food *
     and feeds the young ravens that call to him.

¹⁰ He takes no pleasure in the strength of a horse *
     nor does he delight in any man’s legs,

¹¹ But the Lord’s delight is in those that fear him *
     who wait in hope for his mercy.

Ant. 1: Our Crucified and risen Lord has redeemed us, alleluia.

Ant. 2: The cross is sheer folly to those on their way to ruin, but to us who are on the way to salvation it is the power of God.

¹² Praise the Lord, O Jerusalem *
     sing praises to your God, O Zion.

¹³ For he has strengthened the bars of your gates *
     and blessed your children within you.

¹⁴ He makes peace within your borders *
     and satisfies you with the finest wheat.

¹⁵ He sends his command to the earth *
     and his word runs very swiftly.

¹⁶ He gives snow like wool *
     and scatters the hoar-frost like ashes.

¹⁷ He sprinkles his ice like morsels of bread *
     and the waters harden at his frost.

¹⁸ He sends out his word and melts them *
     he blows with his wind and the waters flow.

¹⁹ He made his word known to Jacob *
     his statutes and judgements to Israel.

²⁰ He has not dealt so with any other nation *
     nor have they knowledge of his laws.

Praise the Lord.

Ant. 2: The cross is sheer folly to those on their way to ruin, but to us who are on the way to salvation it is the power of God.

Ant. 3: Through the cross the world is crucified to me and I am crucified to the world.

Psalm 46
Deus noster refugium

¹ God is our refuge and strength, *
a very present help in trouble;
² Therefore we will not fear, though the earth be moved, *
and though the mountains tremble in the heart of the sea;
³ Though the waters rage and swell, *
and though the mountains quake at the towering seas.
⁴ There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, *
the holy place of the dwelling of the Most High.
⁵ God is in the midst of her;
   therefore shall she not be removed; *
God shall help her at the break of day.
⁶ The nations are in uproar and the kingdoms are shaken, *
but God utters his voice and the earth shall melt away.
⁷ The Lord of hosts is with us; *
the God of Jacob is our stronghold.
⁸ Come and behold the works of the Lord, *
what destruction he has wrought upon the earth.
⁹ He makes wars to cease in all the world; *
he shatters the bow and snaps the spear
   and burns the chariots in the fire.
¹⁰ ‘Be still, and know that I am God; *
I will be exalted among the nations;
   I will be exalted in the earth.’
¹¹ The Lord of hosts is with us; *
the God of Jacob is our stronghold.

Ant. 3: Through the cross the world is crucified to me and I am crucified to the world.

First Reading

Kings 8:22-30

Then Solomon stood before the altar of the LORD in the presence of all the assembly of Israel, and spread out his hands to heaven. He said, "O LORD, God of Israel, there is no God like you in heaven above or on earth beneath, keeping covenant and steadfast love for your servants who walk before you with all their heart, the covenant that you kept for your servant my father David as you declared to him; you promised with your mouth and have this day fulfilled with your hand. Therefore, O LORD, God of Israel, keep for your servant my father David that which you promised him, saying, 'There shall never fail you a successor before me to sit on the throne of Israel, if only your children look to their way, to walk before me as you have walked before me.' Therefore, O God of Israel, let your word be confirmed, which you promised to your servant my father David. "But will God indeed dwell on the earth? Even heaven and the highest heaven cannot contain you, much less this house that I have built! Regard your servant's prayer and his plea, O LORD my God, heeding the cry and the prayer that your servant prays to you today; that your eyes may be open night and day toward this house, the place of which you said, 'My name shall be there,' that you may heed the prayer that your servant prays toward this place. Hear the plea of your servant and of your people Israel when they pray toward this place; O hear in heaven your dwelling place; heed and forgive.

Canticle
Benedictus es, Domine

Glory to you, Lord God of our fathers; *
you are worthy of praise; glory to you.

Glory to you for the radiance of you holy Name; *
we will praise you and highly exalt you for ever.

Glory to you in the splendor of your temple; *
on the throne of your majesty, glory to you.

Glory to you, seated between the Cherubim; *
we will praise you and highly exalt you for ever.

Glory to you, beholding the depths; *
in the high vault of heaven, glory to you.

Glory to you, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit; *
we will praise you and highly exalt you for ever.

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.

Second Reading

Ephesians 2:11-22

So then, remember that at one time you Gentiles by birth, called 'the uncircumcision' by those who are called 'the circumcision' —a physical circumcision made in the flesh by human hands— remember that you were at that time without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.

For he is our peace; in his flesh he has made both groups into one and has broken down the dividing wall, that is, the hostility between us. He has abolished the law with its commandments and ordinances, that he might create in himself one new humanity in place of the two, thus making peace, and might reconcile both groups to God in one body through the cross, thus putting to death that hostility through it. So he came and proclaimed peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near; for through him both of us have access in one Spirit to the Father. So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are citizens with the saints and also members of the household of God, built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the cornerstone. In him the whole structure is joined together and grows into a holy temple in the Lord; in whom you also are built together spiritually into a dwelling place for God.

Second Canticle
Magnificat

Antiphon: Through Jesus God chose to reconcile + the whole universe to himself / making peace through the shedding of his blood on the cross.

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 for ever.

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: Through Jesus God chose to reconcile + the whole universe to himself / making peace through the shedding of his blood on the cross.

Responsory
O glorious cross, on you the king of angels was victorious.
O glorious cross, on you the king of angels was victorious.
And he has washed away our sins in his own blood.
On you the king of angels was victorious.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son and to he Holy Spirit
O glorious cross, on you the king of angels was victorious.

Collect
Almighty God, whose Son our Saviour Jesus Christ was lifted high upon the Cross that he might draw the whole world to himself: Mercifully grant that we, who glory in the mystery of our redemption, may have grace to take up our cross and follow him; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Intercessions

Let us pray with confidence to Christ who endured the cross to save us.
(R.)Lord, through your cross bring us to the glory of your kingdom.

O Christ, you emptied yourself, taking the form of a servant and being made like us,
- grant that your people may follow the example of your humility.(R.)

O Christ, you humbled yourself and became obedient to death, even death on a cross,
- grant that your servants may imitate your obedience and willing acceptance of trials.(R.)

O Christ, you were raised up by the Father and given the name that is above every name,
- may your people, strengthened in the hope of a heavenly resurrection, persevere to the end.(R.)

O Christ, at your name every knee in heaven, on earth and under the earth will bend in adoration,
- pour out your love upon all people that they may join together in proclaiming your glory.(R.)

O Christ, every tongue shall confess that you are Lord to the glory of God the Father,
- welcome our brothers and sisters who have died into the unfailing joy of your kingdom.(R.)

Our Father…

Closing Prayer:
God our Father,
in obedience to you
your only Son accepted death on the cross
for the salvation of mankind.
We acknowledge the mystery of the cross on earth.
May we receive the gift of redemption in heaven.
We ask this through Jesus Christ our Lord,
Who live and reigns with you and Holy Spirit
One God, forever and ever, Amen.

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