Evening Prayer Prayer - the Visitation

Evening Prayer II
Feast of the Visitation
May 31
______
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)

Antiphon: Let us sing to the Lord as we celebrate the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

Phos Hilaron

O gracious light,
pure brightness of the everliving Father in heaven,
O Jesus Christ, holy and blessed!

Now as we come to the setting of the sun,
and our eyes behold the vesper light,
we sing your praises, O God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

You are worthy at all times to be praised by happy voices,
O Son of God, O Giver of Life,
and to be glorified through all the worlds.

Antiphon: Let us sing to the Lord as we celebrate the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

You will know that I am in the midst of Israel, that I am the Lord your God, with none to equal me. My people will not be disappointed any more. After this I will pour out my spirit on all mankind, and your sons and daughters will prophesy.,- Joel 2:27-28

Hymn

Tune: Ivyhatch

O glorious Maid, exalted far
beyond the light of burning star,
from him who made thee thou hast won
grace to be Mother of his Son.

That which was lost in hapless Eve
thy holy Scion did retrieve;
the tear-worn sons of Adam's race
through thee have seen the heavenly place.

Thou wast the gate of heaven's high Lord,
the door through which the light hath poured.
Christians rejoice, for through a Maid
to all mankind is life conveyed!

All honor, laud and glory be,
O Jesus, Virgin-born to thee!
All glory, as is ever meet,
to Father and to Paraclete.

Invitatory

The Psalms

Ant. 1: Mary arose and went in haste into the hill country, to a town of Judah.

146

Lauda, anima mea

1: Hallelujah!
Praise the LORD, O my soul! *
I will praise the LORD as long as I live;
I will sing praises to my God while I have my being.
2: Put not your trust in rulers, nor in any child of earth, *
for there is no help in them.
3: When they breathe their last, they return to earth, *
and in that day their thoughts perish.
4: Happy are they who have the God of Jacob for their help! *
whose hope is in the LORD their God;
5: Who made heaven and earth, the seas, and all that is in them; *
who keeps his promise for ever;
6: Who gives justice to those who are oppressed, *
and food to those who hunger.
7: The LORD sets the prisoners free;
the LORD opens the eyes of the blind; *
the LORD lifts up those who are bowed down;
8: The LORD loves the righteous;
the LORD cares for the stranger; *
he sustains the orphan and widow,
but frustrates the way of the wicked.
9: The LORD shall reign for ever, *
your God, O Zion, throughout all generations.
Hallelujah!

Ant. 1: Mary arose and went in haste into the hill country, to a town of Judah.

Ant. 2: When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the infant in her womb leaped for joy, and she was filled with the Holy Spirit.

147:13-21

Laudate Domine

13: Worship the LORD, O Jerusalem; *
praise your God, O Zion;
14: For he has strengthened the bars of your gates; *
he has blessed your children within you.
15: He has established peace on your borders; *
he satisfies you with the finest wheat.
16: He sends out his command to the earth, *
and his word runs very swiftly.
17: He gives snow like wool; *
he scatters hoarfrost like ashes.
18: He scatters his hail like bread crumbs; *
who can stand against his cold?
19: He sends forth his word and melts them; *
he blows with his wind, and the waters flow.
20: He declares his word to Jacob, *
his statutes and his judgments to Israel.
21: He has not done so to any other nation; *
to them he has not revealed his judgments.
Hallelujah!

Ant. 2: When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the infant in her womb leaped for joy, and she was filled with the Holy Spirit.

Ant. 3: Mary received a blessing from the Lord and loving kindness from God her savior.

127

Nisi Dominus

1: Unless the LORD builds the house, *
their labor is in vain who build it.
2: Unless the LORD watches over the city, *
in vain the watchman keeps his vigil.
3: It is in vain that you rise so early and go to bed so late; *
vain, too, to eat the bread of toil,
for he gives to his beloved sleep.
4: Children are a heritage from the LORD, *
and the fruit of the womb is a gift.
5: Like arrows in the hand of a warrior *
are the children of one's youth.
6: Happy is the man who has his quiver full of them! *
he shall not be put to shame
when he contends with his enemies in the gate.

Ant. 3: Mary received a blessing from the Lord and loving kindness from God her savior.

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.

First Reading

Zechariah 2:10-13

Sing and rejoice, O daughter Zion! For lo, I will come and dwell in your midst, says the Lord. Many nations shall join themselves to the Lord on that day, and shall be my people; and I will dwell in your midst. And you shall know that the Lord of hosts has sent me to you. The Lord will inherit Judah as his portion in the holy land, and will again choose Jerusalem.

Be silent, all people, before the Lord; for he has roused himself from his holy dwelling.

Canticle

Song of the Three Young Men Benedicite, omnia opera Domini

Glorify the Lord, all you works of the Lord, *
praise him and highly exalt him for ever.

In the firmament of his power, glorify the Lord, *
praise him and highly exalt him for ever.

Glorify the Lord, you angels and all powers of the Lord, *
O heavens and all waters above the heavens.

Sun and moon and stars of the sky, glorify the Lord, *
praise him and highly exalt him for ever.

Glorify the Lord, every shower of rain and fall of dew, *
all winds and fire and heat.

Winter and Summer, glorify the Lord, *
praise him and highly exalt him for ever.

Glorify the Lord, O chill and cold, *
drops of dew and flakes of snow

Frost and cold, ice and sleet, glorify the Lord, *
praise him and highly exalt him for ever.

Glorify the Lord, O nights and days, *
O shining light and enfolding dark.

Storm clouds and thunderbolts, glorify the Lord, *
praise him and highly exalt him for ever.

Let the earth glorify the Lord, *
praise him and highly exalt him for ever.

Glorify the Lord, O mountains and hills,
and all that grows upon the earth, *
praise him and highly exalt him for ever.

Glorify the Lord, O springs of water, seas, and streams, *
O whales and all that move in the waters.

All birds of the air, glorify the Lord, *
praise him and highly exalt him for ever.

Glorify the Lord, O beasts of the wild, *
and all you flocks and herds.

O men and women everywhere, glorify the Lord, *
praise him and highly exalt him for ever.

Let the people of God glorify the Lord, *
praise him and highly exalt him for ever.

Glorify the Lord, O priests and servants of the Lord, *
praise him and highly exalt him for ever.

Glorify the Lord, O spirits and souls of the righteous, *
praise him and highly exalt him for ever.

You that are holy and humble of heart, glorify the Lord, *
praise him and highly exalt him for ever.

Let us glorify the Lord: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit; *
praise him and highly exalt him for ever.

In the firmament of his power, glorify the Lord, *
praise him and highly exalt him 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

John 3:25-30
Now a discussion about purification arose between John’s disciples and a Jew. They came to John and said to him, ‘Rabbi, the one who was with you across the Jordan, to whom you testified, here he is baptizing, and all are going to him.’ John answered, ‘No one can receive anything except what has been given from heaven. You yourselves are my witnesses that I said, “I am not the Messiah, but I have been sent ahead of him.” He who has the bride is the bridegroom. The friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly at the bridegroom’s voice. For this reason my joy has been fulfilled. He must increase, but I must decrease.’

Responsory
Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with you.
Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with you.
Blessed are you among women and blessed is the fruit of your womb.
The Lord is with you.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son and to he Holy Spirit
Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with you.

Second Canticle

Magnificat - Luke 1:46-55

Antiphon: How happy is she who had faith / that the Lord's promise would be fulfilled.

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 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.

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: How happy is she who had faith / that the Lord's promise would be fulfilled.

Collect
Father in heaven, by your grace the virgin mother of your incarnate Son was blessed in bearing him, but still more blessed in keeping your word: Grant us who honor the exaltation of her lowliness to follow the example of her devotion to your will; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen..

Intercessions

Let us praise God our Almighty Father, who wished that Mary, his Son's mother, be celebrated by each generation. Now in need we ask:
- Mary, full of grace, intercede for us.
O God, worker of miracles, you made the Immaculate Virgin Mary share body and soul in your Son's glory in heaven,
  -  direct the hearts of your children to that same glory. (R.)
Lord, make your Church one in mind and heart, united in your love,
  -  and keep Christians united in prayer with Mary, the mother of Jesus.(R.)
You made Mary the mother of mercy,
  -  may all who are faced with trials feel her motherly love.(R.)
You wished Mary to be the mother of the family in the home of Jesus and Joseph,
  -  may all mothers of families foster love and holiness through her intercession.(R.)
You crowned Mary queen of heaven,
  -  may all the dead rejoice in your kingdom with the saints for ever.(R.)

Our Father…

Closing Prayer:

Almighty and ever-living God, you inspired Mary, while she was expecting your son, to visit her cousin Elizabeth.
Grant that we may obey the inspiration of the Spirit
and join her in proclaiming your greatness for ever.

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.

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