Night Prayer: Week 1

 

Season of Lent

All stand and make sign of cross

 

Prayer Leader:

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God, come to our assistance. 

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Response: 

Lord, make haste to help us. 

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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. 

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Prayer Leader:

As we journey through Lent, we pause for a moment to reflect on our day, bringing to mind where we could have trusted in God and allowed the Holy Spirit to work through us, so that we could have been more Christ like.

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Penitential Rite

Brief moment of silence to examine our day.

 

Kyrie eléison

     R/. Kyrie eléison

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Christe eléison.

     R/. Christe eléison.  

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Kyrie eléison

     R/. Kyrie eléison

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Prayer Leader:

May almighty God have mercy on us, 

forgive us our sins, and bring 

us to everlasting life. 

Amen. 

Hymn of Gratitude:

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In These Days of Lenten Journey

 

In these days of Lenten journey

we have seen and we have heard

the call to sow justice 

in the lives of those we serve.

 

1. We reach out to those who are homeless,

to those who live without warmth.

In the coolness of evening we’ll shelter their dreams;

we will clothe them in mercy and peace.

 

2. We open our eyes to the hungry,

and see the faces of Christ.

As we nourish all people who hunger for food,

may their faith in our God be renewed.

 

3. We open our ears to the weary

and hear the cry of the poor.

To the voices that echo the song of despair,

we will show our compassion and care.

 

4. We call on the Spirit of Justice

and pray for the righteousness’ sake.

We will sing for the freedom of all the oppressed;

we will loosen the bonds of distress.

 

Psalm 32

 The first of the seven Penitential Psalms (Ps 6, 32, 38, 51, 102, 130, 143)

These are psalms suitable to express repentance.

The psalmist does not, as in many laments, claim to be innocent but appeals to God’s mercy.

The psalmist prays that the effects of personal and social sin be taken away.

 

Antiphon 1 

In You, my God, my body will rest in hope.

 

The one who knows the meaning of forgiveness, 

            whose past failures no longer plague them, 

            who stand blameless and guilt-free before God ---

               they are rich indeed. 

 

Every time I attempt to handle my own guilt ---

            by ignoring it, rationalizing it, 

            or just running away from it ---

           some unseen power or pressure

               from the depth of my being

       squeezes my life dry, leaving me empty.

 

But when I face up to my failures and confess them,

when I open my guilt-ridden heart 

   to You, O God, 

then I realize the blessed meaning 

   of forgiveness. 

 

Thus everyone who claims faith in a loving God

    needs to cling to God’s acceptance and concern.

Times of darkness will come, 

                 life’s storms and tempests will continue to rage, 

        but we shall not be destroyed by these things.

 

You are, O God, a place of refuge.

      You do enable me to face my problems,

      You do keep me from being destroyed by them.

Even within the darkness about us. 

in the midst of life’s turmoil,

     one can often hear the voice of God:

 

“Even these things serve a purpose in your life.

Don’t sell them short,

                   for they may be steps along My path for you.

Stop being stubborn and stupid

                  like some undiscerning jackass

          that has to be driven with sticks or whips.”

 

The faithful and the faithless both suffer 

                        the uncertainties and insecurities of this life,

     but the children of God can depend always

        on the love of their Father. 

 

It is for this reason that there is 

light even in the midst of darkness

incomprehensible joy in the midst of sorrow,

           and we can find 

              a measure of happiness and well-being

                 regardless of the circumstances that surround us. 

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Glory be 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.

Antiphon 1 

In You, my God, my body will rest in hope.

Stand for the Gospel reading

Gospel Reading

 

A reading from the holy Gospel according to…

- Glory to You, O Lord

 

The Gospel of the Lord.

- Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

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Silent Reflection

Responsory

Into your hands, Lord, I commend my spirit. 

- Into your hands, Lord, I commend my spirit. 

 

You have redeemed us, Lord God of truth. 

- I commend my spirit. 

 

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, 

- Into your hands, Lord, I commend my spirit. 

 

Gospel Canticle

Stand

Antiphon 

Protect us, Lord, as we stay awake;

watch over us as we sleep,

that awake, we may keep watch with Christ,

and asleep, rest in his peace. 

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In This Temple Now Behold Him

 

1. In His temple now behold Him,

See the long-expected Lord;

Ancient prophets had foretold Him;

God has now fulfilled His word,

Now, to praise Him, His redeemed

shall break forth with one accord.

 

2. In the arms of her who bore Him,

Virgin pure, behold Him lie,

While His aged saints adore Him

Here in faith and hope they die.

Now, to praise Him, His redeemed

Lo, the incarnate God most high.

 

3. Jesus, by Your presentation,

When they blest You, weak and poor,

Make us see our great salvation,

Seal us with Your promise sure,

And present us in Your glory

to Your Father, cleansed and pure.

 

4. Prince and author of salvation,

Be Your boundless love our theme!

Jesus, praise to You be given,

By the world You did redeem,

With the Father and the Spirit,

Lord of majesty supreme.

Amen.

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Antiphon 

Protect us, Lord, as we stay awake;

watch over us as we sleep,

that awake, we may keep watch with Christ,

and asleep, rest in his peace.

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Eucharistic Adoration

Please find a comfortable place to be in adoration of the Blessed Sacrament. 

At 8 p.m., we will conclude our Night Prayer.

 

Songs of Adoration

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Concluding Prayer

Prayer Leader:

You have given us bread from heaven

- Having within it all sweetness.

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Let us pray. 

Lord God,

Send us peaceful sleep 

to refresh our tired bodies.

May Your help always renew us

and keep us strong in Your service. 

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We ask this through Christ our Lord. 

Amen. 

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Benediction

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May the all-powerful Lord 

grant us a restful night 

and a peaceful death. 

Amen. 

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