Holy Thursday - Night Prayer

Leader: † God, come to my assistance.

All: Lord, make haste to help me.

Leader: Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.

All: As it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen.

Examination of conscience:

[We are called to have a clear conscience toward God and toward men, in our hearts and in our minds, in our actions and inactions. To do so, it is vital that we examine our conscience daily and to ask for God’s mercy as we fall short and to ask for His strength to do better.]

Penitential Rite

Leader: You were sent to heal the contrite of heart: Lord, have mercy.

All:  Lord, have mercy.

Leader: You came to call sinners: Christ, have mercy.

All: Christ, have mercy.

Leader: You are seated at the right hand of the Father to intercede for us: Lord, have mercy.

All: Lord, have mercy.

Hymn - O Christ, You Are the Light and Day

O Christ, you are the light and day
which drives away the night,
The ever-shining Sun of God
and pledge of future light.

As now the evening shadows fall
please grant us, Lord, we pray,
a quiet night to rest in you
until the break of day

Remember us, poor mortal men,
we humbly ask, O Lord,
and may your presence in our souls,
be now our great reward.

Psalmody - Psalm 91

Leader: Night holds no terrors for me sleeping under God’s wings.

Side1: He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High and abides in the shade of the Almighty says to the Lord: “My refuge, my stronghold, my God in whom I trust!”

Side 2: It is he who will free you from the snare of the fowler who seeks to destroy you; he will conceal you with his pinions and under his wings, you will find refuge.

Side 1: You will not fear the terror of the night nor the arrow that flies by day, nor the plague that prowls in the darkness nor the scourge that lays waste at noon.

Side 2: A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand fall at your right, you, it will never approach; his faithfulness is buckler and shield.

Side 1: Your eyes have only to look to see how the wicked are repaid, you who have said: “Lord my refuge!” And have made the Most High your dwelling.

Side 2: Upon you, no evil shall fall, no plague approach where you dwell. For you has he commanded his angels, to keep you in all your ways.

Side 1: They shall bear you upon their hands lest you strike your foot against a stone. On the lion and the viper, you will tread and trample the young lion and the dragon.

Side 2: Since he clings to me in love, I will free him; protect him for he knows my name. When he calls I shall answer: “I am with you,” I will save him in distress and give him glory.

Side 1: With length of life I will content him; I shall let him see my saving power.

Side 2: Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:

Side 1: As it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen.

All: Night holds no terrors for me sleeping under God’s wings.

A Reading from Revelation 22:4-5

Leader: They shall see the Lord face to face and bear his name on their foreheads. The night shall be no more. They will need no light from lamps or the sun, for the Lord God shall give them light, and they shall reign forever.

Antiphon

Leader: For our sake Christ was obedient, accepting even death, death on a cross.

All: For our sake Christ was obedient, accepting even death, death on a cross.

Gospel Canticle - Luke 2:29-32

Leader: 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.

All: Lord, now you let your servant go in peace; your word has been fulfilled: my own eyes have seen the salvation which you have prepared in the sight of every people: a light to reveal you to the nations and the glory of your people Israel.

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.

All: 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.

Concluding Prayer

Leader: Lord, we beg you to visit this house and banish from it all the deadly power of the enemy. May your holy angels dwell here to keep us in peace, and may your blessing be upon us always. We ask this through Christ our Lord.

All: Amen.

Blessing

Leader: May the all-powerful Lord grant us a restful night and a peaceful death.

All: Amen.

Antiphon of the Blessed Virgin

All: Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with you! Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen.

Dismissal

Leader: The Lord be with you.

All: And with your spirit.

Leader: May almighty God bless you, the Father, and the Son, ☩ and the Holy Spirit.

All: Amen.

Leader: Go in Peace.

All: Thanks be to God.