Evening Prayers


These are for adults; the Children's Prayer Index has a link for them; please note that the prayers published below are in addition to the evening prayers found in Traditional Catholic Prayers Index, link below. Not all of these are necessary, but we provide them for those who may want to add to the family recitation, which ought not be lengthy; God prefers prayer from the heart, not the mere multiplication of words that appear as if devotion.

We ought never to omit evening prayers, even if it means a short version due to illness or some other pressing matter beyond our control. It is a mark of the grace of gratitude that when the day is done, we return thanks to God for His aid and protection during the day, especially for the crosses He may have sent to prove and sanctify us; and we ought to pray that we may be protected from harm while we sleep. Each night could be our last one here this side of eternity. We should bear this in mind when saying our evening prayers. As always we begin with:

IN the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.

AN ACT OF THE PRESENCE OF GOD

O ALMIGHTY and eternal God, Whose majesty filleth Heaven and earth, I firmly believe that Thou art here present; that Thine all-seeing eye is upon me; that Thou knowest all things, and art most intimately present in the very center of my soul. I desire to bow down all the powers of my soul to adore Thee; I desire to join my voice with all Thy blessed Angels and Saints, to praise Thee and glorify Thee now and forever.

AN ACT OF THANKSGIVING

I MOST heartily thank Thee, O Lord, for all Thy mercies and blessings bestowed upon me and upon Thy whole Church; and particularly for those I have received from Thee this day, in watching over me, and preserving me from so many evils, and favoring me with so many graces and inspirations. [Here pause and meditate on God's mercies.] Oh, let me never more be ungrateful to Thee, my God, Who art so good and gracious unto me.

PRAYERS OF SAINT THÉRÈSE

Love of God

AT the close of evening I shall appear before Thee with empty hands, for I ask not, Lord, that Thou wouldst count my works. All our justice is tarnished in Thy sight. It is therefore my desire to be clothed with Thine Own justice and to receive from Thy love the eternal possession of Thyself. I crave no other throne or other crown but Thee, O my Beloved.

Gratitude

O MY God, how good Thou art to me, the victim of Thy merciful love. Now even though Thou dost join physical suffering to the trials of my soul, I cannot say: "The sorrows of death have encompassed me." But I cry out in my gratitude: "I have gone down into the valley of the shadow of death, yet I fear no evil, because Thou, O Lord, art with me."

Hope

A DAY ... an hour ... and we shall have reached the port! My God, what shall we see then? What is that life which will never have an end? ... Jesus will be the soul of our soul. Unfathomable mystery! "Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither hath it entered into the heart of man what great things God hath prepared for them that love Him."


AN EXAMINATION OF CONSCIENCE

O MY Lord Jesus Christ, Judge of the living and the dead, before whom I must appear one day to give an exact account of my whole life; enlighten me, I beseech Thee, and give me a humble and contrite heart, that I may see wherein I have offended Thine infinite Majesty, and judge myself now with such a just severity, that then Thou mayest judge me with mercy and clemency.

Here pause a moment to consider where and in whose company you have been this day. Call to mind the sins committed against God, your neighbor, or yourself; and reflect whether you have fulfilled the duties of your state of life.

Offenses against God: Omission or negligence in religions duties; irreverence and willful distractions in prayer; lack of confidence and resignation; cursing, swearing, etc.

Against thy neighbor: Want of obedience or respect; scandal, hatred, quarreling; stealing, injuries; lies, false reports; jealousy, desire of revenge, etc.

Against self: Vanity, human respect; thoughts, desires or language against purity; intemperance in eating or drinking; laziness and neglect of one's duties.

Make an Act of Contrition.


ACTS OF PETITION

VOUCHSAFE, O Lord, this night
To keep us without sin.
Have mercy upon us, O Lord.
Have mercy upon us.
Let Thy mercy, be upon us, O Lord.
As we have hoped in Thee.
O Lord, hear our prayer.
And let our cry come unto Thee.

Let us Pray

VISIT, we beseech Thee, O Lord, this habitation, and drive far from it all snares of the enemy. Let Thy holy Angels dwell herein, to
preserve us in peace; and may Thy blessing be always upon us, through our Lord, Jesus Christ.

Save us, O Lord, when we are awake, and keep us while we sleep, that we may watch with Christ, and rest in peace. Amen.


PRAYER OF ST. ALPHONSUS

LORD Jesus Christ, my God, I adore Thee and thank Thee for all the blessings which Thou hast conferred upon mc this day. I offer Thee my rest and all the moments of this night, and I beseech Thee to protect me from all sin. Therefore I place myself within the most sacred Wound of Thy side, and under the protecting mantle of Mary my Mother.

May Thy holy Angels assist me and preserve me in peace. May Thy blessing be upon me forevermore.


After retiring say:

INTO Thy hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit. Lord Jesus, receive my soul. In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ crucified, I lay me down to rest. May He bless, govern and protect me; and, after this short pilgrimage, bring to me everlasting happiness. Amen.

O LORD Jesus Christ, Whose unwearied eye neither slumbers nor sleeps, but continually watches in defense of Thy servants; take me and mine, I beseech Thee, into Thy protection, and grant, that whilst my body is asleep, my soul may be awake to Thee, and that I may hereafter behold Thee in that blessed and heavenly country, where Thou, with the Father and the Holy Ghost, rulest eternally, and where all the Angels, with the blessed Saints, are citizens forever. Amen.


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