EVENING PRAYER

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.

Act of Adoration:

O MY GOD, I adore thee with all the submission which the presence of thy Sovereign Majesty inspires; I believe in thee because thou art truth itself; I hope in thee because thou art infinitely good; I love thee with my whole heart because thou art sovereignly amiable; and I love my neighbour as myself, for the love of thee.

Act of Thanksgiving:

HOW shall I thank thee, O my God, for all the favours which thou hast bestowed upon me? Thou hast drawn me out of nothing; thou hast given thy life to save me; and every day thou bestows new favours upon me. Alas! Lord, what return can I make thee for so much goodness.

O ALL ye blessed Spirits, unite with me in praising God, for all the favours which He is continually bestowing upon the most unworthy and ungrateful of His creatures.

Prayer to Ask the Light of the Holy Spirit:

O Eternal Source of Light, Holy Spirit, enlighten me, that I may discover the enormity and the malice of sin; grant me grace, O my God, to conceive so great a horror of it, that I may hate it as thou hatest it, and carefully avoid it for the future.

Here let us examine what sins we have committed against God, our neighbour, and ourselves.

Act of Contrition:

Behold me, O Lord, all covered with confusion, and penetrated with sorrow at the sight of my faults. I am heartily sorry for them, because they have offended a God so good, so amiable, and so worthy of being loved.

Is this, O my God, all the return I have made to thee for the love that made thee shed, for me, the last drop of thy most precious blood?

Yes, Lord! I have carried my malice and ingratitude too far; I humbly implore thy pardon; and I beg thee, O my God, by that goodness which has been so often shown to me, to grant me the grace of sincere repentance.

Purpose of Amendment:

O that I had never offended thee, my God! But since I have been so unfortunate as to displease thee, I will endeavour to testify my contrition by a conduct quite opposite to that which I have hitherto pursued.

I now renounce sin, and all the occasions of sin, and particularly that into which I most frequently fall; and, if thou wilt deign to grant me thy grace, I will endeavour to fulfill faithfully all my duties, and to promote as much as possible thy honor and glory.

The Lord's Prayer:

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name: thy kingdom come: thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive them that trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil. Amen.

The Hail Mary:

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou amongst women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now, and at the hour of our death. Amen.

The Apostles Creed:

I believe in God the Father Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth. And in Jesus Christ his only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary; suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried; he descended into hell, the third day he rose again from the dead; he ascended into heaven, sitteth at the right hand of God the Father Almighty; thence he shall come to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Ghost; the holy Catholic Church; the communion of Saints; the forgiveness of sins; the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting. Amen.

The Confiteor:

I confess to Almighty God, to blessed Mary, ever Virgin, to blessed Michael the Archangel, to blessed John the Baptist, to the holy Apostles Peter and Paul, and to all the Saints, that I have sinned exceedingly in thought, word, and deed, through my fault, through my fault, through my most grievous fault. Therefore I beseech the blessed Mary ever Virgin, blessed Michael the Archangel, blessed John the Baptist, the holy Apostles Peter and Paul, and all the Saints, to pray to the Lord our God for me.

May Almighty God have mercy on us, and forgive us our sins, and bring us to life everlasting. Amen.

May the Almighty and merciful Lord grant us pardon, absolution and remission of our sins. Amen.

I beg thy blessing, O my God, on the repose that I am going to take, so that strengthened by it, I may serve thee better for the future.

Prayer for Protection of The Saints:

Holy Mary, Mother of God, and after Him my only hope; my good Angel, and holy Patron, intercede for me; protect me this night and during the rest of my life, but more particularly at the hour of my death.

Prayer for the Living and The Dead:

Bless, O Lord, my parents, benefactors, friends, and enemies; protect my spiritual and temporal superiors; succor the poor, the afflicted, the sick, the agonizing, prisoners, and travellers; convert all heretics, and enlighten all infidels.

O God of goodness and mercy, have compassion on the souls of the faithful departed; terminate their sufferings, and grant repose and light to those in particular for whom I ought to pray.

On Lying Down to Rest:

In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ crucified, I lay myself down to rest; bless me, O Lord, defend and govern me this night and for ever; and, after this short and miserable pilgrimage, bring me to everlasting happiness with thee. Amen.

Our Lady's Litany:

Lord, have mercy on us.

Christ, have mercy on us.

Lord, have mercy on us.

Christ, hear us.

Christ, graciously hear us.

God, the Father of heaven, have mercy on us.

God, the Son, Redeemer of the world, have mercy on us.

God, the Holy Ghost, have mercy on us.

Holy Trinity, one God, have mercy on us.

Holy Mary, Pray for us.

Holy Mother of God, Pray for us.

Holy Virgin of virgins, Pray for us.
Mother of Christ, Pray for us.
Mother of divine grace, Pray for us.
Mother most pure, Pray for us.
Mother most chaste, Pray for us.
Mother inviolate, Pray for us.
Mother undefiled, Pray for us.
Mother most amiable, Pray for us.
Mother most admirable, Pray for us.
Mother of good counsel, Pray for us.
Mother of our Creator, Pray for us.
Mother of our Saviour, Pray for us.
Virgin most prudent, Pray for us.
Virgin most venerable, Pray for us.
Virgin most renowned, Pray for us.
Virgin most powerful, Pray for us.
Virgin most merciful, Pray for us.
Virgin most faithful, Pray for us.
Mirror of justice, Pray for us
Seat of wisdom, Pray for us.
Cause of our joy, Pray for us.
Spiritual vessel, Pray for us.
Vessel of honor, Pray for us.
Vessel of singular devotion, Pray for us.
Mystical rose, Pray for us.
Tower of David, Pray for us.
Tower of ivory, Pray for us.
House of gold, Pray for us.
Ark of the covenant, Pray for us.
Gate of heaven, Pray for us.
Morning star, Pray for us.
Health of the weak, Pray for us.
Refuge of sinners, Pray for us.
Comforter of the afflicted, Pray for us.
Help of Christians, Pray for us.
Queen of angels, Pray for us.
Queen of patriarchs, Pray for us.
Queen of prophets, Pray for us.
Queen of apostles, Pray for us.
Queen of martyrs, Pray for us.
Queen of confessors, Pray for us.
Queen of virgins, Pray for us.
Queen of all saints, Pray for us.
Queen conceived without original sin, Pray for us.
Queen of the most holy Rosary, Pray for us.
Queen of peace, Pray for us.

Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world, spare us, O Lord!
Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world, graciously hear us, O Lord!
Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world, have mercy on us. 

V. Pray for us, O holy Mother of God.

R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

Let us Pray:

Pour forth, we beseech Thee, O Lord, Thy grace into our hearts, that we to whom the Incarnation of Christ Thy Son was made known by the message of an angel, may by His passion and cross be brought to the glory of His resurrection. Through the same Christ our Lord. Amen.

It was a rainy morning in Vatican Square in 2014. 

I glanced to my right to find a young Italian woman in the chair next to me. It was an irresistible photo shot which I shared with her after Holy Mass. I pray she is well.