About this prayer
Evening prayer is a time to thank God, review the day honestly, ask forgiveness and entrust the night to his care. This sequence combines traditional prayers with original prayers written for this companion. It can be prayed alone or with your family.
Prayer text
Sign of the Cross
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Thanksgiving
Loving Father, thank you for your presence throughout this day: for the good I received, the people who helped me, and every opportunity to love. I place before you the moments of joy and the things that remain unfinished. Receive them all in your mercy. Amen.
Let us pause in silence. Where did we respond to God’s love today? Where did we fail to love God or our neighbour?
Silent prayer
Let us ask the Lord for forgiveness and the grace to begin again.
Merciful Father, I am sorry for my sins, for the wrong I have done and the good I have left undone. Forgive me through Jesus Christ. Help me to turn away from sin, repair the harm I have caused, and forgive those who have hurt me. Strengthen me by your grace to choose what is good. Amen.
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 those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen.
Prayer for the night
Lord Jesus, remain with us as night falls. Comfort those who are lonely, protect those in danger, and give strength to those who work while others sleep. Grant rest to the sick and peace to troubled hearts. Watch over our home and those we love. If we wake to another day, help us to serve you with renewed love. Into your hands we entrust ourselves. Amen.
Sign of the Cross
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Extended community prayer
The original prayer above is unchanged. This separate community version includes additional intentions and responses. One person leads; everyone joins in the shared parts.
Let us gather in the presence of God, remembering those who pray with us and those who cannot be here. We bring our gratitude, our needs, and our willingness to care for one another.
God of love, unite our hearts in prayer and teach us to serve you together.
Sign of the Cross
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Thanksgiving
Loving Father, thank you for your presence throughout this day: for the good I received, the people who helped me, and every opportunity to love. I place before you the moments of joy and the things that remain unfinished. Receive them all in your mercy. Amen.
Let us pause in silence. Where did we respond to God’s love today? Where did we fail to love God or our neighbour?
Silent prayer
Let us ask the Lord for forgiveness and the grace to begin again.
Merciful Father, I am sorry for my sins, for the wrong I have done and the good I have left undone. Forgive me through Jesus Christ. Help me to turn away from sin, repair the harm I have caused, and forgive those who have hurt me. Strengthen me by your grace to choose what is good. Amen.
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 those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen.
Prayer for the night
Lord Jesus, remain with us as night falls. Comfort those who are lonely, protect those in danger, and give strength to those who work while others sleep. Grant rest to the sick and peace to troubled hearts. Watch over our home and those we love. If we wake to another day, help us to serve you with renewed love. Into your hands we entrust ourselves. Amen.
Community intentions
For those whose day ends in disappointment or grief, grant peace and the assurance that they need not carry their burdens alone.
Lord, hear our prayer, and help us become instruments of your mercy.
For people working through the night, protect them from danger and fatigue; help our gratitude include their often unseen service.
Lord, hear our prayer, and help us become instruments of your mercy.
Pause for silent prayer. Intentions may be offered aloud freely; no one is required to share.
For the intentions spoken and those held quietly in our hearts, let us pray to the Lord.
Lord, receive our prayer and sustain us in your love.
Let us entrust ourselves and those for whom we have prayed to the Father.
Merciful Father, receive our prayer through Jesus Christ. Where we can offer help, make us willing; where we must wait, give us patience. Keep us attentive to one another beyond this gathering. May the grace of this prayer take root in our homes, our work, and our choices, so that your love becomes visible through our lives. Amen.
Sign of the Cross
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.