Night Prayer – Triduum (Maundy Thursday, Good Friday and Holy Saturday)
Light a candle, it will help with prayer.
In the name of the Father …
As we begin our prayer let’s give thanks to God for our day.
Lord, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy
Lord, have mercy.
May almighty God have mercy on us, forgive us our sins, and bring us to everlasting life. Amen.
Play a piece of Music
Psalm 90 (91) - The protection of the Most High
Antiphon
He will conceal you with his wings; you will not fear the terror of the night.
He who dwélls in the shélter of the Most Hígh *
and abídes in the sháde of the Almíghty
sáys to the Lórd: ‘My réfuge, *
my strónghold, my Gód in whom I trúst!’
It is hé who will frée you from the snáre *
of the fówler who séeks to destróy you;
hé will concéal you with his pínions *
and únder his wíngs you will find réfuge.
You will not féar the térror of the níght *
nor the árrow that flíes by dáy,
nor the plágue that prówls in the dárkness *
nor the scóurge that lays wáste at nóon.
A thóusand may fáll at your síde, *
tén thousand fáll at your ríght,
yóu, it will néver appróach; *
his fáithfulness is búckler and shíeld.
Your éyes have ónly to lóok *
to sée how the wícked are repáid,
yóu who have said: ‘Lórd, my réfuge!’ *
and have máde the Most Hígh your dwélling.
Upon yóu no évil shall fáll, *
no plágue appróach where you dwéll.
For yóu has he commánded his ángels, *
to kéep you in áll your wáys.
They shall béar you upón their hánds *
lest you stríke your fóot against a stóne.
On the líon and the víper you will tréad *
and trámple the young líon and the drágon.
Since he clíngs to me in lóve, I will frée him; *
protéct him for he knóws my náme.
When he cálls I shall ánswer: ‘I am wíth you,’ *
I will sáve him in distréss and give him glóry.
With léngth of lífe I will contént him; *
I shall lét him see my sáving pówer.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
Antiphon
He will conceal you with his wings; you will not fear the terror of the night.
Psalm-prayer
Lord Jesus Christ, when tempted by the devil, you remained loyal to your Father whose angels watched over you at his command. Guard your Church and keep us safe from the plague of sin so that we may remain loyal to the day we enjoy your salvation and your glory.
Scripture Reading Apocalypse 22:4-5
They will see the Lord face to face, and his name will be written on their foreheads. It will never be night again and they will not need lamplight or sunlight, because the Lord God will be shining on them. They will reign for ever and ever.
Short Responsory
Christ humbled himself for us and, in obedience, accepted death. (Good Friday add: even death on a cross. Holy Saturday add: Therefore God raised him to the heights and gave him the name which is above all other names.)
Pause for a few moments
Canticle – Nunc Dimittis
Antiphon
Save us, Lord, while we are awake; protect us while we sleep; that we may keep watch with Christ and rest with him in peace.
At lást, all-pówerful Máster, †
you give léave to your sérvant *
to go in péace, accórding to your prómise.
For my éyes have séen your sálvation *
which you have prepáred for all nátions,
the líght to enlíghten the Géntiles *
and give glóry to Ísrael, your péople.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
Antiphon
Save us, Lord, while we are awake; protect us while we sleep; that we may keep watch with Christ and rest with him in peace.
Let us pray.
Visit this house, we pray you, Lord: drive far away from it all the snares of the enemy. May your holy angels stay here and guard us in peace, and let your blessing be always upon us. Through Christ our Lord,
The Lord grant us a quiet night and a perfect end. Amen.