EVENING PRAYER FOR DECEASED



SAINT GABRIEL HOURS

The Good News:

Praying with Christ Every Day. 

Anytime. Anywhere. With Anyone. 


EVENING PRAYER 

FOR THE DECEASED

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DIVINE OFFICE / LITURGY OF THE HOURS

is the Prayer of Christ and the Church

"Christ Jesus, high priest of the new and eternal covenant, taking human nature, introduced into this earthly exile that hymn which is sung throughout all ages in the halls of heaven. He joins the entire community of mankind to Himself, associating it with His own singing of this canticle of divine praise."  (Vatican II Constitution on Sacred Liturgy, #86)

"For he continues His priestly work through the agency of His Church, which is ceaselessly engaged in praising the Lord and interceding for the salvation of the whole world. She does this, not only by celebrating the Eucharist, but also in other ways, especially by praying the Divine Office."  (Vatican II Constitution on Sacred Liturgy, #86)

"Lauds as Morning Prayer and Vespers as Evening Prayer are the two hinges on which the daily office turns; hence they are to be considered as the chief hours and are to be celebrated as such." (Vatican II Constitution on Sacred Liturgy, #89) 


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THE OFFICE OF THE DEAD

is said in Choir on the day of burial and on other days and suitable occasions. It is celebrated more solemnly on the day of burial, the day after news of the death is received, and on third, seventh, and thirtieth days following, as well as on anniversaries (adapted from the 1950 edition of the Roman Breviary)

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VIRTUAL RESOURCES

Virtual resources provide more than the dry bones of the liturgical text. They celebrate the Hours with sounds and images. Most importantly they provide community, both community with those who produced the sounds and images, and community among those who celebrate the Hours with the same sounds and images at various times and places.  


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COMPLETE ROMAN RITE SERVICE

EVENING PRAYER



The Liturgy of the Hours:  According to the Roman Rite
Hymns:  Hymnal for the Hours by Fr. Samuel F. Weber, O.S.B.
Antiphons:  Gaudete Psalter: For the Liturgy of the Hours
Psalm Tones:  St. Meinrad Psalm Tones, Saint Meinrad Archabbey


EVENING PRAYER BOOKLET



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 ADDITIONS AND SUBSTITUTIONS


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GREETING

The place of honor will feature
a large candle and candlestick holder,
reminiscent of the Paschal Candle,
The Cremated Remains are sprinkled with holy water.
Deacon:

May the Father of all mercies 
and the God of all consolation be with you
R. And with your spirit.

In the waters of Baptism Sylvia died with Christ
and rose with him to new life. 
May she now share with him eternal glory.

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GATHERING SONGS

During the following songs, the paschal candle, remains and the congregation are incensed. In the words of Psalm 141, the vesper psalm, "May our prayers rise like incense before you, and the lifting up of our hands be as an evening sacrifice." 

O Gladsome Light

This is one of the most ancient nonbiblical hymns of Christianity. Sung at every Vesper service of the Byzantine Liturgy, it is the Evening Hymn par excellence. In the Byzantine tradition, Baptism is called Enlightenment.   



 
God of Day and God of Darkness

This contemporary evening hymn by Marty Haugen is a reminder that we find God and ourselves not only in the daylight and also in the darkness of life





Maiden's Voyage

The bishop of Cleveland in his recent pastoral letter has asked Catholics to do four things:
 1) spend at least fifteen minutes a day in prayer, 2) build a spiritual support network 3) concretely define our own personal mission in life, and 4) be able to tell the story of our spiritual journey.  

The Maiden's Voyage composed and sung by Sylvia "Sissy" Robyn Shepherd will both begin and end Evening Prayer 

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OPENING PRAYER

Show us, Lord, the immense power of your goodness
that as we weep for our sister Sylvia
taken from us by a sudden death,
we may be confident 
that she has passed over into your eternal company
Through Christ our Lord. R Amen

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 PSALMS OF PILGRIMAGE

Psalm 121 and Psalm 130

These are from the section of the book of Psalms known as the Gradual Psalms or Psalms of Ascent which were sung by pilgrims on the way to Jerusalem. 

 Reflective Song after Psalm 130

The Sounds of Silence

From what Dick Clark has aptly labeled "The soundtrack of our lives" Simon and Garfunkel weave a complex interplay of light and darkness, sound and silence.





Simon & Garfunkel - Bridge Over Troubled Water (Lyrics)

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 LONGER READING

Wisdom 3 1-9 chosen for its words:

Chastised a little they shall be greatly blessed
because God tried them
and found them worthy of himself
As gold in the furnace, he proved them 
and as sacrificial offerings he took them unto himself.
In the time of their visitation that shall shine 
and shall dart about as sparks through stubble



Reflective Song after Longer Reading

Judy Collins & Pete Seeger - Turn! Turn! Turn!

Judy Collins




Closing Prayer


Almighty God and Father of all,
you strengthen us by the mystery of the Cross
and with the sacrament of your Son's Resurrection.
Have mercy on our sister Slyvia
for all her sins and grant her peace.
May we who mourn this sudden death
 be comforted and consoled by your power and protection.
Through Christ our Lord. R. Amen

Young Pilgrim Music