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Home / About Evening Prayer

About Evening Prayer.

Every evening the whole Church prays. Here is what Evening Prayer (Vespers) is, where to find today’s official text, and a simple evening prayer you can pray now from public-domain texts.

Pray the simple order now

What Evening Prayer is

The Liturgy of the Hours is the public prayer of the Church, “so devised that the whole course of the day and night is made holy by the praise of God.” CCC 1174 Evening Prayer, or Vespers, is one of its principal hours. CCC 1175

It is not only for priests and religious: “the laity, too, are encouraged to recite the divine office, either with the priests, or among themselves, or even individually.” CCC 1175 Pastors are asked to see that the principal hours, especially Vespers, are celebrated in common in church on Sundays and the more solemn feasts. CCC 1175

The Hours are built from hymns, the psalms and a reading from the word of God with its responses, and they prepare for silent prayer. CCC 1177 Praying them well asks for a deeper understanding of the liturgy and of the Bible, especially of the Psalms. CCC 1176

On Sundays, ask whether your parish or cathedral celebrates Vespers. Our parish finder can help you find one.

Today’s official Evening Prayer

The official English texts of the Liturgy of the Hours are copyrighted translations, so we do not copy them here. These established sites publish today’s Evening Prayer for the calendar you choose:

A simple evening prayer

This is not the official Liturgy of the Hours. It is a short order of evening prayer for anyone, using only the Douay-Rheims Bible (public domain) and traditional prayers in the public domain or quoted in the Catechism. It takes about ten minutes.

  1. Begin

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

    The Sign of the Cross, traditional, from the words of Jesus in Matthew 28:19.

  2. An evening psalm

    “I have cried to thee, O Lord, hear me: hearken to my voice, when I cry to thee. Let my prayer be directed as incense in thy sight; the lifting up of my hands, as evening sacrifice. Set a watch, O Lord, before my mouth: and a door round about my lips.”

    “O Praise the Lord, all ye nations: praise him, all ye people. For his mercy is confirmed upon us: and the truth of the Lord remaineth for ever.”

    Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

    Glory Be (Gloria Patri), traditional English, as printed in the Baltimore Catechism No. 1 (1885, with imprimatur). Public domain.

  3. A short reading

    The disciples on the road to Emmaus asked the risen Jesus to stay with them as night came.

    “But they constrained him, saying: Stay with us, because it is towards evening and the day is now far spent. And he went in with them.”

    Stay quiet for a minute or two.

  4. Mary’s song, the Magnificat

    The Catechism calls the Magnificat the song both of the Mother of God and of the Church, a song of thanksgiving. CCC 2619

    “And Mary said: My soul doth magnify the Lord. And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour. Because he hath regarded the humility of his handmaid: for behold from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed. Because he that is mighty hath done great things to me: and holy is his name. And his mercy is from generation unto generations, to them that fear him. He hath shewed might in his arm: he hath scattered the proud in the conceit of their heart. He hath put down the mighty from their seat and hath exalted the humble. He hath filled the hungry with good things: and the rich he hath sent empty away. He hath received Israel his servant, being mindful of his mercy. As he spoke to our fathers: to Abraham and to his seed for ever.”

    Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

    Glory Be (Gloria Patri), traditional English, as printed in the Baltimore Catechism No. 1 (1885, with imprimatur). Public domain.

  5. Prayers for others

    Pray in your own words for the Church, for the world, for the sick and those who suffer, for those who have died, and for your own needs.

  6. 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.

    As given in the Catechism, which notes that the liturgical tradition of the Church has retained St. Matthew’s text. CCC 2759

  7. End in peace

    “Now thou dost dismiss thy servant, O Lord, according to thy word in peace: Because my eyes have seen thy salvation, Which thou hast prepared before the face of all peoples: A light to the revelation of the Gentiles and the glory of thy people Israel.”

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