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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 public-domain Scripture (the World English Bible, Catholic edition, with modern psalm numbers) 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

    “Deliver me, LORD, from evil men. Preserve me from violent men: those who devise mischief in their hearts. They continually gather themselves together for war. They have sharpened their tongues like a serpent. Viper’s poison is under their lips. Selah.”

    “I love the LORD, because he listens to my voice, and my cries for mercy. Because he has turned his ear to me, therefore I will call on him as long as I live.”

    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.

    “They urged him, saying, ‘Stay with us, for it is almost evening, and the day is almost over.’ He went in to stay 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

    “Mary said, ‘My soul magnifies the Lord. My spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior, for he has looked at the humble state of his servant. For behold, from now on, all generations will call me blessed. For he who is mighty has done great things for me. Holy is his name. His mercy is for generations and generations on those who fear him. He has shown strength with his arm. He has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts. He has put down princes from their thrones, and has exalted the lowly. He has filled the hungry with good things. He has sent the rich away empty. He has given help to Israel, his servant, that he might remember mercy, as he spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and his offspring forever.’”

    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 you are releasing your servant, Master, according to your word, in peace; for my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared before the face of all peoples; a light for revelation to the nations, and the glory of your people Israel.’”

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