Let our prayer arise before God like incense,
the raising of our hands in prayer
like the evening sacrifice!
Glory to the Father, and to the Son,
and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning,
is now, and will be for ever. Amen. Alleluia!
HymnMeter: 77 77 77
This hymn can be sung to the tune used for
For the Beauty of the EarthAs the darkness draweth nigh,
Daylight fadeth from the sky
Father, unto thee we call,
Thou who rulest over all.
Light that cannot know decline,
Come within our souls to shine!
All our hearts to thee are known;
Come, possess them as thine own.
Thou alone these hearts can fill
And their deepest yearning still.
Love that never groweth old,
In thy love our lives enfold!
May the virtue of our lives
Unto thee as incense rise,
When each joy and pain shall be
Joined with Paschal Mystery.
May our gift to thee arise
As an evening sacrifice.
Psalm 1411-5a, 8
May the spoken words of my mouth,/ the thoughts of my heart,/ win favor in your sight, O Lord. (Ps 19:15)
We can use our treasured capacity for speech to offer prayer, as fragrant as incense before God, or to offer hurt to another.
I have called to you, Lord; hasten to help me!
Hear my voice when I cry to you.
Let my prayer arise before you like incense,
the raising of my hands like an evening oblation.
Set, O Lord, a guard over my mouth;
keep watch at the door of my lips!
Do not turn my heart to things that are wrong,
to evil deeds with men who are sinners.
Never allow me to share in their feasting.
If a good man strikes or reproves me it is kindness;
but let the oil of the wicked not anoint my head.
To you, Lord God, my eyes are turned:
in you I take refuge; spare my soul!
Glory to the Father….
Word of God – Revelation 8:3-4
Another angel came and stood at the altar, holding a gold censer. He was given a great quantity of incense to offer, along with the prayers of all the holy ones, on the gold altar that was before the throne. The smoke of the incense along with the prayers of the holy ones went up before God from the hand of the angel.
Each of the elders held a harp and gold bowls filled with incense, which are the prayers of the holy ones. (Rv 5:8)
Canticle of Mary
Live in love, as Christ loved us and handed himself over for us as a sacrificial offering to God for a fragrant aroma. (Eph 5:2)
Intercessions
Our love for God and neighbor is the fire in which the incense of our worship burns sweetly. Let us pray:
RReceive our prayer, O Lord.
You have called your people to pray always:
– may we grow in awareness that every thought, word, and deed lies open to you. R
You receive all our offerings in love:
– may we offer them more and more faithfully in
love. R
You have promised us the gift of your Holy Spirit:
– may the fire of divine charity burn in our hearts and in our prayer. R
You desire to bring all people into your glory:
– receive the souls of those who have died. R
Personal intentions
Our Father….
May grace, mercy, and peace be with us from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord. Amen. (cf. 2 Tm 1:2)
