Friday night prayer | Maronite Faith.com

Saturday Sootoro (prayed Friday Night)

DOXOLOGY

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, as we begin and until we conclude.
May mercy and compassion be poured forth upon us
in this world and the next.
O Lord, our God, to you be glory for ever. Amen.

OPENING PRAYER
Lord God,
as we trace upon ourselves the sign of your glorious cross,
grant that we may conquer all evil passions
and find a new source of strength to fight against the evil one.
May we draw help and strength from your cross
to confront our visible and invisible enemies;
and we shall exalt your glory,
and that of your Father, and your Holy Spirit,
now and for ever. Amen.

Psalm 91

You who dwell in the shelter of the Most High,
who abide in the shadow of the Almighty,

Say to the Lord, “My refuge and my fortress,
my God, in whom I trust.”

for he will rescue you from the snare of the fowler,
from the destroying pestilence.

With his pinions he will cover you,
and under his wings you shall take refuge;
his faithfulness is a buckler and a shield.

You shall not fear the terror of the night
nor the arrow that flies by day;

not the pestilence that roams in darkness
nor the devastating plague at noon.

Though a thousand fall at your side,
ten thousand at your right side, near you it shall not come.

Rather with your eyes shall you behold
and see the requital of the wicked.

Because you have the Lord for your refuge;
you have made the Most High your stronghold.

No evil shall befall you,
nor shall affliction come near your tent,

for to his angels he has given command about you,
that they guard you in all your ways.

Upon their hands they shall bear you up,
lest you dash your foot against a stone.

You shall tred upon the asp and the viper;
you shall trample down the lion and the dragon.

Because he clings to me, I will deliver him;
I will set him on high because he acknowledges my name.

He shall call upon me, and I will answer him;
I will be with him in distress;

I will deliver him and glorify him;
with length of days I will gratify him
and will show him my salvation.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and forever. Amen.

HOOSOYO

I burn this incense to praise and honor the most holy Trinity.

PROEMION
Praise, glory, and honor to the Priest, who cannot be understood; the Substance, which cannot be analyzed;
the Divine Wisdom, which has no limits;
the Goodness, which is not exhausted;
the Majesty, which cannot be offended;
the Light, which darkness cannot judge.
O Christ, in your name may we be protected,
behind your cross may we hide,
and in your harbor may we find rest,
now and for ever. Amen.
All respond: Amen.

SEDRO

O Christ our God,
you are the Ocean of mercy and compassion,
the forgiveness for sinners,
the Pardon of the faults of those who repent.
You accepted the request of the thief who believed in you
as God: you washed away the sins of the sinful woman with her own tears; you accepted the repentance of the prodigal son who squandered his possessions and clothed him with the vesture of the beloved and faithful sons.
You accepted the return of Simon Peter after he denied you three times and made him the rock of the holy Church and the holder of the keys of the kingdom.
You took Saul, the persecutor of the Christian people,
and made him a chosen vessel for apostolic preaching
and called him as the steward of the true faith.

O Lord,
we cry to you and ask you as we burn this incense, to accept us and forgive whatever we have done by impurity and sin to offend you.
Do not close the door of your mercy before our petitions,
but have pity and mercy on us.
Do not make us ashamed on the day of judgement,
rather count us among the chosen ones at your right hand.
Treat us not according to our iniquities,
but according to your mercies.
Help us by your holy name,
keep us among the sheep on your right and deliver us from eternal damnation.
Do not permit the clay which you have formed to be lost,
but adorn us with the garments of purity and holiness.
On the last day look not upon our record;
but accept us into the tents of your kingdom among your elect.
Grant pardon to all the dead who sleep in the true faith and hope in you, make us worthy to stand with them at your right hand,
and we shall sing praise to you, your Father, and your Holy Spirit, now and forever. Amen.

ETRO

O God,
make us worthy always to offer to you the incense of our prayer.
May its sweet perfume be spread before your Majesty to reconcile us to your divinity.
We shall raise in your honor good fruits by which you will be appeased and offer to your eternal Being the sacrifices of thanksgiving and exaltation.
May they be accepted by your awesome Majesty, O Lord our God, to you, your Father, and your Holy Spirit is due glory and honor, now and for ever. Amen.

HOOTOMO
The office concludes in the following manner: the priest, facing the altar, bows deeply as he says:

Let us confess, adore, and praise the holy and glorious Trinity:

He rises and makes the sign of the cross as he continues:

Father, Son, + and Holy Spirit. Amen.

TRISAGION

Then all sing or recite:

Lord, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.

Holy are you, O God;
Holy are you, O Strong One;
Holy are you, O Immortal One;
have mercy on us.

Lord, have mercy on us.
Lord, forgive us and have mercy on us.
Lord, hear us and have mercy on us.
Lord, accept our worship and our prayers.
Lord, come to our assistance and have mercy on us.

Our Father, who are in heaven,
hallowed be your name;
your kingdom come;
your 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.
For the kingdom, the power and the glory are yours,
now and for ever. Amen.

O Lord,
as you rested on your cross you cried out:
“Father, into your hands I commend my spirit.”
We, therefore, commend our spirits into your hands, O Lord,
tonight and all the days of our lives,
but especially at the hour of our death,
represented now by our sleep.
To you we abandon our bodies, thoughts, feelings and all that we are.
Keep us without stain that our sleep may glorify you.
At the end of our days,
may a peaceful sleep carry us to you,
who neither slumbers nor sleeps.
To you be glory, for ever. Amen.

HYMN TO MARY

A hymn to the Mother of God may then be sung.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and for ever. Amen.