The fraternity meeting typically ends with Evening Prayer from the Liturgy of the Hours, followed by the closing prayer for fraternity meetings. Since the fraternity meeting is held on Sundays, Evening Prayer II is used. If the meeting is on a Saturday, use Evening Prayer I; for other days, use that day’s Evening Prayer. Below is an outline as a handy reference.
- Opening prayer – Leader opens, assembly responds.
- Psalmody – This consists of two psalms or parts of psalms and a New Testament canticle, together with appropriate antiphons. May be prayed in three ways:
- Small assemblies: Leader recites antiphons and psalm prayer, assembly recites stanzas;
- Large assemblies: Leader recites antiphons and psalm prayer, half of assembly recites alternate stanzas, alternating with other half of assembly;
- Large assemblies remotely: Leader recites antiphons and psalm prayer, two predesignated persons recite alternate stanzas.
- Antiphon (if multiple versions use the one specific to the current liturgical season)
- Psalm or other reading
- Psalm prayer (if present)
- Antiphon (same as opening antiphon)
- Reading – Preferably to be read by a designated person other than Leader. Is typically followed by a brief period of silence for reflection.
- Responsorial – Three short prayer-response pairs. The middle response is a shortened form of the initial response. The final prayer is the first half of the Gloria. The final response does not complete the Gloria, but repeats in full the first response.
- Gospel Canticle – Canticle of Mary (Luke 1:56-55)
- Intercessions – For group prayer the Leader reads each complete intercession and the group gives the response. For remote assemblies a person may be designated to recite the response on behalf of the assembly.
- Our Father
- Concluding prayer – Prayed aloud by Leader, assembly responds with Amen.
- Conclusion – Omit this and move directly to the Fraternity Closing Prayer, which has its own Conclusion.