Introductory Rite:
God, come to my assistance R/ Lord, make haste to help me.
Glory to the Father and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:
R/ as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen. Alleluia.
Oh, come, all ye faithful, Joyful and triumphant!
Oh, come ye, oh, come ye to Bethlehem;
Come and behold him Born the king of angels:
Refrain:
Oh, come, let us adore him,
Oh, come, let us adore him,
Oh, come, let us adore him,
Christ the Lord.
Sing, choirs of angels, Sing in exultation,
Sing, all ye citizens of heaven above!
Glory to God in the highest glory:
Refrain
Savior, we greet thee, Born this happy morning;
Jesus, to thee be all glory given!
Word of the Father, Now in flesh appearing:
Refrain
Melody: Adeste Fidelis; Music: J.F. Wade, 1751; Text: Latin, 18th century; Translator: Frederick Oakeley, 1841 et al.
PSALMODY
Antiphon 1: John the apostle and evangelist, a virgin chosen by the Lord, was loved by the Lord above the others.
Psalm 63:2-9
O God, you are my God, for you I long;
for you my soul is thirsting.
My body pines for you
like a dry, weary land without water.
So I gaze on you in the sanctuary
to see your strength and your glory.
For your love is better than life,
my lips will speak your praise.
So I will bless you all my life,
in your name I will lift up my hands.
My soul shall be filled as with a banquet,
my mouth shall praise you with joy.
On my bed I remember you.
On you I muse through the night
for you have been my help;
in the shadow of your wings I rejoice.
My soul clings to you;
your right hand holds me fast. Glory…
Antiphon 1: John the apostle and evangelist, a virgin chosen by the Lord, was loved by the Lord above the others.
Antiphon 2 : To the virgin John, Christ dying on the cross, entrusted his virgin mother.
Canticle – Daniel 3:57-88, 56
Bless the Lord, all you works of the Lord. Praise and exalt him above all forever.
Angels of the Lord, bless the Lord. *
You heavens, bless the Lord.
All you waters above the heavens, bless the Lord. *
All you hosts of the Lord, bless the Lord.
Sun and moon, bless the Lord. *
Stars of heaven, bless the Lord.
Every shower and dew, bless the Lord. * All you winds, bless the Lord. Fire and heat, bless the Lord. * Cold and chill, bless the Lord. Dew and rain, bless the Lord. * Frost and chill, bless the Lord. Ice and snow, bless the Lord. * Nights and days, bless the Lord. Light and darkness, bless the Lord. * Lightnings and clouds, bless the Lord.
Let the earth bless the Lord. * Praise and exalt him above all forever. Mountains and hills, bless the Lord. * Everything growing from the earth, bless the Lord. You springs, bless the Lord. *
Seas and rivers, bless the Lord. You dolphins and all water creatures, bless the Lord. * All you birds of the air, bless the Lord. All you beasts, wild and tame, bless the Lord. * You sons of men, bless the Lord.
O Israel, bless the Lord. * Praise and exalt him above all forever. Priests of the Lord, bless the Lord. * Servants of the Lord, bless the Lord. Spirits and souls of the just, bless the Lord. * Holy men of humble heart, bless the Lord. Hananiah, Azariah, Mishael, bless the Lord. * Praise and exalt him above all forever.
(Everyone) Let us bless the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. * Let us praise and exalt him above all forever. Blessed are you, Lord, in the firmament of heaven. * Praiseworthy and glorious and exalted above all forever.
Antiphon 2: To the virgin John, Christ dying on the cross, entrusted his virgin mother.
Antiphon 3: The disciple whom Jesus loved cried out: It is the Lord..
Psalm 149
Sing a new song to the Lord,
his praise in the assembly of the faithful.
Let Israel rejoice in its Maker,
let Zion’s sons exult in their king.
Let them praise his name with dancing
and make music with timbrel and harp.
For the Lord takes delight in his people.
He crowns the poor with salvation.
Let the faithful rejoice in their glory,
shout for joy and take their rest.
Let the praise of God be on their lips
and a two-edged sword in their hand,
to deal out vengeance to the nations
and punishment on all the peoples;
to bind their kings in chains
and their nobles in fetters of iron;
to carry out the sentence pre-ordained:
this honor is for all his faithful. Glory…
Antiphon 3:The disciple whom Jesus loved cried out: It is the Lord.
Gloria (please stand)
Opening Prayer
All sit for the Liturgy of the Word.
After the Homily:
INTERCESSIONS (Universal Prayer)The Apostles are the foundation and we are built on them. Let us pray to the almighty Father for his holy people: Lord, remember your Church.Father, by your will the Apostles were the first to see your resurrected Son: – may we be his witnesses, to the very ends of the earth.Father, you sent your Son into the world to bring the Good News to the poor: – may the Gospel be preached to every created thing.Father, you sent your Son to sow the seed of the word: – as we sow the Word with great labour, so may we reap its fruits with joy.Father, you sent your Son to reconcile the world to you with his blood: – grant that we may all work together for reconciliation.Father, you have seated your Son at your right hand in heaven: – receive the dead into your blessed kingdom.
Presider:
O God, who through the blessed Apostle Johnhave unlocked for us the secrets of your Word,grant, we pray,that we may grasp with proper understandingwhat he has so marvelously brought to our ears.Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,God, for ever and ever.
(All are seated for the Liturgy of the Eucharist)
Lord’s Prayer Pater noster, qui es in cælis Sanctificétur nomen tuum Advéniat regnum tuum Fiat volúntas tua Sicut in cælo et in terra Panem nostrum quotidiánum da nobis hódie Et dimítte nobis débita nostra Sicut et nos dimíttimus debitóribus nostris Et ne nos indúcas in tentatiónem Sed libera nos a malo
After Holy Communion, all stand for the Benedictus.
BENEDICTUS/Canticle of Zachariah Benedictus – Luke 1: 68-79
Antiphon: The Word was made flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory.
(While making the Sign of the Cross, we pray the following)
Blest be the God of Israel who comes to set us free
and raises up new hope for us: a Branch for David’s tree.
So have the prophets long declared that with a mighty arm
God would turn back our enemies and all who wish us harm
.
With promised mercy will God still the covenant recall,
the oath once sworn to Abraham from foes to save us all;
that we might worship without fear and offer lives of praise,
in holiness and righteousness to serve God all our days.
My child, as prophet of the Lord you will prepare the way,
to tell God’s people they are saved from sin’s eternal sway.
Then shall God’s mercy from on high shine forth and never cease
to drive away the gloom of death and lead us into peace.
Antiphon: The Word was made flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory.
Salve, Regina, Mater misericordiæ,
vita, dulcedo, et spes nostra, salve.
Ad te clamamus exsules filii Hevæ,
Ad te suspiramus, gementes et flentes
in hac lacrimarum valle.
Eia, ergo, advocata nostra, illos tuos
misericordes oculos ad nos converte;
Et Jesum, benedictum fructum ventris tui,
nobis post hoc exsilium ostende.
O clemens, O pia, O dulcis Virgo Maria.