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.
We three kings of Orient are;
bearing gifts we traverse afar,
field and fountain, moor and mountain,
following yonder star.
Refrain:
O star of wonder, star of light,
star with royal beauty bright,
westward leading, still proceeding,
guide us to thy perfect light.
Born a King on Bethlehem’s plain,
gold I bring to crown him again,
King forever, ceasing never,
over us all to reign.
Frankincense to offer have I;
incense owns a Deity nigh;
prayer and praising, voices raising,
worshiping God on high.
Myrrh is mine; its bitter perfume
breathes a life of gathering gloom;
sorrowing, sighing, bleeding, dying,
sealed in the stone-cold tomb.
Glorious now behold him arise;
King and God and sacrifice:
Alleluia, Alleluia,
sounds through the earth and skies.
PSALMODY
Antiphon 1:The Lord looks tenderly on those who are poor
Psalm 11
In the Lord I have taken my refuge.
How can you say to my soul:
“Fly like a bird to its mountain.
See the wicked one bracing his bow;
he is fixing his arrows on the string
to ambush the upright by stealth.
Foundations once destroyed,
what can the just do?”
The Lord is in his holy temple,
the Lord, whose throne is in heaven.
His eyes look down on the world;
his gaze tests the people of the earth.
The Lord tests the just and the wicked;
the lover of violence he hates.
He sends fire and brimstone on the wicked;
he sends a scorching wind as their lot.
The Lord is just and loves justice;
the upright will see his face. Glory…
Psalm Prayer: Lord God, you search the hearts of all, both the good and the wicked. May those who are in danger for love of you, find security in you now, and, in the day of judgment, may they rejoice in seeing you face to face.
Antiphon 1:The Lord looks tenderly on those who are poor.
Antiphon 2 Blessed are the pure of heart, for they shall see God.
Psalm 15
Lord, who shall be admitted to your tent
and dwell on your holy mountain?
The man who walks without fault,
who acts with justice
and speaks the truth from his heart,
he who does not slander with his tongue,
who does no wrong to his kindred,
who casts no slur on his neighbors,
who holds the godless in disdain,
but honors those who fear the Lord;
those who keep their word, come what may,
who take no interest on a loan
and accept no bribes against the innocent.
Such people will stand firm for ever. Glory…
Psalm Prayer: Make our lives blameless, Lord. Help us to do what is right and to speak what is true, that we may dwell in your tent and find rest on your holy mountain.
Antiphon 2 Blessed are the pure of heart, for they shall see God.
.Antiphon 3 God chose us in his Son to be his adopted children.
Canticle – Ephesians 1:3-10
Praised be the God and Father
of our Lord Jesus Christ,
who has bestowed on us in Christ
every spiritual blessing in the heavens.
God chose us in him
before the world began
to be holy
and blameless in his sight,
to be full of love.
He predestined us
to be his adopted sons through Jesus Christ,
such was his will and pleasure,
that all might praise the glorious favor
he has bestowed on us in his beloved.
In him and through his blood,we have been redeemed,
and our sins forgiven,
so immeasurably generous
is God’s favor to us.
God has given us the wisdom
to understand fully the mystery,
the plan he was pleased
to decree in Christ.
A plan to be carried out
in Christ, in the fullness of time,
to bring all things into one in him,
in the heavens and on earth. Glory…
Antiphon 3 God chose us in his Son to be his adopted children
OPENING PRAYER (stand)
All sit for the Liturgy of the Word.
After the Homily:
INTERCESSIONS (Universal Prayer)
God spoke to us in many different ways through his prophets and last of all he spoke to us through his Son. Let us invoke his compassion:
Kyrie Eleison
For your holy Church,
– that your children may profess the name of the Savior with faith and with courage:
For those spreading the good news of salvation,
– that the workers sent by you may preach the name of the Savior with full confidence:
For our sick brothers and sisters,
– that they may regain their health by calling upon the name of the Savior:
For Christians subject to persecution,
– that they may endure the injustice done them for the name of the Savior:
For our brothers and sisters who have died.
– that through your compassion they may have life.
Presider:
Grant your people, O Lord, we pray,
unshakable strength of faith,
so that all who profess that your Only Begotten Son
is with you for ever in your glory
and was born of the Virgin Mary
in a body truly like our own
may be freed from present trials
and given a place in abiding gladness.
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 PrayerPater noster, qui es in cælisSanctificétur nomen tuumAdvéniat regnum tuumFiat volúntas tuaSicut in cælo et in terraPanem 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
MAGNIFICAT (Canticle of Mary) (after Holy Communion)
Antiphon: O radiant child! You brought healing to human life as you came forth from the womb of Mary, your mother, like the bridegroom from his marriage chamber.
(Luke 1: Magnificat by Bernadette Farrell)
My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord
my spirit sings to God, my saving God,
who on this day above all others favored me
and raised me up, a light for all to see.
Through me great deeds will God make manifest,
and all the earth will come to call me blest.
Unbounded love and mercy sure will I proclaim
for all who know and praise God´s holy name.
God´s mighty arm, protector of the just,
will guard the weak and raise them from the dust.
But mighty kings will swiftly fall from thrones corrupt.
The strong brought low, the lowly lifted up.
Soon will the poor and hungry of the earth
be richly blest, be given greater worth.
And Israel, as once foretold to Abraham,
will live in peace throughout the promised land.
All glory be to God, Creator blest,
to Jesus Christ, God´s love made manifest,
and to the Holy Spirit, gentle Comforter,
all glory be, both now and ever more.
Antiphon: O radiant child! You brought healing to human life as you came forth from the womb of Mary, your mother, like the bridegroom from his marriage chamber.
Prayer after Holy Communion
Final Blessing and Dismissal