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December 11th is the feast of Damasus I (366-384). During his time as Bishop of Rome, the language of the Liturgy was changed from Greek to Latin; he encouraged St. Jerome (Sept. 30) to prepare a new Latin translation of the entire Bible from the original languages and encouraged the celebration of the feasts of the saints and martyrs.
We light two Candles on the Advent Wreath. We say or sing:
O Holy ONE + open my lips,
~And my mouth will proclaim your praise.
Blest is the One who comes in the NAME of our God
~Hosanna in the highest!
ADVENT MORNING HYMN
Come, watch and wait, the prophet cries, For Christ will come and not delay:
Love grows impatient for beloved, And Christ is love, and must obey
The heart’s demand to seek us out. He will not stay too long away.
Come, fell the hills, the prophet shouts, And raise the valley’s jagged edge,
And smooth the plains and pave the road, For Christ will run to keep the pledge
That God has made to meet us here As we pour in from field and hedge.
Come, rouse the house, the prophet warns, Awaken all who lie abed;
Get up and set the table now For Christ will come as he has said
To fill our cups with festal wine and give himself as living bread.
Come, lift your heads, the prophet calls, For Christ our light will soon be here.
The night is fading as we watch, Salvation’s dawn is drawing near;
The day approaches from the east, And Christ our Sun must now appear!
Text: Genevieve Glen, OSB (C) Benedictine Nuns of the Abbey of St. Walburga
PSALMODY
An Advent Antiphon may be sung with the Morning Psalm of the day.
Proclaim to the nations: God will reign
and will judge the peoples with fairness.
Psalm 67/68 A
Let God arise, let our foes be scattered.
Let those who hate run and hide.
As smoke is blown away
so will they be dispersed;
like wax that melts before the fire,
even so the wicked at the presence of God.
But the just shall rejoice when God comes,
they shall exult and dance for joy.
O sing to Adonai, make music to the Name;
make a highway for the One who rides on the clouds.
Rejoice in Adonai,
exult in the Holy presence.
Abba to the orphan, defender of the widow,
such is God in the holy place.
God gives the lonely a home to live in;
and leads the prisoners forth into freedom;
but those who rebel and plunder
will dwell in desolate land.
When you went forth, O God,
at the head of your people,
when you marched across the desert,
the earth quaked and trembled:
the heavens melted in your presence,
in your presence, O God of Israel!
You poured down, O God, a generous rain;
when your people were starved you gave them new life.
It was there that your people found a home,
prepared in your goodness, O God, for the poor.
Glory to the ONE and to the WORD
and to the BREATH of Love,
as always before
so now and evermore. Amen.
Proclaim to the nations: God will reign
and will judge the peoples with fairness.
READING: Zephania 3: 10-13
I will leave as a remnant in your midst a people humble and lowly,
Who shall take refuge in the name of ADONAI: the remnant of Israel.
They shall do no wrong and speak no lies;
Nor shall there be found in their mouths a deceitful tongue;
They shall pasture and couch their flocks with none to disturb them.
Responsory:
R. Proclaim to the nations: God will reign *and will judge the peoples with fairness.
V. With justice God will rule the world *and will judge the peoples with fairness.
V. Glory to the Abba and the Word and the Holy Breath of Love.
Canticle of Zachary Luke 1:68-79
Antiphon
A shoot will spring from the stock of Jesse,
and the whole world will be filled with the glory of Adonai;
and all flesh will know the saving works of God.
It is customary to make the sign of the cross at the beginning of the Gospel Canticle.
Blessed + be Adonai, the God of Israel,
Who visits this people to set us free
Raising for us a sign of salvation
In the house and family of David.
God promised throughout past ages
In words of holy prophets
To save us from our enemies,
And from the control of our oppressors.
Adonai favored our ancestors
And remembered the sacred covenant.
The pledge to Abraham and Sarah
Is now renewed for us;
That freed from the grip of our foes
We might worship without fear
And be both just and holy
For the rest of our days.
And you, child, called “prophet of the Most High,”
Will go ahead to prepare the way,
By teaching this people of salvation
Through forgiveness of their sins.
For the loving compassion of the Holy One
As the Rising Sun will shine upon us
To illumine the darkness and dispel death’s shadow
To guide our feet on the way of peace.
Glory to the ONE and to the WORD
And to the BREATH of Love!
As always before,
so now and evermore. Amen
A shoot will spring from the stock of Jesse,
and the whole world will be filled with the glory of Adonai;
and all flesh will know the saving works of God.
Litany of Intercession
Lord Jesus, light for those who wait in darkness; Lord, have mercy.
~Lord, have mercy.
Christ Jesus, joyous song for those who have no voice; Christ, have mercy.
~Christ, have mercy.
Lord Jesus, dance of freedom for those paralyzed by fear;
Lord, have mercy. ~Lord, have mercy.
Christ Jesus, healing balm for all who suffer from illness or injury;
Christ, have mercy. ~Christ have mercy.
Lord Jesus, consoling embrace for those who grieve the death of loved ones;
Lord, have mercy. ~Lord, have mercy.
Christ Jesus, strength of all who struggle for justice;
Christ, have mercy. ~Christ have mercy.
Prayer of Jesus
Lord Jesus, you taught us to pray…
Our Dear Abba …
Closing Prayer & Blessing
Stir up your joy in our hearts, O God of Gladness!
May we bring the light of your presence and the warmth of your love to a world freezing in darkness and fear. For yours is the glory and power of Love, now and forever. Amen.
May the Holy ONE who makes joy to rain down from the heights
+ shower this Earth with justice and peace. Amen.
Let us bless Adonai.
~ Thanks be to God.