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* Dominus dixit ad me:
filius meus es tu, ego hodie genui te.
Light Christmas Candles and say or sing:
O Holy ONE + open my lips,
~And my mouth will proclaim your praise.
Glory to God in the highest
~And peace to God’s people on Earth.
CHRISTMAS MORNING HYMN
All may sing or alternate the verses of any Christmas Morning Carol .
The root of Jesse now has flow’red
for Sarah’s daughter bears a son!
Behold the Mother of our God
draws to her breast the Holy One.
The co-eternal Word of God
is cradled now in slumber deep:
he who holds planets to their course
now nestles in her arms, asleep.
The law which girds the universe,
God’s Torah teaching Wisdom’s ways,
in Mary, both have been enfleshed–
a source of scandal and God’s praise.
This Jewish daughter’s bold consent,
her wonderment, her “Let it be!”
has touched the very depths of God
and ever changed the way we see.
A contradiction to our time,
her single “Yes!” to what could be.
Have we such openness within
to bring the Word to birth as she? Amen.
Text: Aelred-Seton Shanley, OSB. Tune: Von Himmel Hoch. L.M.
PSALMODY
Antiphon 1
Tell us, O shepherds, what have you seen?
We saw a king new-born and hosts of angels singing: Alleluia, alleluia!
Psalm 62/63
O my God, I long for you from early morning;
for you my soul is thirsting.
My body aches for you
like a dry, worn out and waterless land.
So I gaze on You in your holy place:
a vision of strength and glory.
Your love is better than life,
my speech is full of praise.
I will worship you all my days
lifting my hands in your Name.
My soul shall feast as at a banquet
my mouth shall praise you with joy.
On my bed I remember you.
I think of you throughout the night.
For you have been my help
I rejoice beneath your wings.
My soul clings to you;
your right hand holds me tight.
Glory to the ONE and to the WORD
And to the BREATH of Love;
as always before,
so now and evermore. Amen.
Tell us, O shepherds, what have you seen?
We saw a king new-born and hosts of angels singing: Alleluia, alleluia!
Antiphon 2
A new wonder appears on Earth today: to the Virgin’s honor
is added a mother’s joy as she bears the eternal Word. Alleluia!
Psalm 95/96
Sing a new song to Adonai!
Sing it and bless God’s Name!
Sing it everyone, and everywhere!
Proclaim God’s help every day,
Tell every nation about the triumph!
God’s glory and wonders among the peoples.
A God so great deserves all praise,
and the dread of all other gods,
far too many value their worthless gods
but it was Adonai who made the heavens;
to God belong majesty and power
and splendorous beauty in the temple.
Proclaim Adonai, O families of nations,
Praise the glory of God’s power
Praise the glory of the Holy Name.
Bring gifts to offer in the temple,
worship with reverence and awe,
O Earth, join us in praise.
Tell it among the nations:
“Adonai reigns with justice!
As the firmness of Earth is not swayed,
nothing can sway the justice of God.
Let heaven and Earth be glad,
the sea and its creatures roar their praise;
the fields and their animals exult,
the trees and their birds sing for joy,
at the presence of Adonai who comes–
who comes to reign on Earth.
With justice God will set Earth aright;
with truth restore the world to order!
Glory to the ONE and to the WORD
and to the BREATH of Love.
As always before
so now and evermore. Amen.
A new wonder appears on Earth today: to the Virgin’s honor
is added a mother’s joy as she bears the eternal Word. Alleluia!
Antiphon 3
A little child has been born for us today:
and he shall be called, the Mighty God, alleluia!
Psalm 150
Praise God in the holy place,
praise in the mighty heavens.
Praise God’s powerful deeds
praise the surpassing greatness.
O praise with sound of trumpet,
praise with lute and harp.
Praise with timbrel and dance,
praise with strings and pipes.
O praise with resounding cymbals,
praise with clashing of cymbals.
Let everything that lives and that breathes
give praise to Adonai, Alleluia!
Glory to the ONE and to the WORD
and to the BREATH of Love.
As always before
so now and evermore. Amen.
A little child has been born for us today:
and he shall be called, the Mighty God, alleluia!
READING Luke 2:15-18
When the angels left them and had returned to heaven, the shepherds said to one another:
“Let us go to Bethlehem to see this thing that has taken place, which God has made known to us.” So they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the child lying in the manger. When they saw this, they made known what had been told them about this child; and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds told them.
Responsory
R. O great mystery and wonderful sacrament: * the beasts behold their Lord in a manger. V. Blessed be the Virgin who merited to bear the Lord Christ. * the beasts behold their Lord in a manger.
Canticle of Zachary– Luke 1:68-79
Antiphon
Glory to God on high, and on Earth peace to God’s favored ones.
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 through the WORD
In the BREATH of Love!
As always before,
so now and evermore. Amen
Glory to God on high, and on Earth peace to God’s favored ones.
Litany of Intercession
Lord Jesus, Son of David, shepherd and king, Lord, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.
Christ Jesus, Son of Mary, virgin and mother, Christ, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.
Lord Jesus, Son of Earth, blossoming with justice,
Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.
Prayer of Jesus
Our Father …
Closing Prayer & Blessing
Holy One, Source of all light and life, your eternal Word leapt down in the silent watches of the night, and now your people are filled with wonder at the nearness of our God. Open our hearts to receive him that our lives may be filled with his peace who lives and reigns forever and ever. Amen.
May the Word Made Flesh, + full of grace and truth, bless us and keep us. Amen.
Let us bless Adonai. ~Thanks be to God.