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Lux fulgebit hodie super nos quia natus est nobis Dominus;
et vocabitur Admirabilis, Deus, Princeps pacis, Pater futuri saeculi:
cuius regni non erit finis.
(Entrance Antiphon Christmas Mass at Dawn)
Service of Light
Greeting/Invocation
We light the Christmas Candles and say or sing:
Light and Peace in Jesus Christ our Lord!
~Thanks be to God!
Glory to God in the highest
~and peace to all creatures on Earth!
EVENING HYMN for MARY
Star of steady guidance, safe and welcome haven,
with our song we greet you, God’s own Virgin Mother.
Gabriel’s great greeting now our salutation
Changes “Eve” to “Ave” Hail, our Virgin Mother!
Health with peace and pardon Gain for us from Jesus;
Prove your reputation: show yourself our Mother!
Sing with us now glory To the Word and Abba
And the Spirit binding all together as one. Amen!
Ave Maris Stella, transl. St. Meinrad, 1967
SERVICE OF THE WORD
PSALMODY
Antiphon
O Wonderful Exchange! The Creator of the human race assumes our human nature,
choosing to be born of a virgin, and by becoming human
bestows divinity on us. Alleluia!
Psalm 44/45
My heart overflows with a marvelous song,
I must sing my ode to the One I love;
my tongue as skilled as a scribal pen.
You are unrivaled in beauty
and graciousness is poured out upon your lips,
how greatly God has blessed you!
O great Hero, take up your armor;
in splendor and state, ride on for truth,
show justice and goodness for the poor,
wield your power with boldness.
Your power is ready,
evil falls beneath your strength,
those who oppose kindness and truth,
lose heart and fall before you.
Your throne, God assures, will last forever,
Your scepter is a reign of justice,
Integrity is the law of your land.
Because you love justice and hate evil,
God, your God has anointed you
with the oil of gladness above your peers.
Your robes are fragrant with aloes and myrrh,
your clothes with cinnamon flowers.
From the palace you are welcomed with music,
the sound of strings lifts your heart.
Women of royalty wish to honor you
At your right stands your queen,
dressed with the gold of Ophir.
Listen, O daughter, give ear to my words:
leave your family and home behind.
Your Lover desires your beauty,
you may share the gift of your love.
The people of Tyre come with their gifts,
the whole of the people pay you honor.
For as queen you are clothed with splendor,
your robes embroidered with pearls and gold.
You are led with your sister-companions
escorted with gladness and joy;
you enter the palace of your Love.
Your children will inherit the throne,
and reign with justice throughout the land.
May this song make your name remembered for ever,
May the people praise you from age to age.
Glory to the ONE and to the WORD
And to the BREATH of Love;
as always before,
so now and evermore. Amen.
O Wonderful Exchange! The Creator of the human race assumes our human nature,
choosing to be born of a virgin, and by becoming human
bestows divinity on us. Alleluia!
Reading John 1:14-18
The Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of the Abba’s only Son, full of grace and truth. From whose fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. The law indeed was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. No one has seen God. It is God, the only Son, who is close to the Abba’s heart, who has revealed God to us.
Silent Prayer
Responsory
R. This day the Holy One was pleased to be born to us of a virgin, * in order to bring back to heaven those who were lost. V. There is joy among the hosts of angels because eternal Salvation has appeared to us, *in order to bring back to heaven those who were lost.
Gospel Canticle of Mary
Antiphon
A marvelous mystery is today declared: What innovation of nature! God becomes human–
remaining what he was, he takes up what he was not,
with perfect distinction in unity, and oneness in diversity!
It is customary to make the sign of the cross at the beginning of the Gospel Canticle.
My heart + is radiant with the Lord,
My whole being delights in God my Savior.
All people now will call me blessed
For God has loved this humble handmaid.
The Almighty has shown me great favor
Holy is the NAME,
Whose mercy embraces the faithful,
From one generation to the next.
The mighty arm of God,
Scatters the proud in their own conceit,
Pulls tyrants from their thrones
While lifting up the lowly:
Fills the famished with bounty,
And reveals the emptiness of riches.
Rescues lowly Israel,
Sharing such loving kindness,
As promised to our ancestors
To Abraham and Sarah, and their descendants forever.
Glory to the ONE and to WORD
And to the BREATH of Love!
As always before,
so now and evermore. Amen
A marvelous mystery is today declared: What innovation of nature! God becomes human–
remaining what he was, he takes up what he was not,
with perfect distinction in unity, and oneness in diversity!
Service of Prayer
Litany of Intercession
Incarnate Word of God and Son of Mary of Nazareth,
~In your compassion, hear our prayer.
Gabriel brought the invitation to Mary;
~ give us her courage to say “Let your will be done.”
She conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit;
~may your Spirit make us bearers of the Word.
You and your parents were refugees from violence and you were immigrants;
~may we welcome those who flee poverty and war.
Simeon and Anna recognized you in the temple and foretold the suffering your love would entail; ~help us to recognize you in others and comfort those whose hearts are pierced with sorrow.
You shared and entrusted your Mother to the Beloved disciple; ~may we include all who suffer loss in our circle of prayer and concern.
Your coming on Earth marked the beginning of a new age;
~may this New Year’s Day mark the renewal of all creation.
Prayer of Jesus
Our Father …
Closing Prayer & Blessing
Holy One, Source of all light and life, the virgin Mary conceived and bore a Son who is called Wonderful God and Prince of Peace. May her bold consent and “Let it be” inspire all of us to say “yes” when you call, and bring the Word to birth each day of this new year. We ask this and all things in the name of your Incarnate Word, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit in the power of love, one God forever and ever. Amen.
May the Word Made Flesh of the Virgin Mary + full of grace and truth, bless us and keep us. Amen.
Let us bless the world with peace. ~And give thanks to God.
Those who wish may end evening prayer with the Marian Antiphon for Christmas.
Marian Antiphon
Loving Mother of our Savior, holding open heaven’s only hope, Star for steerage in this vastness, rise to help us, save the sinking. Nature’s greatest Wonder: you have borne your own true Maker, giving human life to him. Virgin ever, before and after, that Good News from Gabriel, Word of Life for living, tell it now: mercy to all people!
The angel of the Lord brought the message to Mary. ~ And she conceived of the Holy Spirit.
Let us pray. We ask, O Lord, that we who have been privileged to receive the Good News of the Incarnation of Christ, you Son, may be prepared through his passion and cross to approach also the glory of his resurrection, through the same Christ Our Lord. Amen.