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Today’s feast commemorates the apparitions of Our Lady of Guadalupe in December of 1531 to the Aztec peasant, St. Juan Diego Cuauhtlatoatzin. The story is well-known and retold in countless communities in the Americas during celebrations of Las Mananitas a la Virgen de Guadalupe–usually before dawn each year on December 12.
We light the First Three Candles on the Advent Wreath.
Signing our lips with the sign of the Cross 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
All may sing or alternate the verses of an Advent Marian Hymn–
Mary, woman of the promise; Vessel of your people’s dreams,
Through your open, willing spirit Waters of God’s goodness streamed.
Mary, song of holy wisdom, Sung before the world began,
Faithful to the Word within, you Carried out God’s wondrous plan.
Mary, morning star of justice; Mirror of the radiant light,
In the shadows of life’s journey, Be a beacon for our sight.
Mary, model of compassion; Wounded by your offspring’s pain,
When our hearts are torn by sorrow, Teach us how to love again.
Mary, woman of the Gospel; Humble home for treasured seed,
Help us to be true disciples Bearing fruit in word and deed.
Text: Edward Elgar, Mary Fleischaker
PSALMODY
This Antiphon from the Book of Judith is often sung on feasts of Mary
You are the glory of Jerusalem; you are the joy of Israel;
you are the honor of our people, alleluia!
Canticle from the Book of Judith: 13:18-20
Blessed are you, O daughter,
by the Most High God,
above all the women on Earth;
Blessed be Adonai Elohim,
the creator of heaven and Earth,
who guided you in crushing the head
of the serpent who oppressed our people.
Your deed of hope will never be forgotten
by those who tell of the might of God.
May God make this redound to your honor
for you risked your life to save this people;
you averted the disaster that awaited us
by walking uprightly before our God.
Glory to the ONE through the WORD
In the BREATH of Love!
As always before,
so now and evermore. Amen
You are the glory of Jerusalem; you are the joy of Israel;
you are the honor of our people, alleluia!
READING: Revelation 12: 1-6a
A great sign appeared in the sky, a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars. She was with child and wailed aloud in pain as she labored to give birth… She gave birth to a child, one destined to rule all the nations with an iron rod. Her child was caught up to God and the throne. The woman fled into the wilderness where she had a place prepared for her by God.
Responsory:
R. God the Mighty has gird me with strength, * alleluia, alleluia!
V. Adonai has made my way blameless. * alleluia, alleluia!
Canticle of Zachary: Luke 1:68-79
The Gospel Canticle includes an antiphon based on the feast celebrated that day.
Antiphon:
She comes forth as the morning rising,
fair as the moon and bright as the sun.
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 through the WORD
In the BREATH of Love!
As always before, so now and evermore. Amen
She comes forth as the morning rising,
fair as the moon and bright as the sun.
Intercessory Prayer
Lord Jesus, you were born in poverty and lived among the poor,
Lord, have mercy. ~Lord, have mercy.
Christ Jesus, you were a refugee from violence and an immigrant for justice,
Christ have mercy. ~Christ have mercy.
Lord Jesus, you worked as a carpenter and knew the struggles of laborers, Lord, have mercy. ~Lord, have mercy.
Our Father …
Closing Prayer & Blessing
Gracious God, you showed great favor to Mary of Nazareth and asked her to bring your eternal Word into the world. May we follow her example and carry your liberating word into a world that still longs for the poor to be lifted up, and the hungry to be filled with good things. May all who invoke her as the Virgin of Guadalupe work together in promoting the progress of all peoples in the ways of justice and peace. We ask this through Jesus, the Incarnate Word, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God for ever and ever. Amen
May the One who makes justice to rain down from the heights, + shower us and all on Earth with compassion and peace. ~ Amen.
Let us bless the world with peace.
~And give thanks to God.