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December 3rd is the Feast of St. Francis Xavier, SJ
OPENING VERSES
We light the First Candle on the Advent Wreath. Then make the sign of the cross as 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!
MORNING HYMN
All may sing an Advent Morning Hymn—or one for the feast of St. Francis Xavier.
Confessors Witness to the Faith is one possibility.
Confessors witness to the faith
God’s loving covenant retell;
As living promise keeps alive
in Abraham and Samuel.
The Baptist John but points the way
To Christ, the Way, the Truth, and Life,
And human heroism hints
The godly presence in our strife.
Confessing strength as weakness yields
To let His power overcome,
Each manifests the infinite;
Each but a cipher in the sum.
Confess we then in song and praise
This true Confessor of our King
And thereby give the Trinity
The glory all are witnessing. Amen!
Text: St. Meinrad, 1968. Tune: Plainsong Mode 8
PSALMODY
Antiphon
I will scan the dark skies
and each morning look for your dawn.
Psalm 32/33b
How happy the nations who listen;
The peoples who respond to this love.
For God-Love holds all things together
While guarding the children of Earth.
Preparing all things from eternity,
Ready to share all we need;
Into our hands and our hearts
Bestowing what makes us free.
A nation is not saved by its army
A general not saved by his strength;
Weapons –mere outward expressions
Of greed in fearful hearts.
None of this leads to safety,
This kind of power cannot save.
But God’s love is always at hand
For those whose hearts are open,
To rescue their lives from destruction
To feed them in times of famine.
Our whole being is waiting for God
Whose love is both help and shield.
Our hearts rejoice in this wonder,
We trust in the NAME of the Holy One.
May your love be upon us, O God,
For we place all our hope in You.
Glory to the ONE and to the WORD
and to the BREATH of Love;
as always before,
so now and evermore. Amen.
I will scan the dark skies
and each morning look for your dawn.
READING: I Peter 5:1-4
To the elders among you I , a co-worker, a witness to Christ’s sufferings and sharer in the glory that is to be revealed, make this appeal: God’s flock is in your midst; give it a shepherd’s care. Watch over it willingly as God would have you do, not under constraint; and not for shameful profit either, but generously. Be examples to the community, not lording it over those under your care, so that when our chief Shepherd appears you will share the unfading crown of glory. Thanks be to God.
Responsory:
R. Go up on a high mountain, joyful messenger to Zion.
* Say to the towns of Judah, “Here is your God.”
V. Lift up your voice and shout, lift it up fearlessly.
* Say to the towns of Judah, “Here is your God.”
Gospel Canticle of Zachary Luke 1:68-79
Gospel Antiphon:
Those who have left all things to follow me
will receive a hundredfold and possess eternal life.
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 has shown upon us
Illumines the darkness and dispels 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
Those who have left all things to follow me
will receive a hundredfold and possess eternal life.
Intercessory Prayer
Lord Jesus, our light in days of darkness, Lord, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.
Christ Jesus, our hope in times of struggle, Christ, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.
Lord Jesus, our promise from God on high, Lord, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.
Our Dear Abba …
Closing Prayer & Blessing
Prepare us, O God of Love, for the coming of Jesus Christ.
May he find us waiting in expectant prayer for the full revelation of the children of God, and the flourishing of all creation. We ask this through the same Jesus Christ who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God for ever and ever. Amen
May God bless us and keep us. Amen
May God’s face shine on us. Amen
May God be gracious to us and give + us peace. Amen
Let us bless Adonai. ~Thanks be to God.