4th Sunday of Advent Year C. Mass and readings.
ENTRANCE ANTIPHON
Roráte, cæli, désuper, et nubes pluant iustum; aperiátur terra et gérminet Salvatórem.
Drop down dew from above, you heavens, and let the clouds rain down the Just One; let the earth be opened and bring forth a Savior.
[–» Greeting]
In the name of the Father and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
R. And with your spirit.
PENITENCIAL RITE
Brothers and sisters, let us acknowledge our sins, and so prepare ourselves to celebrate the sacred mysteries.
After the silence, all pray
I confess to almighty God and to you,
my brothers and sisters, that I have greatly sinned
in my thoughts and in my words,
in what I have done and in what I have failed to do,
They strike their breast:
through my fault, through my fault, through my most grievous fault;
therefore I ask blessed Mary ever-Virgin,
all the Angels and Saints, and you,
my brothers and sisters,
to pray for me to the Lord our God.
The priest says the absolution
May almighty God have mercy on us, forgive us our sins, and bring us to everlasting life.
The people answer:
Amen.
The priest invites all to repent of their sins. A pause for silent reflection follows:
Lord, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.
GLORIA is not said during Advent
COLLECT
Pour forth, we beseech you, O Lord, your grace into our hearts, that we, to whom the Incarnation of Christ your Son was made known by the message of an Angel, may by his Passion and Cross be brought to the glory of his Resurrection. Through our Lord.
READINGS FOR YEAR C 2021, 2024, 2027, 2030…
READING I
Micah 5:1–4a
Thus says the Lord: You, Bethlehem-Ephrathah too small to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel; whose origin is from of old, from ancient times. Therefore the Lord will give them up, until the time when she who is to give birth has borne, and the rest of his kindred shall return to the children of Israel. He shall stand firm and shepherd his flock by the strength of the Lord, in the majestic name of the Lord, his God; and they shall remain, for now his greatness shall reach to the ends of the earth; he shall be peace.
RESPONSORIAL PSALM
R. Lord, make us turn to you; let us see your face and we shall be saved.
Deus, convérte nos, illústra fáciem tuam, et salvi érimus.
O shepherd of Israel, hearken,
from your throne upon the cherubim, shine forth.
Rouse your power,
and come to save us.
R.
Once again, O Lord of hosts,
look down from heaven, and see;
take care of this vine,
and protect what your right hand has planted
the son of man whom you yourself made strong.
R.
May your help be with the man of your right hand,
with the son of man whom you yourself made strong.
Then we will no more withdraw from you;
give us new life, and we will call upon your name.
R.
READING II
Hebrews 10:5–10
Brothers and sisters: When Christ came into the world, he said: “Sacrifice and offering you did not desire, but a body you prepared for me; in holocausts and sin offerings you took no delight. Then I said, ‘As is written of me in the scroll, behold, I come to do your will, O God.’”
First he says, “Sacrifices and offerings, holocausts and sin offerings, you neither desired nor delighted in.” These are offered according to the law. Then he says, “Behold, I come to do your will.” He takes away the first to establish the second. By this “will,” we have been consecrated through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.
ALLELUIA
Ecce ancílla Dómini: fiat mihi secúndum verbum tuum.
I am the servant of the Lord: may his will for me be done.
GOSPEL
Luke 1:39–45
Mary set out and traveled to the hill country in haste to a town of Judah, where she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the infant leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth, filled with the Holy Spirit, cried out in a loud voice and said, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. And how does this happen to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For at the moment the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the infant in my womb leaped for joy. Blessed are you who believed that what was spoken to you by the Lord would be fulfilled.”
[–» Creed, Universal Prayer]
[–» Offertory]
I believe in God, the Father almighty, Creator of heaven and earth, and in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord, [at the words that follow, up to and including the Virgin Mary, all bow] who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried; he descended into hell; on the third day he rose again from the dead; he ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of God the Father almighty; from there he will come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting. Amen.
PRAYERS OF THE FAITHFUL FOR ADVENT
Priest’s Introduction
As we await with longing the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, dear brothers and sisters, let us with renewed devotion beseech his mercy, that, as he came into the world to bring the good news to the poor and heal the contrite of heart, so in our own time, also, he may bring salvation to all in need.
Intentions
1. That Christ may visit his holy Church and keep watch over her always, let us pray to the Lord.
R. Lord, have mercy.
2. That under the protection of Christ our times may be peaceful, let us pray to the Lord.
R. Lord, have mercy.
3. That Christ may banish disease, drive out hunger, and ward off every affliction, let us pray to the Lord.
R. Lord, have mercy.
4. That Christ may find us watching when he comes, let us pray to the Lord.
R. Lord, have mercy.
Priest’s Prayer
Almighty ever-living God, who bring salvation to all and desire that no one should perish, hear the prayers of your people and grant that the course of our world may be directed by your peaceful rule, and your Church rejoice in tranquility and devotion. Through Christ our Lord.
R. Amen.
LITURGY OF THE EUCHARIST
PREPARATION OF THE GIFTS
Blessed are you, Lord God of all creation, for through your goodness we have received the bread we offer you: fruit of the earth and work of human hands, it will become for us the bread of life.
–Blessed be God forever.
Blessed are you, Lord God of all creation, for through your goodness we have received the wine we offer you: fruit of the vine and work of human hands it will become our spiritual drink
– Blessed be God forever.
(ALL STAND)
Pray, brethren [brothers and sisters], that my sacrifice and yours may be acceptable to God, the almighty Father.
The people answer:
May the Lord accept the sacrifice at your hands, for the praise and glory of his name, for our good, and the good of all his Church.
PRAYER OVER THE OFFERINGS
May the same Holy Spirit, O Lord, sanctify these gifts laid upon your altar just as he filled with his power the womb of the blessed Virgin Mary. Through Christ our Lord.
[–» Eucharistic Prayer]
[–» Preface II of Advent]
Preface II of Advent
It is truly right and just, our duty and our salvation, always and everywhere to give you thanks, Lord, holy Father, almighty and eternal God, through Christ our Lord.
For all the oracles of the prophets foretold him, the Virgin Mother longed for him with love beyond all telling, John the Baptist sang of his coming and proclaimed his presence when he came. He it is who grants our anticipating with joy the mystery of his birth, so that he may find us watchful in prayer and exultant in his praise. And so, with Angels and Archangels, with Thrones and Dominions, and with all the hosts and Powers of heaven, as we sing the hymn of your glory without end we acclaim:
[–» Holy, holy, holy…]
EUCHARISTIC PRAYER III
You are indeed Holy, O Lord, and all you have created rightly gives you praise, for through your Son our Lord Jesus Christ, by the power and working of the Holy Spirit, you give life to all things and make them holy, and you never cease to gather a people to yourself, so that from the rising of the sun to its setting a pure sacrifice may be offered to your name.
Therefore, O Lord, we humbly implore you: by the same Spirit graciously make holy these gifts we have brought to you for consecration, that they may become the Body and † Blood of your Son our Lord Jesus Christ, at whose command we celebrate these mysteries.
For on the night he was betrayed he himself took bread, and giving you thanks he said the blessing, broke the bread and gave it to his disciples, saying:
TAKE THIS, ALL OF YOU, AND EAT OF IT, FOR THIS IS MY BODY, WHICH WILL BE GIVEN UP FOR YOU.
In a similar way, when supper was ended, he took the chalice, and giving you thanks he said the blessing, and gave the chalice to his disciples, saying:
TAKE THIS, ALL OF YOU, AND DRINK FROM IT, FOR THIS IS THE CHALICE OF MY BLOOD, THE BLOOD OF THE NEW AND ETERNAL COVENANT, WHICH WILL BE POURED OUT FOR YOU AND FOR MANY FOR THE FORGIVENESS OF SINS.
DO THIS IN MEMORY OF ME.
The mystery of faith.
We proclaim your Death, O Lord, and profess your Resurrection until you come again.
Therefore, O Lord, as we celebrate the memorial of the saving Passion of your Son, his wondrous Resurrection and Ascension into heaven, and as we look forward to his second coming, we offer you in thanksgiving this holy and living sacrifice.
Look, we pray, upon the oblation of your Church and, recognizing the sacrificial Victim by whose death you willed to reconcile us to yourself, grant that we, who are nourished by the Body and Blood of your Son and filled with his Holy Spirit, may become one body, one spirit in Christ.
May he make of us an eternal offering to you, so that we may obtain an inheritance with your elect, especially with the most blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God, with your blessed Apostles and glorious Martyrs [with Saint N: the Saint of the day or Patron Saint] and with all the Saints, on whose constant intercession in your presence we rely for unfailing help.
May this Sacrifice of our reconciliation, we pray, O Lord, advance the peace and salvation of all the world. Be pleased to confirm in faith and charity your pilgrim Church on earth, with your servant N. our Pope and [N.] our Bishop, the Order of Bishops, all the clergy, and the entire people you have gained for your own.
Listen graciously to the prayers of this family, whom you have summoned before you: in your compassion, O merciful Father, gather to yourself all your children scattered throughout the earth.
† To our departed brothers and sisters and to all who were pleasing to you at their passing from this life, give kind admittance to your kingdom.
There we hope to enjoy for ever the fullness of your glory through Christ our Lord, through whom you bestow on the world all that is good. †
[–»Through him, and with him…] Amen.
COMMUNION RITE
At the Savior’s command and formed by divine teaching, we dare to say:
Our Father, Who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name; Thy kingdom come; Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
Deliver us, Lord, we pray, from every evil, graciously grant peace in our days, that, by the help of your mercy, we may be always free from sin and safe from all distress, as we await the blessed hope and the coming of our Savior, Jesus Christ.
For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours, now and forever.
Lord Jesus Christ, you said to your apostles: I leave you peace, my peace I leave you. Look not on our sins, but on the faith of your Church, and graciously grant her peace and unity in accordance to your will, who live and reign for ever and ever. Amen.
The peace of the Lord be with you always.
And with your spirit.
Let us offer each other the sign of peace
Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world: have mercy on us.
Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world: have mercy on us.
Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world: grant us peace.
Behold the Lamb of God, behold him who takes away the sins of the world. Blessed are those called to the supper of the Lamb.
Lord, I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof, but only say the word and my soul shall be healed.
The Body of Christ. Amen.
COMMUNION ANTIPHON
Ecce Virgo concípiet, et páriet fílium; et vocábitur nomen eius Emmánuel.
Behold a Virgin shall conceive, and shall bear a son; and his name will be called Emmanuel.
[–» Communion]
PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION
Having received this pledge of eternal redemption, we pray, almighty God, that as the feast day of our salvation draws ever nearer so we may press forward all the more eagerly to the worthy celebration of the mystery of your Son’s Nativity. Who lives and reigns for ever and ever.
[–» Concluding Rite]
CONCLUDING RITE
The Lord be with you.
And with your spirit.
May almighty God bless you, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
The Mass is ended.
Go in peace glorifying the Lord by your life.
Thanks be to God.
SONGS
ENTRANCE SONG CHRISTUS VINCIT
Sing a new song unto the Lord
let your song be sung from mountains high.
Sing a new song unto the Lord,
singing alleluia.
OFFERTORY: ANGELS WE HAVE HEARD ON HIGH
Angels we have heard on high
Sweetly singing o’er the plains
And the mountains in reply
Echoing their joyous strains
Gloria, in excelsis Deo
Gloria, in excelsis Deo
Shepherds, why this jubilee?
Why your joyous strains prolong?
What the gladsome tidings be
Which inspire your heavenly song?
Gloria, in excelsis Deo
Gloria, in excelsis Deo
COMMUNION:
SOUL OF CHRIST
Soul of Christ, Sanctify me
Body of Christ save me
Water from the side of Christ
Wash me, Passion of Christ
Give me strength
Chorus:
Hear me Jesus
Hide me in thy wounds
That I may never leave thy side
From all the evil that surrounds me
Defend me and when the call of death arrives
Bid me come to thee
That I may praise thee
With thy saints forever.
GIVE THANKS
Give thanks with a grateful heart
Give thanks to the Holy One
Give thanks because He’s given Jesus Christ, His Son 2x.
And now let the weak say, “I am strong”
Let the poor say, “I am rich
Because of what the Lord has done for us”2x
Give Thanks.
RECESSIONAL:
O Sanctissima, O piissima
Dulcis Virgo Maria
mater amata, intemerata
Ora pro nobis (2x)
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