December 24 MORNING MASS AND READINGS.
ENTRANCE ANTIPHON
Ecce iam venit plenitúdo témporis, in quo misit Deus Fílium suum in terram.
Behold, when the fullness of time had come, God sent his Son into the world.
[–» Greeting]
COLLECT
Come quickly, we pray, Lord Jesus, and do not delay, that those who trust in your compassion may find solace and relief in your coming. Who live and reign with God the Father in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.
READING I
2 Samuel 7:1–5, 8b–12, 14a, 16
When King David was settled in his palace, and the Lord had given him rest from his enemies on every side, he said to Nathan the prophet, “Here I am living in a house of cedar, while the ark of God dwells in a tent!” Nathan answered the king, “Go, do whatever you have in mind, for the Lord is with you.” But that night the Lord spoke to Nathan and said: “Go, tell my servant David, ‘Thus says the Lord: Should you build me a house to dwell in?
“‘It was I who took you from the pasture and from the care of the flock to be commander of my people Israel. I have been with you wherever you went, and I have destroyed all your enemies before you. And I will make you famous like the great ones of the earth. I will fix a place for my people Israel; I will plant them so that they may dwell in their place without further disturbance. Neither shall the wicked continue to afflict them as they did of old, since the time I first appointed judges over my people Israel. I will give you rest from all your enemies. The Lord also reveals to you that he will establish a house for you. And when your time comes and you rest with your ancestors, I will raise up your heir after you, sprung from your loins, and I will make his Kingdom firm. I will be a father to him, and he shall be a son to me. Your house and your Kingdom shall endure forever before me; your throne shall stand firm forever.’”
RESPONSORIAL PSALM
R. For ever I will sing the goodness of the Lord.
Misericórdias tuas, Dómine, in ætérnum cantábo.
The favors of the Lord I will sing forever;
through all generations my mouth shall proclaim your faithfulness.
For you have said, “My kindness is established forever”;
in heaven you have confirmed your faithfulness.
R.
“I have made a covenant with my chosen one,
I have sworn to David my servant:
Forever will I confirm your posterity
and establish your throne for all generations.”
R.
“He shall say of me, ‘You are my father,
my God, the rock, my savior.’
Forever I will maintain my kindness toward him,
and my covenant with him stands firm.”
R.
ALLELUIA
Oriens, splendor lucis ætérnæ et sol iustitiæ: veni, et illúmina sedéntes in ténebris et umbra mortis.
Come, Radiant Dawn, splendor of eternal light, sun of justice: shine on those lost in the darkness of death!
GOSPEL
Luke 1:67–79
Zechariah his father, filled with the Holy Spirit, prophesied, saying: “Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel; for he has come to his people and set them free. He has raised up for us a mighty Savior, born of the house of his servant David. Through his prophets he promised of old that he would save us from our enemies, from the hands of all who hate us. He promised to show mercy to our fathers and to remember his holy covenant. This was the oath he swore to our father Abraham: to set us free from the hand of our enemies, free to worship him without fear, holy and righteous in his sight all the days of our life. You, my child, shall be called the prophet of the Most High, for you will go before the Lord to prepare his way, to give his people knowledge of salvation by the forgiveness of their sins. In the tender compassion of our God the dawn from on high shall break upon us, to shine on those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death, and to guide our feet into the way of peace.”
[–» Creed, Universal Prayer]
[–» Offertory]
PRAYER OVER THE OFFERINGS
Graciously make your own, O Lord, the offerings which we bring, that partaking of them we may be cleansed of our sins and merit to stand ready with pure hearts for the coming in glory of your Son. Who lives and reigns for ever and ever.
[–» Eucharistic Prayer]
[–» Preface II of Advent]
COMMUNION ANTIPHON
Benedíctus Dóminus Deus Israel, quia visitávit et fecit redemptiónem plebis suæ.
Blest be the Lord God of Israel: for he has visited his people and redeemed them.
[–» Communion]
PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION
Grant to us who find new vigor, O Lord, in these your wondrous gifts, that as we prepare to celebrate in adoration the festivities of your Son’s Nativity, so may we possess in gladness his ever-living rewards. Who lives and reigns for ever and ever.
[–» Concluding Rite]
DEC. 24 CHRISTMAS NOVENA CLICK HERE.
DECEMBER 25 MASS AND READINGS CLICK HERE.
