INTRODUCTION
God, + come to my assistance.
— Lord, make haste to help me.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:
— as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen. Alleluia.
HYMN
O blessed Light of saints above
and highest Hope of mortal flesh,
O Jesus, at your birth is seen
the loving smile of fam’ly life.
O Mary, Mother rich in grace,
your purest heart alone can love
and fondle Jesus on your breast
with sweet caresses, nursing him.
O Heir to Patriarchs of old,
the Virgin’s chosen guardian blest,
with sweetest name, the child divine
called you his father here on earth.
From Jesse’s noble lineage sprung
to save the nations lost in sin,
with kindness hear the humble prayers
our hearts pour forth with deep desire.
Your home was like a garden fair,
with ev’ry virtue blest by grace.
O grant that we may imitate
such grace in fam’ly life at home.
Lord Jesus, humbly you became
obedient to your parents’ will;
to you eternal glory be
with Father and with Spirit blest. Amen.
Tune: PUER NOBIS NASCITUR, 8 8 8 8
Music: adapted by Michael Praetorius, 1571-1621, in Musae Sionae, VI, 1809
or Mode II, melody 53; Liber Hymnarius, Solesmes, 1983*
Text: O lux beata cælitum, Pope Leo XIII, 1810-1903, © 2023 ICEL
PSALMODY
Ant. 1 Jacob was the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary; Mary gave birth to Jesus who is called the Christ.
Psalm 113
Praise the name of the Lord
He has cast down the mighty and has lifted up the lowly (Luke 1:52).
Praise, O servants of the Lord, *
praise the name of the Lord!
May the name of the Lord be blessed *
both now and for evermore!
From the rising of the sun to its setting *
praised be the name of the Lord!
High above all nations is the Lord, *
above the heavens his glory.
Who is like the Lord, our God, *
who has risen on high to his throne
yet stoops from the heights to look down, *
to look down upon heaven and earth?
From the dust he lifts up the lowly, *
from his misery he raises the poor
to set him in the company of princes, *
yes, with the princes of his people.
To the childless wife he gives a home *
and gladdens her heart with children.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, *
and to the Holy Spirit:
as it was in the beginning, is now, *
and will be for ever. Amen.
Psalm Prayer
Lord Jesus, Word of God, surrendering the brightness of your glory you became man so that we may be raised from the dust to share your very being. May there be innumerable children of the Church to offer homage to your name from the rising of the sun to its setting.
Ant. Jacob was the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary; Mary gave birth to Jesus who is called the Christ.
Ant. 2 Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife; the child in her womb is conceived by the Holy Spirit.
Psalm 147:12-20
The restoration of Jerusalem
Come, I will show you the bride of the Lamb (Revelation 21:9).
O praise the Lord, Jerusalem! *
Zion, praise your God!
He has strengthened the bars of your gates, *
he has blessed the children within you.
He established peace on your borders, *
he feeds you with finest wheat.
He sends out his word to the earth *
and swiftly runs his command.
He showers down snow white as wool, *
he scatters hoar-frost like ashes.
He hurls down hailstones like crumbs. *
The waters are frozen at his touch;
he sends forth his word and it melts them: *
at the breath of his mouth the waters flow.
He makes his word known to Jacob, *
to Israel his laws and decrees.
He has not dealt thus with other nations; *
he has not taught them his decrees.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, *
and to the Holy Spirit:
as it was in the beginning, is now, *
and will be for ever. Amen.
Psalm Prayer
Lord you established peace within the borders of Jerusalem. Give the fullness of peace to your faithful people. May peace rule us in this life and possess us in eternal life. You are about to fill us with the best of wheat; grant that what we see dimly now as in a mirror, we may come to perceive clearly in the brightness of your truth.
Ant. Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife; the child in her womb is conceived by the Holy Spirit.
Ant. 3 The shepherds went in haste and found Mary and Joseph, with the child cradled in a manger.
Canticle: Ephesians 1:3-10
God our savior
Praised be the God and Father *
of our Lord Jesus Christ,
who has bestowed on us in Christ *
every spiritual blessing in the heavens.
God chose us in him †
before the world began *
to be holy
and blameless in his sight.
He predestined us †
to be his adopted sons through Jesus Christ, *
such was his will and pleasure,
that all might praise the glorious favor *
he has bestowed on us in his beloved.
In him and through his blood, we have been redeemed, *
and our sins forgiven,
so immeasurably generous *
is God’s favor to us.
God has given us the wisdom *
to understand fully the mystery,
the plan he was pleased *
to decree in Christ.
A plan to be carried out *
in Christ, in the fullness of time,
to bring all things into one in him, *
in the heavens and on earth.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, *
and to the Holy Spirit:
as it was in the beginning, is now, *
and will be for ever. Amen.
Ant. The shepherds went in haste and found Mary and Joseph, with the child cradled in a manger.
READING
2 Corinthians 8:9
You are well acquainted with the favor shown you by our Lord Jesus Christ: how for your sake he made himself poor though he was rich, so that you might become rich by his poverty.
RESPONSORY
The Word was made man, alleluia, alleluia.
— The Word was made man, alleluia, alleluia.
He lived among us.
— Alleluia, alleluia.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
— The Word was made man, alleluia, alleluia.
GOSPEL CANTICLE
Ant. The child Jesus remained in Jerusalem and his parents did not know it. They thought he was in the group of travelers and looked for him among their relatives and friends.
Canticle of Mary
Luke 1:46-55
The soul rejoices in the Lord
My + soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord, †
my spirit rejoices in God my Savior *
for he has looked with favor on his lowly servant.
From this day all generations will call me blessed:†
the Almighty has done great things for me, *
and holy is his Name.
He has mercy on those who fear him *
in every generation.
He has shown the strength of his arm, *
he has scattered the proud in their conceit.
He has cast down the mighty from their thrones, *
and has lifted up the lowly.
He has filled the hungry with good things, *
and the rich he has sent away empty.
He has come to the help of his servant Israel *
for he has remembered his promise of mercy,
the promise he made to our fathers, *
to Abraham and his children for ever.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, *
and to the Holy Spirit:
as it was in the beginning, is now, *
and will be for ever. Amen.
Ant. The child Jesus remained in Jerusalem and his parents did not know it. They thought he was in the group of travelers and looked for him among their relatives and friends.
INTERCESSIONS
Let us adore the Son of the living God who humbled himself to become a son of a human family, and let us beseech him:
Lord, you are the model and Savior of all.
Christ, by the mystery of your subjection to Mary and Joseph,
— teach all people reverence and obedience to lawful authority.
Lord, you are the model and Savior of all.
You loved your parents and were loved by them,
— establish our families in mutual love and peace.
Lord, you are the model and Savior of all.
You were eager to be about your Father’s business,
— may he be honored in every home.
Lord, you are the model and Savior of all.
Christ, after three days your anxious parents found you in your Father’s house,
— teach all to seek first the kingdom of God.
Lord, you are the model and Savior of all.
Christ, you have made Mary and Joseph sharers in heavenly glory,
— admit the dead into the family of the blessed.
Lord, you are the model and Savior of all.
THE LORD’S PRAYER
(Gathering our prayer and praises into one, let us offer the prayer Christ himself taught us:)
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.
CONCLUDING PRAYER
Father,
help us to live as the holy family,
united in respect and love.
Bring us to the joy and peace of your eternal home.
Grant this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
God, for ever and ever.
— Amen.
Or:
O God, who were pleased to give us
the shining example of the Holy Family,
graciously grant that we may imitate them
in practicing the virtues of family life and in the bonds of charity,
and so, in the joy of your house,
delight one day in eternal rewards.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God, for ever and ever.
— Amen.
DISMISSAL
If a priest or deacon presides, he dismisses the people:
The Lord be with you.
— And with your spirit.
May almighty God bless you,
the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
— Amen.
Another form of the blessing may be used, as at Mass.
Then he adds:
Go in peace.
— Thanks be to God.
In the absence of a priest or deacon and in individual recitation, Evening Prayer concludes:
May the Lord + bless us,
protect us from all evil
and bring us to everlasting life.
— Amen.
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