December 25
The Nativity of the Lord (Christmas)
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O come, all ye faithful
1 O come, all ye faithful, joyful and triumphant:
o come ye to Bethlehem,
come and behold Him, born the King of Angels.
R. O come let us adore Him;
O come let us adore Him,
O come let us adore Him, Christ the Lord.
The Introductory Rites
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.
- And with your spirit. (Et cum spiritu tuo.)
Penitential Act
- Brethren (brothers and sisters), let us acknowledge our sins,
and so prepare ourselves to celebrate the sacred mysteries.
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,
And, striking their breast, continue:
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.
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OR
The Priest, or the Deacon says:
- You were sent to heal the contrite of heart:
Lord, have mercy (or Kyrie, eleison).
- Lord, have mercy (or Kyrie, eleison).
- You came to call sinners:
Christ, have mercy (or Christe, eleison).
- Christ, have mercy (or Christe, eleison).
- You are seated at the right hand of the Father to intercede for us:
Lord, have mercy (or Kyrie, eleison).
- Lord, have mercy (or Kyrie, eleison).
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The absolution by the Presider follows:
- May almighty God have mercy on us,
forgive us our sins, and bring us to everlasting life.
- Amen.
The Kyrie, eleison (Lord, have mercy) invocations follow, unless they have just occurred in a formula of the Penitential Act.
- Lord, have mercy (or Kyrie, eleison).
- Lord, have mercy (or Kyrie, eleison).
- Christ, have mercy (or Christe, eleison).
- Christ, have mercy (or Christe, eleison).
- Lord, have mercy (or Kyrie, eleison).
- Lord, have mercy (or Kyrie, eleison).
Gloria
Glory to God in the Highest
Glory to God
Glory to God
Glory to God in the highest
And on earth, peace on earth
Peace to people of goodwill
We praise, we bless you, we adore you
We glorify you
We give you thanks for your great glory
Lord God heavenly king
Oh God almighty father
Glory to God
Glory to God
Glory to God in the highest
And on earth, peace on earth
Peace to people of goodwill
Lord Jesus Christ, only begotten son
Lord God, lamb of God, son of the father
You take away the sins of the world
Have mercy on us
You take away the sins of the world
Receive our prayer
You are seated at the right hand, the right hand of the father
Have mercy on us
Glory to God
Glory to God
Glory to God in the highest
And on earth, peace on earth
Peace to people of goodwill
For you alone are the holy one
You alone are the lord
You alone are the most high
Jesus Christ
With the Holy Spirit and the glory of God
The father
Glory to God
Glory to God
Glory to God, in the highest
And on earth, peace on earth (Peace)
Peace to people with goodwill
Amen
The Liturgy of the Word
You can follow the Readings also in other languages:
First Reading
Is 52:7-10
How beautiful upon the mountains
are the feet of him who brings glad tidings,
announcing peace, bearing good news,
announcing salvation, and saying to Zion,
“Your God is King!”
Hark! Your sentinels raise a cry,
together they shout for joy,
for they see directly, before their eyes,
the LORD restoring Zion.
Break out together in song,
O ruins of Jerusalem!
For the LORD comforts his people,
he redeems Jerusalem.
The LORD has bared his holy arm
in the sight of all the nations;
all the ends of the earth will behold
the salvation of our God.
- The word of the Lord.
- Thanks be to God.
Responsorial Psalm
Ps 98:1, 2-3, 3-4, 5-6.
R. All the ends of the earth have seen the saving power of God.
Sing to the LORD a new song,
for he has done wondrous deeds;
his right hand has won victory for him,
his holy arm.
The LORD has made his salvation known:
in the sight of the nations he has revealed his justice.
He has remembered his kindness and his faithfulness
toward the house of Israel.
All the ends of the earth have seen
the salvation by our God.
Sing joyfully to the LORD, all you lands;
break into song; sing praise.
Sing praise to the LORD with the harp,
with the harp and melodious song.
With trumpets and the sound of the horn
sing joyfully before the King, the LORD.
Second Reading
Heb 1:1-6
Brothers and sisters:
In times past, God spoke in partial and various ways
to our ancestors through the prophets;
in these last days, he has spoken to us through the Son,
whom he made heir of all things
and through whom he created the universe,
who is the refulgence of his glory,
the very imprint of his being,
and who sustains all things by his mighty word.
When he had accomplished purification from sins,
he took his seat at the right hand of the Majesty on high,
as far superior to the angels
as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs.
For to which of the angels did God ever say:
You are my son; this day I have begotten you?
Or again:
I will be a father to him, and he shall be a son to me?
And again, when he leads the firstborn into the world, he says:
Let all the angels of God worship him.
- The word of the Lord.
- Thanks be to God.
Alleluia
R. Alleluia, Alleluia
A holy day has dawned upon us.
Come, you nations, and adore the Lord.
For today a great light has come upon the earth.
R. Alleluia, Alleluia
Gospel
Jn 1:1-18
- The Lord be with you.
- And with your spirit.
- A reading from the holy Gospel according to John.
- Glory to you, O Lord.
In the beginning was the Word,
and the Word was with God,
and the Word was God.
He was in the beginning with God.
All things came to be through him,
and without him nothing came to be.
What came to be through him was life,
and this life was the light of the human race;
the light shines in the darkness,
and the darkness has not overcome it.
A man named John was sent from God.
He came for testimony, to testify to the light,
so that all might believe through him.
He was not the light,
but came to testify to the light.
The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world.
He was in the world,
and the world came to be through him,
but the world did not know him.
He came to what was his own,
but his own people did not accept him.
But to those who did accept him
he gave power to become children of God,
to those who believe in his name,
who were born not by natural generation
nor by human choice nor by a man’s decision
but of God.
And the Word became flesh
and made his dwelling among us,
and we saw his glory,
the glory as of the Father’s only Son,
full of grace and truth.
John testified to him and cried out, saying,
“This was he of whom I said,
‘The one who is coming after me ranks ahead of me
because he existed before me.’”
From his fullness we have all received,
grace in place of grace,
because while the law was given through Moses,
grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.
No one has ever seen God.
The only Son, God, who is at the Father’s side,
has revealed him.
- The Gospel of the Lord.
- Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
Creed
I believe in one God,
the Father almighty,
maker of heaven and earth,
of all things visible and invisible.
I believe in one Lord Jesus Christ,
the Only Begotten Son of God,
born of the Father before all ages.
God from God, Light from Light,
true God from true God,
begotten, not made, consubstantial with the Father;
through him all things were made.
For us men and for our salvation
he came down from heaven,
and by the Holy Spirit was incarnate of the Virgin Mary,
and became man.
For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate,
he suffered death and was buried,
and rose again on the third day
in accordance with the Scriptures.
He ascended into heaven
and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again in glory
to judge the living and the dead
and his kingdom will have no end.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life,
who proceeds from the Father and the Son,
who with the Father and the Son is adored and glorified,
who has spoken through the prophets.
I believe in one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church.
I confess one Baptism for the forgiveness of sins
and I look forward to the resurrection of the dead
and the life of the world to come. Amen.
Prayer of the Faithful
As we celebrate with joy the birth of Christ the Lord, let us open our minds and hearts in prayer to Him and with confidence seek His ever generous assistance. Let us pray together to the Lord saying: Lord hear our prayer.
R. Lord hear our prayer.
1. For the Church – that this Christmas will stir in us a great desire to seek love in all things and in all we do.
We pray to the Lord R. Lord hear our prayer.
2. For nations and peoples who face war, conflict or civil unrest – that there will be peace.
We pray to the Lord R. Lord hear our prayer.
3. For those who grieve the loss of loved ones – that the Christmas star will light the way to new peace and new calm.
We pray to the Lord R. Lord hear our prayer.
4. For each person gathered here – that as Mary and Joseph trusted, we will trust Christ to be a transforming presence in our lives, taking away our hearts of stone, giving us hearts for love alone.
We pray to the Lord R. Lord hear our prayer.
5. We bow our heads and remember in silence our own personal intentions and the intentions of those who have asked for our prayers.
We pray to the Lord R. Lord hear our prayer.
Almighty God, draw us into the mystery of your love. May we have the humility to be touched and changed by your great love that we see as we gaze upon the vulnerable Christ-baby. We make this prayer through Jesus Christ, your Word made flesh, one among us, who lives and reigns in unity with the Father and the Holy Spirit, God forever and ever.
- Amen.
Hark! The herald angels sing
(Gloria in excelsis Deo)
1 Hark! The herald angels sing,
„Glory to the newborn King:
Peace on earth, and mercy mild,
God and sinners reconciled!“
Joyful, all ye nations, rise,
Join the triumph of the skies;
With th’angelic hosts proclaim,
„Christ is born in Bethlehem!“
Refrain:
Hark! The herald angels sing,
„Glory to the newborn King“
The Liturgy of the Eucharist
The Offertory
- 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 for ever. (Benedíctus Deus in sǽcula.)
- 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 for ever. (Benedíctus Deus in sǽcula.)
...
- Pray, brethren (brothers and sisters),
that my sacrifice and yours
may be acceptable to God,
the almighty Father.
- 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 holy Church.
OR
- Oráte, fratres:
ut meum ac vestrum sacrifícium
acceptábile fiat
apud Deum Patrem omnipoténtem.
- Suscípiat Dóminus sacrifícium de mánibus tuis
ad laudem et glóriam nóminis sui,
ad utilitátem quoque nostram
totiúsque Ecclésiæ suæ sanctæ.
...
The Eucharistic Prayer
Preface
- The Lord be with you. (Dóminus vobíscum.)
- And with your spirit. (Et cum spíritu tuo.)
- Lift up your hearts. (Sursum corda.)
- We lift them up to the Lord. (Habémus ad Dóminum.)
- Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. (Grátias agámus Dómino Deo nostro.)
- It is right and just. (Dignum et iustum est.)
It is truly right and just ...
...we acclaim:
Holy, Holy, Holy Lord God of hosts.
Heaven and earth are full of your glory.
Full of your glory!
Hosanna in the highest.
Hosanna in the highest.
Blessed is he who comes in the name
of the Lord.
Hosanna in the highest.
Hosanna in the highest.
Hosanna in the highest.
Hosanna in the highest.
OR
Sanctus, sanctus, sanctus Dominus Deus Sabaoth.
Pleni sunt caeli et terra gloria tua.
Hosanna in excelsis.
Benedictus qui venit in nomine Domini.
Hosanna in excelsis.
The mystery of faith. (Mystérium fídei.)
We proclaim your Death, O Lord,
and profess your Resurrection
until you come again.
OR
Mortem tuam annuntiámus, Dómine,
et tuam resurrectiónem confitémur,
donec vénias.
Angels We Have Heard on High
(Gloria in excelsis Deo)
Angels we have heard on high
Sweetly singing o’er the plains
And the mountains in reply
Echoing their joyous strains
Ref: 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 songs?
Ref
Come to Bethlehem and see
Him whose birth the angels sing;
Come, adore on bended knee,
Christ the Lord, the newborn King.
Ref
See him in a manger laid,
Whom the choirs of angels praise.
Mary, Joseph, lend your aid
While our hearts in love we raise
Ref
The Communion Rite
- At the Saviour’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.
OR
Pater noster, qui es in cælis:
sanctificétur nomen tuum;
advéniat regnum tuum;
fiat volúntas tua,
sicut in cælo, et in terra.
Panem nostrum cotidiánum da nobis hódie;
et dimítte nobis débita nostra,
sicut et nos dimíttimus debitóribus nostris;
et ne nos indúcas in tentatiónem;
sed líbera nos a malo.
- 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 for ever.
(Quia tuum est regnum,
et potéstas, et glória
in sǽcula.)
- Lord Jesus Christ, who said to your Apostles:
Peace I leave you, my peace I give you,
look not on our sins,
but on the faith of your Church,
and graciously grant her peace and unity
in accordance with your will.
Who live and reign for ever and ever.
- Amen.
- The peace of the Lord be with you always. (Pax Dómini sit semper vobíscum.)
- And with your spirit. (Et cum spíritu tuo.)
Then, if appropriate, the Deacon, or the Priest, adds:
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.
OR
Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccáta mundi:
miserére nobis.
Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccáta mundi:
miserére nobis.
Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccáta mundi:
dona nobis pacem.
- 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.
OR
- Ecce Agnus Dei,
ecce qui tollit peccáta mundi.
Beáti qui ad cenam Agni vocáti sunt.
- Dómine, non sum dignus, ut intres
sub téctum meum:
sed tantum dic verbo,
et sanábitur ánima mea.
The Concluding Rites
- The Lord be with you.
- And with your spirit.
The Priest blesses the people, saying:
May almighty God bless you,
the Father, and the Son, + and the Holy Spirit.
- Amen.
Then the Deacon, or the Priest himself, dismisses the people with the following (or similar) words:
- Go forth, the Mass is ended.
- Thanks be to God.
Joy to the world
(Hermann of Reichenau)
1. Joy to the world; the Lord is come;
Let Earth receive her King;
Let ev’ry heart prepare him room,
And heav’n and nature sing.
2. Joy to the world, the Savior reigns;
Let men their songs employ,
While fields and floods, rocks, hills and plains,
Repeat the sounding joy.
3. He rules the world with truth and grace,
And makes the nations prove
The glories of his righteousness,
And wonders of his love.