Sunday in the Octave of
Christmas
Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph
December 26, 2010, Cycle A
White priestly vestments symbolize purity and integrity of the life of Faith.
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Liturgical
Cycles A 10-11
Introductory Acts Of Worship
The Entrance Prayers:
On Sunday, usually a hymn praising God
is sung in place of reciting a Psalm from the Bible which invites us to
enter more deeply into the mystery of God's love for us. The recited
weekday Psalm expresses a youthful heart and spirit, delighted that we may come
before the living God.
Entrance Song
/ Entrance Psalm (Antiphon)
Entrance Song
Luke 2:16 The shepherds hastened to
Bethlehem, where they found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger.
The Priest Approaches and Kisses the Altar: The altar is a symbol of Christ. In it are cut five crosses to recall the five wounds of Christ. The altar also represents the Church and has embedded in it the relics of her saints. The priest comes to the altar to celebrate the Sacrifice in the Church's name. Because of the glory surrounding the altar upon which the divine Sacrifice will be made, the kiss of the priest unites the Church to Christ, its Redeemer.
Priest:
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
All:
Amen.
The Greeting:
We are welcomed in God's name. Our
response unites us to our neighbor, to the priest and to God. (The priest
may select from several forms of greeting).
Priest: The Lord
be with you.
All:
And also with you.
The Penitential Prayers:
We recognize our guilt for past sins,
express our sorrow for them, and ask that Mary, the angels, the saints, and our
brothers and sisters in Christ pray for the Lord God's mercy. (The priest
may select from several forms).
Priest: Coming together as God's
family, with confidence let us ask the Father's forgiveness, for he is full of
gentleness and compassion.
Priest: Lord we have sinned against you: Lord, have
mercy.
All: Lord, have
mercy.
Priest: Lord, show us your mercy and love.
All: And grant us your
salvation.
Priest: May almighty God have mercy on us, forgive us our
sins, and bring us to everlasting life.
All: Amen.
The Gloria: The Glory of God prayers have existed from the second century. They repeat the angels praise of God which heralded the birth of Christ on earth. Our praise is lifted again through the years as we rejoice at His coming as Lord, God, the most high Jesus Christ, who at Christmas took on our human nature while at the same time being the son of Man. This ancient hymn expresses our recognition of God's glory and love. It calls upon Christ as our holy and divine mediator, and the Holy Spirit who forever binds us together in God's love.
Priest and All: Glory to God in the highest, and peace to his people on earth. Lord God, heavenly King, almighty God and Father, we worship you, we give you thinks, we praise you for your glory. Lord Jesus Christ, only son of the Father, Lord God, Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world: have mercy on us; you are seated at the right hand of the Father: receive our prayer. For you alone are the Holy One, you alone are the Lord, you alone are the Most High, Jesus Christ, with the Holy Spirit, in the glory of God the Father. Amen.
The Opening Prayer:
The
priest lifts the united prayers and petitions of the congregation to God the
Father through the merits of Jesus Christ in the Holy Spirit.
Priest: 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, one
God, for ever and ever.
Liturgy of the Word
Christ is made known to us through the
Old Testament which prepares us to recognize Him. In those days, God
inspired men who spoke His message. Now, the New Testament Gospel reading
announces His presence to us directly through His Son. Both
readings bring God's message to us. Our responsibility is to respond.
The First Reading:
From the Old Testament
Priest/Reader: A reading from Sirach.
First Reading: Sirach 3:2-6, 12-14
God sets a father in honor over his children; a mother's authority he
confirms over her sons. Whoever honors his father atones for sins, and
preserves himself from them. When he prays, he is heard; he stores up
riches who reveres his mother. whoever honors his father is gladdened by
children, and, when he prays, is heard. Whoever reveres his father will
live a long life; he who obeys his father brings comfort to his mother.
My son, take care of your father when he is old; grieve him not as long as he lives. Even if his mind fail, be considerate of him; revile him not all the days of his life; kindness to a father will not be forgotten, firmly planted against the debt of your sins - a house raised in justice to you.
Priest/Reader:
The Word of the
Lord.
All:
Thanks
be to God.
The Responsorial Psalm:
This Psalm praising God, is a prayer to God,
or recommends the practice of virtue. It is sung as an interlude between
the scriptural readings. It provides yet another instructional setting and
invites the assembly to imitate the cantor who sings a repeated response to the
verses of an ancient Psalm many of which are attributed to King David. The
verses are sung first by a cantor (song leader) accompanied by instruments, the
refrain is sung by the people.
Psalm 128:1-2, 3, 4-5
Cantor: Blessed are those who
fear the Lord and walk in his ways.
All:
Blessed are those who fear the Lord and walk
in his ways.
Cantor: Blessed is everyone who fears the Lord, who walks in
his ways! For you shall eat the fruit of your handiwork; blessed shall you
be, and favored.
All:
Blessed are those who fear the Lord and walk
in his ways.
Cantor: Your wife shall be like a fruitful vine in the recesses
of your home; your children like olive plants around your table.
All:
Blessed are those who fear the Lord and walk
in his ways.
Cantor: Behold, thus is the man blessed who fears the Lord.
The Lord bless you from Zion: may you see the prosperity of Jerusalem all the
days of your life.
All:
Blessed are those who fear the Lord and walk
in his ways.
Priest/Reader: A Reading
from the second Letter of Saint Paul to the Colossians.
Second Reading: Colossians 3:12-21
Brothers and sisters: Put on, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved,
heartfelt compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience, bearing with
one another and forgiving one another, if one has a grievance against another;
as the Lord has forgiven you, so must you also do. And over all these put
on love, that is, the bond of perfection. And let the peace of Christ
control your hearts, the peace into which you were also called in one body.
And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, as in all
wisdom you teach and admonish one another, singing psalms, hymns, and spiritual
songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word
or in deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God he
Father through him.
Wives, be subordinate to your husbands, as is proper in the Lord. Husbands, love your wives, and avoid any bitterness toward them. Children, obey your parents in everything, for this is pleasing to the Lord. Fathers, do not provoke your children, so they may not become discouraged.
Cantor: Alleluia! Alleluia!
Alleluia!
ALL: R/. Alleluia! Alleluia!
Alleluia!
Cantor: Let the peace of Christ control your hearts; let
the word of Christ dwell in you richly.
ALL: R/. Alleluia! Alleluia!
Alleluia!
The Gospel:
The Liturgy of the Word is completed
by the reading of the Gospel. Before its reading, the members of the
assembly trace the sign of the cross upon the forehead to indicate their mental
acceptance of the Truth, on the lips to indicate their readiness to announce it,
and over the heart to indicate their sincere desire to accept it into their
lives. The "Good News" of the Gospel tells that God's kingdom has come for
all to hear, accept, and announce to the world for its salvation. It
is God who is speaking to us. Christ comes to teach us by the example of
His life and by His own words.
Priest: Cleanse my heart and my lips, almighty God, that I may worthily proclaim your
holy Gospel. Through the words of the Gospel may our sins be wiped away.
Priest: The Lord be with you.
All: And
also with you.
Priest/Deacon: A
reading from the holy Gospel according
to Matthew.
All: Glory
to you, Lord.
The Gospel: Matthew 2:13-15, 19-23
Matthew wrote to show that Christ
was the
Messiah and fulfilled the Jewish prophecies.
When the magi had departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, "Rise, take the child and his mother, flee to Egypt, and stay there until I tell you. Herod is going to search for the child to destroy him." Joseph rose and took the child and his mother by night and departed for Egypt. He stayed there until the death of Herod, that what the Lord had said through the prophet might be fulfilled, Out of Egypt I called my son.
When Herod had died, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt and said, "Rise, take the child and his mother and go to the land of Israel, for those who sought the child's life are dead." He rose, took the child and his mother, and went to the land of Israel. But when he heard that Archelaus was ruling over Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go back there. And because he had been warned in a dream, he departed for the region of Galilee. He went and dwelt in a town called Nazareth, so that what had been spoken through the prophets might be fulfilled. He shall be called a Nazorean.
Priest: The
Gospel of the Lord.
All: Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
The Priest's Sermon:
The priest develops, explains, and comments upon the Master's words,
so our minds may be
enlightened, and our
hearts enriched.
(A priestly reflection upon this Gospel)
Profession of Faith:
We state in the
Nicene Creed the principles of our faith in precise and definite terms.
All: We believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all that is seen and unseen. We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, one in Being with the Father. Through him all things were made. For us men and for our salvation he came down from heaven: by the power of the Holy Spirit he was born of the Virgin Mary, and became man. For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate; he suffered, died, and was buried. On the third day he rose again in fulfillment of 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. We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the son. With the Father and the Son he is worshipped and glorified. He has spoken through the Prophets. We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church. We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins. We look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen.
General Intercessions:
We pray for the needs of the pope, civic
leaders, our own needs, those of others,
the sick, the dying, those who have died, the church, and the world.
The response of all to each intercession: Lord, hear our prayer.
All: Lord,
hear our prayer.
The Liturgy of the Eucharist
Gifts of bread and wine symbolizing ourselves are presented to the priest who will offer them to God the Father. Through the Holy Spirit, they will become the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ whom we receive in Holy Communion. Jesus unites Himself with us for our spiritual nourishment and strength. Today, when individuals do not present their own personal offerings of bread and wine, the monetary contribution symbolizes the material of their united sacrifice.
Preparation of the Bread and Wine:
Priest: 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.
All:
Blessed be God for ever.
Priest: By the mystery
of this water and wine may we come to share in the divinity of Christ, who
humbled himself share
in our humanity.
Priest: 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.
All: Blessed be God for ever.
The Priest's Hands are Washed: This act was traditional necessary because the priest handled the various gifts presented by the people. Now, the cleansing act using water reminds the priest and ourselves of the need to cleanse not only the hands but the soul. Soon, the priest's hands will hold the actual body of Christ, and we will become His dwelling place.
Priest: Lord,
wash away my iniquity; cleans me from my sin.
Pray, brethren, that
my sacrifice and yours may be acceptable to God, the almighty Father.
All: 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.
Prayer over the Gifts: Speaking in our name, the priest asks the Father to accept the gifts we offer through him.
Priest: Lord, accept this sacrifice and through the prayers of Mary, the virgin Mother of God, and of her husband, Joseph, unite our families in peace and love. We ask this in the name of Jesus the Lord.
Eucharistic Prayer:
(Number Three: The priest may select from several forms).
Priest: The Lord be with you.
All: And also with you.
Priest: Lift up your hearts.
All: We lift them up to the Lord.
Priest: Let us give thanks to the Lord, our God.
All: It is right to
give him thanks and praise.
Preface Prayer:
Father, all-powerful and ever-living God, we do well always and everywhere to give you thanks through Jesus Christ our Lord. In the wonder of the Incarnation your eternal Word has brought to the eyes of faith a new and radiant vision of your glory. In him we see our God made visible and so are caught up in love of the God we cannot see. And so, with all the choirs of angels in heaven we proclaim our glory and join in their unending hymn of praise:
Acclamation:
Priest and All: Holy, Holy, Holy Lord, God of power and might, Heaven and earth are full of your glory. Hosanna in the highest. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest.
Priest: Father, you are holy indeed, and all creation rightly gives you praise. All life, all holiness comes from you through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, by the working of the Holy Spirit. From age to age you gather a people to yourself, so that from east to west a perfect offering may be made to the glory of your name.
The priest repeats the words which Christ used at his Last Supper when He changed the bread into His Body and the wine into His Blood. His Body and Blood are truly present but under the appearance of bread and wine. The death of Christ is prolonged in each of those who receive Him worthily. We apply His death to ourselves so that we may share His glory. This moment is the most solemn on earth because it is Divine act which enables us to apply to ourselves the Cross which Christ willingly took upon Himself.
We are called to die to sin and lift our very selves to God so that we become changed; to do as God would have us do, to become what God would have us become. Our own little cross can lift us into union with Christ's Cross so we may earn the joys of everlasting happiness with God the Father.
The
Lord's Supper:
And so, Father, we bring you these gifts. We ask you to make them
holy by the power of your Spirit, that they may become the body and blood of
your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, at whose command we celebrate this Eucharist.
On the night he was betrayed, he took bread and gave you thanks and praise.
He broke the bread, gave it to his disciples, and said:
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 this precious chalice
in His holy and venerable hands, and once more 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.
Memorial Acclamation: (The priest may select from several forms).
Priest: Let us proclaim the mystery of faith:
Priest
and All: Dying
you destroyed our death, rising you restored our life. Lord Jesus, come in
glory.
Memorial Prayer: (The priest may select from several forms).
Priest:
Recalling Christ's Passion, Resurrection, and Ascension:
Father, calling to mind the death your Son endured for our salvation, his
glorious resurrection and ascension into heaven, and ready to greet him when he
comes again, we offer you in thanksgiving this holy and living sacrifice.
Look with favor on your Church's offering, and see the Victim whom death has
reconciled us to yourself. Grant that we, who are nourished by his body
and blood, may be filled with this Holy Spirit, and become one body, one spirit
in Christ.
For Those Present: May
he make us an everlasting gift to you and enable us to share in the inheritance
of your saints, with Mary, the virgin Mother of God; with the apostles, the
martyrs, and all your saints, on whose constant intercession we rely for help.
Lord, may this sacrifice, which has made our peace with you, advance the peace
and salvation of all the world. Strengthen in faith and love your pilgrim
Church on earth; your servant, Pope _____, our bishop _____, and all the
bishops, with the clergy and the entire people your Son has gained for you.
Father, hear the prayers of the family you have gathered here before you.
In mercy and love unite all your children wherever they may be.
For the
Dead: Welcome
into your kingdom our departed brothers and sisters, and all who have left this
world in your friendship.
For Ourselves: We hope to enjoy for ever the vision of your glory, through Christ our Lord, from whom all good things come.
Through whom you continue to create all these good things, O Lord; you make them holy, fill them with life, bless them, and bestow them upon us.
Doxology:
Prayer of Praise: Through him, with him,
and in him, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, all glory and honor is yours,
almighty Father, for ever and ever.
All: Amen.
Communion Rite
In the Liturgy of the Eucharist, we
symbolically offer ourselves to the Lord through the gifts of bread and wine.
At the Consecration, we offer our very lives to be united the God the Father
through the Cross of Christ. In Communion, we find that we have not died
at all, but have come to life. We have surrendered ourselves to God
through His Divine Son, Jesus Christ. In return become ennobled and
enriched. We give up time and we get eternity, we give up our sin and we
receive grace, we surrender our self-will and receive the strength of the Divine
Will, we give up ourselves and we receive everything. For the Son of God
says to us that unless we receive Him we shall not have Divine life in us.
But it is not really we who receive Christ as it is Christ who receives us,
bringing us into Himself.
God makes His Cross the very means of our salvation and our life. While we have crucified Him, His eternal love cannot be extinguished. Christ willed to give us the very life we crucified in our Redemption, the Consecration of Holy Thursday into Communion, His death into our everlasting life.
The Lord's Prayer:
Priest:
Let us pray with confidence to the Father in the words our Savior gave us.
Priest and
All: Our
Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be they 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.
Priest: Deliver us, Lord, from every evil,
and grant us peace in our day. In your mercy keep us free from sin and
protect us from all anxiety as we wait in joyful hope for the coming of our
Savior, Jesus Christ.
All: For the kingdom, the power and
the glory are yours, now and for ever.
Prayer for
Peace:
Priest: Lord Jesus Christ, you 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.
All: Amen.
Priest: The peace of the Lord be with you always.
All: And with your spirit.
Priest: Let us offer each other the sign of peace.
Breaking of the Bread:
Priest and All: 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.
Communion of the Priest:
Priest: May this mingling of
the Body and Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ bring eternal life to us who receive
it.
Priestly Preparation: Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the living God, who by the will of the Father and the
work of the Holy Spirit, through
your death gave life to the world; free me by this your most holy Body and Blood
from all my sins and from every evil; keep me always faithful to your commandments, and never let me be
parted from you.
Priest: This is the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. Happy are those who are called to his supper.
Priest and All: Lord, I am not worthy to receive you, but only say the word and I shall be healed.
Priest: May the Body of Christ keep me safe for eternal life.
May the Blood of Christ keep me safe for eternal life.
Communion Antiphon:
Communion Song: Baruch 3:38
Our God has appeared on earth, and lived among men.
Communion of the Faithful:
Priest:
The Body of Christ.
The Faithful: Amen.
Priest:
The Blood of Christ.
The Faithful: Amen.
Cleansing of the Vessels:
Priest: Lord,
may I receive these gifts in purity of heart. May they bring me haling and
strength, now and for ever.
Prayer after Communion:
Priest: Let us pray.
Priest: Eternal
Father, we want to live as Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, in peace with you and one
another. May this communion strengthen us to face the troubles of life.
Grant this through Christ our Lord.
All: Amen.
Concluding Rite
Priest: The Lord be with you.
All: And also with you.
Priest: Bow your heads and let us pray for God's blessing.
Dismissal Prayer: (The priest may select from several forms)
Priest: Lord, you care for your people even when they stray.
Grant us a complete change of heart, so that we may follow you with greater
fidelity. Grant this through Christ our Lord.
All:
Amen.
Priest:
May almighty God bless you, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
All:
Amen.
Priest: Go in peace to love and serve the Lord.
All: Thanks be to God!
O my Jesus, forgive us our sins.
Save us from the fires of hell.
Lead all souls to heaven,
especially those in most need of your mercy.
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