First Sunday of Advent
December 1, 2024 Cycle C
Purple priestly vestments symbolize penance and preparation.
Index
Liturgical Year Cycle C
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
Psalm 25:1-3 To
you, I lift up my soul, O my God. In you, I have trusted;
let me not be put to shame. Nor let my enemies exult over
me; and let none who hope in you be put to shame.
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.
Priest: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and
the Lord Jesus Christ.
All: And with your spirit.
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: Brothers
and sisters, let us acknowledge our sins, and so prepare
ourselves to celebrate the sacred mysteries.
Priest: Have mercy on us, O Lord.
All: For we have sinned against you.
Priest: Show us, O Lord, your mercy.
All: And grant us your salvation.
The Absolution:
Priest: May
almighty God have mercy on us, forgive us our sins, and bring us
to everlasting life.
All:
Amen.
The Collect: 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: Let us pray.
Priest: Grant your faithful, we pray,
almighty God, the resolve to run forth to meet your Christ with
righteous deeds at his coming, so that, gathered at his right
hand, they may be worthy to possess the heavenly Kingdom.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns
with you in the unity of 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.
Jeremiah 33:14-16
The days are coming, says the Lord, when I will fulfill the promise I made to the house of Israel and Judah. In those days, in that time, I will raise up for David a just shoot; he shall do what is right and just in the land. In those days Judah shall be safe and Jerusalem shall dwell secure; this is what they shall call her: "The Lord our justice."
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.
Responsorial
Psalm 25:4-5, 8-9, 10, 14
Cantor: To you, O
Lord, I lift my soul.
All: R/. To
you, O Lord, I lift my soul.
Cantor: Your ways, O Lord, make known to me;
teach me your paths, guide me in your truth and teach me, for
you are God my savior, and for you I wait all the day.
All: R/. To you, O Lord, I lift my soul.
Cantor: Good and upright is the Lord; thus he
shows sinners the way. He guides the humble to justice,
and teaches the humble his way.
All: R/. To you, O Lord, I lift my soul.
Cantor: All the paths of the Lord are
kindness and constancy toward those who keep his covenant and
his decrees. The friendship of the Lord is with those who
fear him, and his covenant, for their instruction.
All: R/. To you, O Lord, I lift my soul.
Second Reading
A Letter from St. Paul: 1 Thessalonians 3:12-4:2
Brothers and sisters: May the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all, just as we have for you, so as to strengthen your hearts, to be blameless in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his holy ones. Amen.
Finally, brothers and sisters, we earnestly ask and exhort you in the Lord Jesus that, as you received from us how you should conduct yourselves to please God - and as you are conducting yourselves - you do so even more. For you know what instructions we gave you through the Lord Jesus.
The Alleluia: An ancient expression of joy anticipating the Lord's message we will hear in the Gospel.
Psalm 85:8
Cantor: Alleluia!
Alleluia! Alleluia!
All:
Alleluia! Alleluia!
Alleluia!
Cantor: Show us, Lord, your love; and
grant us your salvation.
All:
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 with our spirit.
Priest/Deacon: A
reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke.
All: Glory to you, Lord.
The Gospel Luke 21:25-28, 34-36
Written by Luke to
explain that
Christ came to save everyone.
Jesus said
to his disciples: "There will be signs in the sun, the moon,
and the stars, and on earth nations will be in dismay,
perplexed by the roaring of the sea and the waves.
People will die of fright in anticipation of what is coming
upon the world, for the powers of the heavens will be
shaken. And then they will see the Son of Man coming in
a cloud with power and great glory. But when these signs
begin to happen, stand erect and raise your heads because your
redemption is at hand."
"Beware that your hearts do not become drowsy from carousing and drunkenness and the anxieties of daily life, and that day catch you be surprise like a trap. For that day will assault everyone who lives on the face of the earth. Be vigilant at all times and pray that you have the strength to escape the tribulations that are imminent and to stand before the Son of Man."
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. The priest makes and offering of the bread and wine to God.
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 to 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.
Priest: With humble spirit and contrite heart may we be accepted by you, O Lord, and may our sacrifice in your sight this day be pleasing to you, Lord God.
The Priest's Hands are Washed: This act was traditionally 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: Wash me O Lord, from m iniquity and cleanse 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: Accept, we pray, O Lord, these offerings we make, gathered from among your gifts to us, and may what you grant us to celebrate devoutly here below gain for us the prize of eternal redemption. Through Christ our Lord.
Eucharistic Prayer: (Number Four: The priest may select from several forms).
Priest: The Lord be with you.
All: And with your spirit.
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 and just.
Preface Prayer:
Priest:
It is truly right to give you thanks, truly just to give you glory, Father most holy, for you are the one God living and true, existing before all ages and abiding for all eternity, dwelling in unapproachable light; yet you, who alone are good, the source of life, have made all that is, so that you might fill your creatures with blessings and bring joy to many of them by the glory of your light.
And so, in your presence are countless hosts of Angels, who serve you day and night and, gazing upon the glory of your face, glorify you without ceasing.
With them we, too, confess your name in exultation, giving voice to every creature under heaven, as we acclaim:
Acclamation:
Priest and All:
Holy, Holy, Holy Lord, God of
hosts. 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: We give you praise,
Father most holy, for you are great and you have fashioned all
your works in wisdom and in love. You formed man in your
own image and entrusted the whole world to his care, so that in
serving you alone, the Creator, he might have dominion over all
creatures. And when through disobedience he had lost your
friendship, you did not abandon him to the domain of
death. For you came in mercy to the aid of all, so that
those who seek might find you. Time and again you offered
them covenants and through the prophets taught them to look
forward to salvation.
And you so loved the world, Father most holy, that in the fullness of time you sent your Only Begotten Son to be our Savior. Made incarnate by the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary, he shared our human nature in all things but sin. To the poor he proclaimed the good news of salvation, to prisoners, freedom, and to the sorrowful of heart, joy. To accomplish your plan, he gave himself up to death, and, rising from the dead, he destroyed death and restored life.
And that we might live no longer for ourselves but for him who died and rose again for us, he sent the Holy Spirit from you, Father, as the first fruits for those who believe, so that, bringing to perfection his work in the world, he might sanctify creation to the full.
Priest: Therefore, O Lord, we pray: may this same Holy Spirit graciously sanctify these offerings, that they may become the Body and Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ for the celebration of this great mystery, which he himself left us as an eternal covenant.
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: For when the hour had come for him to be glorified
by you, Father most holy, having loved his own who were in the
world, he loved them to the end: and while they were at supper,
he took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to his
disciples, saying:
Take this, all of you and eat of it: this is my Body which will be given up for you.
In a similar way, taking the chalice filled
with the fruit of the vine, he gave thanks, 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: The mystery of faith.
Priest / All: We proclaim your Death, O Lord, and
profess your Resurrection until you come again.
Memorial Prayer: (The priest may select from several forms).
Priest:
Recalls Christ's Passion, Resurrection,
Ascension, the Church, the dead, and ourselves.
Therefore, O Lord, as we celebrate the memorial of our
redemption, we remember Christ's Death and his descent to the
realm of the dead, we proclaim his resurrection and his
Ascension to your right hand, and, as we await his coming in
glory, we offer you his Body and Blood, the sacrifice
acceptable to you which brings salvation to the whole world.
Look, O Lord, upon the Sacrifice which you yourself have provided for your Church, and grant in your loving kindness to all who partake of this one Bread and one Chalice that, gathered into one body by the Holy Spirit, they may truly become a living sacrifice in Christ to the praise of your glory.
Therefore, Lord, remember now all for whom we offer this sacrifice: especially your servant _____ our Pope, _____ our Bishop, and the whole Order of Bishops, all the clergy, those who take part in this offering, those gathered here before you, your entire people, and all who seek you with a sincere heart. Remember also those who have died in the peace of your Christ and all the dead, whose faith you alone have known.
To all of us, your children, grant, O merciful Father, that we may enter into a heavenly inheritance with the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God, with blessed Joseph, her Spouse, and with your Apostles and Saints in your kingdom.
There, with the whole of
creation, freed from the corruption of sin and death, may we
glorify you through Christ our Lord, through whom you bestow on
the world all that is good.
Doxology:
Prayer of Praise:
Through him, with him, and in him, O
God, almighty Father, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, all
glory and honor is yours, 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: At the Savior's command and formed
by divine teaching, we dare to say:
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, 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.
All: For the kingdom, the power and the glory are yours now and forever.
Prayer for Peace:
Priest: 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.
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: May this mingling of the Body and Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ bring eternal life to us who receive it.
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:
Priestly Preparation: May
the receiving of your Body and Blood, Lord Jesus Christ, not
bring me to judgment and condemnation, but through your loving
mercy be for me protection in mind and body and a healing
remedy.
All: Amen.
Priest: 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.
Priest and All: Lord, I am not worthy that you should enter
under my roof, but only say the word and my soul 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
Psalm
85:13
the Lord will bestow his bounty, and our earth shall yield its
increase.
Communion of the
Faithful:
Priest:
The Body of Christ.
The Faithful: Amen.
Priest/Deacon/
Extraordinary Eucharistic Minister:
The Blood of Christ.
The Faithful: Amen.
Cleansing of the Vessels:
Priest: What has passed our lips as food, O Lord, may we possess in purity of heart, that what has been given to us in time may be our healing for eternity.
Prayer after Communion:
Priest: Let us pray.
Priest: May these mysteries, O Lord, in
which we have participated, profit us, we pray, for even now,
as we walk amid passing things, you teach us by them to love
the things of heaven and hold fast to what endures.
Through Christ our Lord.
All: Amen.
Concluding Rite
Priest: The Lord be with you.
All: And with your spirit.
Priest: Bow down for the blessing.
Dismissal Prayer: (The priest may select from several forms)
Priest: May the almighty and merciful God, by whose
grace you have placed your faith in the First Coming of his Only
Begotten Son and yearn for his coming again, sanctify you by the
radiance of Christ's Advent and enrich you with his blessing.
All: Amen.
Priest: As you run the race of this present life,
may he make you firm in faith, joyful in hope and active in
charity.
All: Amen.
Priest: So that, rejoicing now with devotion at the
Redeemer's coming in the flesh, you may be endowed with the rich
reward of eternal life when he comes again in majesty.
All: Amen.
Final Blessing
Priest: And may the blessing of almighty God, the
Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit, come down on you and
remain with you for ever.
All: Amen.
Priest: Go and announce the Gospel of 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.