Call to Worship

While making the sign of the cross:

God, come to our assistance.
Lord, make haste to help us.

Glory to the Father and to the Son,
and to the Holy Spirit.
As it was in the beginning,
is now and will be forever. Amen. Alleluia!

Hymn

Born This Day (1)

The people who wandered in darkness
have seen a marvelous light.
And on those who lived too long in the shadows,
a great light shines.

There is a child born this day.
A son who will lead us to greatness and glory.
He shall be Wonderful Counselor, powerful God,
always faithful father, faithful prince of peace.

The burden that weighed on our shoulders
is lifted on this wonderful day.
God has granted us abundant rejoicing
that knows no end.

There is a child born this day.
A son who will lead us to greatness and glory.
He shall be Wonderful Counselor, powerful God,
always faithful father, faithful prince of peace.

The people who wandered in darkness
have seen a marvelous light.
And on those who lived too long in the shadows,
a great light shines.

There is a child born this day.
A son who will lead us to greatness and glory.
He shall be Wonderful Counselor, powerful God,
always faithful father, faithful prince of peace.

PSALMODY

Psalm 141:1-9

O Lord, let my prayer rise before you like incense, my hands like an evening offering.
O Lord, let my prayer rise before you like incense,
my hands like an evening offering.

Lord, I am calling: hasten to help me.
Listen to me as I cry to you.
Let my prayer rise before you like incense,
my hands like an evening offering.

O Lord, let my prayer rise before you like incense,
my hands like an evening offering.

Lord, set a guard at my mouth,
keep watch at the gate of my lips.
Let my heart not turn to things that are wrong,
to sharing the evil deeds done by the sinful.
No, I will never taste their delights.

O Lord, let my prayer rise before you like incense,
my hands like an evening offering.

The good may reprove me,
In kindness chastise me,
but the wicked shall never anoint my head.
Every day, I counter their malice with prayer.

O Lord, let my prayer rise before you like incense,
my hands like an evening offering.

To you, Lord my God, my eyes are turned:
In you I take refuge; do not forsake me.
Keep me safe from the traps they have set for me,
from the snares of those who do evil.

O Lord, let my prayer rise before you like incense,
my hands like an evening offering.

Praise to the Father, praise to the Son,
all praise to the life giving Spirit.
As it was, is now and shall always be
for ages unending. Amen.

Ant. O Lord, let my prayer rise before you like incense, my hands like an evening offering. (2)

Psalm Prayer

Lord,
From the rising of the sun to its setting,
your name is worthy of all praise.
Let our prayer come like incense before you.
May the lifting up of our hands
be as an evening sacrifice
acceptable to you,
Lord, our God.

Psalm 127

Ant. Jesus returned with Mary and Joseph to Nazareth; there he lived and was obedient to them.

If the Lord does not build the house,
in vain do its builders labor;
if the Lord does not watch over the city,
in vain does the watch 'keep vigil.

In vain is your earlier rising,
your going later to rest,
you who toil for the bread you eat:
when the Lord pours gifts on the beloved while they slumber.

Truly, children are a gift from the Lord,
a blessing, the fruit of the womb.
Indeed the children of youth
are like arrows in the hand of a warrior.

O, the happiness of those
who have filled their quivers with these arrows!
They will have no cause for shame
when they dispute with their foes in the gateways.

Glory to Father, and to the Son,
and to the Holy Spirit:
as it was in the beginning,
is now and will be forever. Amen

Ant. Jesus returned with Mary and Joseph to Nazareth; there he lived and was obedient to them.

Canticle
Ephesians 1:3-10

Ant. Jesus grew in wisdom with the years and was pleasing to God and to human beings.

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 God’s sight.

God predestined us to be adopted children
through Jesus Christ,
such was God’s will and pleasure,
that all might praise the glorious favor
bestowed on us in the 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 God 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 forever. Amen.

Ant. Jesus grew in wisdom with the years and was pleasing to God and to human beings.

Reading

A Reading from the Letter of St. Paul to the Philippians
(Philippians 2:6-7)

Though he was in the form of God, Christ Jesus did not deem equality with God something to be grasped at. Rather, he emptied himself and took the form of a slave, being born in human likeness. He was known to be of human estate.

The Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.

Take a few moments to reflect on the reading.

Responsory

He had to become like his brothers and sisters in every way to show the fullness of his mercy.
He had to become like his brothers and sisters in every way to show the fullness of his mercy.
He was seen on earth and lived among men and women,
to show the fullness of his mercy.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit,
He had to become like his brothers and sisters in every way to show the fullness of his mercy.

Gospel Canticle
Canticle of Mary

The Magnificat (3)
Luke 1:46-55

Ant. Son, why have you done this to us? Think what anguish your father and I have endured looking for you. But why did you look for me? Did you not know that I had to be in my Father’s house?

While making the sign of the cross:

My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord,
My spirit sings to God, my saving God,
Who on this day above all others favored me
And raised me up, a light for all to see.

Through me great deeds will God make manifest
And all the earth will come to call me blest.
Unbounded love and mercy sure will I proclaim
For all who know and praise God’s holy name.

God’s mighty arm, protector of the just,
Will guard the weak and raise them from the dust.
But mighty kings will swiftly fall from thrones corrupt.
The strong brought low, the lowly lifted up.

Soon will the poor and hungry of the earth
Be richly blest, be given greater worth.
And Israel, as once foretold to Abraham,
Will live in peace throughout the promised land.

All glory be to God, Creator blest,
To Jesus Christ, God’s love made manifest,
And to the Holy Spirit, gentle Comforter,
All glory be, both now and evermore.

Ant. Son, why have you done this to us? Think what anguish your father and I have endured looking for you. But why did you look for me? Did you not know that I had to be in my Father’s house?

Intercessions

Let us adore the Son of the living God who humbled himself to be a son of a human family, and let us proclaim:
Child of Mary, hear our prayer.

Christ, you loved your parents and were loved by them. Establish our families in mutual love and peace.
All creation, raise your voices:
Child of Mary, hear our prayer.

You were eager to be about your Father’s business, may he be honored in every home.
All creation, raise your voices:
Child of Mary, hear our prayer.

Christ, after three days your anxious parents found you in your Father’s house, teach all to seek first the kingdom of God.
All creation, raise your voices:
Child of Mary, hear our prayer.

Christ, as a child, you were separated from your parents for three days. Reunite all children with their loving family, especially those victimized by human trafficking, or held in immigration detention centers.
All creation, raise your voices:
Child of Mary, hear our prayer.

For the sick who have asked us to accompany them with our prayers, that they may experience your merciful and healing touch today.

Please pray aloud the names of those who are sick or in need of healing.

All creation, raise your voices:
Child of Mary, hear our prayer.

Christ, you have made Mary and Joseph sharers in heavenly glory, admit the dead into the family of the blessed.
All creation, raise your voices:
Child of Mary, hear our prayer. (4)

The Lord’s Prayer

And now let us pray with confidence as Christ our Lord asked:
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.

Closing Prayer

Father in heaven, creator of all,
You ordered the earth to bring forth life and crowned its goodness by creating the Holy Family.
In history’s moment when all was ready, you sent your Son to dwell in time, obedient to the laws of life in our world. Teach us the sanctity of human life, show us the value of family life, and help us to live in peace with all people that we may share in your life for ever.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.
Amen.

Blessing

While making the sign of the cross:

May the Lord bless us,
protect us from all evil and
bring us to everlasting life.
Amen.

Salve Regina (5)
Salve, Regina, Mater misericordiæ,
vita, dulcedo, et spes nostra, salve.
Ad te clamamus exsules filii Hevæ,
Ad te suspiramus, gementes et flentes
in hac lacrimarum valle.

Eia, ergo, advocata nostra, illos tuos
misericordes oculos ad nos converte;
Et Jesum, benedictum fructum ventris tui,
nobis post hoc exsilium ostende.
O clemens, O pia, O dulcis Virgo Maria.

Our Lady of Mount Carmel,
Pray for us.
St. Joseph,
Pray for us.
Sant’Angelo,
Pray for us.

Let us spend this evening in peace.
Thanks be to God.

Credits and Permissions
All text and music are in the public domain
or used with permission:
OneLicense A-726188. All rights reserved.
Unless otherwise stated, all music
is published by OCP or a division of OCP.
Julian Pardo produces all audio.
Michael Aguilar, Jr. produces all videos.

1. Lyrics: Ken Canedo, based on Isaiah 9:1-2a, 5
   Music: Ken Canedo, copyright 2004, 2005.
   Lead Vocals: Brooke Moltrum
   Choir: Benjamín Aguilar, O.Carm.,
   Matthew Gummess, O.Carm., and Nick Ritacco.
   Viola: Briana Bandy
   Guitar, Bass & Percussion: Julian Pardo
   Piano: Benjamín Aguilar, O.Carm.,

2. Text: Based on Psalm 141:1-5,8-9,
   Doxology; Paul Inwood, b. 1947.
   Music: Paul Inwood; Text and Music copyright, 1984-1985.
   Vocals: Steven Begert-Clark and The Carmelites.
   Piano:Benjamín Aguilar, O.Carm.
   Bells: Julian Pardo.

3. Lyrics: Based on Luke 1:68-79; Owen Alstott, b. 1947.
   Copyright 1993.
   Music: Bernadette Farrell, b. 1957. Copyright 1993.
   Vocals: Steven Begert-Clark.
   Other Vocals: Benjamín Aguilar, O.Carm., Alondra Garza, Matthew Gummess, O.Carm., and Nick Ritacco.
   Piano: Benjamín Aguilar, O.Carm.
   Bells: Julian Pardo.

4. From ‘General Intercessions-Christmas.’
   Text: Gabe Houck, copyright 2004.
   Music: Based on DIVINUM MYSTERIUM, adapted & arranged by Tony E. Alonzo, copyright 2004.
   Vocals: Nick Ritacco and The Carmelites.

5. Text: Latin, attr. to Hermannus Contractus, 1013-1054; English, Paul F. Ford, b. 1947, © 1995, Paul F. Ford.
   Music: Chant, Mode V; guitar acc.© 1993, OCP.
   Vocals: The Carmelites, including Matthew Gummess, O.Carm., Carl Markelz, O.Carm., Ryan J. Resurreccion, O. Carm.,, Benjamín Aguilar, O.Carm.