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

Night of Silence/Silent Night (1)

Cold are the people,
winter of life,
We tremble in shadows
this cold, endless night.

Frozen in the snow lie roses sleeping,
Flowers that will echo the sun rise,
Fire of hope is our only warmth,

Weary, its flame will be dying soon.
Voice in the distance,
Call in the night,
On wind, you enfold us,
You speak of the light.

Gentle on the ear, you whisper softly,
Rumors of a dawn so embracing,
Breathless love awaits darkened souls,
Soon, we will know of the morning.

Spirit among us,
Shine like the star,
Your light that guides
Shepherds and kings from afar.

Shimmer in the sky so empty, lonely,
Rising in the warmth of your Son’s love,
Star unknowing of night and day,
Spirit, we wait for your loving Son.

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 147:1-20

Ant. He sends forth his word to the earth, and his command spreads swiftly through the land.

O praise the Lord, Jerusalem!
Zion, praise your God!

For God has strengthened the bars of your gates,
and has blessed the children within you:
established peace on your borders,
and feeds you with finest wheat.

God sends out the word to the earth
and swiftly runs the command.
God showers down snow white as wool
and scatters hoar-frost like ashes.

God hurls down hailstones like crumbs.
The waters are frozen at his touch.
God sends forth the word and it melts them:
at the breath of the Lord’s mouth the waters flow.

God makes a word known to Jacob,
to Israel laws and decrees.
God has not dealt thus with other nations
and has not taught them his decrees.

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. He sends forth his word to the earth, and his command spreads swiftly through the land.

Canticle
Philippians 2:6-11

Ant. The eternal Word, born of the Father before time began, today emptied himself for our sake and became flesh.

Though He was in the form of God,
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,
and it was thus that He humbled Himself,
obediently accepting even death,
death on a cross!

Because of this,
God highly exalted Him
and bestowed on Him a name above every other name,

so that at Jesus’ name every knee must bend
in the heavens, on the earth,
and under the earth,

and every tongue proclaim
to the glory of God the Father:
JESUS CHRIST IS LORD!

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. The eternal Word, born of the Father before time began, today emptied himself for our sake and became flesh.

Reading

A Reading from the Letter of St. Paul to the Galatians
(Galatians 4:3-7)

In the same way, while we were not yet of age, we were like slaves subordinated to the elements of the world; but when the designated time had come, God sent forth his Son born of a woman, born under the law to deliver from the law those who were subjected to it, so that we might receive our status as adopted children. The proof that you are children is the fact that God has sent forth into our hearts the spirit of the Son, which cries out “Abba!” (“Father!”) You are no longer a slave but a child! And the fact that you are a child makes you an heir by God’s design.

The Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.

Take a few moments to reflect on the reading.

Responsory

The Word was made flesh, alleluia, alleluia.
The Word was made flesh, 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 flesh, alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel Canticle
Canticle of Mary

The Magnificat (3)
Luke 1:46-55
Ant. When the sun rises in the morning sky, you will see the King of kings coming forth from the Father like a radiant bridegroom from the bridal chamber.

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. When the sun rises in the morning sky, you will see the King of kings coming forth from the Father like a radiant bridegroom from the bridal chamber.

Intercessions

Christ Jesus emptied himself and took the form of a slave. He was tested like us in all things and did not sin. Now let us worship him and pray to him with deep faith:
Child of Mary, hear our prayer.

You came into the world heralding the new age foretold by the prophets. Give your holy people the gift of renewal in every generation.
All creation, raise your voices:
Child of Mary, hear our prayer.

You once took on the weakness of our human condition; be light now for those who do not see, strength for the wavering, and comfort for the troubled of heart.
All creation, raise your voices:
Child of Mary, hear our prayer.

You were born into poverty and lowliness. Look with favor on the poor and comfort them.
All creation, raise your voices:
Child of Mary, hear our prayer.

By your birth bring joy to all peoples with the promise of unending life, give joy to the dying through the hope of heavenly birth.
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.

You came to earth to lead everyone into the kingdom. Share your life of glory with those who have died.
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

God our Father,
Every year, we rejoice as we look forward to this feast of our salvation. May we welcome Christ as our Redeemer and meet him with confidence when he comes to be our judge, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.
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. Night of Silence was written to be sung simultaneously with the hymn “Silent Night.”
   Text and music: Daniel Kantor, b. 1960, copyright 1984.
   Viola: Briana Bandy.
   Vocals: Anna May Rudolph,

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.