Call to Worship

While making the sign of the cross:

Lord, open my lips.
And my mouth will proclaim your praise.

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

Child of the Poor (2)

Voice 1:
Helpless and hungry,
lowly he lies,
wrapped in the chill of midwinter;
comes now among us,
born into poverty’s embrace,
new life for the world.

Who is this who lives with the lowly,
sharing their sorrows,
knowing their hunger?

This is Christ,
revealed to the world
in the eyes of a child,
a child of the poor.

Voice 2:
What child is this,
who, laid to rest,
On Mary’s lap is sleeping?
Whom angels greet
with anthems sweet,
While shepherds watch are keeping?

This, this is Christ the King,
Whom shepherds guard
and angels sing;
Haste, haste to bring him laud,
the babe, the son of Mary.

(Voice 1 and Voice 2 sing following together as a duet)

Voice 1: Bring all the thirsty,
all who seek peace;
bring those with nothing to offer.
Strengthen the feeble,
say to the frightened heart:
Fear not: here is your God!

Who is this who lives with the lowly,
sharing their sorrows,
knowing their hunger?

This is Christ,
revealed to the world
in the eyes of a child,
a child of the poor.

Voice 2:
So bring him incense, gold, and myrrh,
Come, peasant, king, to own him;
The King of kings
salvation brings,
Let loving hearts enthrone him.

This, this is Christ the King,
Whom shepherds guard
and angels sing;
Haste, haste to bring him laud,
the babe, the son of Mary.

PSALMODY

Psalm 63

Ant. Clothed in white robes, they will walk with me, says the Lord, for they are worthy.

O God, you are my God, for you I long;
for you, my soul is thirsting.
My body pines for you
like a dry, weary land without water.
So I gaze on you in the sanctuary
to see your strength and your glory.

For your love is better than life,
my lips will speak your praise.
So I will bless you all my life;
in your name, I will lift up my hands.
My soul shall be filled as with a banquet;
my mouth shall praise you with joy.

On my bed, I remember you.
On you, I muse through the night,
for you have been my help;
in the shadow of your wings, I rejoice.
My soul clings to you;
your right hand holds me fast.

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. Clothed in white robes, they will walk with me, says the Lord, for they are worthy.

Psalm Prayer

Father, creator of unfailing light, give that same light to those who call to you. May our lips praise you, our lives proclaim your goodness, our works give you honor, and our voices celebrate you for ever.

Canticle
Daniel 3:57-88, 56

Ant. These children cry out their praises to the Lord; by their death they have proclaimed what they could not preach with their infant voices.

Bless the Lord, all you works of the Lord.
Praise and exalt God above all forever.
Angels of the Lord, bless the Lord.
You heavens, bless the Lord.
All you waters above the heavens, bless the Lord.
All you hosts of the Lord, bless the Lord.
Sun and moon, bless the Lord.
Stars of heaven, bless the Lord.
Every shower and dew, bless the Lord.
All you winds, bless the Lord.
Fire and heat, bless the Lord.
Cold and chill, bless the Lord.
Dew and rain, bless the Lord.
Frost and chill, bless the Lord.
Ice and snow, bless the Lord.
Nights and days, bless the Lord.
Light and darkness, bless the Lord.
Lightnings and clouds, bless the Lord.

Let the earth bless the Lord.
Praise and exalt God above all for ever.
Mountains and hills, bless the Lord.
Everything growing from the earth, bless the Lord.
You springs, bless the Lord.
Seas and rivers, bless the Lord.
You dolphins and all water creatures, bless the Lord.
All you birds of the air, bless the Lord.
All you beasts, wild and tame, bless the Lord.
All you human beings, bless the Lord.

O Israel, bless the Lord.
Praise and exalt God above all for ever.
Priests of the Lord, bless the Lord.
Servants of the Lord, bless the Lord.
Spirits and souls of the just, bless the Lord.
Holy ones of humble heart, bless the Lord.
Hananiah, Azariah, Mishael, bless the Lord.
Praise and exalt God above all for ever.

Let us bless the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
Let us praise and exalt God above all for ever.
Blessed are you, Lord, in the firmament of heaven.
Praiseworthy and glorious and exalted above all for ever.

Ant. These children cry out their praises to the Lord; by their death they have proclaimed what they could not preach with their infant voices.

Psalm 149

Ant.  From the mouths of children and babies at the breast, you have found praise to foil your enemies.

Sing a new song to the Lord,
God’s praise in the assembly of the faithful.
Let Israel rejoice in its maker.
Let the people of Zion exult in their king.
Let them praise God’s name with dancing
and make music with timbrel and harp.

For the Lord takes delight in his people
and crowns the poor with salvation.
Let the faithful rejoice in their glory,
shout for joy and take their rest.
Let the praise of God be on their lips
and a two-edged sword in their hand,

to deal out vengeance to the nations
and punishment on all the peoples;
to bind their kings in chains
and their nobles in fetters of iron;
to carry out the sentence pre-ordained;
this honor is for all God’s faithful

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. From the mouths of children and babies at the breast, you have found praise to foil your enemies.

Reading

A Reading from the Book of the Prophet Jeremiah
(Jeremiah 31:15)

In Ramah is heard the sound of moaning, of bitter weeping! Rachel mourns her children; she refuses to be consoled because her children are no more.

The word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.

Take a few moments to reflect on the reading.

Responsory

The just are the friends of God. They live with God for ever.
The just are the friends of God. They live with God for ever.
God himself is their reward.
They live with God for ever.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit,
The just are the friends of God. They live with God for ever.

Gospel Canticle
Canticle of Zechariah

Luke 1:68-79
The Benedictus (2)

Ant. At the king’s command these innocent babies and little children were put to death; they died for Christ, and now in the glory of heaven as they follow him, the sinless lamb, they sing for ever: Glory to you, O Lord.

While making the sign of the cross:

Blest be the Lord, the God of Israel
Who brings the dawn and darkest night dispels,
Who raises up a mighty Savior from the earth,
Of David’s line, a son of royal birth.

The prophets tell a story just begun
Of vanquished foe and glorious vict’ry won,
Of promise made to all who keep the law as guide:
God’s faithful love and mercy will abide.

This is the oath once sworn to Abraham:
All shall be free to dwell upon the land,
Free now to praise, unharmed by the oppressor’s rod,
Holy and righteous in the sight of God.

And you, my child, this day you shall be called
The promised one, the prophet of our God,
For you will go before the Lord to clear the way,
And shepherd all into the light of day.

The tender love God promised from our birth
Is soon to dawn upon this shadowed earth,
To shine on those whose sorrows seem to never cease,
To guide our feet into the path of peace.

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. At the king’s command these innocent babies and little children were put to death; they died for Christ, and now in the glory of heaven as they follow him, the sinless lamb, they sing for ever: Glory to you, O Lord.

Intercessions

The Word of God existed before the creation of the universe yet was born among us in time. We praise and worship him as we cry out in joy:
Child of Mary, hear our prayer.

You are the eternal Word of God who flooded the world with joy at your birth, fill us with joy by the continuous gift of your life.
All creation, raise your voices:
Child of Mary, hear our prayer.

You saved us and by your birth revealed to us the covenant faithfulness of the Lord, help us to be faithful to the promises of our baptism.
All creation, raise your voices:
Child of Mary, hear our prayer.

You are the King of heaven and earth who sent messengers to announce peace to all, let our lives be filled with your peace.
All creation, raise your voices:
Child of Mary, hear our prayer.

You are the true vine that brings forth the fruit of life, make us branches of the vine, bearing much fruit.
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. (3)

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,
The Holy Innocents offered you praise by the death they suffered for Christ. May our lives bear witness to the faith we profess with our lips. We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, 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.

Flos Carmeli (4)

Flos Carmeli
Vitis florigera
Splendor caeli
Virgo puerpera
—Singularis.

Mater mitis
Sed viri nescia
Carmelitis
Esto propitia
—Stella maris.

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

Let us spend this day 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 J. Aguilar produces all videos.

1. Text: Child of the Poor, Scott Soper, b. 1961, copyright 1994,
   What Child is This, William C. Dix, 1837-1898.
   Music: Child of the Poor, Scott Soper, b. 1961, copyright 1994,
   What Child is This, trad. English Melody, 16th century.
   Vocals: NickRitacco (Voice 1) and Alondra Garza (Voice 2).
   Piano: Benjamin Aguilar, O.Carm.
   Flute: Jeff Dellisanti

2. Lyrics: Based on Luke 1:68-79; Owen Alstott, b. 1947,
   copyright 1993, Owen Alstott.
   Music: Bernadette Farrell, b. 1957, copyright 1993, Bernadette Farrell.
   Vocals: Steven Begert-Clark
   Piano: Benjamin Aguilar, O.Carm.
   Bells: Julian Pardo.

3. 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.

4. Traditional.
   Vocals: The Carmelites.