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

Hail Mary (1)

Hail Mary, full of grace,
the Lord is with you.
Blessed are you among women,
and blest is the fruit of your womb, Jesus.

Holy Mary, Mother of God,
pray for us sinners now
and at the hour of death.

Hail Mary, full of grace,
the Lord is with you.
Blessed are you among women,
and blest is the fruit of your womb, Jesus.

Holy Mary, Mother of God,
pray for us sinners now
and at the hour of death.
Amen.

PSALMODY

Psalm 63

Ant. The Virgin has given birth to the Savior: a flower has sprung from Jesse’s stock and a star has risen from Jacob. O God, we praise you.

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.The Virgin has given birth to the Savior: a flower has sprung from Jesse’s stock and a star has risen from Jacob. O God, we praise you.

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

Song of the Three Young Men (2)

Ant. Mary has given birth to our Savior. John the Baptist saw him and cried out: “This is the Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, alleluia.”

All you works of the Lord, bless the Lord!
Bless the Lord!
Angels of the Lord, bless the Lord!
Bless the Lord!
O you heavens and you waters above the heavens, bless the Lord!
Bless the Lord!
Praise and exalted above all forever!
Powers of the Lord, bless the Lord!
Bless the Lord!
Sun and moon, stars of heaven, bless the Lord!
Bless the Lord!
Rain and dew, ev’ry wind, fire and heat, cold and warmth, bless the Lord!
Bless the Lord!
Praise and exalted above all forever!

Lightning and clouds, bless the Lord!
Bless the Lord!
Nights and days, light and darkness, bless the Lord!
Bless the Lord!
Ice and snow, frost and cold, ev’ry snow storm and dew, bless the Lord!
Bless the Lord!
Praise and exalted above all forever!
Let all the earth bless the Lord!
Bless the Lord!
Mountains and hills, bless the Lord!
Bless the Lord!
Ev’ry plant that grows, springs of water, seas and rivers, bless the Lord!
Bless the Lord!
Praise and exalted above all forever!

All you beasts, wild and tame, bless the Lord!
Bless the Lord!
And let ev’ry kind of bird bless the Lord!
Bless the Lord!
All you whales and ev’rything that moves in the waters, bless the Lord!
Bless the Lord!
Praise and exalted above all forever!
Let the whole human race bless the Lord!
Bless the Lord!
O Israel, bless the Lord!
Bless the Lord!
All you priests and God’s servants, souls of the just, bless the Lord!
Bless the Lord!
Praise and exalted above all forever!

Faithful people, bless the Lord!
Bless the Lord!
Humble-hearted people, bless the Lord!
Bless the Lord!
Hananiah, Azariah, Mishael, bless the Lord!
Bless the Lord!
Praise and exalted above all forever!
God has rescued us from death, bless the Lord!
Bless the Lord!
God has drawn us from the flames, bless the Lord!
Bless the Lord!
Bless the Lord, the God of gods, all you who fear him! Bless the Lord!
Bless the Lord!
Praise and exalted above all forever!

Let us bless the Father, Bless the Lord!
Bless the Lord!
Let us bless his Son Jesus! Bless the Lord!
Bless the Lord!
Let us bless their Holy Spirit forever! Bless the Lord!
Bless the Lord!
Praise and exalted above all forever!
Blessed are you Lord, Bless the Lord!
Bless the Lord!
In the firmament of heaven! Bless the Lord!
Bless the Lord!
Praiseworthy and glorious and exalted above all forever! Bless the Lord!
Bless the Lord!
Praise and exalted above all forever!

Ant. Mary has given birth to our Savior. John the Baptist saw him and cried out: “This is the Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, alleluia.”

Psalm 149

Ant. Mary has given birth to a King whose name is everlasting; hers the joy of motherhood, hers the virgin’s glory. Never was the like seen before, never shall it be seen again, alleluia.

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 this 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. Mary has given birth to a King whose name is everlasting; hers the joy of motherhood, hers the virgin’s glory. Never was the like seen before, never shall it be seen again, alleluia.

Reading

A reading from the book of the Prophet Micah
(Micah 5: 1-4a, 6)

But you, Bethlehem-Ephrathah,
too small to be among the clans of Judah,
From you shall come forth for me
one who is to be ruler in Israel;
Whose origin is from of old,
from ancient times.
(Therefore, the Lord will give them up until the time
when she who is to give birth has borne,
And the rest of his brethren shall return
to the children of Israel).
He shall stand firm and shepherd his flock
by the strength of the Lord,
in the majestic name of the Lord, his God;
And they shall remain, for now, his greatness
shall reach to the ends of the earth;
he shall be peace.
The remnant of Jacob shall be
in the midst of many peoples,
Like dew coming from the Lord,
like raindrops on the grass,
Which wait for no one,
nor tarry for any human being.

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 Zechariah

Luke 1:68-79
The Benedictus (2)

Ant. Marvelous is the mystery proclaimed today: human nature is made new as God becomes flesh; he remains what he was and becomes what he was not. Yet each nature stays distinct and for ever undivided.

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. Marvelous is the mystery proclaimed today: human nature is made new as God becomes flesh; he remains what he was and becomes what he was not. Yet each nature stays distinct and for ever undivided.

Intercessions

Let us give glory to Christ, who was born of the Virgin Mary by the power of the Holy Spirit, and let us pray to him in these words:
Child of Mary, hear our prayer.

Christ, born of the Virgin Mary, you are the Wonder-Counselor and Prince of Peace; give your peace to the world.
All creation, raise your voices:
Child of Mary, hear our prayer.

Our King and our God, you have raised us up by your coming; Help us honor you all the days of our lives by our faith and our deeds.
All creation, raise your voices:
Child of Mary, hear our prayer.

You made yourself like us; in your mercy, grant that we may become more like you.
All creation, raise your voices:
Child of Mary, hear our prayer.

You made yourself a citizen of our earthly city; grant that we may become citizens of our true homeland, your kingdom in heaven.
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. (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,
May we always profit by the prayers
of the Virgin Mother Mary,
for you bring us life and salvation
through Jesus Christ, her 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. Lyrics and Music: written by Carey Landry,
   arranged by Martha Lesinski,
   copyrights 1975, 1978.
   Vocals: Anna May Rudolph.

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

3. Text: (Refrain). Based on Isaiah 35; Romans 13; James 5;
   Tim Schoenbachler, b. 1952.
   Music: Tim Schoenbachler.
   Vocals: The Carmelites.

4. Traditional.
   Vocals: The Carmelites.