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!

Examination of Conscience

As we come to the end of our day, we give thanks and praise to our Lord for His grace and mercy.

Pause and make a brief examination of conscience.

Kyrie

Kyrie eleison.
Kyrie eleison.
Christe eleison.
Christe eleison.
Kyrie eleison.
Kyrie eleison. (1)

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.

(Voices 1 and 2 sing following 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.

Psalm 91

Ant. Night holds no terrors for me sleeping under God’s wings.

All you sheltered by the Most High,
Who live in Almighty God’s shadow,
Say to the Lord, “My refuge, my fortress,
My God in whom I trust!”

God will free you from hunters’ snares,
Will save you from deadly plague,
Will cover you like a nesting bird.
God’s wings will shelter you.

No nighttime terror shall you fear,
No arrows shot by day,
No plague that prowls the dark,
No wasting scourge at noon.

A thousand may fall at your side,
Ten thousand at your right hand.
But you shall live unharmed:
God is sturdy armor.

You have only to open your eyes
To see how the wicked are repaid.
You have the Lord as refuge
Have made the Most High your stronghold.

No evil shall ever touch you,
No harm come near your home.
God instructs angels
To guard you wherever you go.

With their hands, they support you,
So your foot will not strike a stone.
You will tread on lion and viper,
Trample tawny lion and dragon.

I deliver all who cling to me,
Raise the ones who know my name,
Answer those who call me,
Stand with those in trouble.

These I rescue and honor,
Satisfy with long life and show my power to save.

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. Night holds no terrors for me sleeping under God’s wings.

Reading

A Reading from the Book of Revelation
(Rev. 22:4-5)

They shall see the Lord face to face and bear his name on their foreheads. The night shall be no more. They will need no light from lamps or the sun, for the Lord God shall give them light, and they shall reign forever.

The word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.

Take a few moments to reflect on the reading.

Responsory

Into your hands, Lord, I commend my spirit.
Into your hands, Lord, I commend my spirit.
You have redeemed us, Lord God of truth.
I commend my spirit.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Into your hands, Lord, I commend my spirit.

Gospel Canticle
Canticle of Simeon

Ant. Protect us, Lord,
as we stay awake;
watch over us as we sleep,
that awake,
we may keep watch with Christ,
and asleep, rest in his peace.

Luke 2: 29-32

While making the sign of the cross:

Lord, now you let your servant
go in peace;
Your word has been fulfilled:
My own eyes have seen
the salvation
Which you have prepared in the sight of every people:
a light to reveal you to the nations
and the glory of your people Israel.

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. Protect us, Lord,
as we stay awake;
watch over us as we sleep,
that awake,
we may keep watch with Christ,
and asleep, rest in his peace.

Closing Prayer

Lord,
We beg you to visit this house
and banish from it
all the deadly power of the enemy.
May your holy angels dwell here
to keep us in peace,
and may your blessing be upon us always.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.
Amen.

Blessing

While making the sign of the cross:

May the all-powerful Lord grant us a restful night
and a peaceful death.
Amen.

Hail Mary, Gentle Woman (3)

Gentle woman, quiet light,
morning star, so strong and bright,
gentle Mother, peaceful dove,
teach us wisdom; teach us love.

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

O Holy Night (4)

O Holy night,
the stars are brightly shining,
it is the night of our dear Savior’s birth.

Long lay the world
in sin and error pining,
’til he appeared
and the soul felt its worth.

A thrill of hope
the weary world rejoices,
for yonder breaks a new and glorious morn.

Fall on your knees,
oh hear the angel voices!
O night divine
O night when Christ was born!
O night, O night, divine
O night, night divine!

Truly, He taught us
to love one another,
His law is love,
and His gospel is peace.

Chains shall He break,
for the slave is our brother,
and in His name,
all oppression shall cease.

Sweet hymns of joy
in grateful chorus raise we,
let all within us
praise His holy name.

Christ is the Lord.
Let everyone praise him!
His pow’r and glory
evermore proclaim!
His pow’r and glory
evermore proclaim!

Credits and Permissions

All text and music 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. Text and Music: From ‘Mass of Renewal:’
   Curtis Stephan, b. 1973,
   copyright 2009.
   Vocals: The Carmelites.

2. 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: Benjamín Aguilar, O.Carm.
   Flute: Jeff Dellisanti

3. Lyrics and Music: written by Carey Landry,
   arranged by Martha Lesinski,
   copyrights 1975, 1978.
   Vocals: Anna May Rudolph.

4. Text: J.S. Dwight (1813-1893).
   Music: Adolphe Adam (1803-1856).
   Vocals and Vocal Arrangement: Steven Begert-Clark
   Viola and Viola Arrangement: Briana Bandy.