Fourth Sunday in Advent 12-24-23

     Fourth Sunday of Advent

12-24-23

Gathering Song:

Greeting

Penitential Act: Confiteor

I confess to almighty God and to you,

my brothers and sisters,

that I have greatly sinned

in my thoughts and in my words,

in what I have done

and in what I have failed to do,

through my fault, through my fault,

through my most grievous fault;

Therefore I ask blessed Mary ever-Virgin,

all the Angels and Saints;

and you, my brothers and sisters,

to pray for me to the Lord our God.

-AND/OR-

Lord have Mercy,

Christ have Mercy,

Lord have Mercy

Liturgy of the Word

1st Reading  2 Sm 7:1-5, 8b-12, 14a, 16

When King David was settled in his palace, and the LORD had given him rest from his enemies on every side, he said to Nathan the prophet, "Here I am living in a house of cedar, while the ark of God dwells in a tent!" Nathan answered the king, "Go, do whatever you have in mind, for the LORD is with you." But that night the LORD spoke to Nathan and said: "Go, tell my servant David, 'Thus says the LORD: Should you build me a house to dwell in?' "It was I who took you from the pasture and from the care of the flock to be commander of my people Israel. I have been with you wherever you went, and I have destroyed all your enemies before you. And I will make you famous like the great ones of the earth. I will fix a place for my people Israel; I will plant them so that they may dwell in their place without further disturbance. Neither shall the wicked continue to afflict them as they did of old, since the time I first appointed judges over my people Israel. I will give you rest from all your enemies. The LORD also reveals to you that he will establish a house for you. And when your time comes and you rest with your ancestors, I will raise up your heir after you, sprung from your loins, and I will make his kingdom firm. I will be a father to him, and he shall be a son to me. Your house and your kingdom shall endure forever before me; your throne shall stand firm forever."

The Word of the Lord,

        ~Thanks be to God

Responsorial Psalm Ps 89:2-3, 4-5, 27, 29

R. (2a) For ever I will sing the goodness of the Lord. The promises of the LORD I will sing forever; through all generations my mouth shall proclaim your faithfulness. For you have said, "My kindness is established forever"; in heaven you have confirmed your faithfulness. R. For ever I will sing the goodness of the Lord. "I have made a covenant with my chosen one, I have sworn to David my servant: Forever will I confirm your posterity and establish your throne for all generations." R. For ever I will sing the goodness of the Lord. "He shall say of me, 'You are my father, my God, the Rock, my savior.' Forever I will maintain my kindness toward him, and my covenant with him stands firm." R. For ever I will sing the goodness of the Lord.

  

2nd Reading Rom 16:25-27  

  Brothers and sisters: To him who can strengthen you, according to my gospel and the proclamation of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery kept secret for long ages but now manifested through the prophetic writings and, according to the command of the eternal God, made known to all nations to bring about the obedience of faith, to the only wise God, through Jesus Christ be glory forever and ever. Amen.

The Word of the Lord,

        ~Thanks be to God

Alleluia 
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord.
May it be done to me according to your word.

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel  Lk 1:26-38

 

The angel Gabriel was sent from God
to a town of Galilee called Nazareth,
to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph,
of the house of David,
and the virgin's name was Mary.
And coming to her, he said,
"Hail, full of grace! The Lord is with you."
But she was greatly troubled at what was said
and pondered what sort of greeting this might be.
Then the angel said to her,
"Do not be afraid, Mary,
for you have found favor with God.
"Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son,
and you shall name him Jesus.
He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High,
and the Lord God will give him the throne of David his father,
and he will rule over the house of Jacob forever,
and of his kingdom there will be no end."
But Mary said to the angel,
"How can this be,
since I have no relations with a man?"
And the angel said to her in reply,
"The Holy Spirit will come upon you,
and the power of the Most High will overshadow you.
Therefore the child to be born
will be called holy, the Son of God.
And behold, Elizabeth, your relative,
has also conceived a son in her old age,
and this is the sixth month for her who was called barren;
for nothing will be impossible for God."
Mary said, "Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord.
May it be done to me according to your word."
Then the angel departed from her.

The Gospel of the Lord,

      ~ Praise to you Lord Jesus Christ

Homily

Profession of Faith:

I believe in one God, the Father almighty,
maker of heaven and earth,
of all things visible and invisible.
I believe in one Lord Jesus Christ,

the Only Begotten Son of God,

born of the Father before all ages.

God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten,

not made, consubstantial with the Father; through Him all things were made.

For us men and for our salvation He came down from heaven,

and by the Holy Spirit was incarnate of the Virgin Mary,

and became man. 

For our sake He was crucified under Pontius Pilate, He suffered death and was buried,

and rose again on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures.

He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father.

He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead

and His kingdom will have no end. 

I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son,

who with the Father and the Son is adored and glorified, who has spoken through the prophets. 

I believe in one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church.

I confess one Baptism for the forgiveness of sins

and I look forward to the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come. Amen.

Universal Prayer: Prayers of Petition         

~ Risen Lord, hear our prayer

Offertory Song:

Liturgy of the Eucharist

Eucharistic Acclamations:

R: Blessed be God forever 

R: Blessed be God forever

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

R: May the Lord accept the sacrifice

at your hands for the

praise and glory of his name,

for our good

and the good of all His holy Church

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

R: And with your spirit

R: We lift them up to the Lord

R: It is right and just.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Holy, Holy, Holy Lord God of hosts.

Heaven and earth are full,

full of your glory.

Hosanna, hosanna in the highest.

Blessed is he who comes

in the name of the Lord.

Hosanna, Hosanna in the highest.  

Hosanna, Hosanna in the highest.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

We proclaim your Death, O Lord, and profess your 

Resurrection, until you come again.

 ~*~*~*~*~*~*~ Amen, Amen, Amen, Amen, Amen 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

The Lord’s Prayer

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. Amen.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

For the kingdom,

the power and glory are yours

now and forever. ~Amen

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

    Sign of Peace 

R: And with your Spirit        

(to one another) :                ~ Peace be with you!         ~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Lamb of God,

you take away the sins of the world,

have mercy on us.

Lamb of God,

you take away the sins of the world,

have mercy on us.

Lamb of God,

you take away the sins of the world,

grant us peace.

  ~*~*~*~*~*~*~

R: Lord I am not worthy that should

enter under my roof,

but only say the word

and my soul shall be healed.

Communion Song:

 

Spiritual Communion:

My Jesus, I believe that you are present

in the Most Holy Sacrament.

I love you above all things,

and I desire to receive you into my soul.

Since I cannot at this moment receive You sacramentally,

Come at least spiritually into my heart.

I embrace You as if You were already there

And unite myself wholly to You.

Never permit me to be separated from You.

Amen.

Concluding Rite

Closing Song