Voices From the Christmas Liturgies

MASS DURING THE NIGHT

Let us rejoice in the Lord

for our Savior has been born in the world.

Today true peace has come down to us from heaven

 

Lord, help us to encounter you today, that you may fill our hearts with your precious gift of peace.

 

The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light;

those who lived in a land of deep darkness -

on them light has shone.

 

In many places and in many ways ours is that land of darkness today. Evil reports are heard daily. Let your light enlighten the path we walk O Lord, lest we too stumble and fall. Be the star that guides us.

 

O sing to the Lord a new song

sing to the Lord all the earth.

Sing to the Lord, bless his name

tell of his salvation from day to day.

 

May our voices be messengers voices, countering the babble of unbelief, so loud and deafening. Teach us what to say to a world so confused and deceived.

 

And the shepherds said to one another,

"let us go now to Bethlehem and see this thing that has taken place,

which the Lord has made known to us".

 

Lord, remove from us our timidity and hesitation to believe all that been revealed to us. Let others see the certainty of our faith and be inspired to go with us as we search more deeply into the mystery of your presence in our world.

 

THE MASS AT DAWN 

 

Today a light will shine upon us, for the Lord is born for us;

and he will be called Wondrous God,

Prince of peace,

Father of future ages:

and his reign will be without end.

 

Grant, we pray, almighty God, that, as we are bathed in the new radiance of your incarnate Word, the light of faith, which illumines our minds, may also shine through in our deeds. 

 

When the kindness and generous love
of God our saviour appeared,
not because of any righteous deeds we had done
but because of his mercy,
He saved us through the bath of rebirth
and renewal by the Holy Spirit,
whom he richly poured out on us
through Jesus Christ our saviour,
so that we might be justified by his grace
and become heirs in hope of eternal life.

 

I fear O Lord, that in my journey, I have much soiled that white garment with which I was clothed in baptism. But here, in these sacred mysteries, I pray that I be washed clean by the outpouring of your Holy Spirit.

 

The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God

for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.

 

 MASS DURING THE DAY

 

Long ago God spoke to our ancestors in many and various ways

by the Prophets,

but in these last days he has spoken to us by the Son,

whom he appointed heir of all things,

through whom he also created the ages.

 

Tune our ears to the sound of your voice O Lord, give us listening hearts, attentive to your every word. Speak to us now, we are listening.

 

How beautiful upon the mountain

is the voice of the messenger who announces salvation,

who says to Zion, "Your God reigns."