Opening Prayer
Prayer for the Fourth Sunday of Advent: Stir up your power, O Lord, and with great might come among us; and as we are sorely hindered by our sins from running the race that is set before us, let your bountiful grace and mercy speedily help and deliver us; through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit, be honor and glory, now and for ever. Amen.
Prayer for Christmas Eve: O God, you have caused this holy night to shine with the brightness of the true Light: Grant that we, who have known the mystery of that Light on earth, may also enjoy him perfectly in heaven; where with you and the Holy Spirit he lives and reigns, one God, in glory everlasting. Amen.
magnificat with Daily and Christmas Eve antiphons
December 18: O Root of Jesse, which stands as a sign of the peoples, at whom kings shall shut their mouths, whom the Gentiles shall seek: come to deliver us, and do not delay.
December 19: O Key of David, and Scepter of the house of Israel; that opens and no man shuts; that shuts and no man opens; come to bring out the prisoner from the prison, and them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death.
December 20: O Dayspring, Brightness of the everlasting light, Sun of Justice, come to give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death.
December, 21: O King of the Nations, and desire thereof; O Cornerstone, that makes of two one: come to save man, whom you have formed from the dust of the earth.
December 22: O Emmanuel, our King and our Lawgiver, Longing of the Gentiles, and salvation thereof; come to save us, O Lord, our God.
December 23: O Virgin of virgins, how shall this be? For neither before you was any like you, nor shall there be after. Daughters of Jerusalem, why marvel at me? The thing which you behold is a divine mystery.
Antiphon for Christmas Eve: To us a child is born, to us a son is given; and he shall be called the Prince of Peace, alleluia.
My soul magnifies the Lord, *
and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior.
For he has regarded *
the lowliness of his handmaiden.
For behold, from now on, *
all generations will call me blessed.
For he that is mighty has magnified me, *
and holy is his Name.
And his mercy is on those who fear him, *
throughout all generations.
He has shown the strength of his arm; *
he has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.
He has brought down the mighty from their thrones, *
and has exalted the humble and meek.
He has filled the hungry with good things, *
and the rich he has sent empty away.
He, remembering his mercy, has helped his servant Israel, *
as he promised to our fathers, Abraham and his seed forever.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit; *
as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen.
The daily Antiphon is repeated here.
Reading
Sunday, December 18: Matthew 1:18-25
Monday, December 19: Luke 1:26-33
Tuesday, December 20: Luke 1:34-38
Wednesday, December 21: Luke 1:39-45
Thursday, December 22: Luke 1:46-56 (the Benedictus can be prayed this day)
Friday, December 23: Luke 1:57-66
Saturday, December 24: Luke 2:1-20
SONG
O Come, O Come Emmanuel
O come, O come, Emmanuel
And ransom captive Israel
That mourns in lonely exile here
Until the Son of God appears
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.
Oh, come, our Dayspring from on high,
And cheer us by your drawing nigh,
Disperse the gloomy clouds of night,
And death's dark shadows put to flight.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel!
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.
For thine is the kingdom, and the power,
and the glory forever and ever. Amen.