Begin by making the sign of the cross.
+ In the Name of the Father and Son, and Holy Spirit. Amen.
Ant. Today you will know the Lord is coming, and in the morning you will see his glory.
Father,
you show the world the splendor of your glory
in the coming of Christ, born to the Virgin.
As we light this fourth candle of the Advent wreath,
Give us true faith and love
to celebrate the mystery of God made man
and comprehend the light of Christ in those around us
.
We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, forever and ever.
Amen.
All four candles on the Advent Wreath are lighted.
Psalm 95
A Call to Praise God |
Antiphon: Encourage each other while it is still today (Heb 3:13)
(The antiphon is recited and then repeated)
Come let us sing to the Lord,
and shout with joy to the Rock who saves us.
Let us approach him with praise and thanksgiving
and sing joyful songs to the Lord.
(Antiphon repeated)
The Lord is God, the mighty God,
the great king over all the gods.
He holds in his hands the depths of the earth
and the highest mountains as well.
He made the sea; it belongs to him,
the dry land, too, for it was formed by his hands.
(Antiphon repeated)
Come, then, let us bow down and worship,
bending our knee before the Lord, our maker.
For he is our God, and we are his people,
the flock he shepherds.
(Antiphon repeated)
Today, listen to the voice of the Lord:
Do not grow stubborn, as your fathers did
in the wilderness,
when at Meriba and Massah
they challenged me and provoked me,
Although they had seen all my works.
(Antiphon repeated)
Forty years I endured that generation.
I said, "They are a people whose hearts go astray
and they do not know my wayas."
So I swore in my anger,
"They shall not enter my rest."
(Antiphon repeated)
Glory to the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit:
As it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen.
(Antiphon repeated)
Psalm-Prayer
God, our help and deliverer, do not abandon us among the many temptations of this life,
but deliver us from the evil and turn our tears and struggles into joy.
First Reading
From a homily In Praise of the Virgin Mary
by Saint Bernard, abbott.
The whole world awaits Mary's reply
You have heard, O Virgin, that you will conceive and bear a son; you have heard that it will not be by man but by the Holy Spirit. The angel awaits an answer; it is time for him to return to God who sent him. We, too, are waiting, O Lady, for your word of compassion; the sentence of condemnation weighs heavily upon us.
The price of our salvation is offered to you. We shall be set free at once if you consent. In the eternal Word of God we all came to be, and behold, we die. In your brief response we are to be remade in order to be recalled to life.
Tearful Adam with his sorrowing family begs this of you, O loving Virgin, in their exile from Paradise. Abraham begs it, David begs it. All the other holy patriarchs, your ancestors, ask it of you, as they dwell in the country of the shadow of death. This is what the whole earth waits for, prostrate at your feet. It is right in doing so, for on our word depends comfort for the wretched, ransom for the captive, freedom for the condemned, endeed, salvation for all the sons of Adam, the whole of your race.
Answer quickly, O Virgin. Reply in haste to the angel, or rather through the angel to the Lord. Answer with a word, receive the Word of God. Speak your own word, conceive the divine Word. Breathe a passing word, embrace the eternal Word.
Why do you delay, why are you afraid? Believe, give praise, and receive. Let humility be bold, let modesty be confident. This is no time for virginal simplicity to forget prudence. In this matter alone, O prudent Virgin, do not fear to be presumptuous. Though modest silence is pleasing, dutiful speech is now more necessary. Open your heart to the faith, O blessed Virgin, your lips to praise, your womb to the creator. See, the desired of all nations is at your door, knocking to enter. If he should pass by because of your delay, in sorrow you would begin to sek him afresh, the One whom your soul loves.
Arise, hasten, open. Arise in faith, hasten in devotion, open in praise and thanksgiving. Behold the handmaid of the Lord, be it done to me according to your word. |
Responsory (See Ex. 19:10, 11; Dt 7:15, see Dn. 9:24)
Cleanse yourselves, sons of men, says the Lord;
for tomorrow your Lord will come down,
___ and he will take away from you all weaknesses.
Tomorrow the wickedness of the earth will be destroyed,
and the Savior of the world will rule over us.
___ and he will take away from you all weaknesses.
Glory to the Father...
___ He will take away from you all weaknesses.
Second Reading
From the book
of the prophet Isaiah
(Is. 61:11)
As the earth brings forth its plants,
and a garden makes its growth spring up,
So will the Lord God make justice and praise
spring up before all the nations.
Come, Lord, and do not delay! Free your
people from their sinfulness.
Canticle of Mary
Ant. The time has come for Mary to give birth to her firstborn son.
Intercessions
To our Redeemer, who comes to bring the good news to the world, let us ernestly pray:
R. Let all mankind see your glory .
Show yourself to those who have never known you,
___ let them see your saving work.
Let your name be preached to the ends of the earth,
___ that all may find the way to you>
You came first to save the world,
___ now come again and save those who believe in you.
You brought freedom to us by saving us,
___ continue to save us and make us free.
You came once as a man; you will return in judgment,
___ bring eternal reward to those who have died.
Our Father, who art in heaven. . .
Prayer
Father,
we contemplate the birth of your Son.
He was born of the Virgin MAry
and came to live among us.
May we receive forgiveness and mercy
through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, forever and ever.
+ Amen.
A suitable song may be sung;
Or: O Come, O Come Emmanuel
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