From USCCB:
December 24, 2010
Friday of the Fourth Week of Advent
Read
Read the Ninth and final lesson from our Advent Lessons & Carols and listen to the podcast. .
Ninth Lesson
Reading: Matthew 28:16-20 Listen to the Podcast
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew.
The eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had ordered them. When they saw him, they worshiped, but they doubted. Then Jesus approached and said to them,“All power in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age.”
Thus ends the ninth lesson.
Song: Go Tell It on the Mountain
Prayer:
Lord,
you call us to be your witnesses
to the ends of the earth.
Fill our words with power
that we may proclaim your good news
and draw all people to you.
Amen.
Closing Song: Joy to the World
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Acknowledgments
Scripture texts in this work are taken from the New American Bible with Revised New Testament © 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Washington, D.C. and are used by permission of the copyright owner. All Rights Reserved. No part of the New American Bible may be reproduced in any form without permission in writing from the copyright owner.
Recordings of the carols are provided through the generosity of the following
Oregon Catholic Press, 5536 NE Hassalo, Portland, OR 97213, www.ocp.org
From the collection Sing We Now of Christmas by Christopher Willcock:
“Go Tell It on the Mountain”
“Joy to World”
“Once in Royal David’s City”
“We Three Kings”
Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, 401 Michigan Avenue NE, Washington, DC 20017, www.nationalshrine.com
Choir of the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception
Peter Latona, conductor
Copyright National Shrine.
Used with permission. All rights reserved.
From the collection Christmas at Mary’s Shrine 2008:
“Reges terrae”
From the collection Christmas at Mary’s Shrine 2007:
“Silent Night”
“Verbum caro factus est”
From the collection Christmas at Mary’s Shrine 2006:
“Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring”
“O Come, O Come Emmanuel”
GIA Publications, Inc., 7404 South Mason Avenue, Chicago, IL 60638, www.giamusic.com
From the collection Night of Silence by Marty Haugen:
“Creator of the Stars of Night”
From the collection Catholic Classics, volume 6: Catholic Marian Classics by Richard Proulx:
“Ave Maria” (Schubert)
Pray
Sing or read the lyrics to "Away in the Manger” and concentrate on the simple surroundings in which Jesus was born.
Reflect
Celebrations of the Solemnity of the Nativity of the Lord begin with vigil Masses this afternoon. Depending on when you attend Christmas Mass, you will hear one of four sets of readings proclaimed. The vigil Mass has a particular set of readings, and Christmas is the only solemnity on the liturgical calendar for which there are three sets of readings for midnight, dawn and day Masses. Look at the readings for all of the Christmas Masses and reflect on how they relate to the events surrounding Christ’s birth.
The Nativity of the Lord Christmas
•At the Vigil Mass
•Mass at Dawn
•Mass During the Day
•Mass at Midnight
Act
Gather with your family to pray The Blessing of a Christmas Tree and light your tree.
Blessing of a Christmas Tree
The use of the Christmas tree is relatively modern. Its origins are found in the
medieval mystery plays that depicted the tree of paradise and the Christmas light or
candle that symbolized Christ, the Light of the world.
According to custom, the Christmas tree is set up just before Christmas and may
remain in place until the Solemnity of Epiphany.
The lights of the tree are illuminated after the prayer of blessing.
In the home the Christmas tree may be blessed by a parent or another family
member, in connection with the evening meal on the Vigil of Christmas or at
another suitable time on Christmas Day.
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When all have gathered, a suitable song may be sung.
The leader makes the sign of the cross, and all reply “Amen.”
The leader may greet those present in the following words:
Let us glorify Christ our light, who brings salvation and
peace into our midst, now and forever.
R/. Amen.
In the following or similar words,
the leader prepares those present for the blessing:
My brothers and sisters, amidst signs and wonders Christ
Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea: his birth brings joy
to our hearts and enlightenment to our minds. With this
tree, decorated and adorned, may we welcome Christ among
us; may its lights guide us to the perfect light.
One of those present or the leader reads a text
of sacred Scripture, for example, St. Paul 3:4-7:
Listen to the words of the Letter of St. Paul to Titus:
But when the kindness and generous love
of God our savior 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 savior,
so that we might be justified by his grace
and become heirs in hope of eternal life.
Or Ezekiel 17:22-24—I will plant a tender shoot
on the mountain heights of Israel.
Reader: The Word of the Lord.
R/. Thanks be to God.
The intercessions are then said. The leader says:
Let us ask God to send his blessing upon us and upon this
sign of our faith in the Lord.
R/. Lord, give light to our hearts.
That this tree of lights may remind us of the tree of glory on
which Christ accomplished our salvation, let us pray to the
Lord. R/.
That the joy of Christmas may always be in our homes, let
us pray to the Lord. R/.
That the peace of Christ may dwell in our hearts and in the
world, let us pray to the Lord. R/.
After the intercessions the leader invites all present to say the
Lord’s Prayer.
The leader says the prayer with hands joined:
Lord our God,
we praise you for the light of creation:
the sun, the moon, and the stars of the night.
We praise you for the light of Israel:
the Law, the prophets, and the wisdom of the Scriptures.
We praise you for Jesus Christ, your Son:
he is Emmanuel, God-with-us, the Prince of Peace,
who fills us with the wonder of your love.
Lord God,
let your blessing come upon us
as we illumine this tree.
May the light and cheer it gives
be a sign of the joy that fills our hearts.
May all who delight in this tree
come to the knowledge and joy of salvation.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.
R/. Amen.
The lights of the tree are then illuminated.
The leader concludes the rite by signing himself or herself with
the sign of the cross and saying:
May the God of glory fill our hearts with peace and joy, now
and forever.
R/. Amen.
The blessing concludes with a verse from “O Come, O Come,
Emmanuel”:
O come, thou dayspring, come and cheer
our spirits by thine advent here;
disperse the gloomy clouds of night
and death’s dark shadow put to flight.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
shall come to thee, O Israel.
—From "Catholic Household Blessings & Prayers"
Blessing of a Christmas Manger or Nativity Scene
In its present form the custom of displaying figures depicting the birth of Jesus Christ
owes its origin to St. Francis of Assisi, who made the Christmas crèche or manger
for Christmas Eve of 1223.
The blessing of the Christmas manger or nativity scene may take place on the Vigil
of Christmas or at another suitable time.
When the manger is set up in the home, it is appropriate that it be blessed by a
parent or another family member.
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All make the sign of the cross as the leader says:
Our help is in the name of the Lord.
R/. Who made heaven and earth.
One of those present or the leader reads a text of sacred Scripture,
for example, Luke 2:1-8:
Listen to the words of the holy Gospel
according to Luke:
In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that the whole world should be enrolled.
This was the first enrollment, when Quirinius was governor of Syria. So all went to be enrolled,
each to his own town. And Joseph too went up from Galilee from the town of Nazareth to Judea,
to the city of David that is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David,
to be enrolled with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. While they were there,
the time came for her to have her child, and she gave birth to her firstborn son.
She wrapped him in swaddling clothes and laid him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.
Now there were shepherds in that region living in the fields and keeping the night watch over their flock.
Or Isaiah 7:10-15—The birth of Emmanuel.
Reader: The Gospel of the Lord.
R/. Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
The leader prays with hands joined:
God of every nation and people,
from the very beginning of creation
you have made manifest your love:
when our need for a Savior was great
you sent your Son to be born of the Virgin Mary.
To our lives he brings joy and peace,
justice, mercy, and love.
Lord,
bless all who look upon this manger;
may it remind us of the humble birth of Jesus,
and raise our thoughts to him,
who is God-with-us and Savior of all,
and who lives and reigns forever and ever.
R/. Amen.
—From "Catholic Household Blessings & Prayers"
Attend Midnight Mass or watch the broadcast of the Christmas Vigil Mass celebrated by Pope Benedict XVI from St. Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican. The Vatican Mass is broadcast live on the EWTN cable channel beginning at 4:00 p.m. ET and can be seen on most NBC affiliate stations beginning at 11:30 p.m. ET.
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