THE ORDER OF MASS
3rd SUNDAY OF ADVENT
INTRODUCTORY RITES
Acts of prayer and penitence prepare us to meet Christ as He comes in Word and Sacrament. We gather as a worshipping community to celebrate our unity with Him and with one another in faith.
ENTRANCE ANTIPHON
If it is not sung, it is recited by all or some of the congregation.
Joined together as Christ's people, we open the celebration by raising our voices in praise of God who is present among us. This song should deepen our unity as it introduces the Mass we celebrate today.
Rejoice in the Lord always; again I say, rejoice! The Lord is near.When the priest comes to the altar, he makes the customary reverence with the ministers or deacons and kisses the altar. Then, with the ministers or deacons, he goes to his seat. After the entrance song, all make the sign of the cross:
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
The priest welcomes the congregation in the name of the Lord. The congregation shows union with God, neighbor, and the priest by a united response to his greeting.
The grace and peace of God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ be with you.
Blessed be God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
OR And also with you.The Lord be with you.
RITE OF BLESSING AND SPRINKLING HOLY WATER
The rite of blessing and sprinkling holy water may be celebrated in all churches and chapels at all Sunday Masses celebrated on Sunday or Saturday evening. When this rite is celebrated it takes the place of the penitential rite at the beginning of Mass. The Kyrie is also omitted.
After greeting the people the priest remains standing at his chair. A vessel containing the water to be blessed is placed before him. Facing the congregation, he invites the congregation to pray, using these or similar words:
Dear friends, this water will be used to remind us of our baptism. Let us ask God to bless it, and to keep us faithful to the spirit He has given us.
God our Father, Your gift of water brings life and freshness to the earth; it washes away our sins and brings us eternal life. We ask you now to bless + this water, and to give us your protection on this day which you have made your own. Renew the living spring of your life within us and protect us in spirit and body, that we may be free from sin and come into your presence to receive your gift of salvation. We ask this through Christ our Lord.
Amen.
Lord God almighty, creator of all life, of body and soul, we ask you to bless + this water; as we use it in faith, forgive our sins, and save us from all illness and the power of evil.
Lord God almighty, hear the prayer of Your people; we celebrate our creation and redemption. Hear our prayers and bless + this water which gives fruitfulness to the fields, and refreshment and cleansing to man. You chose water to show Your goodness when You led Your people to freedom through the Red Sea and satisfied their thirst in the desert with water from the rock. Water was the symbol used by the prophets to foretell Your new covenant with man. You made the water of baptism holy by Christ’s baptism in the Jordan: by it you give us a new birth and renew us in holiness. May this water remind us of our baptism, and let us share the joy.
PENITENTIAL RITE
(Omitted when the rite of blessing and sprinkling holy water has taken place or some part of the liturgy of the hours has preceded.)
Before we hear God’s word, we acknowledge our sins humbly, ask for mercy, and accept his pardon.
Invitation to repent:
After the introduction to the day’s Mass, the priest invites the congregation to recall their sins and to repent of them in silence:
As we prepare to celebrate the mystery of Christ’s love, let us acknowledge our failures and ask the Lord for pardon and strength.
Coming together as God’s family, with confidence let us ask the Father’s forgiveness, for He is full of gentleness and compassion.
Then, after a brief silence, one of the following forms is used.
A:
I confess to almighty God, and to you, my brothers and sisters, that I have sinned through my own fault (strike breast) in my thoughts and in my words, in what I have done, and in what I have failed to do; and 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.
Lord, we have sinned against You: Lord have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.
And grant us your salvation.
The priest or other minister makes the following or other invocations:
You came to call sinners: Christ, have mercy.
Absolution:
At the end of any of the forms of the penitential rite:
May almighty God have mercy on us, forgive us our sins, and bring us to everlasting life.
Amen.
Unless included in the penitential rite, the Kyrie is sung or said by all, with alternating parts for the choir or cantor and for the congregation:
Lord have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.
When the Gloria is sung or said, the priest or the cantors or everyone together may begin it:
Glory to God in the highest, and peace to his people on earth. Lord God, heavenly King, almighty God and Father, we worship You, we give You thanks, we praise You for Your glory.
Lord Jesus Christ, only Son of the Father, Lord God, Lamb of God, You take away the sin of the world: have mercy on us; you are seated at the right hand of the Father: receive our prayer.
For You alone are the Holy One, Your alone are the Lord, You alone are the Most High, Jesus Christ, with the Holy Spirit, in the glory of God the Father.
Amen.
The priest invites us to pray silently for a moment and then, in our name, expresses the theme of the day’s celebration and petitions God the Father through the mediation of Christ in the Holy Spirit.
Let us pray.
Priest and congregation pray silently for a while. Then the priest says the opening prayer and concludes:
Lord God, may we, your people, who look forward to the birthday of Christ experience the joy of salvation and celebrate that feast with love and thanksgiving. We ask this through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever.
Amen.
Alternative Opening Prayer (Advent)
Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, ever faithful to your promises and ever close to your Church: the earth rejoices in hope of the Savior's coming and looks forward with longing to his return at the end of time. Prepare our hearts and remove the sadness that hinders us from feeling the joy and hope which his presence will bestow, for he is Lord forever and ever.
Amen.
THE LITURGY OF THE WORD
The proclamation of God’s Word is always centered on Christ, present through His Word. Old Testament writings prepare for Him; New Testament books speak of Him directly. All of scripture calls us to believe once more and to follow. After the reading we reflect upon God’s words and respond to them.
FIRST READING
A reading from the Book of the Prophet Zephaniah:
Shout for joy, O daughter Zion! Sing joyfully, O Israel! Be glad and exult with all your heart, O daughter Jerusalem! The Lord has removed the judgment against you, he has turned away your enemies; the King of Israel, the Lord, is in your midst, you have no further misfortune to fear. On that day, it shall be said to Jerusalem: Fear not, O Zion, be not discouraged! The Lord, your God, is in your midst, a mighty savior; he will rejoice over you with gladness, and renew you in his love, he will sing joyfully because of you, as one sings at festivals.
The congregation repeat the response sung by the cantor the first time and then after each verse.
Cry out with joy and gladness: for among you is the great and Holy One of Israel.
God indeed is my savior; I am confident and unafraid. My strength and my courage is the Lord, and he has been my savior. With joy you will draw water at the fountain of salvation.
Cry out with joy and gladness: for among you is the great and Holy One of Israel.
Give thanks to the Lord, acclaim his name; among the nations make known his deeds, proclaim how exalted is his name.
Cry out with joy and gladness: for among you is the great and Holy One of Israel.
Sing praise to the Lord for his glorious achievement; let this be known throughout all the earth. Shout with exultation, O city of Zion, for great in your midst is the Holy One of Israel.
Cry out with joy and gladness: for among you is the great and Holy One of Israel.
SECOND READING:
A reading from the Letter of Saint Paul to the Philippians
Brothers and sisters: Rejoice in the Lord always, I shall say it again: rejoice! Your kindness should be known to all. The Lord is near. Have no anxiety at all, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, make your requests known to God. Then the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.
Thanks be to God.
ALLELUIA (Gospel Acclamation)
Jesus will speak to us in the gospel. We rise now out of respect and prepare for His message with the alleluia.
ALLELUIA
Alleluia, Alleluia.
The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring glad tidings to the poor.
Alleluia, Alleluia.
The congregation repeats the alleluia after cantor’s alleluia and then after the verse. During Lent one of the following invocations is used as a response instead of the alleluia:
A.
Praise to You, Lord Jesus Christ, King of endless glory!
B.
Praise and honor to You, Lord Jesus Christ!
C.
Glory and praise to You, Lord Jesus Christ!
D.
Glory to You, Word of God, Lord Jesus Christ!
GOSPEL
Before proclaiming the gospel, the deacon asks the priest: Father, give me your blessing. The priest says:
The Lord be in your heart and on your lips that you may worthily proclaim His gospel. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, + and of the Holy Spirit. The deacon answers: Amen.
If there is no deacon, the priest says inaudibly:
Almighty God, cleanse my heart and my lips that I may worthily proclaim your gospel.
The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
+ A reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke 3:10-18
Glory to You, Lord.
The crowds asked John the Baptist, "What should we do?" He said to them in reply, "Whoever has two cloaks should share with the person who has none. And whoever has food should do likewise." Even tax collectors came to be baptized and they said to him, "Teacher, what should we do?" He answered them, "Stop collecting more than what is prescribed." Soldiers also asked him, "And what is it that we should do?" He told them, "Do not practice extortion, do not falsely accuse anyone, and be satisfied with your wages."
Now the people were filled with expectation, and all were asking in their hearts whether John might be the Christ. John answered them all, saying, "I am baptizing you with water, but one mightier than I is coming. I am not worthy to loosen the thongs of his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fan is in his hand to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his barn, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire." Exhorting them in many other ways, he preached good news to the people.
At the end:
The gospel of the Lord.
Praise to You, Lord Jesus Christ.
Then the deacon or priest kisses the book, saying inaudibly:
May the words of the gospel wipe away our sins.
God’s word is spoken again in the homily. The Holy Spirit, speaking through the lips of the priest or deacon, explains and applies today’s biblical readings to the needs of this particular congregation. He calls us to respond to Christ through the life we lead.
PROFESSION OF FAITH
As a people we express our acceptance of God’s message in the scripture and homily. We summarize our faith by proclaiming a creed handed down from the early Church. ALL SAY THE PROFESSION OF FAITH ON SUNDAYS.
NICENE CREED
We believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of that is seen and unseen. We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, one in Being with the Father. Through Him all things were made. For us men and for our salvation He came down from heaven: (bow head) by the power of the Holy Spirit He was born of the Virgin Mary, and became man. For our sake He was crucified under Pontius Pilate; He suffered, died, and was buried. On the third day He rose again in fulfillment of 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 not end. We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son. With the Father and the Son He is worshipped and glorified. He has spoken through the Prophets. We believe in one catholic and apostolic Church. We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins. We look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen.
In celebrations of Masses with Children, the Apostle’s Creed may be said after the homily.
APOSTLE’S CREED
I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth. I believe in Jesus Christ, His only Son our Lord. He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended to the dead. On the third day He rose again. He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.
GENERAL INTERCESSIONS
As a priestly people we unite with one another to pray for today’s needs in the Church and the world.
After the priest gives the introduction, the deacon or other minister sings or says the invocations.
Lord, hear our prayer.
(or other response, according to local custom.) At the end the priest says the concluding prayer:
Amen.
LITURGY OF THE EUCHARIST
Made ready by reflection on God’s Word, we enter now into the Eucharistic sacrifice itself, the Supper of the Lord. We celebrate the memorial, which the Lord instituted at His Last Supper. We are God’s new people, the redeemed brothers and sisters of Christ, gathered by Him around His table. We are here to bless God and to receive the gift of Jesus’ body and blood so that our faith and life may be transformed.
PREPARATION OF THE GIFTS
OFFERTORY SONG
The bread and wine for the Eucharist, with our gifts for the Church and the poor, are gathered and brought to the altar. We prepare our hearts by song or in silence as the Lord’s table is being set.
While the people’s gifts are brought forward to the priest and are place on the altar, the offertory song is sung.
PREPARATION OF THE BREAD
Before placing the bread on the altar, the priest says inaudibly:
Blessed are You, Lord, God of all creation. Through Your goodness we have this bread to offer, which earth has given and human hands have made. It will become for us the bread of life.
If there is no singing, the priest may say this prayer aloud, and the congregation may respond:
Blessed be God forever.
PREPARATION OF THE WINE
When he pours wine and a little water into the chalice, the deacon or priest says inaudibly:
By the mystery of this water and wine may we come to share in the divinity of Christ, Who humbled Himself to share in our humanity.
Before placing the chalice on the altar, he says:
Blessed are You, Lord, God of all creation. Through Your goodness we have this wine to offer, fruit of the vine and work of human hands. It will become our spiritual drink.
If there is no singing, the priest may say this prayer aloud, and congregation may respond:
Blessed be God forever.
The priest says inaudibly:
Lord God, we ask You to receive us and be pleased with the sacrifice we offer You with humble and contrite hearts.
Then he washes his hands, saying:
Lord, wash away my iniquity; cleanse me from my sin.
INVITATION TO PRAYER
Pray, brethren, that our sacrifice may be acceptable to God, the almighty Father.
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 Church.
The priest, speaking in our name, asks the Father to bless and accept these gifts.
Lord, may the gift we offer in faith and love be a continual sacrifice in your honor and truly become our Eucharist and our salvation. grant this through Christ our Lord.
Amen.
EUCHARISTIC PRAYER
We begin the Eucharistic service of praise and thanksgiving, the center of the entire celebration, the central prayer of worship. We lift our hearts to God, and offer praise and thanks as the priest addresses this prayer to the Father through Jesus Christ. Together we join Christ in His sacrifice, celebrating His memorial in the holy meal and acknowledging with Him the wonder works of God in our lives.
INTRODUCTORY DIALOGUE
The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
Lift up your hearts.
We lift them up to the Lord.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
It is right to give Him thanks and praise.
PREFACE
Father, all-powerful and ever-living God, we do well always and everywhere to give You thanks through Jesus Christ our Lord. When He humbled Himself to come among us as a man, He fulfilled the plan you formed long ago and opened for us the way to salvation. Now e watch for the day, hoping that the salvation promised us will be ours when Christ our Lord will come again in His glory. And so, with all the choirs of angels in heaven we proclaim your glory and join in their unending hymn of praise:
ACCLAMATION
Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might, heaven and earth are full of Your glory. Hosanna in the highest. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest.
Then the priest continues with one of the following Eucharistic Prayers.
EUCHARISTIC PRAYER I (Roman canon)
We come to you, Father, with praise and thanksgiving, through Jesus Christ your Son. Through him we ask you accept and bless these gifts we offer you in sacrifice. We offer them for your holy catholic Church, watch over it, Lord, and guide it; grant it peace and unity throughout the world. We offer them for…our Pope, for…our Bishop, and for all who hold and teach the catholic faith that comes to us from the apostles. Remember, Lord, your people, especially those for whom we now pray, N… and N…Remember all of us gathered here before you. You know how firmly we believe in you and dedicate ourselves to you. We offer you this sacrifice of praise for ourselves and those who are dear to us. We pray to you, our living and true God, for our well-being and redemption. In union with the whole Church we honor Mary, the ever-virgin mother of Jesus Christ our Lord and God. We honor Joseph, her husband, the apostles and martyrs Peter and Paul, Andrew, and all the saints. May their merits and prayers gain us your constant help and protection. Through Christ our Lord. Amen. Father accept this offering from your whole family. Grant us your peace in this life, save us from final damnation, and count us among those you have chosen. Through Christ our Lord. Amen. Bless and approve our offering; make it acceptable to you, an offering in Spirit and in truth. Let it become for us the body and blood of Jesus Christ, you only son, our Lord. Through Christ our Lord. Amen. The day before he suffered he took bread in his sacred hands and looking up to heaven, to you, his almighty Father, he gave you thanks and praise. He broke the bread, gave it to his disciples, and said: Take this, all of you, and eat it: this is my body which will be given up for you. When the supper was ended, he took the cup. Again he gave you thanks and praise, gave the cup to his disciples, and said: Take this, all of you, and drink from it: this is the cup of my blood, the blood of the new and everlasting covenant. It will be shed for you and for all so that sins may be forgiven. Do this in memory of me.
Let us proclaim the mystery of faith:
A.
Christ has died, Christ is risen, Christ will come again.
B.
Dying you destroyed our death, rising you restored our life. Lord Jesus, come in glory.
C.
When we eat this bread and drink this cup, we proclaim your death, Lord Jesus, until you come in glory.
D.
Lord, by your cross and resurrection you have set us free. You are the Savior of the world.
Father, we celebrate the memory of Christ, your Son. We, your people and your ministers, recall his passion, his resurrection from the dead, and his ascension into glory; and form the many gifts you have give us we offer to you, God of glory and majesty, this holy and perfect sacrifice: the bread of life and the cup of eternal salvation. Look with favor on these offerings and accept them as once you accepted the gifts of your servant Abel, the sacrifice of Abraham, our father in faith, and the bread and wine offered by your priest Melchisedech. Almighty God, we pray that your angel may take this sacrifice to your altar in heaven. Then, as we receive from this altar the sacred body and blood of your Son, let us be filled with every grace and blessing. Through Christ our Lord.
Amen.
Remember, Lord, those who have died and have gone before us marked with the sign of faith, especially those for whom we now pray, N…and N… May these, and all who sleep in Christ, find in your presence light, happiness, and peace. Through Christ our Lord.
Amen.
For ourselves, too, we ask some share in the fellowship of your apostles and martyrs, with John the Baptist, Stephen, Matthias, Barnabas, and all the saints. Though we are sinners, we trust in your mercy and love. Do not consider what we truly deserve, but grant us your forgiveness. Through Christ our Lord.
Amen.
Through him you give all these gifts, You fill them with life and goodness, you bless them and make them holy.
Through him, with him, in him, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, all glory and honor is yours, almighty Father, forever and ever.
Amen.
COMMUNION RITE
To prepare for the paschal meal, to welcome the Lord, we pray for forgiveness and exchange a sign of peace. Before eating Christ’s body and drinking his blood, we must be one with him and with all our brothers and sisters in Church.
LORD’S PRAYER
A.
Let us pray with confidence to the Father in the words our Savior gave us:
B.
Jesus taught us to call God our Father, and so we have the courage to say:
C.
Let us ask our Father to forgive our sins and to bring us to forgive those who sin against us.
D.
Let us pray for the coming of the kingdom as Jesus taught us.
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.
Deliver us, Lord, from every evil, and grant us peace in our day. In your mercy keep us free from sin and protect us from all anxiety as we wait in joyful hope for the coming of our Savior, Jesus Christ.
For the Kingdom, the power and the glory are yours, now and forever.
SIGN OF PEACE
The Church is a community of Christians joined by the Spirit in love. It needs to express, deepen, and restore its peaceful unity before eating the one Body of the Lord and drinking from the one cup of salvation. We do this by a sign of peace.
Lord Jesus Christ, you said to your apostles: I leave you peace, my peace I give you. Look not on our sins, but on the faith of your Church, and grant us the peace and unity of your kingdom where you live forever and ever.
Amen.
The peace of the Lord be with you always.
And also with you.
Let us offer each other the sign of peace.
BREAKING OF THE BREAD
Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world: have mercy on us. Lamb of God, you take away the sings of the world: have mercy on us. Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world: grant us peace.
Meanwhile the priest takes the host and breaks it over the paten. He places a small piece in the chalice, saying inaudibly:
May this mingling of the body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ bring eternal life to us who receive it.
Before communion, the priest says inaudibly one of the following prayers:
Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the living God, by the will of the Father and the work of the Holy Spirit your death brought life to the world. By your holy body and blood free me from all my sins, and from every evil. Keep me faithful to your teaching, and never let me be parted from you. Lord Jesus Christ, with faith in your love and mercy I eat your body and drink your blood. Let it not bring me condemnation, but health in mind and body.
COMMUNION
The priest genuflects, holding the host elevated slightly over the paten and facing the congregation, the priest says aloud:
This is the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. Happy are those who are called to his supper.
Lord, I am not worthy to receive you, but only say the word and I shall be healed.
Facing the altar, before receiving communion, the priest says inaudibly;
May the body of Christ bring me to everlasting life.
He reverently consumes the body of Christ. Then he takes the chalice and says inaudibly;
May the blood of Christ bring me to everlasting life.
He reverently drinks the blood of Christ. The priest then gives communion to the people.
The body of Christ.
Amen.
COMMUNION SONG (ANTIPHON)
The Communion Psalm or other appropriate Song or Hymn is sung while Communion is given to the faithful. If there if no singing, the Communion Antiphon is said:
Say to the anxious; be strong and fear not, our God will come to save us.
The vessels are cleansed by the priest or deacon or acolyte. Meanwhile the priest says inaudibly;
Lord, may I receive these gifts in purity of heart. May they bring me healing and strength, now and forever.
PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION
The priest prays in our name that we may live the life of faith since we have been strengthened by Christ himself. Our Amen makes his prayer our own.
Let us pray.
Priest and the congregation may pray silently for a while. Then the priest says the prayer after communion.
God of mercy, may this Eucharist bring us your divine help, free us from our sins, and prepare us for the birthday of our Savior, who is Lord forever and ever.
Amen.
CONCLUDING RITE
We have heard God’s word and eaten the body of Christ. Now its time for us to leave, to do good works, to praise and bless the Lord in our daily lives.
GREETING
After any brief announcements, the blessing and dismissal follow:
The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
BLESSING
A. Simple form
May almighty God bless you the Father, and the Son, + and the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
On certain days or occasions another more solemn form of blessing or prayer over the congregation may be used as the rubrics direct.
B. Solemn blessing (Advent)
Bow your heads and pray for God’s blessing
You believe that the Son of God once came to us; you look for him to come again. May his coming bring you the light of his holiness and free you with his blessing.
Amen.
May God make you steadfast in faith, joyful in hope, and untiring in love all the days of your life.
Amen.
You rejoice that our redeemer came to live us as man. When he comes again in glory, may he reward you with endless life.
Amen.
The priest always concludes the solemn blessing by adding:
May almighty God bless you, the Father, and the Son, + and the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
DISMISSAL
A.
Go in the peace of Christ.
B.
The Mass is ended, go in peace.
C.
Go in peace to love and serve the Lord.
Thanks be to God.