Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel; *Antiphon:The Lord God has come to his people and set them free.
he has come to his people and set them free.
He has raised up for us a mighty savior, *
born of the house of his servant David.
Through his holy prophets he promised of old,
that he would save us from our enemies, *
from the hands of all who hate us.
He promised to show mercy to our fathers *
and to remember his holy covenant.
This was the oath he swore to our father Abraham, *
to set us free from the hands of our enemies,
Free to worship him without fear, *
holy and righteous in his sight
all the days of our life.
You, my child, shall be called the prophet of the Most High, *
for you will go before the Lord to prepare his way,
To give his people knowledge of salvation *
by the forgiveness of their sins.
In the tender compassion of our God *
the dawn from on high shall break upon us,
To shine on those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death, *
and to guide our feet into the way of peace.
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.
Christ embodied the wisdom of God, his justice, his holiness and his saving power. Let us praise him and call upon him confidently:
Lord, save us by your birth.
King of the world, the shepherd found you wrapped in swaddling clothed,
- make us willing participants in your poverty and simplicity.
Lord of heaven, from your royal throne you came down to the world,
- teach us to respect our less fortunate brothers and sisters.
Christ, light eternal, when you assumed our nature your did not take on its stain,
- help your faithful people to use the good things of the earth for your honor and glory.
You are the divine spouse of your Church; you stand in its midst as an impregnable tower,
- help the faithful to persevere in your Church toward salvation.
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