God, come to my assistance.
 - Lord, make haste to help me.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:
 -  as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever.
Amen. (Alleluia.)


HYMN

O Christ, you are the light and day
Which drives away the night,
The ever shining Sun of God
And pledge of future light.

As now the  ev'ning shadows fall
Please grant us, Lord, we pray,
A quiet night to rest in you
Until the break of day.

Remember us, poor mortal ones,
We humbly ask, O Lord,
And may your presence in our souls,
Be now our great reward.
Text: Christe qui Lux es et Dies; Melody: St. Anne, William Croft, 1708


PSALMODY

Antiphon 1: Our Lord will come to claim his glorious throne in the assembly of the princes.

The Lord's revelation to my Master:
"Sit on my right:
your foes I will put beneath your feet."
The Lord will wield from Zion
your scepter of power:
rule in the midst of all your foes.

A prince from the day of your birth
on the holy mountains;
from the womb before the dawn I begot you.

The Lord has sworn an oath he will not change.
"You are a priest for ever,
a priest like Melchizedeck of old."

The Master standing at your right hand
will shatter kings in the day of his wrath.

He shall drink from the stream by the wayside
and therefore he shall lift up his head. Glory...

Antiphon 1 Our Lord will come to claim his glorious throne in the assembly of the princes.


Antiphon 2 Let the mountains break out with joy and the hills with answering gladness, for the world's true light, the Lord, comes with power and might.

I will thank the Lord with all my heart
in the meeting of the just and their assembly.
Great are the works of the Lord,
to be pondered by all who love them.

Majestic and glorious his work,
his justice stands firm for ever.
He makes us remember his wonders.
The Lord is compassion and love.

He gives food to those who fear him;
keeps his covenant ever in mind.
He has shown his might to his people
by giving them the lands of the nations.

His works are justice and truth,
his precepts are all of them sure,
standing firm for ever and ever;
they are made in uprightness and truth.

He has sent deliverance to his people
and established his covenant for ever.
Holy his name, to be feared.

To fear the Lord is the first stage of wisdom;
all who do so prove themselves wise.
His praise shall last for ever! Glory...

Antiphon 2 Let the mountains break out with joy and the hills with answering gladness, for the world's true light, the Lord, comes with power and might.


Antiphon 3 Let us live in holiness and love as we patiently await our blessed hope, the coming of our Savior.

Alleluia.
Salvation, glory, and power to our God:
(Alleluia.)
his judgments are honest and true.
Alleluia (alleluia).

Alleluia.
Sing praise to our God, all you his servants,
(Alleluia.)
all who worship him reverently, great and small.
Alleluia (alleluia).

Alleluia.
The Lord our all-powerful God is King;
(Alleluia.)
Let us rejoice, sing praise, and give him glory.
Alleluia (alleluia).

Alleluia.
The wedding feast of the Lamb has begun,
(Alleluia.)
and his bride is prepared to welcome him.
Alleluia (alleluia). Glory...

Antiphon 3 Let us live in holiness and love as we patiently await our blessed hope, the coming of our Savior.


READING      Philippians 4:4-5
Rejoice in the Lord always! I say it again. Rejoice! Everyone should see how unselfish you are. The Lord is near.


RESPONSORY
Lord, show us your mercy and love.
 - Lord, show us your mercy and love.
And grant us your salvation,
 - your mercy and love.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit,
 - Lord, show us your mercy and love.


MAGNIFICAT (Canticle of Mary)
Antiphon: Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God; you will conceive and give birth to a Son, alleluia.


INTERCESSIONS
To Jesus Christ, our Redeemer, the way, the truth, and the life, let us make our humble prayer:

         Come and stay with us, Lord.

Son of the Most High, your coming was announced to the Virgin Mary by Gabriel,
 - come and rule over your people for ever.

Holy One of God, in your presence John the Baptist leapt in Elizabeth's womb,
 - bring the joy of salvation to all the earth.

Jesus the Savior, the angel revealed your name to Joseph the just man,
 - come and save your people from their sins.

Light of the world, for whom Simeon and all the just waited,
 - come and comfort us.

O Rising Sun that never sets, Zechariah foretold that
you would visit us from above,
 - come and shine on those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death.


Our Father...


COLLECT
O God, who see how your people
faithfully await the feast of the Lord’s Nativity,
enable us, we pray,
to attain the joys of so great a salvation
and to celebrate them always
with solemn worship and glad rejoicing.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God, for ever and ever.


May the Lord bless us, protect us from all evil and bring us to everlasting life. Amen.


The English translation of Psalm Responses, Alleluia Verses, Gospel Verses from Lectionary for Mass © 1969, 1981, 1997, International Commission on English in the Liturgy Corporation (ICEL); the English translation of Antiphons, Invitatories, Responsories, Intercessions, Psalm 95, the Canticle of the Lamb, Psalm Prayers, Non-Biblical Readings from The Liturgy of the Hours © 1973, 1974, 1975, ICEL; excerpts from the English translation of The Roman Missal © 2010, ICEL. All rights reserved. Used with permission.