Gabriel from heaven came to Mary's side, Came with the joyful promise of a King, Came to you also, Joseph, to confide That God conceived this Child.
Guardian and foster-father of the Christ, Honor to you, so chosen by our God! Husband of Virgin Mary, you are first To show us Christian love. Melody: Compassion, 10,10,10,6; Text: Stephen Somerville, 1972 Psalmody Antiphon: The shepherds went in haste and found Joseph and Mary, and the infant lying in the manger. Psalm 63:2-9 O God, you are my God, for you I long; * for you my soul is thirsting. My body pines for you * like a dry, weary land without water. So I gaze on you in the sanctuary * to see your strength and your glory. For your love is better than life, * my lips will speak your praise. So I will bless you all my life, * in your name I will lift up my hands. My soul shall be filled as with a banquet, * my mouth shall praise you with joy. On my bed I remember you. * On you I muse through the night for you have been my help; * in the shadow of your wings I rejoice. My soul clings to you; * your right hand holds me fast. 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. Antiphon: The shepherds went in haste and found Joseph and Mary, and the infant lying in the manger. Antiphon: Joseph and Mary, the mother of Jesus, marveled at what was said of their child, and Simeon blessed them. Canticle – Daniel 3:57-88, 56 Bless the Lord, all you works of the Lord. * Praise and exalt him above all forever. Angels of the Lord, bless the Lord. * You heavens, bless the Lord. All you waters above the heavens, bless the Lord. * All you hosts of the Lord, bless the Lord. Sun and moon, bless the Lord. * Stars of heaven, bless the Lord.
Every shower and dew, bless the Lord. * All you winds, bless the Lord. Fire and heat, bless the Lord. * Cold and chill, bless the Lord. Dew and rain, bless the Lord. * Frost and chill, bless the Lord. Ice and snow, bless the Lord. * Nights and days, bless the Lord. Light and darkness, bless the Lord. * Lightnings and clouds, bless the Lord.
Let the earth bless the Lord. * Praise and exalt him above all forever. Mountains and hills, bless the Lord. * Everything growing from the earth, bless the Lord. You springs, bless the Lord. *
Seas and rivers, bless the Lord. You dolphins and all water creatures, bless the Lord. * All you birds of the air, bless the Lord. All you beasts, wild and tame, bless the Lord. * You sons of men, bless the Lord.
O Israel, bless the Lord. * Praise and exalt him above all forever. Priests of the Lord, bless the Lord. * Servants of the Lord, bless the Lord. Spirits and souls of the just, bless the Lord. * Holy men of humble heart, bless the Lord. Hananiah, Azariah, Mishael, bless the Lord. * Praise and exalt him above all forever.
Let us bless the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. * Let us praise and exalt him above all forever. Blessed are you, Lord, in the firmament of heaven. * Praiseworthy and glorious and exalted above all forever.
For the Lord takes delight in his people. * He crowns the poor with salvation. Let the faithful rejoice in their glory, * shout for joy and take their rest. Let the praise of God be on their lips * and a two-edged sword in their hand,
to deal out vengeance to the nations * and punishment on all the peoples; to bind their kings in chains * and their nobles in fetters of iron; to carry out the sentence pre-ordained; * this honor is for all his faithful.
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.
Antiphon:Joseph rose in the night and took the child and his mother into Egypt. There they stayed until the death of Herod. Reading: 2 Samuel 7:28-29
Lord God, you are God and your words are truth; you have made this generous promise to your servant. Do, then, bless the house of your servant that it may be before you forever; for you, Lord God, have promised, and by your blessing the house of your servant shall be blessed forever. Responsory: God made him master of his household. - God made him master of his household. He gave him charge over all his possessions, - and made him master of his household. Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, - God made him master of his household. Benedictus Antiphon: Joseph lived in the town of Nazareth to fulfill what the prophets had foretold of Christ; He will be called a Nazarean. Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel; * 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. Antiphon: Joseph lived in the town of Nazareth to fulfill what the prophets had foretold of Christ; He will be called a Nazarean. INTERCESSIONS
The Lord is the giver of holiness. Let us turn to him and pray:
Holy God, raise us up to new life in holiness. Lord our God, you called our fathers in faith to walk before you in holiness of heart, - may we follow in their footsteps, and obey your command to be perfect.
You chose Joseph the righteous to care for your Son in childhood and youth, - teach us to care for Christ's body by caring for our brother and sisters.
You entrusted the earth to mankind, to people it and make it prosper, - inspire us to work wholeheartedly in this world, seeing always to give you glory.
Father of all mankind, do not forget what your hands have made, - grant that all who work may have secure employment and a fitting standard of living.