Sunday, 25 December 2016 : Solemnity of the Nativity of the Lord, Christmas Day, Mass at Dawn (First Reading)

Liturgical Colour : White
Isaiah 62 : 11-12

For YHVH proclaims to the ends of the earth : Say to the daughter of Zion, here comes your salvation! YHVH brings the reward of His victory, His booty is carried before Him.

They shall be called the holy people, the redeemed of YHVH; and you shall be called The Sought After, a city no longer abandoned.

Sunday, 25 December 2016 : Solemnity of the Nativity of the Lord, Christmas Day, Midnight Mass (Gospel Reading)

Liturgical Colour : White
Luke 2 : 1-14

At that time the Emperor issued a decree for a census of the whole Empire to be taken. This first census was taken when Quirinus was governor of Syria. Everyone had to be registered in his own town, so everyone set out for his own city. Joseph too set out from Nazareth of Galilee. As he belonged to the family of David, being a descendant of his, he went to Judea, to David’s town of Bethlehem, to be registered with Mary, his wife, who was with Child.

They were in Bethlehem when the time came for her to have her Child, and she gave birth to a Son, her Firstborn. She wrapped Him in swaddling clothes, and laid Him in the manger, because there was no place for them in the inn. There were shepherds camping in the countryside, taking turns to watch over their flocks by night.

Suddenly an Angel of the Lord appeared to them, with the Glory of the Lord shining around them. As the were terrified, the Angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; I am here to give you Good News, great joy for all the people. Today a Saviour has been born to you in David’s town; He is the Messiah and the Lord. Let this be a sign to you : you will find a Baby wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger.”

Suddenly the Angel was surrounded by many more heavenly spirits, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and Peace, on earth, to those whom God loves.”

Sunday, 25 December 2016 : Solemnity of the Nativity of the Lord, Christmas Day, Midnight Mass (Second Reading)

Liturgical Colour : White
Titus 2 : 11-14

For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all, teaching us to reject an irreligious way of life and worldly greed, and to live in this world as responsible persons, upright and serving God, while we await our blessed Hope – the glorious manifestation of our great God and Saviour Christ Jesus.

He gave Himself for us, to redeem us from every evil and to purify a people He wanted to be His own and dedicated to what is good.

Sunday, 25 December 2016 : Solemnity of the Nativity of the Lord, Christmas Day, Midnight Mass (Psalm)

Liturgical Colour : White
Psalm 95 : 1-2a, 2b-3, 11-12, 13

Sing to the Lord a new song, sing to the Lord, all the earth! Sing to the Lord, bless His Name.

Proclaim His salvation day after day. Recall His glory among the nations, tell all the peoples His wonderful deeds.

Let the heavens be glad, the earth rejoice; let the sea and all that fills it resound; let the fields exult and everything in them; let the forest, all the trees, sing for joy.

Let them sing before the Lord Who comes to judge the earth. He will rule the world with justice and the peoples with fairness.

Sunday, 25 December 2016 : Solemnity of the Nativity of the Lord, Christmas Day, Midnight Mass (First Reading)

Liturgical Colour : White
Isaiah 9 : 1-6

The people who walk in darkness have seen a great light. A light has dawned on those who live in the land of the shadow of death. You have enlarged the nation; You have increased their joy. They rejoice before You, as people rejoice at harvest time as they rejoice in dividing the spoil.

For the yoke of their burden, the bar across their shoulders, the rod of their oppressors, You have broken it as on the day of Midian. Every warrior’s boot that tramped in war, every cloak rolled in blood, will be thrown out for burning, will serve as fuel for the fire.

For a Child is born to us, a Son is given us; the royal ornament is laid upon His shoulder, and His Name is proclaimed : “Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”

To the increase of His powerful rule in peace, there will be no end. Vast will be His dominion, He will reign on David’s throne and over all his kingdom, to establish and uphold it with justice and righteousness from this time onward and forever. The zealous love of YHVH Sabaoth will do this.

Saturday, 24 December 2016 : Vigil Mass of the Solemnity of the Nativity of the Lord, Christmas Vigil Mass (Gospel Reading)

Liturgical Colour : White
Matthew 1 : 1-25
This is the account of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, Son of David, Son of Abraham. Abraham was the father of Isaac, Isaac the father of Jacob, Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers. Judah was the father of Perez and Zerah (their mother was Tamar), Perez was the father of Hezron, and Hezron of Aram. Aram was the father of Aminadab, Aminadab of Nahshon, Nahshon of Salmon.

Salmon was the father of Boaz. His mother was Rahab. Boaz was the father of Obed. His mother was Ruth. Obed was the father of Jesse. Jesse was the father of David, the king. David was the father of Solomon. His mother had been Uriah’s wife. Solomon was the father of Rehoboam. Then came the kings : Abijah, Asaph, Jehoshaphat, Joram, Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, Hezekiah, Manasseh, Amon, Josiah.

Josiah was the father of Jechoniah and his brothers at the time of the deportation to Babylon. After the deportation to Babylon, Jechoniah was the father of Salathiel and Salathiel of Zerubbabel. Zerubbabel was the father of Abiud, Abiud of Eliakim, and Eliakim of Azor. Azor was the father of Zadok, Zadok the father of Akim, and Akim the father of Eliud. Eliud was the father of Eleazar, Eleazar of Matthan, and Matthan of Jacob.

Jacob was the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary, and from her came Jesus Who is called the Christ – the Messiah. There were fourteen generations in all from Abraham to David, and fourteen generations from David to the deportation to Babylon, and fourteen generations from the deportation to Babylon to the birth of Christ.

This is how Jesus Christ was born : Mary His mother had been given to Joseph in marriage, but before they lived together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit. Then Joseph, her husband, made plans to divorce her in all secrecy. He was an upright man, and in no way did he want to discredit her.

While he was pondering over this, an Angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph, descendant of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife. She has conceived by the Holy Spirit, and now she will bear a Son. You shall call Him ‘Jesus’ for He will save His people from their sins.”

All this happened in order to fulfil what the Lord had said through the prophet : The Virgin will conceive and bear a Son, and He will be called Emmanuel, which means God-with-us. When Joseph woke up, he did what the Angel of the Lord had told him to do, and he took his wife to his home.

So she gave birth to a Son and he had not had marital relations with her. Joseph gave Him the Name Jesus.

Alternative reading (shorter version)
Matthew 1 : 18-25

This is how Jesus Christ was born : Mary His mother had been given to Joseph in marriage, but before they lived together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit. Then Joseph, her husband, made plans to divorce her in all secrecy. He was an upright man, and in no way did he want to discredit her.

While he was pondering over this, an Angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph, descendant of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife. She has conceived by the Holy Spirit, and now she will bear a Son. You shall call Him ‘Jesus’ for He will save His people from their sins.”

All this happened in order to fulfil what the Lord had said through the prophet : The Virgin will conceive and bear a Son, and He will be called Emmanuel, which means God-with-us. When Joseph woke up, he did what the Angel of the Lord had told him to do, and he took his wife to his home.

So she gave birth to a Son and he had not had marital relations with her. Joseph gave Him the Name Jesus.

Saturday, 24 December 2016 : Vigil Mass of the Solemnity of the Nativity of the Lord, Christmas Vigil Mass (Second Reading)

Liturgical Colour : White
Acts 13 : 16-17, 22-25

So Paul arose, motioned to them for silence and began, “Fellow Israelites and also all you who fear God, listen. The God of our people Israel chose our ancestors, and after He had made them increase during their stay in Egypt, He led them out by powerful deeds.

After that time, God removed Saul and raised up David as king, to whom He bore witness saying : I have found David, the son of Jesse, a man after My own heart, who will do all I want him to do.

It is from the descendants of David that God has now raised up the promised Saviour of Israel, Jesus. Before He appeared, John proclaimed a baptism of repentance for all the people of Israel. As John was ending his life’s work, he said : ‘I am not what you think I am, for after me another One is coming Whose sandal I am not worthy to untie.'”

Saturday, 24 December 2016 : Vigil Mass of the Solemnity of the Nativity of the Lord, Christmas Vigil Mass (Psalm)

Liturgical Colour : White
Psalm 88 : 4-5, 16-17, 27 and 29

You said, “I have made a covenant with David, My chosen one; I have made a pledge to My servant. I establish his descendants forever; I build his throne for all generations.”

Blessed is the people who know Your praise. They walk in the light of Your face. They celebrate all day Your Name and Your protection lifts them up.

He will call on Me, “You are my Father, my God, my Rock, my Saviour.” I will keep My covenant firm forever, and My love for him will endure.

Saturday, 24 December 2016 : Vigil Mass of the Solemnity of the Nativity of the Lord, Christmas Vigil Mass (First Reading)

Liturgical Colour : White
Isaiah 62 : 1-5

For Zion’s sake I will not hold My peace, for Jerusalem I will not keep silent, until her holiness shines like the dawn and her salvation flames like a burning torch. The nations will see your holiness and all the kings your glory. You will be called by a new name which the mouth of YHVH will reveal.

You will be a crown of glory in the hand of YHVH, a royal diadem in the hand of your God. No longer will you be named Forsaken; no longer will your land be called Abandoned; but you will be called My Delight and your land Espoused. For YHVH delights in you and will make your land His spouse.

As a young man marries a virgin, so will your Builder marry you; and as a bridegroom rejoices in his bride, so will your God rejoice in you.

(Usus Antiquior) Nativity of our Lord Jesus Christ (Double I Classis) – Sunday, 25 December 2016 : Offertory, Secret Prayer of the Priest, Preface of the Nativity, Communion and Post-Communion Prayer

Liturgical Colour : White
Offertory
Offertory (Christmas Midnight Mass)
Psalm 95 : 11, 13
Laetentur caeli et exsultet terra ante faciem Domini : quoniam venit.


English translation
Let the heavens rejoice, and let the earth be glad before the face of the Lord, because He came.
Offertory (Christmas Mass at Dawn)
Psalm 92 : 1-2
Deus firmavit orbem terrae, qui non commovebitur : parata sedes Tua, Deus, ex tunc, a saeculo Tu es.
English translation
God had established the world, which shall not be moved. Your throne, o God, is prepared from of old. You are from everlasting.
Offertory (Christmas Daytime Mass)
Psalm 88 : 12, 15
Tui sunt caeli et Tua est terra : orbem terrarum et plenitudinem Ejus Tu fundasti : justitia et judicium praeparatio sedis Tuae.
English translation
Yours are the heavens, and Yours is the earth, the world and the fullness thereof You have founded, justice and judgment are the preparation of Your throne.
Secret Prayer of the Priest
Secret (Christmas Midnight Mass)
Accepta Tibi sit, Domine, quaesumus, hodiernae festivitatis oblatio : ut, Tua gratia largiente, per haec sacrosancta commercia, in illius inveniamur forma, in quo Tecum est nostra substantia : Qui Tecum vivis et regnas in unitate Spiritus Sancti Deus, per omnia saecula saeculorum. Amen.
English translation
May the oblation of this day’s festivity, we pray to You, o Lord, find acceptance with You, that, by the bounty of Your grace, we may, through this sacred intercourse, be found made like unto Him in Whom our substance is united with You. Who with You lives and reigns in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, world without end. Amen.
Secret (Christmas Mass at Dawn)
Munera nostra, quaesumus, Domine, Nativitatis hodiernae mysteriis apta proveniant, et pacem nobis semper infundant : ut, sicut homo genitus idem refulsit et Deus, sic nobis haec terrena substantia conferat, quod divinum est. Per eumdem Dominum nostrum Jesum Christum Filium Tuum, qui Tecum vivit et regnat in unitate Spiritus Sancti Deus, per omnia saecula saeculorum. Amen.
English translation
May our gifts, we pray to You, o Lord, come forth agreeable to the mysteries of this day’s Nativity, and may they shower upon us peace, that as He Who was begotten as Man shone forth also as God, so it may also be that this earthly substance bring us that which is divine. Through the same Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son, Who with You lives and reigns in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, world without end. Amen.
Secret (Christmas Daytime Mass)
Oblata, Domine, munera, nova Unigeniti Tui Nativitate sanctifica : nosque a peccatorum nostrorum maculis emunda. Per eumdem Dominum nostrum Jesum Christum Filium Tuum, qui Tecum vivit et regnat in unitate Spiritus Sancti Deus, per omnia saecula saeculorum. Amen.
English translation
Sanctify our oblations, o Lord, by the new birth of Your only begotten Son, and cleanse us from the stains of our sins. Through the same Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son, Who with You lives and reigns in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, world without end. Amen.
Preface of the Nativity
Vere dignum et justum est, aequum et salutare, nos Tibi semper et ubique gratias agere : Domine, Sancte Pater omnipotens, aeterne Deus : Quia per incarnati Verbi mysterium nova mentis nostrae oculis lux Tuae claritatis infulsit : ut, dum visibiliter Deum cognoscimus, per hunc in invisibilium amorem rapiamur.

Et ideo cum Angelis et Archangelis, cum Thronis et Dominationibus cumque omni militia caelestis exercitus hymnum gloriae Tuae canimus, sine fine dicentes :
English translation
It is truly meet and just, right and available to salvation, that we should always and in all places give thanks to You, o Holy Lord, Father Almighty, Eternal God, because by the mystery of the Word made flesh, from Your brightness a new light had risen to shine on the eyes of our souls, in order that, God becoming visible to us, we may be borne upward to the love of things invisible.

And therefore with the Angels and Archangels, with the Dominions and Powers, with all the hosts of the heavenly army, we sing of Your glory without end saying :
Communion
Communion (Christmas Midnight Mass)
Psalm 109 : 3
In splendoribus Sanctorum, ex utero ante luciferum genui Te.
English translation
In the brightness of the saints, from the womb before the day-star I have begotten You.
Communion (Christmas Mass at Dawn)
Zechariah 9 : 9
Exsulta, filia Sion, lauda, filia Jerusalem : ecce, Rex Tuus venit sanctus et Salvator mundi.
English translation
Rejoice greatly, o daughter of Zion, shout for joy, o daughter of Jerusalem. Behold your King comes, holy, the Saviour of the world.
Communion (Christmas Daytime Mass)
Psalm 97 : 3
Viderunt omnes fines terrae salutare Dei nostri.
English translation
All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.
Post-Communion Prayer
Post-Communion Prayer (Christmas Midnight Mass)
Da nobis, quaesumus, Domine, Deus noster : ut, qui Nativitatem Domini nostri Jesu Christi mysterii nos frequentare gaudemus; dignis conversationibus ad ejus mereamur pervenire consortium. Qui Tecum vivis et regnas in unitate Spiritus Sancti Deus, per omnia saecula saeculorum. Amen.
English translation
Grant, we beseech You, o Lord our God, that we, who rejoice to celebrate with these mysteries the Nativity of our Lord Jesus Christ, may deserve by worthy living to attain His companionship. Who with You lives and reigns in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, world without end. Amen.
Post-Communion Prayer (Christmas Mass at Dawn)
Hujus nos, Domine, sacramenti semper novitas natalis instauret : cujus Nativitas singularis humanam reppulit vetustatem. Per eumdem Dominum nostrum Jesum Christum Filium Tuum, qui Tecum vivit et regnat in unitate Spiritus Sancti Deus, per omnia saecula saeculorum. Amen.
English translation
May the Christmas renewal of this sacrament ever restore us, o Lord, Whose miraculous birth did put away the ancient things of mankind. Through the same Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son, Who with You lives and reigns in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, world without end. Amen.
Post-Communion Prayer (Christmas Daytime Mass)
Praesta, quaesumus, omnipotens Deus : ut natus hodie Salvator mundi, sicut divinae nobis generationis est auctor; ita et immortalitatis sit ipse largitor : Qui Tecum vivit et regnat in unitate Spiritus Sancti Deus, per omnia saecula saeculorum. Amen.
English translation
Grant, we beseech You, o Almighty God, that, as the Saviour of the world, born on this day, is unto us the Author of divine generation, so He may also be the bestower of immortality. He Who with You lives and reigns in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, world without end. Amen.