Second Sunday of Advent
This Sunday we are hear the announcement that this is "the beginning of the Good News" and we are invited by Isaiah and by John the Baptist to "Prepare the way of the Lord"
In the name of the Father...
We come to the Lord seeking his mercy and forgiveness
(Pause)
I confess to almighty God
and to you, my brothers and sisters,
that I have greatly sinned,
in my thoughts and in my words,
in what I have done and in what I have failed to do,
And, striking their breast, they say:
through my fault,
through my fault,
through my most grievous fault;
therefore 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.
May almighty God have mercy on us,
forgive us our sins
and bring us to everlasting life.
Amen
Opening Prayer
Let us pray
O God, who sent your Only Begotten Son into this world
to free the human race from its ancient enslavement,
bestow on those who devoutly await him
the grace of your compassion from on high,
that we may attain the prize of true freedom.
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.
Amen.
Liturgy of the Word
Click here to go to Universalis for the readings (or use your missal or the Parish Newsletter)
Bishop Richard's reflection on this Sunday's readings
Say together the Creed
I believe in one God,
the Father almighty,
maker of heaven and earth,
of all things visible and invisible.
I believe in one Lord Jesus Christ,
the Only Begotten Son of God,
born of the Father before all ages.
God from God,
Light from Light,
true God from true God,
begotten, not made, consubstantial with the Father;
through him all things were made.
For us men and for our salvation he came down from heaven,
and by the Holy Spirit was incarnate of the Virgin Mary,
and became man.
For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate,
he suffered death and was buried,
and rose again on the third day
in accordance with 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 no end.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life,
who proceeds from the Father and the Son,
who with the Father and the Son is adored and glorified,
who has spoken through the prophets.
I believe in one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church.
I confess one Baptism for the forgiveness of sins
and I look forward to the resurrection of the dead
and the life of the world to come. Amen.
Prayers of the Faithful
Think of all the things our world needs at present and turn to the Lord and place them in his hands. If you are using this as a family, each person could pray for a different need of our world, or of your own family.
Liturgy of the Eucharist
The Liturgy of the Eucharist normally begins with the Offertory Collection and the preparation of the Gifts You may wish to reflect silently or together on the gifts you are going to offer to the Lord over the coming week.
Hymn:
This is a very ancient Advent hymn, Creator of the stars of night, sung in Latin and English
Although it is not appropriate to read the main part of the Eucharistic Prayer, the Preface and the Holy Holy are a suitable way of us offering our thanks and praise to God.
The Lord be with you.
And with your spirit.
Lift up your hearts.
We lift them up to the Lord.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
it is right and just.
It is truly right and just, our duty and our salvation,
always and everywhere to give you thanks,
Lord, holy Father, almighty and eternal God,
through Christ our Lord.
For he assumed at his first coming
the lowliness of human flesh,
and so fulfilled the design you formed long ago,
and opened for us the way to eternal salvation,
that, when he comes again in glory and majesty
and all is at last made manifest,
we who watch for that day
may inherit the great promise
in which now we dare to hope.
And so, with Angels and Archangels,
with Thrones and Dominions,
and with all the hosts and Powers of heaven,
we sing the hymn of your glory,
as without end we acclaim:
Holy, Holy, Holy Lord God of hosts.
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.
Here is a setting of the Holy Holy.
Alternatively you can use the more familiar one using the music player below it
In place of the main part of the Eucharistic prayer, reflect in silence for a while that the Mass is being celebrated all around the world, including in our parish church each day. We are all invited to the same banquet: in a sense it is one big celebration, since it is always the one Banquet of Christ, the one Last Supper, and you can unite yourselves to that celebration in your heart.
Say together the Our Father, reminding yourselves that though we are currently unable to come together as a parish in prayer, we are united as the children of one Father.
Our Father...
Deliver us, Lord, we pray, from every evil,
graciously grant peace in our days,
that, by the help of your mercy,
we may be always free from sin
and safe from all distress,
as we await the blessed hope
and the coming of our Saviour, Jesus Christ.
For the kingdom, the power and the glory are yours
now and for ever.
Lord Jesus Christ,
who said to your Apostles:
Peace I leave you, my peace I give you,
look not on our sins,
but on the faith of your Church,
and graciously grant her peace and unity
in accordance with your will.
Who live and reign for ever and ever.
Amen.
The peace of the Lord be with you always.
And with your spirit.
Let us offer each other the sign of peace.
Act of Spiritual Communion
When we are unable to receive communion, the Church teaches us that we receive the same graces through and act of spiritual communion here is a prayer for that purpose:
Lord Jesus Christ, truly present in the Most Blessed Sacrament,
I love you above all things and I desire to possess you within my soul.
Since I am unable at this moment to receive you sacramentally,
come at least spiritually into my heart.
I embrace you as being already there and unite myself wholly to you.
Never permit me to be separated from you. Amen.
Concluding Prayer
Let us pray
We implore your mercy, Lord,
that this divine sustenance
may cleanse us of our faults
and prepare us for the coming feasts.
Through Christ our Lord.
Amen.
May the Lord bless us, keep us from all evil,
and bring us to everlasting life.
Amen. Alleluia.
Final Hymn