Liturgical Information
The Nativity of the Lord – Mass at Dawn (ABC)

Liturgical Color: White

Themes: light, humility, quiet joy, awe, wonder

Entrance Antiphon [Introit]:

Today a light will shine upon us, for the Lord is born for us; and he will be called Wondrous God, Prince of peace, Father of future ages: and his reign will be without end. see Isaiah 9:2,6; Luke 1:33 [Roman Missal]

Lux fulgebit hodie super nos: quia natus est nobis Dominus: et vocabitur Admirabilis, Deus, Principes pacis, Pater futuri sæculi: cuius regni non erit finis.
Ps. Dominus regnavit, decorem indutus est: indutus est Dominus fortitudinem, et præcinxit se. [Graduale Romanum, p.44]

One Mass setting is offered in the Graduale simplex for use at any of the Masses of Christmas.
Dominus dixit ad me: Filius meus es tu: ego hodie genuite. [Graduale simplex, p.64]
Verses of Psalm 2 can also be sung between repetitions of the antiphon.

Collect:

Grant, we pray, almighty God,
that, as we are bathed in the new radiance of your incarnate Word,

the light of faith, which illumines our minds,
may also shine through in our deeds.

Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Ho-ly Spirit,
one God, for ev-er and ev-er. A-men.

Lectionary Readings:

Isaiah 62:11-12 [Lo, your salvation comes. /v.11]
Psalm 97:1 / 6 / 11-12 [R. A light will shine on us this day: the Lord is born for us.]
Titus 3:4-7 [When the kindness of God our Savior appeared. /v.4]
Gospel Verse: Luke 2:14 [Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.]
Luke 2:15-20 [The shepherds found the baby as He lay in the manger. /v.16]
See CNP's Book of Sung Gospels – Fourth Edition

Offertory Antiphon:

For it is God who established the world, it shall never be moved; your throne is established from of old; you are from all eternity. Psalm 93:1c, 2 **
Verses of Psalm 98 can also be sung between repetitions of the antiphon.

Deus enim firmavit orbem terræ, qui non commovebitur: parata sedes tua, Deus, ex tunc, a sæculo tu es. [Graduale Romanum, p.46]

Deus enim firmavit orbem terræ, qui non commovebitur: parata sedes tua, Deus, ex tunc, a sæculo tu es. [Gregorian Missal, p.196]

One Mass setting is offered in the Graduale simplex for use at any of the Masses of Christmas.
Lætentur cæli et exsultet terra ante faciem Domini, quoniam venit. [Graduale simplex, p.67]
Verses of Psalm 96 can also be sung between repetitions of the antiphon.

Prayer over the Offerings:

May our offerings be worthy, we pray, O Lord,
of the mysteries of the Nativity this day,

that, just as Christ was born a man and also shone forth as God,
so these earthly gifts may confer on us what is di-vine.

Through Christ our Lord. A-men.

Preface I of the Nativity of the Lord: [Christ the Light]

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.

For in the mystery of the Word made flesh
a new light of your glory has shone upon the eyes of our mind,
so that, as we recognize in him God made visible,
we may be caught up through him in love of things invisible.

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…

Communion Antiphon:

Rejoice, O Daughter Sion; lift up praise, Daughter Jerusalem: Behold, your King will come, the Holy One and Savior of the world. see Zech 9:9 [Roman Missal]

Exsulta filia Sion, lauda filia Ierusalem: ecce Rex tuus venit sanctus, et Salvator mundi see Zech 9:9 [Graduale Romanum, p.47]
Psalm 34 can also be sung between repetitions of this antiphon.

Exsulta filia Sion, lauda filia Ierusalem: ecce Rex tuus venit sanctus, et Salvator mundi see Zech 9:9 [Gregorian Missal, p.197]

One Mass setting is offered in the Graduale simplex for use at any of the Masses of Christmas.
Viderunt termini terræ salutare Dei nostri. [Graduale simplex, p.68]
Verses of Psalm 98 can also be sung between repetitions of the antiphon.

Prayer after Communion:

Grant us, Lord, as we honor with joyful devotion
the Nativity of your Son,

that we may come to know with fullness of faith
the hidden depths of this mystery
and to love them ever more and more.

Through Christ our Lord. A-men.

Solemn Blessing: [2. The Nativity of the Lord]

May the God of infinite goodness,
who by the Incarnation of his Son has driven darkness from the world
and by that glorious Birth has illumined this most holy night,
drive far from you the darkness of vice
and illumine your hearts with the light of virtue.
Amen.

May God, who willed that the great joy
of his Son's saving Birth
be announced to shepherds by the Angel,
fill your minds with the gladness he gives
and make you heralds of his Gospel.
Amen.

And may God, who by the Incarnation
brought together the earthly and heavenly realm,
fill you with the gift of his peace and favor
and make you sharers with the Church in heaven.
Amen.

** An official, approved English translation of the Offertory Antiphon has never been published. The offertory antiphon used here is from the New American Bible, a Scripture translation approved for liturgical use in the United States.

The English translation of the Entrance Antiphon [Introit], Collect, Psalm Refrain, Gospel Verse, Prayer over the Offerings, Preface, Communion Antiphon, and Prayer after Communion from The Roman Missal, © Copyright 2010, International Commission on English in the Liturgy Corp. All rights reserved.

Liturgical InformationThe Nativity of the Lord – Mass at Dawn (ABC)