Liturgical Information
Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph (A)

Liturgical Color: White [Note: "On solemn occasions more precious vestments may be used, even if not the color of the day" GIRM #309]

Themes: family life, love, understanding, spiritual growth

Entrance Antiphon [Introit]:

The shepherds went in haste, and found Mary and Joseph and the Infant lying in a manger. Luke 2:16 [Roman Missal]

Deus in loco sancto suo: Deus, qui inhabitare facit unamines in domo: ipse dabit virtutem et fortitudinem plebi suæ.
Ps.Exsurgat Deus, et dissipentur inimici eius: et fugiant, qui oderunt eum, a facie eius. [Graduale Romanum, p.310]

Iacob autem genuit Ioseph, virum Mariae, de qua natus est Iesus, qui vocatur Christus. [Graduale simplex, p.70]
Verses of Psalm 128 can also be sung between repetitions of the antiphon.

Collect:

O God, who were pleased to give us
the shining example of the Holy Fami-ly,

gra-ciously grant that we may imitate them
in practicing the virtues of family life and in the bonds of chari-ty,

and so, in the joy of your house,
delight one day in eter-nal re-wards.

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:

Sirach 3:2-7,12-14 [Those who fear the Lord honor their parents.]
Psalm 128:1-2 / 3 / 4-5 [R. Blessed are those who fear the Lord and walk in his ways. /v.1]
Colossians 3:12-21 [Family life in the Lord.]
Gospel Verse: Col 3:15-16 [Let the peace of Christ control your hearts; let the word of Christ dwell in you richly.]
Matthew 2:13-15,19-23 [Take the Child and His mother, and flee to Egypt. /v.13]
See CNP's Book of Sung Gospels – Fourth Edition

Offertory Antiphon:

My trust is in you, O Lord; I say, "You are my God." In your hands is my destiny. Psalm 31:15-16 **
Verses of Psalm 40 can also be sung between repetitions of the antiphon.

In te speravi, Domine: dixi: Tu es Deus meus, in manibus tuis tempora mea. [Graduale Romanum, p.322]

In te speravi, Domine: dixi: Tu es Deus meus, in manibus tuis tempora mea. [Gregorian Missal, p.205]

Erant parentes Iesu mirantes super his quæ dicebantur de illo. [Graduale simplex, p.73]
Verses of Psalm 40 can also be sung between repetitions of the antiphon.

Prayer over the Offerings:

We offer you, Lord, the sacrifice of concilia-tion,

hum-bly asking that,
through the intercession of the Virgin Mother of God and Saint Jo-seph,

you may establish our families firmly in your grace and your peace.

Through Christ our Lord. A-men.

Preface III of the Nativity of the Lord: [The exchange in the Incarnation of the Word]

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 through him the holy exchange that restores our life
has shone forth today in splendor:
when our frailty is assumed by your Word
not only does human mortality receive unending honor
but by this wondrous union we, too, are made eternal.

And so, in company with the choirs of Angels,
we praise you, and with joy we proclaim:

Holy, Holy, Holy Lord God of hosts…

Communion Antiphon:

Our God has appeared on the earth, and lived among us. Bar 3:38 [Roman Missal]

(A) Tolle puerum et matrem eius, et vade in terram Israel: defuncti sunt enim, qui quærebant animam pueri. Mt 2:20 [Graduale Romanum, p.51]
Psalm 93:1ab,1c-2a,3,4,5 -or- Psalm 128:1,2,3,4,5,6 can also be sung between repetitions of this antiphon.

(A) Tolle puerum et matrem eius, et vade in terram Israel: defuncti sunt enim, qui quærebant animam pueri. Mt 2:20 [Gregorian Missal, p.206]

Maria autem conservabat omnia verba haec, conferens in corde suo. [Graduale simplex, p.74]
Verses of Psalm 78 can also be sung between repetitions of the antiphon.

Prayer after Communion:

Bring those you refresh with this heavenly Sacrament,
most merciful Father,
to imitate constantly the example of the Holy Fami-ly,

so that, after the trials of this world,
we may share their compan-y for ever.

Through Christ our Lord. A-men.

Solemn Blessing: [15. The Blessed Virgin Mary]

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 InformationFeast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph (A)