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

Liturgical Color: White

Themes: expectation, fulfillment, hope, joy, salvation history, ancestors

Entrance Antiphon [Introit]:

Today you will know that the Lord will come, and he will save us, and in the morning you will see his glory. based on Exodus 16:6-7 [Roman Missal]

Hodie scietis, quia veniet Dominus, et salvabit nos; et mane videbitis gloriam eius.
Ps. Domini est terra, et plenitudo eius: orbis terrarum, et universi qui habitant in eo. [Graduale Romanum, p.38]

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:

O God, who gladden us year by year
as we wait in hope for our redemp-tion,

grant that, just as we joyfully welcome
your Only Begotten Son as our Redeem-er,

we may also merit to face him confidently
when he comes again as our Judge.

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 62:1-5 [For the Lord delights in you. /v.4]
Psalm 89:4-5 / 16-17 / 27 / 29 [R. For ever will I sing the goodness of the Lord. /v.2]
Acts 13:16-17,22-25 [God has brought to Israel a Savior, Jesus. /v.23]
Gospel Verse: [Tomorrow the wickedness of the earth will be destroyed: the Savior of the world will reign over us.]
Matthew 1:1-25 [The genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David. /v.1]
See CNP's Book of Sung Gospels – Fourth Edition

Offertory Antiphon:

Lift up, O gates, your lintels; reach up, you ancient portals, that the king of glory may come in. Psalm 24:7 **
Verses of Psalm 96 can also be sung between repetitions of the antiphon.

Tollite portas, principes, vestras: et levamini, portæ æternales, et introibit Rex gloriæ. [Graduale Romanum, p.40]

Tollite portas, principes, vestras: et levamini, portæ æternales, et introibit Rex gloriæ. [Gregorian Missal, p.188]

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:

As we look forward, O Lord,
to the coming festivi-ties,

may we serve you all the more eagerly
for knowing that in them
you make manifest the beginnings of our re-demption.

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:

The glory of the Lord will be revealed, and all flesh will see the salvation of our God. See Isaiah 40:5 [Roman Missal]

Revelabitur gloria Domini: et videbit omnis caro salutare Dei nostri. See Isaiah 40:5 [Graduale Romanum, p.40]
Psalm 24:1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8 can also be sung between repetitions of this antiphon.

Revelabitur gloria Domini: et videbit omnis caro salutare Dei nostri. See Isaiah 40:5 [Gregorian Missal, p.188]

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

Prayer after Communion:

Grant, O Lord, we pray,
that we may draw new vigor
from celebrating the Nativity of your Only Begotten Son,

by whose heavenly mystery we receive both food and drink.

Who lives and reigns for ev-er and ev-er. 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 – Vigil Mass (ABC)