Liturgical Information
The Solemnity of the Nativity of Saint John the Baptist [At the Vigil Mass]
Liturgical Color: White
Themes: predestined glory, salvation, prophecy, light
Entrance Antiphon [Introit]:
He will be great in the sight of the Lord
and will be filled with the Holy Spirit,
even from his mother's womb;
and many will rejoice at his birth. Luke 1:15,14 [Roman Missal]
Ne timeas, Zacharia, exaudita est oratio tua: et Elisabeth uxor tua pariet tibi filium, et vocabis nomen eius Ioannem: et erit magnus coram Domino: et Spiritu Sancto replebitur adhuc ex utero matris suæ: et multi in nativitate eius gaudebunt.
Ps. Domine, in virtute tua lætabitur rex: et super salutare tuam exsultabit vehementer. [Graduale Romanum, p.568]
Ne timeas, Zacharia, exaudita est oratio tua: et Elisabeth uxor tua pariet tibi filium, et vocabis nomen eius Ioannem: et erit magnus coram Domino: et Spiritu Sancto replebitur adhuc ex utero matris suæ: et multi in nativitate eius gaudebunt.
Ps. Domine, in virtute tua lætabitur rex: et super salutare tuam exsultabit vehementer. [Gregorian Missal, p.627]
Dominus ab utero vocavit me, de ventre matris meæ recordatus est nominis mei. [Graduale simplex, pp.275]
Psalm 92, verses 1-9
Collect:
Grant we pray, almighty God,
that your family may walk in the way of salva- tion
and, attentive to what Saint John the Percursor urged,
may come safely to the One he foretold,
our Lord Je-sus Christ.
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:
- Jeremiah 1:4-10 [Before I formed you in the womb I knew you. /v.5]
- Psalm 71:1-2 / 3-4 / 5-6 / 15,17 [R. Since my mother's womb you have been my strength. v.6b]
- I Peter 1:8-12 [The prophets who prophesied of the grace that would come to you made careful search and inquiry. /v.10]
- Gospel Verse: see Jn 1:7; Lk 1:17 [He came to testify to the light, to prepare a people fit for the Lord.]
- Luke 1:5-17 [Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you will give him the name John. /v.13]
Offertory Antiphon:
You have crowned him with glory and honor; and you have established him over the works of your hands, O Lord. Psalm 9:6-7
Gloria et honore coronasti eum: et constituisti eum super opera manuum tuarum, Domine. [Graduale Romanum, p.434]
Gloria et honore coronasti eum: et constituisti eum super opera manuum tuarum, Domine. [Gregorian Missal, p.629]
Puer qui natus est nobis, plus quam propheta est: hic est enim de quo Salvator ait: Inter natos mulierum non surrexit maior Ioanne Baptista. [Graduale simplex, pp.279]
Psalm 65
Prayer over the Offerings:
Look with favor, O Lord,
upon the offerings made by your people
on the Solemnity of Saint John the Bap- tist,
and grant that what we celebrate in mystery
we may follow with deeds of de- vot-ed service.
Through Christ our Lord. A-men.
Preface of Saint John the Baptist: [The mission of the Precursor]
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.
In his Precursor, Saint John the Baptist,
we praise your great glory,
for you consecrated him for a singular honor
among those born of women.
His birth brought great rejoicing;
even in the womb he leapt for joy
at the coming of human salvation.
He alone of all the prophets
pointed out the Lamb of redemption.
And to make holy the flowing waters,
he baptized the very author of Baptism
and was privileged to bear him supreme witness
by the shedding of his blood.
And so, with the Powers of heaven,
we worship you constantly on earth,
and before your majesty
without end we acclaim:
Holy, Holy, Holy Lord God of hosts…
Communion Antiphon:
Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel!
He has visited his people and redeemed them. Luke 1:68 [Roman Missal]
Magna est gloria eius in salutari tuo: gloriam et magnum decorem impones super eum, Domine. Psalm 21:6 [Graduale Romanum, p.437]
Psalm 21:2,3,4,5,7,14 can also be sung between repetitions of this antiphon.
Magna est gloria eius in salutari tuo: gloriam et magnum decorem impones super eum, Domine. Psalm 21:6 [Gregorian Missal, p.385]
Tu puer propheta Altissimi vocaberis: præibis ante Dominum parare vias eius. [Graduale simplex, pp.280]
Canticle of Zachariah
Prayer after Communion:
May the marvelous prayer of Saint John the Baptist
accompany us who have eaten our fill
at the sacrifical feast, O Lord,
and, since Saint John proclaimed your Son
to be the Lamb who would take away our sins,
may he implore now for us your favor.
Through Christ our Lord. A-men.
** 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, Prayer after Communion and Solemn Blessing from The Roman Missal, © Copyright 2010, International Commission on English in the Liturgy Corp. All rights reserved.
Excerpts from the First Reading, Second Reading and Gospel are taken from the New American Standard Bible ® © Copyright 1973 The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission.
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