Liturgical Information
The Feast of the Presentation of the Lord
Liturgical Color: White [Note: On more solemn days, festive, that is, more precious, sacred vestments may be used, even if not the color of the day [GIRM #346-g]. The colors gold or silver may be worn on more solemn occasions [GIRM #346-h].
Themes: light, splendor, glory, meeting Christ
The Blessing of Candles & the Procession
During candle lighting:
Antiphon: Behold, our Lord will come with power,
to enlighten the eyes of his servants, alleluia.
— or —
Antiphon: Ecce Dominus noster cum virtute veniet,
ut illuminet oculos servorum suorum, alleluia. [Graduale Romanum, p.539], [Gregorian Missal, p.607], [Graduale simplex, p.259]
Greeting:
Dear brethren, forty days have passed since we celebrated the joyful feast of the Nativity of the Lord. Today is the blessed day when Jesus was presented in the Temple by Mary and Joseph. Outwardly he was fulfilling the Law, but in reality he was coming to meet his believing people. Prompted by the Holy Spirit, Simeon and Anna came to the Temple. Enlightened by the same Spirit, they recognized the Lord and confessed him with exultation. So let us also, gathered together by the Holy Spirit, proceed to the house of God to encounter Christ. There we shall find him and recognize him in the breaking of the bread, until he comes again, revealed in glory.
Blessing of Candles:
Let us pray.
O God, source and origin of all light,
who on this day showed to the just man Simeon
the Light for revelation fo the Gentiles,
we humbly ask that,
in answer to your people's prayers,
you may be pleased to sanctify with your blessing + these candles,
which we are eager to carry in praise of your name,
so that, treading the path of virtue,
we may reach that light which never fails.
Through Christ our Lord.
Amen.
— or —
Let us pray.
O God, true light, who create light eternal,
spreading it far and wide,
pour, we pray, into the hearts of the faithful
the brilliance of perpetual light,
so that all who are brightened in your holy temple
by the splendor of these candles
may happily reach the light of your glory.
Through Christ our Lord.
Amen.
Procession:
Deacon: Let us go in peace to meet the Lord.
All: In the name of Christ.
Amen.
— or —
Deacon: Let us go forth in peace.
All: In the name of Christ.
Amen.
Option 1:
Antiphon: A light for revelation to the Gentiles and the glory of your people Israel.
— or —
Antiphon: Lumen ad revelationem gentium, et gloriam plebis tuæ Israel. [Graduale Romanum, p.540], [Gregorian Missal, p.608], [Graduale simplex, p.259]
Lord, now let your servant go in peace,
in accordance with your word.
Antiphon
For my eyes have seen your salvation.
Antiphon
Which you have prepared in the sight of all peoples.
Antiphon
Option 2:
Antiphon:
Sion, adorn your bridal chamber and welcome Christ the King;
take Mary in your arms, who is the gate of heaven,
for she herself is carrying the King of glory and new light.
A Virgin she remains, though bringing in her hands the Son before the morning star begotten,
whom Simeon, taking in his arms announced to the peoples
as Lord of life and death and Savior of the world.
Adorna thalamum tuum, Sion, et suscipe Regem Christum: amplectere Mariam quæ est cælestis porta: ipsa enim portat Regem gloriæ novi luminis: subsistit Virgo adducens manibus Filium ante luciferum: quem accipiens Simeon in ulnas suas prædicavit populis Dominum eum esse vitæ et mortis, et Salvatorem mundi. [Graduale Romanum, p.540], [Gregorian Missal, p.609]
Responsum accepit Simeon a Spiritu Sancto, non visurum se mortem, nisi videret Christum Domini: et cum inducerent puerum in templim, accepit eum in ulnas suas, et benedixit Deum, et dixit: Nunc dimittis, Domine, servum tuum in pace. Luke 2:26-29 [Graduale Romanum, p.541], [Gregorian Missal, p.610]
Obtulerunt pro eo Domino par turturum, aut duos pullos columbarum: Sicut scriptum est in lege Domini.
Vs. Postquam autem impleti sunt dies purgationis Mariæ, secundum legem Moysi, tulerunt Iesum in Ierusalem, ut sisterent eum Domino.
Sicut scriptum est in lege Domini. Luke 2:24, 23, 22
[Graduale Romanum, p.542], [Gregorian Missal, p.611]
Obtulerunt pro eo Domino par turturum, aut duos pullos columbarum.
[Graduale simplex, p.260]
Verses of Psalm 24 can also be sung between repetitions of the antiphon.
Mass
Entrance Antiphon [Introit]:
Your merciful love, O God,
we have received in the midst of your temple.
Your praise, O God, like your name,
reaches to the ends of the earth;
your right hand is filled with saving justice. Psalm 48:10-11 [Roman Missal]
Suscepimus Deus, misericordiam tuam in medio templi tui: secundum nomen tuum Dues, ita et laus tua in fines terræ: iustitia plena est dextera tua.
Ps. Magnus Dominus, et laudablis nimis: in civitate Dei, in monte sancto eius. Psalm 48:10-11, 2
[Graduale Romanum, p.543], [Gregorian Missal, p.492]
Ecce advenit dominator Dominus: et regnum in manu eius, et potestas, et imperium.
Ps. Deus, iudicium tuum regida: et iustitiam tuam filio regis.
Ecce advenit …
Ps. Reges Tharsis et insulæ munera offerent: reges Arabum et Saba dona adducent.
Ecce advenit …
Ps. Et adorabunt eum mones reges terræ: omnes gentes servient ei.
Ecce advenit … Mal 3:1; I Chron 19:12; Ps 72:1, 10-11
[Graduale Romanum, p.56], [Gregorian Missal, p.217]
Suscepimus, Deus, miserciordiam tuam, in medio templi tui. [Graduale simplex, p.261]
Verses of Psalm 48 can also be sung between repetitions of the antiphon.
The Penitential Act is omitted; continue with the Gloria.
Collect:
Al- mighty ever-living God,
we humbly implore your majes- ty
that, just as your Only Begotten Son
was presented on this day in the Temple
in the substance of our flesh,
so, by your grace,
we may be presented to you with minds made pure.
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:
- Malachi 3:1-4 [And the Lord, whom you seek, will suddenly come to His temple. /v.1]
- Psalm 24:7 / 8 / 9 / 10 [R. Who is the king of glory? It is the Lord. v.8]
- Hebrews 2:14-18 [He had to be made like His brethren in all things. /v.17]
- Gospel Verse: Luke 2:32 [A light of revelation to the Gentiles and glory for your people Israel.]
- Luke 2:22-40 [For mine eyes have seen Thy salvation. /v.30]
Offertory Antiphon:
Grace has been poured out on your lips; therefore, God has blessed you for ever, world without end. Psalm 45:3
Verses of Psalm 45 can also be sung between repetitions of the antiphon.
Diffusa est gratia in labiis tuis: propterea benedixit te Deus in æternum, et in sæculum sæculi. [Graduale Romanum, p.421]
Diffusa est gratia in labiis tuis: propterea benedixit te Deus in æternum, et in sæculum sæculi. [Gregorian Missal, p.613]
Diffusa est gratia in labiis tuis: propterea benedixit te Deus in æternum. [Graduale simplex, p.321]
Verses of Psalm 45 can also be sung between repetitions of the antiphon.
Prayer over the Offerings:
May the offering made with exultation by your Church
be pleasing to you, O Lord, we pray,
for you willed that your Only Begotten Son
be offered to you for the life of the world
as the Lamb with-out blemish.
Who lives and reigns for ev-er and ev-er. A-men.
Preface of the Presentation of the Lord: [The mystery of the Presentation of the Lord]
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 your co-eternal Son was presented on this day in the Temple
and revealed by the Spirit
as the glory of Israel and Light of the nations.
And so, we, too, go forth, rejoicing to encounter your Salvation,
and with the Angels and Saints
praise you, as without end we acclaim:
Holy, Holy, Holy Lord God of hosts…
Communion Antiphon:
My eyes have seen your salvation,
which you prepared in the sight of all peoples. Luke 2:30-31 [Roman Missal]
Responsum accepit Simeona Spiritu Sancto, non visurum se mortem, nisi videret Christum Domini. [Graduale Romanum, p.544]
Luke 2:29, 30-31, 32 and Psalm 48:2, 3ab, 3cd, 4, 9, 10, 11, 12, 15 can also be sung between repetitions of this antiphon.
Responsum accepit Simeona Spiritu Sancto, non visurum se mortem, nisi videret Christum Domini. [Gregorian Missal, p.614]
Responsum accepit Simeona Spiritu Sancto, non visurum se mortem, nisi videret Dominum. [Graduale simplex, p.265]
Verses of Canticum Simeonis or Psalm 34 can also be sung between repetitions of the antiphon.
Prayer after Communion:
By these holy gifts which we have received, O Lord,
bring your grace to perfection within us,
and, as you fulfilled Simeon's expectation
that he would not see death
until he had been privileged to welcome the Christ,
so may we, going forth to meet the Lord,
obtain the gift of e- ter-nal life.
Through Christ our Lord. A-men.
Prayer over the People: [15.]
Hasten to the aid of your faithful people
who call upon you, O Lord, we pray,
and graciously give strength in their human weakness,
so that, being dedicated to you in complete sincerity,
they may find gladness in your remedies
both now and in the life to come.
And may the blessing of almighty God,
the Father, and the Son, + and the Holy Spirit,
come down on you and remain with you for ever.
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, Prayer after Communion and Prayer over the People 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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