Liturgical Information
The Solemnity of the Nativity of Saint John the Baptist [At the Mass during the Day]
Liturgical Color: White
Themes: light, preparation, joy, repentence, Lamb of God
Entrance Antiphon [Introit]:
A man was sent from God, whose name was John.
He came to testify to the light,
to prepare a people fit for the Lord. John 1:6-7; Luke 1:17 [Roman Missal]
De ventre matris meæ vocavit me Dominus nomine meo: et posuit os meum ut gladium acutum: sub tegumento manus suæ protexit me, posuit me quasi sagitam electam.
Ps. Bonum est confiteri Domino: et psallere nomini tuo, Altissime. [Graduale Romanum, p.570]
De ventre matris meæ vocavit me Dominus nomine meo: et posuit os meum ut gladium acutum: sub tegumento manus suæ protexit me, posuit me quasi sagitam electam.
Ps. Bonum est confiteri Domino: et psallere nomini tuo, Altissime. [Gregorian Missal, p.631/687]
Dominus ab utero vocavit me, de ventre matris meæ recordatus est nominis mei. [Graduale simplex, pp.275]
Psalm 92, verses 1-9
Collect:
O God, who raised up Saint John the Baptist
to make ready a nation fit for Christ the Lord,
give your people, we pray,
the grace of spiritual joys
and direct the hearts of all the faithful
into the way of salva- tion and peace.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Ho-ly Spirit,
God, for ev-er and ev-er.
A-men.
Lectionary Readings:
- Isaiah 49:1-6 [I will make you a light of the nations. /v.6]
- Psalm 139:1-3 / 13-14 / 14-15 [R. I praise you for I am wonderfully made. v.14a]
- Acts of the Apostles 13:22-26 [John had proclaimed before His coming a baptism of repentence. /v.24]
- Gospel Verse: see Luke 1:76 [You, child, will be called prophet of the Most High, for you will go before the Lord to prepare his way.]
- Luke 1:57-66,80 [He shall be called John. /v.60]
Offertory Antiphon:
The righteous man shall flourish like the palm tree; he shall grow up like a cedar of Lebanon. Psalm 92:13
Iustus ut palma florebit: sicut cedrus, quæ in Libano est, multiplicabitur. [Graduale Romanum, p.497]
Iustus ut palma florebit: sicut cedrus, quæ in Libano est, multiplicabitur. [Gregorian Missal, p.633/690]
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:
We place these offerings on your altar, O Lord,
to celebrate with fitting honor the nativity of him
who both foretold the coming of the world's Savior
and pointed him out when he came.
Who lives and reigns for ev-er and ev-er. 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 yo uconstantly on earth,
and before your majesty
without end we acclaim:
Holy, Holy, Holy Lord God of hosts…
Communion Antiphon:
Through the tender mercy of our God,
the Dawn from on high will visit us. Luke 1:78 [Roman Missal]
Tu puer propheta Altissimi vocaberis: præibis ante Dominum parare vias eius. Luke 1:76 [Graduale Romanum, p.572]
The Benedictus [Lk 1:68-79] can also be sung between repetitions of this antiphon.
Tu puer propheta Altissimi vocaberis: præibis ante Dominum parare vias eius. Luke 1:76 [Gregorian Missal, p.635/692]
Tu puer propheta Altissimi vocaberis: præibis ante Dominum parare vias eius. [Graduale simplex, pp.280]
Canticle of Zachariah
Prayer after Communion:
Hav-ing feasted at the banquet of the heavenly Lamb,
we pray, O Lord,
that, finding joy in the nativity of Saint John the Bap- tist,
your Church may know as the author of her rebirth
the Christ whose coming John fore-told.
Who lives and reigns for ev-er and ev-er. 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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