Liturgical Information
The First Sunday of Advent (A)
Liturgical Color: Violet [Note: The color blue is not an authorized liturgical color in the United States.
Its unfortunate occurrence during the season of Advent or for Marian feasts is not legitimate.]
Themes & Motives: waiting, trust, charity, hope, promise, light/dark, Second Coming, vigilance, urgency
Introit:
To you, my God, I lift my soul, I trust in you; let me never come to shame.
Do not let my enemies laugh at me.
No one who waits for you is ever put to shame. (Psalm 24:1-3)
Opening Prayer:
All-powerful God,
increase our strength of will for doing good
that Christ may find an eager welcome at his coming
and call us to his side in the kingdom of heaven,
where he lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Lectionary Readings:
- Isaiah 2:1-5 [They will hammer their swords into plowshares. /v.4]
- Psalm 122:1-2 / 3-4 / 4-5 / 6-7 / 8-9 [R. I rejoiced when I heard them say, let us go to the house of the Lord. /v.1]
- Romans 13:11-14 [It is already the hour for you to awaken from sleep. /v.11]
- Gospel Verse: Psalm 85:8 [Lord, let us see your kindness, and grant us your salvation.]
- Matthew 24:37-44 [The Son of Man is coming at an hour when you do not think He will. /v.44]
Offertory Antiphon: **
To you, I lift up my soul, O Lord, my God.
In you I trust; let me not be put to shame,
let not my enemies exult over me.
No one who waits for you shall be put to shame.
Verses of Psalm 25 can also be sung between repetitions of the antiphon.
Prayer over the Gifts:
Father,
from all you give us
we present this bread and wine.
As we serve you now,
accept our offering
and sustain us with your promise of eternal life.
Grant this through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Preface of Advent I: [The Two Comings of Christ]
Father, all-powerful and ever-living God,
we do well always and everywhere to give you thanks
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
When he humbled himself to come among us as a man,
he fulfilled the plan you formed long ago
and opened for us the way to salvation.
Now we watch for the day,
hoping that the salvation promised us will be ours
when Christ our Lord will come again in his glory.
And so, with all the choirs of angels in heaven
we proclaim your glory
and join in their unending hymn of praise:
Holy, holy, holy Lord...
Communion Antiphon:
The Lord will shower his gifts, and our land will yield its fruit. (Psalm 84:13)
Prayer after Communion:
Father,
may our communion teach us to love heaven.
May its promise and hope guide our way on earth.
We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Solemn Blessing:
You believe that the Son of God once came to us;
you look for him to come again.
May his coming bring you the light of his holiness
and his blessing bring you freedom. Amen.
May God make you steadfast in faith,
joyful in hope, and untiring in love
all the days of your life. Amen.
You rejoice that our Redeemer came to live with us as man.
When he comes again in glory,
may he reward you with endless life. Amen.
** An official, approved English translation of the Offertory Antiphon has never been published.
The offertory antiphon used here is cited in Latin in the Graduale Romanum.
The English is from the New American Bible, a Scripture translation approved for liturgical use in the United States.
The English translation of the Introit, Opening Prayer, Psalm Refrain, Gospel Verse, Prayer over the Gifts, Preface, Communion Antiphon, Prayer after Communion, and Solemn Blessing from The Roman Missal, © Copyright 1973, International Committee on English in the Liturgy, Inc. 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.
|
Back to Advent (Year A)