Liturgical Information
The First Sunday of Advent (C)

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 25:1-3 [Roman Missal (Sacramentary)]

Ad te levavi animam meam: Deus meus in te confido, non erubescam: necque irrideant me inimici mei: etenim universi qui te exspectant, non confundentur.
Ps. Vias tuas, Domine, demonstra mihi: et semitas tuas edoce me. [Graduale Romanum, p.15]

Ad te levavi animam meam: Deus meus in te confido, non erubescam: necque irrideant me inimici mei: etenim universi qui te exspectant, non confundentur.
Ps. Vias tuas, Domine, demonstra mihi: et semitas tuas edoce me. [Gregorian Missal, p.165]

Choose one Antiphona ad introitum and Psalmus from either of the two Masses for Advent [Graduale simplex, pp.53-63]

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:

• Jeremiah 33:14-16 [I will cause a righteous Branch of David to spring forth. /v.15]
• Psalm 25:4-5 / 8-9 / 10,14 [R. To you, O Lord, I lift my soul. /v.1b]
• I Thessalonians 3:12 - 4:2 [May He establish your hearts unblamable in holiness at the coming of our Lord Jesus. /v.13]
• Gospel Verse: Psalm 85:8 [Show us, Lord, your love; and grant us your salvation.]
• Luke 21:25-28,34-36 [Your redemption is drawing near. /v.28]

Offertory Antiphon:
Unto you, O Lord, have I lifted up my soul; O my God, I trust in you, let me not be put to shame; do not allow my enemies to laugh at me; for nonw of those who are awaiting you will be disappointed.  Psalm 25:1-3 **
     Verses of  Psalm 25  can also be sung between repetitions of the antiphon.

Ad te Domine levavi animam meam: Deus meus, in te confido, non erubescam: necque irrideant me inimici mei: etenim universi qui te exspectant, non confundentur. [Graduale Romanum, p.17]

Ad te Domine levavi animam meam: Deus meus, in te confido, non erubescam: necque irrideant me inimici mei: etenim universi qui te exspectant, non confundentur. [Gregorian Missal, p.167]

Choose one Antiphona ad offertorium and Psalmus from either of the two Masses for Advent [Graduale simplex, pp.53-63]

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 85:13 [Roman Missal (Sacramentary)]

Dominus dabit benignitatem: et terra nostra dabit fructum suum.  Psalm 85:13 [Graduale Romanum, p.515]
     Psalm 85:2,3,4,5,7,8,10,11,12 can also be sung between repetitions of this antiphon.

Dominus dabit benignitatem: et terra nostra dabit fructum suum.  Psalm 85:13 [Gregorian Missal, p.595]

Choose one Antiphona ad communionem and Psalmus from either of the two Masses for Advent [Graduale simplex, pp.53-63]

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 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, and Prayer after Communion 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.