January 1, 2025
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Entrance Hymn: Sing of Mary, Meek and Lowly (Gather 778)
Sing of Mary meek and lowly,
Virgin mother pure and mild,
Sing of God’s own Son most holy,
Who became her little child.
Fairest child of fairest mother,
God the Lord who came to earth,
Word made flesh, our very brother,
Takes our nature by his birth.
Sing of Jesus, son of Mary,
In the home at Nazareth.
Toil and labor cannot weary
Love enduring unto death.
Constant was the love he gave her,
Though he went forth from her side,
Forth to preach, and heal, and suffer,
Till on Calvary he died.
Sing of Joseph, strong and gentle,
Nobly born of David’s house;
Just and upright man of labor,
Whom God chose as Mary’s spouse;
Chosen, too, as Jesus’ guardian,
Guiding him since infancy.
Holy child of holy parents,
Holy is their family.
Glory be to God the Father;
Glory be to God the Son;
Glory be to God the Spirit;
Glory to the Three in One.
From the heart of blessed Mary,
From all saints the song ascends,
And the church the strain reechoes
Unto earth’s remotest ends.
Text: Vss 1, 2, 4, Roland F. Palmer, 1891-1985; vs. 3 Omer Westendorf, 1916-1998. © 1984, World Library Publications Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE License #A-727305.
Scripture Readings (external link): Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God
Responsorial: Psalm 67
R: May God bless us in his mercy.
Preparation Hymn: O Little Town of Bethlehem (Gather 359)
O little town of Bethlehem,
How still we see thee lie!
Above thy deep and dreamless sleep
The silent stars go by;
Yet in the dark streets shineth
The everlasting Light;
The hopes and fears of all the years
Are met in thee tonight.
For Christ is born of Mary,
And gathered all above,
While mortals sleep, the angels keep
Their watch of wond’ring love.
O morning stars, together
Proclaim the holy birth!
And praises sing to God the King,
And peace to all on earth.
How silently, how silently,
The wondrous gift is giv’n!
So God imparts to human hearts
The blessings of his heav’n.
No ear may hear his coming,
But in this world of sin,
Where meek souls will receive him, still
The dear Christ enters in.
O holy Child of Bethlehem!
Descend to us we pray;
Cast out our sin and enter in,
Be born in us today.
We hear the Christmas angels
The great glad tidings tell;
O come to us, abide with us,
Our Lord Emmanuel!
Text: Phillips Brooks, 1835-1893 Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE License #A-727305.
Communion Hymn: Of the Father’s Love Begotten (Gather 374)
Of the Father’s love begotten,
Ere the worlds began to be,
He is Alpha and Omega,
He the source, the ending he,
Of the things that are, that have been,
And that future years shall see,
Evermore and evermore!
O that birth for ever blessed,
When the Virgin, full of grace,
By the Spirit blest conceiving,
Bore the Savior of our race;
And the Babe, the world’s Redeemer,
First revealed his sacred face,
Evermore and evermore!
Let the heights of heav’n adore him;
Angel hosts, his praises sing;
Pow’rs, dominions, bow before him,
And extol our God and King;
Let no tongue on earth be silent,
Ev’ry voice in concert ring,
Evermore and evermore!
Christ, to you with God the Father,
Spirit blest eternally,
Hymn and chant and high thanksgiving,
And unending praises be:
Honor, glory, and dominion,
And eternal victory,
Evermore and evermore!
Text: Corde natus ex Parentis; Aurelius Prudentius, 348-413; tr. by John M. Neale, 1818-1866 and Henry W. Baker, 1821-1877 Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE License #A-727305.
Concluding Hymn: Hail, Holy Queen Enthroned Above (Gather 784)
Hail, holy Queen enthroned above, O Maria.
Hail, Queen of mercy and of love, O Maria.
Triumph, all ye Cherubim,
Sing with us, ye Seraphim,
Heav’n and earth resound the hymn:
Salve, Salve, Salve, Regina.
The cause of joy to all below, O Maria.
The spring through which all graces flow, O Maria.
Angels, all your praises bring,
Earth and heaven, with us sing,
All creation echoing:
Salve, Salve, Salve, Regina.
O gentle, loving, holy one, O Maria.
The God of light became your Son, O Maria.
Triumph, all ye Cherubim,
Sing with us, ye Seraphim,
Heav’n and earth resound the hymn:
Salve, Salve, Salve, Regina.
Text: Salve, Regina, mater misericordia; c.1080; tr. Roman Hymnal, 1884; st. 2-3 adapt. by M. Owen Lee, CSB, b.1930. Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE License #A-727305.