Liturgical Leaflet for an Active Participation in the Celebration of the Eucharist

16 December 2020 CHRISTMAS NOVENA ă First Day Year B

Let Us Open Our Hearts to the Lord!

O nce again, our centuries-long tradition of preparing for Christ-

mas through the Simbang Gabi brings us together in great
throngs. On this first day of our Christmas Novena, we want to tell
Jesus how much we long for his coming despite the COVID-19 restrictions.
The decorations around us, our singing and our smiles create a joyful at-
mosphere of expectation. But what matters most is the disposition of our
hearts – our desire to welcome Jesus and make him the center of our life; the
pledge to love him not only in words but also in deeds.
In this Eucharist, let us pray to the Lord for the grace of a persevering and
fruitful attendance from the beginning to the end of this Novena. And may
our hearts be ever more eager to welcome the Lord in our midst.

reason for our hope, ther, you take away the sins of
peace, and joy. Christ, the world, have mercy on us;
have mercy! you take away the sins of the
Entrance Antiphon All –Christ, have mercy! world, receive our prayer; you
(To be recited only when no P –Lord Jesus, you reconcile are seated at the right hand of
Entrance Hymn is sung.) us with the Father and the Father, have mercy on us.
Behold, the Lord will come with one another. Lord, For you alone are the Holy
descending with splendor to visit have mercy! One, you alone are the Lord,
his people with peace, and he will All –Lord, have mercy! you alone are the Most High,
bestow on them eternal life. Jesus Christ, with the Holy
P –May almighty God have
Greeting mercy on us, forgive us our Spirit, in the glory of God the
P –May the Lord of peace, sins and bring us to everlast- Father. Amen!
love and hope be with you all! ing life.
All –And with your spirit! All – Amen! Collect (Opening Prayer)
Gloria P –May your grace, almighty
Penitential Act God, always go before us and
P –As we begin these No- All– Glory to God in the follow after, so that we, who
vena Masses in preparation highest, and on earth peace await with heartfelt desire the
for Christmas, let us ask the to people of good will. We coming of your Only Begot-
Lord to purify our hearts and praise you, we bless you, we ten Son, may receive your
dispose them to welcome Him adore you, we glorify you, help both now and in the life
in our lives. (Pause) we give you thanks for your to come.
P –Lord Jesus, you came to great glory, Lord God, heav- Through our Lord, Jesus
fulfill the promises of the enly King, O God, almighty Christ, your Son, who lives
prophets of old. Lord, Father. and reigns with you in the
have mercy! Lord Jesus Christ, Only unity of the Holy Spirit, one
All – Lord, have mercy! Begotten Son, Lord God, God for ever and ever.
P –Lord Jesus, you are the Lamb of God, Son of the Fa- All – Amen!

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 * May God have pity on us C –For the universal Church:
and bless us; may he let his face May she respond to the call of
shine upon us. So may your the Lord to renew herself in
ways be known upon earth; the light of the Gospel so as
among all nations, your salva- to become a source of inspi-
1st Reading Is 56:1-3.6-8 tion. R.
God has a plan of salvation ration to all mankind. Let us
which includes both the Jews * May the nations be glad pray! R.
and exult because you rule the C – For the Holy Father, our
and the pagans. But for this peoples in equity; the nations
plan to become a reality, the on the earth you guide. R. Bishop, and all our spiritual
basic condition to be fulfilled leaders: Like the prophets of
by all is to “observe what is * The earth has yielded its old, may they constantly re-
fruits; God, our God, has mind us of the priorities that
right and do what is just.” blessed us. May God bless us,
R –A proclamation from the and may all the ends of the really matter. Let us pray! R.
Book of the Prophet Isa- earth fear him! R. C –For all the Filipinos and
iah Filipinas who are working
Thus says the Lord: Ob- Gospel Acclamation abroad: May they celebrate
serve what is right, do what is All –Alleluia! Alleluia! this Novena with the same
just; for my salvation is about Behold, the king will fervor they had when they
to come, my justice, about to come, the Lord of earth: were in their homeland. Let
be revealed. Happy is the man and he will set us free. us pray! R.
who does this, the son of man Alleluia! Alleluia! C –For all those who are un-
who holds to it; who keeps the employed, homeless, sick, or
Sabbath free from profana- Gospel Jn 5:33-36
suffering in any way: May
tion, and his hand from any Jesus is the promised Mes- the beginning of the Simbang
evildoing. siah sent by the Father. Both Gabi arouse in them a well-
Let not the foreigner say, John the Baptist and the mir- grounded hope for better
when he would join himself to acles Jesus himself performs days. Let us pray! R.
the Lord, “The Lord will sure- give witness to this.
ly exclude me from his people.” C –For the Filipino families,
P –The Lord be with you! especially the ones that are
The foreigners who join All –And with your spirit!
themselves to the Lord, minis- undergoing trials of various
tering to him, loving the name P – A proclamation from the kinds: May this Christmas
of the Lord, and becoming his holy Gospel according to Novena be for them a source
servants – all who keep the John of healing and strength. Let us
Sabbath free from profana- All – Glory to you, O Lord! pray! R.
tion and hold to my covenant, Jesus said to the Jews: C –For our community: May
them I will bring to my holy “You sent emissaries to John,
mountain and make joyful in this Novena be for all its mem-
and he testified to the truth. I bers an opportunity to come
my house of prayer; their ho- do not accept testimony from a
locausts and sacrifices will be closer to the Lord and redis-
human being, but I say this so cover the preciousness of our
acceptable on my altar, for my that you may be saved. He was
house shall be called a house of faith. Let us pray! R.
a burning and shining lamp,
prayer for all peoples. and for a while you were con- C –Let us pray in silence for
Thus says the Lord God, tent to rejoice in his light. our personal intentions.
who gathers the dispersed of But I have testimony great- (Pause)
Israel: Others will I gather er than John’s. The works that Let us pray! R.
to him besides those already the Father gave me to accom-
gathered. plish, these works that I per-
P –Lord Jesus Christ, grant
form testify on my behalf that that this Novena may be, for
The Word of the Lord! all of us, a moment of deep
All – Thanks be to God! the Father has sent me.”
spiritual renewal. May we
Responsorial Psalm Ps 67
The Gospel of the Lord! prepare ourselves persever-
All – Praise to you, Lord Jesus ingly for the commemoration
R – “O God, let all the nations Christ! of your Birthday.You who
praise you!” live and reign for ever and
Homily ever.
Prayer of the Faithful All –Amen!
P –As we begin this Christ-
mas Novena, let us present
our petitions to the Lord with
hearts full of hope and trust,
saying: Preparation of the Gifts
All –Come, Lord Jesus, we P –Pray, brethren . . .
need you! All –May the Lord accept the
16 December 2020
sacrifice at your hands, for the that, through our partaking in
praise and glory of his name, this mystery, you may teach
for our good and the good of all us to judge wisely the things
his holy Church. of earth and hold firm to the
All – Our Father . . . things of heaven.
Prayer over the Offerings Through Christ our Lord.
P –Deliver us, Lord . . .
P –Be pleased, O Lord, with All – For the kingdom, the All – Amen!
our humble prayers and of- power, and the glory are
ferings, and, since we have yours, now and for ever.
no merits to plead our cause,
come, we pray, to our rescue Sign of Peace
with the protection of your
mercy. P –The Lord be with you.
Breaking of the Bread All – And with your spirit!
Through Christ our Lord.
All – Amen! All – Lamb of God, you take P –Bow your heads and
away the sins of world: have pray for God’s blessing.
Preface of Advent II mercy on us. (2x) (Pause)
P –The Lord be with you! Lamb of God, you take
away the sins of the world: –You rejoice at the ap-
All –And with your spirit! proaching commemo-
P –Lift up your hearts! grant us peace.
ration of Christ’s birth.
All –We lift them up to the When he comes again in
Lord! Communion
glory, may he reward you
P –Let us give thanks to the P –Behold the Lamb of God, with endless life.
Lord our God! behold him who takes away the All –Amen!
All –It is right and just! sins of the world. Blessed are
those called to the Supper of P –May God make you
P –It is truly right and just, steadfast in faith, joyful
our duty and our salvation, al- the Lamb.
All – Lord, I am not worthy in hope, and untiring in
ways and everywhere to give that you should enter under love all the days of your
you thanks, Lord, holy Father, my roof, but only say the life.
almighty and eternal God, word and my soul shall be All – Amen!
through Christ our Lord. healed. P –May God reward you for
For all the oracles of the the sacrifice you made
prophets foretold him, the Communion Antiphon to participate in this first
Virgin Mother longed for him (To be recited only when no day of our Novena. May
with love beyond all telling, Communion Hymn is sung.) He enable you to perse-
John the Baptist sang of his vere to the end.
coming and proclaimed his We await a savior, the
Lord Jesus Christ, who will All – Amen!
presence when he came.
It is by his gift that already change our mortal bodies, to P –May almighty God bless
we rejoice at the mystery of conform with his glorified you: the Father, and the
his Nativity, so that he may body. Son, and the Holy Spirit.
find us watchful in prayer and All – Amen!
exultant in his praise. Prayer after Communion P –Go and bring the peace of
And so, with Angels and P –Replenished by the food Christ to your family and
Archangels, with Thrones and of spiritual nourishment, we neighbors.
Dominions, and with all the humbly beseech you, O Lord, All –Thanks be to God!
hosts and Powers of heaven,
we sing the hymn of your glo-
ry, as without end we acclaim: Begin your preparation for CHRISTMAS
All –Holy, holy, holy Lord, God
of hosts. Heaven and earth are with the heartwarming pamphlet
full of your glory. Hosanna in
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the name of the Lord. Hosanna • The Christmas story in comics
in the highest! • Christmas Trivia
• An extensive collection
Memorial Acclamation
of Christmas Carols
P –The mystery of faith!
All – When we eat this Bread Available at:
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Advent/Christmas Trivia
The Advent Wreath
T he Advent Wreath we use in our churches and
homes originated in Northern Europe several
centuries ago and has a great wealth of meaning. It is
the first half. The progressive lighting of the candles
(a new one every Sunday) symbolizes the re-living of
the expectation and hope of the period that preceded
made up of several evergreens, which abound in that the first coming of our Lord, as well as our constant
part of the globe: laurel, pine, holly, yew and cedar, preparation for his second coming.
together with pine cones, nuts and seedpods. In Where the Advent Wreath is used in private
addition to the evergreens, the Advent Wreath homes, a special prayer is recited by the head of
includes also four candles: three purple the family before the lighting of each new
and one pink. candle, which is done by the youngest
Each of the components of the member of the family.
Wreath has a specific meaning. Its In some places, on Christmas
circular shape (without beginning or Eve, people light in the center of the
end) of evergreens signifies God’s Wreath a white candle which symbol-
eternity as well as the new life izes Jesus Christ. A variation of this
brought by Jesus Christ. The four consists in replacing the four colored
candles represent the four weeks of candles with four white ones (represent-
Advent. Three of these candles are ing Jesus) that are lit for the first time
purple to signify the preparatory sacrifices, during the Midnight Mass, and then every
prayers, and good works undertaken in this day of the Christmas period. At this stage,
period. The pink candle represents the rejoicing obviously, the “Advent Wreath” has evolved into the
that characterizes the Third Sunday of Advent since the “Christmas Wreath” with its own specific meaning of
preparation for Christmas has already gone beyond “fulfillment” rather than expectation.

JESUS, THE “HEART” OF SIMBANG GABI

C hristmas has already been in the air for more
than one month now, but in these past days
it has taken on a more pronounced emphasis.
in the days when John the Baptizer started his
mission along the banks of the Jordan River.
People from all walks of life were flocking to
We see Christmas decorations just about any- him with unusual enthusiasm and expectation.
where: supermarkets, shop windows, offices, Many even asked to be baptized, but their lives
streets, houses and, of course, churches. We were hardly changed. Jesus tried to bring people
hear Christmas carols at any time of the day and to reflect on who John really was and what was
even well into the night. the meaning of what he was saying and doing.
This all-pervasive external “Christmas atmo- “John testified to the truth . . . he was a burning
sphere” changes and moves people. It makes and shining lamp.” (See today’s Gospel.) John’s
them “compulsive shoppers” and frantic com- testimony was aimed at introducing Jesus to
municators who flood the post offices (and now the people. John was the lamp ready to be for-
the Internet!) with tons of greetings. It brings gotten about and put aside as soon as the Son
to churches and chapels greater crowds than of Justice – the Messiah – would appear. How
usual, including so many who seldom remember many understood that?
to pray or go to Mass during the rest of the year! What is the meaning and the message of
. . . Such is the common phenomenon in the what we do in this pre-Christmas period? Is it just
Philippines every year. It is part of our culture. keeping a tradition? Is it just a fad or curiosity,
This year is no exception, in spite of the serious or just our penchant for being together and to
economic and health crisis. celebrate?
A question is unavoidable: How much of In the midst of so many decorations, singing,
these activities and flurry of initiatives is genu- buying, and selling, . . . and even in the midst of
ine, and how much is just “palabas”? How much our cramming the churches and adjoining patios,
comes from the heart or reaches the heart? we run the risk of “getting lost.” We should re-
How much stops at the purse or comes from member that the “core” of the matter is JESUS
the desire to be “in,” to do what everybody else CHRIST – his Birth, his Person, and his mission to
does without really reaching the “core” of what reveal to us the love of the Father and to give us
the Christmas Novena should be? the Holy Spirit. He comes for our sake: to save us
There is a danger that many Christians may and bring us to heaven. This is the essence. This
miss the essence of what the preparation for is what it should be for all of us. The rest is just
Christmas is meant to be. For many, it may be preparation or decoration.
pretty much like what was going on in Palestine Jess P. Balon

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