Silent Night: A Spiritual Affirmation

All: In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. We resolve to be poor, simple, meek, humble, to love being despised and to love one another with great charity. Leader: Fear the Lord and give God honour, for the hour of God’s Judgement has come; Let us adore God, who made heaven and earth, the sea and the springs of water.

All: Great and wonderful are your works, O Lord God Almighty. Just and true are all your ways, O King of ages. Who shall not fear you, O Lord?And who shall not magnify your name? For you alone are good and merciful.

Kneel and sing: We greet you, Word made Flesh, We greet you, the Son of the Virgin, We greet you, O Jesus Christ, We ask you to be all for us.

Please stand Saint Michael All:We greet you Saint Michael,you are a mighty prince,you are our guardian,we ask you to pray to God for us. Angels and Saints All:Honour and glory to the Angels and Saints who stand before the Lord

Saint George Preca All:We salute you George Preca. You who are our guide. You lived the Gospel truth saint for all the world. We salute you George Preca.Pray for us this day. Blessed Virgin Mary All:We greet you Holy MaryYou are full of graceYou are a Virgin MotherWe ask you to pray Christ for us.

Leader:The Word of God became Flesh and made us his brothers. All:And united us together in the bond of love. Leader:Let us lift up our hands to the true and living God and let us sing the words that our Lord taught us. All:Our Father...

Leader: Holy Mother Mary All: Pray for us Leader: Holy John the Baptist All: Pray for us Leader: Holy Michael the Archangel All: Keep us in the peace of Christ Leader: Saint George Preca All: Pray for us

Silent night, Holy nightAll is calm, all is brightRound yon virgin, mother and childHoly infant, tender and mildSleep in heavenly peace,Sleep in heavenly peace. Silent Night

Silent night, Holy nightSon of God, love's pure lightRadiant beams from thy holy faceWith the dawn of redeeming grace,Jesus, Lord at thy birthJesus, Lord at thy birth. Silent Night

Silent night, Holy nightShepherds quake, at the sightGlories stream from heaven aboveHeavenly, hosts sing Hallelujah.Christ the Savior is born,Christ the Savior is born. Silent Night Used With Permission, Word Of Life International - License No 2095

First Reading Hebrews 1:1-14 Reader: These are verses 1-14 from chapter 1 from the letter to the Hebrews All: Blessed be Jesus Christ who died and rose up again from the dead for our justification.

All:Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel,For he has visited his people, he has come to their rescue.And he has raised up for us a power of salvation,in the house of his servant David.Even as he proclaimed,by the mouths of his holy prophets from ancient times. Benedictus

All:That he would save us from our enemies,and from the hands of all who hate us.Thus he shows mercy to our ancestors,thus he remembers his holy covenant,the oath that he swore to our father Abraham.That he would grant us, free from fear,to be delivered from the hands of our enemies.To serve him in holiness and virtue,in his presence, all our days. Benedictus

All:And you little child, you shall be called the prophet of the Most High,for you will go before the Lord to prepare the way for him.To give his people knowledge of salvation,through the forgiveness of their sins.This by the tender mercy of our God,who from on high will bring the rising sun to visit us. Benedictus

All:To give light to those who live in darknessand the shadow of death,and to guide our feet into the way of peace.Glory be to the Father and to the Sonand to the Holy Spirit.As it was in the beginning is now and ever shall be,world without end. Amen. Benedictus

Gospel Luke 2:1-20 Reader: These are verses 1- 20 from chapter 2 from the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to St Luke All: Praised be our Lord Jesus Christ

Leader: Let us adore our Divine Master, JesusChrist, the only Son of the living God and the Virgin Mother Mary and while praising him and giving Him glory, we pray that we may receive his spirit. All kneel

A bow is made at each invocation Leader: Christ master of Prayer. All: Grant us the spirit of Prayer, O Christ Jesus. Leader: Christ, master of Meekness All: Grant us the spirit of Meekness, O Christ Jesus. Leader: Christ, master of Patience. All: Grant us the spirit of Patience, O Christ Jesus.

Leader: Christ, master of Silence All: Grant us the spirit of Silence, O Christ Jesus. Leader: Christ, master of Love. All: Grant us the spirit of Love towards God and our neighbour, O Christ Jesus. Leader: Christ, master of Obedience. All: Grant us the spirit of Obedience, O Christ Jesus.

Leader: Christ, master of Innocence. All: Grant us the spirit of Penance, O Christ Jesus. Leader: Christ, master of Simplicity All: Grant us the spirit of Simplicity,O Christ Jesus. Leader: Christ, master of Prudence All: Grant us the spirit of Prudence,O Christ Jesus.

Leader: Christ, master of Fortitude All: Grant us the spirit of Fortitude, O Christ Jesus. Leader: Christ, master of Mercy. All: Grant us the spirit of Mercy, O Christ Jesus. Leader: Christ, master of Poverty All: Grant us the spirit of Poverty,O Christ Jesus.

Leader: Christ, master of Holiness All: Grant us the spirit of Mortification,O Christ Jesus. Leader: Christ, master of Zeal. All: Grant us the spirit of Zeal,O Christ Jesus.

Leader: This (pointing to the image of the infant Jesus) is Jesus Christ the Nazarene, King of the Jews, who for us and for our salvation came into this world as the only master of all people and Saviour of all who obey him. All: We gratefully thank him in spirit and in truth and without hesitation, acknowledge him before all people in all his teaching. Please Stand

Leader: Let us pray for our Holy Father, Pope Francis, head of all the Church. All:We greet you, Holy Father; We greet you, the Rock of Faith, We greet you the Porter of Heaven, And we ask the Lord to be with you.

Leader: Dearly beloved let us love one another, for love is of God, and everyone that loves is of God and knows God. [1 John. 4:7] All: O Jesus! Born of Virgin bright, Immortal glory be to you; Praise to the Father infinite, And Holy Spirit eternally. Amen. One God, One Spirit, One Faith, One Baptism and One Heart.

Leader: Holy Trinity, guide us by your power in the way of truth and justice. God the Father, guide our mindslest they harbour unsound teaching. God the Son, guide our lipslest by word they offend our neighbour. God the Holy Spirit, guide our heartslest they conform to the sentiments of the world. All: Amen.

Leader: May the blessing of Jesus Christ and of the Virgin Mary come down upon us and increase in us faith, hope and charity. All: Amen. Sign of Peace Leader: May the Peace of our Lord Jesus Christ dwell always in our hearts. All: Amen.

Leader: We thank you God of our hearts All: Because you have created everything and loved us with everlasting love. Leader: Blessed be Jesus Christ All: And blessed be the Virgin Mary. God the Father, we offer you the divine wounds of Christ your Son, for the intention of the Superior General. Amen.

O Come All Ye Faithful O Come All Ye Faithful, Joyful and triumphant,O come ye, O come ye to Bethlehem.Come and behold Him, Born the King of Angels; O come, let us adore Him,O come, let us adore Him,O come, let us adore Him, Christ the Lord.

God of God,Light of light.Lo! he abhors not the Virgin’s womb;Very God, Begotten not created; O come, let us adore Him,O come, let us adore Him,O come, let us adore Him,Christ the Lord.

Sing, choirs of angels, Sing in exultation;Sing, all ye citizens of heaven above!Glory to God, In the highest; O come, let us adore Him,O come, let us adore Him,O come, let us adore Him,Christ the Lord.

Yea, Lord, we greet Thee, Born this happy morning;Jesus, to Thee be glory giv’n;Word of the Father, Now in flesh appearing; O come, let us adore Him,O come, let us adore Him,O come, let us adore Him,Christ the Lord. Used With Permission, Word Of Life International - License No 2095

Silent Night: A Spiritual Affirmation