SECOND SUNDAY OF ADVENT Introduction: (Commentators (C-) read from the ambo and Lectors (L-) from the Pulpit. The prayers are to be read slowly, clearly and prayerfully. Be faithful to the text given and take note of the instructions given in brackets. Being spontaneous, could lead to wrong formation of words, thus giving the wrong meaning. Please take care, ours is an international community). C - Good afternoon and a hearty welcome to the celebration of the Holy Mass. May I kindly remind you to switch off your mobile phones to maintain the solemnity of our celebration. Today we celebrate the Second Sunday of Advent. (Pause) Dear brothers and sisters. John the Baptist appears in the desert proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. The prophet’s voice should awaken us from spiritual lethargy. Like the people who listen to him, we should get up on our feet and go to meet the Lord. (Pause) But first we have to look deep within us and realize that we are unprepared to meet him. The mountains of our pride and our sinfulness, the valleys of our preoccupation with the things of this world, make for an uneven path. We have to make ready a straight path for the Lord by renewal and conversion. (Pause) Kindly rise for the Opening Hymn. (After the Opening Hymn the Commentator reads the Entrance Antiphon saying): C- “All Together: O people of Sion, behold, the Lord will come to save the nations, and the Lord will make the glory of his voice heard in the joy of your heart.” Lighting of the Second Advent Candle The lighting of the second candle of the Advent wreath may be made with the following or similar prayer: Father, as we journey down this Advent road, we relight the candle of hope, and we light a candle of peace. Grant us the courage to make peace: peace in our hearts, peace in our homes, peace in our communities. Amen. (Soon after the opening prayer made by the priest, the commentator says): C - Kindly be seated for the introduction: Our 1st reading is from the Book of the Prophet Isaiah. From Isaiah’s Book of Consolation, we hear God’s words of comfort for his people exiled in Babylon. God has forgiven their sins and will bring them back to their homeland. The call to prepare the way of the Lord in the desert is echoed in today’s Gospel. (Lector bows to the main celebrant and then before the HolyScripture before he/she reads the first reading and concludes saying): L - The word of the Lord. Responsorial Psalm: (R) L – Lord, let us see your kindness, and grant us your salvation. (Commentator reads the introduction to the 2nd Reading): C - Our 2nd reading is from the Second Letter of Saint Peter. Peter pictures the coming of the “day of the Lord” and instructs us to prepare for this day by our repentance and by our holy and devout conduct. (Lector reads the 2nd Reading, and concludes saying): L - The word of the Lord. (All: Thanks be to God) C - Let us all rise for the Gospel Acclamation. (The Lector will also read the acclamation along with the people saying): L – “All together: Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight his paths: all flesh shall see the salvation of God.” (After the Gospel Reading and the acclamation (Alleluia), the Lector takes his/her seat; and only after the acclamation does the commentator invite the people to be seated saying): C - Kindly be seated for the Homily. Prayer of the Faithful (R): Lord, prepare us for the coming of your Son. L – For the Church, the people of God: Like John the Baptist who pointed out to Christ, may the Church point out with fresh vigor to the men and women of today that Jesus Christ is the Redeemer of humanity and the Lord of history. We pray: (R) L – For those who for a long time have stayed away from the sacrament of Reconciliation: May they experience the joy of Advent as the joy of conversion and the forgiveness of sins. We pray: (R) L – For consecrated men and women: May they prepare the way of the Lord, like John the Baptist, through their acts of service to our least brothers and sisters. We pray: (R) L – For our people: May we always look to Mary, whose Immaculate Conception we celebrate tomorrow, as our guide and model in continuing Christ’s mission of love and service especially in Asia. We pray: (R) L – Let us pray to Mother Mary for our mother Earth: May peoples everywhere contribute to make the earth a safe, fruitful, and beautiful home to live in. Hail Mary… (The Lector takes his/her seat after the priest has made the prayers and general intercessions. The commentator invites the people to be seated for the Offertory Hymn saying): C- Kindly be seated for the Offertory Hymn. (Commentator reads the Communion Antiphon after all the priests have received Holy Communion and starts to distribute communion (Body and Blood) to the Eucharistic Ministers and the Altar Servers saying): C – Communion Antiphon: “Jerusalem, arise and stand upon the heights, and behold the joy which comes to you from God.” (After the Holy Communion, and only when the priests have cleared the altar and returned the Blessed Sacrament to the Tabernacle and all the Eucharistic Ministers have gone to the Sacristy, the Commentator says): C - “Kindly kneel for the Anima Christi”. (Pause) Soul of Christ, make me holy. Body of Christ, be my salvation. Blood of Christ, let me drink your wine. Water flowing from the side of Christ, wash me clean. Passion of Christ, strengthen me. Kind Jesus, hear my prayer; Hide me within your wounds. And keep me close to You. Defend me from the evil enemy. Call me at my death to the fellowship of your saints, That I may sing your praise with them through all eternity. Amen. (After the Anima Christi/Novena the Commentator says): C – Kindly rise. (After the Concluding prayer, the Commentator says): C – Kindly be seated for the Announcements.
Posted on: Mon, 01 Dec 2014 05:22:15 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015