FIRST SUNDAY OF ADVENT

OPENING Almighty God,

PRAYER strengthen the resolve of your faithful people
to prepare for the coming of your Christ
by works of justice and mercy,
so that when we go forth to meet him
he may call us to sit at his right hand
and possess the kingdom of heaven.
We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God for ever and ever.

ALTERNATIVE
OPENING YEAR A
God of majesty and power,
PRAYER amid the clamour of our violence
your Word of truth resounds;
upon a world made dark by sin
the Sun of Justice casts his dawning rays.
Keep your household watchful
and aware of the hour in which we live.
Hasten the advent of that day
when the sounds of war will be for ever stilled,
the darkness of evil scattered,
and all your children gathered into one.
We ask this through him whose coming is certain,
whose day draws near:
your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God for ever and ever.

YEAR B Rend the heavens and come down,

O God of all the ages!
Rouse us from sleep,
deliver us from our heedless ways,
and form us into a watchful people,
that, at the advent of your Son,
he may find us doing what is right,
mindful of all you command.
Grant this through him whose coming is certain,
whose day draws near:
your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God for ever and ever.

180 SEASON OF ADVENT

 YEAR C God our Saviour,
you utter a word of promise and hope
and hasten the day of justice and freedom,
yet we live in a world forgetful of your word,
our watchfulness dulled by the cares of life.
Keep us alert.
Make us attentive to your word,
ready to look on your Son
when he comes with power and great glory.
Make us holy and blameless,
ready to stand secure
when the day of his coming shakes the world with terror.
We ask this through him whose coming is certain,
whose day draws near:
your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God for ever and ever.

PRAYER Accept, Lord, our offerings,

OVER THE chosen from among your many gifts,
GIFTS and let this present expression of our reverence
become for us the pledge of eternal redemption.
We ask this through Jesus Christ our Lord.

EUCHARISTIC PRAYER: Preface of Advent I, page 450; interpolation for Eucharistic

Prayer III, page 607.

PRAYER Lord our God,

AFTER grant that in our journey through this passing world
COMMUNION we may learn from these mysteries
to cherish even now the things of heaven
and to cling to the treasures that never pass away.
We ask this in the name of Jesus, the Lord.

BLESSING: Solemn Blessing, page 797.

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 SECOND SUNDAY OF ADVENT

Almighty and merciful God,

OPENING
do not let our earthly concerns
PRAYER
keep us from hastening to meet your Son,
but teach us the heavenly wisdom
that makes us his true companions.
Grant this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God for ever and ever.

ALTERNATIVE
OPENING YEAR A
Your kingdom is at hand,
PRAYER O God of justice and peace;
you made John the Baptist its herald
to announce the coming of your Christ,
who baptises with the Holy Spirit and with fire.
Give us a spirit of repentance
to make us worthy of the kingdom.
Let complacency yield to conviction,
that in our day justice will flourish
and conflict give way
to the peace you bestow in Christ.
Grant this through him whose coming is certain,
whose day draws near:
your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God for ever and ever.

YEAR B With tender comfort and transforming power

you come into our midst,
O God of mercy and might.
Make ready a way in the wilderness,
clear a straight path in our hearts,
and form us into a repentant people,
that the advent of your Son
may find us watchful and eager for the glory he reveals.
We ask this through him whose coming is certain,
whose day draws near:
your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God for ever and ever.

182 SEASON OF ADVENT

 YEAR C God of our salvation,
you straighten the winding ways of our hearts
and smooth the paths made rough by sin.
Make our conduct blameless,
keep our hearts watchful in holiness,
and bring to perfection the good you have begun in us.
We ask this through him whose coming is certain,
whose day draws near:
your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God for ever and ever.

PRAYER Lord,
OVER THE in your goodness
GIFTS be pleased with our prayers and offerings
and, since we can merit nothing of ourselves,
come to our rescue with your mercy.
We ask this in the name of Jesus, the Lord.

EUCHARISTIC PRAYER : Preface of Advent I, page 450; interpolation for Eucharistic

Prayer III, page 607.

PRAYER Lord,
AFTER you have nourished us with the food of life.
COMMUNION Through our partaking of this sacrament
teach us to judge wisely the things of earth
and to cherish those of heaven.
We ask this through Jesus Christ our Lord.

BLESSING: Solemn Blessing, page 797.

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 THIRD SUNDAY OF ADVENT

OPENING Gracious God,

PRAYER your people look forward in hope
to the festival of our Saviour’s birth.
Give us the strength to reach that happy day of salvation
and to celebrate it with hearts full of joy.
We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God for ever and ever.

ALTERNATIVE
OPENING YEAR A God of glory and compassion,
PRAYER at your touch the wilderness blossoms,
broken lives are made whole,
and fearful hearts grow strong in faith.
Open our eyes to your presence
and awaken our hearts to sing your praise.
To all who long for your Son’s return
grant perseverance and patience,
that we may announce in word and deed
the good news of the kingdom.
We ask this through him whose coming is certain,
whose day draws near:
your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God for ever and ever.

YEAR B O God, most high and most near,

you send glad tidings to the lowly,
you hide not your face from the poor;
those who dwell in darkness you call into the light.
Take away our blindness,
remove the hardness of our hearts,
and form us into a humble people,
that, at the advent of your Son,
we may recognise him in our midst
and find joy in his saving presence.
We ask this through him whose coming is certain,
whose day draws near:
your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God for ever and ever.

184 SEASON OF ADVENT

 YEAR C Almighty God,
you sent your Son into a world
where the wheat must be winnowed from the chaff
and evil clings even to what is good.
Let the fire of your Spirit
purge us of greed and deceit,
so that, purified, we may find our peace in you
and you may delight in us.
Grant this through him whose coming is certain,
whose day draws near:
your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God for ever and ever.

PRAYER Lord,
OVER THE may the continual offering of the eucharistic sacrifice
GIFTS carry out the mystery of our redemption
and accomplish your saving work among us.
Grant this through Jesus Christ our Lord.

EUCHARISTIC PRAYER : Preface of Advent I or II, pages 450-452; interpolation for

Eucharistic Prayer III, page 607.

PRAYER We implore your mercy, O Lord,

AFTER that the power of these divine mysteries may free us from sin
COMMUNION and prepare us for the approaching feast of Christmas.
We ask this in the name of Jesus, the Lord.

BLESSING: Solemn Blessing, page 797.

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 FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT

OPENING Pour forth, O Lord, your grace into our hearts:

PRAYER once through the message of an angel
you revealed to us the incarnation of Christ your Son;
now lead us through his passion and cross
to the glory of the resurrection.
We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God for ever and ever.

ALTERNATIVE
OPENING YEAR A
Eternal God,
PRAYER in the psalms of David,
in the words of the prophets,
in the dream of Joseph
your promise is spoken.
At last, in the womb of the Virgin Mary
your Word takes flesh.
Teach us to welcome Jesus, the promised Emmanuel,
and to preach the good news of his coming,
that every age may know him
as the source of redemption and grace.
Grant this through him whose coming is certain,
whose day draws near:
your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God for ever and ever.

YEAR B Here in our midst, O God of mystery,

you disclose the secret hidden for countless ages.
For you we wait, for you we listen.
Upon hearing your voice
may we, like Mary, embrace your will
and become a dwelling fit for your Word.
Grant this through him whose coming is certain,
whose day draws near:
your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God for ever and ever.

186 SEASON OF ADVENT

 YEAR C Who are we, Lord God,
that you should come to us?
Yet you have visited your people
and redeemed us in your Son.
As we prepare to celebrate his birth,
make our hearts leap for joy at the sound of your Word,
and move us by your Spirit to bless your wonderful works.
We ask this through him whose coming is certain,
whose day draws near:
your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God for ever and ever.

PRAYER Lord,
OVER THE may the power of the Spirit
GIFTS which came upon Mary and made her womb fruitful
sanctify the gifts we have placed on this altar.
Grant this through Jesus Christ our Lord.

EUCHARISTIC PRAYER : Preface of Advent II, page 452; interpolation for Eucharistic
Prayer III, page 607.

PRAYER In this communion, almighty God,

AFTER you have given us the pledge of eternal redemption.
COMMUNION Grant that the closer we come to the feast of Christmas,
the more eagerly we may prepare to celebrate
the saving mystery of your Son’s birth.
We ask this through Jesus Christ our Lord.

BLESSING: Solemn Blessing, page 797.

FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT 187