AMBUHAY & GEE MISSALE TT Eo FORA SYNODAL CHURCH: COMMUNION, PARTICIPATION, MISSION SYNOD 2021-2023 Year 37 No. 24 The Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary December 8, 2023 Principal Patroness of the Philippines — White we BE ety, PARA SA TAKOT SA by lan Gabriel Ceblano, SSP t must be surprising, terrifying today’s Gospel gives us a glimpse blame and reprehension against even, to be tasked with a certain at Mary's devotion and loyalty to the serpent (First Reading), Mary's humongous responsibility, a God. But | believe this devotion is _ is obedience and trust in the Lord's, responsibility you have no prior not the kind we see in renaissance will: with God, all is and will be expectation, or experience, or paintings or in romanticized movies _ well. The road ahead may be filled knowledge about. Just imagine the of Hollywood. We can imagine with adversity. The journey will be terror of a high school student being Mary questioning and arguing with tough. There will be a lot of “but’s* chosen as the CEO of Google, Meta, God, tooth and nail, as to why she and “if's.” But in every crack and or Tesla. Or a college seminarian js being chosen as the bearer of corner, in every high and low, inheriting the problems and this too heavy a yoke. “Why me? for every laughter and tear, God scandals in the Catholic Church Bakit ako?" she may very well ask. will be there with her, seeing her by being elected as the Supreme And the question, “How can this _ through. Pontif be, since | have no relations with a Sisters and brothers, we may be These are quite outlandish man,” may be made from fear and _iterally forced before unwanted possibilities, of course. But the frustration since the consequence of crossroads right now. And this may intensity of the physical and a “fatherless/virgin pregnancy and he the fruit of our past choices, the pychologial stain onthe young birth” in ancient Jewish society is consequence of out favorite sins, Mary during the annunciation event death by stoning. or just a stroke of bad luck. God must have been literally such— And what is God's response _ is telling us today, us “who first profoundly severe. Andiifthe angel to Mary? God’s answer is an hoped in Christ” (Eph 1:12), “Anak, Gabriel appeared toa Mary of oday, assurance through the Holy Spirit, | know it’s tough. But we will see we could only imagine the internal an assurance that has always been _it through.” So, to you, kapatid, curses and shrieks of horror at the — there since the work of salvation who are doubting and hesitating to realization that she would become began. For Mary this is enough. take the leap of faith, to you who a mother—let alone, mother of the God's assurance suffices. She is are anxious to commit, this is for Messiah and mother of God. Takot fully aware that God is at work you. God loves and commits to you na takot na nga tayo sa maliliitna here for she understands and sees before you can. And when God commitment, sa responsibilidad God's movement in their history commits, he commits all. pa kayang apektado ang buorg asa people, from Adam up tothat—Kapatid, ang Diyos, hind ka sangnilkha? fateful annunciation day. And fat tang niya sasaluhin, Sasamahan ka The annunciation narrative in different from Eve's response of pa niyaBaa aay Entrance Antiphon (Is 61:10) (Recited when there is no opening song.) I rejoice heartily in the Lord, in my Gods the joy of my soul; for he has elothed me with a robe of salvation, and wrapped ine inamantle ofjustice, ea bride adorned with her jewels. Greeting (The sign of the cross is made here.) P—tThe Lord be with you. All—And with your spirit. Introduction (These [or similar words} may be used to address the assembly.) P—in the midst of our Advent preparation for the birth of Jesus, we celebrate the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary, principal patroness of the Philippines. We focus our eyes on Mary, the woman God has chosen to be the mother of the Savior. As Mary lived up to her Immaculate Conception, listening to the word of God and keeping it, so we are challenged to continue living up to that privilege given to her for our sake. Penitential Act P—Brethren (brothers and sisters), let us acknowledge our sins, and so prepare ourselves to celebrate the sacred mysteries. (Pause) P_You were sent to heal the contrite of heart: Lord, have mercy. All—Lord, have mercy. P—You came to call sinners: Christ, have mercy. All—Christ, have mercy. P—You are seated at the right hand of the Father to intercede for us: Lord, have merc All—Lord, have mercy. P—May almighty God have mercy on us, forgive us our sins, and bring us to everlasting life. All—Amen. Gloria All—Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to people of good will. We praise you, we biess you, we adore you, we glorify you, we give you thanks for your great glory, Lord God, heavenly King, O God, almighty Father. Lord Jesus Christ, Only Begotten Son, Lord God, Lamb of God, Son of the Father, you take away the sins of the world, have mercy on us; you take away the sins of the world, receive our prayer; you are seated at the right hand of the Father, have mercy on us. For you alone are the Holy One, you alone are the Lord, you alone are the Most High, Jesus Christ, with the Holy Spirit, in the glory of God the Father. Amen. Collect P—Let us pray. (Pause) O God, who by the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin prepared a worthy dwelling for your Son, grant, we pray, that as you preserved her from every stain by virtue of the Death of your Son, which you foresaw, so, through her intercession, we, too, may be cleansed and admitted to your presence. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever. All—Amen. pag aa a 20) By succumbing to the temptation of the serpent which symbolizes evil, Adam and Eve bring their descendants out of God's grace. Still, the Lord does not abandon humankind: a new Eve will bring forth an offspring who will overcome evil. A reac ig from the Book of Genesis AETER THE MAN, Adam, had eaten of the tree, the LORD God called to the man and asked him, “Where are you?” He answered, “I heard you in the garden; but | was afraid, because | was naked, so I hid myself.” Then he asked, “Who told you that you were naked? You have eaten, then, irom the tree of which | had forbidden you to eat!” The man replied, “The woman whom you put here with me—she gave me fruit from the tree, and so | ate it” The LORD God then asked the woman, “Why did you do such a thing?” The woman answered, “The serpent tricked me into it, so | ate it.” Then the LORD God said to the serpent: “Because you have done this, you shall be banned from all the animals and from all the wild creatures; on your belly shall you craw, and dirt shall you eat all the days of your life. | will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will strike at your head, while you strike at his heel.” The man called his wife Eve, because she became the mother of all the living. —The word of the Lord. All—Thanks be to God. Responsorial Psalm (Ps 98) R-Sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done marvelous deeds. 1. Sing to the LORD a new song,/ for he has done wondrous deeds;/ His right hand has won victory for him,/ his holy arm. (R) 2. The LORD has made his salvation known:/ in the sight of the nations he has revealed his justice./ He has remembered his kindness and his faithfulness/ toward the house of Israel.(R) 3. All the ends of the earth have seen/ the salvation by our God./ Sing joyfully to the LORD, all you lands;/ break into song; sing praise.(R) Second Reading (Eph 1:36, 11-12) Paul speaks of how God chose his holy ones in Christ beforethe foundation of the world. The apostle pictures for us how God prepared Mary for her role as ‘mother of the Savior A reading from the Letter of Saint Paul to the Ephesians BROTHERS AND SISTERS: Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavens, as he chose us in him, before the foundation of the world, to be holy and without blemish before him. In love he destined us for adoption to himself through Jesus Christ, in accord with the favor of his will, for the praise of the glory of is grace thathe granted us in the beloved. Inhim we were also chosen, destined in accord with the purpose of the One who accomplishes all things according to the intention of his will, so that we might exist for the praise of his glory, we who first hoped in Christ. —The word of the Lord. All—Thanks be to God. Alleluia (Lk 1:28) All — Alleluia, alleluia. Hail, Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women. Alleluia, alleluia. Gospel (Cf. Lk 1:26-38) P—A reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke All—Glory to you, O Lord. THE ANGEL GABRIEL was sent from God to a town of Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph, of the house of David, and the virgin’s name was Mary. And coming to her, he said, “Hail, full of grace! The Lord is with you.” But she was greatly troubled at what was said and pondered what sort of greetin this might be. Then the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. Behold, you will conceive in your womb and beara son, and you shall name him Jesus. He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will ive him the throne of David his father, and he will rule over the house of Jacob forever, and of his Kingdom there will be no end.” But Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I have no relations with a man?” And the angel said to her in reply, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore the child to be born will be called holy, the Son of God And behold, Elizabeth, your relative, has also conceived a son in her old age, and this is the sixth month for her who was called barren; for nothing will be impossible for God.” Mary said, “Behold, Iam the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word.” Then the angel departed from her. —The Gospel of the Lord All—Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ. Homily (Sit) Profession of Faith (Stand) All believe in one God, the Father almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all things visible and invisible. I believe in one Lord Jesus Christ, the Only Begotten Son of God, born of the Father before all ages. God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, consubstantial with the Father; through him all things were made. For us men and for our salvation he came down from heaven, (At the words that follow up to and including and became man, all bom) and by the Holy Spirit was incarnate of the Virgin Mary, and became man. For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate, he suffered death and was buried, and rose again on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures. He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead and his kingdom will have no end. Lbelieve in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son, who with the Father and the Son is adored and glorified, who has spoken through the prophets. Ihelieve in one, holy, catholic, and apostolic Church. | confess one Baptism for the forgiveness of sins and I look forward to the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come. Amen, Prayer of the Faithful P—Let us praise God, our almighty Father, who wished that Mary, his Son’s mother, be celebrated by each generation. In our great need, we ask: R—Faithful Father, help us remain faithful to you. (C—May Mary, the Immaculate Mother, intercede for the Christian people, so that they may go forward in hope, relying on the help of Christ. We pray: (R) C—May the Filipino nation never grow weary of invoking the Blessed Mother and always find refuge under her maternal protection. We pray: (R) C—May all who are facing trials, sufferings, and difficulties feel Mary's motherly love. We pray: (R) C—May our Christian families and communities be centers of joy and mutual support and be protectors of life from concep- tion to old age. We pray: (R) C—May all of us find in Mary a model of prayer, service, and obedience to God's will. May we listen to her as she points to Jesus and says, “Do whatever he tells you.” We pray: (R) ‘C—May the Lord welcome to the joy of Paradise those who have gone ahead of us. We pray: (R) C—Let us pray for the urgent concerns of our community and our personal intentions (pause). We pray: (R) P_father, as we rejoice in the privilege of Mary's ImmaculateConception. wey we ourselves come to you, cleansed of all sin We make our prayer through Christ our Lord. All_Amen. THE LITURGY OF aN Presentation of the Gifts (Stand) P_Pray, brethren, All—May the Lord accept the ice at your hands for the praise and glory of his name, for our good and the good of all his holy Church. Prayer over the Offerings P—Graciously accept the saving sacrifice which we offer you, O Lord, on the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary, andl grant that, as we profess her, on account of your prevenient grace, to be untouched by any stain of sin, so, through her intercession, we may be delivered from alll our faults. Through Christ our Lord. All—Amen. Preface: The mystery of Mai and the Church ii 3 P—the Lord be with you All—And with your spirit. P_Lift up your hearts. ‘AllWe lift them up to the Lord. P—Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. All—Itis right and just. P—it is truly right and just, our duty and our salvation, always and everywhere to give you thanks, Lord, holy Father, almighty and eternal God. For you preserved the Most Blessed Virgin Mary from all stain of original sin, so that in her, endowed with the rich fullness of your grace, you might prepare a worthy Mother for your Son and signify the beginning of the Church, his beautiful Bride without spot or wrinkle. She, the most pure Virgin, ones) Pa rts} was to bring forth a Son, the innocent Lamb who would wipe away our offenses; you placed her above all others to be for your people an advocate of grace and a model of holiness. And so, in company with the choirs of Angels, we praise you, and with joy we proclaim: All Holy, Holy, Holy Lord God of hosts. Heaven and earth are full of your glory. Hosanna in the highest. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest. (Knee!) Acclamation (Stand) All—When we eat this Bread and drink this Cup, we proclaim your Death, O Lord, until you come again. 3 The Lord’s Prayer All—Our Father... P—Deliver us, Lord... All—For the kingdom, the power and the glory are yours now and forever. Invitation to Peace Invitation to Communion (Kneel) P—Behold the Lamb of God, behold him who takes away the sins of the world. Blessed are those called to the supper of the Lamb. All—Lord, | am not worthy that you should enter under my roof, but only say the word and my soul shall be healed. Communion Antiphon Glorious things are spoken of you, O Mary, for from you arose the sun of justice, Christ our God. Prayer after Communion (Stand) P—Let us pray. (Pause) Cerone re ee oe a ae + Altar and Church May the Sacrament we have received, O Lord our God, heal in us the wounds of that fault from which in a singular way you preserved Blessed Mary in her Immaculate Conception. Through Christ our Lord, All_Amen. SS P—The Lord be with you All—And with your spirit. Solemn Blessing P—Bow down for the blessing, (Pause) May God, who through the childbearing of the Blessed Virgin Mary willed in his great kindness to redeem the human race, be pleased to enrich you with his blessing All—Amen. P—May you know always and everywhere the protection of her, through whom you have been found worthy to receive the author of life All—Amen. P—May you, who have devoutly gathered on this day, carry away with you the gifts of spiritual joys and heavenly rewards. All—Amen. P—and may the blessing of almighty God, the Father, and the Son, (+) and the Holy Spirit, come down on you and remain with you for ever. All—Amen. Dismissal P_Go forth, the Mass is ended. All—thanks be to God. DO YOU WANT TO SUBSCRIBE TO SAMBUHAY DIGITAL MISSALETTE? For inquries and orders: FB: GMAIL: sambuhayestpauls.ph TEL: (02) 8895-9701 Sambuhay Missalette cure Ces