Day 7
In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Hymn (Optional)
(Sung to the melody of Creator of the Starry Skies)
Behold a thrilling voice calls out
And chides the darkened shades of earth
Pale dreams are gone, dim shadows fly
Christ in his might now shines on high!
The Lamb of God is sent below
Himself to pay the debt we owe.
O for this gift let every voice
With songs and prayers to God rejoice.
The Blessed Author of our race
Took human form to bring us grace
Lest lost should be those whom he made,
And he with love our sin repaid.
And see! with heavenly grace instilled,
A Mother’s loving heart is filled.
Behold a Virgin’s body bears
The mystery of endless years!
The Mother makes her spotless breast
A temple for the child to rest.
This Virgin loved the Holy One
And she conceived the Eternal Son.
To him who comes the world to free,
To God the Son, all glory be,
To Father, Maker of us all
And Holy Spirit, God, we call.
R. Drop down dew from above, you heavens, and let the clouds rain the just one.
V. Let the earth be opened and bud forth the Savior.
Christmas Prophecies
R. Our Lord and king is drawing near; O come let us adore him!
V. Our Lord and king is drawing near; O come let us adore him!
Rejoice, Daughter of Sion, and exult Daughter of Jerusalem! Behold the Lord comes, and there will be a great light in that day, and the mountains shall drop down sweetness. The hills shall flow with milk and honey, for in that day the great prophet will come and he will renew Jerusalem (cf. Zep 3:14-18).
Our Lord and King …
Behold the God-Man of the house of David will come to sit upon the royal throne and you will see him and your heart will rejoice (cf. Jer 23:5-8).
Our Lord and King …
The Lord our protector will come, the Holy One of Israel, wearing a crown upon his royal brow. And he will reign from sea to sea and from the river to the ends of the earth (cf. Is 33:22).
Our Lord and King …
The Lord will appear, and he will not deceive; if he should delay, wait for him to come. He will surely come and will not tarry (cf. Hb 2:3).
Our Lord and King …
The Lord will come down like rain upon the fleece of Gideon. Justice will reign and an abundance of true peace. All the kings of the lands will adore him and every nation will serve him (cf. Jdg 6:38; Ps 72:3-4; Is 2:3).
Our Lord and King …
A child will be born to us, and he will be called God the almighty; he will sit upon the royal throne of David his father, and he will hold sway, the sign of his power on his shoulder (cf. Is 9:6-7).
Our Lord and King …
Bethlehem, city of the Most High God, from you will come forth the king of Israel, and he will proceed forth from his eternity and he will be greatly praised in the midst of the entire universe. And there will be peace in our land when he will have come (cf. Mi 5:2-5).
Our Lord and King …
(To be recited or sung on the last day of the novena)
Tomorrow the wickedness of the whole world will be destroyed, and over us will reign the Savior of the world.
R. Our Lord and king is drawing near; O come let us adore him!
V. Near at last is Christ our king; O come let us adore him!
Let the Heavens Be Glad
(Canticle or song-prayer)
Let the heavens be glad and the earth rejoice,
O all you mountains praise the Lord.
Drop down dew from above you heavens,
And let the clouds rain the just one.
Let the earth be opened,
And bud forth the Savior!
Remember us, O Lord,
And visit us in your salvation.
Show your mercy to us, O Lord,
and grant us your salvation.
Send forth, O Lord, the Lamb, the ruler of the earth,
from the rock in the desert to the Mount of Sion.
Come to free us, O Lord God of hosts;
show your face and we shall be saved.
Come, O Lord, and visit us in peace,
so that we may rejoice before you with a perfect heart.
May we know on earth, O Lord, your way,
your salvation among all nations.
Put forth, O Lord, your strength,
and come to save us.
Come, O Lord, and do not hesitate;
pardon the sins of your people.
O that you would rend the heavens and come down,
the mountains would melt in your presence.
Come and show us your face, O Lord,
you who sit upon the cherubim.
Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit; as it was in the beginning, is now and will be forever. Amen.
Let us pray. Christ the Lamb, who existed before time, in time, and exists for all time, will come to us again. He has been made high priest forever. He is the true king of justice and his reign will have no end.
R. Drop down dew from above, you heavens, and let the clouds rain the just One.
V. Let the earth be opened and bud forth the Savior.
December 22
Scripture reading: Luke 1:46-55
Consideration
In the Magnificat, Mary draws on the Old Testament prophecies and exults in praise of God. Mary’s Son is destined to fulfill God’s promises to his people. Mary rejoices in the deliverance of God’s people and in his care for the poor and destitute of society. Her song bears another hymn that runs like a golden thread through the readings and antiphons. The expected Messiah will be the Lord of the Gentiles as well as of the Jews. We pray in today’s antiphon, “Come, king of all nations.” Christ is the peacemaker, the bond of unity among all peoples.
Antiphon
O king of all nations, the one for whom they have been yearning, the cornerstone who unites all of them in perfect union, come now, and rescue poor humanity, which from dust you have fashioned (cf. Jer 10:7; Hg 2:8; Is 28:16; Gn 2:7; Eph 2:14).
Magnificat
My soul doth magnify the Lord,
and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Savior.
Because he hath regarded the humility of his handmaid;
for behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.
Because he that is mighty hath done great things to me,
and holy is his name.
And his mercy is from generation unto generations,
to them that fear him.
He hath showed might in his arm;
he hath scattered the proud in the conceit of their heart.
He hath put down the mighty from their seat,
and hath exalted the humble.
He hath filled the hungry with good things,
and the rich he hath sent empty away.
He hath received Israel his servant,
being mindful of his mercy.
As he spoke to our fathers,
to Abraham and to his seed forever.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit; as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
Intercessions
Wonderful Counselor, Prince of Peace! In your great love for us you were born of the Virgin Mary;
R. May her prayers for us be our joy and consolation at all times.
Mary has given birth to the Savior, splendor of the rising sun;
R. Bring those who have died into your light through the intercession of Mary your Mother.
The angels proclaim a mystery today while shepherds hurry to a cave. Mary has given birth to a child in a cold, bare stable;
R. We are ready to warm you, holy child, with our hearts. Let us honor you by our lives and deeds, singing glory to God in the highest and peace to all people of goodwill.
Christ, Emmanuel, Mary cared for you in joy and Joseph provided for all the needs of his family;
R. Help families to love one another and bond them together in love.
Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with you! Blessed are you among women and blessed is the fruit of your womb;
R. Truly blessed is she who bore the Son of God, and blessed too are those who hear the word of God, and keep it.
Closing Prayer
(To be said after the intercessions each day of the novena)
Christ goes before us. He is the Lamb without sin who will open to us the gates of heaven. He is the high priest forever according to the order of Melchisedech. He is the king of justice and his reign is eternal.
And now we place before the newborn King the particular favor we ask this Christmas.
Let us pray. Come to live among us, Lord, so that we may always receive your forgiveness and mercy. Jesus our king, clothed in a robe of flesh, give us love, wisdom, and understanding at your birth. Reveal to us the mystery of your life, then send us forth to reveal your Word over all the earth.
You who live and reign with God the Father in the unity of the Holy Spirit, world without end. Amen.
In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
