MEMORARE STANDING Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known that anyone who fled to thy protection, implored thy help, or sought thine intercession was left unaided.

Inspired by this confidence, I fly unto thee, O Virgin of virgins, my mother; to thee do I come, before thee I stand, sinful and sorrowful. O Mother of the Word Incarnate, despise not my petitions, but in thy mercy hear and answer me. Amen.

The Introductory Rites

HYMN O Come, All Ye Faithful

ENTRANCE ANTIPHON Exodus 16: 6-7

Today you will know that the Lord will come, and he will save us, and in the morning you will see his glory.

Priest: In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Assembly: Amen.

Nativity of the Lord  Vigil Mass Thursday, December 24, 2020 - 4:00pm and 6:00pm

Priest: The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God,

and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Assembly: And with your spirit. Priest: Brethren (brothers and sisters), let us acknowledge our sins,

and so prepare ourselves to celebrate the sacred mysteries. Assembly: I confess to almighty God and to you, my brothers and sisters, that I have greatly sinned,

in my thoughts and in my words, in what I have done and in what I have failed to do, And, striking their breast, they say: through my fault, through my fault, through my most grievous fault; therefore I ask blessed Mary ever-Virgin, all the Angels and Saints, and you, my brothers and sisters, to pray for me to the Lord our God.

Priest: May almighty God have mercy on us, forgive us our sins, and bring us to everlasting life. Assembly Amen.

Kyrie

Gloria

Kyrie eleison. Christe eleison. Kyrie eleison.

Lord, have mercy. Christ, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.

Priest: Let us pray.

O God, who gladden us year by year as we wait in hope for our redemption, grant that, just as we joyfully welcome your Only Begotten Son as our Redeemer, we may also merit to face him confidently when he comes again as our Judge. Who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.

Assembly: Amen.

SEATED

The Liturgy of the Word FIRST READING Isaiah 62:1-5

For Zion’s sake I will not be silent, for Jerusalem’s sake I will not be quiet, until her vindication shines forth like the dawn and her victory like a burning torch.

Nations shall behold your vindication,and all the kings your glory; you shall be called by a new name pronounced by the mouth of the LORD. You shall be a glorious crown in the hand of the LORD, a royal diadem held by your God. No more shall people call you “Forsaken,” or your land “Desolate,” but you shall be called “My Delight,” and your land “Espoused.” For the LORD delights in you and makes your land his spouse. As a young man marries a virgin, your Builder shall marry you; and as a bridegroom rejoices in his bride so shall your God rejoice in you. Assembly: Thanks be to God. RESPONSORIAL PSALM Psalm 89:4-5, 16-17, 27, 29

For ever I will sing the goodness of the Lord.

I have made a covenant with my chosen one, I have sworn to David my servant: Forever will I confirm your posterity and establish your throne for all generations. R

Blessed the people who know the joyful shout; in the light of your countenance, O LORD, they walk.

At your name they rejoice all the day, and through your justice they are exalted. R

He shall say of me, “You are my father, my God, the rock, my savior.” Forever I will maintain my kindness toward him, and my covenant with him stands firm. R 

SECOND READING Acts 13:16-17, 22-25

When Paul reached Antioch in Pisidia and entered the synagogue, he stood up, motioned with his hand, and said, “Fellow Israelites and you others who are God-fearing, listen. The God of this people Israel chose our ancestors and exalted the people during their sojourn in the land of Egypt. With uplifted arm he led them out of it. Then he removed Saul and raised up David as king; of him he testified, ‘I have found David, son of Jesse, a man after my own heart; he will carry out my every wish.’ From this man’s descendants God, according to his promise, has brought to Israel a savior, Jesus. John heralded his coming by proclaiming a baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel; and as John was completing his course, he would say, ‘What do you suppose that I am? I am not he. Behold, one is coming after me; I am not worthy to unfasten the sandals of his feet.’” Assembly: Thanks be to God. GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

Alleluia, alleluia. Tomorrow the wickedness of the earth will be destroyed:

the Savior of the world will reign over us.

Deacon/Priest: The Lord be with you. Assembly: And with your spirit. Deacon/Priest: A reading from the holy Gospel according to N . Assembly: Glory to you, O Lord. GOSPEL Matthew 1:18-25

This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about. When his mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found with child through the Holy Spirit. Joseph, her husband, since he was a righteous man, yet unwilling to expose her to shame, decided to divorce her quietly. Such was his intention when, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary your wife into your home. For it is through the Holy Spirit that this child has been conceived in her. She will bear a son and you are to name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel, which means “God is with us.” When Joseph awoke, he did as the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took his wife into his home. He had no relations with her until she bore a son, and he named him Jesus.

The Gospel of the Lord.

Assembly: Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ. HOMILY SEATED THE CREED STANDING Assembly: I 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 KNEEL.

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. I believe 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. I believe in one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church. I 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.

THE PRAYER OF THE FAITHFUL Holy Cross Prayer for our Capital Campaign

O Blessed Trinity, we thank you for having graced the Church with St. John Paul II. He trusted fully in the Divine Mercy, loved the Blessed Sacrament, and relied on the maternal intercession of the Blessed Mother. Grant us, by his intercession, the graces we implore for the building of our St. John Paul II Perpetual Adoration Chapel, church renovations, campus expansion, and your richest blessings on our Holy Cross families. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

SEATED

OFFERTORY Angels We Have Heard on High

STANDING The Liturgy of the Eucharist

Priest: Pray, brethren (brothers and sisters), that my sacrifice and yours may be acceptable to God, the almighty Father.

Assembly: May the Lord accept the sacrifice at your hands for the praise and glory of his name, for our good and the good of all his holy Church.

Priest: As we look forward, O Lord, to the coming festivities, may we serve you all the more eagerly for knowing that in them you make manifest the beginnings of our redemption. Through Christ our Lord.

Assembly: Amen

Priest: The Lord be with you. Assembly: And with your spirit. Priest: Lift up your hearts. Assembly: We lift them up to the Lord. Priest: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. Assembly: It is right and just.

PREFACE (or as selected by the Priest) Priest: 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, through Christ our Lord. For on the feast of his awe-filled mystery, though invisible in his own divine nature, he has appeared visibly in ours; and begotten before all ages, he has begun to exist in time; so that, raising up in himself all that was cast down, he might restore unity to all creation and call straying humanity back to the heavenly Kingdom. And so, with Angels. we praise you, as in joyful celebration we acclaim:

SANCTUS

PLEASE KNEEL Priest: To you, therefore, most merciful Father, we make humble prayer and petition through Jesus

Christ, your Son, our Lord: that you accept and bless ✠ these gifts, these offerings, these holy and unblemished sacrifices, which we offer you firstly for your holy catholic Church. Be pleased to grant her peace, to guard, unite and govern her throughout the whole world, together with your servant Francis our Pope and David our Bishop, and all those who, holding to the truth, hand on the catholic and apostolic faith. Remember, Lord, your servants and all gathered here, whose faith and devotion are known to you. For them, we offer you this sacrifice of praise or they offer it for themselves and all who are dear to them: for the redemption of their souls, in hope of health and well-being, and paying their homage to you, the eternal God, living and true.

Celebrating the most sacred night on which blessed mary the immaculate Virgin brought forth the savior for this world, and in communion with those whose memory we venerate, especially the glorious ever-Virgin mary, mother of our God and lord, Jesus Christ, and blessed Joseph, her Spouse, your blessed Apostles and Martyrs, Peter and Paul, Andrew, (James, John, Thomas, James, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Simon and Jude; Linus, Cletus, Clement, Sixtus,

Cornelius, Cyprian, Lawrence, Chrysogonus, John and Paul, Cosmas and Damian) and all your Saints; we ask that through their merits and prayers, in all things we may be defended by your

protecting help. (Through Christ our Lord. Amen.)

Therefore, Lord, we pray: graciously accept this oblation of our service, that of your whole family, which we make to you also for those to whom you have been pleased to give the new birth of water and the Holy Spirit, granting them forgiveness of all their sins; order our days in your peace, and command that we be delivered from eternal damnation and counted among the flock of those you have chosen. (Through Christ our Lord. Amen.)

Be pleased, O God, we pray, to bless, acknowledge, and approve this offering in every respect; make it spiritual and acceptable, so that it may become for us the Body and Blood of your most beloved Son, our Lord Jesus Christ.

On the day before he was to suffer, for our salvation and the salvation of all, that is today, he took bread in his holy and venerable hands, and with eyes raised to heaven to you, O God, his almighty Father, giving you thanks, he said the blessing, broke the bread and gave it to his disciples, saying: TAKE THIS, ALL OF YOU, AND EAT OF IT, FOR THIS IS MY BODY, WHICH WILL BE GIVEN UP FOR YOU. In a similar way, when supper was ended, he took this precious chalice in his holy and venerable hands, and once more giving you thanks, he said the blessing and gave the chalice to his disciples, saying:

TAKE THIS, ALL OF YOU, AND DRINK FROM IT, FOR THIS IS THE CHALICE OF MY BLOOD, THE BLOOD OF THE NEW AND ETERNAL COVENANT, WHICH WILL BE POURED OUT FOR YOU AND FOR MANY FOR THE FORGIVENESS OF SINS. DO THIS IN MEMORY OF ME.

The mystery of faith.

Assembly: We proclaim your death, O Lord, and profess your resurrection until you come again.

Priest: Therefore, O Lord, as we celebrate the memorial of the blessed Passion, the Resurrection from the dead, and the glorious Ascension into heaven of Christ, your Son, our Lord, we, your servants and your holy people, offer to your glorious majesty from the gifts that you have given us, this pure victim, this holy victim, this spotless victim, the holy Bread of eternal life and the Chalice of everlasting salvation.

Be pleased to look upon these offerings with a serene and kindly countenance, and to accept them, as once you were pleased to accept the gifts of your servant Abel the just, the sacrifice of Abraham, our father in faith, and the offering of your high priest Melchizedek, a holy sacrifice, a spotless victim. In humble prayer we ask you, almighty God: command that these gifts be borne by the hands of your holy Angel to your altar on high in the sight of your divine majesty, so that all of us, who through this participation at the altar receive the most holy Body and Blood of your Son, may be filled with every grace and heavenly blessing. (Through Christ our Lord. Amen.)

Remember also, Lord, your servants N. and N., who have gone before us with the sign of faith and rest in the sleep of peace. Grant them, O Lord, we pray, and all who sleep in Christ, a place of refreshment, light and peace. (Through Christ our Lord. Amen.)

To us, also, your servants, who, though sinners, hope in your abundant mercies, graciously grant some share and fellowship with your holy Apostles and Martyrs: with John the Baptist, Stephen, Matthias, Barnabas, (Ignatius, Alexander, Marcellinus, Peter, Felicity, Perpetua, Agatha, Lucy, Agnes, Cecilia, Anastasia) and all your Saints; admit us, we beseech you, into their company, not weighing our merits, but granting us your pardon, through Christ our Lord.

Through whom you continue to make all these good things, O Lord; you sanctify them, fill them with life, bless them, and bestow them upon us.

Through him, and with him, and in him, O God, almighty Father, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, all glory and honour is yours, for ever and ever.

Assembly: Amen.

The Communion Rite STANDING

Priest: At the Saviour’s command and formed by divine teaching, we dare to say:

All: Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name; thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.

Priest: Deliver us, Lord, we pray, from every evil, graciously grant peace in our days, that, by the help of your mercy, we may be always free from sin and safe from all distress, as we await the blessed hope and the coming of our Saviour, Jesus Christ.

All: For the kingdom, the power and the glory are yours now and for ever. Priest: Lord Jesus Christ, who said to your Apostles:

Peace I leave you, my peace I give you, look not on our sins, but on the faith of your Church, and graciously grant her peace and unity in accordance with your will. Who live and reign for ever and ever.

Assembly: Amen.

Priest: The peace of the Lord be with you always. Assembly: And with your spirit. AGNUS DEI

PLEASE KNEEL

Priest: 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, I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof, but only say the word and my soul shall be healed.

COMMUNION ANTIPHON Isaiah 40:5

The glory of the Lord will be revealed, and all flesh will see the salvation of our God.

HYMN Silent Night

ACT OF SPIRITUAL COMMUNION

O Jesus, I turn toward the holy tabernacle where You live hidden for love of me. I love you, O my God. I cannot now receive you in Holy Communion. Come nevertheless and visit me with Your grace. Come spiritually into my heart. Purify it. Sanctify it. Render it like unto Your own. Amen.

PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION STANDING Priest: Let us pray.

Grant, O Lord, we pray, that we may draw new vigor from celebrating the Nativity of your Only Begotten Son, by whose heavenly mystery we receive both food and drink. Who lives and reigns for ever and ever.

Assembly: Amen. 

Priest: The Lord be with you. Assembly: And with your spirit.

Deacon: Bow down for the blessing. Priest: May the God of infinite goodness, who by the Incarnation of his Son has driven darkness from the

world and by that glorious Birth has illumined this most holy night (day), drive far from you the darkness of vice and illumine your hearts with the light of virtue.

Assembly: Amen

Priest: May God, who willed that the great joy of his Son’s saving Birth be announced to shepherds by the Angel, fill your minds with the gladness he gives and make you heralds of his Gospel.

Assembly: Amen

Priest: And may God, who by the Incarnation brought together the earthly and heavenly realm, fill you with the gift of his peace and favor and make you sharers with the Church in heaven.

Assembly: Amen Priest: 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. Assembly: Amen.

Deacon: Go forth, the Mass is ended. Assembly: Thanks be to God.

PRAYER TO SAINT MICHAEL THE ARCHANGEL St. Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle. Be our defense against the wickedness and snares of the Devil. May God rebuke him, we humbly pray, and do thou, O Prince of the heavenly hosts, by the power of God, cast into hell Satan, and all the evil spirits, who prowl about the world seeking the ruin of souls. Amen.

HYMN Joy to the World

Holy Cross Catholic Church All our Masses and videos are archived at facebook.com/holycrossbatavia/videos 2300 Main Street, Batavia, Illinois 60510 + www.holycross-batavia.org + (630) 879-4750

 The English translation of Psalm Responses, Alleluia Verses, Gospel Verses from Lectionary for Mass © 1969, 1981, 1997, International Commission on English in the Liturgy Corporation (ICEL); excerpts from the English translation and chants of The Roman Missal © 2010, ICEL. All rights reserved. Music for the Entrance and Communion antiphons, responsorial psalms, gospel acclamations by Fr. Samuel F. Weber, O.S.B, © 2014, Saint Meinrad Archabbey. These may be found in the Ignatius Pew Missal (pewmissal.com). O Come, All Ye Faithful Text: Irregular with refrain; John F. Wade, ca. 1711–1786; tr. by Frederick Oakeley, 1802–1880, alt. Music: John F. Wade. Angels We Have Heard on High Text: 77 77 with refrain; trad. French carol, ca. 18th cent.; tr. from Crown of Jesus Music, II, London, 1862; tr. by James Chadwick, 1813–1882, and others, alt. Music: Trad. French carol. Mass for Redemption (Kyrie, Gloria, Sanctus, and Agnus Dei) Music: Jonathan McLear, © 2016. Silent Night Text: Stille Nacht, heilige Nacht; Joseph Mohr, 1792-1849; tr. John F. Young, 1820-1885. Joy to the World Text: CM with repeats; based on Psalm 98:4–9; Isaac Watts, 1674–1748, alt. Music: T. Hawkes’ Collection of Tunes, 1833; George Frideric Handel, 1685–1759; adapt. by Lowell Mason, 1792–1872, alt. Copyrighted materials reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE #A-721254 (onelicense.net). All rights reserved.