(Make the sign of the cross with your right thumb on your lips, saying:)

Lord, open my lips and my mouth will proclaim your praise.

INVITATORY: Come, let us worship the newborn Chirst.

Psalm 63 (62)
O God, you are my God, for you I long;
for you my soul is thirsting.
My body pines for you
like a dry, weary land without water.
So I gaze on you in the sanctuary
to see your strength and your glory.

For your love is better than life.
My lips will speak your praise.
So I will bless you all my life.
In your name I will lift up my hands.
My soul shall be filled as with a banquet.
My mouth shall praise you with joy.

On my bed I remember you.
On you I muse through the night
for you have been my help;
in the shadow of your wings I rejoice.
My soul clings to you;
your right hand holds me fast.

Those who seek to destroy my life
shall go down to the depths of the earth.
They shall be put into the power of the sword
and left as the prey of the jackals.
But the king shall rejoice in God;
(all that swear by him shall be blest,)
for the mouth of liars shall be silenced.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit;
as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen

Come, let us worship the newborn Christ.

ANT: Mary and Joseph were filled with wonder; they marveled at what was said about their child.

Canticle 12 (Daniel 3:57-88, 56)
All you works of the Lord, bless the Lord.
To him be highest glory and praise for ever.
You angels of the Lord, bless the Lord.
To him be highest glory and praise for ever.

You heavens of the Lord, bless the Lord.
You clouds of the sky, bless the Lord.
All you armies of the Lord, bless the Lord.
To him be highest glory and praise for ever.

You sun and moon, bless the Lord.
You stars of the heavens, bless the Lord.
You showers and rain, bless the Lord.
To him be highest glory and praise for ever.

All you breezes and winds, bless the Lord.
You fire and heat, bless the Lord.
You cold and heat, bless the Lord.
To him be highest glory and praise for ever.

You showers and dew, bless the Lord.
You frosts and cold, bless the Lord.
You frost and snow, bless the Lord.
To him be highest glory and praise for ever.

You night and day, bless the Lord.
You darkness and light, bless the Lord.
You lightning and clouds, bless the Lord.
To him be highest glory and praise for ever.

Let the earth bless the Lord.
To him be highest glory and praise for ever.
You mountains and hills, bless the Lord.
All you plants of the earth, bless the Lord.

You fountains and springs, bless the Lord.
To him be highest glory and praise for ever.
You rivers and seas, bless the Lord.
You creatures of the sea, bless the Lord.
Every bird in the sky bless the Lord.
To him be highest glory and praise for ever.

You beasts wild and tame, bless the Lord.
You children of mortals, bless the Lord.
To him be highest glory and praise for ever.
Israel, bless the Lord.
You servants of the Lord, bless the Lord.
To him be highest glory and praise for ever.

You spirits and souls of the just, bless the Lord.
You holy and humble of heart, bless the Lord.
To him be highest glory and praise for ever.
May you be blest, O Lord, in the heavens.
To you be highest glory and praise for ever.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit;
as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen

ANT: Mary and Joseph were filled with wonder; they marveled at what was said about their child.

READING (Deuteronomy 5:16)
Honor your father and your mother, as the Lord, your God, has commanded you, that you may have a long life and prosperity in the land which the Lord, your God, is giving you.

[Reflect on the Reading, applying it to your life today.]

ANT: Lord, give us light through the example of your family and guide our feet into the way of peace.

CANTICLE OF ZECHARIAH (Luke 1:68-79)
Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel;
he has come to his people and set them free.
He has raised up for us a mighty savior,
born of the house of his servant David.

Through his holy prophets he promised of old
that he would save us from our enemies,
from the hands of all who hate us.

He promised to show mercy to our fathers
and to remember his holy covenant.
This was the oath he swore to our father Abraham;
to set us free from the hands of our enemies,
free to worship him without fear,
holy and righteous in his sight all the days of our life.

You, my child, shall be called the prophet of the Most High;
for you will go before the Lord to prepare his way,
to give his people knowledge of salvation
by the forgiveness of their sins.

In the tender compassion of our God
the dawn from on high shall break upon us,
to shine on those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death,
and to guide our feet into the way of peace.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit;
as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen

ANT: Lord, give us light through the example of your family and guide our feet into the way of peace.

INTERCESSIONS

Lord Jesus, you humbled yourself to become a son of a human family and became obedient to them. Help us to always be obedient to our parents and to all legal authority. We pray to the Lord.

Jesus, you were subject to Mary and Joseph, teach us to be humble in all our actions. We pray to the Lord.

Christ, you were the son of a carpenter, teach us to work diligently and to respect work. We pray to the Lord.

Give us the grace to never stop learning and to grow in your wisdom. We pray to the Lord.

(Pray for your special intentions.)

OUR FATHER
And now we pray to God the Father in the words that Jesus taught us.

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.
For Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory for ever and ever. Amen

PRAYER
Father, in heaven, creator of all, you ordered the earth to bring forth life and crowned its goodness by creating the human family. In history's moment when all was ready, you sent your Son to dwell in time, obedient to the laws of life in our world. Teach us the sanctity of human love, show us the value of family life, and help us to live in peace with all people that we may share in your life for ever. Amen