Liturgical Calendar

Let the Just One descend, O heavens, like dew from above, like gentle rain let the skies drop Him down. Let the earth open and a Saviour bud forth.

The heavens declare the glory of God, and the firmament proclaims His handiwork.

Let the Just One descend, O heavens, like dew from above, like gentle rain let the skies drop Him down. Let the earth open and a Saviour bud forth.

Put forth Your power, O Lord, we beseech You, and delay not: and with Your great might come to our aid, so that what is hindered by our sins may be hastened by Your merciful goodness.

Lesson from the first letter of St. Paul the Apostle to the Corinthians

Brethren: Let a man so account us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. Now here it is required in stewards that a man be found trustworthy. But with me it is a very small matter to be judged by you or by man’s tribunal. Nay I do not even judge my own self. For I have nothing on my conscience, yet I am not thereby justified; but he who judges me is the Lord. Therefore, pass no judgment before the time, until the Lord comes, Who will both bring to light the things hidden in darkness and make manifest the counsels of hearts; and then everyone will have his praise from God.

The Lord is near to all who call upon Him, to all who call upon Him in truth.

May my mouth speak the praise of the Lord, and may all flesh bless His holy name. Alleluia, alleluia.

Come, O Lord, and delay not; forgive the sins of Your people Israel. Alleluia.

Continuation + of the Holy Gospel according to Luke

Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, when Pontius Pilate was procurator of Judea, and Herod tetrarch of Galilee, and Philip his brother tetrarch of the district of Abilene, during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiphas, the word of God came to John, the son of Zachary, in the desert. And he went into all the region about the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins, as it is written in the book of the words of Isaias the prophet. The voice of one crying in the desert, ‘Make ready the way of the Lord, make straight His paths. Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be brought low, and the crooked ways shall be made straight, and the rough ways smooth; and all mankind shall see the salvation of God.’

Hail, Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with you, blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb.

Look with favor, we beseech You, O Lord, upon the offerings here before You, that they may be beneficial for our devotion and for our salvation.

Behold, a Virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and His name shall be called Emmanuel.

Having received Your gifts, we beseech You, O Lord, that each partaking of this sacrament may increase within us its saving effect.

The Lord is near to all who call upon Him, to all who call upon Him in truth. May my mouth speak the praise of the Lord, and may all flesh bless His holy name.