Saint Mary’s University

Center for Christian Formation

  Saint Mary, Seat of Wisdom Chapel

Aguinaldo Mass
“Jesus Christ, the Light of the World”
December 16, 2015
 
 

INTRODUCTORY RITES
 
CALL TO SILENCE/ANTIPHON

INTRODUCTION
Commentator:
 
Dear sisters and brothers:
Today we begin a beloved and joyful Christmas tradition
among our people-the Aguinaldo Mass. It is the 1st day of the
novena Masses in honor of the Blessed Virgin Mary and our
immediate spiritual preparation for the birth of our Savior,
God’s greatest Light and Gift to the humankind. We are
reminded to prepare for Jesus’ coming by heeding Advent’s
call of repentance, reflection of God’s word in the spirit of joy
and generosity.

In preparation for the celebration for the celebration of the

500th year of Christianity in the Philippines, the CPCP has
declared 2019 as the Year of the Youth. In the Aguinaldo
Masses, we will reflect and pray for the ministry to our young
people. We listen to them and pray that they will truly be
youth in mission: beloved, gifted, and empowered.

 
Gradually the lights are dimmed
 
SONG: O COME, O COME IMMANUEL (with video)

Procession of an elder dressed as the Prophet Isaiah carries a tall

wooden walking staff. From the entrance of the chapel the elder pounds
the floor and speaks boldly: 
    
In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord, 
Make straight in the desert a highway for our God.

He continues to center of sanctuary, pounds floor, continues speaking to

all:
Every valley shall be lifted up,
And every mountain and hill made low;
The uneven ground shall become level,
And the rough places a plain.

The prophet walks to the altar, completes the verse holding up staff in
both hands to heaven facing the congregation:

Then the glory of the Lord shall be revealed,

And all people shall see it together,
For the mouth of the Lord has spoken.

(“The Prophet” leaves after placing the staff across the Advent Wreath.)

Call to Worship
(based on Isaiah 40: 1-11)

One:     Listen! The voice of God calls out across the

ages.

Men:    We hear and respond. We rise up to worship

God
            from the valleys, the mountains, and the
plains. 

One:     Like a shepherd God leads us and tenderly

gathers us together.
 Women: Comfort, comfort O my people says our God
of love.

All:       The grass withers and the flower fades;

            But the word of our God will stand forever!
The procession of the candles begins few moments after the
song begins.
 
Leader: We look forward to seeing a new star appear in the
sky, prompting those far off to draw near to you
All: Lord Jesus, draw us to You.
Leader: We look forward to the familiar stable scenes, their
mangers standing empty, waiting to receive You.
All: Lord Jesus, come to us anew.
Leader: We look forward to seeing shepherds and kings
alike-poor and humble, noble and wealthy-all
bowing before You.
All:
Leader: We look forward to remembering the humble girl,
chosen to bring Your hope into the world.
All: Lord Jesus, bring new hope through us.
Leader: We look forward to seeing, hearing, and knowing
afresh how you-infinite and incomprehensible God-
freely entered Your creation, becoming humble and
tangible so that we might freely enter Your presence.
All: Lord Jesus, we look. We wonder, and we worship.
Amen.
 
The soft music fades
 
Commentator:
Please all stand.
 
PROCESSION OF PRIEST/LECTOR/ACOLYTE/ENTRANCE
SONG:
 
The lights are gradually put on
 
GREETINGS
Presider: In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the
Holy Spirit.
All: Amen
Presider: Blessed be the Lord who comes to bring us
salvation. May His grace and peace be always with
you.
All: And also with you.
 

PENITENTIAL RITE
Presider: Through Prophet Isaiah, the Lord tells us to observe
what is right and to do just. Do we prepare for the
Lord’s coming by living holy and upright lives?
Let us examine ourselves. (silence)
Presider: I confess…
All: 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, 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.

PENITENTIAL SONG: LORD, HAVE MERCY (with video

presentation)
 
Presider: May the Almighty God have mercy on us, forgive us
our sins and bring us to everlasting life.
All: Amen.
 
HYMN OF PRAISE: GLORIA, IN EXCELSIS DEO
 
OPENING PRAYER
Presider: Let us pray.
Father, You make this day radiant with splendor of
Jesus Christ our light.
 We welcome Him as Lord, the true light of the world.
Bring us to eternal joy in the Kingdom of heaven
where He lives and reigns with You and the unity of
the Holy Spirit, one God for ever and ever.
All: Amen.
 
 
 
 
LITURGY OF THE WORD
FIRST READING: Is 56:1-3, 6-8

RESPONSORIAL PSALM:
Response: O God, let all the nations praise You!
 
ENTRANCE OF THE IMAGE OF BABY JESUS AND THE
STAR OF BETHLEHEM
 
Commentator:
Let us all rise and joyfully we welcome the image of the
baby Jesus brought into our midst as we let our voices
be one with the angels’ as they sing their hymn of praise
to God in the highest.
 
1. A family bring the image of the baby Jesus to the designated
place, while the bells ring and the song: ANGELS WE HAVE
HEARD ON HIGH is sung and the “Star of Bethlehem” goes
along above them.
2. Incensing of the Image of the Baby Jesus by the priest.
 
GOSPEL READING: John 5: 33-36
 
HOMILY
GENERAL INTERCESSIONS (with hand prayers)
Commentator:
Please stand for the prayers of the faithful. To aid
our focus in praying, we will make different symbols
with our hands. We do this to engage our bodies
within our prayers, allowing our minds to focus
more freely on what we are praying about.
PRAYING HANDS
Commentator:
Place your palms and fingers flat together, with your
hands pointing upwards; in the position
traditionally adopted to pray.
Priest: We come to be still before God. Our hands together,
stopping us undertaking physical work. We take up
the work of an intercessor, bringing our concerns
before our Heavenly Father. After each intention, we
say: Lord, graciously hear us.
All: Lord, graciously, hear us.
FISTS
Commentator:
Separate your hands, and clench them together to
form fists. Hold them as tightly as you can, so that
your focus is on your fists.
Leader: We pray for those parts of the world afflicted by
violence. We remember those in violent
relationships. Where talking has been replaced by
fighting. Where peace has been replaced by
aggression and unrest. (silence) Let us pray to the
Lord.
All: Lord, graciously hear us.
WOUNDED HAND
Commentator:
Open both your fists. Hold your left hand so your
palm faces towards you. Take the thumb of your
right hand and push it hard into the center of your
left palm.
Leader: Jesus’ hands were pierced as he was crucified He
was wounded to restore our relationship with God
He suffered to bring reconciliation and justice to the
world.
Let us focus on and pray for situations and places
where reconciliation is needed, both in our own
lives, our community and the wider world. (silence)
Let us pray to the Lord.
All: Lord, graciously hear us.
  

OPEN HANDS
Commentator:
Open both of your hands, hold them open in front of
you with your palms facing upwards.
Leader: We recognise that all of humanity needs to receive
good things. God provides for each of us physically,
emotionally and spiritually.
We ask God for the things we need, and the things
needed by others. We pray for our leaders in the
Church and in the government. We pray for the
young people. (silence) Let us pray to the Lord.
All: Lord, graciously hear us.
 
HOLDING HANDS
Commentator:
Hold the hands of the persons beside you.
Leader: Jesus embodied God’s compassion. He met with the
sick and the dying. He promised comfort to those
who mourn. We pray for those who are sick,
suffering or mourning. We pray that they will know
God’s healing, comfort, compassion and love.
(silence) Let us pray to the Lord.
All: Hear our prayer.
 
PRAYING HANDS WITH LIGHTED CANDLES
Commentator:
We now light our candles as the symbol of the
presence of the Light of the World in and among us.
 
(after candles are all lighted)
Priest: We remember God’s promise to hear our prayers.
Lord Jesus Christ, be our light, joy and hope. Raise
us up when we are down, and be near to us, Your
people, now and forever.
All: Amen.
 

PROFESSION OF FAITH
Priest: With lighted candles in our hands, we now profess
our faith as the renewal of promises of our baptism.
I believe in God,…
People: the Father Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth,
and in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord, who
was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin
Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified,
died and was buried; He descended into hell; on the
third day He rose again from the dead; He ascended
into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of God
the Father Almighty; from there He will come to
judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church,
the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the
resurrection of the body, and life everlasting. Amen.
 
LITURGY OF THE EUCHARIST
PREPARATION OF THE ALTAR AND THE GIFTS
OFFERTORY SONG: AWAY IN A MANGER
PRAYER OVER THE GIFTS
Presider: God our strength, in You is our hope of salvation. As
we present these gifts, renew Your joy within us and
make us a living sacrifice of praise.
We ask this in the name of Jesus our Lord.
All: Amen.
EUCHARISTIC PRAYER
SANCTUS: Santo, Santo, Santo (M. Francisco)
MEMORIAL ACCLAMATION: Si Kristo ay Gunitain
GREAT AMEN: Amen (3x)
 

COMMUNION RITE
 
LORD’S PRAYER: Ama Namin (Jazz)
BREAKING OF THE BREAD: Kordero (Francisco)
 
COMMUNION SONGS: GIVE LOVE ON CHRISTMAS DAY
 
CLOSING RITES
PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION
Presider: Let us pray.
God, our Father, we rejoice in the birth of our
Savior. By the presence of Christ among us, reform
our lives and give us courage to announce in the
world that Your Kingdom is here among us. May we
share His life completely by living as He has taught.
We ask this in the name of Jesus our Lord.
All: Amen.
 
ANNOUNCEMENTS/WORDS OF THANKS
 
CLOSING RITE
Presider: And may the Almighty God bless you, the Father,
and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
People: Amen.
Presider: The Mass is ended, go in peace to love and serve the
Lord.
People: Thanks be to God!
 
FINAL SONG: ANG PASKO AY SUMAPIT