Liturgical Leaflet for an Active Participation in the Celebration of the Eucharist

1 January 2025 MARY, MOTHER OF GOD ă WORLD DAY OF PRAYER FOR PEACE Year C

BLESSINGS IN ABUNDANCE!
A
Blessed and Peaceful New Year to one and all! There is no better wish
we can exchange on this day, for we need peace in our hearts, our fami-
lies, our nation, and throughout the world. So many resources are mis-
used or squandered. So many lives are destroyed by hatred and war.
But we are aware that real and lasting peace can come only if people obey
God’s law, and if God blesses their efforts. And we know that He is ready to
grant us this most precious gift at the intercession of our Blessed Mother,
whom we honor today as “Mother of God.” Through her, not only the Prince
of Peace, but the author of all graces, became a reality in our lives.
May Mary, the Queen of Peace, bring to all families serenity and harmony, and to the world, genu-
ine and lasting peace!

P –Lord Jesus, you are the Son Lord Jesus Christ, Only Be-
of God and Prince of Peace: gotten Son, Lord God, Lamb of
Lord, have mercy! God, Son of the Father, you take
All – Lord, have mercy! away the sins of the world, have
Entrance Antiphon mercy on us; you take away the
(To be recited only when no P –Lord Jesus, you are the Son
of Mary, the vessel of grace sins of the world, receive our
Entrance Hymn is sung.) prayer; you are seated at the right
and our Mother: Christ,
Hail, Holy Mother, who gave have mercy! hand of the Father, have mercy
birth to the King who rules All –Christ, have mercy! on us. For you alone are the Holy
heaven and earth for ever. One, you alone are the Lord, you
P –Lord Jesus, Word Incarnate, alone are the Most High, Jesus
Greeting you are our awaited Re- Christ, with the Holy Spirit, in the
deemer: Lord, have mercy! glory of God the Father. Amen!
P – In the name of the Father, All – Lord, have mercy!
and of the Son, and of the Holy
Spirit! All –May almighty God have Collect (Opening Prayer)
All –Amen! mercy on us, forgive us our P –O God, who through the
P –The grace of our Lord Jesus sins, and bring us to ever- fruitful virginity of Blessed
Christ, the love of God, and the lasting life. Mary bestowed on the human
fellowship of the Holy Spirit be All –Amen! race the grace of eternal sal-
with you all! vation, grant, we pray, that we
All –And with your spirit! Gloria may experience the interces-
All –Glory to God in the high- sion of her, through whom we
Penitential Act est, and on earth peace to people were found worthy to receive
of good will. We praise you, the author of life, our Lord Jesus
P –Coming together as God’s we bless you, we adore you, we Christ, your Son.
family, let us call to mind our glorify you, we give you thanks Who lives and reigns with
sins and so prepare ourselves for for your great glory, Lord God, you in the unity of the Holy Spir-
the celebration of these sacred heavenly King, O God, almighty it, God, for ever and ever!
mysteries. (Pause) Father. All – Amen!

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 to us through a human mother had been told to them.
– Mary Most Holy – thanks to When eight days were
whom the divine plan to save the completed for his circumcision,
world could be carried out “at the Baby was named Jesus, the
1st Reading Nm 6:22-27 the appointed time.” name given him by the angel
The beautiful “invocation” we R –A reading from the Letter of before he was conceived in the
are about to hear was used by the Paul to the Galatians womb.
priests in the Temple to bless the Brothers and sisters: The Gospel of the Lord!
people at the conclusion of reli- When the fullness of time All – Praise to you, Lord Jesus
gious services. It is surely most had come, God sent His Son, Christ!
appropriate at the beginning of born of a woman, born under
the New Year, when we observe the law, to ransom those under Homily
“World Day of Prayer for peace.” the law, so that we might re-
R – A reading from the Book of ceive adoption as sons. Profession of Faith
Numbers As proof that you are sons, (Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed)
The Lord said to Moses: God sent the Spirit of His Son All –I believe in one God, the
“Speak to Aaron and his sons into our hearts, crying out, Father almighty, maker of heaven
and tell them: This is how you “Abba, Father!” So you are no and earth, of all things visible and
shall bless the Israelites. Say to longer a slave but a son, and if invisible.
them: a son then also an heir, through I believe in one Lord Jesus
‘The Lord bless you and God. Christ, the Only Begotten Son of
keep you! The Lord let his face The Word of the Lord! God, born of the Father before all
shine upon you, and be gra- All – Thanks be to God! ages. God from God, Light from
cious to you! The Lord look Light, true God from true God,
upon you kindly and give you Gospel Acclamation Heb 1:1-2 begotten, not made, consubstan-
peace!’ All –Alleluia! Alleluia! tial with the Father; through him
So shall they invoke my In the past, God spoke all things were made. For us men
name upon the Israelites, and to our ancestors through and for our salvation he came
I will bless them.” the prophets; in these last down from heaven, and by the
The Word of the Lord! days, he has spoken to us Holy Spirit was incarnate of the
All – Thanks be to God! through the Son. Virgin Mary, and became man.
Alleluia! Alleluia! (All genuflect and pause after
Responsorial Psalm Ps 67 reciting this sentence.) For our
Gospel Lk 2:16-21 sake he was crucified under Pon-
R –May God bless us in his tius Pilate, he suffered death and
mercy! Today’s Gospel passage includes
two events of the “Infancy Nar- was buried, and rose again on
R. M. Velez rative”: The episode featuring the third day in accordance with
F C F Mary and the shepherds, and the Scriptures. He ascended into

       
heaven and is seated at the right
 that of Jesus’ circumcision, the
hand of the Father. He will come
rite through which he officially
May God bless us in his mer-cy! became a member of the Chosen again in glory to judge the living
People. and the dead and his kingdom
* May God have pity on us will have no end.
P –The Lord be with you! I believe in the Holy Spirit,
and bless us; may He let His All – And with your spirit!
face shine upon us. So may the Lord, the giver of life, who
your way be known upon P – A reading from the holy proceeds from the Father and
earth; among all nations, your Gospel according to Luke the Son, who with the Father
salvation. R. All – Glory to you, O Lord! and the Son is adored and glori-
The shepherds went in fied, who has spoken through
* May the nations be glad haste to Bethlehem and found the prophets.
and exult because You rule the Mary and Joseph, and the I believe in one, holy, catholic
peoples in equity; the nations infant lying in the manger. and apostolic Church. I confess
on the earth You guide. R. When they saw this, they made one Baptism for the forgiveness
known the message that had of sins and I look forward to the
* May the peoples praise been told them about this child. resurrection of the dead and the
You, O God; may all the peo- All who heard it were amazed life of the world to come. Amen!
ples praise You! May God bless by what had been told them by
us, and may all the ends of the
Prayer of the Faithful
the shepherds. And Mary kept
earth fear Him! R. all these things, reflecting on P –Today is World Day of
them in her heart. Then the Prayer for Peace. Aware of the
2nd Reading Gal 4:4-7 shepherds returned, glorifying great need for peace throughout
Jesus Christ is the point of ar- and praising God for all they the world, let us implore this pre-
rival of God’s plan. He comes had heard and seen, just as it cious gift from God through the
1 January 2025
intercession of Mary, the Queen Prayer over the Offerings
of Peace. Let us pray: P –O God, who in your kind-
All –Lord, make us instru- ness begin all good things and
ments of Your peace! bring them to fulfillment, grant
to us, who find joy in the So- All – Our Father . . .
C –For the whole Church, God’s P –Deliver us, Lord . . .
family on earth: May she ever lemnity of the holy Mother of
God, that, just as we glory in the All –For the kingdom, the
more become an instrument of power, and the glory are
reconciliation for all mankind. beginnings of your grace, so one
day we may rejoice in its comple- yours, now and for ever.
Let us pray! R.
tion.
C –For the Holy Father and all Through Christ our Lord. Sign of Peace
other religious leaders: May they All – Amen!
succeed in their constant efforts Breaking of the Bread
to promote peace throughout the Preface of BVM I
world. Let us pray! R. All – Lamb of God, you take
P –The Lord be with you! away the sins of the world: have
C –For all nations on earth, es- All –And with your spirit! mercy on us. (2×)
pecially those ravaged by war: P –Lift up your hearts! Lamb of God, you take
May they discover in their com- All –We lift them up to the away the sins of the world:
mon brotherhood the ground Lord! grant us peace.
on which to build a harmonious P –Let us give thanks to the
relationship. Let us pray! R. Lord our God! Communion
C –For our society, character- All –It is right and just! P –Behold the Lamb of God,
ized by strident inequalities and P –It is truly right and just, behold him who takes away the
the pursuit of selfish interests: our duty and our salvation, al- sins of the world. Blessed are
May all citizens grow in social ways and everywhere to give those called to the Supper of the
awareness, respect for the rights you thanks, Lord, holy Father, Lamb.
of others, and concern for the almighty and eternal God, and All – Lord, I am not worthy
common good. Let us pray! R. to praise, bless, and glorify your that you should enter under
C –For all Filipino families, name on the Solemnity of the my roof, but only say the word
especially those whose members Motherhood of the Blessed ever- and my soul shall be healed.
are no longer at peace with one Virgin Mary.
another: May the grace of this For by the overshadowing
Communion Antiphon
season help them overcome all of the Holy Spirit she conceived Jesus Christ is the same yester-
present difficulties. Let us pray! your Only Begotten Son, and day, today, and for ever.
R. without losing the glory of vir- (Heb 13:18)
C – For all migrants, refugees ginity, brought forth into the
and those affected by war: may world the eternal Light, Jesus Prayer after Communion
their right to an education, which Christ our Lord. P –We have received this heav-
is necessary to build a better Through him the Angels enly Sacrament with joy, O Lord:
world, always be respected. Let praise your majesty, Dominions grant, we pray, that it may lead us
us pray! R. adore and Powers tremble before to eternal life, for we rejoice to
you. Heaven and the Virtues of proclaim the blessed ever-Virgin
P –Father, set our hearts at peace heaven and the blessed Seraphim
with you and all those around us, Mary Mother of your Son and
worship together with exultation. Mother of the Church.
that we may become instruments May our voices, we pray, join
of reconciliation and harmony in Through Christ our Lord.
with theirs in humble praise, as All – Amen!
our families and communities. We we acclaim:
ask this through our Lord Jesus All – Holy, holy, holy Lord, God
Christ, the Prince of Peace, who of hosts. Heaven and earth are
lives and reigns for ever and ever. full of your glory. Hosanna in
All – Amen! the highest!
Blessed is he who comes in P –The Lord be with you.
the name of the Lord. Hosanna All – And with your spirit!
in the highest! P –Bow down for the blessing.
(Pause)
Preparation of the Gifts Memorial Acclamation – May the Lord fill you with
P –Pray, brethren . . . His love and mercy!
P –The mystery of faith! All – Amen!
All –May the Lord accept the All –When we eat this Bread
sacrifice at your hands, for the and drink this Cup, we P –May the Lord let His face
praise and glory of his name, proclaim your Death, shine upon you, and be gra-
for our good and the good of O Lord, until you come cious to you!
all his holy Church. again! All – Amen!
Mary, Mother of God – World Day of Prayer for Peace
P –May the Lord look upon you you: the Father, and the serve the Lord throughout
kindly and give you peace! Son, and the Holy Spirit. this New Year.
All – Amen! All – Amen! All – Thanks be to God!
P – May almighty God bless P –Go in peace to love and

BLESSINGS IN ABUNDANCE!
Kalakbay at Katoto

T he whole world is awash in blessings to-

day. People bless each other, as they greet
each other a Happy New Year.
to discouragement and to sadness.

Today, the first day of the new year, the So-

lemnity of Mary, Mother of God, is no such
The liturgy itself, meant primarily to extol the day to wallow in despair and despondency.
glories of Mary, Mother of God, focuses also on This is the Good News that I hear. This is the
the issue of blessing and being blessed. Good News that we hold on to. This good news
The first reading gives the opening salvo. has nothing to do with frightful trends and with
Moses was told to hand on to Aaron the three- dour prognostications. It has absolutely nothing
fold blessing that God’s face might shine on all to do with being overtaken and overpowered by
the Israelites. Our response to the first reading, paralyzing fear … no, not even by threats of vio-
which is basically a prayer, is more of the same: lence from a deteriorating geopolitical situation
“May God bless us in His mercy.” the world over.
St. Paul, for his part, counts blessings for us. This Good News has to do, not with something
He speaks of the blessing of a gift of God’s Son – but with someone!
“born of a woman, born under the law, to ransom
those under the law.” Eight days ago, we celebrated this good news in
person – the birth of Jesus the Christ, the Savior
In the Gospel passage, Luke counts himself in “come into the world.” This “pilgrim God” come
and extols the channel through which all these in flesh is the good news that came as light to a
blessings took place – Mary the vessel of grace world walking in darkness.
… Mary, the most blessed among all women.
Today, the woman through whom the savior
In Mary, what we pray for, what blessing we was born takes center stage in our hearts.
long for from God, shines out most clearly. In Mary, vessel, virgin, maiden, and mother, our
Mary, Mother of God, whose honor and glory tainted nature’s solitary boast, is also our fallen
the Church acclaims today, we find reason and
meaning to our hopes and desires for more nature’s unica spes (unique hope). Mother of
blessings for ourselves and others. Mary, full Jesus, God and man, Mary is mother of God.
of grace, and vessel of grace, who bore the Mother of him who is the author of grace, Mary
author of grace in her womb, counts among is mother of grace. Through her, grace is dis-
our blessings for today, and for the rest of the pensed by God. Having born Jesus in her
Jubilee Year, 2025. womb, she is vessel and channel of grace.
There is enough reason for us to be despon- Today is a day of blessings in abundance. And
dent and discouraged. This much, I confess to the most significant blessing of them all is the
you. There were times last year when I gave in gift of the Savior – born for us through Mary!

A grace-filled, peaceful
& prosperous
NEW YEAR
to one and all!!!

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