“O EMMANUEL” - d. fabio rosini - lapartemigliore.org CHRISTMAS NOVENA - December 23 SKYLIGHT before (or instead of) Vespers - Begin with the sign of the cross P. A child will be born to us, he will be called the mighty God, A. and in him all the nations of the world will be blessed (cf. Is 9:6; Ps 72). LIGHTING THE LAMP Reader: The lit lamp is the sign of joyful waiting for the Lord, this waiting illuminates the path and indicates the way that leads to Him. The candle is lit - while it is lit it is said: Watch, the bridegroom will not delay; if you are ready, he will open for you. Begin Vespers OR: only from the Antiphon to the Magnificat onwards. Ant. to the Magn: O IMMANUEL, OUR KING AND LAWGIVER, HOPE AND SALVATION OF THE PEOPLES: COME AND SAVE US, O LORD OUR GOD. My soul magnifies the Lord * and my spirit rejoices in God, my Savior, for he has looked with favor on the lowliness of his servant. * From now on all generations will call me blessed. The Almighty has done great things for me * and holy is his name; his mercy * is on those who fear him from generation to generation. He has shown strength with his arm, * he has scattered the proud in the conceit of their hearts; he has put down the mighty from their thrones, * he has exalted the lowly; he has filled the hungry with good things, * and the rich he has sent empty away. He has helped his servant Israel, * in memory of his mercy, according to the promise he made to our fathers, * to Abraham and to his descendants, forever. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, * and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, * world without end. Amen. Ant. to the Magn: O IMMANUEL, OUR KING AND LAWGIVER, HOPE AND SALVATION OF THE PEOPLES: COME TO SAVE US, O LORD OUR GOD. INTERCESSION Let us invoke with faith Christ, who came to bring good news to the poor: Lord, may all peoples see your glory. Christ, reveal yourself to those who do not yet know you, grant that every man may taste the joy of your friendship. May your name resound to the ends of the earth, may all peoples find the way that leads to you. You, who came to redeem humanity, come, again, so that your people may not perish, but have eternal life. You, who gave men the freedom of the children of God, preserve for us the gift that you won at the price of your blood. You, who are the judge of the world, reward with eternal joy those who died in the death camps. OUR FATHER and other prayers of your choice PRAYER O almighty and eternal God, the birth of your Son is now before us: may the Word who became man in the womb of the Virgin Mary and deigned to dwell among us help us in our unworthiness. He is God, and he lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, for ever and ever. May the Lord bless us, preserve us from all evil, and lead us to eternal life. ℞ Amen.