General Introduction: - Do not read this line

On this fourth Sunday of Advent, the we shift our attention from John the Baptist
to Mary, the mother of Jesus. Pope Benedict gave a reflection on the importance of
Mary. He said that when Christ was born, every creature offered a sign of
gratitude: the angels, a hymn; the heavens, a star; the Magi, gifts; the earth, a
cave. But, asked the Holy Father, what about the human race? What do we have to
offer God? Pope Benedict answered simply: What we have to offer is the Virgin Mary
herself. She shows what humanity can achieve. For sure, we suffer from an inner
division called original sin - and we have many personal failings. But when we look
at the Virgin Mother, we recognize the true capacity of our human nature. To use a
phrase from the Book of Judith, Mary is the "greatest boast of our race." (15:9)."

Advent Wreath & Candle Introduction Pause before reading

Last Sunday we lit the candle of Hope, remembering the hope which comes in Christ,
the candle of Peace, remembering Gods dream of a peaceful world, and the candle of
Joy, remembering the Spirit within us who brings joy. (Light the 2 purple candles &
the Pink Candle). Today we light the fourth candle of Advent, the candle of Love.
Scripture tells us There is no fear in love, for perfect love casts out fear. (1
John 4:18). God created this world in love and this world will end in the love of
God. Gods love pervades all aspects of this life. From birth to death, pain to
delight, strangers to lovers, Gods love is there.
We light this candle in Love. (Light the last purple Candle)
On this day, we remember God is Love.

Introduction to the First Reading: - Do not read this line

Our first reading from 2 Samuel is chosen because it contains the prophecy that the
sovereignty of the House of David will last forever. This prophecy, the angel tells
Mary, will be fulfilled in the Son she is to conceive, who will be given the
throne of his ancestor, David, and will exercise a reign that will never end.

Introduction to the Second reading: - Do not read this line

The reading from St Paul, the concluding passage of Romans, calls us back to
awareness of the place of Marys response - and our personal responses - in a total
plan shaped by Gods gifts, and our carrying out of the tasks these gifts have
brought.

COLLECT
Pour forth, we beseech you, O Lord, your grace into our hearts, that we, to whom
the Incarnation of Christ your Son was made known by the message of an Angel, may
by his Passion and Cross be brought to the glory of his Resurrection. Who lives and
reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.
FIRST READING
(Nathan approves Davids intention to build a temple for the Lord, but the Lord
does not approve it. Instead David receives an assurance about the continuation of
his dynasty).
A reading from the Second Book of Samuel
(7:1-5, 8b-12, 14a, 16)
Now when the king dwelt in his house, and the Lord had given him rest from all his
enemies round about, the king said to Nathan the prophet, See now, I dwell in a
house of cedar, but the ark of God dwells in a tent. And Nathan said to the king,
Go, do all that is in your heart; for, the Lord is with you.
But that same night the word of the Lord came to Nathan, Go and tell my servant
David, Thus says the Lord: Would you build me a house to dwell in? I took you from
the pasture, from following the sheep, that you should be prince over my people
Israel; and I have been with you wherever you went, and have cut off all your
enemies from before you; and I will make for you a great name, like the name of the
great ones of the earth. And I will appoint a place for my people Israel, and will
plant them, that they may dwell in their own place, and be disturbed no more; and
violent men shall afflict them no more, as formerly, from the time that I appointed
judges over my people Israel; and I will give you rest from all your enemies.
Moreover the Lord declares to you that the Lord will make you a house. When your
days are fulfilled and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up your
offspring after you, who shall come forth from your body, and I will establish his
kingdom. And your house and your kingdom shall be made sure for ever before me;
your throne shall be established for ever.
The Word of the Lord
PSALM (89)
Response: I will sing for ever of your love, O Lord.
I will sing for ever of your love, O Lord; through all ages my mouth will proclaim
your truth. Of this I am sure, that your love lasts for ever, that your truth is
firmly established as the heavens. R/
I have made a covenant with my chosen one; I have sworn to David my servant: I
will establish your dynasty for ever and set up your throne through all ages.
R/
He will say to me: You are my father, my God, the rock who saves me. I will keep
my love for him always; for him my covenant shall endure. R/
SECOND READING
(In this final paragraph from his letter to the Romans Paul says that through his
preaching of the gospel a mystery which was kept secret for long ages has been made
known to all nations).
A reading from the Letter of St Paul to the Romans (16:25-27)
Glory to him who is able to strengthen you according to my gospel and the preaching
of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery which was kept secret
for long ages but is now disclosed and through the prophetic writings is made known
to all nations, according to the command of the eternal God, to bring about the
obedience of faith to the only wise God be glory for evermore through Jesus
Christ! Amen.
The Word of the Lord

ACCLAMATION
Alleluia, alleluia! I am the handmaid of the Lord; let what you have said be done
to me Alleluia! (Lk 1:38)
GOSPEL
(The angel tells Mary that she will conceive a child by the power of the Holy
Spirit and the child will be the Son of God).
A reading from the Holy Gospel according to St Luke (1:26-38)
In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named
Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of
David; and the virgins name was Mary. And he came to her and said, Hail, full of
grace, the Lord is with you! But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and
considered in her mind what sort of greeting this might be. And the angel said to
her, Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favour with God. And behold, you
will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. He
will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will
give to him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of
Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there will be no end. And Mary said to the
angel, How can this be, since I have no husband? And the angel said to her, The
Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you;
therefore the child to be born will be called holy, the Son of God.
And behold, your kinswoman Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son; and
this is the sixth month with her who was called barren. For with God nothing will
be impossible. And Mary said, Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord; let it be to
me according to your word. And the angel departed from her.
The Gospel of the Lord
I believe in God,/....
PRAYER OF THE FAITHFUL
Cel:Dear brothers and sisters, before presenting our gifts at the altar let us
present our prayers and petitions to the Lord. As the bread and wine will be
transformed into the body and blood of the Lord, may our petitions be changed to
graces necessary for our lives, saying,
Response: Lord, hear our prayer.
1. For the pope, the bishops, the clergy and the religious that they may lead
the people to the loving mercy of God, we pray R./
2. That we may always value Gods unconditional love for his children and live
according to Gods desires and plans, we pray R./
3. That we may be attentive to Gods call and profess our readiness to cooperate
with him so that we too can contribute towards the advancement of Gods kingdom, we
pray R./
4. That all human persons may always keep in mind that they are all born as
innocent children and grown under the protective care of their parents, that
nothing that pains the parents may be done by their children, we pray R./
5. For all of us present in this Eucharistic assembly that as Elizabeth and Mary
responded to Gods call we too may be eager to do Gods will, we pray R./
(Pray for community and personal needs)
Cel: God our Father, we thank you for listening to our prayers and petitions. We
thank you for sending your Son into our midst. Give us grace that we may become the
new temples of God where love and fellowship dwell. We make this prayer

PRAYER OVER THE OFFERINGS

May the Holy Spirit, O Lord, sanctify these gifts laid upon your altar, just as he
filled with his power the womb of Blessed Virgin Mary. Through Christ our Lord.
PREFACE II (Advent)
It is truly right and just, our duty and our salvation, always and everywhere to
give you thanks, Lord, holy Father, almighty and eternal God, through Christ our
Lord.
For all the oracles of the prophets foretold him, the Virgin Mother longed for him
with love beyond all telling, John the Baptist sang of his coming and proclaimed
his presence when he came.
It is by his gift that already we rejoice at the mystery of his Nativity, so that
he may find us watchful in prayer and exultant in his peace.
And so, with Angels and Archangels, with Thrones and Dominions, and with all the
hosts and powers of heaven, we sing the hymn of your glory, as without end we
acclaim:
All: Holy, Holy, Holy Lord God of hosts...
COMMUNION ANTIPHON
Behold, a virgin shall conceive and bear a son; and his name will be called
Emmanuel. (Isa 7:14)
(Bar 5:5; 4:36)
PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION
Having received this pledge of eternal redemption, we pray, almighty God, that, as
the feast day of our salvation draws ever nearer, so we may press forward all the
more eagerly to the worthy celebration of the mystery of your Sons Nativity. Who
lives and reigns for ever and ever.