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INTRODUCTORY RITES
When the Entrance Chant is concluded, the Celebrant and the faithful, standing, sign
themselves with the Sign of the Cross, while the Celebrant, facing the people, says:
I
n the name of the Father, and of the Son,
and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Then the Celebrant, extending his hands, greets the people, saying:
The Celebrant may briefly introduce the faithful to the celebration with the following words:
We gather today to commemorate
the birth of the Blessed Virgin,
the Mother of Jesus,
As we acclaim Mary as our queen,
and as the Mother of the Church,
let us imitate her example
and be attentive to the word of God.
Let us pray also that through her intercession
we may achieve holiness in life,
and a deepened faith, hope, and love,
as we seek to do the will of God in all things.
OPENING PRAYER
The Celebrant, with hands joined, says,
Let us pray.
And all pray in silence with the Celebrant for a moment. Then he extends his hands, and says:
I
mpart to your servants, we pray, O Lord,
the gift of heavenly grace,
that the feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin
may bring deeper peace
for those for whom the birth of her Son
was the dawning of salvation.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever.
At the end of which the people acclaim:
Amen.
SHORT READING
A reading from the Book of the Prophet Zechariah 9:9
Exult greatly, O daughter Zion!
Shout for joy, O daughter Jerusalem!
Behold: your king is coming to you,
a just savior is he,
Humble, and riding on a donkey,
on a colt, the foal of a donkey.
R. Thanks be to God.
CANDLE OFFERING AND MAGNIFICAT
One by one, the gathered community will place lighted candles in front of the image of the Virgin
Mary.
A
nd may the blessing of almighty God,
the Father, and the Son, X and the Holy Spirit,
come down on you and remain with you for ever.
R. Amen.