THE INTRODUCTORY RITES

When the people are gathered, the Priest approaches the altar with the ministers while the
Entrance Chant is sung.

When he has arrived at the altar, after making a profound bow with the ministers, the Priest
venerates the altar with a kiss and, if appropriate, incenses the cross and the altar. Then, with
the ministers, he goes to the chair.

When the Entrance Chant is concluded, the Priest and the faithful, standing, sign themselves
with the Sign of the Cross, while the Priest, facing the people, says:

n the name of the Father, and the Son,

and the Holy Spirit.
The people answer:
Amen.

Then the Priest, extending his hands, greets the people, saying:

he grace of our Lord Jesus Christ,

and the love of God,
and the communion of the Holy Spirit
be with you all.
The people answer:
And with your spirit.

1
 INTRODUCTION TO THE CELEBRATION

The Priest introduces the celebration.

Advent is the time of preparation

for the coming of the kingdom of God in Christ.
This season is divided into two distinct parts.
The first part is composed of the Sundays
within the first Sunday of Advent until December 16,
the time to contemplate the second coming of Christ.
This invites us to prepare with the joyful hope
of the coming of our Savior
when everything comes to its fullness.
The second part begins with the “Simbang Beñgi”
until the Fourth Sunday of Advent
wherein we remember the First Coming of Christ
who became man through the power of the Holy Spirit and
born of the Virgin Mary,
which is now known as Christmas.
As we remember his First Coming,
we joyfully anticipate his Second Coming.
The symbol of our preparation and joyful hope
is the Advent Wreath.
It has four to-be-lit candles
which stand for the four Sundays of Advent.
The three purple candles symbolize our penance
and anticipation; the pink one, our joy.
We joyfully remember and await
his First and Second Coming.
The wreath is round;
meaning it has no beginning, it has no end,
the eternal love of God
who sent his only Son to redeem mankind.
The wreath is made of fresh leaves
the symbol of God’s unfading love for us.

2
 BLESSING OF THE ADVENT WREATH
Afterwards, the Priest, with hands joined, says:

Let us pray:
The Priest and people pray silently for a while.

Then the Priest extends his hands and says the prayer of blessing.

od, our Father,

we are gathered here in the name of Jesus,
the Light of the World.
We ask you to bless this Advent Wreath,
the symbol of your eternal love for us,
when you gave us your only Son.
Help us to prepare ourselves
for the Second Coming of Christ
and make us worthy of the celebration
of his First Coming, this Christmas.
As we light these candles
let us remember that Christ is the light
who destroyed the darkness of sin.
Grant us the grace of turning away from sins
and that the light of his love
forever shines in our hearts.

Through Christ our Lord.

The people answer:
Amen.

The wreath will be blessed. The candle of the First Sunday of Advent will be lit.

3
 PENITENTIAL ACT
Then follows the Penitential Act, to which the Priest invites the faithful, saying:

rethren, let us acknowledge our sins,

and so prepare ourselves
to celebrate the sacred mysteries.
A brief pause for silence follows. Then all recite together the formula of general confession:
I confess 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,
And, striking their breast, they say:
through my fault, through my fault,
through my most grievous fault;
Then they continue:
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.

The absolution by the Priest follows:

May almighty God have mercy on us,
forgive us our sins,
and bring us to everlasting life.

The people acclaim:

Amen.

KYRIE

V. Lord, have mercy. R. Lord, have mercy.

V. Christ, have mercy. R. Christ, have mercy.
V. Lord, have mercy. R. Lord, have mercy.

4
 COLLECT

The Priest, with hands joined, says:

Let us pray.

And all pray in silence with the Priest for a while.

Then the Priest, with hands extended, says the Collect prayer:

rant your faithful, we pray, almighty God,

the resolve to run forth to meet your Christ
with righteous deeds at his coming,
so that, gathered at his right hand,
they may be worthy to possess the heavenly Kingdom.

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.

The people acclaim:

Amen.