17 December, Third Sunday of Advent

ENTRANCE ANTIPHON
GR
Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. Let your gentleness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand. Have no anxiety about anything, but in everything by prayer let your petitions be made known to God (Phil 4:4-6).
COLLECT
O God, who hast set Thine eyes upon Thy people
as they await in faith the festival of the birth of the Lord;
grant, we beseech Thee,
that we may arrive at the joys of so great a salvation
to celebrate them with solemn worship
and an ever lively gladness.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son,
who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God, forever and ever.

GENERAL INTERCESSIONS
That the Church may be seen by all nations
as the dwelling-place of Wisdom,
teaching the way of prudence in every age
with the sweetness and vigor of the Holy Spirit,
let us pray in silence — for the Lord is near. (Pause for silence.)
That Holy Wisdom may descend into every war-torn place
to enlighten the minds of world leaders with prudence,
and set their feet on the way to peace,
let us pray in silence — for the Lord is near. (Pause for silence.)
That those for whom life is bitter
may taste of Wisdom’s sweetness;
that those who dwell in darkness
may be drawn into the radiance of her light;
and that those her suffer
may partake of her constancy,
let us pray in silence — for the Lord is near. (Pause for silence.)
That, through the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary,
those whose lives are marked by great sorrows
may learn how to welcome the Advent of Joy,
let us pray in silence — for the Lord is near. (Pause for silence.)
That Holy Wisdom may preside over this
and every assembly of the Church
to breathe life into every action,
truth into every word,
and holiness into every desire,
let us pray in silence — for the Lord is near. (Pause for silence.)
COLLECT AT THE GENERAL INTERCESSIONS
Almighty and ever-living God,
who, by the prophecy of Zephaniah
and the witness of Saint John the Forerunner,
callest us to taste of the joy that Thou alone canst give,
mercifully open Thou our hearts to that joy
and grant that in us and in all Thy servants,
joy may, at length, triumph over every vestige
of bitterness and pain, mourning and weeping.
Through Christ our Lord.
Or
O God, Creator and Redeemer of human nature,
who willed that Thy Word should take flesh
in the womb of a mother ever-virgin,
look graciously upon our prayers,
that Thine only-begotten Son,
having taken our humanity to Himself,
may deign to make us partakers of His divinity.
Who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God, forever and ever.
OFFERTORY ANTIPHON
GR
Lord, thou hast blessed thy land:
Thou hast turned away the captivity of Jacob:
Thou hast forgiven the iniquity of Thy people (Ps 84:2,3).
PRAYER OVER THE OFFERINGS
Lord, may the sacrifice by which we give ourselves to Thee
be a ceaseless offering,
that Thy purpose may be fulfilled
by these holy mysteries,
and Thy salvation accomplished mightily within us.
Through Christ our Lord.
PREFACE
Truly it is right and just, our duty and our salvation,
always and everywhere to give Thee thanks,
Lord, holy Father, almighty and eternal God
through Christ our Lord.
Christ is the One foretold
in the words of all the prophets;
the Child awaited by the Virgin Mother
with love that surpasses telling;
the One whose coming John foretold
and whose presence he revealed.
Now for the feast of his Nativity
Christ fills us with the joy of expectation,
that His coming may find us ready,
eager and waiting with prayer and praise to greet Him.
Therefore with angels and saints
we sing the unceasing hymn of Thy glory:
AT THE OUR FATHER
Taught by commands that bring salvation,
and formed by the Wisdom
who orders alls things mightily and sweetly,
we dare to say:
COMMUNION ANTIPHON
GR
Say: Ye fainthearted, take courage and fear not:
behold our God will come, and will save us (Is 35:4).
PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION
Lord, we implore Thy tender mercy
that these divine gifts
may so expiate our sins,
as to prepare us for the coming feasts.
Through Christ our Lord.