Liturgy Alive, Models of Celebrations

Greeting (See second Reading)

God sent his Son, born of a woman,
to enable us to become God's children.
Through the Spirit of the Son we can cry out to God:
"Father, my Father!"
May Jesus, this Son, be always with you.
R/ And also with you.

Introduction by the Celebrant

It is a pleasure to begin the year with Mary. As followers of Jesus we want to be close to him. Who was closer to him than his mother? We want to grow up in Christ. Mary conceived him and carried him in her body until he was born from her. She saw him grow up day after day. She helped him grow up. She is eager to help him grow in us. We place ourselves in the care of Mary, that she may help us this year to grow into the full stature of Jesus.

Penitential Act

Today we ask the Lord to forgive us our past sins
and to lead us with confidence to the future.
(PAUSE)
Lord Jesus, God's own Son
and son of the virgin Mary,
let God's will be done in us, his servants.
Lord, have mercy. R/ Lord, have mercy.

Jesus Christ, you were born of a woman
to make us capable of becoming
son and daughters of the Most High God:
Christ, have mercy. R/ Christ, have mercy.

Lord Jesus, keep speaking to us
your word of peace and hope
and help us to treasure this word in our hearts.
Lord, have mercy. R/ Lord, have mercy.

Have mercy on us, Lord,
and forgive us all our sins,
that we may live this year in your love,
and lead us to everlasting life. R/ Amen.

Opening Prayer

Let us pray to our mighty God
who chose Mary as the mother of his Son
(PAUSE)
Our faithful and saving God,
in Mary our earth said its yes to your call
and there burst upon humanity
forgiveness and blessing and new life
in the person of your Son Jesus Christ.
Give us Mary's trusting faith,
that we may always be close to Jesus
even in the darkness of suffering
and that we may take him
to the poor and the lonely of our world.
Bless us through Jesus Christ our Lord. R/ Amen.

Liturgy of the Word

B. A Blessed Year

Liturgy of the Word

C. Peace in Our World

Greeting (See first Reading)

May the Lord bless you and keep you.
May the Lord be gracious to you
and show his face to you
this whole year long.
The Lord be with you.
R/ And also with you.

Introduction by the Celebrant

In the Hail Mary we pray to the Mother of God: "Blessed are you among women." Mary was indeed blessed by God: God placed in her all his trust and all the blessings he would bring on all people thorough Jesus, her Son. On this New Year's Day we wish one another all God's blessings for the whole year to come. May God bless all of us today as he blessed Mary, that we, too, may bring God's love and joy to one another, and we, too, may give Jesus to this cold world.

Penitential Act

For all the things we have done wrong in the past
against God and against people,
we now ask the Lord and one another to forgive us.
(PAUSE)
Lord Jesus, yours are the seasons and the ages.
Give us a new heart and a new spirit:
Lord, have mercy. R/ Lord, have mercy.

Jesus Christ, you are the beginning and the end
of all that is, including our lives.
Make a new beginning with all of us:
Christ, have mercy. R/ Christ, have mercy.

Lord Jesus, you breathe your Spirit on all creation.
Make our old world new again:
Lord, have mercy. R/ Lord, have mercy.

Have mercy on us, Lord,
and let your forgiveness and love
come down on us day after day.
Lead us to everlasting life. R/ Amen.

Opening Prayer

With the help of Mary, the Mother of God,
let us ask for God's blessings
(PAUSE)
Our living and loving God,
to you belong all the ages.
For each of us you want this year to be
a time of grace.
Bless us, that like Mary
we may say yes to you and to your plans
for us and for the world.
Like Mary, may we grow closer to you
and give your Son Jesus to the world,
that those who seek may find in him
your truth, your justice and your love.
We ask this through Christ our Lord. R/ Amen.

Liturgy of the Word

First Reading Introduction: God Blesses His People
God blessed the people with whom he had made a covenant: he was to them the source of all blessing. May his blessings and grace come down on us, his people, this whole year long.

First Reading: Num 6:22-27

The LORD said to Moses:
"Speak to Aaron and his sons and tell them:
This is how you shall bless the Israelites. Say to them:

"Say to them:
The LORD bless you and keep you!
The LORD let his face shine upon you, and be gracious to you!
The LORD look upon you kindly and give you peace!
So shall they invoke my name upon the Israelites, and I will bless them."

Responsorial Psalm: Ps 67:2-3, 5, 6, 8

R. May God bless us in his mercy.

May God have pity on us and bless us;
may he let his face shine upon us.
So may your way be known upon earth;
among all nations, your salvation.
R. May God bless us in his mercy.

May the nations be glad and exult
because you rule the peoples in equity;
the nations on the earth you guide.
R. May God bless us in his mercy.

May the peoples praise you, O God;
may all the peoples praise you!
May God bless us,
and may all the ends of the earth fear him!
R. May God bless us in his mercy.

Second Reading Introduction: Sons and Daughters of God Through Mary's Son
God has given us his Son Jesus through the Virgin Mary. With God's Son we have become the sons and daughters of God.

Second Reading: Gal 4:4-7

But when the fullness of time had come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to ransom those under the law, so that we might receive adoption.
As proof that you are children, God sent the spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying out, "Abba, Father!" So you are no longer a slave but a child, and if a child then also an heir, through God.

Gospel Introduction: They Found Mary and the Child
The shepherds saw Jesus and accepted him in faith. They praised God and could not keep silent about what they had seen. Mary treasured these events in her heart.

Gospel Reading: Luke 2:16-21

The shepherds came hurriedly and found Mary and Joseph with the baby lying in the manger. On seeing this they related what they had been told about the child, and all were astonished on hearing the shepherds.

As for Mary, she treasured all these messages and continually pondered over them.
The shepherds then returned giving glory and praise to God for all they had heard and seen, just as the angels had told them.

On the eighth day the circumcision of the baby had to be performed; he was named Jesus, the name the angel had given him before he was conceived.

Commentary

The Blessed Virgin Mary receives the Word of God into her person in a way that is unique among the human race, for she is given the great honor of being the mother of our Lord Jesus, true God and true man. As she holds the child Jesus in her arms, she treasures the tremendous gift of the Word of God and continually ponders over its mystery. In so doing, she is a model for all who listen attentively to the Word of God, especially through the reading of the Holy Bible.

As you keep your Bible Diary throughout 2008, may your heart be daily inspired, challenged, consoled, and uplifted. Through the intercession of Mary, the Mother of God, may you be drawn closer to the living presence of her Son, our Lord, Jesus Christ.

General Intercessions

With the help of the Blessed Virgin Mary, let us call upon the Lord to pour out his blessings on all God's children and on the world. Let us say:
R/ Lord, , bless us and keep us.

- Lord, pour out your blessings on the Church, that all the people of God may grow in faith and hope, that there may be unity and cooperation between the leaders and the laity, we pray: R/ Lord, , bless us and keep us.

- Lord, bless all priests and religious, that they may live the gospel and proclaim it, that their heart may be open to everyone, that they may care especially for the last and the least, we pray: R/ Lord, , bless us and keep us.

- Lord, bless all fathers and mothers, that they may be faithful and loving to one another as you are faithful and tender to them, and that they may reflect your own love on their children, we pray: R/ Lord, , bless us and keep us.

- Lord, bless all children and young people, that they may have parents who care, that they may learn at home and in school to become generous and responsible, we pray: R/ Lord, , bless us and keep us.

- Lord, bless our country, that there may be justice among us, jobs for all, access for all to the wealth of resources in our land, and peace and unity in all our diversity, we pray: R/ Lord, , bless us and keep us.

- Lord, bless the seekers and doubters, the sick, orphans and widows, those who are sad, all who have to carry heavy burdens in life. Give them hope, make your people show them your love, we pray: R/ Lord, , bless us and keep us.

Lord, let this year be to all of us a year of grace, of peace and joy, that we may face the future with hope and live in your love now and for ever. R/ Amen.

Prayer over the Gifts

Lord God, loving Father,
in this bread and this wine
we bring before you our offering
of this new year.
Through the prayers of the Mother of God,
give us your Son to be with us
in this eucharistic celebration
and every day of this year.
As he gives himself to us,
help us to share ourselves with each other
every day you give us.
We ask this in the name of Jesus the Lord. R/ Amen.

Introduction to the Eucharistic Prayer

Let us give wholehearted praise and thanks to God our Father for giving us Jesus through the Virgin Mother Mary. May this eucharist bring us his blessing and give us Jesus to go with us through life today and every day of the year.

Invitation to the Lord's Prayer

Through the Spirit of Jesus
alive in our hearts,
we pray to our Father in heaven
in the words of Jesus himself: R/ Our Father...

Deliver Us

Lord, deliver us this year
from every evil of sin
and grant us and the whole world
your reliable, lasting peace.
Grant us your understanding love
and your infinite respect for others,
that in justice and goodness
we may prepare for the final coming among us
of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. R/ For the kingdom...

Invitation to Communion

This is Jesus our Lord,
born from the Virgin Mother Mary.
He comes among us
to be our saving God-with-us
and to grow in us.
Happy are we to be invited
to the table of the Lord. R/ Lord, I am not worthy...

Prayer after Communion

Lord God, loving Father,
you have given us in this eucharist
your Son Jesus as our guide on your way of peace
and Mary, his Mother, as our model of faith.
Let your grace this year
be stronger than our weakness and self-will.
Keep blessing us and let them inspire us
that all we say and do
may give praise to you
and lead us to the joy you have prepared for us.
We ask this in the name of Jesus the Lord. R/ Amen.

Blessing

With Mary we have blessed the Lord today
that he has done great things for us in the past.
May he keep blessing us
and give us his peace:
peace with God himself, peace with ourselves
peace in our families, peace among nations.
May this year be to all of us
a year of grace,
with the blessing of almighty God,
the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. R/ Amen.

Go in peace, a happy New Year to all of you,
and take the Lord's blessing with you
all the days of your life. R/ Thanks be to God.