Midnight Mass

Opening prayer: Father, you make this holy night radiant with the splendor of Jesus Christ our light. We welcome Him as Lord, the true light of the world. Bring us to eternal joy in the kingdom of heaven, where He lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Gospel:


Luke
Chapter 2
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1 In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus 2 that the whole world should be enrolled.
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This was the first enrollment, when Quirinius was governor of Syria.
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So all went to be enrolled, each to his own town.
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And Joseph too went up from Galilee from the town of Nazareth to Judea, to the city of David that is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David,
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to be enrolled with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child.
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While they were there, the time came for her to have her child,
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and she gave birth to her firstborn son. 3 She wrapped him in swaddling clothes and laid him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.
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4 Now there were shepherds in that region living in the fields and keeping the night watch over their flock.
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The angel of the Lord appeared to them and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were struck with great fear.
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The angel said to them, "Do not be afraid; for behold, I proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.
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5 For today in the city of David a savior has been born for you who is Messiah and Lord.
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And this will be a sign for you: you will find an infant wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger."
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And suddenly there was a multitude of the heavenly host with the angel, praising God and saying:
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6 "Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests."
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When the angels went away from them to heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let us go, then, to Bethlehem to see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us."
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So they went in haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the infant lying in the manger.
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When they saw this, they made known the message that had been told them about this child.
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All who heard it were amazed by what had been told them by the shepherds.
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And Mary kept all these things, reflecting on them in her heart.
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Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, just as it had been told to them.

Closing Prayer: God our Father, we rejoice in the birth of our Savior. May we share His life completely by livin as he has taught. We ask this in the name of Jesus the Lord. Amen.

Final Blessing:

When he came to us as man, the Son of God scattered the darkness of this world, and filled this holy night with his glory. May the God of infinite goodness scatter the darkness of sin and brighten your hearts with holiness. Amen.

God sent his angels to shepherds to herald the great joy of our Savior's birth. May he fill you with joy and make you heralds of his gospel. Amen.

When the Word became man, earth was joined to heaven. May he give you his peace and good will, and fellowship with all the heavenly host. Amen.