Christmas Eve Prime

December 24, 2024

Leader: God, + come to my assistance.

All: Lord, make haste to help me.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son,
and to the Holy Spirit.
As it was in the beginning, is now,
and will be forever. Amen.
Alleluia.

Hymn

Now the sunrise fills the sky with light;
so let us beg with humble prayer,
that God protect us from all harm
in all our works and acts this day.

May he restrain and calm our tongue,
lest voices clash in dreaded strife,
and may he shield our sight with care,
lest eyes be lured by vain delights.

Then let our inmost heart be pure
and free of senseless ignorance;
may sparing use of food and drink
wear down the lustful pride of flesh,

That, when the daylight hours have gone
and time has brought us night once more,
with hearts kept pure by self-restraint,
we may extol him in our song.

To God the Father glory be,
all honor to his only Son,
one with the Spirit Paraclete,
from age to age for evermore. Amen.

Psalmody

Lector: Oh Judah and Jerusalem, fear not: Tomorrow you will go out and the Lord will be with you, alleluia.

Psalm 54 (53)

O God, save me by your name;
by your power, uphold my cause.
O God, hear my prayer;
listen to the words of my mouth.

For proud men have risen against me,
ruthless men seek my life.
They have no regard for God.

But I have God for my help.
The Lord upholds my life.
Let the evil recoil upon my foes;
you who are faithful, destroy them.

I will sacrifice to you with willing heart
and praise your name for it is good:
for you have rescued me from all distress
and my eyes have seen the downfall of my foes.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son,
and to the Holy Spirit.

As it was in the beginning, is now,
and will be forever. Amen.

Psalm 119(118) 1-16

They are happy whose life is blameless,
who follow God's law!
They are happy who do his will,
seeking him with all their hearts,

who never do anything evil
but walk in his ways.
You have laid down your precepts
to be obeyed with care.

May my footsteps be firm
to obey your statutes.
Then I shall not be put to shame
as I heed your commands.

I will thank you with an upright heart
as I learn your decrees.
I will obey your statutes;
do not forsake me.

How shall the young remain sinless?
By obeying your word.
I have sought you with all my heart;
let me not stray from your commands.

I treasure your promise in my heart
lest I sin against you.
Blessed are you, O Lord;
teach me your statutes.

With my tongue I have recounted
the decrees of your lips.
I rejoiced to do your will
as they all riches were mine.

I will ponder all your precepts
and consider your paths.
I take delight in your statutes;
I will not forget your word.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son,
and to the Holy Spirit.

As it was in the beginning, is now,
and will be forever. Amen.

Psalm 119(118) 17-32

Bless your servant and I shall live
and obey your word.
Open my eyes that I may see
the wonders of your law.

I am a pilgrim on the earth;
show me your commands.
My soul is ever consumed
as I long for your decrees.

You threaten the proud, the accursed,
who turn from your commands.
Relieve me from scorn and contempt
for I do your will.

Though the princes sit plotting against me
I ponder on your statutes.
Your will is my delight;
your statutes are my counselors.

My soul lies in the dust;
by your will revive me.
I declared my ways and you answered;
teach me your statutes.

Make me grasp the way of your precepts
and I will muse on your wonders.
My soul pines away with grief;
by your word raise me up.

Keep me from the way of error
and teach me your law.
I have chosen the way of truth
with your decrees before me.

I bind myself to do your will;
Lord, do not disappoint me.
I will run the way of your commands;
you give freedom to my heart.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son,
and to the Holy Spirit.

As it was in the beginning, is now,
and will be forever. Amen.

All: Oh Judah and Jerusalem, fear not: Tomorrow you will go out and the Lord will be with you, alleluia.

Leader (1 Tim 1:17): To the king of ages, incorruptible, invisible, the only God, honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.

All: Thanks be to God.

Leader: Christ, Son of the living God, have mercy on us.
All: Christ, Son of the living God, have mercy on us.
Leader: Who are to come into the world.
All: Have mercy on us.
Leader: Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
All: Christ, Son of the living God, have mercy on us.

Leader: Arise, O Christ, and help us.
All: And deliver us for the sake of your name.

Leader: O Lord, hear my prayer.
All: And let my cry come to you.

Leader: Let us pray.
O Lord, our heavenly Father, Almighty and everlasting God, who has safely brought us to the beginning of this day: defend us by your mighty power; and grant that this day we may not fall into sin, but that all our doings may be ordered by your governance, to do always what is righteous in your sight.
Through Jesus Christ, your Son our Lord, Who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, forever and ever.
All: Amen.

Leader: O Lord, hear my prayer.
All: And let my cry come to you.

Leader: Let us bless the Lord.
All: Thanks be to God.

Martyrology

Leader: The 25th day of December. The 24th of the moon.

When ages beyond number had run their course from the creation of the world, when God in the beginning created heaven and earth, and formed man in his own likeness;
When century upon century had passed since the Almighty set his bow in the clouds after the Great Flood as a sign of covenant and peace;
In the 21st century since Abraham, our father in faith, came out of the Ur of the Chaldees;
In the 13th century since the People of Israel were led by Moses in the Exodus from Egypt;
Around the thousandth year since David was anointed king;
In the 65th week of the prophecy of Daniel;
In the 194th Olympiad;
In the year 752 since the foundation of the City of Rome;
In the 42nd year of the reign of Caesar Octavian Augustus,
the whole world being at peace,
Jesus Christ, eternal God and Son of the eternal father, desiring to consecrate the world by His most loving presence, was conceived by the Holy Spirit, and when nine months had passed since His conception,
Was born of the Virgin Mary in Bethlehem of Judah, and was made man:
The Nativity of our Lord Jesus Christ according to the flesh.

At Rome, the commemoration of St. Anastasia, martyr of Sirmium, in Pannonia.

Also at Rome, in the cemetery of Apronianus on the Via Latina, St. Eugenia, martyr.

Also at Rome, on the Via Latina, St.s Jovin and Basileus, martyrs.

In Barcelona, in Spain, St. Peter Nolasco, priest, who with St. Raymond of Penyafort and King James I of Aragon, founded, as is told, the order of the Mercedarians of Our Lady of Mercy for the freeing of captives. He ardently gave himself to this work to procure peace and free Christians from the yoke of slavery in the time of the infidels.

In Krakow, in Poland, St. Albert Chmielowski, religious, famous painter, who gave himself to the poor being good to all, and founded the Congregations of the Brothers and Sisters of the Third Order of St. Francis, servants of the poor.

And elsewhere many other holy martyrs, confessors, and holy virgins.

All: Thanks be to God.

Leader: Precious in the sight of the Lord.
All: Is the death of his saints.

Leader: Holy Mary and all the Saints,
intercede for us with the Lord, our God,
so that we may merit His help and salvation,
who lives and reigns for ever and ever.

All: Amen.

Leader: God come to my assistance;
All: Lord, make haste to help me.
Leader: God come to my assistance;
All: Lord, make haste to help me.
Leader: God come to my assistance;
All: Lord, make haste to help me.
Leader: Glory to the Father, and to the Son,
and to the Holy Spirit.
All: As it was in the beginning, is now,
and will be forever. Amen.

Leader: Lord, have mercy.
All: Christ, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.

Leader: Our Father, prayed silently, until:
And lead us not into temptation:
All: But deliver us from evil.

Leader: Show forth your work to your servants;
let your glory shine on their children.
All: Let the favor of the Lord be upon us:
give success to the work of our hands,
give success to the work of our hands.

Leader: Glory to the Father, and to the Son,
and to the Holy Spirit.
All: As it was in the beginning, is now,
and will be forever. Amen.

Leader: Let us pray.
O Lord, Almighty God,
King of heaven and earth, Savior of the world,
bless, lead, rule and govern
our hearts and bodies,
our senses, words and deeds today,
following your law and commandments,
that here and for eternity
with your help we may be saved in freedom.
Who lives and reigns for ever and ever.
All: Amen.

Lector: Pray, father, the blessing.
Leader: May Almighty God arrange our deeds and our day
in His peace. Amen.
Lector (Is 33:2): Lord, be gracious to us; for you we wait. Be our strength every morning, our salvation in time of trouble!
All: Amen.

Leader: Our help + is in the name of the Lord,
All: Who made heaven and earth.
Leader: Let us bless.
All: God.
Leader: May the Lord bless us, + protect us from all evil
and bring us to everlasting life.
And may the souls of the faithful departed,
through the mercy of God, rest in peace.
All: Amen.