First Sunday of Advent

Purple

1st Class

[STATION AT ST. MARY'S MAJOR]

This First Sunday of Advent or the Fourth Before Christmas is the first day of the liturgical year. The Mass prepares us this day for the double coming (adventus) of mercy and justice. That is why St. Paul tells us, in the Epistle, to cast off sin in order that, being ready for the coming of Christ as our Savior, we may also be ready for His coming as our Judge, of which we learn in the Gospel. Let us prepare ourselves, by pious aspirations and by the reformation of our life, for this twofold coming. Jesus Our Lord will reward those who yearn for Him and await Him: "Those who trust in Him shall not be confounded."


INTROIT ¤ Ps. 24. 1-3
	Ad te levavi animam meam: Deus meus, in te confido, non erubescam: neque irrideant me inimici mei: etenim universi, qui te exspectant non confundentur. -- Vias tuas, Domine, demonstra mihi: et semitas tuas edoce me. V.: Gloria Patri et Filio et Spiritui Sancto, qui erat in principio, et nunc, et semper, et in saecula saeculorum. Amen. -- Ad te levavi animam meam: Deus meus, in te confido, non erubescam: neque irrideant me inimici mei: etenim universi, qui te exspectant non confundentur.	To Thee have I lifted up my soul: in Thee, O my God, I put my trust, let me not be ashamed: neither let my enemies laugh at me: for none of them that wait on Thee shall be confounded. -- (Ps. 24. 4). Show, O Lord, Thy ways to me: and teach me Thy paths. V.: Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Ghost, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. -- To Thee have I lifted up my soul: in Thee, O my God, I put my trust, let me not be ashamed: neither let my enemies laugh at me: for none of them that wait on Thee shall be confounded.
The Gloria in Excelsis is omitted from this day until Christmas Day, except on feasts.

COLLECT
	Excita, quaesumus Domine, potentiam tuam, et veni: ut ab imminentibus peccatorum nostrorum periculis, etmereamur protegente eripi, te liberante salvari. Qui vivas et regnas cum Deo Patre in unitate Spiritus Sancti Deus: per omnia saecula saeculorum.	Stir up Thy power, we beseech Thee, O Lord, and come: that from the threatening dangers of our sins we may deserve to be rescued by Thy protection, and to be saved by Thy deliverance. Who livest and reignest, with God the Father, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, world without end.

EPISTLE ¤Rom. 13. 11-14 Lesson from the Epistle of Blessed Paul the Apostle to the Romans. Lectio Epistolae beati Pauli Apostoli ad Romanos. [It is now the hour for us to rise from sleep . . . Let us therefore cast off the works of darkness . . . and walk honestly.]
	Fratres: Scientes, quia hora est iam nos de somno surgere. Nunc enim propior est nostra salus, quam cum credidimus. Nox praecessit, dies autem appropinquavit. Abiiciamus ergo opera tenebrarum, et induamur arma lucis. Sicut in die honeste ambulemus: non in comessationibus, et ebrietatibus, non in cubilibus, et impudicitiis, non in contentione, et aemulatione, sed induimini Dominum Iesum Christum.	Brethren, knowing that is is now the hour for us to rise from sleep. For now our salvation is nearer than when we believed. The night is past and the day is at hand. Let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and put on the armor of light. Let us walk honestly, as in the day: not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and impurities, not in contention and envy: but put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ.

GRADUAL ¤Ps. 24. 3, 4
	Universi, qui te exspectant, non confundentur, Domine. V.: Vias tuas, Domine, notas fac mihi: et semitas tuas edoce me. Alleluia, alleluia. V.: Ostende nobis, Domine, misericordiam tuam, et salutare tuum da nobis. Alleluia.	All they that wait on Thee shall not be confounded, O Lord. V.: Show, O Lord, Thy ways to me: and teach me Thy paths. Alleluia, alleluia. V.: (Ps. 84. 8) Show us, O Lord, Thy mercy; and grant us Thy salvation.
When on the Ferias of Advent the Mass of the Sunday is used, the Alleluia and its verses are not said, but only the Gradual.

GOSPEL ¤Luke 21. 25-33. † Continuation of the holy Gospel according to St. Luke. † Sequentia sancti Evangelii secundum Lucam [We learn in this Gospel of the second coming of Christ: to render to each one according to his works.]
	In illo tempore: Dixit Iesus discipulis suis: Erunt signa in sole, et luna, et stellis, et in terrispressura gentium prae confusione sonitus maris, et fluctuum: arescentibus hominibus prae timore et exspectatione, quae supervenient universo orbi: nam virtutes caelorum movebuntur. Et tunc videbunt Filium hominis venientem in nube cum potestate magna, et maiestate. His autem fieri incipientibus, respicite, et levate capita vestra: quoniam appropinquat redemptio vestra. Et dixit illis similitudinem:Videte ficulneam, et omnes arbores: cum producunt iam ex se fructum, scitis quoniam prope est regnum Dei. Amen dico vobis, quia nonpraeteribit generatio haec, donec omnia fiant. Caelum et terra transibunt: verba autem mea non transibunt.	At that time Jesus said to His disciples: There shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, by reason of the confusion of the roaring of the sea and of the waves: men withering away for fear and expectations of what shall come upon the whole world. For the powers of heaven shall be moved. And then they shall see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with great power and majesty. But when these things begin to come to pass, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is at hand. And He spoke to them a similitude: See the fig tree and all the trees: when they now shoot forth their fruit, you know that summer is nigh. So you also, when you shall see these things come to pass, know that the kingdom of God is at hand. Amen, I say to you, this generation shall not pass away till all things be fulfilled. Heaven and earth shall pass away: but My words shall not pass away.

OFFERTORY ¤Ps. 24. 1-3.
	Ad te levavi animam meam: Deus meus, in te confido, non erubescam: neque irrideant me inimici mei: etenim universi, qui te exspectant non confundentur.	To Thee have I lifted up my soul: in Thee, O my God, I put my trust, let me not be ashamed: neither let my enemies laugh at me: for none of them that wait on Thee shall be confounded.

SECRET
	Haec sacra nos, Domine, potenti virtute mundatos, ad suum faciant puriores venire principium. Per Dominum nostrum Iesum Christum, Filium tuum, qui tecum vivit et regnat in unitate Spiritus Sancti Deus, per omnia saecula saeculorum.	May these holy mysteries, O Lord, cleanse us by their powerful virtue and make us to come with greater purity to Him who is their source. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end.

PREFACE Preface of Advent
	Vere dignum et iustum est, aequum et salutare, nos tibi semper, et ubique gratias agere: Domine sancte, Pater omnipotens, aeterne Deus, per Christum Dominum nostrum; quem, perdito humanum generi, Salvatorem misericors et fidelis promisisti, cuius veritas instrueret inscios, sanctitas iustificaret impios, virtus adiuvaret infirmos. Dum ergo prope est ut veniat quem missurus es, et dies affulget liberationis nostrae, in hac promissionum tuarum fide piis gaudiis exsultamus. Et ideo cum Angelis et Archangelis, cum Thronis et Dominationibus, cumque omni militiae caelestis exercitus, hymnum gloriae tuae canimus, sine fine dicentes:	It is truly meet and just, right and for our salvation, that we should in all times, and in all places, give thanks to Thee, holy Lord, Father almighty, eternal God, through Christ our Lord. Whom Thou, clement and faithful, promised as a Savior to the lost race of men; Whose truth instructed the ignorant, Whose sanctity justified the impious, Whose virtues strengthened the weak. Therefore while the advent approaches of Him Who was sent, and the day of our liberation draws ever nearer, we exalt with pious joys in the confidence of Thy promises. And therefore, with angels and archangels, with Thrones and Dominations, and with all the host of the heavenly army, we sing a hymn to Thy glory, ever saying:
Or the celebrant may say:
Preface of the Most Holy Trinity
	Vere dignum et iustum est, aequum et salutare, nos tibi semper, et ubique gratias agere: Domine sancte, Pater omnipotens, aeterne Deus. Qui cum unigenito Filio tuo, et Spiritu Sancto, unus es Deus, unus es Dominus: non in unius singularitate personae, sed in unius Trinitate substantiae. Quod enim de tua gloria, revelante te, credimus, hoc de Filio tuo, hoc de Spiritu Sancto, sine differentia discretionis sentimus. Ut in confessione verae, sempiternaeque Deitatis, et in personis proprietas, et in essentia unitas, et in maiestate adoretur aequalitas. Quam laudant Angeli atque Archangeli, Cherubim quoque ac Seraphim: qui non cessant clamare quotidie, una voce dicentes:	It it truly meet and just, right and for our salvation, that we should at all times, and in all places, give thanks unto Thee, O holy Lord, Father almighty, everlasting God; Who, together with Thine only-begotten Son, and the Holy Ghost, art one God, one Lord: not in the oneness of a single Person, but in the Trinity of one substance. For what we believe by Thy revelation of Thy glory, the same do we believe of Thy Son, the same of the Holy Ghost, without difference or separation. So that in confessing the true and everlasting Godhead, distinction in persons, unity in essence, and equality in majesty may be adored. Which the Angels and Archangels, the Cherubim also and Seraphim do praise: who cease not daily to cry out, with one voice saying:

COMMUNION ¤Ps. 84. 13
	Dominus dabit benignitatem: et terra nostra dabit fructum suum.	The Lord will give goodness: and our earth shall yield her fruit.

POSTCOMMUNION
	Suscipiamus, Domine, misericordiam tuam in medio templi tui: ut reparationis nostrae ventura solemniacongruis honoribus praecedamus. Per Dominum nostrum, Iesum Christum, Filium tuum, qui tecum vivit et regnat in unitate Spiritus Sancti Deus, per omnia saecula saeculorum.	May we receive, O Lord, Thy mercy in the midst of Thy temple, that we may prepare with due honor for the approaching feast of our redemption. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end.