Come and listen with new ears
to the sounds and symbols
of Christmas
May you go often to the Bethlehem of your heart
and visit the One who offers you peace.
May you bring this peace into our world.
Out of the Ordinary, Joyce Rupp
12
2010
House Blessing Continue
1. O Come, O Come, Emmanuel
O come, O come, Emmanuel,
And ransom captive Israel
That mourns in lonely exile here
Until the Son of God appear.
Refrain
Rejoice, rejoice! Emmanuel. Shall come to thee O Israel.
2. O Come All Ye Faithful
Adeste fideles, Laeti triumphantes;
Venite, venite in Bethlehem; Natum videte Regem Angelorum;
Refrain
Reader
Welcoming God, we open this front door as a sign of the openness of our
hearts. May each one who enters here be received with the warmth of
your kindness. As each one leaves, may they have experienced the
blessedness of your gracious presence in us.
Leader
All those who live or visit this home are “gift” to each other. As a constant
reminder of this truth, we begin this year by writing on the inside frame of
the entrance the year (put year starting Jan. 1) and call upon the three
kings, Caspar, Melchior and Balthazar to help us to see each other and
all guests as bearers of God’s gifts.
Venite adoremus, venite adoremus, venite adoremus, Dominum.
20+C+M+B+(year staring Jan. 1)
(use the chalk and write these numbers and letters above the door frame)
Verse 2
Sing, choirs of angels, sing in exultation.
Sing, all ye citizens of heav’n above!
Glory to God, all glory in the highest;
All: God of love, bless all those who live and visit this dwelling. May your
love be evident throughout this home. Amen.
Refrain
Sing
O come let us adore him, O come, let us adore him,
O come let us adore him, Christ, the Lord!
3. What Child is This?
Verse 2
Why lies he in such mean estate, where ox and ass are feeding?
Good Christian, fear; for sinners here the silent Word is pleading.
Glorious now behold Him arise,
King and God and Sacrifice.
Alleluia, alleluia, sounds through the earth and skies.
Refrain
O star of wonder, star of night, star with royal beauty bright.
Westward leading, still proceeding, guide us to they perfect light.
Refrain
This, this is Christ the King, whom shepherds guard and angels sing;
Haste, haste to bring him laud, the babe, the son of Mary.
Verse 3
So bring him incense, gold, and myrrh, come peasant, king, to own him;
The King of kings salvation brings, let loving hearts enthrone him. (Refrain)
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A House Blessing for the New Year
(Pray on the Feast of the Epiphany
2nd Sunday after Christmas)
4. It Came Upon a Midnight Clear
Verse 1
It came upon the midnight clear, that glorious song of old,
From angels bending near the earth to touch their harps of gold:
“Peace on the earth, good will to all from heav’n’s all gracious King.”
The world in solemn stillness lay, to hear the angels sing.
Verse 2
Reader One: Peace to this house.
All: And to all who live here.
Still through the cloven skies they come, with peaceful wings unfurled,
And still their heav’nly music floats o’er all the weary world;
Above its sad and lowly plains they bend on hov’ring wing.
And ever o’er its babel sounds the blessed angels sing.
Verse 3
We Three Kings
We three kings of Orient are: bearing gifts we traverse afar.
Fields and fountain, moor and mountain, following yonder star.
Refrain
O star of wonder, star of night, star with royal beauty bright.
Westward leading, still proceeding, guide us to they perfect light.
Gospel: Matthew 2:12
“On entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his
mother; and they knelt down and paid him homage.
Then opening their treasure chests, they offered him
gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.”
And ye, beneath life’s crushing load, whose forms are
bending low,
Who toils along the climbing way with painful steps and
slow,
Look now! For glad and golden hours come swiftly on the wing;
O rest beside the weary road and hear the angels sing.
Verse 4
For, lo, the days are hastening on, by prophet bards foretold,
When with the ever circling years comes ‘round the age of gold;
When peace shall overall the earth its ancient splendors fling,
And all the world give back the song which now the angels sing.
5. Angels We Have Heard on High
Northern Alps
Reader: Lord, Jesus, companion on our journey, you have made a
home in our hearts. As we gather to bless this space, may our union
with you help this house to become a home. May all who enter here
be as welcomed in our hearts as we are in yours.
Angels we have heard on high sweetly singing o’er the plains.
And the mountains in reply, echo back their joyous strains.
Southern Alps (with bells)
Gloria, in excelsis Deo! Gloria in excelsis Deo!
Southern Alps
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Shepherds, why this jubilee? Why your joyous strains prolong?
Say what may the tidings be which inspire your heav’nly song.
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Northern Alps (with bells)
Gloria, in excelsis Deo! Gloria in excelsis Deo!
Prayer at Christmas
(Pray at Christmas dinner or at family gathering)
Northern Alps
Come to Bethlehem and see, Him whose birth the angels sing.
Come, adore on bended knee; Christ, the Lord, the new-born King.
Southern Alps (with bells)
Gloria, in excelsis Deo! Gloria in excelsis Deo!
Southern Alps
See him in a manger laid, whom the angels praise above.
Mary, Joseph, lend your aid, while we raise our hearts in love.
All (with bells)
Gloria, in excelsis Deo! Gloria in excelsis Deo!
6. O Holy Night
Verse 3
Led by the light of Faith serenely beaming,
With glowing hearts by His cradle we stand.
So, led by light of a star sweetly gleaming,
Here came the wise men from Orient land.
The King of Kings lay thus in lowly manger,
In all our trials born to be our friend;
He knows our need, Our weakness is no stranger;
Behold your King! Before Him lowly bend!
Behold your King! Before Him lowly bend!
Praying a Christmas Song
Relax and be aware of my breathing
Pray the verse, becoming familiar with it
Reflect on what the song says to me
Respond by listening for a word or phrase that moves me
Rest quietly in God’s presence
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Lord, on this Christmas Day,
in the midst of the joy of our celebrations,
help us recall what is truly important about this day.
In the midst of opening presents,
help us remember the love that each gift represents.
In the midst of Christmas dinner,
help us remember that you are the source of all life.
In the midst of family gatherings,
help us remember that you are the fullness of all joy.
And in the midst of Christmas Mass,
help us remember the supreme act of love, sacrifice,
and humility that we celebrate on this Christmas day
when your Son came as a helpless, unknown baby
and grew to be the life and light of the world.
Amen.
©Liturgical Publications Inc.
Candy Cane Prayer
Lord Jesus, may these candy canes, shaped like a
shepherd’s staff, be for us a reminder that you are
the Good Shepherd. Wherever these candy canes
are hung, may they carry with them the blessing of
God. May all who taste them experience the joy of
God upon their tongues and in their hearts. Amen.
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Blessing of a Manger
7. We Three Kings
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Verse 2 (men, boys)
Leader
Praised be Jesus Christ, who dwells among us, now and for ever.
Born a King on Bethlehem’s plain,
Gold I bring to crown him again;
King forever, ceasing never over us all to reign.
All: Amen
Reader
As we prepare to celebrate the birth of Christ, we pause to bless this
Christmas manger scene. The practice of erecting such mangers was
begun by Saint Francis of Assisi as a means to set forth the message of
Christmas.
When we look upon these figures, the Christmas gospel comes alive and
we are moved to rejoice in the mystery of the incarnation of the Son of God.
Prayer of Blessing
God of every nation and people,
From the very beginning of creation
You have made manifest your love:
When our need for a Savior was great
You sent your Son to be born of the Virgin Mary.
To our lives Jesus brings joy and peace, justice, mercy and love.
Refrain
Star of wonder, star of night, star with royal beauty bright,
Westward leading, still proceeding, guide us to the perfect light.
Verse 3 (women, girls)
Frankincense to offer have I: incense owns a Deity nigh;
Pray’r and praising, gladly raising, worship him God on high. Refrain
Verse 4 (all)
Myrrh is mine; its bitter perfume breathes a life of gathering gloom;
Sorr’wing, sighing, bleeding, dying, sealed in the stone-cold tomb. Refrain
8. Joy to the World
Joy to the world! The Lord is come’ Let earth receive her King;
Let ev’ry heart, prepare him room,
(section 1)
Lord,
Bless all who look upon this manger;
May it remind us of the humble birth of Jesus,
And raise up our thoughts to him,
Who is God-with-us and Saviour of all,
And who lives and reigns for ever and ever. Amen.
And heav’n and nature sing,
Leader
May Christ our God enlighten our hearts and minds, now and forever. Amen
Joy to the world! The Savior reigns: Let us our songs employ;
While fields and floods, rocks, hills and plains
Prayer taken from Book of Blessings, Catholic Book Publishing Co. New York, 1989
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(section 2)
And heav’n and nature sing,
(everyone)
And heav’n and heav’n and nature sing.
Verse 2
(section 1)
Repeat the sounding joy,
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(section 2)
Repeat the sounding joy,
Verse 2
(everyone)
Silent night! Holy night!
Shepherds quake at the sight;
Glories stream from heaven afar
Heav’nly hosts sing “alleluia!
Christ the Saviour is born, Christ the Savor is born.”
Repeat, repeat the sounding joy.
Verse 3
He rules the world with truth and grace,
And makes the nations prove
The glories of his righteousness,
Verse 3
Silent night! Holy night!
Son of God, love’s pure light
Radiant beams from thy holy face,
With the dawn of redeeming grace,
Jesus, Lord, at they birth, Jesus, Lord at they birth.
(section 1)
And wonders of his love,
(section 2)
And wonders of his love,
(everyone)
And wonders, wonders of his love.
11. We Wish You A Merry Christmas
We wish you a merry Christmas,
We wish you a merry Christmas
We wish you a merry Christmas
and a happy New Year. (2x)
9. O Little Town of Bethlehem
Verse 3
How silently, how silently, They wondrous gift is giv’n!
So God imparts to human hearts the blessing of his heav’n.
No ear may hear his coming, But in this world of sin,
Where meek souls will receive him, still the dear Christ enters in.
Verse 4
O holy Child of Bethlehem! Descend to us, we pray;
Cast out our sin and enter in; be born in us today.
We hear the Christmas angels the great glad tidings tell;
O come to us, abide with us, Our Lord Emmanuel!
Polish Wafer (Oplatek)
The sacred white wafers, much like those used for Holy
Communion, are shared with each person present at a Christmas
celebration. During the exchange, good wishes are expressed.
Possible blessing:
• May a bright star always shine over your home.
• May the spirit of Christmas be always in your heart.
• May Christ be born in your heart each day.
10. Silent Night
Verse 1
Silent night! Holy night!
All is calm, all is bright
Round yon Virgin Mother and child!
Holy Infant so tender and mild,
Sleep in heavenly peace, sleep in heavenly peace.
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(The Polish Wafers can usually be obtained from
local Catholic Stores or parishes with a Polish community)
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