The Solemnity of the Nativity of the Lord

The Solemnity of the Nativity of the Lord

St. Michael the Archangel R O M A N C A T H O L I C P A R I S H

P I T T S B U R G H , P A

St. Bernard Church

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~ PRELUDE TO THE MIDNIGHT MASS ~ Epistle Sonata in E-Flat Major, K.67 Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

Weihnacthen Arr. Richard Proulx

Welcome, welcome, Christmas Evening, bring to people, great and small, Peace on earth with angels singing, “Christ the Lord is Savior of all.”

Behold A Mystical Rose Peter Latona

Behold a Mystical Rose from thorny stem hath sprung; Of David’s lineage God chose to give to the world his Son.

All hail, thou House of Gold, of whom ancient prophets foretold; Thy royal praises we sing; thy womb was the court of our King.

Behold the Mother of God, yet lowliest daughter of men; At her assenting nod God gave his Son to men.

All hail, thou Morning Star, who brought Blessed Light from afar, Dispel the darkness of night, illumine our path with thy light.

Behold the cause of our joy, who bore the infinite Child, To Satan’s kingdom destroy and men to God reconcile.

All hail, thou Gate of Heav’n, through thee all graces are giv’n; Through thee Salvation came; all praised and blest be thy name!

Lo, How A Rose E’er Blooming Johannes Brahms

Arr. John Jay Hilfiger

Lo, How A Rose E’er Blooming Hugo Distler

Lo, how a rose e’er blooming, From tender stem hath sprung.

Of Jesse’s lineage coming, As men of old have sung; It came, a flow’ret bright, Amid the cold of winter, When half spent was the night.

Isaiah ‘twas foretold it, The Rose I have in mind, With Mary we behold it, The virgin mother kind;

To show God’s love aright, She bore to men a Savior, When half spent was the night. This Flower, whose fragrance tender With sweetness fills the air,

Dispels with glorious splendour The darkness everywhere; True man, yet very God! From Sin and death He save us, And lightens every load.

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In the Bleak Midwinter Harold Darke

In the bleak midwinter frosty winds made moan,

Earth stood hard as iron, water like a stone; Snow had fallen, snow on snow, snow on snow,

In the bleak midwinter long ago.

Our God, Heav'n cannot hold him nor earth sustain; Heav'n and earth shall flee away when he comes to reign:

In the bleak midwinter a stable place sufficed. The Lord God Almighty Jesus Christ.

Enough for him, whom cherubim worship night and day, A breastful of milk and a mangerful of hay:

Enough for him, whom angels fall down before, The ox and ass and camel which adore.

What can I give him poor as I am? If I were a shepherd I would bring a lamb, If I were a Wise Man I would do my part, Yet what I can I give him, give my heart.

Coventry Carol Arr. James O’Brien

There Is No Rose Philip Stopford

There is no rose of such virtue, as is the rose that bare Jesu. Alleluia.

For in this rose contained was heaven and earth in little space. Resmiranda. By that rose we may well see there be one God in persons three. Pares forma.

The angels sungen the shepherds to: Gloria in excelsis Deo. Gaudeamus. Leave all this worldly mirth, and follow we this joyful birth. Transeamus.

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Behold the Rose Chaz Bowers

The whispered breath of angels stirs the silent drifting snow; ‘Neath darkened skies the earth still sleeps untouched by stars’ soft glow,

While crowned with thorns a blood-red rose springs forth from snow-swept field, What Mary holds within her heart to man yet unrevealed.

Behold the Rose, the herald of God’s prophecy foretold: the coming of our Savior, his glory to unfold. The child of Mary’s virgin womb springs forth upon the earth:

A flower born of Jesse’s stem, a miracle His birth. O Son of God, O Prince of Peace, O Glorious King of Kings,

O promise of salvation the newborn Christ-Child brings. Behold the Rose whose sweet perfume of joy doth fill the air, for mankind soon to be redeemed in answer to its prayer.

The world awakens as the hopes of man are realized, A blazing star lights up the earth, hosannas fill the skies, And awestruck shepherds bow before the blessed little one,

While angels sing with joyful praise to God’s most holy Son. Behold the Rose that e’er blooms, bright beacon for our race; its holy chalice over flows with God’s redeeming grace.

O Holy Night Adolphe Adam

The Proclamation of the Nativity of Our Lord Jesus Christ (All stand)

The Twenty-fifth day of December, 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 twenty-first century since Abraham, our father in faith, came out of Ur of the Chaldees; in the thirteenth 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 sixty-fifth week of the prophecy of Daniel; in the one hundred and ninety-fourth Olympiad;

in the year seven hundred and fifty-two since the foundation of the City of Rome; in the forty second 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,

(All genuflect) was born of the Virgin Mary (All stand) in Bethlehem of Judah, and was made man: The Nativity of our Lord Jesus Christ according to the flesh.

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ENTRANCE HYMN O Come, All Ye Faithful INTROIT CHANT (12:00 A.M.) Dominus dixit

(11:00 A.M.) Puer natus est

Dominus dixit ad me: Fílius meus es tu,

ego hódie génui te.

The Lord said unto me: You are my Son, today I have begotten you.

Puer natus est nobis, et fílius datus est nobis: cujus impérium super húmerum ejus:

et vocábitur nomen ejus, magni consílii Angelus.

Unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given. Dominion is on his shoulder and his name shall be called the Angel of Great Counsel.

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PENITENTIAL ACT Mass VIII

GLORY TO GOD Mass VIII

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GLORY TO GOD (12:00 A.M. AND 11:00 A.M.) Glory to God

Chaz Bowers

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The Liturgy of the Word

The readings for the 4:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. Vigil Masses can be found at number 1013 in the hymnal, or at

https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/122521-vigil.cfm

The readings for the 12:00 a.m. Mass during the Night can be found at number 1014 in the hymnal, or at https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/122521-night.cfm

The readings for the 7:00 a.m. Mass at Dawn can be found at number 1015 in the hymnal, or at https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/122521-dawn.cfm

The readings for the 9:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. Masses during the Day can be found at number 1016 in the hymnal, or at

https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/122521-day.cfm

FIRST READING

RESPONSORIAL PSALM

(4:00 P.M. AND 6:00 P.M.) Psalm 89 Columba Kelly

(12:00 A.M.) Psalm 96

Richard Proulx

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RESPONSORIAL PSALM

(7:00 A.M.) Psalm 97

Tony Alonso

(9:00 A.M. AND 11:00 A.M.) Psalm 98

Richard Rice

SECOND READING

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION Alleluia for Christmas

Chaz Bowers

GOSPEL

HOMILY

PROFESSION OF FAITH

At the words, “And by the Holy Spirit… and became man,” all genuflect on one knee.

UNIVERSAL PRAYER

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The Liturgy of the Eucharist

OFFERTORY HYMN Of the Father’s Love Begotten

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OFFERTORY CHANT (12:00 A.M.) Læténtur coeli

(11:00 A.M.) Tui sunt coeli

OFFERTORY ANTHEM (12:00 A.M. AND 11:00 A.M.) Love Came Down at Christmas

John Rutter Love came down at Christmas, Love all lovely, Love divine; Love was born at Christmas, Star and angels gave the sign.

Worship we the Godhead, Love incarnate, Love divine; Worship we our Jesus: But wherewith for sacred sign?

Love shall be our token, Love be yours and love be mine; Love to God and all men, Love for plea, and gift, and sign.

HOLY, HOLY A Community Mass Richard Proulx

Læténtur coeli, et exsúltet terra ante fáciem Dómini: quóniam venit.

Let the heavens rejoice and let the earth be glad before the face of the Lord for he comes.

Tui sunt coeli et tua est terra: orbem terrarium, et plenitúdinem

ejus tu fundásti: justítia et judicium præparatio sedis tuæ.

Yours are the heavens, yours is the earth, The world and the fullness thereof have been founded by you. Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne.

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MYSTERY OF FAITH A Community Mass Richard Proulx

AMEN A Community Mass

Richard Proulx

LORD’S PRAYER

LAMB OF GOD A Community Mass Richard Proulx

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Guidelines for the Reception of Holy Communion

Catholic Christians in union with the See of Rome, in the state of grace, who have kept the normative fast, and who are unaware of any mortal sin, may come forward to receive Holy Communion. While it is not permissive to distribute Holy Communion to non-Catholic Christians, such persons are most welcome to come forward for a blessing. Those persons desirous of a priestly blessing should simply cross their arms so as to indicate the blessing from the priest.

COMMUNION CHANT (12:00 A.M.) In splendóribus

(11:00 A.M.) Vidérunt omnes

In splendóribus sanctórum, ex útero ante lucíferum

génui te.

Amidst the splendors of the heavenly sanctuary, from the womb, before the morning star, I have begotten you.

Vidérunt omnes fines terræ salutáre Dei nostri.

All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation which comes from our God.

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COMMUNION HYMN The First Nowell

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COMMUNION HYMN Silent Night Arr. Chaz Bowers

COMMUNION ANTHEM (12:00 A.M. AND 11:00 A.M.) Midnight Clear Russell Schulz-Widmar

It came upon a 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 heaven’s gracious king.” The world in solemn stillness lay to hear the angels sing.

Still through the cloven skies they come with peaceful wings unfurled, And still their heavenly music floats o’er all the weary world; Above its sad and lowly plains they bend on hovering wing,

And ever o’er its babel sounds the blessed angels sing. Yet with the woes of sin and strife the world has suffered long;

Beneath the heavenly hymn have rolled two thousand years of wrong; And warring humankind hears not the tidings which they bring; Oh hush the noise and cease your strife and hear the angels sing!

For lo! The days are hast’ning on, by prophets seen of old, When with the ever-circling years shall come the time foretold,

When peace shall over all the earth its splendors fling, And all the world give back the song which now the angles sing.

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PRAYER TO ST. MICHAEL THE ARCHANGEL

St. Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle.

Be our protection against the wickedness and snares of the devil.

May God rebuke him we humbly pray; and do Thou,

O Prince of the Heavenly Host, by the Power of God,

cast into hell Satan and all the evil spirits,

who prowl about the world seeking the ruin of souls. Amen.

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RECESSIONAL HYMN Hark! the Herald Angels Sing

ORGAN VOLUNTARIES

(4:00 P.M, 6:00 P.M, AND 9:00 A.M.) Hear, King of Angels, from Christmas Oratorio Johann Sebastian Bach, arr. Layton James

(12:00 A.M. AND 11:00 A.M.) Grand Choeur in C Major, (Sortie pour Noël) César Franck, Arr. Chaz Bowers

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Merry Christmas to our Parish Family!

The Reverend Brian Welding, Pastor The Reverend Thomas Gramc, Parochial Vicar

The Reverend Anthony Sciarappa, Parochial Vicar The Reverend Michael Yaksick, Parish Chaplain

The Reverend Gilbert Puznakoski, Parish Chaplain The Reverend Mr. Fred Eckhardt, Deacon

The Reverend Mr. John Mayer, Deacon The Reverend Mr. Eric Schorr, Deacon

Music Ministry of St. Michael the Archangel Parish Mr. Chaz Bowers, Director of Music

Mr. Aaron Sproul, Associate Director of Music Mr. Kevin Litzinger, Assistant Organist

Mia Bonnewell, Administrative Assistant for Music Ministry

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PLEASE LEAVE THIS WORSHIP AID IN YOUR PEW AT THE CONCLUSION OF MASS.

Music reprinted under One License #A-719911. All rights reserved. Used with permission. ©2021 St. Michael the Archangel Parish.