Readings for the Vigil MassReadings for the Mass during the NightReadings for the Mass at DawnReadings for the Mass during the Day Vigil MassMass during the NightMass at DawnMass during the Day - - - Lectionary for Mass for Use in the Dioceses of the United States, second typical edition, Copyright © 2001, 1998, 1997, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine; Psalm refrain © 1968, 1981, 1997, International Committee on English in the Liturgy, Inc. All rights reserved. Neither this work nor any part of it may be reproduced, distributed, performed or displayed in any medium, including electronic or digital, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

Reading I 2 Sm 7:1-5, 8b-12, 14a, 16 When King David was settled in his palace, and the LORD had given him rest from his enemies on every side, he said to Nathan the prophet, “Here I am living in a house of cedar, while the ark of God dwells in a tent!”  Nathan answered the king, “Go, do whatever you have in mind, for the LORD is with you.”  But that night the LORD spoke to Nathan and said: “Go, tell my servant David, ‘Thus says the LORD: Should you build me a house to dwell in? “‘It was I who took you from the pasture and from the care of the flock to be commander of my people Israel.  I have been with you wherever you went, and I have destroyed all your enemies before you.  And I will make you famous like the great ones of the earth.  I will fix a place for my people Israel; I will plant them so that they may dwell in their place without further disturbance. Neither shall the wicked continue to afflict them as they did of old, since the time I first appointed judges over my people Israel. I will give you rest from all your enemies.  The LORD also reveals to you that he will establish a house for you.  And when your time comes and you rest with your ancestors, I will raise up your heir after you, sprung from your loins, and I will make his Kingdom firm. I will be a father to him, and he shall be a son to me. Your house and your Kingdom shall endure forever before me; your throne shall stand firm forever.’” Responsorial Psalm 89:2-3, 4-5, 27 and 29 R.    (2)  For ever I will sing the goodness of the Lord. The favors of the LORD I will sing forever;     through all generations my mouth shall proclaim your faithfulness. For you have said, “My kindness is established forever”;     in heaven you have confirmed your faithfulness. R.    For ever I will sing the goodness of the Lord. “I have made a covenant with my chosen one,     I have sworn to David my servant: Forever will I confirm your posterity     and establish your throne for all generations.” R.    For ever I will sing the goodness of the Lord. “He shall say of me, ‘You are my father,     my God, the rock, my savior.’ Forever I will maintain my kindness toward him,     and my covenant with him stands firm.” R.    For ever I will sing the goodness of the Lord. Alleluia R. Alleluia, alleluia. O Radiant Dawn, splendor of eternal light, sun of justice: come and shine on those who dwell in darkness and in the shadow of death. R. Alleluia, alleluia. Gospel Lk 1:67-79 Zechariah his father, filled with the Holy Spirit, prophesied, saying:     “Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel;         for he has come to his people and set them free.     He has raised up for us a mighty Savior,         born of the house of his servant David.     Through his prophets he promised of old         that he would save us from our enemies,         from the hands of all who hate us.     He promised to show mercy to our fathers         and to remember his holy covenant.     This was the oath he swore to our father Abraham:         to set us free from the hand of our enemies,         free to worship him without fear,         holy and righteous in his sight             all the days of our life.     You, my child, shall be called the prophet of the Most High,         for you will go before the Lord to prepare his way,         to give his people knowledge of salvation         by the forgiveness of their sins.     In the tender compassion of our God         the dawn from on high shall break upon us,         to shine on those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death,         and to guide our feet into the way of peace.” - - - Lectionary for Mass for Use in the Dioceses of the United States, second typical edition, Copyright © 2001, 1998, 1997, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine; Psalm refrain © 1968, 1981, 1997, International Committee on English in the Liturgy, Inc. All rights reserved. Neither this work nor any part of it may be reproduced, distributed, performed or displayed in any medium, including electronic or digital, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

Reading 1 Mal 3:1-4, 23-24 Thus says the Lord GOD:Lo, I am sending my messengerto prepare the way before me;And suddenly there will come to the templethe LORD whom you seek,And the messenger of the covenant whom you desire.Yes, he is coming, says the LORD of hosts.But who will endure the day of his coming?And who can stand when he appears?For he is like the refiner's fire,or like the fuller's lye.He will sit refining and purifying silver,and he will purify the sons of Levi,Refining them like gold or like silverthat they may offer due sacrifice to the LORD.Then the sacrifice of Judah and Jerusalemwill please the LORD,as in the days of old, as in years gone by.Lo, I will send youElijah, the prophet,Before the day of the LORD comes,the great and terrible day,To turn the hearts of the fathers to their children,and the hearts of the children to their fathers,Lest I come and strikethe land with doom. Responsorial Psalm Ps 25:4-5ab, 8-9, 10 and 14 R. (see Luke 21:28) Lift up your heads and see; your redemption is near at hand.Your ways, O LORD, make known to me;teach me your paths,Guide me in your truth and teach me,for you are God my savior.R. Lift up your heads and see; your redemption is near at hand.Good and upright is the LORD;thus he shows sinners the way.He guides the humble to justice,he teaches the humble his way.R. Lift up your heads and see; your redemption is near at hand.All the paths of the LORD are kindness and constancytoward those who keep his covenant and his decrees.The friendship of the LORD is with those who fear him,and his covenant, for their instruction.R. Lift up your heads and see; your redemption is near at hand. Alleluia R. Alleluia, alleluia.O King of all nations and keystone of the Church:come and save man, whom you formed from the dust!R. Alleluia, alleluia. Gospel Lk 1:57-66 When the time arrived for Elizabeth to have her childshe gave birth to a son. Her neighbors and relatives heardthat the Lord had shown his great mercy toward her,and they rejoiced with her. When they came on the eighth day to circumcise the child,they were going to call him Zechariah after his father,but his mother said in reply,"No. He will be called John." But they answered her,"There is no one among your relatives who has this name." So they made signs, asking his father what he wished him to be called. He asked for a tablet and wrote, "John is his name,"and all were amazed.Immediately his mouth was opened, his tongue freed,and he spoke blessing God.Then fear came upon all their neighbors,and all these matters were discussedthroughout the hill country of Judea.All who heard these things took them to heart, saying,"What, then, will this child be?For surely the hand of the Lord was with him." Readings for the Optional Memorial of Saint John of Kanty, Priest - - - Lectionary for Mass for Use in the Dioceses of the United States, second typical edition, Copyright © 2001, 1998, 1997, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine; Psalm refrain © 1968, 1981, 1997, International Committee on English in the Liturgy, Inc. All rights reserved. Neither this work nor any part of it may be reproduced, distributed, performed or displayed in any medium, including electronic or digital, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

Reading I Mi 5:1-4a     Thus says the LORD:     You, Bethlehem-Ephrathah         too small to be among the clans of Judah,     from you shall come forth for me         one who is to be ruler in Israel;     whose origin is from of old,         from ancient times.     Therefore the Lord will give them up, until the time         when she who is to give birth has borne,     and the rest of his kindred shall return         to the children of Israel.     He shall stand firm and shepherd his flock         by the strength of the LORD,         in the majestic name of the LORD, his God;     and they shall remain, for now his greatness         shall reach to the ends of the earth;         he shall be peace. Responsorial Psalm Ps 80:2-3, 15-16, 18-19. R. (4)  Lord, make us turn to you; let us see your face and we shall be saved. O shepherd of Israel, hearken,     from your throne upon the cherubim, shine forth. Rouse your power,     and come to save us. R. Lord, make us turn to you; let us see your face and we shall be saved. Once again, O LORD of hosts,     look down from heaven, and see; take care of this vine,     and protect what your right hand has planted the son of man whom you yourself made strong. R. Lord, make us turn to you; let us see your face and we shall be saved. May your help be with the man of your right hand,     with the son of man whom you yourself made strong. Then we will no more withdraw from you;     give us new life, and we will call upon your name. R. Lord, make us turn to you; let us see your face and we shall be saved. Reading II Heb 10:5-10 Brothers and sisters: When Christ came into the world, he said:     “Sacrifice and offering you did not desire,         but a body you prepared for me;     in holocausts and sin offerings you took no delight.     Then I said, ‘As is written of me in the scroll,     behold, I come to do your will, O God.’“ First he says, “Sacrifices and offerings, holocausts and sin offerings,  you neither desired nor delighted in.” These are offered according to the law. Then he says, :Behold, I come to do your will.” He takes away the first to establish the second. By this “will,”  we have been consecrated  through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. Alleluia Lk 1:38 R. Alleluia, alleluia. Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word. R. Alleluia, alleluia. Gospel Lk 1:39-45 Mary set out and traveled to the hill country in haste to a town of Judah,  where she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the infant leaped in her womb,  and Elizabeth, filled with the Holy Spirit,  cried out in a loud voice and said,  “Blessed are you among women,  and blessed is the fruit of your womb. And how does this happen to me,  that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For at the moment the sound of your greeting reached my ears,  the infant in my womb leaped for joy. Blessed are you who believed that what was spoken to you by the Lord would be fulfilled.” - - - Lectionary for Mass for Use in the Dioceses of the United States, second typical edition, Copyright © 2001, 1998, 1997, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine; Psalm refrain © 1968, 1981, 1997, International Committee on English in the Liturgy, Inc. All rights reserved. Neither this work nor any part of it may be reproduced, distributed, performed or displayed in any medium, including electronic or digital, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.