Vigil of the Nativity or Christmas Eve (From Goffine's Devout Instructions)

O CHRISTIAN, for the love of Christ, and for thine own salvation, occupy thy mind, during this holy night, with holy thoughts and aspirations, in order to make thyself worthy of all the graces which Christ will grant thee on His coming. Consider how St. Joseph and the Blessed Virgin Mary, in obedience to the edict of Caesar, and in perfect submission to the will of God, went to Bethlehem, and, finding no room there, at last entered an open stable, where they were content to stay. Does not the Son of God deserve all our love when He thus humbled Himself for us? Tender Him your heart as an abode, in the following

Prayer of the Church.

O God, Who givest us joy by the annual expectation of our redemption, grant that we may securely see Him coming as our Judge Whom we joyfully receive as our Redeemer, Our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Who livest and reignest with Thee forever. Amen.

– Goffine's Devout Instructions

The Fourth Sunday of Advent (From Goffine's Devout Instructions)

The nearer we approach to the coming of Christ the more the Church sighs in her prayers for the Saviour of mankind. She sings, therefore, at the Introit, “Drop down dew, ye heavens, from above, and let the clouds rain the just” (Is. xlv. 8); “The heavens show forth the glory of God, and the firmament declareth the work of His hands” (Ps. Xviii. 2).

Prayer.

Stir up Thy might, we beseech Thee, O Lord, and come and succor us with great power, that, by the help of Thy grace, the indulgence of Thy mercy may accelerate what our sins impede. Who livest, etc.

EPISTLE, I. Cor. iv. 1-5.

Brethren : Let a man so account of us as of the ministers of Christ, and the dispensers of the mysteries of God. Here now it is required among the dispensers, that a man be found faithful. But to me it is a very small thing to be judged by you, or by man's day, but neither do I judge my own self. For I am not conscious to myself of anything : yet I am not hereby justified : but lie that judgeth me is the Lord. Therefore judge not before the time, until the Lord corne : Who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts : and then shall every man have praise from God.

How should priests be regarded by the faithful?

The Church wishes to inspire us with respect and veneration towards priests, who are ministers of Christ, dispensers of the mysteries of God, and advocates of religion. The Scripture says, “Let the priests that rule well be esteemed worthy of double honor, especially they who labor in the word and doctrine” (I Tim. v. 17). “He that heareth you, heareth Me; and he that despiseth you, despiseth Me” (St. Luke x. 16).

Why is this epistle read to-day?

The Church wishes, by pointing to the second advent of Christ, to remind the faithful to avoid judging their neighbors, but to judge themselves, and to cleanse their hearts for the reception of Jesus as our Saviour, that they may not have to shrink from Him when He cornes as Judge.

Can priests administer the holy sacraments as they please?

No, for, as the stewards of Jesus Christ, they must observe His will, which is that they should administer the sacraments for the glory of God and the salvation of the faithful. They are not permitted to “give that which is holy unto dogs” (Matt. viii. 6), and cannot, therefore, give absolution, or any sacrament, to those who are unfit, lest they thereby condemn themselves.

Why should they esteem it a small matter to be judged by men?

Because men generally judge by appearances, and not by reality. St. Paul says : “If I pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ” (Gal. i. 10). But not only priests, the faithful also, must seek to please God more than men. How foolish are they who follow all silly and scandalous fashions in dress, gesture, and manners ; who neglect the holy exercises of religion, and ask constantly, “What will the world say?” but never, “What will my God and Saviour say?” if I do this or that.

Why does St. Paul say, “But neither do I judge my own self”?

Because he could not know how God would judge him, “For man knoweth not whether he be worthy of love or hatred” (Eccles. ix. 1); therefore he adds, “I am not conscious to myself of anything, yet am I not hereby justified, but He that judgeth me is the Lord.” We should, therefore, examine ourselves thoroughly whether we are in sin ; but if we find nothing in us which displeases God we are not on that account at liberty to think ourselves better than others, for before the mirror of our self-esteem we look quite different to what we are in truth before God, Who cannot be bribed. Oh, how many, who now think themselves innocent and holy, shall appear at the day of judgment stripped of their disguises, and the most secret workings of their hearts revealed by God to their eternal disgrace ! This should determine us not to judge before the time, either ourselves or any one else, of whose hearts we must know even less than of our own. “Let us therefore work out our salvation with fear and trembling” (Phil. ii. 12).

Aspiration.

O Lord, enter not into judgment with Thy servant, for in Thy sight no man living shall be justified (Ps. Cxlii. 2).

GOSPEL. Luke III. 1-6.

In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judea, and Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, and Philip his brother tetrarch of Iturea and the country of Trachonitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilina, under the high priests Annas and Caiphas : the word of the Lord was made unto John the son of Zachary, in the desert. And he came into all the country about the Jordan, preaching the baptism of penance for the remission of sins, as it was written in the book of the sayings of Isaias the prophet : A voice of one crying in the wilderness : Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make straight His paths. Every valley shall be filled : and every mountain and hill shall be brought low : and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough ways plain. And all flesh shall see the salvation of God.

Why is the time at which St. John began to preach so minutely described?

Because in that happy year the prophecy of Jacob was fulfilled, and the sceptre being taken from Juda, the long-expected Messias showed Himself to the world, was baptized by John, and declared by His Heavenly Father to be His beloved Son, Whom men should hear. Accordingly, that this time should never be forgotten, the evangelist, contrary to his usual custom, describes it particularly, mentioning the names both of the spiritual and temporal rulers.

Aspiration.

Oh, that Thy way, Jesus, may be well prepared in my heart ! Alas ! assist me, O my Saviour, to do what I cannot do by myself. Fill up the valley of my heart with Thy grace, and straighten my crooked and perverted will, till it shall conform to Thine own. Soften my rough and unruly mind ; bring low, destroy, and remove whatever in me impedes Thy way, that Thou mayest come to me without hindrance, and possess and govern me forever. Amen.

– Goffine's Devout Instructions

PRAYERS FOR A NOVENA FROM THE 16TH TO THE 24TH OF DECEMBER

V. O God, come unto my assistance!
R. O Lord, make haste to help me!

V. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
R. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

Our Father, Who art in Heaven, hallowed be Thy Name. Thy Kingdom come. Thy Will be done,
on earth, as it is in Heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we
forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen.

I. Jesu, sweetest Child, Who didst come down from the bosom of the Father for our salvation, Who wast conceived by the Holy Ghost, Who didst not abhor the Virgin's womb, and Who, being the Word made flesh, didst take upon Thee the form of a servant, have mercy on us.

R. Have mercy on us, Child Jesus, have mercy on us.

Hail Mary,full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now, and at the hour of our death. Amen.

II. Jesu, sweetest Child, Who by means of Thy Virgin Mother didst visit Saint Elizabeth, Who didst fill Thy forerunner, John the Baptist, with Thy Holy Spirit and didst sanctify him in his mother's womb, have mercy on us.

R. Have mercy on us, Child Jesus, have mercy on us.

Hail Mary, etc.

III. Jesu, sweetest Child, Who, enclosed for nine months in Thy Mother's womb, wast looked for with eager expectation by the Virgin Mary and Saint Joseph, and wast offered by God the Father for the salvation of the world, have mercy on us.

R. Have mercy on us, Child Jesus, have mercy on us.

Hail Mary, etc.

IV. Jesu, sweetest Child, born in Bethlehem of the Virgin Mary, wrapped in swaddling clothes and laid in a manger, announced by Angels and visited by shepherds, have mercy on us.

R. Have mercy on us, Child Jesus, have mercy on us.

Hail Mary, etc.

All honor, laud, and glory be, O Jesu, Virgin-born, to Thee;
All glory, as is ever meet,
To Father and to Paraclete. Amen.

V. Christ is near us;
R. Come, let us adore Him.

Our Father, etc.

V. Jesu, sweetest Child, wounded after eight days in Thy circumcision, called by the glorious Name of Jesus, and at once by Thy Name and by Thy Blood foreshown as the Saviour of the world, have mercy on us.

R. Have mercy on us, Child Jesus, have mercy on us.

Hail Mary, etc.

VI. Jesu, sweetest Child, manifested by the leading of a star to the three Wise Men, worshiped in the arms of Thy Mother, presented with the mystic gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh, have mercy on us.

R. Have mercy on us, Child Jesus, have mercy on us.

Hail Mary, etc.

VII. Jesu, sweetest Child, presented in the temple by Thy Virgin Mother, taken up in Simeon's arms, and revealed to Israel by Anna, a prophetess, have mercy on us.

R. Have mercy on us, Child Jesus, have mercy on us.

Hail Mary, etc.

VIII. Jesu, sweetest Child, sought by wicked Herod to be slain, carried with Thy Mother into Egypt by Saint Joseph, rescued from the cruel slaughter, and glorified by the praises of the martyred Innocents, have mercy on us.

R. Have mercy on us, Child Jesus, have mercy on us.

Hail Mary, etc.

All honor, laud, and glory be, O Jesu, Virgin-born, to Thee;
All glory, as is ever meet,
To Father and to Paraclete. Amen.

V. Christ is near us;
R. Come, let us worship.

Our Father, etc.

IX. Jesu, sweetest Child, Who didst dwell in Egypt with most holy Mary and the Patriarch, Saint Joseph until the death of Herod, have mercy on us.

R. Have mercy on us, Child Jesus, have mercy on us.

Hail Mary, etc.

X. Jesu, sweetest Child, Who didst return from Egypt to the land of Israel with Thy parents, suffering many hardships in the way, and didst enter into the city of Nazareth, have mercy on us.

R. Have mercy on us, Child Jesus, have mercy on us.

Hail Mary, etc.

XI. Jesu, sweetest Child, Who didst dwell most holily in the holy house at Nazareth, in subjection to Thy parents, wearied by poverty and toil, and didst increase in wisdom, age and grace, have mercy on us.

R. Have mercy on us, Child Jesus, have mercy on us.

Hail Mary, etc.

XII. Jesu,sweetestChild,brought to Jerusalem at twelve years of age, sought by Thy parents sorrowing and found with joy after three days in the midst of the Doctors, have mercy on us.

R. Have mercy on us, Child Jesus, have mercy on us.

Hail Mary, etc.

All honor, laud, and glory be, O Jesu, Virgin-born, to Thee;
All glory, as is ever meet,
To Father and to Paraclete. Amen.

(For Christmas Day and its Octave):

V. The Word was made flesh, alleluia.
R. And dwelt amongst us, alleluia.

(For the Epiphany and its Octave):

V. Christ hath manifested Himself to us, alleluia.
R. O come and let us worship, alleluia.

(Throughout the year, for those who would like to make the novena outside of Advent and Christmas):

V. The Word was made flesh,
R. And dwelt amongst us.

Let us pray.
A lmighty and everlasting God, Lord of Heaven and earth, Who dost reveal Thyself to little ones; grant, we beseech Thee, that we, venerating with due honor the sacred mysteries of Thy Son, the Child Jesus, and copying them with due imitation, may be enabled to enter the kingdom of Heaven which Thou hast promised to little children. Through the same Christ our Lord. Amen.

A partial indulgence is granted to the faithful, who devoutly take part in the pious exercises of a public novena before the Feast of Christmas.