O Emmanuel

December 23

God is with us. We call out to God, using this name – O Emmanuel. How sad a person who is not able to call out to God in hope-filled prayer! The foretold name of the Messiah in the Old Testament is Emmanuel. God is with us! The joy of Christmas. God is with us as the Messiah, Savior, Redeemer. The name Emmanuel was used in the Old Testament by the prophet Isaiah in reference to the promised Messiah. And in the New Testament as another name for Jesus Christ.

What would it mean to you and your family to name your newly born baby Emmanuel? Perhaps, other than the joy of having a new baby in the house, you place a lot of hope that he will bring many blessings to your family. Can we say that Jesus is the Emmanuel of our lives? So much hope! Can we say that His birth, His presence in our lives, in our society, brings peace, joy, grace and fraternal love? This is the true meaning of the time of Advent. Preparing us for Christmas. “Come, Lord Jesus!”

The way we are going, it looks like the virus isn’t going to leave us and the world soon. We have to live with precaution still, protecting ourselves and others. Let’s put the Holy Family and the new born Jesus back into Christmas. And renew our faith that God is with us, who brings peace and love, forgiveness and charity.

Cantors:

ANTIPHON

* All: Remain standing

MAGNIFICAT Canticle of the Blessed Virgin - Luc. 1:46-55

Cantor: *Cantors: Alternate verses Cantors and All

All:

✠ Make the sign of the cross.O God-with-us, our king and lawbearer, watched for by the nations, and their Savior: come to save us, Lord, our God.

2. Et exsultávit spí-ri-tus mé- us * in Dé-o sa-lu- tari mé- o.

3. (Cantors) Quia respéxit humilitátem ancíllæ súæ: * ecce enim ex hoc beátam me dícent ómnes generatiónes. 4. Quia fécit míhi mágna qui pótens est: * (bow) et sánctum nómen éjus.

5. (rise) Et misericórdia éjus a progénie in progénies * timéntibus éum.