December 21st, 2025 – Sixth Sunday of Advent: Sunday of the Incarnation, or Sunday of the Divine Maternity of the Blessed Virgin Mary
ENTRANCE ANTIPHON
Elizabeth said to Mary:
‘Why have you come to me, Mother of my Lord?
If I had known, I would have come out to meet you.
You carry the King of the universe in your womb, I only a prophet;
you the one who gives the law, I the one who observes it;
you the Word that saves, I am the voice that proclaims its coming.’
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ,
and the love of God,
and the communion of the Holy Spirit
be with you all.
And with your spirit.
Brethren (brothers and sisters), let us in faith dispose ourselves to encounter the Lord, opening our spirits to repentance and recognising ourselves in need of forgiveness:
You, who by your birth of the Virgin Mary made yourself our brother: Kyrie eleison.
Kyrie eleison.
You, who have made glorious the virginity of she who bore you: Kyrie eleison.
Kyrie eleison.
You, who enkindle in us the joy of your presence: Kyrie eleison.
Kyrie eleison.
May almighty God have mercy on us,
forgive us our sins,
and bring us to everlasting life.
Amen.
COLLECT
Let us pray.
O God, who through the fruitful virginity of Blessed Mary bestowed on mankind the grace of eternal salvation, grant, we pray, that we may enjoy her intercession who bore for us the Author of life, Jesus Christ. Who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.
Amen.
LITURGY OF THE WORD
FIRST READING
A reading from the Prophet Isaiah (Is 62:10-63:3b)
In those days. Isaiah said: ‘Go through, go through the gates, prepare the way for the people; build up, build up the highway, clear it of stones, lift up an ensign over the peoples. Behold, the Lord has proclaimed to the end of the earth: Say to the daughter of Sion, “Behold, your salvation comes; behold, his reward is with him, and his recompense before him.” And they shall be called The holy people, The redeemed of the Lord; and you shall be called Sought out, a city not forsaken. Who is this that comes from Edom, in crimsoned garments from Bozrah, he that is glorious in his apparel, marching in the greatness of his strength? “It is I, announcing vindication, mighty to save.” Why is your apparel red, and your garments like his who treads in the wine press? “I have trodden the wine press alone, and from the peoples no one was with me.”’
The Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
PSALM
Psalm 71 (72)
R. Rejoice, O holy ones; your Saviour is nigh.
May the mountains bear prosperity for the people,
and the hills, righteousness.
May he defend the cause of the poor of the people,
give deliverance to the needy, and crush the oppressor. R.
May he be like rain that falls on the grass,
like showers that water the earth.
In his days may righteousness flourish,
and peace ‘til the moon fails.
May men bless themselves by him,
all nations call him blessed. R.
Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel,
who alone does wondrous things.
Blessed be his glorious name forever;
may his glory fill the whole earth. R.
EPISTLE
A reading from the Letter of St Paul to the Philippians (Phil 4:4-9)
My brothers, rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. Let all men know your forbearance. The Lord is at hand. Have no anxiety about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made know to God. And the peace of God, which passes all understanding, will keep your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honourable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is gracious, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think on these things. What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, do; and the God of peace will be with you.
The Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
GOSPEL ACCLAMATION
Alleluia.
Behold the handmaid of the Lord:
Be it done unto me according to Thy word.
Alleluia.
GOSPEL
The Lord be with you
And with your spirit.
A reading from the Holy Gospel according to St Luke (Lk 1:26-38a)
Glory to you, O Lord.
In those days. In the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary. And he came to her and said, ‘Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with you!’ But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and considered in her mind what sort of greeting this might be. And the angel said to her, ‘Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favour with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus.
He will be great, and will be called Son of the Most High;
and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his ancestor David,
and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever;
and of his kingdom there will be no end.’
And Mary said to the angel, ‘How will this be, since I do not know man?’ And the angel said to her,
‘The Holy Spirit will come upon you,
and the power of the Most High will overshadow you;
therefore the child to be born will be called holy,
the Son of God.
And behold, your kinswoman Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son; and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren. For with God nothing will be impossible.’ And Mary said, ‘Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord; let it be to me as you have said.’
The Gospel of the Lord.
Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
AFTER THE GOSPEL
From heaven our Saviour descended into Mary’s womb.
He is praised by the angels and called Sovereign God.
PRAYERS OF THE FAITHFUL
Let us raise our intercessions to the Lord Jesus, who was made incarnate in the womb of Mary.
Lord, in your mercy
Hear our prayer
CONCLUSION OF THE LITURGY OF THE WORD
Almighty God, you created us and sent us your Word made man in the womb of the Virgin Mary. Look graciously upon your people and listen to our humble pleas. Through Christ our Lord.
Amen.
Let us offer each other the sign of peace.
THE LITURGY OF THE EUCHARIST
All-merciful Father, accept this bread,
so that it becomes the body of Christ, your Son.
Amen
All-merciful Father, accept this wine,
so that it becomes the blood of Christ, your Son.
Amen
PROFESSION OF FAITH
I believe in one God,
the Father almighty,
maker of heaven and earth,
of all things visible and invisible.
I believe in one Lord Jesus Christ,
the Only begotten Son of God,
born of the Father before all ages.
God from God, Light from Light,
true God from true God,
begotten, not made, consubstantial with the Father;
through him all things were made.
For us men and for our salvation
he came down from heaven,
and by the Holy Spirit was incarnate of the Virgin Mary,
and became man.
For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate;
he suffered death and was buried,
and rose again on the third day
in accordance with the Scriptures.
He ascended into heaven
and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again in glory
to judge the living and the dead
and his kingdom will have no end.
We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life,
who proceeds from the Father and the Son,
with the Father and the Son is adored and glorified.
who has spoken through the prophets.
I believe in one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church.
I confess one Baptism for the forgiveness of sins
and I look forward to the resurrection of the dead
and the life of the world to come. Amen.
PRAYER OVER THE GIFTS
May your Spirit, O almighty God, which in glory descended unto the Virgin Mary, accept our offerings and fill them with his grace. Through Christ our Lord.
Amen.
PREFACE
The Lord be with you.
And with your spirit.
Lift up your hearts.
We lift them up to the Lord.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
It is right and just.
It is truly right and just,
our duty and our salvation,
to celebrate the mystery of the Blessed Virgin Mary,
who, welcoming with boundless faith the message of the angel,
conceived your Word,
clothing him in mortal flesh.
In the confines of her womb she enclosed the Lord of the heavens
and the Saviour of the world,
and without losing the glory of virginity,
for our sake brought forth into the world the eternal Light,
Jesus Christ our Lord.
Filled with awe and rejoicing in this wondrous act,
united with the choirs of angels and saints,
we raise our voices to hymn your praise, almighty Father,
with the Son and Holy Spirit:
Holy, holy, holy, Lord God of hosts.
Heaven and earth are full of your glory.
Hosanna in the highest.
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
Hosanna in the highest.
EUCHARISTIC PRAYER
You are indeed Holy, O Lord,
The fount of all holiness.
Make holy, therefore, these gifts, we pray,
by sending down your Spirit upon them like the dewfall,
so that they may become for us
the Body and Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ.
At the time he was betrayed
And entered willingly into his Passion,
he took bread and, giving thanks, broke it,
and gave it to his disciples, saying:
Take this, all of you, and eat of it,
For this is my Body,
Which will be given up for you.
In a similar way, when supper was ended,
he took the chalice
and, once more giving thanks,
he gave it to his disciples, saying:
Take this, all of you, and drink from it,
for this is the chalice of my Blood,
the Blood of the new and eternal covenant,
Which will be poured out for you and for many
for the forgiveness of sins.
Do this in memory of me.
The mystery of faith.
When we eat this bread and drink this cup,
we proclaim your death, Lord Jesus,
until you come again.
Therefore, as we celebrate
the memorial of his Death and Resurrection,
we offer you, Lord,
the Bread of life and the Chalice of salvation,
giving thanks that you have held us worthy
to be in your presence and minister to you.
Humbly we pray
that, partaking of the Body and Blood of Christ,
we may be gathered into one by the Holy Spirit.
Remember, Lord, your Church,
spread throughout the world,
and bring her to the fullness of charity,
together with Leo our Pope
and Mario our Bishop,
and all the clergy.
Remember also our brothers and sisters
who have fallen asleep in the hope of the resurrection,
and all who have died in your mercy:
welcome them into the light of your face.
Have mercy on us all, we pray,
that with the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God,
with blessed Joseph, her Spouse
with the blessed Apostles,
and all the Saints who have pleased you throughout the ages,
we may merit to be coheirs to eternal life,
and may praise and glorify you
through your Son, Jesus Christ.
Through him, and with him, and in him,
O God, almighty Father,
In the unity of the Holy Spirit,
all glory and honour is yours,
Forever and ever
Amen.
THE COMMUNION RITE
BREAKING OF THE BREAD
Blessed is the womb that bore you, O Christ,
and blessed the breasts that gave you suck,
O Lord of the World,
who deigned to assume our mortal nature to save mankind.
At the Saviour’s command
and formed by divine teaching,
we dare to say:
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.
Deliver us, Lord, we pray, from every evil,
graciously grant peace in our days,
that, by the help of your mercy,
we may be always free from sin
and safe from all distress,
as we await the blessed hope
and the coming of our Saviour, Jesus Christ.
For the kingdom,
the power and the glory are yours
now and for ever.
Lord Jesus Christ,
who said to your Apostles:
Peace I leave you, my peace I give you,
look not on our sins,
but on the faith of Your Church,
and graciously grant her peace and unity
in accordance with your will.
Who live and reign for ever and ever.
Amen.
The peace and communion of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you always.
And with your spirit.
Behold the Lamb of God,
behold him who takes away the sins of the world.
Blessed are those called to the supper of the Lamb.
Lord, I am not worthy
that you should enter under my roof,
but only say the word
and my soul shall be healed.
AT HOLY COMMUNION
O wonderful exchange!
The Creator of mankind,
being born of the Ever-Virgin
by the work of the Holy Spirit,
receives mortal flesh and bestows upon us life divine.
The Body of Christ.
Amen.
AFTER HOLY COMMUNION
Let us pray.
Stay with us, Almighty God. Through the intercession of Blessed Mary, virgin and mother, may we, through your tireless love, ever treasure the gifts we receive at your table. Through Christ our Lord.
Amen.
The Lord be with you.
And with your spirit.
Kyrie, eleison. Kyrie, eleison. Kyrie, eleison.
May almighty God bless you,
the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
Amen
Go in peace.
In the name of Christ.
