December 28th:  Feast of the Holy Innocents

Entry Song

O Sacred Head, sore wounded, with grief and shame weighed down!
O kingly head, surrounded with thorns, thine only crown.
How pale art thou with anguish, with sore abuse and scorn!
How does that visage languish which once was bright as morn.

 

As we light the Candle for Peace we pray together:

God our Father, you love all your children.
Comfort those who suffer from the cruelty of others,
and welcome those who are martyred for who they are or what they believe
into the happiness of your kingdom,
We ask this through Christ our Lord.  Amen.

 O God, come to our aid:  O Lord, make haste to help us.
Glory to the Father . . . .

 

Psalm 125

Those who sow in tears will sing when they reap.

When the Lord freed Sion from its bondage,
it seemed a dream, it seemed a dream.
Then our mouth was filled with laughter,
songs upon our lips and in our hearts – it seemed a dream.

Those who sow in tears will sing when they reap.

Even heathen people said :
What marvels he does for them, he does for them.
Yes, indeed, what mighty marvels has the Lord accomplished for us all –
it seemed a dream!

Those who sow in tears will sing when they reap.

Free us, Lord, deliver us from bondage!
Oh set us free! Oh set us free!
Those who sow in tears will sing with joy
when harvest time has come again, will sing with joy.

Those who sow in tears will sing when they reap.

Let us pray
O God, today the innocents proclaimed your praises
not by speaking, but by dying.
Grant, we ask you, that our faith may not be proclaimed by  words alone
but be also shown by our actions.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever.  Amen

 

We stand for the Glory to God

Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace to people of good will.

We praise you, we bless you, we adore you, we glorify you,
we give you thanks for your great glory,
Lord God, heavenly King, O God, almighty Father.

Lord Jesus Christ, Only Begotten Son,
Lord God, Lamb of God, Son of the Father,
you take away the sins of the world, have mercy on us;
you take away the sins of the world, receive our prayer;
you are seated at the right hand of the Father, have mercy on us.

For you alone are the Holy One, you alone are the Lord,
you alone are the Most High, Jesus Christ,
with the Holy Spirit, in the glory of God the Father.  Amen

 

The 1st reading

Alleluia, alleluia.  Alleluia, alleluia.
We praise you, O God, we acknowledge: you are the Lord.
The noble army of martyrs praise you, O Lord.
Alleluia, alleluia.  Alleluia, alleluia.

 

The Gospel

Intercessions

Praying for Bernard Gilmartin and Pat Doherty who have died we sing:

May the souls of the faithful departed through the mercy of God rest in peace  Rest in peace.

With the Gifts

Lully, lullay, Thou little tiny Child, Bye, bye, lully, lullay.

Lullay, thou little tiny Child,Bye, bye, lully, lullay.

 

O sisters too, how may we do, For to preserve this day

This poor youngling for whom we do sing Bye, bye, lully, lullay.

 

Herod, the king, in his raging, Charged he hath this day

His men of might, in his own sight, All children young to slay.

 

That woe is me, poor Child for Thee! And ever mourn and sigh,

For thy parting neither say nor sing,  Bye, bye, lully, lullay.
Lully, lullay, Thou little tiny Child,Bye, bye, lully, lullay.

Lullay, thou little tiny Child,Bye, bye, lully, lullay.

 

Eucharistic Prayer

 

Sanctus. Sanctus. Sanctus Dominus Deus Sabaoth.
Pleni sunt coeli et terra Gloria tua. Hosanna in excelsis.
Benedictus qui venit in nomine Domini.  Hosanna in excelsis.

 

Memorial
Save us, Saviour of the world.
For by your cross and resurrection you have set us free.

 

Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccata mundi, misère nobis.

Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccata mundi, misère nobis.

Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccata mundi, dona nobis pacem.

 

Antiphon

Behold the Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world.
Blessed are those called to the Banquet of the Lamb.

 

Benedictus verse 3

The Saviour comes to free us from our foes, from evil hands,
from those who wish us ill.
So God’s great love for all his chosen people
is thus fulfilled in these our present times.
God’s sacred oath his covenant most holy
is called to mind, his promises made true.

 

Blessing: May the Lord bless us, and keep us from all harm, and may he lead us to eternal life.

Copyrights: O Sacred Head: Latin original St Bernard; this version: Robert Bridges, 1899.   Psalm 125 : Words  taken from The Psalms : A New Translation published by William Collins & Co Ltd  ã The Grail. Music ©  Gerry Fitzpatrick .  Lully Lullay: traditional 15th century carol.    Benedictus verse: words © Stephen E Smyth.   Hymns reproducwed under Calamus lic: 0262 and CCL lic no: 74396