Glorious Father, you have revealed your glory, your grace and your truth by sending your only Son to become flesh and dwell among us. Enlighten darkened hearts with this true light that shines on everyone, that all might hear, believe, and receive the right to become children of God; through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
O Lord, you have filled this holy night with the brightness of the true Light, Jesus Christ. You have revealed your peace and goodwill through him and have given us blessed hope. Increase our joy with that news that a child is born to us, a Son is given to us; your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
Lord, have mercy. Christ, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.
God, loving Father, you sent your one and only Son, have mercy. Jesus Christ, you are the Word who became flesh to save the world, have mercy. Holy Spirit, you connect us to the love and power of God with your Word, have mercy.
Holy Trinity, splendor and majesty are yours. Holy Trinity, glory and strength are yours.
Jesus, promised seed of the woman, our shield and great reward, Bringer of peace, One to whom the scepter belongs, promised Prophet, Son of David, Immanuel, Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace, have mercy on us.
Jesus, Shepherd of your people Israel, from of old, from ancient times, Word who became flesh, Savior, Lord’s anointed, have mercy on us.
Jesus, because you were conceived by the Holy Spirit, because you were born of the virgin Mary, because you became flesh and made your dwelling among us, because you became truly human, like us in every way, except without sin, because you endured every hardship common to humanity, because you suffered under Pontius Pilate, because you were crucified, because you suffered death as the wages of the world’s sin, because you were buried, hear our prayer.
Jesus, because you broke the gates of hell, because you proclaimed your victory in Satan’s realm, because you rose in glory, because you recalled faithless disciples and restored their faith by saying “Peace,” because you ascended on high, because you intercede for us at your Father’s right hand, hear our prayer.
Jesus, Son of God, have mercy on us. Jesus, Son of Mary, have mercy on us. Jesus, Lamb of God, grant us your peace.
To us a child is born. To us a Son is given.
Lord Jesus Christ, Word of the Father, now in flesh appearing, give us your blessed hope as we hear again of your first coming. Fill our lives with the glory of your love, and empower us to live to your glory, for you are God’s gift of love, once wrapped in swaddling clothes, now wrapped in the pages of Scripture, no longer in a cattle stall or feeding trough, but living and reigning with your Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, dwelling in the highest glory, granting peace to your people, now and forever. Amen.
Almighty God,
grant that we who are are bathed
in the new light of your incarnate Word
may reflect the faith
that shines in our hearts in all we do;
through your Son,
Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and forever.
Source: Historic Collect for Christmas Day (Christmas II), Gregorian, 10th Century.
Source of this version: Newly translated for A Collection of Prayers.
Original in Latin:
Da, quaesumus, omnipotens Deus, ut dum nova incarnati Verbi tui luce perfundimur, hoc in nostro resplendeat opere, quod per fidem fulget in mente.
Bosco Peters gives the original with various translations in this article.
Almighty God,
grant that the new birth
of your only Son in the flesh
may set us free
from our old slavery under sin;
through Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and forever.
Source: Historic Collect for Christmas Day (Christmas III), Gelasian, 8th Century.
Source of this version: Newly translated for A Collection of Prayers.
Original in Latin:
Concede, quaesumus, omnipotens Deus, ut nos Unigeniti tui nova per carnem nativitas liberet, quos sub peccati iugo vetusta servitus tenet. Per…
A Collection of Prayers 