4th Sunday of Advent (C) Year of Luke

Mic 5:1-4; Heb 10:5-10; Lk 1:39-44 – Why should I be honoured with a visit from the mother of my Lord?

• Mass setting: Missa de angelis (Gregorian)
• Motet: Lo, how a rose e’er blooming (M. Praetorius)
• Communio: Ecce virgo concipiet et pariet filium et vocabitur nomen eius Emmanuel. Behold, a virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and his name shall be called Emmanuel.
• Hymns: Advent Prose (Rorate Caeli)
• Organ Prelude: Nun Komm der Heiden Heiland – Diedrich Buxtehude (1637-1707)
• Organ Voluntary: Toccata – Vom Himmel hoch – Garth Edmundson (1900-1971)

Organist: Bransby Byrne

Lo, how a rose e’er blooming, from tender stem hath sprung! Of Jesse’s linage coming, as men of old have sung. It came, a flow’ret bright, amid the cold of winter, when half spent was the night.

Isaiah ’twas foretold it, the Rose I have in mind; With Mary we behold it, the Virgin Mother kind. To show God’s love aright, She bore to men a Saviour, when half spent was the night.

This Flower, whose fragrance tender with sweetness fills the air, dispel in glorious splendour the darkness everywhere; True Man, yet very God, from sin and death now save us, and share our every load.