Midnight Mass from Leeds Cathedral

Cathedral, at the heart including our Adult,

You join us on one of the most important nights

in the Christian calendar - the great feast of Christmas,

when God sent his Son, Jesus, to live among us as one of us.

We rejoice once more that God has reached down

and taken what is ours - our frailty, sinfulness, anxieties

and given us what is his - hope, forgiveness and love.

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 81 seconds

# O come all ye faithful

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 81 seconds

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

ALL: Amen.

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God

and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all.

And with your spirit.

As we prepare to celebrate the birth of Christ,

we pause to bless this Christmas manger scene.

When we look upon these figures,

the Christmas Gospel comes alive,

and we rejoice in the mystery of the Son of God made man.

Let us pray.

God of every nation and people,

from the very beginning of creation,

you have made manifest your love.

When our need for a Saviour was great,

you sent your Son to be born of the Virgin Mary.

To our lives he brings joy and peace, justice, mercy, and love.

Lord, bless this manger. May it remind us of the humble birth

of Jesus, and raise up our thoughts to him,

who is God-with-us and Saviour of all,

and who lives and reigns for ever and ever.

Amen.

# Unto is is born a Son

# King of quires supernal

# See on earth his life begun

# Of lords the Lord eternal

# Christ, from heav'n descending low

# Comes on earth a stranger

# Ox and ass their owner know

# Becradled in the manger

# This did Herod sore affray

# And grievously bewilder

# So he gave the word to slay

# So he gave the word to slay

# And slew the little childer

# And slew the little childer

# Of his love and mercy mild

# This the Christmas story

# And O that Mary's gentle child

# Might lead us up to glory

# O and A, and A and O

# O and A, and A and

# O and A, and A and

# Cum cantibus in choro

# Let the merry organ go

# Benedicamus Domino

# Benedicamus Domino. #

MUSIC: "Gloria"Arrangement by Louis Vierne

# Gloria in excelsis Deo

# Et in terra pax hominibus bonae voluntatis

# Et in terra pax hominibus bonae voluntatis

# Et in terra pax hominibus bonae voluntatis

# Laudamus te

# Benedicimus te

# Adoramus te

# Glorificamus te

# Gratias agimus tibi propter magnam gloriam tuam

# Domine Deus, Rex caelestis

# Deus Pater omnipotens

# Domine Fili unigenite

# Jesu Christe

# Domine Deus, Agnus Dei

# Agnus Dei, Filius Patris

# Qui tollis peccata mundi, miserere nobis

# Qui tollis peccata mundi, miserere nobis

# Qui tollis peccata mudi

# Suscipe deprecationem nostram

# Qui sedes ad dexteram Patris

# Qui sedes ad dexteram Patris

# Miserere nobis

# Quoniam tu solus Sanctus

# Tu solus Dominus

# Tu solus Altissimus

# Jesu Christe

# Quoniam tu solus Sanctus

# Tu solus Dominus

# Tu solus Altissimus

# Jesus Christe

# Cum sancto Spiritu in gloria Dei Patris

# Cum sancto Spiritu in gloria Dei Patris

# Cum sancto Spiritu in gloria Dei Patris

# Cum sancto Spiritus in gloria Dei Patris

# Amen

# Amen

# Amen

O God, who have made with the splendour of

who have known the mysteries may also delight in his gladness

Who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,

one God, for ever and ever. ALL: Amen.

READING: ISAIAH 9: 1-7

A reading from Isaiah.

The people that walked in darkness has seen a great light;

on those who live in a land of deep shadow a light has shone.

You have made their gladness greater,

you have made their joy increase;

they rejoice in your presence as men rejoice at harvest time,

as men are happy when they are dividing the spoils.

For the yoke that was weighing on him,

the bar across his shoulders, the rod of his oppressor,

these you break as on the day of Midian.

For all the footgear of battle, every cloak rolled in blood,

is burnt, and consumed by fire.

For there is a child born for us, a son given to us

and dominion is laid on His shoulders;

and this is the name they give him: Wonder-Counsellor, Mighty-God,

Eternal-Father, Prince-of-Peace.

Wide is his dominion in a peace that has no end,

for the throne of David and for his royal power,

which he establishes and makes secure

in justice and integrity.

From this time onwards and for ever,

the jealous love of the Lord of Hosts will do this.

The word of the Lord.

ALL: Thanks be to God.

ORGAN PLAYS

GIRLS CHOIR: # Today a saviour has been born to us

# He is Christ the Lord

ALL: # Today a saviour has been born to us

# He is Christ the Lord

MEN'S CHOIR: # O sing a new song to the Lord

# Sing to the Lord all the earth

# O sing to the Lord, bless his name

# Today a saviour has been born to us

# He is Christ the Lord

CHOIR: # Proclaim his help day by day

# Tell among the nations his glory

# And his wonders among all the peoples

ALL: # Today a saviour has been born to us

# He is Christ the Lord

# Let the heavens rejoice and earth be glad

# Let the sea and all within it thunder praise

# Let the land and all it bears rejoice

# All the trees of the wood shout for joy

# At the presence of the Lord for he comes

# He comes to rule the earth

# Today a saviour has been born to us

# He is Christ the Lord

# With justice He will rule the world

# He will judge the peoples with his truth

# Today a saviour has been born to us

# He is Christ the Lord. #

# He is Christ the Lord. #

A reading from the letter of St Paul to Titus.

God's grace has been revealed,

and it has made salvation possible for the whole human race

and taught us that what we have to do

is to give up everything that does not lead to God,

and all our worldly ambitions; we must be self-restrained

and live good and religious lives here in this present world,

while we are waiting in hope for the blessing which will come

with the Appearing of the glory

of our great God and saviour Christ Jesus.

He sacrificed himself for us

in order to set us free from all wickedness

and to purify a people so that it could be his very own

and would have no ambition except to do good.

The word of the Lord.

ALL: Thanks be to God.

# Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!

# Alleluia, alleluia!

# I bring you news of great joy

# Today a saviour has been born to us

# Christ the Lord

# Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia! #

The Lord be with you.

And with your spirit.

A reading from the hold Gospel according to Luke.

Glory to you, O Lord.

Caesar Augustus issued a decree

for a census of the whole world to be taken.

This census - the first - took place

while Quirinius was governor of Syria,

and everyone went to his own town to be registered.

So Joseph set out from the town of Nazareth in Galilee

and travelled up to Judaea, to the town of David called Bethlehem,

since he was of David's House and line,

in order to be registered together with Mary,

his betrothed, who was with child.

While they were there, the time came for her have her child,

and she birth to a son, her first born.

She wrapped him in swaddling clothes and laid him in a manger,

because there was no room for them at the inn.

In the countryside close by,

there were shepherds who lived in the fields

and took it in turns to watch their flocks during the night.

The angel of the Lord appeared to them,

and the glory of the Lord shone round them.

They were terrified, but the angel said, "Do not be afraid.

"Listen, I bring you news of great joy,

"a joy to be shared by the whole people.

"Today in the town of David,

"a saviour has been born to you. He is Christ the Lord.

"And here is a sign for you -

"you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger."

And suddenly with the angel,

there was a great throng of the heavenly host,

praising God and singing, "Glory to God in the highest heaven,

"and peace to men who enjoy his favour."

The Gospel of the Lord.

Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

ORGAN FANFARE

Most Christian Churches around the world

will put up a crib for the Christmas season.

We're all familiar with theatbeautiful tableau of Joseph and Mary,

shepherds and wise men, ox and ass gathered to adore

the newly born infant in the manger.

The scene is usually topped

with a star, and beautiful, crisp, golden straw

completes the stable setting.

It's the very image of tranquillity, serenity and peace.

When I was parish priest in nearby Mirfield,

the straw was provided by a family who kept a pony.

One year, when I arrived after dark to collect the straw,

one of the teenage children was despatched to the stable

with a couple of bin bags and a shovel.

It wasn't until the straw was tipped out in church that I discovered

it must have been collected from under the pony itself

rather than from fresh stock.

It was dirty, soiled and stank, littered with pony droppings

and, of course, it had to be replaced.

However, I suspect it more authentically depicted

the stable in Bethlehem than any of the pious figurines.

We have sanitised the Christmas and romanticised it.

But there is nothing romantic and serene about it whatsoever.

The truth is that the Christmas story is set amidst poverty,

upheaval, political oppression and brutality.

The Roman economy was in a mess, and the Romans wanted more taxes.

And so, just as we heard in tonight's Gospel, everybody -

young and old and even the pregnant -

had to be rounded up to pay their dues.

Bethlehem was overcrowded

and the only place Mary and Joseph could find for a child to be born

was in the squalor of a stable.

Then, all at once, the baby's life was put in danger.

The wise men from the East had innocently told King Herod

that a great new King of the Jews had been born.

Herod was determined to eradicate this infant rival

and gave orders to massacre any male children under two years old.

The holy family had to flee to Egypt to seek asylum.

Nothing romantic, tranquil, serene or peaceful about it.

But it is in this story of political oppression

and hardship that the Word of God became flesh and dwelt amongst us.

God comes to his chosen people

in the very midst of their suffering, oppression and pain.

As

As Isaiah

As Isaiah said

As Isaiah said in our first reading, people that walked in darkness have

For most of us, take on greater significance

We are more acutely aware of the circumstances of our lives.

First of all,

the circumstances of our family arrangements come into sharp focus.

Some will cherish the hours or daysof family togetherness at Christmas,

while others may may find that experience

tiresome and tedious in the extreme.

And, of course, there will also be many people

who feel particularly alone and unloved at Christmas.

In many homes, families struggling in the present economic environment

may be worried silly

where the money to pay for Christmas is to be found.

Elsewhere, some may be grieving the recent loss of a loved one,

perhaps killed tragically, ormurdered, or died by their own hand.

Families in Newtown, Connecticut, and victims of similar atrocities,

will feel acute pain and loss at this time.

There will be those in temporary accommodation

as a result of flood damage,

those who are homeless, or strangersseeking acceptance in a foreign land.

Whatever the circumstances of our lives as we keep this Christmas,

the first lesson we should draw from the story of the Nativity

is that a saviour has been born for us,

God truly is with us.

Jesus was made flesh

and dwelt amidst the oppression and brutality of his own day,

and in the poverty and vulnerabilityin which so many of the people lived.

And Jesus' followers must make him present for the poor,

the marginalised, and the oppressed of our own modern world.

The second lesson we should draw from the story of the Nativity

is that Christians should be the light

in the darkness of peoples' lives,

the companions of the lonely and isolated,

the promoters of peace and reconciliation.

They must be there for the needy,

generous with their time, talents and resources.

Christians must be ready to support the dignity of life at every stage,

to value the uniqueness of every individual,

to challenge the self-centredness, greed and materialism

which often divide our world.

"Today a Saviour has been born to us"

proclaims the angel of the Gospel to our modern times.

Christians must convince an often sceptical and unbelieving world

that this is so by the example of their lives

and the quality of their love.

We have indeed sanitised and romanticised our cribs,

but we must ensure that we do not sanitise or romanticise

what it means to be a Christian

or how we are to live the Christian life.

ORGAN PLAYS

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 81 seconds

Brothers and Sisters, this is the night

when the goodness and kindness of God our Saviour appeared.

Let us lift up our prayers to the Father of Our Lord Jesus Christ,

for the Church and the whole world.

For the Holy Church of God, may she be attentive

to the needs of all, sharing their grief and pain,

their joy and hope, and so faithfully bring all people

the Good News that the Saviour has been given to us.

Let us pray to the Lord.

# Lord hear our prayer. #

For peace in the world,

may the celebration of the birth of the King of Peace

give courage to those in government and positions of leadership

to work tirelessly for just peace between all peoples of the world.

# Let us pray to the Lord.

# Lord hear our prayer. #

For the needs of human life,

may believers, and all people of good will, be inspired and strengthened

by the celebration of Jesus' birth to respect the dignity of all human life

from the moment of conception to natural death.

# Let us pray to the Lord.

# Lord hear our prayer. #

For those who are sick and suffering, by placing

their trust in the Lord,

may they find in the Saviour strength and hope,

and for those who have died recently and whose anniversaries occur at this time,

may they be forgiven their sins and come to rejoice together

in the fullness of joy in the company of the redeemed.

Let us ask Our Lady, the Mother of the Saviour of the World,

# Let us pray to the Lord.

# Lord hear our prayer. #

Let us ask Our Lady, the Mother of the Saviour of the World,

to pray with us now as we say...

Hail Mary, full of grace,

Receive, we ask, O Lord, the prayers of your Church,

who today contemplates and adores Christ your Son,

born of the Virgin Mary and made man for our salvation.

Who lives and reigns for ever and ever.

Amen.

# On Christmas night All Christians sing

# To hear the news the angels bring

# On Christmas night All Christians sing

# To hear the news the angels bring

# News of great joy News of great mirth

# News of our merciful King's birth

# Then why should men on earth be so sad

# Since our Redeemer made us glad

# Then why should men on earth be so sad

# Since our Redeemer made us glad

# When from our sin he set us free

# All for to gain our liberty?

# When sin departs before His grace

# Then life and health come in its place

# When sin departs before His grace

# Then life and health come in its place

# Angels and men with joy may sing

# All for to see the new-born King

# All out of darkness we have light

# Which made the angels sing this night

# All out of darkness we have light

# Which made the angels sing this night

# "Glory to God and peace to men

# "Now and for evermore

# "Evermore

# Amen!" #

# It came upon the midnight clear

# That glorious song of old

# From angels bending near the earth

# To touch their harps of gold

# "Peace on the earth

# Good will to men

# "From heaven's all-gracious King!"

# The world in solemn stillness lay

# To hear the angels sing

# Still through the cloven skies they come

# With peaceful wings unfurled

# And still their heavenly music floats

# O'er all the weary world

# Above its sad and lowly plains

# They bend on hovering wing

# And ever o'er its Babel sounds

# The blessed angels sing

# For lo!

# The days are hastening on

# By prophet bards foretold

# When, with the ever-circling years

# Comes round the age of gold

# When peace shall over all the Earth

# Its ancient splendours fling

# And all the world give back the song

# Which now the angels sing. #

Pray, brothers and sisters,

that my sacrifice and yours

may be acceptable to God, the almighty Father.

May the oblation of this day's feast be pleasing to you, O Lord,

we pray, that through this most holy exchange,

we may be found in the likeness of Christ,

in whom our nature is united to you.

Who lives and reigns for ever and ever.

Amen.

# The Lord be with you

# And your spirit

# Lift up your hearts

# Let us give thanks to the Lord our God

It is truly right and just, our duty and our salvation,

always and everywhere to give you thanks, Lord,

holy Father, almighty and eternal God.

For in the mystery of the Word made flesh,

a new light of your glory has shone upon the eyes of our mind,

so that, as we recognise in him God made visible,

we may be caught up through him in love of things invisible.

And so, with Angels and Archangels,

with Thrones and Dominions,

and with all the hosts and Powers of heaven,

we sing the hymn of your glory, as without end we acclaim...

THEY SING IN THE ROUND

MEN: # Sanctus

MEN: # Sanctus

WOMEN # Sanctus

WOMEN: # Sanctus

ALL: # Sanctus

# Dominus Deus Sabaoth

# Pleni sunt caeli et terra Gloria tua

# Pleni sunt caeli et terra Gloria tua

# Pleni sunt caeli et terra Gloria tua

# Hosanna, Hosanna

# Hosanna, Hosanna

# Hosanna

# In excelsis. #

To you, therefore, most merciful Father,

we make humble prayer and petition

through Jesus Christ, your Son, our Lord:

that you accept and bless these gifts, these offerings,

these holy and unblemished sacrifices,

which we offer you firstly for your holy Catholic Church.

Be pleased to grant her peace, to guard, unite and govern her

throughout the whole world, together with your servant Benedict our Pope,

and all those who, holding to the truth,

hand on the Catholic and Apostolic faith.

Remember, Lord, your servants and all gathered here,

whose faith and devotion are known to you.

For them, we offer you this sacrifice of praise,

or they offer it for themselves

and all who are dear to them:

for the redemption of their souls, in hope of health and well being,

and paying their homage to you, the eternal God, living and true.

Celebrating the most sacred night on which blessed Mary,

the immaculate Virgin, brought forth the Saviour for this world,

and in communion with those whose memory we venerate,

especially the glorious ever-Virgin Mary, Mother of our God

and Lord Jesus Christ, and blessed Joseph, her Spouse,

your blessed Apostles and Martyrs, Peter and Paul, Andrew,

and all your Saints; we ask that through their merits and prayers,

in all things we may be defended by your protecting help.

Be pleased, O God, we pray, to bless, acknowledge,

Command

Command that

Command that we

Command that we be delivered from eternal damnation and counted among

the flock of those you have chosen. Be pleased O God we pray to bless,

acknowledge and approve this offering in every respect. Make it

spiritual and acceptable, so that it may become for us the body and

blood of your most beloved son, our he took bread in his holy and

and with eyes raised to heaven giving you thanks,

"Take this, all of you, and eat of it

"for this is my body, which will be given up for you."

BELL RINGS THREE TIMES

In a similar way, when supper was ended,

he took this precious chalice in his holy and venerable hands,

and once more giving you thanks, he said the blessing

and gave the chalice 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."

BELL RINGS

The mystery of faith.

Save us Saviour of the world,

Therefore, O Lord, as we celebrate the memorial of the blessed Passion,

the Resurrection from the dead, and the glorious Ascension into heaven

of Christ, your Son, our Lord,

we, your servants and your holy people,

offer to your glorious majesty

from the gifts that you have given us, this pure victim,

this holy victim, this spotless victim,

the holy Bread of eternal life and the Chalice of everlasting salvation.

Be pleased to look upon these offerings with

a serene and kindly countenance, and to accept them,

as once you were pleased to accept

the gifts of your servant Abel the just,

the sacrifice of Abraham, our father in faith,

and the offering of your high priest Melchizedek,

a holy sacrifice, a spotless victim.

In humble prayer we ask you, almighty God:

command that these gifts be borne by the hands of your holy Angel

to your altar on high in the sight of your divine majesty,

so that all of us, who through this participation at the altar

receive the most holy Body and Blood of your Son,

may be filled with every grace and heavenly blessing.

Remember

Remember also,

Remember also, Lord,

Remember also, Lord, your servants who have gone before us with the

sign of faith and rest in the sleep of peace. Grant them, O Lord, we

pray and all who sleep in Christ, a place of refreshment, light and

To us, also, your servants, graciously grant some share

Stephen, Matthias, Barnabas, and all your Saints;

admit us, we beseech you, into their company,

not weighing our merits, but granting us your pardon,

through Christ our Lord.

Through whom you continue to make all these good things, O Lord;

you sanctify them, fill them with life, bless them,

and bestow them upon us.

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.

ALL: Amen.

ALL: Amen.

ALL: Amen.

At the Saviour's command and formed by divine teaching, we dare to say:

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

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 of the Lord be with you always.

And with your spirit.

Let us offer each other the sign of peace.

ORGAN PLAYS

THEY SING IN THE ROUND

# Agnus Dei

# Qui tollis

# Peccata mundi

# Miserere nobis

# Miserere nobis

# Miserere nobis

# Agnus Dei

# Qui tollis

# Peccata mundi

# Miserere nobis

# Miserere nobis

# Miserere nobis

# Agnus Dei

# Qui tollis

# Peccata mundi

# Agnus Dei

# Qui tollis

# Peccata mundi

# Dona nobis pacem

# Dona nobis pacem

# Dona nobis pacem

# Dona

# Nobis

# Pacem. #

# Dona

# Nobis

# Pacem. #

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 81 seconds

THEY SING IN LATIN

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 81 seconds

ORGAN PLAYS MELLOW VOLUNTARY

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 81 seconds

# Softly a light is stealing

# Sweetly a maiden sings

# Ever wakeful, ever wistful

# Watching faithfully thankfully, tenderly

# Her King of kings

# My soul doth magnify the Lord

# And my spirit hath rejoiced

# Rejoiced in God my Saviour

# Mary her song to Jesus Softly, serenely sings

# "I will love you I will serve you

# "May my lullaby glorify magnify My King of kings"

# Lullaby

# Lullaby

# Lullaby. #

# Sing lullaby!

# Lullaby baby Now reclining

# Sing lullaby!

# Hush, do not wake the infant King

# Angels are watching Stars are shining

# Over the place where He is lying

# Sing lullaby!

# Sing lullaby!

# Lullaby baby, now a-sleeping

# Sing lullaby!

# Hush, do not wake the infant King

# Soon will come sorrow with the morning

# Soon will come bitter grief and weeping

# Sing lullaby!

# Sing lullaby!

# Lullaby baby Now a-dozing

# Sing lullaby!

# Hush, do not wake the infant King

# Soon comes the cross The nails, the piercing

# Then in the grave at last reposing

# Sing lullaby!

# Sing lullaby!

# Lullaby! Is the babe awaking?

# Sing lullaby!

# Hush, do not stir the infant King

# Dreaming of Easter Gladsome morning

# Conquering death Its bondage breaking

# Sing lullaby! #

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 81 seconds

Grant us, we pray, O Lord our God, that we,

who are gladdened by participation

in the feast of our Redeemer's Nativity,

may through an honourable way of life

become worthy of union with him.

Who lives and reigns for ever and ever. Amen.

On

On behalf

On behalf of

On behalf of all of us here at the cathedral, I wish you a very happy

Christmas. Today and always, may you find that true peace which is

who by the Incarnation of his Son and by that glorious Birth has

drive far from you the darkness of vice

and illumine your hearts with the light of virtue. Amen.

May God, who willed that the great joy of his Son's saving Birth

be announced to shepherds by the Angel,

fill your minds with the gladness he gives

and make you heralds of his Gospel. Amen.

And may God, who by the Incarnation

brought together the earthly and heavenly realm,

fill you with the gift of his peace and favour

and make you sharers with the Church in heaven. Amen.

And may the blessing of Almighty God,

the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit,

come down on you and remain with you for ever. Amen.

Go, and announce the Gospel of the Lord.