ENTRANCE ANTIPHON
Tell God's glory among the nations;
among all peoples, God's marvelous deeds.
For great is the Lord and highly to be praised.
Ps. 96: 3-4

OPENING PRAYER

God our Father, by the preaching of Francis Xavier
you brought many peoples of the Orient
to the light of the Gospel.
Give his missionary zeal to all who believe in you,
that your Church may rejoice in continued growth
throughout the world.
Grant this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever.

The Gloria is said where feast is celebrated

FIRST READING
Woe to me if I do not preach the Gospel!

From the first letter of Paul to the Corinthians
9:16-19, 22-23

Brothers and sisters, if I preach the gospel, this is no reason for me to boast, for an obligation has been imposed on me; and woe to me if I do not preach it! If I do so willingly, I have a recompense; but if unwillingly, then I have been entrusted with a stewardship. What then is my recompense? That, when I preach, I offer the gospel free of charge so as not to make full use of my right in the gospel.

Although I am free in regard to all, I have made myself a slave to all so as to win over as many as possible. To the weak I became weak, to win over the weak. I have become all things to all, to save at least some. All this I do for the sake of the gospel, so that I too may have a share in it

The Word of the Lord.


RESPONSORIAL PSALM
Psalm 117

R. Lord, all nations of the earth will adore you.

Praise the Lord, all you nations!
Give glory, all you peoples. R.

The Lord’s love for us is strong;
the Lord is faithful forever. R.


GOSPEL ACCLAMATION
Is 61:1

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
The spirit of the Lord is upon me;
He has sent me
to bring glad tidings to the lowly.
R. Alleluia.


GOSPEL
Go into the whole world and preach the good news.
From the Gospel according to Mark
16:15-20
At that time Jesus, appearing to the Eleven, said to them, "Go into the whole world and proclaim the gospel to every creature. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved; whoever does not believe will be condemned. These signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will drive out demons, they will speak new languages. They will pick up serpents with their hands, and if they drink any deadly thing, it will not harm them. They will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover."
So then the Lord Jesus, after he spoke to them, was taken up into heaven and took his seat at the right hand of God.
But they went forth and preached everywhere, while the Lord worked with them and confirmed the word through accompanying signs.

The Gospel of the Lord.


PRAYER OVER THE GIFTS

Lord, receive the gifts that we bring
on the feast of Francis Xavier.
As his zeal for the salvation of all people
led him to the ends of the earth,
may we be effective witnesses to the gospel
and come with our brothers and sisters
to be with you in the joy of your kingdom.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.


Preface of Advent I
The twofold coming of Christ

V. The Lord be with you.
R. And also with you.

V. Lift up your hearts.
R. We lift them up to the Lord.

V. Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
R. It is right to give him thanks and praise.


Father, all-powerful and ever-living God,
we do well always and everywhere to give you thanks
through Jesus Christ our Lord.

When he humbled himself to come among us as a man,
He fulfilled the plan you formed long ago
and opened for us the way to salvation.

Now we watch for the day,
hoping that the salvation promised us will be ours,
when Christ our Lord will come again in his glory.

And so, with all the choirs of angels in heaven,
we proclaim your glory
and join in their unending hymn of praise:

Holy, Holy, Holy Lord,
God of power and might,
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.

COMMUNION ANTIPHON
“Go out to all the world
and tell the good news:
I am with you always,”
says the Lord. Cf Mk16:15; Mt 28: 20


PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION

Lord God,
may this Eucharist fill us with the same love
that inspired Francis Xavier
to work for the salvation of all.
Help us to live in a manner more worthy
of our Christian calling
and so inherit the promise of eternal life.
We ask this in the name of Jesus the Lord.