It is precisely this joy motivated by the closeness of the Lord that is also reflected in the corresponding collect prayer:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
O God, who contemplate how faithfully your people await the feast of the birth of the Lord, grant us to rejoice in so great an event of salvation and to celebrate it always with solemnity and overflowing joy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Deus, qui c\u00f3nspicis p\u00f3pulum tuum nativit\u00e1tis dom\u00ednicae festivit\u00e1tem fid\u00e9liter exspect\u00e1re, presta, qua\u00e9sumus, ut vale\u00e1mus ad tantae sal\u00fatis g\u00e1udia perven\u00edre, et ea votis soll\u00e9mnibus semper laet\u00edtita celebr\u00e1re.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Again, those in charge of the liturgical reform saw fit to move the old prayer in use to another day and find one that better reflected the essence of this Sunday. With minor modifications we now use this prayer, which comes from the Ravenna Ritual (8th century). <\/p>\n\n\n\n
In its structure we find a brief invocation (Deus<\/em>), the anamnesis that refers to the approaching Christmas and a subordinate clause that introduces an epiclesis with two petitions.<\/p>\n\n\n\nWaiting, arriving and celebrating<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n