First Class (Violet) Double I class.
Station at the Twelve Holy Apostles.
Introit. Is. 45:8 Rorate caeli desuper.
Station at the Twelve Holy Apostles.
Introit. Is. 45:8 Rorate caeli desuper.
Drop down, ye heavens, from above, and let the skies pour down righteousness: let the earth open, and bring forth the Saviour. § Ps. 19:1. The heavens declare the glory of God: and the firmament sheweth his handy-work. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost: As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. Drop down, ye heavens . . . §
The Collect. [BCP]
O Lord, raise up, we pray thee, thy power, and come among us: and with great might succour us; that whereas, through our sins and wickedness, we are sore let and hindered in running the race that is set before us, thy bountiful grace and mercy may speedily help and deliver us. Through the satisfaction of thy Son our Lord, to whom with thee and the Holy Ghost be honour and glory, world without end. Amen.
Or the following Collect. [EF]
O Lord, raise up, we pray thee, thy power, and come among us: and with great might succour us; that whereas, through our sins we are sore let and hindered, thy bountiful grace and mercy may speedily help and deliver us: Who livest and reignest with God the Father. Amen.
The Epistle. 1 Cor. 4:1-5.
The Lesson from the Epistle of blessed Paul the Apostle to the Corinthians.
The Lesson from the Epistle of blessed Paul the Apostle to the Corinthians.
Brethren: Let a man so account of us, as ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God. Moreover, it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful. But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged of you, or of man's judgment: yea, I judge not mine own self. For I know nothing by myself: yet am I not hereby justified: but he that judgeth me is the Lord. Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come: who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God.
Gradual. Ps. 145:18,21. Prope est Dominus.
The Lord is nigh unto all them that call upon him: yea, all such as call upon him faithfully. V. My mouth shall speak the praise of the Lord: and let all flesh give thanks unto his holy name.
¶ The following Alleluia with the Verse is said on Sunday only, on Ferias it is omitted.
Alleluia. Veni, Domine.
Alleluia, alleluia. V. Come, O Lord, and tarry not: forgive the misdeeds of thy people Israel. Alleluia.
The Gospel. John 1:19-28. [BCP]
The Continuation of the holy Gospel according to John.
The Continuation of the holy Gospel according to John.
At that time: The Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, Who art thou? And he confessed, and denied not; but confessed, I am not the Christ. And they asked him, What then? Art thou Elias? And he saith, I am not. Art thou that prophet? And he answered, No. Then said they unto him, Who art thou? that we may give an answer to them that sent us. What sayest thou of thyself? He said, I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make straight the way of the Lord, as said the prophet Esaias. And they which were sent were of the Pharisees. And they asked him, and said unto him, Why baptizest thou then, if thou be not that Christ, nor Elias, neither that prophet? John answered them, saying, I baptize with water: but there standeth one among you, whom ye know not; He it is, who coming after me is preferred before me, whose shoe's latchet I am not worthy to unloose. These things were done in Bethabara beyond Jordan, where John was baptizing.
Or the following Gospel. Lk 3:1-6. [EF]
The Continuation of the holy Gospel according to Luke.
The Continuation of the holy Gospel according to Luke.
In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judaea, and Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip tetrarch of Ituraea and of the region of Trachonitis, and Lysanias the tetrarch of Abilene, Annas and Caiaphas being the high priests: the word of God came unto John the son of Zacharias in the wilderness. And he came into all the country about Jordan, preaching the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins, as it is written in the book of the words of Esaias the prophet, saying: The voice of one crying in the wilderness: Prepare ye the way of the Lord: make his paths straight: every valley shall be filled: and every mountain and hill shall be brought low: and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough ways shall be made smooth: and all flesh shall see the salvation of God.
Creed.
Offertory. Lk. 1:28. Ave, Maria.
Offertory. Lk. 1:28. Ave, Maria.
Hail, Mary, full of grace: the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb.
Secret.
We beseech thee, O Lord, mercifully to have respect unto these our sacrifices: that they may increase our devotion and set forth our salvation. Through.
The Preface of the Most Holy Trinity.
Communion. Is. 7:14. Ecce, virgo.
Communion. Is. 7:14. Ecce, virgo.
Behold, a Virgin shall conceive, and bear a son: and his name shall be called Emmanuel.
Postcommunion.
O Lord, who hast made us to be partakers of thy bounty: we beseech thee; that we, continually drawing near to this holy mystery, may thereby grow in grace to the attainment of everlasting salvation. Through.
¶ If the Vigil of the Nativity fall on Sunday, the whole Office of the Mass is of the Vigil, with Commemoration of the Sunday.
