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Today we celebrate the Birth of our Lord, God, and Saviour Jesus Christ.

Before the English Reformation, there were four Masses associated with today.

  • A Vigil Mass said the day before,
  • A Mass said at Midnight,
  • A Mass said at Dawn, and
  • A Mass said during the day.
A Note on the Services

The following is taken from:

Before Mass at Midnight

The Christmas Wreath

These candles we light in reminder to us all of the Great Light which cometh at last with the Nativity of Christ Jesus our Lord, the Word of God made Flesh and Incarnate taking upon Himself our humanity. Borne into the darkness of a mean stable at Bethlehem He brings to us His Light and Love that we might bring Light and Love to all in this broken world who dwell today in darkness and in the shadow of death. Where we have denied and rejected and failed to receive Him before, may we receive Him with thanksgiving on this Most Holy of Nights.
Together let us Pray
O Almighty God, your Love was so great for us that you gave us thine Only Begotten Son to illuminate the darkness of our lives. Help us, we beseech thee, to make that Love known throughout all the world, through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
The Anthems

These Anthems shall be sung or said instead of Venite at Morning Prayer, and may be used at the Holy Communion except when the latter Service is combined with Morning Prayer.

BEHOLD a virgin shall conceive and bear a son, / and shall call his name Immanuel.     Isaiah 7. 14.

Unto us a child is born, / unto us a son is given.     Isaiah 9. 6.

In this was manifested the love of God toward us, / because that God sent his only-begotten Son into the world that we might live through him.     1 St John 4. 9.

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, / who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ.     Ephesians 1. 3.

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.

The Book of Common Prayer (1962), Page 104

At Midnight Mass
The Introit

Antiphon: Psalm 2.7 The Lord said unto me: Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee.

Verse: Psalm 2.1 Why do the heathen so furiously rage together: and why do the people imagine a vain thing?

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.

Repeat the Antiphon The Lord said unto ...

The English Gradual: Part II - The Proper, Pages 11-12

The Collects

Almighty God, who hast given us thy only begotten Son to take our nature upon him, and as at this time to be born of a pure Virgin: Grant that we being regenerate, and made thy children by adoption and grace, may daily be renewed by thy Holy Spirit; through the same our Lord Jesus Christ, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the same Spirit, ever one God, world without end. Amen.

The Collect of Christmas Day shall be said continually unto the Eve of the Epiphany.

The following additional Collect may also be used during these twelve days.

O God, who makest us glad with the yearly remembrance of the birth of thy only Son Jesus Christ: Grant that as we joyfully receive him as our Redeemer, we may with sure confidence behold him when he shall come again to be our Judge; who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, now and ever. Amen.

The Book of Common Prayer (1962), Page 104

The Epistle
Hebrews 1. 1.

God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high; being made so much better than the angels, as he hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they. For unto which of the angels said he at any time, Thou art my Son, This day have I begotten thee? And again, I will be to him a Father, And he shall be to me a Son? And again, when he bringeth the first-born into the world, he saith, And let all the angels of God worship him. And of the angels he saith Who maketh his angels spirits, And his ministers a flame of fire. But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever; A sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom: Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; Therefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee With the oil of gladness above thy fellows. And again he saith, Thou, Lord, in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the earth; And the heavens are the works of thine hands: They shall perish, but thou remainest; And they all shall wax old as doth a garment; And as a vesture shalt thou fold them up, And they shall be changed; But thou art the same, And thy years shall not fail.

Hebrews 1:1-12 NIV KJV NRSV NASB RSV NKJV ESV

The Book of Common Prayer (1962), Pages 104-106

Gradual and Alleluia

Psalm 110 In the day of thy power shall the people offer thee free-will offerings with an holy worship: the dew of thy Birth is of the womb of the morning. The Lord said unto my Lord: Sit thou on my right hand until I make thine enemies thy footstool.

Alleluia. Alleluia. Psalm 2.7 The Lord said unto me: thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee. Alleluia.

The English Gradual: Part II - The Proper, Pages 11-12

The Gospel
St. John 1. 1.

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shineth in darkness, and the darkness overcame it not. There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the light, that all men through him might believe. He was not that light, but was sent to bear witness of that light. That was the true light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. He came unto his own, and his own received him not. But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his Name: which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father) full of grace and truth.

John 1:1-14 NIV KJV NRSV NASB RSV NKJV ESV

The Book of Common Prayer (1962), Page 106

The Offertory

Psalm 96 Let the heavens rejoice and let the earth be glad before the Lord: for he is come.

The English Gradual: Part II - The Proper, Pages 11-12

The Preface

Upon Christmas Day, and during the Octave thereof, and upon the Feast of the Annunciation.

Because thou didst give Jesus Christ thine only Son to be born as at this time for us; who, by the operation of the Holy Spirit, was made very man of the substance of the Virgin Mary his mother; and that without spot of sin, to make us clean from all sin. Therefore with Angels, etc.

The Book of Common Prayer (1962), Page 79

The Communion

Psalm 110 With an holy worship: the dew of thy birth is of the womb of the morning.

The English Gradual: Part II - The Proper, Pages 11-12

At the Second Mass, at Daybreak

Using the Additional Service for Christmas Day provided for in the Book of Common Prayer

The Introit

Antiphon: Isaiah 9 Light shall shine today upon us: for unto us the Lord is born: and his Name shall be called Wonderful, Mighty God, the Prince of peace, Father of the world to come; of whose kingdom there shall be no end.

Verse: Psalm 93 The Lord is King and hath put on glorious apparel: the Lord hath put on his apparel and girded himself with strength.

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.

Repeat the Antiphon Light shall shine today ...

The English Gradual: Part II - The Proper, Pages 13-14

The Epistle
St. Titus 2. 11.

The grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works. These things speak; and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee.

Titus 2:11-15 NIV KJV NRSV NASB RSV NKJV ESV

The Book of Common Prayer (1962), Page 107

Gradual and Alleluia

Psalm 118 Blessed is he that cometh in the Name of the Lord: God is the Lord, who hath shewed us light. This is the Lord's doing: and it is marvellous in our eyes.

Alleluia. Alleluia. Psalm 93 The Lord is King, and hath put on glorious apparel: the Lord hath put on his apparel, and girded himself with strength. Alleluia.

The English Gradual: Part II - The Proper, Pages 13-14

The Gospel
St. Luke 2. 1.

Now it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed. (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.) And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem (because he was of the house and lineage of David;) to be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child. And so it was, that while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. And she brought forth her first-born son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn. And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, who is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, good will toward men.

Luke 2:1-14 NIV KJV NRSV NASB RSV NKJV ESV

The Book of Common Prayer (1962), Pages 107-108

The Offertory

Psalm 93 God hath made the round world so sure, that it cannot be moved: ever since the world began hath thy seat, O God, been prepared: thou art from everlasting.

The English Gradual: Part II - The Proper, Pages 13-14

The Communion

Zechariah 9 Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Sion, shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh unto thee, he is just, and having salvation.

The English Gradual: Part II - The Proper, Pages 13-14

At the Mass during Daytime

Either Epistle or Gospel from the first two services can be used for the Daytime service. With the permission of the Ordinary, some variance of St. Titus 3.4-7 and St. Luke 2.8-20 can be used for the Daytime service, or the Daybreak service.

The Introit

Antiphon: Isaiah 9 Unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder; and his Name shall be called, Angel of mighty counsel.

Verse: Psalm 98 O sing unto the Lord a new song: for he hath done marvellous things.

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.

Repeat the Antiphon Unto us a Child ...

The English Gradual: Part II - The Proper, Pages 15-17

Gradual and Alleluia

Psalm 98 All the ends of the world have seen the salvation of our God: O be joyful in God, all ye lands. The Lord hath declared his salvation: in the sight of the heathen his righteousness hath he openly shewed his righteousness.

Alleluia. Alleluia. Psalm 98 A hallowed day hath dawned upon us: come, all ye nations, and worship the Lord: for on this day a great light hath descended upon the earth. Alleluia.

The English Gradual: Part II - The Proper, Pages 15-17

The Offertory

Psalm 89 The heavens are thine, the earth also is thine; thou hast laid the foundation of the round world, and all that therein is: righteousness and equity are the habitation of thy seat.

The English Gradual: Part II - The Proper, Pages 15-17

The Communion

Psalm 98 Be joyful, O daughter of Sion, sing praises, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy king cometh; he is righteous and having salvation.

The English Gradual: Part II - The Proper, Pages 15-17

At the Offices

Vigil

Psalm(s): 8, 19
First Lesson: Zechariah 2.10-end
Second Lesson: Hebrews 2.10-18
NIV KJV NRSV NASB RSV NKJV ESV

Morning Prayer

Psalm(s): 45
First Lesson: Isaiah 9:2-7
Second Lesson: Matthew 1:18-25
NIV KJV NRSV NASB RSV NKJV ESV

Evening Prayer

Psalm(s): 85, 110
First Lesson: Isaiah 7:10-14
Second Lesson: 1 John 4:7-end
NIV KJV NRSV NASB RSV NKJV ESV

For the Ferial Days

  Morning Prayer Evening Prayer
First Lesson Second Lesson First Lesson Second Lesson
December 29th Ruth 1:1-18 John 1:14-18 Ruth 1:19-2:13 Matthew 11:2-6
NIV KJV NRSV NASB RSV NKJV ESV
December 30th Ruth 2:14-end John 3:16-21 Ruth 3 Matthew 16:13-20
NIV KJV NRSV NASB RSV NKJV ESV
December 31st Ruth 4:1-17 John 6:41-58 Micah 4:8-5:4 Luke 22:24-30
NIV KJV NRSV NASB RSV NKJV ESV

The Book of Common Prayer (1962), Pages xviii, xix and l