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Today, and the other Holy Days following Christmas Day, all involve combinations of Martyrs of Deed and Martyrs of Will. The Innocents are considered Martyrs of Deed but not Will, as they did not choose their fate.

 

At the Mass

The following is taken from:

The Introit

Antiphon: Psalm 8.2 Out of the mouth of very babes, O God, and of sucklings hast thou perfected praise: because of thine adversaries.

Verse: Ibid O Lord our Governour: how excellent is thy Name in all the world.

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 Out of the mouth ...

The English Gradual: Part II - The Proper, Pages 21-23

The Collects

Collect for the Innocents

O Almighty God, who out of the mouths of babes and sucklings hast ordained strength, and madest infants to glorify thee by their deaths: Mortify and kill all vices in us, and so strengthen us by thy grace, that by the innocency of our lives, and constancy of our faith, even unto death, we may glorify thy holy Name; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Collect for Christmas

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 Book of Common Prayer (1962), Pages 111 and 104

The Lesson
Revelation 14. 1.

I saw, and behold the Lamb standing on the mount Sion, and with him an hundred and forty and four thousand, having his Name, and the Name of his Father, written on their foreheads. And I heard a voice from heaven, as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of a great thunder: and the voice which I heard was as the voice of harpers harping upon their harps; and they sing as it were a new song before the throne, and before the four living creatures, and the elders; and no man could learn that song, but the hundred and forty and four thousand, which were redeemed from the earth. These are they which were not defiled with women, for they are virgins: these are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth: these were redeemed from among men, being the first-fruits unto God, and to the Lamb. And in their mouth was found no guile; for they are without fault before the throne of God.

Revelation 14.1-5 NIV KJV NRSV NASB RSV NKJV ESV

The Book of Common Prayer (1962), Page 112

Gradual and Alleluia

Psalm 124 Our souls escaped, even as a bird: out of the snare of the fowler. The snare is broken and we are delivered: Our help standeth in the Name of the Lord, who hath made heaven and earth.

Alleluia. Alleluia. The noble army of martyrs: praise thee O Lord. Alleluia.

The English Gradual: Part II - The Proper, Pages 21-23

The Gospel
St. Matthew 2. 13.

The angel of the Lord appeareth to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise, and take the young child, and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and be thou there until I bring thee word; for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him. And he arose and took the young child and his mother by night, and departed into Egypt, and was there until the death of Herod; that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Out of Egypt have I called my Son. Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked of the wise men, was exceeding wroth; and sent forth, and slew all the children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the coasts thereof, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had diligently inquired of the wise men. Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet, saying, In Ramah was there a voice heard, Lamentation, and weeping, and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children, And would not be comforted, because they are not.

Matthew 2:13-18 NIV KJV NRSV NASB RSV NKJV ESV

The Book of Common Prayer (1962), Pages 112-113

The Offertory

Psalm 124 Our soul is escaped even as a bird out of the snare of the fowler: the snare is broken and we are delivered.

The English Gradual: Part II - The Proper, Pages 21-23

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

Matthew 2 In Rama was there a voice heard, lamentation and weeping, and great mourning: Rachel weeping for her children, and would not be comforted, because they are not.

The English Gradual: Part II - The Proper, Pages 21-23

At the Offices

Morning Prayer

Psalm(s): 26
First Lesson: Baruch 4:21-27
Second Lesson: Revelation 6:9-11
NIV KJV NRSV NASB RSV NKJV ESV

Evening Prayer

Psalm(s): 130, 131
First Lesson: Jeremiah 31:1-17
Second Lesson: Matthew 18:1-10
NIV KJV NRSV NASB RSV NKJV ESV