Christmas and its Octave at Vespers – With the Lord there is steadfast love, and with him is plenteous redemption. ~Psalm Antiphon 3: Apud Domininum
Christmas and Octave at Vespers – The Lord sent redemption to his people; he has commanded his covenant forever. ~Psalm Antiphon 2, Redemptionem
Christmas and the octave at Vespers – Princely state is yours on the day you lead your host in holy splendor. From the womb of the morning I have begotten you. ~Psalm antiphon 1
Christmas at Vespers – Today the Christ is born; today the Savior has appeared; today on earth angels are singing, archangels rejoicing: today the righteous exult and say: Glory to God in the highest, alleluia. ~Magnificat Antiphon for Christmas Day and the Octave ~Image: Schlägl ( Upper Austria ). Monastery church – Stained glass...
The Holy Innocents at None – Short Lesson – Keep your voice from weeping, and your eyes from tears; for your work shall be rewarded, says the Lord, and they shall come back from the land of the enemy. There is hope for your future says the Lord, and your children shall come back...
December 28 – The Holy Innocents – This octave of Christmas the Church celebrates the memory of the small children of the neighborhood of Bethlehem put to death by Herod. Sacrificed by a wicked monarch, these innocent lives bear witness to Christ who was persecuted from the time of his birth by a world...
St. John, Apostle and Evangelist – Born in Bethsaida, he was called while mending his nets to follow Jesus. He became the beloved disciple of Jesus. He wrote the fourth Gospel, three Epistles and the Apocalypse. His passages on the pre-existence of the Word, who by His Incarnation became the light of the world...
St. Stephen, Deacon & Martyr, None – Short Lesson – The souls of the righteous are in the hand of God, and no torment will ever touch them. In the eyes of the foolish they seemed to have died, but they are at peace. ~Wisdom 3:1-2a,3b ~Image by Elena Murariu
December 26 – St. Stephen, Deacon and Martyr – One of the first deacons and the first Christian martyr. Of the seven deacons, Stephen, is the first mentioned and the best known. At his death, the praying martyr was thrown down; and while the witnesses were thrusting upon him “a stone as much as...
Vespers on Christmas Day, and in Christmastide until the Epiphany – O Savior of our fallen race, O Brightness of the Father’s face, O Son who shared the Father’s might Before the world knew day or night, O Jesus, very Light of light, Our constant star in sin’s deep night: Now hear the prayers...