Vespers in the Christmas Octave With the Lord there is steadfast love, and with him is plenteous redemption. ~Psalm Antiphon
Vespers in the Christmas Octave – Princely state is yours on the day you lead your host in holy splendor. From the womb of the morning I have begotten you. ~Responsory
First Sunday after Christmas (Holy Family) – Almighty God, you wonderfully created and yet more wonderfully restored the dignity of human nature. In your mercy, let us share the divine life of Jesus Christ who came to share our humanity, and who now lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God,...
December 28 – The Holy Innocents – During 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...
December 27 – 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...
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 two...
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...
The Nativity of Our Lord, Dawn – Grant, we pray, almighty God, that, as we are bathed in the new radiance of your incarnate Word, the light of faith, which illumines our minds, may also shine through in our deeds. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in...
Christmas Night – A child is born in Bethlehem, Alleluia. Exult for joy, Jerusalem. Alleluia, alleluia. Our joyful hearts we raise! Christ is born: O come adore him and sing new hymns of praise. ~Christmas hymn: Puer natus in Bethlehem. 13th Century
Advent at Lauds The Savior of the world shall arise as the sun: and shall come down into the Virgin’s womb, as the showers upon the grass, alleluia. ~Benedictus Antiphon starting December 17