December 24

Vigil of the Nativity of Our Lord

Or Christmas Eve

Purple 1st Class Vigil

[STATION AT ST. MARY MAJOR'S]

INTROIT ¤ Exodus 16. 6, 7
   Hodie scietis, quia veniet Dominus, et salvabit nos: et mane videbitis gloriam eius. -- Domini est terra, et plenitudo eius: orbis terrarum, et universi, qui habitant in eo. V.: Gloria Patri . . . -- Hodie scietis, quia veniet Dominus . . .    This day you shall know that the Lord will come, and save us: and in the morning you shall see His glory. -- (Ps.23. 1). The earth is the Lord's and the fulness thereof: the world and all they that dwell therein. V.: Glory be to the Father . . . -- This day you shall know . . .
 
COLLECT
   Deus, qui nos redemptionis nostrae annua expectatione laetificas: praesta, ut Unigenitum tuum, quem Redemptorem laeti suscipimus, venientem quoque iudicem securi videamus, Dominum nostrum Iesum Christum Filium tiim, Qui tecum vivit et regnat in unitate Spiritus Sancti, Deus, per omnia saecula saeculorum.    O God, Who dost gladden us by the yearly expectation of our redemption, grant that we, who now joyfully receive Thine only-begotten Son as our Redeemer, may also without fear behold Him coming as our Judge, even the same Lord Jesus Christ Thy Son, who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Hold Ghost . . .
   No other collect is said, unless Christmas Eve falls on a Sunday.
 
EPISTLE ¤ Rom. 1. 1-6
Lesson from the Epistle of blessed Paul the Apostle to the Romans.
Lectio Epistolae beati Pauli Apostoli ad Romanos.
[Our Lord Jesus Christ is the Son of David according to the flesh, and the Son of God according to the spirit of sanctification.]
   Paulus, servus Iesu Christi, vocatus Apostolus, segregatus in Evangelium Dei, quod ante promiserat per prophetas suos in Scripturis sanctis de Filio suo, qui factus est ei ex semine David secundum carnem: qui praedestinatus est Filius Dei in virtute secundum spiritum sanctificationis ex resurrectione mortuorum Iesu Christi Domini nostri: per quem accepimus gratiam, et apostolatum ad obediendum fidei in omnibus gentibus pro nomine eius, in quibus estis et vos vocati Iesu Christi Domini nostri.    Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an Apostle separated unto the Gospel of God, which He had promised before by His prophets in the holy Scriptures concerning His Son, who was made to Him of the seed of David according to the flesh: who was predestined to Son of God in power according to the spirit of sanctification by the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ from the dead: by whom we have received grace, and apostleship for obedience to the faith in all nations for His name, among whom are you also the called of Jesus Christ Our Lord.
 
GRADUAL ¤ Exodus 16. 6, 7
   Hodie scietis, quia veniet Dominus, et salvabit nos: et mane videbitis gloriam eius. V.: Qui regis Israel intende: qui deducis, velut ovem, Ioseph: qui sedes super Cherubim, appare coram Ephraim, Beniamin, et Manasse.
   Alleluia, alleluia. V.: Crastina die delebitur iniquitas tarrae: et regnabit super nos Salvator mundi. Alleluia.
   This day you shall know that the Lord will come and save us: and in the morning you shall see His glory. V.: (Ps. 79. 2, 3). Give ear, O Thou that rulest Israel: Thou that leadest Jeseph like a sheep, Thou that sittest upon the Cherubims, shine forth before Ephraim, Benjamin, and Manasses.
   Alleluia, alleluia. V.: Tomorrow shall the iniquity of the earth be abolished: and the Savior of the world shall reign over us. Alleluia.
The Alleluia and its verses are said only when the Vigil falls on a Sunday.
 
GOSPEL ¤ Matthew 1. 18-21
† Continuation of the holy Gospel according to St. Matthew.
† Sequentia sancti Evangelii secundum Matthaeum.
[The Angel appeared to Joseph and announced to him that Mary his wife should bring forth a Son, conceived by the Holy Ghost.]
   Cum esset desponsata Mater Iesu Maria Ioseph, antequam convenirent, inventa est in utero habens de Spiritu Sancto. Ioseph autem vir eius, cum esset iustus, et nollet eam traducere, voluit occulte dimittere eam. Haec autem eo cogitante, ecce Angelus Domini apparuit in somnis ei, dicens: Ioseph, fili David, noli timere accipere Mariam coniugem tuam: quod enim in ea natum est, de Spiritu Sancto est. Pariet autem filium, et vocabis nomen eius Iesum: ipse enim salvum faciet populum suum a peccatis eorum.    When Mary the mother of Jesus was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost. Whereupon Joseph her husband, being a just man and not willing publicly to expose her, was minded to put her away privately. But while he thought on these things, behold the Angel of the Lord appeared to him in his sleep, saying: Joseph, son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary The wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. And she shall bring forth a Son, and thou shalt call His Name Jesus: for He shall save His people from their sins.
 
OFFERTORY ¤ Ps. 23. 7
   Tollite portas, principes, vestras: et elevamini portae aeternales, et introibit Rex gloriae.    Lift up your gates, O ye princes: and be lifted up, O eternal gates, and the King of glory shall enter in.
 
SECRET
   Da nobis, quaesumus omnipotens Deus: ut, sicut adoranda Filii tui natalitia praevenimus, sic eius munera capiamus sempiterna gaudentes: Qui tecum . . .    Grant, we beseech Thee, almighty God, that as we anticipate the adorable birthday of Thy Son, so we may joyfully receive His eternal gifts. Who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God . . .
 
PREFACE
The Common Preface
   Vere dignum et iustum est, aequum et salutare, nos tibi semper, et ubique gratias agere: Domine sancte, Pater omnipotens, aeterne Deus: per Christum Dominum nostrum. Per quem maiestatem tuam laudant Angeli, adorant Dominationes, tremunt Potestates. Coeli, coelorumque Virtutes, ac beata Seraphim socia exsultatione concelebrant. Cum quibus et nostras voces, ut admitti iubeas, deprecamur, supplici confessione dicentes:    It it truly meet and just, right and for our salvation, that we should at all times, and in all places, give thanks unto Thee, O holy Lord, Father almighty, everlasting God, through Christ our Lord. Through whom the Angels praise Thy Majesty, the Dominations worship it, the Powers stand in awe. The heavens and the heavenly hosts together with the blessed Seraphim in triumphant chorus unite to celebrate it. Together with them, we entreat Thee, that Thou mayest bid our voices also to be admitted, while we say in lowly praise:
 
COMMUNION ¤ Isaias 40.5
   Revelabitur gloria Domini: et videbit omnis caro salutare Dei nostri.    The glory of the Lord shall be revealed: and all flesh shall see the salvation of our God.
 
POSTCOMMUNION
   Da nobis, quaesumus Domine: unigeniti Filii tui recensita nativitate respirare; cuius caelesti mysterio pascimur, et potamur. Per eumdem Dominum . . .    We beseech Thee, O Lord, grant us fresh courage, as we celebrate the birthday of Thine only-begotten Son: Whose heavenly Mystery is our food and drink. Thorugh the same Jesus Christ, Thy Son, who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost . . .