suum primogenitum. 4 Scitote quia prope est regnum Dei. Amen dico vobis, quia non tarda bit. 5 Levate capita vestra. Ecce appropinquat redemptio vestra. should bring forth her firstborn son. Know ye that the kingdom of God is at hand. Amen, I say unto you, it shall not be delayed. Lift up your heads. Behold, your redemption draweth near. 5th Ps. Laudate Dominum, p. 20. L. CH. Titus 3. Apparuit benignitas et humanitas Salvatoris nostri Dei: non ex operibus justitiæ, quæ fecimus nos, sed secundum suam misericordiam salvos nos fecit. The goodness and kindness of God our Saviour appeared: not by the works of justice which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us. Hymn, Jesu Redemptor, and Y. and R., p. 50. Ant. Mag. Cum ortus fuerit sol de cœlo, videbitis Regem regum procedentem a Patre, tamquam sponsum de thalamo suo. Coll. Concede, quæsumus omnipotens Deus, ut nos Unigeniti tui nova per carnem Nativitas liberet, quos sub peccati jugo vetusta servitus tenet. Per eumdem Dominum, &c. When the sun shall have risen from heaven, ye shall see the King of kings proceeding from the Father, as a bridegroom from his chamber. Grant, we beseech thee, Almighty God, that the new birth of thine only-begotten Son in the flesh may deliver us who are held by the old bondage under the yoke of sin. Through, &c. DEC 25. SECOND VESPERS. 1 Ant. Tecum princi- With thee is the princi pium in die virtutis tuæ, in splendoribus sanctorum, ex pality in the day of thy strength, in the brightness utero ante luciferum genui of thy Saints, from the te. 2. Redemptionem misit Dominus populo suo, mandavit in æternum testamentum suum. 3. Exortum est in tenebris lumen rectis corde; misericors, et miserator, et justus Dominus. 4. Apud Dominum misericordia, et copiosa apud eum redemptio. womb before the day-star I begot thee. The Lord hath sent redemption unto his people, he hath commanded his covenant for ever. Unto the true of heart a light is risen up in darkness. The Lord is merciful, and compassionate, and just. With the Lord there is mercy, and with him is plentiful redemption. 4th Ps. De profundis, p. 91. 5. De fructu ventris tui Of the fruit of thy womb ponam super sedem tuam. 5th Ps. Memento, L. CH. Heb. 1. Multifariam, multisque modis, olim Deus loquens patribus in Prophetis: novissime diebus istis locutus est nobis in Filio, quem constituit heredem universorum, per quem fecit et sæcula. Hymn, Jesu Redemptor, p. 50. Ant. Mag. Hodie Christus natus est; hodie Salvator apparuit; hodie in terra canunt Angeli, lætantur Archangeli: hodie exultant justi, dicentes: Gloria in excelsis Deo. Alleluia. I will set upon thy throne. Domine, p. 15. God, who in many and divers ways spake in times past unto the fathers by the prophets, hath in these latter days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds. was This day Christ born: this day the Saviour appeared; this day the Angels sing on earth, and the Archangels rejoice: this day the just exult, saying, Glory to God in the highest. Alleluia. Coliect. Concede, as in 1st Vesp. COMMEMORATION OF ST. STEPHEN. Stephanus autem, plenus gratia et fortitudine, faciebat signa magna in populo. y. Gloria et honore coronasti eum, Domine. R. Et constituisti eum super opera manuum tuarum. Coll. Da nobis, quæsumus, Domine, imitari quod colimus, ut discamus et inimicos diligere: quia ejus natalitia celebramus, qui novit etiam pro persecutoribus exorare Dominum nostrum Jesum Christum Filium tuum. Qui tecum, &c. But Stephen, full of grace and strength, did great wonders among the people. V. Thou hast crowned him, O Lord, with glory and honour. R. And hast set him over the works of thine hands. Grant us grace, O Lord, we beseech thee, so to imitate what we revere that we may learn to love even our enemies; as we now celebrate the birthday to immortality of him who knew to ask forgiveness, even for his persecutors, of thy Son our Lord Jesus Christ. Who liveth, &c. DEC. 26th. ST. STEPHEN, THE FIRST MARTYR. SECOND VESPERS. Antiphons and Psalms, as on 2d Vesp. of Nativity. L. CH. Acts 6. Stephanus autem, plenus gratia et fortitudine, faciebat prodigia et signa magna in populo. But Stephen, full of grace and strength, worked great wonders and miracles among the people. Hymn, Deus tuorum, p. 41; last stanza, Jesu tibi, as in p. 51. COMMEM. OF ST. JOHN, APOSTLE AND EVANG. Iste est Joannes qui supra pectus Domini in cœna recubuit: beatus Apostolus, cui revelata sunt secreta cœlestia. y. Valde honorandus est beatus Joannes. R. Qui supra pectus Domini in cœna recubuit. Coll. Ecclesiam tuam, Domine, benignus illustra: ut beati Joannis Apostoli tui et Evangelistæ illuminata doctrinis ad dona perveniat sempiterna. This is John who leaned at supper on the bosom of the Lord. Blessed Apostle, to whom heavenly secrets were revealed. . Greatly to be honoured is blessed John. Ry. Who leaned at supper on the bosom of the Lord. Of thy goodness, O Lord, enlighten thy Church; that being illumined by the doctrines of blessed John, thy Apostle and Evangelist, she may attain to everlasting gifts. Commem, of the Nativity, Hodie Christus, &c. p. 125. 27th. ST. JOHN, APOSTLE AND EVANGELIST. Doub. 2d Class. Antiphons and Psalms, as on 2d Vesp. of Nativity. L. CH. Eccl. 15. Qui timet Deum, faciet bona: et qui continens est justi He that feareth God will do good, and he that keepeth justice shall find tiæ, apprehendet illam, et her, and she will meet him obviabit illi quasi mater as an honourable mother. Hymn, Exultet orbis, &c. p. 39. honorificata. V. Valde honorandus est beatus Joannes. R Qui supra pectus Domini in cœno recubuit. Ant. Mag. Exiit sermo inter fratres, quod discipulus ille non moritur; et non dixit Jesus: non moritur; sed, Sic eum volo manere, donec veniam. . Greatly to be honoured is blessed John. Ry. Who leaned at supper on the bosom of the Lord. A saying went abroad among the brethren, that that disciple should not die; and Jesus did not say he should not die, but so will I have him remain till I come. Collect, Ecclesiam, &c. as before. Hi sunt qui cum mulieribus non sunt coinquinati; virgines enim sunt, et sequuntur Agnum quocumque ierit. . Herodes iratus occidit multos pueros. Ry. In Bethlehem Judæ civitate David. Coll. Deus, cujus hodierna die præconium Innocentes martyres non loquendo, sed moriendo confessi sunt omnia in nobis vitiorum mala mortifica; ut fidem tuam, quam lingua nostra loquitur, etiam moribus vita fateatur. These are they who were not defiled with women; for they are virgins, and follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. . Herod being wroth slew many children. of R. In Bethlehem Juda the city of David. O God, whose praise thy Martyrs the Innocents did on this day confess, not by speech, but by their deaths; mortify in us all the evils of vice, that thy faith. which our tongue professes, our life also by its deeds may declare. Com. of the Nativity, Hodie Christus, p. 125; of St. Stephen, Sepelierunt, p. 127. |