Vigil of the Nativity of Our Lord


Purple Vestments

Missa "Hodie sciétis"

   Station for Christmas Eve is at St. Mary Major in Rome with a Privileged Vigil of the First Class. It was only when Our Lord's nativity was celebrated with increasing solemnity that a special Mass was said on this vigil. The actual solemnity of December 25, instead of consisting of two Masses, one of the vigil and the other of the feast, with a third inserted in commemoration of St. Anastasia, ended by allowing four Masses, all of them in honor of the Christian mystery. Thus, one in the evening of December 24 at the beginning of the night Office, one at midnight at the first cock crowing, one in the early morning, and one, finally, at the hour of Terce. Unlike the other vigils, in which the penitential character and a sense of sadness predominate, that of Christmas, is full of vivacity and holy joy. This is fully in accordance with the nature of the heart of man. After so long a period of anxious and painful expectation the sudden news of our approaching deliverance lightens the heart, while a common joy unites us and makes us forget for a moment the hard conditions of our life here below.

    We want to thank the Friends of Our Lady of Fatima for expediting these resources of the Propers. Sources: Saint Andrew Daily Missal and the Marian Missal , 1945

Missa "Hodie sciétis"

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INTROIT:    Exodus 16: 6, 7
      Hodie sciétis, quia véniet Dóminus, et salvábit nos: et mane vidébitis glóriam ejus. (Ps. 23: 1) Dómini est terra, et plenitúdo ejus: orbis terrárum, et univérsi, qui hábitant in eo. V. Gloria Patri, et Filio, et Spiritui Sancto. Sicut erat in principio et nunc et semper et in saecula saeculorum. Amen.
      Repeat Hodie sciétis...
      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 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 This day you shall know...

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      COLLECT
      Dominus vobiscum. R. Et cum spiritu tuo.

      Oremus. Deus, qui nos redemptiónis nostræ annua exspectatióne lætíficas: præsta; ut Unigénitum tuum, quem Redemptórem læti suscípimus, veniéntem quoque júdicem secúri videámus, Dóminum nostrum Jesum Christum Filium tuum. Qui tecum vivit et regnat in unitáte Spíritus Sancti, Deus,
      Per omnia saecula saeculorum.
      R. Amen.

      The Lord be with you. R. And with thy spirit.

      Let us pray. O God, Who dost gladden us year by year with the expectation of our redemption, grant that we, who now with joy receive Thine only begotten Son as our Redeemer, may behold Him also without fear, when He cometh as our judge, our Lord Jesus Christ. Who with Thee livest and reignest, in the unity of the Holy Ghost,
      world without end.
      R.Amen.

      EPISTLE:   Romans 1: 1-6
      Léctio Epístolæ beáti Pauli Apóstoli ad Romanos. Paulus, servus Jesu Christi, vocátus Apóstolus, segregátus in Evangélium Dei, quod ante promíserat per prophétas suos in Scriptúris sanctis de Fílio suo, qui factus est ei ex sémine David secúndum carnem: qui prædestinátus est Fílius Dei in virtúte secúndum spíritum sanctificatiónis ex resurrectiónegmortuórum Jesu Christi Dómini nostri: per quem accépimus grátiam et apostolátum ad obediéndum fídei in ómnibus géntibus pro nómine ejus, in quibus estis et vos vocáti Jesu Christi Dómini nostri.
      Deo Gratias.
      Lesson from the Epistle of Blessed Paul the Apostle to the Romans. 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 predestinated the 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.
      Thanks be to God.
      GRADUAL    Exodus 16: 6, 7
      Hódie sciétis, quia véniet Dóminus, et salvábit nos: et mane vidébitis, glóriam ejus. V. (Ps. 79: 2, 3) Qui regis Israël, inténde: qui dedúcis, velut ovem, Joseph: qui sedes super Chérubim, appáre coram Ephraim, Benjamin, et Manásse.
      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 Joseph like a sheep; Thou that sittest upon the cherubim, appear before Ephraim, Benjamin, and Manasses.
      GOSPEL:    Matthew 1: 18-21
      Dominus vobiscum.
      R. Et cum spiritu tuo.
      Sequentia sancti Evangelii secundum Matthaeum.
      R.Gloria tibi, Domine

      Cum esset desponsáta mater Jesu María Joseph, ántequam convenírent, invénta est in útero habens de Spíritu Sancto. Joseph autem vir ejus, cum esset justus, et nollet eam tradúcere, vóluit occúlte dimíttere éam. Hæc autem eo cogitánte, ecce Angelus Dómini appáruit in somnis ei, dicens:Joseph, fili David, noli timére accípere Maríam cónjugem tuam; quod enim in ea natum est, de Spíritu Sancto est. Páriet autem fílium: et vocábis nomen ejus Jesum: ipse enim salvum fáciet pópulum suum a peccátis eórum.
      Laus tibi Christi.

      The Lord be with you.
      R. And with thy spirit.
      The continuation of the holy Gospel according to Matthew.
      R. Glory to Thee, O Lord

      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 thy 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.
      Praise be to Christ

      Return to the ORDINARY OF THE HOLY MASS THE OFFERTORY
      OFFERTORY:    Psalm 23: 7
      Dominus vobiscum.
      R. Et cum spiritu tuo.
      Tollite portas, príncipes, vestras, et elevámini porte æternáles: et introíbit Rex glóriæ.
      The Lord be with you.
      R. And with thy spirit.
      Lift up your gates, O ye princes, and be ye lifted up, O eternal gates: and the King of glory shall enter in.
      Return to the ORDINARY OF THE HOLY MASS THE OFFERTORY
      SECRET
      Da nobis, quæsumus, omnípotens Deus: ut, sicut adoránda Fílii tui natalítia prævenímus, sic ejus múnera capiámus sempitérna gaudéntes: Qui tecum vivit et regnat in unitáte Spíritus Sancti, Deus,
      Per omnia saecula saeculorum.
      R. Amen.
      Grant us, we beseech Thee, O almighty God, that, as in anticipation we come to celebrate the adorable birthday of Thy Son, so we may joyously lay hold upon His everlasting rewards. Who with Thee livest and reignest, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God,
      world without end.
      R.Amen.
      PREFACE   Common Preface
      Dominus vobiscum.
      R. Et cum spiritu tuo.
      Sursum corda.
      R.Habemus ad Dominum.
      Gratias agamus Domino Deo nostro.
      R. Dignum et justum est.
      Vere dignum et justum est, aequum et salutare, nos Tibi simper, et ubique gratias agere: Domine sancte, Pater omnipotens, aeterne Deus: per Christum Dominum nostrum. Per quem majestatem Tuam laudant Angeli, adorant Dominationes, tremunt Potestates, Coeli, Coelorumque Virtutes, ac beata Seraphim socia exultatione concelebrant. Cum quibus et nostras voces, ut admitti, jubeas, supplici confessione dicentes:
      SANCTUS, SANCTUS, SANCTUS...
      The Lord be with you.
      R. And with thy spirit.
      Lift up your hearts.
      R.We have lifted them up to the Lord.
      Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
      R. It is meet and just.
      It is 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:
      HOLY, HOLY, HOLY...

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      COMMUNION:   Isaias 40: 5
      Revelábitur glória Dómini: et vidébit omnis caro salutáre Dei nostri.
      The glory of the Lord shall be revealed; and all flesh shall see the salvation of our God.
      POSTCOMMUNION
      Dominus vobiscum.
      R. Et cum spiritu tuo.
      Oremus.       Da nobis, quæsumus, Dòmine: unigéniti Fílii tui recensita nativitáte respiráre; cujus cælésti mystério páscimur et potamúr. Per eúmdem Dóminum nostrum Jesum Christum Fílium tuum, qui tecum vivit et regnat in unitáte Spíritus Sancti, Deus,
      Per omnia saecula saeculorum.
      R. Amen.
      The Lord be with you.
      R. And with thy spirit.
      Let us pray.       Grant us, we beseech Thee, O Lord, that we may begin a new life with this festival of the Nativity of Thine only begotten Son, Who, in these mysteries, feeds us with the meat and drink of that life which is eternal. Through the same Lord Jesus Christ, Who livest and reignest, with God the Father, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, one God
      world without end.
      R. Amen.
      Return to the ORDINARY OF THE HOLY MASS CONCLUSION OF THE HOLY MASS



      Vigil of the Nativity of Our Lord