[Rank]
In Vigilia Nativitatis Domini;;Duplex I classis;;6.1

[Rule]
3 lectiones
Matins simplex
Psalmi Dominica
Antiphonas horas
Tempora none

[Invit]
This day ye shall know that the Lord cometh * and in the morning, then ye shall see His glory.

[Lectio1]
Continuation of the Holy Gospel according to Matthew
!Matt 1:18-21
When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she~
was found with child, of the Holy Ghost. And so on.
_
Homily by St Jerome, Priest (at Bethlehem,)
!Book of Commentaries, on Matth. i.
Why was the Lord conceived of an espoused virgin rather than of a free? First,~
for the sake of the genealogy of Mary, which we have obtained by that of Joseph.~
Secondly, because she was thus saved from being stoned by the Jews as an~
adulteress. Thirdly, that Himself and His mother might have a guardian on their~
journey into Egypt. To these, Ignatius, the martyr of Antioch, has added a~
fourth reason namely, that the birth might take place unknown to the devil,~
who would naturally suppose that Mary had conceived by Joseph.

[Responsory1]
R. Sanctify yourselves to-day, and be ready for on the morrow ye shall see
* The majesty of God upon you.
V. This day ye shall know that the Lord cometh, and in the morning, then ye~
shall see
R. The majesty of God upon you.

[Lectio2]
Before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost. She~
was found, that is, by Joseph, but by no one else. He had already almost an~
husband's privilege to know all that concerned her. Before they came together.~
This doth not imply that they ever did come together the Scripture merely~
showeth the absolute fact that up to this time they had not done so.

[Responsory2]
R. Stand still, and ye shall see the help of the Lord with you O Judah and~
Jerusalem, fear not.
* To-morrow ye shall go out, and the Lord will be with you.
V. Sanctify yourselves, O ye children of Israel, and be ready.
R. To-morrow ye shall go out, and the Lord will be with you.

[Lectio3]
Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a public~
example, was minded to put her away privily. If any man be joined to a~
fornicatress they become one body; and according to the law they that are privy~
to a crime are thereby guilty. How then can it be that Joseph is described as a~
just man, at the very time he was compounding the criminality of his espoused?~
It must have been that he knew her to be pure, and yet understood not the~
mystery of her pregnancy, but, while he wondered at that which had happened, was~
willing to hold his peace.

[Responsory3]
R. Sanctify yourselves, O ye children of Israel, saith the Lord for on the~
morrow the Lord will come down.
* And will take away from you all sickness. 
V. On the morrow the sins of the earth shall be washed away, and the Saviour of~
the world will be our King.
R. And will take away from you all sickness.
&Gloria
R. And will take away from you all sickness.

[Ant Laudes]
O Judah and Jerusalem, * fear not: to-morrow ye shall go out, and the Lord will be with you.
This day ye shall know * that the Lord cometh and in the morning, then ye shall see His glory.
On the morrow * the sins of the earth shall be washed away, and the Saviour of the world will be our King.
The Lord cometh! * Go ye out to meet Him, and say How great is His dominion, and of His kingdom there shall be no end He is the Mighty God, the Ruler, the Prince of Peace, Alleluia!
On the morrow * ye shall be saved, saith the Lord God of hosts.

[Capitulum Laudes]
!Rom 1:1-3
v. 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
$Deo gratias

[Versum 2]
V. On the morrow the sins of the earth shall be washed away.
R. And the Saviour of the world will be our King.

[Ant 2]
The Saviour of the world * shall rise like the sun, and come down into the womb of~
the Virgin as the showers upon the grass. Alleluia.

[Oratio]
God, who gladden us by the annual expectation of our redemption, grant that we~
who now joyfully welcome thy Only-begotten Son as our Redeemer, may also,~
without fear, behold him coming as our Judge
$Qui tecum

[Lectio Prima]
!Rom 1:5-6
v. 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:

[Capitulum Tertia]
!Rom 1:1-3
v. 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
$Deo gratias

[Responsory Tertia]
R.br. This day ye shall know that the Lord cometh.
R. This day ye shall know that the Lord cometh.
V. And in the morning, then ye shall see His glory.
R. That the Lord cometh.
&Gloria
R. This day ye shall know that the Lord cometh.
_
V. Stand ye still.
R. And ye shall see the salvation of the Lord with you.

[Capitulum Sexta]
!Rom 1:4
v. 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
$Deo gratias

[Responsory Sexta]
R.br. On the morrow the sins of the earth shall be washed away.
R. On the morrow the sins of the earth shall be washed away.
V. And the Saviour of the world will be our King.
R. The sins of the earth shall be washed away.
&Gloria
R. On the morrow the sins of the earth shall be washed away.
_
V. On the morrow ye shall be saved.
R. Saith the Lord God of hosts.

[Capitulum Nona]
!Rom 1:5-6
v. 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
$Deo gratias

[Responsory Nona]
R.br. On the morrow ye shall be saved.
R. On the morrow ye shall be saved.
V. Saith the Lord God of hosts.
R. Ye shall be saved.
&Gloria
R. On the morrow ye shall be saved.
_
V. On the morrow the sins of the earth shall be washed away.
R. And the Saviour of the world will be our King. Prayer as at Lauds.
