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Editor’s note: the 12 days of Christmas are present in the pre-55 rite due to the additional octaves and the vigil of the Epiphany.
℣. Grant, Lord, a blessing.
Benediction. May His blessing be upon us who doth live and reign for ever.
℟. Amen.
Reading 1
Lesson from the letter of St. Paul the Apostle to the Romans
Rom 5:1-5
Being justified therefore by faith, let us have peace with God, through our Lord Jesus Christ: By whom also we have access through faith into this grace, wherein we stand, and glory in the hope of the glory of the sons of God. And not only so; but we glory also in tribulations, knowing that tribulation worketh patience; And patience trial; and trial hope; And hope confoundeth not: because the charity of God is poured forth in our hearts, by the Holy Ghost, who is given to us.
℣. But thou, O Lord, have mercy upon us.
℟. Thanks be to God.
℟. Behold the Lamb of God, behold Him Which taketh away the sins of the world; behold Him of Whom I said unto you: He That cometh after me is preferred before me
* Whose shoe’s latchet I am not worthy to unloose.
℣. He that is of the earth speaketh of the earth; He That cometh from heaven is above all.
℟. Whose shoe’s latchet I am not worthy to unloose.
℣. Grant, Lord, a blessing.
Benediction. He whose feast-day we are keeping, be our Advocate with God.
℟. Amen.
Reading 2
Rom 5:6-9
For why did Christ, when as yet we were weak, according to the time, die for the ungodly? For scarce for a just man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man some one would dare to die. But God commendeth his charity towards us; because when as yet we were sinners, according to the time, Christ died for us; much more therefore, being now justified by his blood, shall we be saved from wrath through him.
℣. But thou, O Lord, have mercy upon us.
℟. Thanks be to God.
℟. This day which is breaking is holy; O come, ye Gentiles, and worship the Lord.
* For this day is much light come down unto us from heaven.
℣. This is the day which the Lord hath made, let us rejoice and be glad in it.
℟. For this day is much light come down unto us from heaven.
℣. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, * and to the Holy Ghost.
℟. For this day is much light come down unto us from heaven.
℣. Grant, Lord, a blessing.
Benediction. May He that is the Angels’ King to that high realm His people bring.
℟. Amen.
Reading 3
From the Sermons of St. Augustine, Bishop of Hippo.
2nd on St. Stephen.
Christ, the Captain of the Martyrs, hath first suffered for us, leaving us an example that we should follow His step (i Pet. ii. 21). And truly, Blessed Stephen followed them, when, having confessed Christ, he was stoned to death by the Jews, and obtained the crown which his name had foreshown. For the meaning of the Greek name Stephanos is a crown. Already he had a crown for his name, a foreshadowing of the martyr’s palm which he beareth in heaven. Then they stoned him he did not rejoice at the thought that God would take vengeance on his persecutors. On the contrary, he prayed that they might be forgiven.
℣. But thou, O Lord, have mercy upon us.
℟. Thanks be to God.
Te Deum