Christmas 2 (The Second Sunday after Christmas)

THE COLLECT.
Almighty God, who hast given us thy only-begotten Son to take our nature upon him, and as at this time to be born of a pure Virgin; Grant that we being regenerate, and made thy children by adoption and grace, may daily be renewed by thy Holy Spirit; through our Lord Jesus Christ, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the same Spirit, ever one God, world without end. Amen.

THE LESSON. Isaiah 9. 2
THE people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them has light shined. Thou hast multiplied the nation, thou has increased their joy: they joy before thee according to the joy in harvest, and as men rejoice when they divide the spoil. For thou hast broken the yoke of his burden, and the staff of his shoulder, the rod of his oppressor, as in the day of Midian. For every battle of the warrior is with confused noise, and garments rolled in blood; but this shall be with burning and fuel of fire. For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgement and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.

THE GOSPEL. S. Luke 2. 15
AND it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us. And they came with haste, and found Mary and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger. And when they had seen it, they made known concerning this child. And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds. But Mary kept all these things in her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them. And when eight days were accomplished for the circumcising of the child, his name was called JESUS, which was so named of the angel before he was conceived in the womb.

INTROIT. Ps 8
O LORD our Governor, how excellent is thy Name in all the world, / thou that hast set thy glory above the heavens!

2 Out of the mouth of very babes and sucklings hast thou ordained strength, because of thine enemies, / that thou mightest still the enemy and the avenger.

3 WHEN I consider thy heavens, even the work of thy fingers; / the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained;

4 What is man, that thou art mindful of him, / and the son of man, that thou visitest him?

5 Thou hast made him but little lower than the angels, / and dost crown him with glory and worship.

6 Thou makest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands; / and thou hast put all things in subjection under his feet;

7 All sheep and oxen; / yea, and the beasts of the field;

8 The birds of the air, and the fishes of the sea; / and whatsoever moveth through the paths of the seas.

9 O LORD our Governor, / how excellent is thy Name in all the world!

Glory be. Repeat Antiphon.

GRADUAL. Ps 145:18-22
18 THE LORD is righteous in all his ways, / and gracious in all his works. 19 The LORD is nigh unto all them that call upon him, / yea, all such as call upon him faithfully. 20 He will fulfil the desire of them that fear him: / and he will hear their cry, and will help them. 21 The LORD preserveth all them that love him; / but scattereth abroad all the ungodly. 22 My mouth shall speak the praise of the LORD: / and let all flesh give thanks unto his holy Name for ever and ever..

Additional Propers for Eucharistic Devotion