In Nativitate Domini (Dec. 25), Evangelium & Homilia

In Nativitate Domini (Dec. 25), Evangelium & Homilia

CHRISTMAS
Stations at: 

St Mary Major, Altar of the Crib

(Midnight Mass & Mass of the day)

St Anastasia 
(Mass at Dawn)

St. Mary Major, Altar of the Crib


Sequéntia sancti Evangélii secúndum Lucam (2:1-14).

In illo témpore : Exiit edíctum a Cæsare Augústo, ut describerétur univérsus orbis. Hæc descríptio prima facta est a præside Syriæ Cyríno: et ibant omnes ut profiteréntur sínguli in suam civitátem. Ascéndit autem et Joseph a Galilæa de civitáte Názareth in Judæam in civitátem David, quæ vocátur Béthlehem: eo quod esset de domo, et família David, ut profiterétur cum María desponsáta sibi uxóre prægnánte. Factum est autem, cum essent ibi, impléti sunt dies ut páreret. Et péperit Fílium suum primogénitum, et pannis eum invólvit, et reclinávit eum in præsépio: quia non erat eis locus in diversório. Et pastóres erant in regióne eádem vigilántes, et custodiéntes vigílias noctis super gregem suum. Et ecce Angelus Dómini stetit juxta illos, et cláritas Dei circumfúlsit illos, et timuérunt timóre magno. Et dixit illis Angelus: Nolíte timére: ecce enim evangelízo vobis gáudium magnum, quod erit omni pópulo: quia natus est vobis hódie Salvátor, qui est Christus Dóminus, in civitáte David. Et hoc vobis signum: Inveniétis infántem pannis involútum, et pósitum in præsépio. Et súbito facta est cum Angelo multitúdo milítiæ cæléstis laudántium Deum, et dicéntium: Glória in altíssimis Deo, et in terra pax homínibus bonæ voluntátis.

῾Η γέννησις τοῦ ᾿Ιησοῦ Χριστοῦ

Β´\ΕΓΕΝΕΤΟ δὲ ἐν ταῖς ἡμέραις ἐκείναις ἐξῆλθε δόγμα παρὰ Καίσαρος Αὐγούστου ἀπογράφεσθαι πᾶσαν τὴν οἰκουμένην. 2 αὕτη ἡ ἀπογραφὴ πρώτη ἐγένετο ἡγεμονεύοντος τῆς Συρίας Κυρηνίου. 3 καὶ ἐπορεύοντο πάντες ἀπογράφεσθαι, ἕκαστος εἰς τὴν ἰδίαν πόλιν. 4 ἀνέβη δὲ καὶ ᾿Ιωσὴφ ἀπὸ τῆς Γαλιλαίας ἐκ πόλεως Ναζαρὲτ εἰς τὴν ᾿Ιουδαίαν εἰς πόλιν Δαυΐδ, ἥτις καλεῖται Βηθλεέμ, διὰ τὸ εἶναι αὐτὸν ἐξ οἴκου καὶ πατριᾶς Δαυΐδ, 5 ἀπογράψασθαι σὺν Μαριὰμ τῇ μεμνηστευμένῃ αὐτῷ γυναικί, οὔσῃ ἐγκύῳ.  6 ἐγένετο δὲ ἐν τῷ εἶναι αὐτοὺς ἐκεῖ ἐπλήσθησαν αἱ ἡμέραι τοῦ τεκεῖν αὐτήν, 7 καὶ ἔτεκε τὸν υἱὸν αὐτῆς τὸν πρωτότοκον, καὶ ἐσπαργάνωσεν αὐτὸν καὶ ἀνέκλινεν αὐτὸν ἐν τῇ φάτνῃ, διότι οὐκ ἦν αὐτοῖς τόπος ἐν τῷ καταλύματι. 8 Καὶ ποιμένες ἦσαν ἐν τῇ χώρᾳ τῇ αὐτῇ ἀγραυλοῦντες καὶ φυλάσσοντες φυλακὰς τῆς νυκτὸς ἐπὶ τὴν ποίμνην αὐτῶν. 9 καὶ ἰδοὺ ἄγγελος Κυρίου ἐπέστη αὐτοῖς καὶ δόξα Κυρίου περιέλαμψεν αὐτούς, καὶ ἐφοβήθησαν φόβον μέγαν. 10 καὶ εἶπεν αὐτοῖς ὁ ἄγγελος· μὴ φοβεῖσθε· ἰδοὺ γὰρ εὐαγγελίζομαι ὑμῖν χαρὰν μεγάλην, ἥτις ἔσται παντὶ τῷ λαῷ, 11 ὅτι ἐτέχθη ὑμῖν σήμερον σωτήρ, ὅς ἐστι Χριστὸς Κύριος, ἐν πόλει Δαυΐδ. 12 καὶ τοῦτο ὑμῖν τὸ σημεῖον· εὑρήσετε βρέφος ἐσπαργανωμένον, κείμενον ἐν φάτνῃ. 13 καὶ ἐξαίφνης ἐγένετο σὺν τῷ ἀγγέλῳ πλῆθος στρατιᾶς οὐρανίου αἰνούντων τὸν Θεὸν καὶ λεγόντων· 14 δόξα ἐν ὑψίστοις Θεῷ καὶ ἐπὶ γῆς εἰρήνη, ἐν ἀνθρώποις εὐδοκία.

From Matins of Christmas
Online Source: www.breviary.net

Lesson vii
Léctio sancti Evangélii secúndum Lucam	The Lesson is taken from the Holy Gospel according to Luke
Chap. 2, 1-14
In illo témpore : Exiit edíctum a Cæsare Augústo, ut describerétur univérsus orbis.  Et réliqua.	At that time : There went out a decree from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be taxed.  And so on, and that which followeth.
Homilía sancti Gregórii Papæ	A Homily by St. Gregory the Pope
Homilía 8 in Evangelia
The Census at Bethlehem, by Pieter Bruegel the Elder
Quia, largiénte Dómino, Missárum solémnia ter hódie celebratúri sumus, loqui diu de evangélica lectióne non póssumus : sed nos áliquid vel bréviter dícere, Redemptóris nostri Natívitas ipsa compéllit.  Quid est enim, quod nascitúro Dómino mundus descríbitur, nisi hoc, quod apérte monstrátur, quia ille apparébat in carne, qui eléctos suos adscríberet in ætérnitáte?  Quo contra de réprobis per prophétam dícitur : Deleántur de libro vivéntium, et cum justis non scribántur.  Qui bene étiam in Béthlehem náscitur : Béthlehem quippe domus panis interpretátur. Ipse namque est, qui ait : Ego sum panis vivus, qui de cælo descéndi.  Locus ergo, in quo Dóminus náscitur, domus panis ántea vocátus est ; quia futúrum profécto erat, ut ille ibi per matériam carnis appáreret, qui electórum mentes intérna satietáte refíceret.  Qui non in paréntum domo, sed in via náscitur : ut profécto osténderet, quia per humanitátem suam, quam assúmpserat, quasi in aliéno nascebátur.	By God's mercy we are to say three Masses today.  Hence there is not much time left for preaching on this passage of the Gospel.  Nonetheless the Feast of the Lord's Birthday constraineth me to speak a few words.  I will begin at once by asking why this numbering for taxation took place at the Lord's Birth, and why all the world was enrolled?  Was it not to make us mindful that one had now appeared in the flesh who would enroll his elect in the book of life?  And note, on the other hand, how the Prophet saith of the reprobate : Let them be wiped out of the book of the living, and not be written among the righteous.  Note also that the Lord was born in Bethlehem, which same signifieth the House of Bread, and thus was meetly the birthplace of him who hath said : I am the Living Bread which came down from heaven.  The place, then, where our Lord was born was already called the House of Bread because therein was he to appear who would feed the souls of the the faithful unto life eternal.  Not in his Mother's house was he born, but away from home.  And this should make us mindful that our mortality, in which he was born, was not the home of him who is begotten of the Father before all worlds.
V.  Tu autem, Dómine, miserére nobis. R.  Deo grátias.	V.  But thou, O Lord, have mercy upon us. R.  Thanks be to God.
R.  Beáta víscera Maríæ Vírginis, quæ portavérunt ætérni Patris Fílium : et beáta úbera, quæ lactavérunt Christum Dóminum : * Qui hódie pro salúte mundi de Vírgine nasci dignátus est. V.  Dies sanctificátus illúxit nobis : veníte, Gentes, et adoráte Dóminum. R.  Qui hódie pro salúte mundi de Vírgine nasci dignátus est.	R.  Blessed is the womb of the Virgin Mary that bore the son of the everlasting Father : and blessed are the paps which gave suck to Christ the Lord : * Who as on this day did vouchsafe to be born of the Virgin for the salvation of the world. V.  Holy is the day that is dawning for us ; come all ye nations, and worship the Lord. R.  Who as on this day did vouchsafe to be born of the Virgin for the salvation of the world.
Bethlehem
V.  Jube domne, (Dómine) benedícere.	V.  Vouchsafe, Reverend Father (O Lord), thy blessing.
Benedíctio 8:  Per evangélica dicta deleántur nostra delícta. R.  Amen.	Benediction 8:  By the Gospel words today may our sins be done away. R.  Amen.
Lesson viii
Léctio sancti Evangélii secúndum Lucam	The Lesson is taken from the Holy Gospel according to Luke
Chap. 2, 15-20
In illo témpore : Pastóres loquebántur ad ínvicem : Transeámus usque Béthlehem, et videámus hoc verbum, quod factum est, quod Dóminus osténdit nobis.  Et réliqua.	At that time : The shepherds said one to another : Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.  And so on, and that which followeth.
Homilía sancti Ambrósii Epíscopi	A Homily by St. Ambrose the Bishop
Lib. 2 in cap. 2 Lucæ circa medium Church of the Nativity, Bethlehem
Vidéte Ecclésiæ surgéntis exórdium : Christus náscitur, et pastóres vigiláre cœpérunt ; qui géntium greges, pécudum modo ante vivéntes, in caulam Dómini congregárent, ne quos spiritálium bestiárum per offúsas nóctium ténebras pateréntur incúrsus.  Et bene pastóres vígilant, quos bonus pastor infórmat.  Grex ígitur pópulus, nox sæculum, pastóres sunt sacerdótes.  Aut fortásse étiam ille sit pastor, cui dícitur : Esto vígilans, et confírma.  Quia non solum epíscopos ad tuéndum gregem Dóminus ordinávit, sed étiam Angelos destinávit.	Behold the beginning of the Church.  Christ is born, and the shepherds keep their watch.  Yea, they keep their watch like as becometh those who would gather together the scattered sheep of the Gentiles (which had hitherto lived like as brute beasts) and lead them into the fold of Christ, that they might need no longer to suffer the ravages of spiritual wolves in the night of this world's darkness.  How wide awake are those shepherds whom the Good Shepherd stirreth up.  Their flock is the people.  The night is the world.  For these shepherds are the Priests.  And perhaps that Angel, too, is a shepherd to whom in the Apocalypse is said : Be watchful and strengthen.  For God hath ordained to watch over his flock not Bishops only but Angels also.
V.  Tu autem, Dómine, miserére nobis. R.  Deo grátias.	V.  But thou, O Lord, have mercy upon us. R.  Thanks be to God.
R.  Verbum caro factum est, et habitávit in nobis :* Et vídimus glóriam ejus, glóriam quasi Unigéniti a Patre, plenum gratiæ et veritátis. V.  Omnia per ipsum facta sunt, et sine ipso factum est nihil. R.  Et vídimus glóriam ejus, glóriam quasi Unigéniti a Patre, plenum gratiæ et veritátis. V.  Glória Patri, et Fílio, et Spirítui Sancto. R.  Et vídimus glóriam ejus, glóriam quasi Unigéniti a Patre, plenum gratiæ et veritátis.	R.  The Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, * And we beheld his glory, the glory as of the Only-Begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. V.  All things were made by him, and without him was not anything made. R.  And we beheld his glory, the glory as of the Only-Begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. V.  Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost. R.  And we beheld his glory, the glory as of the Only-Begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.
Birthplace of our Lord and Saviour Church of the Nativity, Bethlehem
V.  Jube domne, (Dómine) benedícere.	V.  Vouchsafe, Reverend Father (O Lord), thy blessing.
Benedíctio 9:  Verba sancti Evangélii doceat nos Christus Fílius Dei. R.  Amen.	Benediction 9:  By the words of the holy Gospel, may Christ the Son of God be our teacher. R.  Amen.
Lesson ix
Léctio sancti Evangélii secúndum Joánnem	The Lesson is taken from the Holy Gospel according to John
Chap. 1, 1-14
In princípio erat Verbum, et Verbum erat apud Deum, et Deus erat Verbum.  Et réliqua.	In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  And so on, and that which followeth.
Homilía sancti Augustíni Epíscopi	A Homily by St. Augustine the Bishop
Tract. 1 in Joánn., circa med.
Ne vile áliquid putáres quale consuevísti cogitáre, cum verba humána soléres audíre, audi quid cógites : Deus erat Verbum.  Exeat nunc néscio quis infidélis Ariánus, et dicat quia Verbum Dei factum est.  Quómodo potest fíeri, ut Verbum Dei factum sit, quando Deus per Verbum fecit ómnia?  Si et Verbum Dei ipsum factum est : per quod áliud verbum factum est?  Si hoc dicis, quia hoc est verbum Verbi, per quod factum est illud ; ipsum dico ego únicum Fílium Dei.  Si autem non dicis verbum Verbi, concéde non factum, per quod facta sunt ómnia.  Non enim per seípsum fíeri pótuit, per quod facta sunt ómnia.  Crede ergo Evangelístæ.	Lest ye consider what I have to say as worthless, which is the judgement ye so often pass upon the word of a man, ponder this : The Word was God!  Now perhaps some Arian unbeliever may have the audacity to say the Word of God was made, and is therefore a creature.  How can the Word of God be a creature, since by him all things were made, and he is thus the Creator?  If the Word of God be a creature, then there must be some other Word, not a creature, whereby he was made.  And what Word is that?  If thou sayest that it was by the word of the Word himself that he was made, I answer that God had no Word other than his one only-begotten Son.  But unless thou sayest it was by the Word's own word that the Word was made, thou art forced to confess that he by whom all creaturely things were made was not himself made at all, but is himself the uncreated Maker of everything that was made.  Wherefore, believe the Gospel.
V.  Tu autem, Dómine, miserére nobis. R.  Deo grátias.	V.  But thou, O Lord, have mercy upon us. R.  Thanks be to God.
STAND
TE DEUM   Te Deum laudámus: * te Dóminum confitémur.   Te ætérnumPatrem * omnis terra venerátur.   Tibi omnes Angeli, * tibi Cæli, et univérsæ Potestátes:   Tibi Chérubim et Séraphim * incessábili voce proclámant:	TE DEUM   We praise thee, O God, * we acknowledge thee to be the Lord.   All the earth doth worship thee, * the Father everlasting.   To thee all Angels cry aloud, * the Heavens, and all the Powers therein.   To thee Cherubim and Seraphim * continually do cry.
During the following Tersanctus all make a profound reverence:
Sanctus,   Sanctus,   Sanctus * Dóminus Deus Sábaoth.   Pleni sunt cæli et terra * majestátis glóriæ tuæ.   Te gloriósus * Apostolórum chorus,   Te Prophetárum * laudábilis númerus,   Te Mártyrum candidátus * laudat exércitus.   Te per orbem terrárum * sancta confitétur Ecclésia,   Patrem * imménsæ majestátis;   Venerándum tuum verum * et únicum Fílium;   Sanctum quoque * Paráclitum Spíritum.   Tu Rex glóriæ, * Christe.   Tu Patris * sempitérnus es Fílius.	Holy,   Holy,   Holy, * Lord God of Sabaoth;   Heaven and earth are full * of the Majesty of thy glory.   The glorious company of the Apostles * praise thee.   The goodly fellowship of the Prophets * praise thee.   The noble army of Martyrs * praise thee.   The holy Church throughout all the world * doth acknowledge thee;   The Father, * of an infinite Majesty.   Thine honourable, true, * and only Son; Also the Holy Ghost, * the Comforter. Thou art the King of Glory, * O Christ. Thou art the everlasting * Son of the Father.
During the following verse all make a profound reverence:
Tu, ad liberándum susceptúrus hóminem: * non horruísti Vírginis uterum.   Tu, devícto mortis acúleo, * aperuísti credéntibus regna cælórum.   Tu ad déxteram Dei sedes, * in glória Patris.   Judex créderis * esse ventúrus.	When thou tookest upon thee to deliver man, * thou didst not abhor the Virgin's womb.   When thou hadst overcome the sharpness of death, * thou didst open the Kingdom of Heaven to all believers.   Thou sittest at the right hand of God, * in the glory of the Father.   We believe that thou shalt come * to be our Judge.
Here all genuflect.
Te ergo quæsumus, tuis fámulis súbveni, * quos pretióso sánguine redemísti.	We therefore pray thee, help thy servants, * whom thou hast redeemed with thy precious Blood.
Here all rise.
Ætérna fac cum Sanctis tuis * in glória numerári.   Salvum fac pópulum tuum, Dómine, * et bénedic hereditáti tuæ.   Et rege eos, * et extólle illos usque in ætérnum.   Per síngulos dies * benedícimus te.	Make them to be numbered with thy Saints, * in glory everlasting.   O Lord, save thy people, * and bless thine heritage.   Govern them, * and lift them up for ever.   Day by day * we magnify thee;
During the following verse by local custom a profound reverence is made:
Et laudámus nomen tuum in sæculum, * et in sæculum sæculi.   Dignáre, Dómine, die isto * sine peccáto nos custodíre.   Miserére nostri, Dómine, * miserére nostri.   Fiat misericórdia tua, Dómine, super nos, * quemádmodum sperávimus in te.   In te, Dómine, sperávi: * non confúndar in ætérnum.	And we worship thy Name * ever, world without end.   Vouchsafe, O Lord, to keep us * this day without sin.   O Lord, have mercy upon us, * have mercy upon us.   O Lord, let thy mercy lighten upon us, * as our trust is in thee.   O Lord, in thee have I trusted, * let me never be confounded.
V.  Dóminus vobíscum. R.  Et cum spíritu tuo.	V.  The Lord be with you. R.  And with thy spirit.
Oremus. Concéde, quæsumus, omnípotens Deus: ut nos Unigéniti tui nova per carnem Natívitas líberet; quos sub peccáti jugo vetústa sérvitus tenet.  Per eúmdem Dóminum.	Let us pray. Grant, we beseech thee, O Almighty God, that the new birth, in the flesh, of thine only-begotten Son, may deliver us whom slavery from of old doth keep under the yoke of sin.  Through the same.
V.  Dóminus vobíscum. R.  Et cum spíritu tuo. V.  Benedicámus Dómino. R.  Deo grátias.	V.  The Lord be with you. R.  And with thy spirit. V.  Bless we the Lord. R.  Thanks be to God.