Quarta die infra Octavam Nativitatis S. Joannis Baptistæ ~ Semiduplex

 Commemoratio: In Vigilia Ss. Petri et Pauli Apostolorum

Introitus
Isa 49:1; 49:2
De ventre matris meæ vocávit me Dóminus in nómine meo: et pósuit os meum ut gládium acútum: sub teguménto manus suæ protéxit me, et pósuit me quasi sagíttam eléctam.
Ps 91:2
Bonum est confitéri Dómino: et psállere nómini tuo, Altíssime.
V. Glória Patri, ...

Collect
V. The Lord be with you.
R. And with thy spirit.
Let us pray.
O God, Who made this a day most worthy of our celebration because of blessed John; grant Your people the grace of spiritual joys and direct the minds of all the faithful into the path of eternal salvation.
Through Jesus Christ, thy Son our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end.
R. Amen.

Let us pray.
Commemoration Vigil of Sts. Peter and Paul, Apostles
Grant, we beseech You, almighty God, that we, whom you solidly established upon the rock of apostolic faith, be not troubled by any distress.

de S. Maria
Grant us, Your servants, O Lord God, we beseech You, to enjoy lasting health of mind and body; and by the intercession of glorious and blessed Mary, ever Virgin, may we be delivered from present sorrow and partake to the full of eternal happiness.
Through Jesus Christ, thy Son our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end.
R. Amen.

From the Holy Gospel according to Luke
Luke 1:57-68
Elizabeth's full time came that she should be delivered and she brought forth a son. And her neighbours and her cousins heard how the Lord had showed great mercy upon her and they rejoiced with her. And so on

From the Homily by St. Ambrose, Bishop of Milan.
Bk. ii. on Luke's
And his father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Ghost, and prophesied. Behold how good is God, and how ready to forgive sinners Not only doth He give back that which He hath taken away, but He addeth moreover such and such things, more than either we ask or think. He that had hitherto been dumb, now speaketh prophecy. But the greatest grace of God is in this, that he which had denied, now maketh profession. Therefore let no man despair, nay, though he well knoweth what have been his past sins, let him never give up hope of a reward from God. If thou knowest how to amend thy crooked ways, God knoweth how to turn away the judgments of His anger.

Communion
Luke 1:76
You, child, shall be called the prophet of the Most High; for you shall go before the face of the Lord to prepare His ways.

Post Communion
P. The Lord be with you.
S. And with thy spirit.
Let us pray.
May Your Church, O God, rejoice at the birth of blessed John the Baptist, through whom she knew the author of her own rebirth, Your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ.
Who livest and reignest with God the Father, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, world without end.
R. Amen

Let us pray.
Commemoration Vigil of Sts. Peter and Paul, Apostles
O Lord, by the intercession of Your Apostles, defend from all harm those whom You have filled with heavenly food.

of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Grant, O Lord, that we, who had partaken of the aids of salvation, may be everywhere protected by the patronage of blessed Mary ever Virgin, in whose honor we have offered these gifts of thy majesty.
Through Jesus Christ, thy Son our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end.
R. Amen.