In Vigilia Nativitatis Domini

 ~ Duplex I. classis

Wednesday, 12/24/25:

Today is the vigil of Christmas under the 1954 (privileged vigil of the I class) and 1962 (I class vigil) rubrics.

Mass: Proper Mass. Violet. Omit Gloria. Gradual. Omit Alleluia. Omit Credo. Common Preface (1962: optional Preface of Advent). Benedicamus (1954)/Ite (1962). No commemorations or additional prayers under both sets of rubrics.

Today, the altar may be decorated with flowers. At solemn Mass, deacon and subdeacon wear dalmatic and tunicle, respectively, instead of folded chasubles under the 1954 rubrics.

Office: Under 1954, Matins is of simple rite. Proper Invitatory (Hodie scietis) and hymn (Verbum supernum). Under both rubrics, Matins of 1 nocturn of 3 lessons (all proper). At Matins, psalms and antiphons of the feria. At Lauds and the hours, the Office is of double rite under the 1954 rubrics. Psalms of Sunday (Lauds = schema I; Prime = 53, 118.1, 118.2) with proper antiphons. All else from the proper for the vigil. Collect of the vigil. No commemorations at Lauds. Omit suffrage (1954). (LB236 on Twitter/X.)

Introitus
Exod 16:6; 16:7
Hódie sciétis, quia véniet Dóminus et salvábit nos: et mane vidébitis glóriam ejus.
Ps 23:1
Dómini est terra, et plenitúdo ejus: orbis terrárum, et univérsi, qui hábitant in eo.
V. Glória Patri, ...

Collect
V. The Lord be with you.
R. And with thy spirit.
Let us pray.
O God, You Who gladden us year after year with the expectation of our redemption, grant that we, who now welcome with joy Your only-begotten Son as our Redeemer, may also gaze upon Him without fear when He comes as our judge, 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

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.

Post Communion
P. The Lord be with you.
S. And with thy spirit.
Let us pray.
Grant us, we beseech You, O Lord, to begin a new life with this commemoration of the birth of Your only-begotten Son, Who gives us food and drink in His heavenly sacrament.
Through the same 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.

S. Thomæ Apostoli ~ Duplex II. classis

Tuesday, 12/23/25:

In USA

Today is the feast of St. Thomas, Ap, under the 1954 (double of the II class) and 1962 (II class) rubrics.

Mass: Pro populo. Proper Mass. Red. Gloria. Gradual/Alleluia. Credo. Preface of the Apostles. Celebrant bows head at mention of St. Thomas's name in the Canon. Commemorate Advent feria.  Ite.

The Mass of St. Thomas is obligatory today; it is not permissible for the Mass of the Ember Saturday to be said under either set of rubrics.

Office: Under 1954, festal office. Red. Matins of 3 nocturns of 9 lessons. Te Deum. Psalms and antiphons at Matins from the common of apostles. At Lauds and the hours, psalms of Sunday (Lauds = schema I; Prime = 53, 118.1, 118.2) with antiphons from the common of apostles. All else from the common. Proper Benedictus antiphon. Proper collect.

Introitus
Ps 138:17
Mihi autem nimis honoráti sunt amíci tui, Deus: nimis confortátus est principátus eórum.
Ps 138:1-2.
Dómine, probásti me et cognovísti me: tu cognovísti sessiónem meam et resurrectiónem meam.
V. Glória Patri, ...

Collect
V. The Lord be with you.
R. And with thy spirit.
Let us pray.
O Lord, grant us, we beseech You, to glory in the feast-day of blessed Thomas, Your Apostle, that we may be helped continually by his patronage and imitate his faith with a devotion like his.
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 Feria III infra Hebdomadam IV Adventus
Put forth Your power, O Lord, we beseech You, and delay not: and with Your great might come to our aid, so that what is hindered by our sins may be hastened by Your merciful goodness.
Who livest and reignest with God the Father, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, world without end.
R. Amen

From the Holy Gospel according to John
John 20:24-29
In that time, Thomas, one of the twelve, who is called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came. And so on.

Homily by Pope St. Gregory the Great.
26th on the Gospels
Dearly beloved brethren, what is it in this passage which particularly claimeth our attention? Think ye that it was by accident that this chosen Apostle was not with them when Jesus came? or, when he came, heard? or, when he heard, doubted? or, when he doubted, felt? or when he had felt, believed? All these things were not accidental, but Providential. It was a wonderful provision of Divine mercy, that this incredulous disciple, by thrusting his fingers into the bodily Wounds of his Master, should apply a remedy to the spiritual wounds of unbelief in our souls. The doubts of Thomas have done us more good than the faith of all the disciples that believed. While he feeleth his way to faith, our minds are freed from doubt, and settled in faith.

Post Communion
P. The Lord be with you.
S. And with thy spirit.
Let us pray.
Merciful God, abide with us, and through the intercession of Your blessed Apostle Thomas, mercifully safeguard the gifts You have given us.
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 Feria III infra Hebdomadam IV Adventus
Having received Your gifts, we beseech You, O Lord, that each partaking of this sacrament may increase within us its saving effect.
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.

S. Francis Xavier Cabrini

In the U.S., today is the feast of St. Frances Xavier Cabrini, V (double of the II class); under the 1962 rubrics, this feast is transferred to November 13 due to the 1960 Code prohibiting local feasts that are not of the I class from being observed between December 17 and 23 inclusive.

Mass: Proper Mass. White. Gloria. Gradual/Alleluia. Omit Credo. Common Preface. Ite. Commemoration of the Advent feria (prayers of the preceding Sunday).

Office: Festal office. White. Matins of 3 nocturns of 9 lessons. Te Deum. At Matins, psalms and antiphons from the common of virgins. At Lauds and the hours, psalms of Sunday (schema I; Prime = 53, 118.1, 118.2) with antiphons from the common of virgins. All else from the common of virgins. Proper hymn at Lauds. Proper collect. At Lauds, commemoration

***

S. Thomæ Apostoli ~ Duplex II. classis
Tempora: Feria II infra Hebdomadam IV Adventus

Introitus
Ps 138:17
Mihi autem nimis honoráti sunt amíci tui, Deus: nimis confortátus est principátus eórum.
Ps 138:1-2.
Dómine, probásti me et cognovísti me: tu cognovísti sessiónem meam et resurrectiónem meam.
V. Glória Patri, ...

8

Collect
V. The Lord be with you.
R. And with thy spirit.
Let us pray.
O Lord, grant us, we beseech You, to glory in the feast-day of blessed Thomas, Your Apostle, that we may be helped continually by his patronage and imitate his faith with a devotion like his.
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 Feria II infra Hebdomadam IV Adventus
Put forth Your power, O Lord, we beseech You, and delay not: and with Your great might come to our aid, so that what is hindered by our sins may be hastened by Your merciful goodness.
Who livest and reignest with God the Father, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, world without end.
R. Amen

From the Holy Gospel according to John
John 20:24-29
In that time, Thomas, one of the twelve, who is called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came. And so on.

Homily by Pope St. Gregory the Great.
26th on the Gospels
Dearly beloved brethren, what is it in this passage which particularly claimeth our attention? Think ye that it was by accident that this chosen Apostle was not with them when Jesus came? or, when he came, heard? or, when he heard, doubted? or, when he doubted, felt? or when he had felt, believed? All these things were not accidental, but Providential. It was a wonderful provision of Divine mercy, that this incredulous disciple, by thrusting his fingers into the bodily Wounds of his Master, should apply a remedy to the spiritual wounds of unbelief in our souls. The doubts of Thomas have done us more good than the faith of all the disciples that believed. While he feeleth his way to faith, our minds are freed from doubt, and settled in faith.

Post Communion
P. The Lord be with you.
S. And with thy spirit.
Let us pray.
Merciful God, abide with us, and through the intercession of Your blessed Apostle Thomas, mercifully safeguard the gifts You have given us.
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 Feria II infra Hebdomadam IV Adventus
Having received Your gifts, we beseech You, O Lord, that each partaking of this sacrament may increase within us its saving effect.
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.

Dominica IV Adventus: "Genímina viperárum, quis osténdit vobis fúgere a ventúra ira? "

 ~ Semiduplex Dominica II. classis

Sun, 12/21/25

Today is the 4th Sunday of Advent under the 1954 (semi-double Sunday of the II class) and 1962 (I class Sunday) rubrics. (NB: The feast of St. Thomas, Ap, is transferred to tomorrow, December 22, under the 1954 rubrics outside the U.S. [see below]; this feast is omitted entirely this year under the 1962 rubrics.)

Mass: Proper Mass. Violet. Omit Gloria. Gradual/Alleluia. Credo. Preface of the Most Holy Trinity (1962: optional Preface of Advent). Benedicamus (1954)/Ite (1962). Under 1954, 2nd prayer Deus qui de beatae of Our Lady. 3rd prayer either Eccleisae tuae for the Church or Deus omnium for the pope. No commemorations or additional prayers under 1962.

Office: Sunday office. Violet. Matins of 3 nocturns of 9 lessons (1954)/1 nocturn of 3 lessons (1962; II = II & III of the old Breviary combined, III = lesson VII of the old Breviary). Omit Te Deum. At Matins, psalms of Sunday with Advent antiphons. At Lauds and the hours, psalms of Sunday (Lauds = schema I) with proper antiphons of the 4th Sunday of Advent. All else from the proper. Proper Benedictus antiphon Nolite timere for December 21. Collect of the Sunday. No commemorations at Lauds. Omit suffrage (1954). Preces at Prime (1954 only). At Prime, V = Qui venturus es in mundum. (Source: LB236 on Twitter/X.)

Introitus
Isa 45:8
Roráte, cœli, désuper, et nubes pluant justum: aperiátur terra, et gérminet Salvatórem
Ps 18:2
Cœli enárrant glóriam Dei: et ópera mánuum ejus annúntiat firmaméntum.
V. Glória Patri,  ...

ollect
V. The Lord be with you.
R. And with thy spirit.
Let us pray.
Put forth Your power, O Lord, we beseech You, and delay not: and with Your great might come to our aid, so that what is hindered by our sins may be hastened by Your merciful goodness.
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 St. Thomas the Apostle
O Lord, grant us, we beseech You, to glory in the feast-day of blessed Thomas, Your Apostle, that we may be helped continually by his patronage and imitate his faith with a devotion like his.

de S. Maria Advent
O God, Who, by the message of an Angel, willed to take flesh in the womb of the Blessed Virgin Mary, grant that we, your suppliants, who believe her to be truly the Mother of God, may be helped by her intercession with You.
Through the same 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 3:1-6
In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judea. And so on.

Homily by Pope St. Gregory (the Great)
20th on the Gospels
John said unto the multitude, that came forth to be baptised of him: "O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?" The wrath to come in one sense signifieth the great vengeance of the Latter Day the sinner that repenteth not of his sin now, will have no mean whereby to flee from punishment then. Let us remark that addressing evil children copying the example of evil parents, the Baptist calleth them a generation of vipers in that they were envious at the righteous, and persecuted them; that they repaid evil for evil; that they hunted out ways of harming their neighbours, in all these things following the pattern of carnal parents, the prophet likeneth them to a venomous brood hatched from a venomous stock.

We also have sinned, we have fallen into wicked habits. What must we do, if we would flee from the wrath to come? Let us hear John. Bring forth fruits worthy of repentance. In which words let us remark that the Friend of the Bridegroom demandeth not only fruits of repentance, but fruits worthy of repentance. The former are one thing, and the latter another. In considering then what are fruits worthy of repentance, we may remark that if we had done nothing unlawful we might have had free use of things which are lawful, and been able to sanctify ourselves without abstaining from indulgence in the things of the world.

But if any one, for example, hath fallen into fornication, or perhaps, into what is much worse, adultery, he ought to make up for his lawless pleasure by abstaining in some degree from lawful enjoyments. He that hath sinned less is not bound to mortify himself as much as he that hath sinned more, nor he that is innocent like him that is guilty. Let every one hearing these words bring forth fruits worthy of repentance, proceed to judge himself by his own conscience, and the more he perceiveth that he hath sinned, the greater penance let him do.

Post Communion
P. The Lord be with you.
S. And with thy spirit.
Let us pray.
Having received Your gifts, we beseech You, O Lord, that each partaking of this sacrament may increase within us its saving effect.
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 St. Thomas the Apostle
Merciful God, abide with us, and through the intercession of Your blessed Apostle Thomas, mercifully safeguard the gifts You have given us.

de S. Maria Advent
May this Communion, O Lord, cleanse us of sin, and by the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Mother of God, may it make us sharers of heavenly healing.
Through the same 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.

Sabbato Quattuor Temporum in Adventu ~ Feria major

Commemoratio ad Missam tantum: In Vigilia S. Thomæ Ap.

Sat, 12/20/25: Today is the Ember Saturday of Advent under the 1954 (simple) and 1962 (II class) rubrics. Mass: Proper Mass. Violet. Additional collects, prophecies, and Graduals before the Epistle. Omit Gloria. Omit Credo. Common Preface (1962: optional Preface of Advent). Benedicamus (1954)/Ite (1962). Under 1954, commemoration and Last Gospel of the vigil of St. Thomas, Ap. 3rd prayer Deus qui de beatae of Our Lady. Celebrant bows his head at the mention of St. Thomas in the Canon (1954 only). No additional prayers under 1962 (vigil of St. Thomas suppressed in 1955). Under 1962, optional short form of the Ember Saturday Mass may be said in Masses except at conventual Mass and at Masses at which clergy are ordained. Alternatively, under the 1954 rubrics, the Mass of the vigil of St. Thomas may be said at private (low) Masses. Mass Ego autem for the vigil of an apostle. Violet. Omit Gloria. Gradual with neither Alleluia nor Tract. Omit Credo. Common Preface. Celebrant bows his head at the mention of St. Thomas in the Canon. Benedicamus. Commemoration and Last Gospel of the Ember Saturday. 3rd prayer Deus qui de beatae. Office: Ferial office. Violet. Matins of 1 nocturn of 3 lessons (all proper). Omit Te Deum. At Matins, psalms and antiphons of the feria. At Lauds, psalms (schema II) of the feria with antiphons Intuemini etc. for sabbato (Saturday) before the vigil of Christmas. All else from the ferial office for Advent. Proper Benedictus antiphon. Preces at Lauds and the hours (1954)/Lauds only (1962). Collect of the Ember Saturday. No commemorations (vigils are not commemorated in the Office during Advent under the 1954 rubrics). At Prime, add displaced psalm 149 (1954 only). (Source: LB236 on Twitter/X.)

Introitus
Ps 79:4; 79:2
Veni, et osténde nobis fáciem tuam, Dómine, qui sedes super Chérubim: et salvi érimus.
Ps 79:2
Qui regis Israël, inténde: qui dedúcis, velut ovem, Joseph.
℣. Glória Patri, …

Collect
Let us pray.
℣. Let us kneel.
℟. Arise.
O God, You Who see how we are troubled by our evil tendencies, mercifully grant that we may find consolation in Your coming.
Who livest and reignest with God the Father, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, world without end.
℟. Amen

Lesson
Lesson from the book of Isaias
Isa 19:20-22
In those days, they shall cry out to the Lord against their oppressors, and He shall send them a Saviour to defend and deliver them. The Lord shall make Himself known to Egypt, and the Egyptians shall know the Lord in that day; they shall offer sacrifices and oblations, and fulfill the vows they make to the Lord. Although the Lord shall smite Egypt severely, He shall heal them; they shall turn to the Lord and He shall be won over, and the Lord, our God, shall heal them.
Deo Gratias

Gradual
Ps 18:7, 2
At one end of the heavens He comes forth, and His course is to their other end.
℣. The heavens declare the glory of God, and the firmament proclaims His handiwork.

Collect
Let us pray.
℣. Let us kneel.
℟. Arise.
Grant, we beseech You, almighty God, that we who are heavy-laden under the yoke of sin may be delivered from the bondage of old by the long-awaited new birth of Your only-begotten Son.
Who livest and reignest with God the Father, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, world without end.
℟. Amen



Lesson
Lesson from the book of Isaias
Isa 35:1-7
Thus says the Lord: The desert and the parched land will exult; the steppe will rejoice and bloom. They will bloom with abundant flowers, and rejoice with joyful song. The glory of Lebanon will be given to them, the splendor of Carmel and Saron; they will see the glory of the Lord, the splendor of our God. Strengthen the hands that are feeble, make firm the knees that are weak, say to those whose hearts are frightened: ‘Be strong, fear not! Here is your God, He comes with vindication; with divine recompense He comes to save you.’ Then will the eyes of the blind be opened, the ears of the deaf be cleared; then will the lame leap like a stag, then the tongue of the dumb will sing. Streams will burst forth in the desert, and rivers in the steppe. The burning sands will become pools, and the thirsty ground, springs of water, says the Lord almighty.
Deo Gratias

Gradual
Ps 18:6-7
He has pitched His tent in the sun, and He comes forth like the groom from his bridal chamber.
℣. At one end of the heavens He comes forth, and His course is to their other end.

Collect
Let us pray.
℣. Let us kneel.
℟. Arise.
Saddened by the guilt of our deeds, we, Your unworthy servants, beseech You, O Lord, to gladden us by the coming of Your only-begotten Son.
Who livest and reignest with God the Father, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, world without end.
℟. Amen



Lesson
Lesson from the book of Isaias
Isa 40:9-11
Thus says the Lord: Go up onto a high mountain, Sion, herald of glad tidings; cry out at the top of your voice, Jerusalem, herald of good news! Fear not to cry out and say to the cities of Juda: ‘Here is your God! Here comes with power the Lord God, Who rules by His strong arm; here is His reward with Him, His recompense before Him. Like a shepherd He feeds His flock; in His arms He gathers the lambs, carrying them in His bosom, the Lord, our God.’
Deo Gratias

Gradual
Ps 79:20; 79:3
O Lord God of Hosts, restore us; if Your face shine upon us, then we shall be safe.
℣. Rouse Your power, O Lord, and come to save us.

Collect
Let us pray.
℣. Let us kneel.
℟. Arise.
Grant, we beseech You, almighty God, that the coming festival of Your Son may bring us healing today and rewards eternal.
Through the same Jesus Christ, thy Son, Our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end.
℟. Amen.



Lesson
Lesson from the book of Isaias
Isa. 45:1-8
Thus says the Lord to His anointed, Cyrus, whose right hand I grasp, subduing nations before him, and disarming kings, opening doors before him and leaving the gates unbarred: I will go before you and level the mountains; bronze doors I will shatter, and iron bars I will snap. I will give you treasures out of the darkness, and riches that have been hidden away, that you may know that I am the Lord, the God of Israel, Who calls you by your name. For the sake of Jacob, My servant, of Israel. My chosen one, I have called you by your name, giving you a title, though you knew Me not. I am the Lord and there is no other, there is no God besides Me. It is I Who arm you, though you know Me not, so that toward the rising and the setting of the sun men may know that there is none besides Me. I am the Lord, there is no other; I form the light, and create the darkness, I make well-being and create woe; I, the Lord, do all these things. Let the Just One descend, O heavens, like dew from above, like gentle rain let the skies drop Him down. Let the earth open and a Saviour bud forth; let justice also spring up! I, the Lord, have created this.
Deo Gratias

Gradual
Ps 79:3, 2, 3
Rouse Your power, O Lord, and come to save us.
℣. O Shepherd of Israel, hearken, O Guide of the flock of Joseph! From Your throne upon the Cherubim, shine forth before Ephraim, Benjamin and Manasse.

Collect
Let us pray.
℣. Let us kneel.
℟. Arise.
Heed in Your mercy, we beseech You, O Lord, the prayers of Your people, that we, who are justly chastised for our sins, may be consoled by the coming of Your goodness.
Who livest and reignest with God the Father, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, world without end.
℟. Amen



Lesson
Lesson from the book of Daniel
Dan. 3:47-51
In those days, the Angel of the Lord went down into the furnace with Azaria and his companions, drove the fiery flames out of the furnace, and made the inside of the furnace as though a dew-laden breeze were blowing through it. And the flames rose forty-nine cubits above the furnace, and spread out, burning the Chaldeans nearby, the king’s men who were stoking the furnace. And the fire in no way touched them or caused them pain or harm. Then these three in the furnace with one voice sang, glorifying and blessing God:

Hymn
Dan. 3:52-56
Blessed are You, O Lord, the God of our fathers, praiseworthy and exalted above all forever. And blessed is Your holy and glorious name, praiseworthy and exalted above all for all ages. Blessed are You in the temple of Your holy glory, praiseworthy and glorious above all forever. Blessed are You on the holy throne of Your kingdom, praiseworthy and exalted above all forever. Blessed are You upon the sceptre of Your divinity, praiseworthy and exalted above all forever. Blessed are You Who look into the depths from Your throne upon the Cherubim, praiseworthy and exalted above all forever. Blessed are You Who walk upon the wings of the wind, and on the waves of the sea, praiseworthy and exalted above all forever. Let all Your Angels and Saints bless You, and praise You and exalt You above all forever. Let the heavens, the earth, the sea and all the things that are in them bless You, and praise You and exalt You above all forever. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, praiseworthy and exalted above all forever. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. Praiseworthy and exalted above all forever. Blessed are You, O Lord, the God of our fathers, praiseworthy and exalted above all forever.

Collect
℣. The Lord be with you.
℟. And with thy spirit.
Let us pray.
O God, You Who tempered the flames of fire for the three young men, mercifully grant that the flames of sin may not burn us, Your servants.
Through Jesus Christ, thy Son our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end.
℟. Amen.



Let us pray.
Commemoration Vigil of St. Thomas the Apostle
Grant, we beseech thee, O Almighty God, that the worshipful feast of thy blessed Apostle, Thomas on the eve whereof we now stand, may avail us to the increase both of godliness toward thee, and of health to our own souls.

de S. Maria Advent
O God, Who, by the message of an Angel, willed to take flesh in the womb of the Blessed Virgin Mary, grant that we, your suppliants, who believe her to be truly the Mother of God, may be helped by her intercession with You.
Through the same Jesus Christ, thy Son, Our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end.
℟. Amen.

Continuation of the Holy Gospel according to Luke
Luke 3:1-6
In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judea. And so on.

Homily by Pope St. Gregory the Great.
10th on the Gospels.
The date, at which the Fore-runner of our Redeemer entered on his public office of preaching, is indicated to us by the name of the ruler of the Roman Commonwealth, and by those of the princes of Palestine. The time of his preaching is indicated by these names, because he came as the Fore-runner of Him Who was to be the Redeemer of some Jews and many Gentiles. Moreover in the enumeration of these worldly monarchs there is a foreshadowing of the fact, that the Gentiles were about to be gathered into one, and the Jews to be scattered abroad in punishment of their unbelief; in the whole heathen Commonwealth we find the title of one Emperor, but in the small kingdom of Judaea are mentioned four masters.

Post Communion
P. The Lord be with you.
S. And with thy spirit.
Let us pray.
We beseech You, O Lord our God, that the sacrament You have given as the bulwark of our atonement may be made a saving remedy for us in this life and in the life to come.
Through Jesus Christ, thy Son our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end.
℟. Amen.

Let us pray.
Commemoration Vigil of St. Thomas the Apostle
Be appeased, we beseech thee, O Lord, by the prayers of thy holy Apostle, Thomas, and grant us pardon and unfailing remedies.

de S. Maria Advent
May this Communion, O Lord, cleanse us of sin, and by the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Mother of God, may it make us sharers of heavenly healing.
Through the same Jesus Christ, thy Son, Our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end.
℟. Amen.

Feria VI Quattuor Temporum in Adventu ~ Feria major

Fri, 12/19/25: Today is the Ember Friday of Advent under the 1954 (simple) and 1962 (II class) rubrics. Mass: Proper Mass. Violet. Omit Gloria. Gradual with neither Alleluia nor Tract. Omit Credo. Common Preface (1962: optional Preface of Advent). Benedicamus (1954)/Ite (1962). Under 1954, 2nd prayer Deus qui de beatae of Our Lady. 3rd prayer either Ecclesiae tuae for the Church or Deus omnium for the pope. No commemorations or additional prayers under 1962. Office: Ferial office. Violet. Matins of 1 nocturn of 3 lessons (all proper). Omit Te Deum. Psalms (Lauds = schema II) of the feria. At Lauds and the hours, antiphons Constantes estote etc. of feria VI (Friday) before the vigil of Christmas. All else from the ferial office for Advent. Under 1954, preces at Lauds and the hours. Under 1962, preces at Lauds only. Proper collect of the Ember Friday. No commemorations at Lauds. Under 1954, add displaced psalm 98 at Prime. (Source: LB236.)

Introitus
Ps 118:151-152
Prope es tu, Dómine, et omnes viæ tuæ véritas: inítio cognóvi de testimóniis tuis, quia in ætérnum tu es.
Ps 118:1
Beati immaculáti in via: qui ámbulant in lege Dómini.
V. Glória Patri, ...

Collect
V. The Lord be with you.
R. And with thy spirit.
Let us pray.
Put forth Your power, O Lord, we beseech You, and come; that those who trust in Your goodness may soon be delivered from all harm.
Who livest and reignest with God the Father, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, world without end.
R. Amen

Let us pray.
de S. Maria Advent
O God, Who, by the message of an Angel, willed to take flesh in the womb of the Blessed Virgin Mary, grant that we, your suppliants, who believe her to be truly the Mother of God, may be helped by her intercession with You.

for the Pope
O God, the shepherd and ruler of all the faithful, graciously look upon thy servant Leo, who thou hast willed to be chief pastor of thy Church; grant him we beseech thee, by word and example to profit those over whom he rules, that together with the flock entrusted to him, he may attain to life everlasting.
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.

Continuation of the Holy Gospel according to Luke

Luke 1:39-47
In that time, Mary, rising up, went into the hill country with haste into a city of Juda. And she entered into the house of Zachary, and saluted Elizabeth. And so on.

Homily by St. Ambrose, Bishop (of Milan)
Commentary on Luke, Bk. ii. c
When any one asketh another for credence, he is bound to give some reasonable ground. And so the Angel, when he announced to Mary the counsel of God, gave, as a proof, the conception of Elizabeth, then aged and barren, that Mary might perceive, by this example, that with God nothing is impossible. When the holy Virgin had heard it, she arose and went to visit her cousin. She did not go to see if what she had heard was true, because she did not believe God, or because she knew not who the messenger had been, or yet because she doubted the fact adduced in proof. She went joyfully as one who hath received a mercy in answer to his vow goeth to pay the same. She went with devotion, as a godly person goeth to execute a religious duty. She went into the hill country in joyful haste. And is it not something that she went up into the hills? God was already in her womb, and her feeling bore her continually upward. The grace of the Holy Spirit knoweth no slow working.

Post Communion
P. The Lord be with you.
S. And with thy spirit.
Let us pray.
May the devout reception of Your sacrament, O Lord, give us new strength, purge us of our old selves and let us come to share in the mystery of 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.
de S. Maria Advent
May this Communion, O Lord, cleanse us of sin, and by the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Mother of God, may it make us sharers of heavenly healing.

for the Pope
Let the reception of this divine Sacrament protect us, O Lord, we beseech theee: and may thy servant Leo, whom thou has chosen as the chief pastor of thy Church, along with the flock committed to him derive always from it protection and help.
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.