Mood:  bright

For December 26, St. Stephen Protomartyr:

Benedictus antiphon: And Stephen, full of grace and power, worked signs among the people.

Magnificat antiphon: Devout men buried Stephen and mourned greatly over him.

Responsories: You have crowned him with glory and honor, O Lord. . And have set him over the works of your hands. With glory and honor, O Lord. Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. You have crowned him with glory and honor. O Lord. You have set, O Lord, upon his head a crown of precious stones.

You have set, O Lord, upon his head a crown of precious stones.  Upon his head. Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. You have set, O Lord, upon his head a crown of precious stones.  Great is his glory in your salvation. Glory and great beauty shall you bestow on him. 

For December 27, the First Sunday after Christmas:

Magnificat and Benedictus antiphon: While all things were in quiet silence, and night was in the midst of her course, your almighty Word, O Lord, came down from your royal throne, alleluia.

Magnificat antiphon: The Child Jesus advanced in age and wisdom before God and men.

Responsories: The Word was made flesh, alleluia, alleluia. And dwelt among us, alleluia, alleluia. Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.   The Word was made flesh, alleluia, alleluia. He himself shall say of me, alleluia. You are my Father, alleluia.

The Lord has made known, alleluia, alleluia. His salvation, alleluia. Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. All the ends of the earth have seen, alleluia. The salvation of our God, alleluia.

(From the Benziger Roman Breviary, 1964) 

(Some optional material to supplement the Prayer Book office:)

Magnificat antiphons:

(December 24) When the sun has risen in the heavens, you shall see the King of kings proceeding from his Father, like a bridegroom from his chamber.

(December 25) This day Christ is born, this day the Savior has appeared, this day the angels sing on earth, the archangels rejoice. This day the just exult, saying, "Glory to God in the highest," alleluia.

Benedictus antiphon:

Glory to God in the highest and peace to men of good will, alleluia, alleluia. 

Responsories (between the readings):

The Word was made flesh, alleluia, alleluia. The Word was made flesh, alleluia, alleluia. And dwelt among us.  Alleluia, alleluia. Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. The Word was made flesh, alleluia, alleluia.

The Lord has made known, alleluia, alleluia.  The Lord has made known, alleluia, alleluia. His salvation, alleluia. Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. The Lord has made known, alleluia, alleluia. His salvation, alleluia.

(From the Benziger Roman Breviary, 1964)

Mood:  a-ok

[Here, for the record, is the Angelus, in its current form.]

V. The angel of the Lord announced unto Mary.
R. And she conceived by the Holy Spirit.

V. Behold the handmaid of the Lord.
R. Be it unto me according to your Word.

V. And the Word was made flesh.
R. And dwelt among us.

V. Pray for us, O Holy Mother of God.
R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

Let us pray: We beseech you, O Lord, pour your grace into our hearts, that as we have known the incarnation of your Son Jesus Christ by the message of an angel, so by his cross and passion we may be brought to the glory of his resurrection; through the same Christ our Lord. Amen.

Psalm antiphons:

The Lord will come and will not delay, and he will bring to light the hidden things of darkness and will manifest himself to all nations, alleluia.

Rejoice, O Jerusalem, with great joy, for your Savior will come to you, alleluia.

I will give salvation in Zion and my glory in Jerusalem, alleluia.

The mountains and all hills shall be made low, the crooked shall become straight, and the rough ways plain. Come, O Lord, and do not delay, alleluia.

Magnificat antiphon: Before me, there was no God formed, and after me there shall be none. For every knee shall bow to me and every tongue shall confess.

Benedictus antiphon: Upon the throne of David and his kingdom he shall sit forever, alleluia. 

Responsories (between the lesssons): Come to deliver us, O Lord, God of might.  Come to deliver us, O Lord, God of might. Show you face and we shall be saved. O Lord, God of might. Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost. Come to deliver us, O Lord, God of might.

Upon you, O Jerusalem, the Lord will shine.  Upon you, O Jerusalem, the Lord will shine. And his glory will appear over you. The Lord will shine. Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost. Upon you, O Jerusalem, the Lord will shine.

(From the Benziger Roman Breviary, 1964)

Psalm antiphons:

Behold in the clouds of heaven, the Lord will come with great power, alleluia.

Behold the Lord shall appear and shall not lie. If he makes any delay, wait for him, for he will come and will not be slack, alleluia.

The mountains and the hills shall sing praise before God, and all the trees of the forest shall clap their hands, because the Lord, the ruler, will come into his eternal kingdom, alleluia, alleluia. 

Behold the Lord will come with power and will englighten the eyes of his servants, alleluia.

Magnificat antiphon: Come, O  Lord, visit us in peace, that we may rejoice before you with a perfect heart.

Benedictus antiphon: From heaven shall come the Lord, the ruler, and in his hand are honor and strength.

Responsory (between the lessons): Come to deliver us, O Lord God of might.  Come to deliver us, O Lord God of might. Show your face, and we shall be saved. O Lord God of might. Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. Come to deliver us, O Lord God of might.

 (The psalm antiphons, antiphons for the two canticles, and the responsories are taken from the Benziger Roman Breviary, 1964.)