The Introits, Collects, etc. Feast Days in Advent

Saint Andrew's Day

November 30

1st Evensong

The Psalms Appointed

102 & 117

The Readings

Isa. 49:1–13 & I Cor. 4:1–16

Antiphon for the Magnificat

Jesus, walking by the sea of Galilee, saw Peter, and Andrew, his brother, and said unto them: * Come ye after me, I will make you fishers of men: and straight-way, they forsook their nets, and the ship, and followed him.

Matins

The Psalms Appointed

34

The Readings

Num. 10:v. 29 unto the end & John 1:29-42

The Antiphon for the Benedictus

You who have forsaken all * and followed me, shall receive a hundredfold, and shall inherit eternal life.

Holy Communion

The Introit Psalm 129. Sæpe expugnaverunt.

MANY a time have they fought against me from my youth up, * may Israel now say;
    2 Yea, many a time have they vexed me from my youth up; * but they have not prevailed against me.
    3 The plowers plowed upon my back, * and made long furrows.
    4 But the righteous LORD * hath hewn the snares of the ungodly in pieces.
    5 Let them be confounded and turned backward, * as many as have evil will at Sion.

6 Let them be even as the grass upon the housetops, * which withereth afore it be grown up;
    7 Whereof the mower filleth not his hand, * neither he that bindeth up the sheaves his bosom.
    8 So that they who go by say not so much as, The LORD prosper you; * we wish you good luck in the Name of the LORD.

The Collect.

ALMIGHTY God, who didst give such grace unto thy holy Apostle Saint Andrew, that he readily obeyed the calling of thy Son Jesus Christ, and followed him without delay; Grant unto us all, that we, being called by thy holy Word, may forthwith give up ourselves obediently to fulfil thy holy commandments; through the same Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

The Epistle. Rom. x. 9.

IF thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? and how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things! But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report? So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. But I say, Have they not heard? Yes verily, their sound went into all the earth, and their words unto the ends of the world. But I say, Did not Israel know? First Moses saith, I will provoke you to jealousy by them that are no people, and by a foolish nation I will anger you. But Esaias is very bold, and saith, I was found of them that sought me not; I was made manifest unto them that asked not after me. But to Israel he saith, All day long I have stretched forth my hands unto a disobedient and gainsaying people.

The Gradual Ps 45:15&16

15 With joy and gladness shall they be brought, * and shall enter into the King's palace.
    16 Instead of thy fathers, thou shalt have children, * whom thou mayest make princes in all lands.

The Alleluia Ps 45:17

Alleluia! Alleluia! I will make thy Name to be remembered from one generation to another; * therefore shall the people give thanks unto thee, world without end. Alleluia!

The Gospel. St. Matt. iv. 18.

JESUS, walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brethren, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers. And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men. And they straightway left their nets, and followed him. And going on from thence, he saw other two brethren, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in a ship with Zebedee their father, mending their nets; and he called them. And they immediately left the ship and their father, and followed him.

2nd Evensong

The Psalms Appointed

96 & 100

The Readings

Isa. 55 & John 12:20-36

Antiphon for the Magnificat

For they will deliver you over * to the councils, and they will scourge you in their synagogues and you shall be brought before governors and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them and the Gentiles.

Channing Moore Williams

(Missionary Bishop in China and Japan)

December 2

The Collect.

ALMIGHTY and everlasting God, we thank thee for thy servant Channing Moore Williams, whom thou didst call to preach The Gospel to the people of China and Japan: Raise up, we pray thee, in this and every land, heralds and evangelists of thy kingdom, that thy Church may make known the unsearchable riches of Christ, and may increase with the increase of God; through the same thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

St. Clement Of Alexandria

(Priest)

December 4

The Collect.

O GOD, who hast enlightened thy Church by the teaching of thy servant Clement: Enrich us evermore, we beseech thee, with thy heavenly grace, and raise up faithful witnesses who by their life and doctrine will set forth the truth of thy salvation; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

The Epistle, 2 Peter 1:2-8.

GRACE and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord, according as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; and to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; and to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

The Gospel. St. John 6:57-63.

AS the living Father hath sent me, and I live by the Father: so he that eateth me, even he shall live by me. This is that bread which came down from heaven: not as your fathers did eat manna, and are dead: he that eateth of this bread shall live for ever. These things said he in the synagogue, as he taught in Capernaum. Many therefore of his disciples, when they had heard this, said, This is an hard saying; who can hear it? When Jesus knew in himself that his disciples murmured at it, he said unto them, Doth this offend you? What and if ye shall see the Son of man ascend up where he was before? It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.

St. John Of Damascus

(Priest)

December 5

The Collect.

ALMIGHTY God, who hast enriched thy Church with the singular learning and holiness of thy servant John: Grant us to hold fast the true doctrine of thy Son our Saviour Jesus Christ, and to fashion our lives according to the same, to the glory of thy great Name and the benefit through the same Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

St. Nicholas

(Bishop of Myra)

December 6

The Collect.

ALMIGHTY and everlasting God, who didst enkindle the flame of thy love in the heart of thy servant Nicholas: Grant to us, thy humble servants, the same faith and power of love; that, as we rejoice in his triumph, we may profit by his example; through Jesus Christ  our Lord. Amen.

The Conception of St. Mary the Virgin

December 8

Antiphons for the Psalms at Matins and Evensong

1. Of thee, O Mary, thy Son was clothed in humanity, * whose raiment was white as the light, whose face did shine as the sun.

2. Thou art the exaltation of Jerusalem, thou art the great glory of Israel, * thou art the great rejoicing of our nation.

3. Blessed art thou, O Virgin Mary, of the Most High God, * above all the women upon the earth.

4. Draw us, O pure Virgin, we will run after thee * in the goodly fragrance of thine ointments.

1st Evensong

The Psalms Appointed

111, 131

The Antiphon for the Magnificat

Thy Conception, O Virgin Mother of God, hath proclaimed joyful tidings unto all the world: * for from thee arose the Sun of Righteousness, even Christ, our God; who, taking away the curse, hath bestowed a blessing, and despoiling death, hath given unto us life everlasting.

Matins

The Psalms Appointed

Magnificat & 113

The Readings

Micah 5:2-5; Matt. 1:20-23

Antiphon for the Benedictus

Celebrate with joyful solemnity the Conception of God's holy mother, the Blessed Virgin Mary: * from whom the Son of the Highest went forth, alleluia.

Holy Communion

The Introit Ps 45:10,11&17

    10 Hearken, O daughter, and consider; incline thine ear; * forget also thine own people, and thy father's house.

    11 So shall the King have pleasure in thy beauty; * for he is thy Lord, and worship thou him.
    17 I will make thy Name to be remembered from one generation to another; * therefore shall the people give thanks unto thee, world without end.

The Collect.

 We beseech thee, O Lord, grant to us thy servants the gifts of thy heavenly grace: that as our salvation began by the child-bearing of the Blessed Virgin, so this devout solemnity of her Conception may afford us an increase of peace. Through the same Jesus Christ our Lord who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost, one God, world without end. Amen.

The Epistle, Prov. viii: 22

The Lord possessed me in the beginning of his way, before his works of old. I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, or ever the earth was. When there were no depths, I was brought forth; when there were no fountains abounding with water. Before the mountains were settled, before the hills was I brought forth: while as yet he had not made the earth, nor the fields, nor the highest part of the dust of the world. When he prepared the heavens, I was there: when he set a compass upon the face of the depth: when he established the clouds above: when he strengthened the fountains of the deep: when he gave to the sea his decree, that the waters should not pass his commandment: when he appointed the foundations of the earth: then I was by him, as one brought up with him: and I was daily his delight, rejoicing always before him; rejoicing in the habitable part of his earth; and my delights were with the sons of men. Now therefore hearken unto me, O ye children: for blessed are they that keep my ways. Hear instruction, and be wise, and refuse it not. Blessed is the man that heareth me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors. For whoso findeth me findeth life, and shall obtain favour of the Lord.

The Gradual Luke 1:46-54

MY soul doth magnify the Lord, * and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.
For he hath regarded * the lowliness of his handmaiden.
For behold, from henceforth * all generations shall call me blessed.
For he that is mighty hath magnified me; * and holy is his Name.
And his mercy is on them that fear him * throughout all generations.
He hath showed strength with his arm; * he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.
He hath put down the mighty from their seat, * and hath exalted the humble and meek.
He hath filled the hungry with good things; * and the rich he hath sent empty away.

The Alleluia Luke 1:55

Alleluia! Alleluia! He remembering his mercy hath holpen his servant Israel; * as he promised to our forefathers, Abraham and his seed, for ever. Alleluia!

The Gospel, St. Luke is 26

And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth, To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name was Mary. And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women. And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be. And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God. And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name Jesus. He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end. Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man? And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God. And, behold, thy cousin Elisabeth, she hath also conceived a son in her old age: and this is the sixth month with her, who was called barren. For with God nothing shall be impossible. And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her.

2^nd Evensong

The Psalms Appointed

8 & 36

The Readings

I Sam. 2:1-11; Heb. 2:9-18

Antiphon for the Magnificat

All generations shall call me blessed: * for God hath regarded his lowly handmaiden.

The Great O Atiphons

O Sapientia  December 16

O Wisdom, which camest out of the mouth of the Most High, and reachest from one end to another, mightily and sweetly ordering all things: Come and teach us the way of prudence.

O Adonai  December 17

O Adonai, Leader of the house of Israel, who appearedst in the bush to Moses in a flame of fire, and gavest him the law in Sinai: Come and redeem us with an outstretched arm.

O Radix Jesse   December18

O Root of Jesse, which standest for an ensign of the people, at whom kings shall stop their mouths, whom the Gentiles shall seek: Come and deliver us, and tarry not.

O Clavis David   December 19

O Key of David, Sceptre of the house of Israel; that openest and no man shutteth, and shuttest and no man openeth: Come and bring forth the prisoners out of the prison house.

O Oriens   December 20

O Day-spring, Brightness of the Light everlasting, and Sun of righteousness: Come and enlighten them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death.

O Rex gentium  December 21

O King of Nations and their Desire; the Cornerstone, who makest both one: Come and save mankind, whom thou formedst of clay.

O Emmanuel  - December 22

O Emmanuel, our King and Lawgiver, Desire of all nations and their Salvation: Come and save us, O Lord our God.

O Virgo virginum December 23

O Virgin of virgins, how shall this be? For neither before thee was any like thee, nor shall there be after. Daughters of Jerusalem, why marvel ye at me? That which ye behold is a divine mystery.

Saint Thomas the Apostle

December 21

At 1^st Evensong

The Psalms Appointed

23 & 121

The Reading

II Kgs. 6:8–23 & John 11:1–16

Antiphon for Magnificat (if Great O not used)

O Thomas Didymus, to whom it was given to touch the risen Christ, and who now with him art evermore on high, * we entreat thee to pray for us who suffer amidst the evils of this world, lest among the lost we receive the sentence of doom, when the Judge appeareth.

At Matins

The Psalms Appointed

27

The Reading

II Kgs. 7 & John 14:1–14

Antiphon for Benedictus

Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed; * blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.

Holy Communion

The Introit Psalm 128. Beati omnes.

BLESSED are all they that fear the LORD, * and walk in his ways.

2 For thou shalt eat the labours¹ of thine hands: * O well is thee, and happy shalt thou be.
    3 Thy wife shall be as the fruitful vine * upon the walls of thine house;
    4 Thy children like the olive-branches * round about thy table.
    5 Lo, thus shall the man be blessed * that feareth the LORD.
    6 The LORD from out of Sion shall so bless thee, * that thou shalt see Jerusalem in prosperity all thy life long;
    7 Yea, that thou shalt see thy children's children, * and peace upon Israel.

The Collect.

ALMIGHTY and everliving God, who, for the greater* confirmation of the faith, didst suffer thy holy Apostle Thomas to be doubtful in thy Son's resurrection; Grant us so perfectly, and without all doubt, to believe in thy Son Jesus Christ, that our faith in thy sight may never be reproved. Hear us, O Lord, through the same Jesus Christ, to whom, with thee and the Holy Ghost, be all honour and glory, now and for evermore, Amen.

The Epistle. Ephes. ii. 19.

NOW therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God; and are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; in whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: in whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.

The Gradual Ps 45:15&16

15 With joy and gladness shall they be brought, * and shall enter into the King's palace.
    16 Instead of thy fathers, thou shalt have children, * whom thou mayest make princes in all lands.

The Alleluia Ps 45:17

Alleluia! Alleluia! I will make thy Name to be remembered from one generation to another; * therefore shall the people give thanks unto thee, world without end. Alleluia!

The Gospel. St. John xx. 24.

THOMAS, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came. The other disciples therefore said unto him, We have seen the Lord. But he said unto them, Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nai1s, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe. And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them: then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you. Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing. And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God. Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, be cause thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed. And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book: but these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.

Evensong

The Psalms Appointed

112 & 113

The Reading

Heb. 1:1–2:4 & Mark 16:v. 9

Antiphon for Magnificat (if Great O not used)

O Thomas Didymus, to whom it was given to touch the risen Christ, and who now with him art evermore on high, * we entreat thee to pray for us who suffer amidst the evils of this world, lest among the lost we receive the sentence of doom, when the Judge appeareth.