In commemoration of St. Hadrian, Martyr
Introit
Hail, holy mother! Who in thy child-bearing didst bring forth the King Who ruleth heaven and earth, world without end. Ps. 44, 2. My heart hath uttered a good word: I speak my works to the King. Glory be …
Collect (Prayer)
Impart unto Thy servants, we beseech Thee, O Lord, the gift of Thy heavenly grace, that to us, for whom the child-bearing of the Blessed Virgin was the beginning of our salvation, the votive solemnity of her nativity may give increase of peace. Through our Lord.
Epistle • Prov. 8, 22-35
Lesson from the Book of Wisdom.
[The preaching of wisdom. Her excellence.]
The Lord possessed me in the beginning of his ways, before he made any thing from the beginning. I was set up from eternity, and of old before the earth was made. The depths were not as yet, and I was already conceived. neither had the fountains of waters as yet sprung out: The mountains with their huge bulk had not as yet been established: before the hills I was brought forth:
He had not yet made the earth, nor the rivers, nor the poles of the world. When he prepared the heavens, I was present: when with a certain law and compass he enclosed the depths: When he established the sky above, and poised the fountains of waters: When he compassed the sea with its bounds, and set a law to the waters that they should not pass their limits: when be balanced the foundations of the earth; I was with him forming all things: and was delighted every day, playing before him at all times;
Playing in the world: and my delights were to be with the children of men.Now therefore, ye children, hear me: Blessed are they that keep my ways. Hear instruction and be wise, and refuse it not. Blessed is the man that heareth me, and that watcheth daily at my gates, and waiteth at the posts of my doors. He that shall find me, shall find life, and shall have salvation from the Lord.
Gradual
Blessed and venerable art thou, O Virgin Mary, who, preserving thine immaculate virginity, didst become the Mother of the Saviour. O Virgin Mother of God. He Whom the whole world doth not contain, shut Himself in thy womb, being made man.
Alleluia, alleluia. Happy art thou, O Virgin Mary, and most worthy of all praise, for out of thee the Son of justice hath risen, Christ, our God. Alleluia.
Gospel • Matt. 1, 1-16
Continuation of the Holy Gospel According to St. Matthew.
[The genealogy of Christ: he is conceived and born of a virgin.]
The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham: Abraham begot Isaac. And Isaac begot Jacob. And Jacob begot Judas and his brethren. And Judas begot Phares and Zara of Thamar. And Phares begot Esron. And Esron begot Aram. And Aram begot Aminadab. And Aminadab begot Naasson. And Naasson begot Salmon. And Salmon begot Booz of Rahab. And Booz begot Obed of Ruth. And Obed begot Jesse.
And Jesse begot David the king. And David the king begot Solomon, of her that had been the wife of Urias. And Solomon begot Roboam. And Roboam begot Abia. And Abia begot Asa. And Asa begot Josaphat. And Josaphat begot Joram. And Joram begot Ozias. And Ozias begot Joatham. And Joatham begot Achaz. And Achaz begot Ezechias. And Ezechias begot Manasses. And Manasses begot Amon. And Amon begot Josias.
And Josias begot Jechonias and his brethren in the transmigration of Babylon. And after the transmigration of Babylon, Jechonias begot Salathiel. And Salathiel begot Zorobabel. And Zorobabel begot Abiud. And Abiud begot Eliacim. And Eliacim begot Azor. And Azor begot Sadoc. And Sadoc begot Achim. And Achim begot Eliud. And Eliud begot Eleazar. And Eleazar begot Mathan. And Mathan begot Jacob. And Jacob begot Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus, who is called Christ.
Offertory • Ps. 17, 14, 16
Blessed art thou, O Virgin Mary, who didst bear the Creator of all things; thou didst bring forth Him Who made thee, and remainest a virgin forever.
Secret
May the humanity of Thine only-begotten Son succor us, O Lord, that He, Who, born of the Virgin, did not diminish, but consecrated, the virginity of His Mother, may, in the solemnity of her nativity, cleanse us of our sins and make our offering acceptable to Thee, ever Jesus Christ our Lord, Who with thee liveth.
Communion
Blessed is the womb of the Virgin Mary that bore the Son of the eternal Father.
Postcommunion
We have received, O Lord, the votive sacrament of this annual festival; grant, we beseech Thee, that it may bring us the means of health in this life and in life eternal. Through our Lord.