Posted by Second Mass of the Nativity of Our Lord: Missa “Lux fulgébit”
This second Mass at Dawn often called “of the shepherds” used for its station the very ancient church of St. Anastasia whose name appears in the Canon of the Mass. She was burnt alive at Sirmium in Yuglosavia on Devcember 25th during the terrible Diocletian Persecution in the early 300’s. There is a commemoration of St. Anastasia at this second Mass and, like the shepherds we need to do what they did, glorify and praise God for all the things we had heard and seen, as it was told unto us through the True Church. The Epistle shares the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior who first appeared to the shepherds, so that all would know that being justified by the grace of Our Lord we may be heirs of life everlasting. Let us go, as the Gospel relates, with the shepherds to the Infant Jesus; the Lord manifested to these shepherds the Incarnation of His Son. Let us go with haste and adore Him in the crib.
INTROIT Isaias 9: 2, 6
A light shall shine upon us this day: for the Lord is born to us: and He shall be called Wonderful, God, the Prince of Peace, the Father of the world to come: of Whose reign there shall be no end.– (Ps. 92: 1) The Lord hath reigned, He is clothed with beauty: the Lord is clothed with strength, and hath girded Himself. v. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Ghost, as it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
Repeat A light shall shine…
COLLECT
Grant us, we beseech Thee, almighty God, that we on whom the new light of Thy Incarnate Word is poured, may show forth in our works that brightness which now doth illuminate our minds by faith. Through the same Lord Jesus Christ Thy Son, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end.
R.Amen.
Commemoration of St. Anastasia
Grant, we beseech Thee, O almighty God, that we who honor the solemnity of Thy blessed martyr Anastasia may experience the effect of her intercession with Thee. Through Our Lord Jesus Christ Thy Son, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end.
R.Amen.
EPISTLE Titus 2: 11-15
Lesson from the Epistle of Blessed Paul the Apostle to Titus. Dearly beloved, The goodness and kindness of God our Savior appeared: not by the works of justice which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us by the laver of regeneration and renovation of the Holy Ghost, whom He has poured forth upon us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior: that, being justified by His grace, we may be heirs according to hope of life everlasting: in Christ Jesus our Lord.
GRADUAL/ALLELUIA Psalm 117: 27, 26, 23
Blessed is He that cometh in the Name of the Lord: the Lord is God, and He hath shone upon us. V. This is the Lord’s doing: and it is wonderful in our eyes. Alleluia, alleluia. V. (Ps. 92: 1) The Lord hath reigned, He is clothed with beauty: the Lord is clothed with strength, and hath girded Himself with power. Alleluia.
GOSPEL Luke 2: 15-20
At that time the shepherds said to one another: Let us go over to Bethlehem, and let us see this word that is come to pass, which the Lord hath showed to us. And they came with haste and they found Mary and Joseph, and the Infant lying in the manger. And seeing they understood of the word that had been spoken to them concerning this Child. And all that heard wondered: and at those things that were told them by the shepherds. But Mary kept all these words, pondering them in her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.
OFFERTORY ANTIPHON Psalm 92: 1-2
God hath established the world, which shall not be moved: Thy throne, O God, is prepared from of old; Thou art from everlasting.
SECRET
May our gifts, we beseech Thee, O Lord, prove worthy of the Mysteries of this day’s Nativity and ever shed forth peace upon us: that, as He who was born as man, shone forth also as God, so may these earthly creatures bestow upon us that which is divine. Through our Lord Jesus Christ Thy Son, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, one God Forever and ever.
R.Amen.
Commemoration of St. Anastasia
Accept, we pray Thee, O Lord, the gifts duly offered to Thee, and, by the interceding merits of blessed Anastasia, Thy martyr, grant them to be profitable for the furtherance of our salvation. Through our Lord Jesus Christ Thy Son, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, one God Forever and ever.
R.Amen.
PREFACE of the Nativity
It is truly meet and just, right and for our salvation, that we should at all times and in all places, give thanks unto Thee, O holy Lord, Father almighty, everlasting God: for through the Mystery of the word made flesh, the new light of Thy glory hath shone upon the eyes of our mind, so that while we acknowledge God in visible form, we may be through Him be drawn to the love of things invisible. And therefore with Angels and Archangels, with Thrones and Dóminations, and with all the hosts of the heavenly army, we sing the hymn of Thy glory, evermore saying:
HOLY, HOLY, HOLY…
Communicating, and keeping this most holy day, in which the spotless virginity of blessed Mary brought forth a Savior to this world and also reverencing the memory of the same glorious Mary, ever Virgin Mother of the same our God and Lord Jesus Christ: as also blessed Joseph, Spouse of the Virgin, of the blessed Apostles and Martyrs Peter and Paul, Andrew, James, John, Thomas, James, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Simon and Thaddeus: Linus, Cletus, Clement, Xystus, Cornelius, Cyprian, Lawrence, Chrysogonus, John and Paul, Cosmas and Damian, and of all Thy Saints, through whose merits and prayers, grant that we may in all things be defended by the help of Thy protection (He joins his hands.) Through the same Christ our Lord. Amen.
COMMUNION ANTIPHON Zacharias 9: 9
Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Sion, shout for joy, O daughter of Jerusalem behold Thy King comes, holy, the Savior of the world.
POSTCOMMUNION
May the new life of this sacrament, O Lord, ever restore us, especially on the Nativity of Him whose wondrous Birth hath overcome the old nature of our manhood. Through the same Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, For ever and ever.
R. Amen.
Commemoration of St. Anastasia
Let us pray. Thou hast filled Thy household, O Lord, with sacred gifts; ever cherish us by the intercession of her whose feast we celebrate. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, For ever and ever.
R. Amen.