Comm. Acts vii. I see the heavens opened, and Jesus standing on the right hand of the power of God. Lord Jesus, receive my spirit, and lay not this sin to their charge, for they know not what they do.

P. Comm. May the mysteries we have received, O Lord, be a help to us; and by the intercession of Thy blessed Proto-Martyr Stephen, evermore strengthen and protect us. Through.

S. John the Evangelist.

The Office. Ecclus. xv.

In the midst of the congregation shall be open his mouth, and the Lord filled him with the spirit of wisdom and understanding, and clothed him with the robe of glory.

Ps. He shall find joy and a crown of gladness.

¶ In Easter-tide* is added, Alleluia! Alleluia!

The Collect.

Merciful Lord, we beseech Thee to cast Thy bright beams of light upon Thy Church, that it, being enlightened by the doctrine of Thy blessed Apostle and Evangelist Saint John, may attain to the gift of everlasting life. Through.

¶ Memorial of Christmas Day and S. Stephen only.

The Lesson. Ecclus. xv. 1-6.

He that feareth the Lord ......... and the Lord our God shall cause him to inherit an everlasting name.

Gradual. John xxi. Then went this saying abroad among the brethren, that that disciple should not die.

. But, if I will that He tarry till I come, follow thou Me. Alleluia! . This is the disciple which testifieth of these things and we know that his testimony is true.

:

The Sequence.

O John! Disciple chaste, whom Jesus lov'd,
Thou for the love which thou didst bear to Him
Didst leave thy earthly parent in the ship;
Unwedded didst Messiah follow, drinking
Pure streams of wisdom from His holy breast.
Thou saw'st the glory of the Son of God
Whilst yet alive on earth, Whom to behold
The saints do look only in life eternal.

To Thee, Christ, triumphing upon the Cross,

In charge His Holy Mother did commit,
That to the Virgin thou, thyself a virgin,
With filial care should'st minister protection.
In prison cast, and torn with cruel scourges,
Thou didst rejoice to bear Christ's testimony.
Thou, too, didst raise the dead, and deadly poison
Didst drink and take no harm, in Jesus' Name.
To thee the Most High Father doth reveal
His word of prophecy, denied to others.
Do thou, O John, belov'd of Jesus Christ,
Commend us all to God, in never-ceasing prayers!

The Gospel. John xxi. 19-24.

At that time Jesus said unto Peter, Follow Me testimony is true.

his

Offert. Ps. xcii. The righteous shall flourish like a palmtree and shall spread abroad like a cedar in Libanus.

At the Feast in Easter-tide, Alleluia !

Secret. Receive, O Lord, we beseech Thee, the offerings we make to Thee on his feast by whose espousal of our cause we trust to be delivered. Through.

Comm. John xxi. Then went this saying abroad among the brethren, that that disciple should not die. Yet Jesus said not, He shall not die; but, If I will that he tarry till I come?

¶ In Easter-tide, Alleluia!

P. Comm. Being refreshed, O Lord, with heavenly meat and drink, we humbly beseech Thee, that we may be fortified by his prayers on whose commemoration we have received them. Through.

The Holy Innocents.

The Office. Ps. viii.

O God, out of the mouths of very babes and sucklings hast Thou ordained strength, because of Thine enemies.

Ps. O Lord our Governor: how excellent is Thy Name in all the world!

The Collect.

O God, Whose martyred Innocents on this day showed forth, not by praise, but by death; mortify all evil vices in us, that Thy

faith which our tongue uttereth, our lives may in deed confess. Who livest.

¶ Memorial of Christmas, S. Stephen, and S. John only.

The Lesson. Rev. xiv. 1-5.

Gradual. Ps. cxxiv. Our soul is escaped even as a bird out of the snare of the fowler.

. The snare is broken, and we are delivered: our help standeth in the Name of the Lord, Who made Heaven and earth. . The noble army of Martyrs: praise Thee,

Alleluia!

O Lord.

The Sequence.

Let children sing high melodies,

The Innocents' triumphant lay,

Whom Christ, the Holy Child, did bear to Heaven to-day.
These for no crime, in cruel fraud,

Herod in madness and in rage,

In Bethlehem and all its coasts,

From two years old and under slew.

Herod, unhappy King, alarm'd

Lest Christ the new-born King should reign,

Is filled with wrath, and seizes arms

With haughty hand and troubled mind,

And seeks the King of Light and Heaven,

Bent to destroy with murderous dart
The life of Him Who giveth life.
Unable with his clouded mind
To look on that bright light he seeks,
Fierce Herod weaves his dark designs
To slay the band of infant saints.
The wicked King his troops prepares,
Pierces with sword the tender limbs;
Babes at the breast he slays, ere yet
The milk can curdle into blood.

The murderous unnatural foe

Infants new-born in pieces tears;

'Ere their frail limbs have gathered strength
Under his feet he tramples them.
O Blessed Innocents! O blest
The little ones that Herod slew!
O blessed mothers! ye who there
Such pledges of your love did bear.
O sweet array of children dear!
O holy fight of babes for Christ!

Thousands of tender age lie slain around;

Their mothers' milk flows from them in their throes.

Angelic hosts to welcome stand
The little white-robed martyr band.
A marvellous victory they win,

Gaining the prize of life, ere yet the strife begin.
O Christ! Thee we devoutly pray,

Thou Who didst come the world to mend,
Grant us, with those blest Innocents,

The glories which shall never end!

The Gospel. Matt. ii. 13-18.

At that time the Angel of the Lord

not.

........

because they are

Offert. Ps. cxxiv. Our soul is escaped even as a bird out of the snare of the fowler. The snare is broken, and we are delivered.

Secret. Be present, O Lord, at the consecration of these gifts, on the festival of the Innocents; and grant that as we venerate their infancy dedicated to Thee, we may be able to imitate their guilelessness. Through.

Comm. Matt. ii. A voice was heard in Rama, lamentation and bitter weeping: Rachel weeping for her children, and refusing to be comforted because they are not.

P. Comm. Grant, O Lord, that, by the prayers of the Holy Innocents, the devout offerings of which we have partaken may alike support our life present, and impart to us that which is to come. Through.

S. Thomas of Canterbury.

The Office.

Let us all rejoice in the Lord, and celebrate this feast in honour of the Martyr Thomas, for whose suffering angels rejoice and praise the Son of God.

Ps. Ixiv. Hear my voice, O God, in my prayer: preserve my life from fear of the enemy.

The Collect.

O God, in defence of Whose Church the renowned Bishop, Thomas, fell by the swords of wicked men: grant, we beseech Thee, that all who implore his assistance may obtain their petition. Through.

¶ Memorial of Christmas, S. Stephen, S. John, and the Innocents only. The Epistle. Hebrews v. 1-10.

(See Ep. i., in Comm. of one Martyr and Bishop.) Gradual. (See Grad. i., in Comm. of one Mart.) Alleluia! (See Alleluia vii., in Comm. of one Mart.) The Sequence.

This day let solemn strains
Resound on earth below,
And o'er the Martyr's palm
Triumph the heavenly host.
What do ye, joyous folk?
Give thanks with them above.

Let every living soul rejoice,

And with free voice to Christ sing praise.

Let Canterbury at this feast

Devoutly homage pay.

The furious soldier band

Shouts forth the tyrant King's command,
Lawless will and fierce decree

Forced their way full haughtily.
Armed men with passion wild
Places dear to Christ defiled;
But Christ's footsteps following,
Thomas with unswerving tread
Stood unshaken, undismayed,
In obedience to His King

Meets the sword with steady eye,
Counting it all gain to die.

*Thomas, rejoice, thy victory adds a lay

To swell the praise of Christ's own Natal Day!
The Martyr's glory is proclaimed,

By divers signs assured,

Within the fane the Pastor Chief

A cruel death endured;

Nor day nor place from murderous hand

Awe or respect procured.

Star of the Sea! who didst rejoice to feed

Christ at thy holy breast,

Him do we humbly pray, that in the end we may

With Thomas surely rest,

And through his prayer be blest.

The Gospel.

(See Gosp. ii., in Comm. of one Mart. and Bp.)

Offert. (See Offert. ii., in Comm. of one Mart.)

Secret. Grant, O Lord, we beseech Thee, that blessed Thomas, Bishop and Martyr, may obtain for us that the gift of the saving

* This V. is to be said thrice.