THE NATIVITY OF OUR LORD,

OR THE

BIRTHDAY OF CHRIST,

COMMONLY CALLED

CHRISTMAS DAY.

The Festival of the Nativity was celebrated from the earliest times in the Western Church. In the East this feast was associated with that of the Epiphany; but the 25th of December became the day of universal observation in the fifth century.

H

THE COLLECT.

Prayer Book of 1549.

LMIGHTY GOD, who hast given us Thy only-begotten Son to take our nature upon Him, and as at this time to be born of a pure Virgin; grant that we, being regenerate, and made Thy children by adoption and grace, may daily be renewed by Thy Holy Spirit; through the same our Lord Jesus Christ, who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the same Spirit, ever one God, world without end. Amen.

The same Collect is used on the Sunday after Christmas Day.

COLLECT FOR CHRISTMAS DAY.

O Father, God omnipotent,
Whose love Thy One-begotten sent,
Thy Word and wisdom excellent,
To us, the lost and lorn;

In human flesh and blood to dwell,
The long-looked-for Immanuel,
A Virgin's birth, in Israel

At this time to be born.

Our hearts with grace regenerate,
Adopt us in Thy children's state,
And may Thy Spirit renovate
Our life from day to day.

We plead, through Jesus Christ, Thy Son,
Who lives and reigns upon the throne,

With Thee and Holy Spirit, One,

ST. STEPHEN'S DAY.

This Festival has been celebrated since the fourth century.

The Collect is based upon the one for this day in the Sacramentary of Gregory and the Sarum Missal; and assumed its present form in the Revision of 1662.

RANT, O Lord, that, in all our sufferings here upon earth for the testimony of Thy truth, we may steadfastly look up to heaven, and by faith behold the glory that shall be revealed; and being filled with the Holy Ghost, may learn to love and bless our persecutors by the example of Thy first martyr, Saint Stephen, who prayed for his murderers to Thee, O blessed Jesus, who standest at the right hand of God to succour all those that suffer for Thee, our only Mediator and Advocate. Amen.

ST. STEPHEN'S DAY.

Grant, Lord, whate'er our sufferings be,
Or wrongs on earth oppressing,
That we are called to bear for Thee,

And for Thy truth confessing.

To heaven may we lift up our eyes,
Though vanquished, yet prevailing ;
And see, by faith the glory-prize,
The Saviour is unveiling.

And, filled with grace, may bless our foes,
Their injuries unheeded;

As Stephen, when in death's repose,
For his murderers pleaded;

To Thee, O Jesu, who dost stand,

To help Thy servants needing; The Advocate at God's right hand, For martyrs interceding.

ST. JOHN THE EVANGELIST'S DAY.

This Festival dates from the sixth century.

M

THE COLLECT.

Greg. S.M.

ERCIFUL 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 so walk in the light of Thy truth, that it may at length attain to the light of everlasting life; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

ST. JOHN THE EVANGELIST'S DAY.
Hear us, we pray, O Lord benign,
Cast on Thy Church Thy beams divine;
That she, Thy called and chosen bride,
May be by doctrine edified.

E'en by that faith she hath believed,
From Thy Evangelist received;
The saintly John, Apostle blest,
Who laid his head on Jesu's breast.
And in temptation's darkest night,
May Thy truth give her guiding light,
And shed its ray on every stage
Of this her earthly pilgrimage.