The following are the English propers (“the readings”) for this Mass. The English of the fixed, ordinary parts of the Mass are available for a Low Mass, High Mass and Solemn Mass.
Introitus
Hail, holy Mother, who brought forth the King Who rules heaven and earth forever and ever.
Ps 44:2
My heart overflows with a goodly theme; as I sing my ode to the King.
Hail, holy Mother, who brought forth the King Who rules heaven and earth forever and ever.
Collect
Let us pray.
Bestow upon Your servants, we beseech You, O Lord, the gift of heavenly grace, that, as the child-bearing of the Blessed Virgin stood for the beginning of our salvation, so may the solemn feast of her Nativity bring about an increase of peace.
Through Jesus Christ, thy Son our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end.
R. Amen.
Let us pray.
For St. Adrian
Grant, we beseech You, almighty God, that we, who venerate the anniversary of the death of blessed Adrian, Your Martyr, may by his intercession be strengthened in love of Your name.
Through Jesus Christ, thy Son our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end.
R. Amen.
Lesson
Lesson from the book of Proverbs
Prov 8:22-35
The Lord begot me, the firstborn of His ways, the forerunner of His prodigies of long ago; from of old I was poured forth, at the first, before the earth. When there were not depths I was brought forth, when there were not fountains or springs of water; before the mountains were settled into place, before the hills, I was brought forth; while as yet the earth and the fields were not made, nor the first clods of the world. When He established the heavens I was there, when He marked out the vault over the face of the deep; when He made firm the skies above, and poised the fountains of waters; when He set for the sea its limit, so that the waters should not transgress His command; when He fixed fast the foundations of the earth, then was I beside Him as His craftsman, and I was His delight day by day, playing before Him all the while, playing on the surface of His earth and I found delight in the sons of men. So now, O children, listen to me; happy those who keep my ways. Hear instruction, and be wise, and refuse it not. Happy the man who obeys me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at my doorsteps; for he who finds me finds life, and wins favor from the Lord.
R. Thanks be to God.
Gradual
Blessed and venerable are you, O Virgin Mary, who, without spot to your maidenhood, were made the Mother of the Saviour.
V. O Virgin, Mother of God, He Whom the whole world cannot contain, enclosed Himself in your womb, becoming Man. Alleluia, alleluia.
V. Happy are you, O Holy Virgin Mary, and most worthy of all high praise; for out of you has risen the sun of justice, Christ our God. Alleluia.
Gospel
Continuation ✠ of the Holy Gospel according to Matthew
R. Glory be to Thee, O Lord.
Matt 1:1-16
The book of the origins of Jesus Christ, the Son of David, the son of Abraham. Abraham begot Isaac, Isaac begot Jacob, Jacob begot Judas and his brethren. Judas begot Phares and Zara of Thamar, Phares begot Esron, Esron begot Aram. And Aram begot Aminadab, Aminadab begot Naasson, Naasson begot Salmon. Salmon begot Booz of Rahab. Booz begot Obed of Ruth, Obed begot Jesse, Jesse begot David the king. And David the king begot Solomon of the former wife of Urias. Solomon begot Roboam, Roboam begot Abia, Abia begot Asa. And Asa begot Josaphat, Josaphat begot Joram, Joram begot Ozias. And Ozias begot Joatham, Joatham begot Achaz, Achaz begot Ezechias. And Ezechias begot Manasses, Manasses begot Amon, Amon begot Josias. And Josias begot Jechonias and his brethren at the time of the carrying away to Babylon. And after the carrying away to Babylon Jechonias begot Salathiel, Salathiel begot Zorobabel. And Zorobabel begot Abiud, Abiud begot Eliachim, Eliachim begot Azor. And Azor begot Sadoc, Sadoc begot Achim, Achim, begot Eliud. And Eliud begot Eleazar, Eleazar begot Matthan, Matthan begot Jacob. And Jacob begot Joseph, the husband of Mary, and of her was born Jesus Who is called Christ.
R. Praise be to Thee, O Christ.
S. By the words of the Gospel may our sins be blotted out.
Offertorium
Blessed are you, O Virgin Mary, you who bore the Creator of all things; you brought forth Him Who made you, and you remain a Virgin forever.
Secreta
May the humanity of Your only-begotten Son help us, O Lord, as He, Who, born of a virgin did not lessen but consecrated the purity of His mother, so, on the festival of her Nativity may Jesus Christ, our Lord, free us from our sins and render our sacrifice acceptable to You.
Who livest and reignest with God the Father, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, world without end.
R. Amen
For St. Adrian
Now that You have received our gifts and prayers, we beseech You, O Lord, cleanse us by Your heavenly mysteries and in Your mercy hear us.
Through Jesus Christ, thy Son our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end.
R. Amen.
Prefatio
Blessed Virgin
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: and that we should praise and bless, and proclaim Thee, in the Feast of the Blessed Mary, ever-Virgin: Who also conceived Thine only-begotten Son by the overshadowing of the Holy Ghost, and the glory of her virginity still abiding, gave forth to the world the everlasting Light, Jesus Christ our Lord. Through whom the Angels praise Thy Majesty, the Dominations worship it, and the Powers stand in awe. The Heavens and the heavenly hosts together with the blessed Seraphim in triumphant chorus unite to celebrate it. Together with these we entreat Thee that Thou mayest bid our voices also to be admitted while we say with lowly praise:
Communio
Blessed is the womb of the Virgin Mary, which bore the Son of the eternal Father.
Postcommunio
Let us pray.
We have partaken of the solemn sacrament on this annual feast: grant we beseech You, that it may bring us assistance both for the present and for life everlasting.
Through Jesus Christ, thy Son our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end.
R. Amen.
Let us pray.
For St. Adrian
Grant, we beseech You, O Lord our God, that we who in this life joyously assist in the veneration of Your Saints, may rejoice in beholding them forever in heaven.
Through Jesus Christ, thy Son our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end.
R. Amen.