Dum médium siléntium tenérent ómnia, et nox in suo cursu médium iter habéret, omnípotens sermo tuus Dómine, de cælis a regálibus sédibus venit. Ps. Dóminus regnávit, decórem indútus est; indútus est Dóminus fortitúdinem, et præcínxit se. Glória Patri, et Fílio, et Spirítui Sancto. Sicut erat in princípio, et nunc, et semper, et in sæcula sæculórum. Amen.

Omnípotens sempitérne Deus, dírige actus nostros in beneplácito tuo: ut in nómine dilécti Fílii tui mereámur bonis opéribus abundáre. Qui tecum vivit et regnat in unitáte Spíritus Sancti, Deus, per ómnia sæcula sæculórum. Amen.

Léctio Epístolæ beáti Pauli Apóstoli ad Gálatas.

Fratres: Quanto témpore hæres párvulus est, nihil differt a servo, cum sit dóminus ómnium: sed sub tutóribus, et actóribus est usque ad præfinítum tempus a patre: ita et nos cum essémus párvuli, sub eleméntis mundi erámus serviéntes. At ubi venit plenitúdo témporis, misit Deus Fílium suum, factum ex mulíere, factum sub lege, ut eos, qui sub lege erant, redímeret, ut adoptiónem filiórum reciperémus. Quóniam autem estis fílii, misit Deus Spíritum Fílii sui in corda vestra clamántem: Abba, Pater. Itaque jam non est servus, sed fílius: quod si fílius: et hæres per Deum.

Speciósus forma præ fíliis hóminum, diffúsa est grátia in lábiis tuis. Eructávit cor meum verbum bonum: dico ego ópera mea Regi: lingua mea cálamus scribæ, velóciter scribéntis.

Allelúia, allelúia. Dóminus regnávit, decórem índuit: índuit Dóminus fortitúdinem, et præcínxit se virtúte. Allelúia.

Sequéntia sancti Evangélii secúndum Lucam.

In illo témpore: Erat Joseph et María mater Jesu mirántes super his, quæ dicebántur de illo. Et benedíxit illis Símeon, et dixit ad Maríam matrem ejus: Ecce pósitus est hic in ruínam, et in resurrectiónem multórum in Israël: et in signum, cui contradicétur: et tuam ipsíus ánimam pertransíbit gládius ut reveléntur ex multis córdibus cogitatiónes. Et erat Anna prophetíssa, fília Phánuel, de tribu Aser: hæc procésserat in diébus multis, et víxerat cum viro suo annis septem a virginitáte sua. Et hæc vídua usque ad annos octogínta quátuor: quæ non discedébat de templo, jejúniis, et obsecratiónibus sérviens nocte ac die. Et hæc, ipsa hora supervéniens, confitebátur Dómino: et loquebátur de illo ómnibus, qui exspectábant redemptiónem Israël. Et ut perfecérunt ómnia secúndum legem Dómini, revérsi sunt in Galilæam in civitátem suam Názareth. Puer autem crescébat, et confortabátur plenus sapiéntia et grátia Dei erat in illo.

Deus enim firmávit orbem terræ, qui non commovébitur: paráta sedes tua, Deus, ex tunc; a sæculo tu es.

Concéde quæsumus omnípotens Deus: ut óculis tuæ majestátis munus oblátum, et grátiam nobis piæ devotiónis obtíneat, et efféctum beátæ perennitátis acquírat. Per Dóminum nostrum Jesum Christum Fílium tuum, qui tecum vivit et regnat in unitáte Spíritus Sancti, Deus, per ómnia sæcula sæculórum. Amen.

Tolle púerum et matrem ejus, et vade in terram Israël: defúncti sunt enim, qui quærébant ánimam púeri.

Per hujus, Dómine, operatiónem mystérii, et vítia nostra purgéntur; et justa desidéria compleántur. Per Dóminum nostrum Jesum Christum Fílium tuum, qui tecum vivit et regnat in unitáte Spíritus Sancti, Deus, per ómnia sæcula sæculórum. Amen.

While all things were in quiet silence, and the night was in the midst of her course, Thy almighty Word, O Lord, came from heaven, from Thy royal throne. Ps. The Lord hath reigned, He is clothed with beauty: the Lord is clothed with strength, and hath girded Himself. 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.

Almighty and everlasting God, guide all our actions according to Thy good pleasure; so that we may abound in good works done in the name of Thy beloved Son, our Lord Jesus Christ. Who with Thee liveth and reigneth in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end. Amen.

A reading from the Epistle of the blessed Apostle Paul to the Galatians.

Brethren, as long as the heir is a child, he differeth nothing from a servant, though he be lord of all: but is under tutors and governors until the time appointed by the father: so we also, when we were children, were serving under the elements of the world. But when the fullness of the time was come, God sent His Son, made of a woman, made under the law: that He might redeem them who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. And because you are sons, God hath sent the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying: Abba, Father. Therefore now he is not a servant, but a son; and if a son, an heir also through God.

Thou art beautiful above the sons of men: grace is poured abroad in Thy lips. My heart hath uttered a good word, I speak my works to the King: my tongue is the pen of a scrivener that writeth swiftly.

Alleluia, alleluia. The Lord hath reigned, He is clothed with beauty: the Lord is clothed with strength, and hath girded Himself with power. Alleluia.

A reading from the Holy Gospel according to Saint Luke.

At that time, Joseph and Mary, the Mother of Jesus, were wondering at these things which were spoken concerning Him. And Simeon blessed them, and said to Mary His mother: Behold this child is set for the fall, and for the resurrection of many in Israel, and for a sign which shall be contradicted: and thy own soul a sword shall pierce, that out of many hearts thoughts may be revealed. And there was one Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Aser; she was far advanced in years, and had lived with her husband seven years from her virginity. And she was a widow until fourscore and four years; who departed not from the temple, by fastings and prayers serving night and day. Now she, at the same hour, coming in, confessed to the Lord, and spoke of Him to all that looked for the redemption of Israel. And after they had performed all things according to the law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their city Nazareth. And the Child grew and was strengthened, full of wisdom: and the grace of God was in Him.

God hath established the world, which shall not be moved: Thy throne, O God, is prepared from of old; Thou art from everlasting.

Favourably look down, we beseech Thee, almighty God, upon this our offering; grant to us to lead a good and holy life, and so to come to enjoy a happy eternity. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end. Amen.

Take the Child and His mother, and go into the land of Israel: for they are dead that sought the life of the Child.

By virtue of these sacred mysteries, O Lord, may our sins be washed away and our righteous wishes accomplished. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end. Amen.