September 8 / 21 THE NATIVITY OF THE THEOTOKOS, THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY On Sundays, when the Hour of Terce from the Monastic Of fice has been concluded, Mass is preceeded by a Procession which begins with the blessing of the Abbey Church and the people with Holy Water while the following Antiphon is sung: The Asperges Antiphon (used on Sunday only, for the Blessing with Holy Water) ‘Thou shalt sprinkle me, O Lord, with hyssop, and I shall be made clean; Thou shalt wash me, and I shall be made whiter than’ snow. Ps. Have mercy on me, O God, according to Thy great mercy. Thou shalt sprinkle me, O Lord, with hyssop, and I shall be made clean; Thou shalt wash me, and I shall be made whiter than’ snow. Ps. And according to the multitude of Thy compassions blot out my transgression. Thou shalt sprinkle me, O Lord, with hyssop, and I shall be made clean; ‘Thou shalt wash me, and I shall be made whiter than snow. W. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, *¥ and to the Holy Ghost. As it was in the beginning, both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen, ‘Thou shalt wash me, and I shall be made whiter than snow. © Lord, shew Thy mercy upon us. And grant us Thy salvation. Let us pray. Graciously hear us, O Lord, Holy Father Almighty, Everlasting God; and vouchsafe to send Thine Holy Angel from Heaven, to guard, cherish, protect, visit, and defend all those who are assembled in this holy habitation. Through Christ Our Lord. B/. Amen. The First Processional Responsory (used by the Clergy, on the Feast Day only, ‘for the Procession from the Quire into the Church): ‘A Maiden, fore-ordaindd to bear the Sun of Righteousness, the King of all kings, Mary, Star of Ocean, as on this day was born. Now the Light Divine beholding, be gladsome, ye f. Star of Ocean, as on this day was born. ful. Mary, The Second Processional Responsory (used by the Clergy, even on Days within the Octave, to continue the Procession from the Quire into the Church). At the assent of the Lord, for those enriching our honour, as the thorn did bear the Rose of Judaa, Mary. That virtue might conceal the crime, and grace the error, as the thorn bear the Rose of Sudza, Mary. The Bidding of the Bedes (from the Sacramentary of Leofric, Bishop of Exeter) to be chanted by the Celebrant at the steps in front of the Rood Screen: W. — Let us pray the mercy of the Lord, dearly belovéd brethren, for our brothers and sisters from the East and from the West, that each of them might also pray for us in diverse places. Through Christ Our Lord. Bj. Amen. Let us pray also for unity in the Church, for the sick, for the disabled, for captives, for penitents, for labourers, for them that have set sail, for them that travel over land, for almsgivers, for the souls of the departed, and for them that are not partaking of Communion, that the Lord grant them to do worthy penance. Through Christ Our Lord. Bj. Amen. Let us pray the mercy of the Lord also for the souls of our belovid ones passtd away, N., and N., that the Lord vouchsafe to bestow upon them a peaceful rest, and translate them unto a place of repose and refreshment by the intercession of His Saints. Through Jesus Christ Our Lord. BJ. Amen.2 ¥._ We offer Thee, Lord Jesus Christ, this prayer from the rising of the Sun unio the setting thereof, from the right hand side unto the left; to the honour and Glory of the Divine and Human Natures of Christ; to the honour of the celestial hierarchies, of Michael and Gabriel the Archangels; to the honour and glory of the Patriarchs, Prophets, Apostles, and Martyrs; for all virgins, faithful, and penitents, for all that are married; for them that are not exceeding good, for them that are not exceeding evil; for all deserving our prayer and supplication. ‘Through the Same Christ Our Lord. Bf. Amen. The Third Processional Responsory (used by the Clergy, for the Procession back from the Church into the Quire). ‘The Stem of Jesse hath brought forth a scion, and the scion a Flow’r; and on That Flowér the Gracious Spirit resteth. ‘The Virgin Mother of God is the scion, her Son is the Flower; and on That Flower, Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, % and to the Holy Ghost. ‘The Gracious Spirit resteth. (Or the following Responsory may be used in place of that immediately preceeding:) The Fourth Processional Responsory (used by the Clergy, for the Procession back from the Church into the Quire): Thy Nativity, O Virgin Mother of God, hath brought tidings of joy unto the whole world; for out of thee hath arisen the Sun of Righteousness, Christ Our God, Who hath given us blessing, Setting us free from the curse; and Confounding death, He hath bestowed on us ie YW. Happy indeed art thou who alone didst obtain the dignity of the arer; and didst not lose virginal purity; for out of thee hath arisen the Sun of Righteousness, Christ Our God. . Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, # and to the Holy Ghost; Who hath given us blessing, Setting us free from the curse; and Confounding death, He hath bestowed on us Life. The, Processional Conclusion (used on the Feast Day only, to conclude the Procession): YW. Pray for us, © holy Bearer of God. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ. Let us pray. O Merciful God, hear the supplication of Thy servants; that we, who are assembled together on the Nativity of the Virgin Mother of God, may, through her intercession, be delivered by Thee from the dangers which beset us. Through the Same Our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, through all the ages of ages. BY. Amen. The Of fice (Introit). Let us all sing a song mellifluous, harmonizing within the voice of our hearts: % Rejoice we all, and praise the Lord, celebrating 2 Holy Day in honour of the Virgin Mary; Today she alone remain-ed a Virgin undefi-led, and after Child-Bearing remain-ed a Virgin untainted, For whose Nativity the Angels are joyful, Announcing her as bless-ed, they beatify the Lord of all the universe, and of all things created, ‘And glorify the Son of God. Ps. My Song shall be alway of the loving kindness of the Lord. The daylight shineth brightly with solemn shining splendour, coming to light from the ing of David, for the Virgin Mary hath radiated ‘forth gleaming; whereby let us proclaim in chorus with outcries of grand exultation: Rejoice we all, and praise the Lord, celebrating a Holy Day A radiant festival, and profusing in splendour, and rightly observ-ed by all the peoples, In honour of the Virgin Mary;3 ind with our souls, our spirit, and all our prayers. For whose Nativity the Angels are joyful, and glorify the Son of God. ~ _ Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, 5 and to the Holy Ghost. ‘amen, 8 #88 i the beginning, both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. men. The quires of the Angels are exulting, for the sacred Virgin is yet renown-ed as the nobility of Heaven; let us all make exultation, saying. Rejoice we all, and praise the Lord, celebrating 2 Holy Day in honour of the Virgin Mary; Who gave consent to the use of her body as a guest~chamber for the Lord of Heaven; For whose Nativity the Angels are joyful, In the fortress on High they chant unendingly in a voice of harmonay, And glorify the Son of God. Ps. ~ Great is the Lord, and highly to be Prais-ed, in the City of our God, even upon his holy hill, and the joy of the whole Earth. Chige ULM? MOM t0 rise om up t0 the Kingdom of gold, tracing the pathway of hrist, ‘Rejoice we all, and praise the Lord, celebrating a Holy Day Let us expound our hymns with rejoicing, and with antiphonal harmony In honour of the Virgin Mary; Meetly spreading out our meilifluous odes in hymn-stanzas, For whose Nativity the Angels are joyful, For they in their Ranks make their announcement in proclamations, And glorify the Son of God. The Kyrie should be sung next by the Choir, while the Clergy say the following prayers. But if there is no Choir, these prayers may be joined in by all present: Celebrant: And lead us not into temptation. All: But deliver us from evil. Celebrant: give thanks unto the Lord, for He is Gracious. All: Because His mercy endureth for ever. Celebrant: I confess to God, to blesséd Mary, to Holy Father Benedict, to all the Saints, and to you that I have sinned exceedingly in thought, word, and deed, by my fault; I pray Holy Mary, Holy Father Benedict, all the Saints, and you, to pray for me. All: May Almighty God have mercy upon thee, and forgive thee all thy sins, deliver thee from all evil, preserve and strengthen thee in goodness, and bring thee to everlasting life. Celebrant: Amen, All: I confess to God, to bless8d Mary, to Holy Father Benedict, to all the Saints, and to thee, Father, that I have sinned exceedingly in thought, word, and deed, by my fault; I pray Holy Mary, Holy Father Benedict, all the Saints, and thee, Father, to pray for me. Celebrant: May Almighty God have mercy upon you, and forgive you all your sins, deliver you from all evil, preserve and strengthen you in goodness, and bring you to everlasting life. All" Amen. Celebrant: May the Almighty and Merciful God grant unto you absolution and remission of all your sins, time for true repentance and amendment of life, and the grace and consolation of the Holy Ghost. All Amen, Celebrant: Our help made Heaven and Earth. Celebrant: Blesséd be the Name of the Lord. All: From this time forth, now, and for evermore. Celebrant: Let us pray. (Here the Clergy approach the Altar while the Celebrant prays:) Take away from us, we beseech Thee, O Lord, all our iniquities, that we may be found fit to enter into the Holy of Holies with pure minds. Through Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with ‘Thee in the Unity of the Holy Ghost, through all the ages of ages. Amen. In the ‘Name of the Father, and of the Son, *K and of the Holy Ghost. Amen. in the Name of the Lord. Ail: Who hath