1 The Nativity of the Lord At Vigils.

Second Reading 2
Second Reading
Bbb hb b bhb b bhb b bgb b b fb b b tfb b b dbM b b{b b fb b b fb b bGYb b b hb b b hb b b\b HUb b b hb. b b[b bhb b b
F Bb b S 4 b b b
Rom a Ser-mon
g b b b h b b b  h b b [ b b h b b b b h b b b  h b b b h b
by Saint Le- o the Great, Pope.
b b h b b b b t  d b b b b r  s b , m b b } b b b b b  the of- fer of for-give-ness. Let the pa- gan take cour-age as

Bbb hb b b bhb b b hb b b bgb b b bdb b b rsb,m b ]b b S6b b b hb b b kb b b hb b b gb b bhb. b b[b hb b b hb b bhb b 
BbbS6b b b hb b b GYb b bkb b bhb. b [b hb b bhb b b hb b b bhb b bgb b bfb b b GYb<. b {b b hb b b gb b b db b brsb,m b ]b
Dear-ly be-lov-ed, to-day our Sav-ior is born let us re-joice.
he is summoned to life. In the fullness of time, chos-en in

Bbbhb b b hb b b hb b b hb b bgb b bfb b b b GYb<. b [b hb b b bKOb b b b ijb b b hb. b b{b b hb b b hb b bhb b b hb [b
Bbhb b bgb b b b b hb b b b b KOb b bijb b b hb b [b bhb b b bhb b b b hb b b bgb b b fb b b GYb<. b b{b b hb b b b b
Sadness should have no place on the birthday of life. The
the un-fath-om- a- ble depths of God’s wis-dom, the Son of God

Bbbhb b b gb b b fb b b5b$#b [b fb b b bGYb b b hb b b hb b b gb b b hb b bhb. b {b hb b bhb b bhb b bhb b hb b bhb 

Bbbgb b b fb b b 5b$#mb b[b bfb b b bGYb b b b kb b b b hb b b bhb. b b{b b hb b b b bhb b b hb b bhb b [b b hb b b b 
fear of death has been swallowed up ; life brings us joy with
took for him-self our common hu-man- i- ty in or-der to re-con-

Bbbhb b b bhb b b gb b bdb b bfb b bsbm b ]b bhb b b bgb b b hb b b kb b b lb b b bkb b b b jb b b hb. b bhb. b [b hb 
Bbbhb b b hb b b hb b b hb b b hb b gb b bdb b b fb b b sb b b bsbm b b]b b S6b b b 6b6b b hb b b hb b b bhb b b gb b cile with its cre- a- tor. He came to o- verthrow the dev- il, the

the promise of e- ter-nal hap- pi- ness. No one is shut out from
Bbbhb b hb b b gb b bfb b b 5b$#mb b {b b fb b bGYb b b hb b bhb b \b HUb b b hb. b [b hb b b b hb b b bhb b b hb b b b 
Bbbdb b b rsb,m b b]b b hb b b bkb b b blb b b bkb b b uhb b b hb b[b gb b bfb b b GYb b b hb. b b{b b hb b b bhb b [b  o- ri- gin of death, in that ver- y na-ture by which he had

this joy ; all share the same rea-son for re-joic-ing. Our Lord,
Bbbhb b b hb b b b b gb b b b b db b b rsb,m b b]b b sb b b S6b b b hb b b hb b b hb b b gb b b hb b b ihb./ b [b bhb b b 
Bbhb b bhb b hb b hb b bgb b b fb b b5b$#mb b [b bfb b bfb b bGYb b b6b6b b b bkb b b bhb b b bhb. b b{b b hb b b b 
vic-tor o-ver sin and death, finding no man free from sin, came
o- ver-thrown man-kind. And so at the birth of our Lord the

Bbb hb b b hb b b bgb b bfb b bGYb,. b b{b b hb b b gb b b hb b b KOb b bijb b bhb b b GYb b hb. b {b bhb b b bhb b b b 
Bbb hb b b gb b b db b b brsb,m b b]b b bS6b b b hb b b ihb b bgb b bhb b[b hb b b hb b b hb b b hb b b bhb b b hb b 
to free us all. Let the saint rejoice as he sees the palm of
an-gels sing in joy : Glo- ry to God in the highest, and they

Bbbhb b b tfb b b b5b$#b [b fb b GYb b b H8b b hb b gb b b bGYb<. b b{b b fb b b GYb b b hb b bhb b b bhb b b hb b b hb 
Bbbhv vhv vgv v fv vGYb<.v {v hv vkv vKOv v kvb b bjb b b hb. b [b bhb b b bhb b b bhb b b b hb b vb proclaim peace to his people on earth as they see the heav-en- ly

vic- to- ry at hand. Let the sin- ner be glad as he re-ceives

Bbb hb b hb b b hb b b hb b \b HUb b bhb b b hb. b [b hb b b hb b bhb b bhb b bhb b b gb b db b b rsb,m b b]b b S6b b
Je- ru- sa- lem be-ing built from all the nations of the world.When
3 The Nativity of the Lord
Responsory SIT

Bbb hb b kb b b hb b b gb b b hb. b [b hb b b gb b bfb b tfb b bdbM [b fb b b GYb b b hb b b hb b b hb b b bhb b b gb VIII G
Vb
Cantor :

b d b b b F 6 b b b h b b b b b h b . b b [ b b h b b b b b h b b b h b b b h b b b h b b b b j b b b h b . b } b b  13
T
the an-gels on high are so ex- ult- ant at this mar-ve-lous work of

Bbb hb b b \b HUb b b bhb. b {b b hb b b bhb b b b hb b b gb b bfb b b bGYb<. b [b bhb b bhb b b hb b b hb b b gb b b O- day true peace came down to us from heav-en.
Congregation :
God’s goodness, what joy should it not bring to the low- ly hearts

Bbfb b bgb< b ]b bsb b FTb b bhb. b [b bhb b b hb b b hb b b b bhb b b bhb b b gb b b hb b b kb b bhb. b b[b b hb b b  Vbb bhb b b hb b b hb b b b hb b b b bhb. b b [b b hb b b b hb b b b hb b b b gb b b b hb b b b fb b b b dbM b }b b b 
To-day the whole earth was filled with heav-en’s sweetness.
of men ? Belov-ed, let us give thanks to God the Father, through
Cantor :

Bbgb b b hb b[b hb b bhb b b gb b bfb b tfb b dbM b {b bfb b b GYb b b hb b bhb b b bhb b b\b HUb b b hb b b hb. b [b 
his Son, in the Ho- ly Spir-it, because in his great love for us
Vbb db b b fb b b hb b b hb b b bhb b b b hb. b b[b b hb b b hb b hb b b hb b b hb b b hb b b fb, b [b bhb b b hb b b
Bbb hb b b hb b b hb b bgb b fb b b GYb<. b b{b b fb b b GYb b b b hb b b b hb b b bhb b bgb b b fb b b bgb< b [b hb b b
To-day a new day dawns, the day of our redemption, prepared

he took pit- y on us, and when we were dead in our sins he

Vbb hb b b bhb b b b hb b b gb b bfb b b bhb. b b]b bhb b hb b hb b b hb b hb b b hb b b hb b hb b b hb b b hb b b b
Bbb b kb b b b lb b b kb b b jb b b gb b b b b hb. b {b hb b b gb b fb b b GYb<. b [b hb b b bhb b b bhb b bhb b b gb 
by God from a- ges past, the beginning of our nev-er end-ing

brought us to life with Christ, so that in him we might be a new Vbb b jb b b b hb. b }b bb b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b
Bbb db b b fb b b sbm b }b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b glad-ness.
Congregation :
cre- a- tion.

____________________________________________________________________
Vbb bhb b b hb b b hb b b b hb b b b bhb. b b [b b hb b b b hb b b b hb b b b gb b b b hb b b b fb b b b dbM b }b b b b
To-day the whole earth was filled with heav-en’s sweetness.
Tone for the Second Reading of Christmas Vigils taken from a manuscript of the
monastery of Maria Einsiedeln, as given in Laudes Festivae : Lectionarium et Cantu-
arium pro Diversitate Temporum et Festum, edited by P. Beatus Reiser, O.S.B., Typis
Polyglottis Vaticanis, 1932. Cantilation of the English text arranged by Fr. Samuel F.
Weber, O.S.B., Copyright © 2009 Saint Meinrad Archabbey, St. Meinrad, IN 47577-
1010 U.S.A. All rights reserved.

INSTITUTE OF SACRED MUSIC

Archdiocese of Saint Louis
5200 Glennon Drive
St. Louis, MO 63119-4330
weber@kenrick.edu
1 The Nativity of the Lord At Vigils. First Reading 2
First Reading
V|b b gb b b b bhb b b bhb b b hb b b hb b b bhb b b hb b b hb b bhb b bhb b b b hb. b b [b b fb b b bgb b b hb b b 
F V| b b f b b b g b b b h b b b h b b b h b b b
Rom the book of the Proph-et I- sai- ah.
b h b b b b h b b b d b b b b f b b b b s b m b } b b  b b b b b b b b shall strike the ruthless with the rod of his mouth, and with the

V|b b bhb b b bhb b b hb b bhb b [b bhb b b hb b b b J9b b b kb b b bjb b b hb. b b{b bfb b b gb b b b hb b b hb b b 
V|b b fb b b b gb b b hb b b bhb b b b hb. b [b hb b b bhb b b b hb b b b b hb b b b bhb b b hb b b b J9b b b kb b  breath of his lips he shall slay the wick-ed. Jus-tice shall be

Thus says the Lord God : A shoot shall sprout from the stump of
V|b hb b b bhb b b hb b bhb b b bhb b b b hb. b [b hb b b bhb b b hb b bhb b hb b bhb b bhb b bhb b bdb b rsbm, b ]b
V|b b jb b bhb. b {b b fb b b b gb b b hb b b bhb b[b hb b b hb b b bdb b b b fb b b sbm b b]b b bfb b b gb b b hb b 
Jes-se, and from his roots a bud shall blossom. The Spir- it
the band around his waist, and faithfulness a belt up-on his hips.

V|b bfb b b bgb b b bhb b b b hb b b hb b bhb b b hb b b hb b b hb b b bhb. b [b bhb b b hb b b hb b bhb b b b hb b 

V|b hb b b hb b b bhb b b b hb b b bhb b bhb b b jb b b hb. b {b bhb b bhb b bhb b hb b b hb b b b hb b b hb b bhb  Then the wolf shall be a guest of the lamb, and the leopard shall

of the Lord shall rest up- on him : a spir- it of wis-dom and of

V|b bhb b b bjb b b b blb b b kb b uhb<> b {b b fb b b gb b b hb b b hb b b b hb b b bhb b hb b b bhb b b b b hb b b
V|b bJ9b b b bkb b b bjb b bhb. b {b b fb b bgb b bhb b bhb b b HUb b bhb b b hb b bhb b b b bhb. b [b bhb b bhb b hb  lie down with the kid ; the calf and the young li- on shall browse

un- derstanding, a spir- it of counsel and of strength, a spir-it

V|b bhb b b jb b bhb. b [b hb b hb b bhb b bhb b b bhb b b db b b bfb b b b bsbm b b]b b bfb b b bgb b b hb b b hb 
V|b b hb b b bhb b b b hb b[b bhb b b hb b bjb b blb b b kb b buhb<> b {b bfb b b gb b b hb b b jb b b b hb b b hb [b to-geth-er, with a lit- tle child to guide them. The cow and the

of knowledge and of fear of the Lord, and his delight shall be

V|b b hb b b b hb b bhb b b bjb b b b hb. b [b bhb b b hb b b hb b b hb b b b bJ9b b b b bkb b b uhb<> b {b b fb b b 
V|b b hb b b hb b bhb b b db b brsbm, b b ]b b bfb b b bgb b b bhb b bhb b b hb b b b bhb b b hb b b bhb. b b[b bfb b bear shall be neighbors, to-geth-er their young shall rest ; the

the fear of the Lord. Not by appearance shall he judge, nor

V|b bgb b b hb b b hb b b hb b b hb b[b bhb b b db b brsb,m b ]b bfb b bgb b b hb b b hb b b bjb b b lb b b kb b b
V|b bgb b b hb b b hb b b bhb b b bjb b b bhb b b hb. b b{b b hb b b hb b b hb b b b hb b b bhb b b bJ9b b b b kb b  li- on shall eat hay like the ox. The ba- by shall play by the

by hearsay shall he de-cide, But he shall judge the poor with

V|b bjb b b hb b b b hb. b {b bfb b b gb b b bhb b b bhb b bhb b b hb b b hb b b bdb b b bfb b b b sb b b bsbm b ]b 
V|b b jb b b hb. b {b bfb b b gb b b hb b b hb b b hb b[b b hb b b hb b b b hb b b bdb b b fb b b sbm b b]b b bfb b b  co-bra’s den, and the child lay his hand on the ad- der’s lair.

jus-tice, and de-cide a-right for the land’s af-flict-ed. He

V|b bfb b b b bgb b b bhb b b hb b b hb b b hb b bhb b bhb b[b hb b b hb b b bhb b b J9b b bkb b b bjb b b bhb. b {b
There shall be no harm or ru- in on all my ho- ly mountain ;
3 The Nativity of the Lord At Vigils. First Reading 4

V|b fb b bgb b b bhb b b b bhb b b hb b b hb b b b hb b b hb b b b hb b b b hb b b hb b b hb b b bhb. b b[b b hb b  Cantor :

for the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the Lord as

T
VIII G
Vb b d b b b F 6 b b b h b b b h b b b h b . b [ b h b b b b h b b b h b b b h b b b h b b b b h b b b h b b b h b b b  9

V|b b bhb b b hb b b hb b b hb b bdb b brsbm, b b]b b b fb b b gb b b hb. b b[b bhb b b hb b bhb b b jb b hb. b b[b  O- day, for our sake, the King of heav-en chose to be

wa- ter cov-ers the sea. On that day, the root of Jes-se,
Vbhb b b hb b bhb b b hb b bhb b b b hb b fb, b {b hb b hb b b hb b b b hb b b hb. b [b hb b bhb b b hb b bgb b bfb 
V|b bhb b bhb b bhb b bhb b bhb b bhb b b J9b b bkb b b jb b b hb. b b{b bfb b b gb b b hb b b b hb b b b hb b b b  born of his vir-gin mother, to reclaim lost men for the heaven- ly

set up as a sig-nal for the na-tions, the Gentiles shall seek

Vbb bhb b b b hb. b }b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b
V|b b hb. b [b bhb b bhb b b b hb b b hb b b b hb b bdb b b bfb b sbm b }b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b
out, for his dwelling shall be glorious.
king-dom.
Congregation :

Vbb hb b b hb b b hb b b hb b b hb b b hb b b jb b b b hb b b hb. b ]b bhb b b hb b b hb b b b hb b b b hb b b bgb b

* All the an-gels cry a-loud with joy, for God has come him-self

Vbb hb b b fb b b bdb b b dbM b }b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b

to save mankind.
Cantor :

Vbbdb b fb b bhb b bhb b bhb b hb b b bhb b b fb, b [b bhb b b b hb b b hb b bhb b b hb b b gb b bfb b b hb. b }b b
Glo-ry to God in the high-est, and peace to his peo-ple on earth.
____________________________________________________________________
Tone for the First Reading of Christmas Vigils taken from a manuscript of the monas- Congregation :

Vbb hb b b hb b b hb b b hb b b hb b b hb b b jb b b b hb b b hb. b ]b bhb b b hb b b hb b b b hb b b b hb b b bgb b

tery of Maria Einsiedeln, as given in Laudes Festivae : Lectionarium et Cantuarium
pro Diversitate Temporum et Festum, edited by P. Beatus Reiser, O.S.B., Typis Poly-
glottis Vaticanis, 1932. Cantilation of the English text arranged by Fr. Samuel F. We-
ber, O.S.B., Copyright © 2009 Saint Meinrad Archabbey, St. Meinrad, IN 47577-1010
U.S.A. All rights reserved. * All the an-gels cry a-loud with joy, for God has come him-self
INSTITUTE OF SACRED MUSIC
Archdiocese of Saint Louis
5200 Glennon Drive
St. Louis, MO 63119-4330
weber@kenrick.edu
Vbb hb b b fb b b bdb b b dbM b }b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b
to save mankind.
1 The Nativity of the Lord At Vigils. The Holy Gospel. Solemn Tone 2
Holy Gospel. Solemn Tone VIII
Vbbhb b b bhb b b bhb b bhb b hb b bhb b b bhb b b b gb b b HUb<> b b{b b hb b b hb b b b hb b bhb b b hb b b hb. b [b 
T Vb b h b b H U b  ^ %  $ # b b g  b J I b b u h b b b G Y b < . b } b b b H U b b y g b b r d b b g  b J I b u h b b b G Y b < . b } b b b b b  appeared to him in a dream and said, “ Jo-seph, son of Da-vid,

HE Lord be with you. + And al- so with you.

Vbb hb b bhb b hb b bhb b b hb. b [b hb b hb b b b HUb b bhb b bygb b b rdb b bgb JIb b jb b buhb b b b GYb<. b b]b bhb 
Vbb hb b b hb b bhb b b bhb b b hb b b hb b b gb b b HUb b b jb> b {b bhb b HUb^%b b bfb b db b gb JIbuhb b bGYb<. b b} do not be a-fraid to take Mar- y your wife in- to your home. For

A reading from the Ho- ly Gos-pel ac-cord-ing to Mat- thew.

Vbbhb b bhb b b b hb b b b bhb b bhb b bgb b b HUb b jb> b {b bhb b b hb b b b HUb b b hb b b ygb b brdb b bgb JIb b 
Vbb b HUb^%b b bfb b b db b bgb JIb b buhb b b bGYb<. b }b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b it is through the Ho-ly Spir-it that this child has been conceived

+ Glo- ry to you, O Lord.

Vbbuhb b GYb<. b b]b b hb b b bhb b b bhb b hb b hb. b b[b bhb b b hb b b hb b bhb b b bhb b b b gb b b HUb b bjb> b {b 
T Vb b h b b h b b b h b b b g b b b H U b < > b { b b h b b b H U b b h b b b 6 b %  $ # b b b g  b J I b b u h b b G Y b < . b b ] b b b h b b b  in her. She will bear a son and you are to name him Je-sus,

His is how the birth of Je-sus Christ came a-bout. When

Vbb hb b b hb b b hb b b hb b b bHUb b b hb b bygb b rdb b bgb JIb b b uhb b b GYb<. b b ]b b bhb b b hb b b hb b b b b 
Vbb hb b b bhb b b hb b b hb b hb b bhb b b hb b b b hb b b bhb b bhb b hb. b [b hb b bhb b bhb b b hb b b b hb b b because he will save his peo-ple from their sins. ” All this took

his moth-er Mar-y was betrothed to Joseph, but before they lived
Vbb b hb b b hb b bhb b b bhb b b bhb b b hb b b bhb b b bhb b b bhb b b b b hb b b b bgb b b b HUb b b jb> b b {b b b 
Vbbgb b b HUb b b jb> b{b bhb b b hb b b b hb b b b hb b b b hb. b b [b b bHUb b b b bhb b b ygb b rdb b bgb JIbuhb b  place to ful- fill what the Lord had said through the prophet :

to-geth-er, she was found with child through the Ho- ly Spir-
Vbb hb b bhb b b bhb b bhb b bhb b b b hb b b bhb b b hb b b b hb b b bhb b bhb b b hb. b [b hb b b bhb b b b hb b b 
Vbb GYb<. b b]b b hb b bhb b b bhb b b hb b b hb b [b b hb b b hb b b hb b hb b b hb b b hb b b b hb. b b[b b hb b hb b  Behold, the vir-gin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall

it. Joseph her husband, since he was a righteous man, yet un-
Vbb b hb b b b hb b b bgb b b bHUb b b jb b bjb> b {b b bHUb b b b b ygb b b b b rdb b bgb JIb b buhb b b bGYb<. b b ]b b 
Vbbhb b bhb b hb b hb b bhb b b bhb b gb b b bHUb<> b {b bhb b HUb b hb b hb b hb b bygb b b rdb bgb JIb b uhb bGYb<. b ] name him Em-man- u- el, which means “ God is with us. ”

willing to expose her to shame, decided to divorce her qui- et- ly.
Vbb hb b b hb b b hb b bhb b b hb. b [b hb b b hb b bhb b b hb b b hb b b hb b b hb b b hb b b bhb b b bhb b b b b b
Vbb hb b b bhb b b hb b bhb b bhb b b hb. b b[b b hb b b bhb b bhb b b bhb b b hb b bhb b b hb b b hb b b b hb b b b When Jo-seph a-woke, he did as the an- gel of the Lord had

Such was his in-ten-tion when, behold, the an-gel of the Lord
Vbbgb b b bHUb b b jb b b jb> b{b bHUb b b ygb b brdb b b GYb b b JIb b b jb b uhb b b GYb<. b b]b b hb b b bhb b b hb b
commanded him and took his wife in- to his home. He had no
3 The Nativity of the Lord At Vigils 4

Vbb hb b hb b b hb b b b hb b b bhb. b {b b gb b bgb b gb b b bgb b bgb b bgb< b b[b b gb b bgb b b b fb b b b bgb b 

re- la-tions with her un- til she bore a son, and he named him

Vbb GYb b b hb. b b}b b bhb b b bhb b b hb b hb b bhb b b bhb. b b }b b b bhb b b hb b b hb b b b jb b b jb b bhb 
Je- sus. The Gos-pel of the Lord. + Praise to you, Lord Je-sus

Vbb bhb. b }b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b
Christ.

____________________________________________________________________
Tone for the Gospel of Christmas Vigils taken from a manuscript of the monastery
of Maria Einsiedeln, as given in Laudes Festivae : Lectionarium et Cantuarium pro
Diversitate Temporum et Festum, edited by P. Beatus Reiser, O.S.B., Typis Polyglot-
tis Vaticanis, 1932. Cantilation of the English text arranged by Fr. Samuel F. Weber,
O.S.B., Copyright © 2009 Saint Meinrad Archabbey, St. Meinrad, IN 47577-1010
U.S.A. All rights reserved.

INSTITUTE OF SACRED MUSIC

Archdiocese of Saint Louis
5200 Glennon Drive
St. Louis, MO 63119-4330
weber@kenrick.edu
1 The Nativity of the Lord At Vigils. The Holy Gospel. Ancient Tone 2
Holy Gospel. Ancient Tone
Bbbhb b b bhb b b bhb b bhb b hb b bhb b b bhb b b b hb b b bhb. b {b b hb b b fb b b b hb b bgb b b GYb b b hb. b [b 
T Bb b g b b b b G Y b b b b h b b b b y g b b b b g b < b } b b b g b b b h b b b h b b b b g b b b b h b . b } b b  b b b b b appeared to him in a dream and said, “ Jo-seph, son of Da-vid,

HE Lord be with you. + And al- so with you.

Bbb hb b bhb b bhb b bhb b b hb b bhb b b hb b b bhb b hb b b hb b b bhb b[b hb b bhb b b hb b b b gb< b b]b b hb b b
Bbb hb b b hb b bhb b b bhb b b bfb b bhb b b gb b b bGYb b b hb. b {b bhb b b hb b b bhb b b hb b b gb< b b b gb< b}b  do not be a-fraid to take Mar-y your wife in- to your home. For

A reading from the Ho- ly Gos-pel ac-cord-ing to Mat-thew.

Bbbhb b bhb b b b hb b b b bfb b bhb b bgb b bGYb b b hb. b {b bhb b b bhb b b b hb b b bhb b b bhb b b bhb b b bgb b b
Bbb b bhb b b bhb b b bhb b b bgb b b bgb b b b gb< b }b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b it is through the Ho-ly Spir- it that this child has been conceived

+ Glo- ry to you, O Lord.

Bbb gb b b gb< b b]b b hb b b hb b b b hb b hb b bhb. b [b hb b b hb b b hb b bfb b b bhb b b b gb b b GYb b bhb. b {b 
T Bb b h b b h b b b h b b b f b b b h b b b b g b b b g b b b h b b b b 6 b 6 b b b b h b b b h b b b g b < b b ] b b b h b b b  in her. She will bear a son and you are to name him Je-sus,

His is how the birth of Je-sus Christ came a-bout. When

Bbhb b b hb b b hb b b hb b b bhb b b hb b b hb b b hb b b bhb b b b hb b b bgb< b b]b b hb b b hb b b hb b b b b b
Bbbhb b b bhb b b hb b b hb b hb b hb b b hb b b bhb b b bhb b bhb b b hb. b [b bhb b hb b bhb b b bfb b b b hb b b because he will save his peo-ple from their sins. ” All this took

his moth-er Mar-y was betrothed to Jo-seph, but before they lived
Bbb b hb b b hb b b hb b b hb b b bhb b b hb b b b hb b b bhb b b yfb b b b bhb b b b bgb b b bGYb b b bhb. b b {b b 
Bbbgb b b GYb b b hb. b {b b hb b b hb b b b hb b b b hb b b b bhb b b[b b bhb b b b bhb b b hb b b hb b b b gb< b b b place to ful- fill what the Lord had said through the pro-phet :

to-geth-er, she was found with child through the Ho- ly Spir-
Bbb bhb b bhb b[b hb b b hb b bhb b b b hb b b bhb b b bhb b b b hb b b bhb b hb b b hb. b [b hb b b bhb b b bhb b b 
Bbbgb< b ]b bhb b b hb b b hb b b hb b b hb. b b[b bhb b b fb b b hb b bgb b bGYb b b bhb b b b hb. b {b b hb b bhb b  Behold, the vir-gin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall

it. Jo-seph her husband, since he was a righteous man, yet un-
Bbb yfb b b bhb b b bgb b b bGYb b b hb b bhb. b b{b b hb b b b b hb b b [b b bhb b b hb b b b gb< b b b gb< b b ]b b 
Bbbhb b hb b hb b bhb b bhb b b bhb b hb b b b hb. b [b bhb b hb bhb b hb bhb b b hb b b bhb b b gb b gb b bgb< b ]b  name him Em-man- u- el, which means “ God is with us. ”

willing to expose her to shame, decided to divorce her qui-et- ly.

Bbb bhb b b hb b b hb b hb b b hb. b [b hb b b bhb b bhb b b hb b b hb b b hb b b hb b bhb b b yfb b b hb b b b b b 
Bbb hb b b bhb b b hb b bhb b bhb b b hb. b [b bhb b b bhb b bhb b [b b hb b b hb b bhb b b hb b b bhb b b b hb b b  When Jo-seph a-woke, he did as the an- gel of the Lord had

Such was his in-ten-tion when, behold, the an-gel of the Lord
Bbbgb b b GYb b b hb b b hb. b {b bhb b b hb b b hb b b bhb b b hb b b hb b b hb b b bgb< b b]b b hb b b bhb b b hb b 
commanded him and took his wife in- to his home. He had no
3 The Nativity of the Lord At Vigils 4

Bbb hb b hb b b hb b b b hb b b hb. b [b bhb b b hb b bhb b b F6b b b hb b bhb. b b{b b gb b bgb b b b gb b b b bgb b 

re- la-tions with her un- til she bore a son, and he named him

Bbb GYb b b bhb. b }b b bfb b b bgb b b gb b fb b b gb b b bhb. b b }b b b bhb b b hb b b hb b b b fb b b hb b bhb b

Je- sus. The Gos-pel of the Lord. + Praise to you, Lord Je-sus

Bbb bgb< b }b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b
Christ.

____________________________________________________________________
Tone for the Gospel of Christmas Vigils taken from a manuscript of the monastery
of Maria Einsiedeln, as given in Laudes Festivae : Lectionarium et Cantuarium pro
Diversitate Temporum et Festum, edited by P. Beatus Reiser, O.S.B., Typis Polyglot-
tis Vaticanis, 1932. Cantilation of the English text arranged by Fr. Samuel F. Weber,
O.S.B., Copyright © 2009 Saint Meinrad Archabbey, St. Meinrad, IN 47577-1010
U.S.A. All rights reserved.

INSTITUTE OF SACRED MUSIC

Archdiocese of Saint Louis
5200 Glennon Drive
St. Louis, MO 63119-4330
weber@kenrick.edu
1 The Nativity of the Lord At Vigils. The Holy Gospel. Recent Tone 2
Holy Gospel. Recent Tone
Vbbhb b b bhb b b bhb b bhb b hb b bhb b b bhb b b b hb b b bhb. b {b b hb b b fb b b b hb b bgb b b GYb b b hb. b [b 
T Vb b h b b b b h b b b b h b b b b h b b b b h b . b } b b b h b b b h b b b h b b b b h b b b b h b . b } b b  b b b b b appeared to him in a dream and said, “ Jo-seph, son of Da-vid,

HE Lord be with you. + And al- so with you.

Bbb hb b bhb b bhb b bhb b b hb b bhb b b hb b b bhb b hb b b hb b b bhb b[b hb b bhb b b hb b b b yfb,. b b]b b hb b
Vbb hb b b hb b bhb b b bhb b b bfb b bhb b b gb b b bGYb b b hb. b {b bhb b b hb b b bhb b b hb b b yfb b b bfb, b}b  do not be a-fraid to take Mar-y your wife in- to your home. For

A reading from the Ho- ly Gos-pel ac-cord-ing to Mat-thew.

Vbbhb b bhb b b b hb b b b bfb b bhb b bgb b bGYb b b hb. b {b bhb b b bhb b b b hb b b bhb b b bhb b b bhb b b byfb b
Vbb b bhb b b bhb b b fb b b bhb b b bhb b b b hb. b }b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b it is through the Ho-ly Spir- it that this child has been conceived

+ Glo- ry to you, O Lord.

Vbb fb b b fb, b ]b b hb b b hb b b b hb b hb b bhb. b [b hb b b hb b b hb b bfb b b bhb b b b gb b b GYb b bhb. b {b 
T Vb b h b b h b b b h b b b f b b b h b b b b g b b b g b b b h b b b b 6 b 6 b b b b h b b b h b b y  f b , . b b ] b b h b b b  in her. She will bear a son and you are to name him Je-sus,

His is how the birth of Je-sus Christ came a-bout. When

Vbhb b b hb b b hb b b hb b b bhb b b hb b b hb b b hb b b bhb b b b hb b byfb,. b b ]b b hb b bhb b b hb b b b b b
Vbbhb b b hb b b hb b b hb b hb b bhb b b hb b b bhb b b bhb b bhb b b hb. b [b bhb b hb b bhb b b bfb b b b hb b  because he will save his peo-ple from their sins. ” All this took

his moth-er Mar-y was betrothed to Jo-seph, but before they lived
Vbb b hb b b hb b b hb b b hb b b bhb b b hb b b b hb b b bhb b b yfb b b b bhb b b b bgb b b bGYb b b bhb. b b {b b 
Vbbgb b b GYb b b hb. b {b b hb b b hb b b b hb b b b hb b b b bhb b b[b b bhb b b b bhb b b hb b b hb b b byfb b b  place to ful- fill what the Lord had said through the pro-phet :

to-geth-er, she was found with child through the Ho- ly Spir-
Vbb bhb b bhb b[b hb b b hb b bhb b b b hb b b bhb b b bhb b b b hb b b bhb b hb b b hb. b [b hb b b bhb b b bhb b b 
Vbbfb, b b]b bhb b b hb b b hb b b hb b b hb. b b[b bhb b b fb b b hb b bgb b bGYb b b bhb b b b hb. b {b b hb b bhb b Behold, the vir-gin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall

it. Jo-seph her husband, since he was a righteous man, yet un-
Vbb yfb b b bhb b b bgb b b bGYb b b hb b bhb. b b{b b hb b b b b hb b b [b b bhb b b hb b b b yfb b b bfb, b b ]b b 
Vbbhb b hb b hb b bhb b bhb b b bhb b hb b b b hb. b [b bhb b hb bhb b hb bhb b b hb b b bhb b byfb b fb b bfb, b ]b  name him Em-man- u- el, which means “ God is with us. ”

willing to expose her to shame, decided to divorce her qui-et- ly.

Vbb bhb b b hb b b hb b hb b b hb. b [b hb b b bhb b bhb b b hb b b hb b b hb b b hb b bhb b b yfb b b hb b b b b b 
Vbb hb b b bhb b b hb b bhb b bhb b b hb. b [b bhb b b bhb b bhb b [b b hb b b hb b bhb b b hb b b bhb b b b hb b b  When Jo-seph a-woke, he did as the an- gel of the Lord had

Such was his in-ten-tion when, behold, the an-gel of the Lord
Vbbgb b b GYb b b hb b b hb. b {b bhb b b hb b b hb b b bhb b b hb b b hb b b hb b b yfb,. b b ]b b hb b bhb b b hb b 
commanded him and took his wife in- to his home. He had no
3 The Nativity of the Lord

Vbb hb b hb b b hb b b b hb b b hb. b [b bhb b b hb b bhb b b F6b b b hb b bhb. b b{b b gb b bgb b b b gb b b b bgb b 

re- la-tions with her un- til she bore a son, and he named him

Vbb GYb b b bhb. b }b b bhb b b bhb b b hb b hb b b hb b b hjhb. b b}b b b hb b b hb b bhb b b b hb b b hb b bhb b

Je- sus. The Gos-pel of the Lord. + Praise to you, Lord Je-sus

Vbb gb6b%$#bfgfb, b }b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b
Christ.

____________________________________________________________________
Tone for the Gospel of Christmas Vigils taken from a manuscript of the monastery
of Maria Einsiedeln, as given in Laudes Festivae : Lectionarium et Cantuarium pro
Diversitate Temporum et Festum, edited by P. Beatus Reiser, O.S.B., Typis Polyglot-
tis Vaticanis, 1932. Cantilation of the English text arranged by Fr. Samuel F. Weber,
O.S.B., Copyright © 2009 Saint Meinrad Archabbey, St. Meinrad, IN 47577-1010
U.S.A. All rights reserved.

INSTITUTE OF SACRED MUSIC

Archdiocese of Saint Louis
5200 Glennon Drive
St. Louis, MO 63119-4330
weber@kenrick.edu