June 24th
Nativity of St. John the Baptist
1st Class with a Common Octave

Introit: Isaias xlix 1, 2

[ Latin Text ]

The Lord hath called me by my name from the womb of my mother, and He hath made my mouth like a sharp sword; in the shadow of His hand He hath protected me, and made me as a chosen arrow. [Ps.] It is good to give praise to the Lord, and to sing to Thy name, O most high. Glory be.... The Lord

Collect:

O God, who hast made this day honorable to us by the birth of blessed John; pour forth upon Thy people the grace of spiritual joys, and direct the souls of all Thy faithful into the way of eternal salvation. Through our Lord..

Epistle: Isaias xlix 1-3, 5, 6, 7

A reading from the Prophet Isaias:
Give ear, ye islands, and harken, ye people from afar. The Lord hath called me from the womb, and from the bowels of my mother He has been mindful of my name. And He has made my mouth like a sharp sword; in the shadow of His hand He has protected me, and has made me as a chosen arrow; in His quiver He has hidden me. And He has said to me, "You are my servant Israel, for in you will I glory." And now the Lord who formed me from the womb to be His servant says: "Behold I have given you to be the light of the Gentiles, that you may be my salvation even to the farthest part of the earth. Kings shall see, and princes shall rise up, and adore for the Lord's sake, and for the Holy One of Israel, who has chosen you."

Gradual: Jeremias i: 5, 9

Before I formed thee in the body of thy mother, I knew thee: and before thou camest forth from the womb, I sanctified thee. The Lord put forth His hand, and touched my mouth, and said to me:
Alleluia, alleluia. Thou child, shalt be called the prophet of the Most High, for thou shalt go before the Lord to prepare His ways. Alleluia!

Gospel: Luke i 57-68
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 The Continuation of the Holy Gospel according to Luke.

Elizabeth's time was fulfilled that she should be delivered, and she brought forth a son. And her neighbors and kinsfolk heard that the Lord had magnified His mercy towards her, and they rejoiced with her. And it came to pass on the eighth day, that they came to circumcise the child, and they were going to call him by his father's name, Zachary. And his mother answered and said, "Not so, but he shall be called John." And they said to her, "There is none of thy kindred that is called by this name." And they kept inquiring by signs of his father what he would have him called. And asking for a writing tablet, he wrote the words, "John is his name." And they all marveled. And immediately his mouth was opened, and his tongue loosed. and he began to speak, blessing God. And fear came upon all their neighbors; and all these things were spoken abroad in all the hill country of Judea. And all who heard them laid them up in their heart saying, "What then will this child be? For the hand of the Lord was with him. And Zachary, his father, was filled with the Holy Ghost, and prophesied, saying, "Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israël, because he has visited and wrought redemption for his people."

Credo.

Offertory: Ps. cxi 13

The just shall flourish like the palm tree; he shall grow up like a cedar of Lebanon.

Secret

We heap up our gifts upon Thine altars, O Lord, that we may with due honor celebrate the birthday of he who both foretold the coming of the Savior of the world and pointed Him out when He came, our Lord Jesus Christ Thy Son:

The Common Preface is always said, even if the Feast falls on a Sunday.

Communion: Luke i: 76

Thou child, shalt be called the prophet of the Most High, for thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to prepare His ways.

Postcommunion

Let Thy Church be glad, O God, at the birth of blessed John the baptist, by whom She came to know the author of Her own birth, our Lord Jesus....

The Mass of St. John the Baptist is commemorated throughout its octave.