St. John, Apostle & Evangelist

December 27th
Station: St. Mary Major

Introit: Ecclesiasticus xv: 5

In the midst of the Church the Lord opened his mouth, and filled him with the spirit of wisdom and understanding. He clothed Him with a robe of glory. [Ps. xci] It is good to give praise to the Lord, and to sing to Thy name, O Most High. Glory be.... In the midst....

Collect:

Do Thou, O Lord, in Thy goodness shine upon Thy Church, that being enlightened by the doctrines of blessed John Thine Apostle and Evangelist, she may attain to everlasting gifts.

Collect of the Octave:

Grant, we beseech Thee, almighty God, that the new birth in the flesh of Thine only begotten Son may set us free, whom the old bondage doth hold under the yoke of sin.

Epistle: Ecclesiasticus xv: 1-6

A reading from the books of Wisdom:
He that fears God will do good, and he that possesses justice will lay hold on her, and she will meet him as an honorable mother. With the bread of life and understanding she shall feed him, and give him the water of wholesome wisdom to drink: and she shall be made strong in him, and he shall not be moved: and she shall hold him fast, and he shall not be confounded: and she shall exalt him among his neighbors, and in the midst of the Church she shall open his mouth, and shall fill him with the spirit of wisdom and understanding, and shall clothe him with a robe of glory. The Lord our God will heap upon him a treasure of joy and gladness, and shall cause him to inherit an everlasting name.

Gradual: John xxi: 23 & 19

This saying therefore went abroad among the brethren, that the disciple should not die. But: So I will have him to remain till I come: follow thou Me.
Alleluia, alleluia. This is that disciple who giveth testimony of these things: and we know that his testimony is true. Alleluia.

Gospel: John xxi: 19-24

The continuation of the holy Gospel according to John.

At that time Jesus said to Peter, "Follow Me." Peter turning saw that disciple whom Jesus loved following, who also leaned on His breast at supper and said, "Lord who is it that shall betray Thee?" Having seen him, Peter said to Jesus, "Lord, and what shall this man do?" Jesus said to him, "So I will have him to remain until I come. What is it to thee? Follow thou Me." This saying therefore went abroad among the brethren, that that disciple should not die. And Jesus did not say to him that he should not die, but rather, "So I will have him to remain until I come. What is it to thee?" This is that disciple who givest testimony of these things, and hath written these things: and we know that his testimony is true.

Credo (by reason of the octave).

Offertory: Psalm xci: 13

The just shall flourish like the palm tree. He shall be multiplied like the cedar that is in Lebanon.

Secret:

Receive, O Lord, the gifts which we offer to Thee on the festival of him by whose patronage we hope to be delivered.

Secret of the Octave:

The gifts we offer, do Thou, O Lord, sanctify by the new birth of Thine only-begotten Son: and cleanse us from the stains of our sins. Through the same Lord....

Proper Preface and Communicantes of Christmas

Communion: John xxi: 23

A saying therefore went abroad among the brethren, that the disciple should not die. But Jesus did not say that he should not die, but, "So I will have him to remain till I come."

Postcommunion:

Refreshed with this heavenly food and drink, we humbly beseech Thee, O Lord our God, that we may be strengthened by the prayers of him whose memory we have partaken of these mysteries.

Postcommunion of the Octave:

Grant, we beseech Thee, almighty God, that as the Savior of the world born on this day is the author of our divine generation, so He may Himself also be to us the giver of immortality.