← Prayer Book
hallowed be thy name;
thy kingdom come,
thy will be done
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread,
and forgive us our trespasses
as we forgive those who trespass against us;
and lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory,
forever and ever. Amen.
Morning Prayer
Monday, December 28, 2026 • The Holy Innocents, Martyrs
Opening
Lord, open my lips.
And my mouth will proclaim your praise.
O God, come to my assistance.
Lord, make haste to help me.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:
as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen.
Hymn
O Come, All Faithful
O come, all faithful, joyful and triumphant,
O come, let us adore him, Christ the Lord;
born this happy morning, O come and adore him,
O come, let us adore him, Christ the Lord.
O come, let us adore him, Christ the Lord;
born this happy morning, O come and adore him,
O come, let us adore him, Christ the Lord.
God of God, Light of Light,
he abhors not the Virgin's womb;
very God, begotten not created:
O come, let us adore him, Christ the Lord.
he abhors not the Virgin's womb;
very God, begotten not created:
O come, let us adore him, Christ the Lord.
Sing, choirs of angels, sing in exultation,
sing, all you citizens of heaven above;
glory to God in the highest:
O come, let us adore him, Christ the Lord.
sing, all you citizens of heaven above;
glory to God in the highest:
O come, let us adore him, Christ the Lord.
Yea, Lord, we greet thee, born this happy morning;
Jesus, to thee be glory given;
word of the Father, now in flesh appearing:
O come, let us adore him, Christ the Lord.
Jesus, to thee be glory given;
word of the Father, now in flesh appearing:
O come, let us adore him, Christ the Lord.
Psalmody
Psalm 90The Protection of the Most High
Ant. Today Christ is born for us; glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to people of good will.
He who dwells in the aid of the Most High will abide under the protection of the God of heaven.
He will say to the Lord: "You are my supporter and my refuge; my God, I will trust in him."
For he has rescued me from the snare of hunters and from sharp words.
With his shoulders he will overshadow you, and under his wings you will trust.
His truth will surround you like a shield; you will not fear the terror of the night.
Nor the arrow flying in the day, nor the destruction proceeding in darkness, nor the attack of the noonday devil.
A thousand will fall at your side, and ten thousand at your right hand; but it will not draw near to you.
Yet truly you will consider with your eyes, and you will see the reward of sinners.
For you, O Lord, are my hope; you have made the Most High your refuge.
Evil will not approach you, and the scourge will not come near your tabernacle.
For he has given his angels charge over you, to guard you in all your ways.
They will carry you on their hands, lest you dash your foot against a stone.
You will walk upon the asp and the basilisk, and you will trample upon the lion and the dragon.
Because he hoped in me, I will free him; I will protect him, because he has known my name.
He will call upon me, and I will hear him; I am with him in tribulation; I will rescue him and glorify him.
I will satisfy him with length of days, and I will reveal my salvation to him.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:
as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen.
as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen.
Ant. Today Christ is born for us; glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to people of good will.
Psalm 135Psalm 135
Ant. Today Christ is born for us; glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to people of good will.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:
as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen.
as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen.
Ant. Today Christ is born for us; glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to people of good will.
Old Testament Canticle
Old Testament Canticle (Isaiah 66:10–14)
Rejoice with Jerusalem, and be glad with her, all you who love her.
Rejoice for joy with her, all you that mourn for her.
That you may suck and be filled with the breast of her consolations.
That you may milk out and flow with delights, from the abundance of her glory.
For thus says the Lord: "Behold I will bring upon her as it were a river of peace, and as an overflowing torrent the glory of the Gentiles."
"Which you will suck; you will be carried at the breasts, and upon the knees they will caress you."
"As one whom the mother caresses, so will I comfort you, and in Jerusalem you will be comforted."
"You will see and your heart will rejoice, and your bones will flourish like a herb."
"And the hand of the Lord will be known to his servants, and he will be angry with his enemies."
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:
as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen.
as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen.
Gospel Canticle: Benedictus (Luke 1:68-79)
The Canticle of Zechariah (Benedictus) (Luke 1:68–79)
Ant. Today Christ is born; today the Savior has appeared; today the angels are singing on earth.
Blessed is the Lord, the God of Israel, because he has visited and accomplished the redemption of his people.
And he has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of David his servant.
As he spoke through the mouth of his holy prophets, those who have been from the beginning:
Salvation from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us.
To show mercy to our fathers and to remember his holy covenant,
the oath which he swore to our father Abraham, that he would grant to us,
that being freed from the hand of our enemies, we might serve him without fear,
in holiness and justice before him, throughout all our days.
And you, child, will be called a prophet of the Most High; for you will go before the face of the Lord, to prepare his ways.
To give knowledge of salvation to his people, for the remission of their sins,
through the compassionate mercy of our God, by which the Rising Sun has visited us from on high,
to illuminate those sitting in darkness and in the shadow of death, to direct our feet in the way of peace.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:
as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen.
as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen.
Ant. Today Christ is born; today the Savior has appeared; today the angels are singing on earth.
Short Reading
Isaiah 9:6
For a child is born for us, a son is given us; upon his shoulder dominion rests. They name him Wonderful-Counselor, God-Hero, Father-Forever, Prince of Peace.
Responsory
V. The Word became flesh and dwelt among us,
R. and we have seen his glory.
V. Full of grace and truth,
R. we have seen his glory.
Intercessions
Rejoicing in the birth of Christ our Savior, let us offer our prayers, saying:
For peace in the world, that the Prince of Peace may reign in every heart and in every nation: we pray to you, O Lord.
Glory to God in the highest.
For children and families, especially those experiencing poverty, that they may know the warmth and security that the Holy Family sought: we pray to you, O Lord.
Glory to God in the highest.
For refugees and those far from home, that they may find welcome and shelter: we pray to you, O Lord.
Glory to God in the highest.
For our parish and our bishop, that the joy of Christmas may deepen our life together in faith: we pray to you, O Lord.
Glory to God in the highest.
For those for whom Christmas is a time of grief or loneliness, that your comfort may surround them: we pray to you, O Lord.
Glory to God in the highest.
For a spirit of generosity in this season, that we may share our gifts as God has shared the greatest gift: we pray to you, O Lord.
Glory to God in the highest.
The Lord's Prayer
Let us pray as the Lord himself has taught us:
Our Father, who art in heaven,hallowed be thy name;
thy kingdom come,
thy will be done
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread,
and forgive us our trespasses
as we forgive those who trespass against us;
and lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory,
forever and ever. Amen.
Concluding Prayer
God our Father, you made this holy night radiant with the splendor of Jesus Christ our Light. We welcome him as Lord, the true light of the world. Bring us to eternal joy in your kingdom, where he lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen.
Dismissal
The Lord be with you.
And with your spirit.
May almighty God bless us: the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Go in peace to love and serve the Lord.
Thanks be to God.