DECEMBER 24, VIGIL OF CHRISTMAS Lectionary #13
The Vigil readings focus on Jesus' connection to the history of Israel. These readings are used at Mass celebrated on the evening of December 24, either before or after Evening Prayer I of Christmas. These texts may also be used on Christmas Day along with one or another of the three sets of readings for Christmas.
Music Suggestions
Isaiah 62:1-5. Preaching to the community after the Babylonian Exile, the prophet who is called "Third Isaiah" looks at a ruined city and prophesies its glorious resurrection. The cause for hope is that God is bonded to Israel, so that Israel's history is part of God's unfolding plan.
Psalm for Vigil Mass: Ps (88) 89
Though the whole psalm is a royal lament, in which the king speaks for the people, the passages we sing at the Vigil announce the praise of God for remaining faithful to the covenant.
Cantaré Eternamente (Martínez) FYC 228/Una Voz 202
Cantaré Eternamente/For Ever I Will Sing, estrofas 1, 2, 3 (Reza) FYC 229
Cantaré Eternamente/For Ever I Will Sing (Reza) JS 64
For Ever I Will Sing (Alstott) JS 63
For Ever I Will Sing (Carroll/Gelineau) WOR 778/RS 119/LPGG 778/SS
For Ever I Will Sing (della Picca) PRM B5/PMB 566/WS
For Ever I Will Sing (Foley) PCY7 29
For Ever I Will Sing (Guimont) GC 953/RS 117/LPMG 13
For Ever I Will Sing (Haugen) PCY2 27/GC 82/GC 49/CBW 448/RS 118/SS
For Ever I Will Sing (Hughes) CCS 2027
For Ever I Will Sing (Hunstiger) SS
For Ever I Will Sing (Kogut) PCY10 41
For Ever I Will Sing (Kreutz) PMB 157/WC 423/WS
For Ever I Will Sing (Ridge) GP 226
For Ever I Will Sing (Schiavone) LP 20/JS 890
For Ever I Will Sing (Schoenbachler) GP 227
For Ever I Will Sing (Somerville) CBW 27
For Ever I Will Sing (Twynham) CCS 2022
Forever Will I Sing (Bolduc) WS
I Will Sing For Ever PSL B-11/SS
Acts 13:16-17, 22-25. Preaching to a Jewish congregation, Paul summarizes the Christian teaching that Jesus was part of God's plan for Israel and was a descendant of David.
Matthew 1:1-25. The "family record" of Jesus Christ connects him to all of Israelite history, schematized in three groups. It also connects Jesus to non-Israelite history through the women (other than Mary) included in this list, who were all non-Jews.
| Title of Anthem, Voicing & Instrumentation | Composer/arranger/editor | Publisher & edition # | |
| All My Heart This Night Rejoices (SATB, 2 Treble instruments, Keyboard) | Ebeling, Johann Georg | Concordia (97-537) | G |
| All the Earth is Waiting (SSA) | Taule/Gunderson | Concordia (Logia) (98-3233) | C |
| All the Way from Nazareth 9SATB, Organ) | Van Hulse, Camil | AMSI (199) | G |
| Almighty God, Which Hast Me Brought | Ford, T. | CPDL | G |
| And the Glory of the Lord from “Messiah” (SAB, SATB, keyboard or orchestra) | Handel, George F. | Various editions | C |
| Angelus Ad Pastores Ait (3 equal voices, Latin) | Monteverdi, Claudio | Mercury (#24) | G |
| Angelus Ad Pastores Ait (SATB, English/Latin) | Hassler, Hans Leo/Harris, Roy Hassler, Hans Leo Hassler, Hans Leo/Richter, Clifford Hassler, Hans Leo Hassler, Hans Leo |
G. Schirmer (8860) Walton (6002) Associated (A-405) E.C. Schirmer (ECS 7978) CPDL |
G |
| Angelus Ad Pastores Ait (SATBB, English/Latin) | Lasso, Orlando di/Cramer, John | Marks (4298) | G |
| Angelus Ad Pastores Ait (SSAATB/TTTBBB, Latin) | Gabrieli, Giovanni/Winter, Paul | C.F. Peters (5930) | G |
| Angelus Ad Pastores Ait 9SSATB, keyboard, Latin) | Sweelinck, J.P. | St. Mary’s Press | G |
| Babe Is Born, A (SATB, Organ, or Piano duet) | Mathias, William H. | Oxford (3430231) | G |
| Before the Marvel of This Night (SATB, Organ) | Schalk, Carl | Augsburg (0800646037) | G |
| Behold! A Virgin Shall Be with Child (SATB) | LaMontaine, John | H.W. Gray (CMR-2374) | G |
| Behold, I Bring You Good Tidings (SATTB) | Victoria, Tomas Luis | Novello (90) | G |
| Blessed Is the People (SATB) | Wiscomb, Jeff | Boston Music (13935) | PS |
| Boy Was Born, A (SATB) | Britten, Benjamin | Oxford (X92) | G |
| Cantate Domino (SATB, Latin) | Berger, Jean | Concordia (98-1557) | P |
| Cantate Domino (SATB) | Croce, Giovanni | Arista (AE 199) | P |
| Cantate Domino | Cruger | CPDL | P |
| Cantate Domine (SSATTB, English/Latin) | Gabrieli, Giovanni/Schnee/Karl-Heinz | Walton (6048) | P |
| Cantate Domino (SATB, English/German) | Hassler, Hans Leo | Hanssler (HE1.125) | P |
| Cantate Domino (SATB, English/Latin) | Hassler, Hans Leo | E.C. Schirmer (2979) | P |
| Cantate Domino (SSA, English/Latin) | Hassler, Hans Leo | E.C. Schirmer (821) | P |
| Cantate Domino (SATB, English/Latin) | Hassler, Hans Leo | J.W. Chester (JWC 55107) | P |
| Cantate Domino (TTBB, English/Latin) | Hassler, Hans Leo | E.C. Schirmer (68) | P |
| Cantate Domino | Hassler, Hans Leo | CPDL | P |
| Cantate Domino | Pitoni | CPDL | P |
| Cantate Domino (SSATB, organ, Latin/English) | Sweelinck, J.P./Colton, Donald | Concordia (98-1937) | P |
| Cantate Domino (SSATB, organ, Latin/English) | Sweelinck, J. P./Ehret, Walter | Walton (6029) | P |
| Cantate Domino (SSATB, organ, Latin/English) | Sweelinck, J.P./Klein, Maynard | G. Schirmer (12102) | P |
| Cantate Domino (SATB, organ Latin/English) | Viadana, Lodovico/Cramer, John | Marks (4291) | P |
| Child Is Born, A (SATB) | Nestor, Leo | E.C. Schirmer (4389) | G |
| Christmas (Unison, narration, Orff Inst. & Speech Choir) | Maeker, Nancy | Augsburg (11-3504) | G |
| Christmas Night (SAT) | Rutter, John | )xford (84.316) | G |
| Christmas Procession (2-part mixed, 4 Handbells) | Proulx, Richard | GIA (G-1708) | G |
| Christmas Story, The (SATB, Narrator, keyboard) | Billings, William/Van Camp, Leonard | Concordia (97-5258) | G |
| For Unto Us A Child Is Born (SAB, Soprano, Alto, Bass soli, 2 violins, continuo, English/German) | Krieger, J. P. | Concordia (97-4692) | 1 |
| For Unto Us A Child Is Born from “Messiah” (SAB, SATB, keyboard or orchestra) | Händel, G. F. | Various Editions | 1 |
| From Heaven Above (SSB, Organ) | Schein, Johann H. | GIA (G-300) | G |
| From Heaven Above from “Christmas Oratorio” (SATB, Keyboard) | Bach, Johann Sebastian | Bärenreiter (BA 5014.90) | G |
| From Heaven Above to Earth I Come (S(S)ATB, Solo, 2 Treble instruments, opt. strings, Keyboard) | Burkhardt, Michael | MorningStar (MSM 50-1040) | G |
| From Heaven Above to Earth I Come (SSATB, Keyboard) | Bach, Johann Sebastian | Augsburg (080065854X) | G |
| Gloria in excelsis Deo (SATB) | Bach, Johann Sebastian | Augsburg (080065854X) | G |
| Gloria in excelsis Deo from “Christmas Cantata” (SATB, Organ, 2 Trumpets, 2 Trombones) | Pinkham, Daniel | Robert King (602) | G |
| Gloria, Op. 52 (TTBB & Organ) | Mathias, William | Oxford (A-285) | G |
| Glory to God (SAB, SATB, organ or keyboard or orchestra) | Händel, G. F. | Various editions | G |
| Glory to God (SATB, Junior Choir, organ) | Powell, Robert J. | Abingdon (APM 585) | G |
| Glory to God (SSATTB, Continuo) | Schütz, Heinreich/Ehret, Walter | Abingdon (APM-416) | G |
| Glory to God in the Highest (SAB, Organ/Piano) | Corelli, Arcangelo/Stone, Benjamin | Boston Music (13895) | G |
| Glory to God in the Highest (SATB) | Thompson, Randall | E.C. Schirmer (2470) | G |
| Glory to God in the Highest (SATB, Organ) (SATB, Organ) (SATB, Organ) (SAB, Keyboard) |
Pergolesi, G.B./Barnes Pergolesi, G.B./Riegger, Wallingford Pergolesi, G.B./Novello, Vincent Pergolesi, G.B. |
Ditson (322.14507) Flammer (84265) Plymouth Lorenz (9658) |
G |
| Glory to God in the Highest (SATB/TBB, Piano or Organ) | Distler, Hugh/Ehret, Walter | Flammer (A-5571) | G |
| Glory to God in the Highest (SATB/TTB, Organ) | Hammerschmidt, Andraes/Hellmann, D. | C.F. Peters (66305) | G |
| Glory to God in the Highest (SSA) | Distler, Hugo | Concordia (97-4846) | G |
| Glory to God in the Highest (SSATB/TTB, keyboard) | Distler, Hugo/Oberdoerffer, Fritz | Concordia (98-1811) | G |
| Good Christian Friends Rejoice (SATB/divisi) | Bedford | St. James Press | G |
| Go Tell It on the Mountain (SATB) | Spiritual, arr. by Paul Sjolund | Hinshaw (HMC 543) | G |
| God Sent Forth His Son (SATB, Organ) | Gibbs, Allen O. | Abingdon (APM-966) | 2, G |
| Hodie Christus Natus Est (SATB, keyboard) | Bedford, Michael | Choristers Guild (CGA- ) | P |
| Hodie Christus Natus Est (SATB, Organ, Latin/English) | Aston, Peter | Novello (MW 44) | P, G |
| Hodie Christus Natus Est (SB) | Gumpeltzheimer, Adam/Tortolano, William | GIA (G-5270) | P, G |
| Hodie Christus Natus Est | Marenzio | CPDL | G |
| Hodie Christus Natus Est | Palestrina | CPDL | G |
| Hodie Christus Natus Est (SSATB) | Sweelinck, J. P. Sweelinck, J. P. |
Novello (290162) CPDL |
P, G |
| Hodie Christus Natus Est (SSATTB) | Schütz, Heinreich | G. Schirmer (HL 50318390) | P, G |
| Hodie Christus Natus Est (Unison/ 2-part, keyboard) | Bedford, Michael | Choristers Guild (CGA-421) | P, G |
| Hodie Christus Natus Est (SATB, keyboard) | Bedford, Michael | Choristers Guild (CGA- ) | G |
| Hodie Christus Natus Est from “Ten Venetian Motets” (SSA/SATB, Latin) | Bassano, Giovanni | Oxford | P, G |
| Hodie! Emmanuel! Gloria! (SATB, percussion) | Price, Milburn | Hinshaw (HMC-157) | G |
| In Excelsis Gloria (SATB) | Mathias, William H. | Oxford (343168) | G |
| In Every Place Incense Shall be Offered Up (SATB, Organ) |
West, John E. | Novello (619) | 1 |
| It Came Upon the Midnight Clear (SAB, Cong., Organ, Trumpet) | Willis, Richard S./arr. Proulx, Richard | GIA (G-4323) | G |
| It Came Upon the Midnight Clear (SATB, Cong., String Quartet, Organ) | Willis, Richard S./arr. Powell, Robert J. | GIA (G-2534) | G |
| Jubilant Gloria, A (2-part, keyboard) | Lightfoot, Mary Lynn | Heritage Music (15/1795H) | G |
| Laetentur Caeli (SATB, Latin) | Hassler, Hans Leo | J.W. Chester (JWC 55017) | P |
| Laetentur Caeli (SSA, Organ, Latin) | Pinkham, Daniel | C.F. Peters (66709) | P |
| Let the Whole Earth Stand in Awe (SAB) | Händel, G.F. | Concordia (98-2473) | P |
| Lo, How a Rose (SATB) Lo, How a Rose (SATB) |
Neswick von Herzogenberger |
St. James Press St. James Press |
G |
| Lo, the Angel Said to the Shepherds (SATTBB, organ ad. lib.) | Gabrieli, Andrea/Agey, C. Buell | G. Schirmer (10865) | G |
| Lord Said to Me, The (SATB, Organ, 2 Trumpets, 2 Trombones & Timpani) | Ferris, William | GIA (G-1389) | E |
| O Beloved Shepherds (SATB, 2 Violins, Continuo, English/German) | Hammerschmidt, Andraes | Concordia (97-5395) | G |
| O magnum mysterium (SATB) | Poulenc, Francis | Salabert (12525) | G |
| O magnum mysterium (SATB) | Poulenc, Francis | Salabert (12525) | G |
| O magnum mysterium | Handl | CPDL | G |
| O magnum mysterium (SATB) | Victoria, Tomás Luis de Victoria, Tomás Luis de |
G. Schirmer (10193) CPDL |
G |
| O magnum mysterium (Unison, Organ) | Near, Gerald | Kalmus (6003) | G |
| O magnum mysterium from “Christmas Cantata” (SATB, Organ, 2 Trumpets, 2 Trombones) | Pinkham, Daniel | Robert King (602) | G |
| O Sing Unto the Lord a New Song (SATB) | Bender, Jan | Concordia (98-1876) | P |
| O Sing Unto the Lord a New Song (SATB, Organ, strings) | Purcell, Henry | Novello (29.0146.03) | P |
| O Sing Unto the Lord a New Song from “Six Easy 3-Part Anthems” (SAB, opt. Organ) | Morley, Thomas/Greening, Anthony | RSMC | P |
| O Sing Unto the Lord, Op. 29 (SATB, Organ) | Mathias, William | Oxford (A-228) | P |
| People Who Walked in Darkness, The (SAB) | Gieseke, Richard W. | Concordia (97-5481) | 1 |
| Prepare the Way! (SAB or SATB, Organ) | Brandon, George | Concordia (98-2269) * | 1 |
| Puer Natus Est Nobis (SAB, Latin, English) | Morales, Cristobal/Stone, Kurt | Broude Brothers (BB 4071) | 1 |
| Quem vidistis pastores from “Christmas Cantata” (SATB, Organ, 2 Trumpets, 2 Trombones) | Pinkham, Daniel | Robert King (602) | G |
| Savior of the World is Born (SATB) | Holst, Gustav | Concordia (98-2184) | G |
| Shepherds Awake (Unison) | Jothen, Michael | Choristers Guild (CGA 234) | G |
| Shiru L’adonai (SATB, Organ, Percussion, Hebrew) | Gottlieb, Jack | Presser (312-40774) | P |
| Sing a New Song (SATB) | Kreutz, Robert | Summy-Birchard (5256) | P |
| Sing a New Song (Unison children, Oboe, Piano or Organ) | Watson, Walter | Lusqif (C-1163) | P |
| Sing to the Lord a New Song (SATB & Children’s Choir) | Scott | Concordia (98-3124) | P |
| Sing to the Lord Now, All the ends… (SATB) | Schütz, Heinreich | Concordia (97-4880) | P |
| Singet dem Herr nein neues Lied (SATB/SATB, German) | Pachelbel, Johann | Hanssler (HE1.008) | P |
| There Were Shepherds (SATB, keyboard) (SSAATB/TTTBBB, 2 pianos) | Wyton, Alec Wyton, Alec/Klein, Maynard | Flammer (A 5243) J. Fischer (7863) | G |
| To Us A Child Is Born (SATB, organ) | Schütz, Heinrich/Wunderlich, R.E. | Concordia (98-1494) | 1 |
| Unto Us A Child Is Born (SATB/SATB) | Franck, Melchior/Ehret, Walter | Shawnee (A-1522) | 1 |
| Unto Us A Child Is Born from “We Praise Thee,” Vol. 1 (SSA) | Willan, Healey | Concordia (97-7564) | 1 |
| Verbum caro factum est (SAB or TTB, Latin/English) (SSATTB, Latin) (SSATTB, Latin) |
Hassler, Hans Leo/Wilhelm, Roger Hassler, Hans Leo Hassler, Hans Leo Hassler, Hans Leo |
Mark Foster (MF 129) Arista (AE 289) Tetra/A. Broude (AB-140-9) CPDL |
C |
| Verbum caro factum est (SAB, Latin/English) | Morales, Cristobal/Stone, Kurt | Broude Brothers (BB 4071) | C |
| Verbum caro factum est (SATB) | 15th Century English Carol/ed. Proulx, R. | GIA (G-4158) | C |
| Virgin’s Slumber Song, The (SSA, Keyboard) | Reger, Max | G. Schirmer (HL50482659) | G |
| Wake, O Shepherds (Unison, Keyboard, C instrument) | Rameau, Jean Phillippe/ed. Nelson, Ronald A | Augsburg (0800675967) | G |
| Word Became Flesh, The (SA & Keyboard) | Willan, Healey | Concordia (97-7160) | C |
| Word Became Flesh, The (Unison or SA & Keyboard) | Rohlig, Harald | Concordia (97-5165) | C |
| Your Love, O Lord, Forever Will I Sing (SATB, Organ) | Hallock, Peter | GIA (G-2078) | PS |
* out of print