Octave of the Nativity - antiphons

The antiphon for the third Nocturn for each of the feasts of SS Stephen, John and the Holy Innocents in the Benedictine Office is not taken from the relevant Common, and differs from the Roman, and so I thought it might be useful to provide a copy of the chants here. 

In addition the second Nocturn antiphon for the Octave is not readily available elsewhere, so is provided here.

The source in each case is Antiphonale Synopticum.

St Stephen

 

St John the Evangelist



The Holy Innocents




During the Octave (Nocturn II)

Stephanus autem plenus gratia - Feast of St Stephen (Dec 26) Matins Responsory no 1

R. Stéphanus / autem plenus grátia et fortitúdine, * Faciébat prodígia et signa magna in pópulo. V. Surrexérunt quidam de synagóga disputántes cum Stéphano: † et non póterant resístere sapiéntiæ, et Spiritui qui loquebátur. R. Faciébat prodígia et signa magna in pópulo.

R. And Stephen, full of grace and power * Did great wonders and miracles among the people. V. There arose certain of the synagogue, disputing with Stephen; and they were not able to resist the wisdom, and the Spirit which spake. R. Did great wonders and miracles among the people.

NR 177

Used:

Feast of St Stephen, Protomartyr (December 26) No 1

Octave Day of St Stephen (1953 rubrics)

Sources

Translation source: DO

Text: 

Chant

NR 177
Gregofacsimil (different verse)

Audio

https://youtu.be/Qz8fsOJxlW0 (Monteverdi)


Source notes

Gregorien

Videbant omnes Stephanum - St Stephen no 2

R. Vidébant / omnes Stéphanum, qui erant in concílio: * Et intuebántur vultum eius tamquam vultum Angeli stantis inter illos. V. Plenus grátia et fortitúdine, † faciebat prodígia et signa magna in pópulo. R. Et intuebántur vultum eius tamquam vultum Angeli stantis inter illos.

R. All that sat in the council, looking steadfastly on Stephen, saw * His face as it had been the face of an angel standing among them. V. Full of grace and power, he did great wonders and miracles among the people. R. His face as it had been the face of an angel standing among them.

NR 177-8

Used:

Feast of St Stephen, Protomartyr (December 26) No 2

Sources

Translation source: DO

Text: 

Chant

NR 177-8
Gregofacsimil

Audio
-
Source notes

Gregorien

Intuens in caelum beatus Stephanus - St Stephen no 3

R. Intuens / in cælum beátus Stéphanus, † vidit glóriam Dei, et ait: * Ecce video cælos apértos, † et Fílium hóminis stántem a dextris virtútis Dei. V. Cum autem esset Stéphanus plenus Spíritu Sancto, † inténdens in cælum, vidit glóriam Dei, et ait. R. Ecce video cælos apértos, † et Fílium hóminis stántem a dextris virtútis Dei.

R. The blessed Stephen looked up steadfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and said * Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of the power of God. V. But Stephen, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up steadfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and said. R. Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing at the right hand of the power of God.

NR 178

Used:

Feast of St Stephen, Protomartyr (December 26) No 3

Sources

Translation source: DO

Text: 

Chant

NR 178
Gregofacsimil (different verse)

Audio
-

Source notes

Gregorien

Cum esset plenus Spiritu Sancto beatus Stephanus* - St Stephen no 4

R. Cum esset / plenus Spiritu Sancto beatus Stephanus, † intendens in caelum vidit gloriam Dei, * Et Iesum stantem a dextris Dei. V. Et clamans voce magna dixit † Ecce video caelos apertos. R. Et Iesum stantem a dextris Dei. V. Glória Patri, et Fílio, et Spirítui Sancto. R. Et Iesum stantem a dextris Dei.

R. But Stephen, being full of the Holy Ghost, looking up steadfastly to heaven, saw the glory of God, * And Jesus standing on the right hand of God. V. And crying out in a loud voice he said: Behold, I see the heavens opened. R. And Jesus standing on the right hand of God. V. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost. R. And Jesus standing on the right hand of God.

Cantus; trans KE

Used:

St Stephen no 4

Sources

Translation source: KE/DR

Text: Acts 7:55-6

Chant

na

Audio

Source notes

Gregorien
Cantus (including image links)

Lapidabant Stephanum invocantem - St Stephen no 5

R. Lapidábant / Stéphanum invocántem et dicéntem: * Dómine Iesu Christe, áccipe spíritum meum: † et ne státuas illis hoc peccátum. V. Pósitis autem génibus, clamávit voce magna, dicens. R. Dómine Iesu Christe, áccipe spíritum meum: † et ne státuas illis hoc peccátum.

R. They stoned Stephen, calling upon God and saying * Lord Jesus Christ, receive my spirit; and lay not this sin to their charge. V. And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, saying. R. Lord Jesus Christ, receive my spirit; and lay not this sin to their charge.

NR 179

Used:

Feast of St Stephen, Protomartyr (December 26) No 5

Sources

Translation source:

Text: 

Chant

NR 179
Gregofacsimil

Audio

https://youtu.be/Qc2zhZwQ1Co (Monteverdi)

https://youtu.be/neGiJ5Ez7XQ


Source notes

Gregorien

Impetum fecerunt unanimiter in eum - St Stephen no 6

R. Impetum / fecérunt unanímiter in eum, † et eiecérunt eum extra civitátem, invocántem et dicéntem: * Dómine Iesu, áccipe spíritum meum. V. Et testes deposuérunt vestiménta sua secus pedes adulescéntis, qui vocabátur Saulus: † et lapidábant Stéphanum invocántem et dicéntem. R. Dómine Iesu, áccipe spíritum meum.

R. They ran upon him with one accord, and cast him out of the city, calling upon God, and saying * Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. V. And the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man's feet, whose name was Saul; and they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying R. Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.

NR 180

Used:

Feast of St Stephen, Protomartyr (December 26) No 6

Sources

Translation source: DO

Text: 

Chant

NR 180
Gregofacsimil (different verse)

Audio

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qm9qqMRoKjE (Sheppard)

Source notes

Gregorien

Impii super justum jacturam fecerunt - St Stephen no 7

R. Impii /super iustum iactúram fecérunt, ut eum morti tráderent: * At ille gaudens suscépit lápides, † ut mererétur accípere corónam glóriæ. V. Continuérunt aures suas, et ímpetum fecérunt unanímiter in eum. R. At ille gaudens suscépit lápides, † ut mererétur accípere corónam glóriæ.

R. The ungodly fell upon the righteous, to put him to death. * But he received the stones with joy, that he might earn a crown of glory. V. They stopped their ears, and ran upon him with one accord. R. But he received the stones with joy, that he might earn a crown of glory.

NR 180

Used:

Feast of St Stephen, Protomartyr (December 26) No 7

Sources

Translation source: DO

Text: 

Chant

NR 180
Gregofacsimil (different verse)

Audio
-

Source notes

Gregorien

Surrexerunt quidam de synagoga - St Stephen no 8*

R. Surrexérunt / quidam de synagóga, disputántes cum Stéphano, * Et non póterunt resístere sapiéntiae et Spirítui qui loquebátur. V. Commovérunt itaque plebem, † et concurréntes rapuérunt eum, et adduxérunt in concílium. R. Et non póterunt resístere sapiéntiae et Spirítui qui loquebátur. V. Glória Patri, et Fílio, et Spirítui Sancto. R. Et non póterunt resístere sapiéntiae et Spirítui qui loquebátur.

R. Now there arose some of that synagogue disputing with Stephen. * And they were not able to resist the wisdom and the spirit that spoke. V. And they stirred up the people and running together, they took him, and brought him to the council. R. And they were not able to resist the wisdom and the spirit that spoke. V. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost. R. And they were not able to resist the wisdom and the spirit that spoke.

Cantus database; trans KE

Used:

Feast of St Stephen, Protomartyr (December 26) No 8

Sources

Translation source: KE/DR

Text:  Acts 6:9-10, 12

Chant

na

Audio

-

Source notes

Gregorien
Cantus (includes MSS images)

Stephanus servus Dei - St Stephen no 9

R. Stéphanus / servus Dei, quem lapidábant Iudǽi, vidit cælos apértos: † vidit, et introívit: * Beátus homo, cui cæli patébant. V. Cum ígitur saxórum crepitántium túrbine quaterétur, † inter æthéreos aulæ cæléstis sinus divína ei cláritas fúlsit. R. Beátus homo, cui cæli patébant.

R. Stephen, the servant of God, who was stoned by the Jews, saw the heavens opened he saw and entered in. * Blessed is he, unto whom the heavens were opened. V. While his poor body was crushed by the hurtling shower of stones, God's brightness broke upon him out of the heavenly palaces. R. Blessed is he unto whom the heavens were opened.

PM 30/NR 181

Used:

Feast of St Stephen, Protomartyr (December 26) No 9

Sources

Translation source: DO

Text: 

Chant

Processionale Monasticum 30
NR 181
Gregofacsimil (different verse)

Audio
-

Source notes

Gregorien

Patefactae sunt januae caeli - St Stephen no 10

R. Patefáctæ / sunt iánuæ cæli Christi Mártyri beato Stéphano, † qui in número Mártyrum invéntus est primus: * Et ídeo triúmphat in cælis coronátus. V. Mórtem enim, quam Salvátor noster dignátus est pro nobis pati, † hanc ille primus réddidit Salvatóri. R. Et ídeo triúmphat in cælis coronátus.

R. The gates of heaven were opened to Christ's blessed martyr Stephen, and he is the first of all the martyrs. * Wherefore he reigneth crowned in heaven. V. For he was the first to make an offering of his death to that Saviour Who vouchsafed to suffer death for us. R. Wherefore he reigneth crowned in heaven.

NR 182

Used:

Feast of St Stephen, Protomartyr (December 26) No 10

Sources

Translation source: DO

Text: 

Chant

NR 182
Gregofacsimil (different verse)

Audio

https://youtu.be/fv8Hu4Ka4MY (Gombert)

Source notes

Gregorien

Hesterna die Dominus natus est - St Stephen no 11

R. Hestérna die / Dóminus natus est in terris, ut Stéphanus nascerétur in caelis: † ingréssus est Dóminus mundum, * Ut Stéphanus ingrederétur in caelum. V. Heri enim rex noster trábea carnis indútus, † de aula uteri virginális egrédiens visitáre dignátus est mundum. R. Ut Stéphanus ingrederétur in caelum.

R. Yesterday the Lord was born on earth, so that today Stephen can be born in heaven. The Lord entered the world * So that Stephen could enter heaven. V. For yesterday our King was clothed in robe of flesh going forth from the courtyard of the virginal womb he deigned to visit the world. R. So that Stephen could enter heaven.

Gregofacsimil (different verse); trans KE

Used:

Feast of St Stephen, Protomartyr (December 26) No 11

Sources

Translation source: KE (draft for comment)

Text: 

Chant

Gregofacsimil (different verse)
Antiphonale Synopticon

Audio
-
Source notes

Gregorien
Cantus (verse)

Sepelierunt Stephanum viri timorati - St Stephen no 12

R. Sepeliérunt / Stéphanum viri timoráti, † et fecérunt planctum magnum super eum. * Facta est persecútio magna adversus Ecclésiam, quæ erat Ierosólymis. V. Saulus autem conséntiens neci eius, devastábat Ecclésiam. R. Facta est persecútio magna adversus Ecclésiam, quæ erat Ierosólymis. V. Glória Patri, et Fílio, * et Spirítui Sancto. R. Facta est persecútio magna adversus Ecclésiam, quæ erat Ierosólymis.

R. Devout men buried Stephen and made great mourning over him. * There was raised a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem. V. Saul was consenting to his death, made havock of the church R. There was raised a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem. V. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost. R. There was raised a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem.

Rice University

Used:

Feast of St Stephen, Protomartyr (December 26) No 12

Sources

Translation source: DO

Text: Acts 8:2

Chant

Rice University

Audio
-

Source notes

Gregorien