Until the Reformation, the English Church did not have a specific feast for the Sunday after Christmas. If said Sunday fell on the three Holy Days after Christmas Day, then those services were used. If it fell on December 29th or 31st then Masses for the feasts of St. Thomas Becket or St. Silvester would have been said. A Ferial Mass was provided for use on December 30th.
As the English Reformers removed the later three services, they needed to create a service for this Sunday, which focuses on St. Joseph's role as Jesus' earthly father, and how Jesus inherited the claim to the throne of King David by the action of Joseph taking Jesus as his son.
The following is taken from:
- The Book of Common Prayer (1962), Anglican Church of Canada, Anglican Book Centre, Toronto © The General Synod of the Anglican Church of Canada, 1962, Used without permission.
- The English Gradual: Part II - The Proper, Edited by Francis Burgess, originally produced by the Plainchant and Mediaeval Music Society, Royal School of Church Music, Dorking.
Antiphon: Wisdom 18 When as all the world was in profoundest quietness, and night was in the midst of her swift course: thine almighty word, O Lord, leaped down from heaven out of thy royal throne.
Verse: Psalm 93 The Lord is King, and hath put on glorious apparel: the Lord hath put on his apparel, and girded himself with strength.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost; As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
Repeat the Antiphon When as all the ...
The English Gradual: Part II - The Proper, Pages 23-25
Almighty God, who hast given us thy only begotten Son to take our nature upon him, and as at this time to be born of a pure Virgin: Grant that we being regenerate, and made thy children by adoption and grace, may daily be renewed by thy Holy Spirit; through the same our Lord Jesus Christ, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the same Spirit, ever one God, world without end. Amen.
The Book of Common Prayer (1962), Page 113
Now I say, that the heir, as long as he is a child, differeth nothing from a servant, though he be lord of all; but is under tutors and governors, until the time appointed of the father. Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world: but when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, to redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. And because Ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.
Galatians 4.1-7 NIV KJV NRSV NASB RSV NKJV ESV
The Book of Common Prayer (1962), Pages 113-114
Psalm 45 Thou art fairer than the children of man: full of grace are thy lips. My heart is inditing of a good matter; I speak of the things which I have made unto the King: my tongue is the pen of a ready writer.
Alleluia. Alleluia. Psalm 93 The Lord is King, and hath put on glorious apparel: the Lord hath put on his apparel, and girded himself with strength. Alleluia.
The English Gradual: Part II - The Proper, Pages 23-25
The birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together she was found with child of the Holy Ghost. Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a public example, was minded to put her away privily. But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife; for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost: and she shall bring forth a Son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS; for he shall save his people from their sins. (Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Behold, a Virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a Son, And they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.) Then Joseph, being raised from sleep, did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife; and knew her not till she had brought forth her first-born son: and he called his name JESUS.
Matthew 1:18-25 NIV KJV NRSV NASB RSV NKJV ESV
The Book of Common Prayer (1962), Page 114
Psalm 93 God hath made the round world so sure that it can not be moved: ever since the world began hath thy seat, O God, been prepared, thou art from everlasting.
The English Gradual: Part II - The Proper, Pages 23-25
Upon Christmas Day, and during the Octave thereof, and upon the Feast of the Annunciation.
Because thou didst give Jesus Christ thine only Son to be born as at this time for us; who, by the operation of the Holy Spirit, was made very man of the substance of the Virgin Mary his mother; and that without spot of sin, to make us clean from all sin. Therefore with Angels, etc.
The Book of Common Prayer (1962), Page 79
Matthew 2 Take the young child and his mother, and go into the land of Israel: for they are dead which sought the young Child's life.
The English Gradual: Part II - The Proper, Pages 23-25