Lord, Behold, thou shalt conceive and shalt bring forth a Son, Alleluia.
Ant. The Lord shall give Him *
the throne of David His
father, and He shall reign for ever.
From Christmas until Candlemas
Ant. The bush which Moses saw unconsumed we acknowledge to be thine admirable virginity, which thou didst keep inviolate; Mother of God, plead for us.
Ant. The root of Jesse hath
budded, * a star hath arisen
out of Jacob; a virgin hath brought
forth a Saviour; we give praise to
Thee, Our God.
PSALM CXXVI
Man can do nothing without God's help
Unless the Lord build the house, they labor in vain that build it.
Unless the Lord keep the city, he watcheth in vain that keepeth it.
In vain do ye rise before the light: rise not till ye have rested, ye that eat the bread of sorrow.