Order of Service
Welcome
God has been worshipped in this place through the prayers and praises of countless generations. Worship lies at the heart of our life as Christians and we express our theology and belief through our liturgy. It is through these liturgical patterns of words and actions that we are formed and transformed.
Should you wish to translate this order of service into another language, please choose your language in the bottom right. There is a guest wireless network available within the Cathedral for those without a mobile data connection.
Please note that this service may be live streamed for our online congregation. By participating in this service, you acknowledge that you may be visible or audible. If you are uncomfortable about this possibility, please speak to a steward or verger, who will be able to advise further.
The ministry of Saint Patrick’s Cathedral is made possible entirely through the support of individuals like you. The donations which we receive from people all over the world support our worship and music tradition, education programmes, and community outreach work, as well as contributing towards the vast cost of maintaining this historic building. Should you wish to donate online, please tap the donate button.
You are invited to say the text in bold in English.
Please stand as the Minister, at the West End of the Cathedral, sings
Let us pray.
Please remain standing for the
Hymn
The Choir alone sings the first two verses:
Once in royal David’s city
Stood a lowly cattle shed,
Where a mother laid her baby
In a manger for his bed:
Mary was that mother mild,
Jesus Christ her little child.
He came down to earth from heaven,
Who is God and Lord of all,
And his shelter was a stable,
And his cradle was a stall;
With the poor, and mean, and lowly,
Lived on earth our Saviour holy.
All sing:
And through all his wondrous childhood
He would honour and obey,
Love, and watch the lowly maiden,
In whose gentle arms he lay;
Christian children all must be
Mild, obedient, good as he.
For he is our childhood’s pattern,
Day by day like us he grew,
He was little, weak, and helpless,
Tears and smiles like us he knew;
And he feeleth for our sadness,
And he shareth in our gladness.
And our eyes at last shall see him,
Through his own redeeming love,
For that child so dear and gentle
Is our Lord in heaven above;
And he leads his children on
To the place where he is gone.
Not in that poor lowly stable,
With the oxen standing by,
We shall see him; but in heaven,
Set at God’s right hand on high;
When like stars his children crowned
All in white shall wait around.
Music: Henry John Gauntlett (1805–76) & Arthur Henry Mann (1850–1929)
Arrangement: David Willcocks (1919–2015)
Please remain standing for
The Bidding Prayer
Beloved in Christ, be it this Christmastide our care and delight to hear again the message of the angels, and in heart and mind to go even unto Bethlehem and see this thing which is come to pass, and the babe lying in the manger.
Therefore let us read and mark in Holy Scripture the tale of the loving purposes of God from the first days of our disobedience unto the glorious redemption brought by this Holy Child: and let us make this cathedral church, dedicated in honour of his Holy Mother, the Blessed Virgin Mary, and Saint Patrick, glad with our carols of praise.
But first, let us pray for the needs of the whole world; for peace and good will over all the earth; for unity within the Church he came to build, especially in this city of Dublin.
And because this of all things would rejoice his heart, let us remember at this time in his name the poor and helpless, the cold, the hungry and the oppressed; the sick and them that mourn, the lonely and the unloved; the aged and the little children; all those who know not the Lord Jesus, or who love him not, or who by sin have grieved his heart of love.
Lastly, let us remember before God all those who rejoice with us but upon another shore, and in a greater light; that multitude which no-one can number, whose hope was in the Word made Flesh, and with whom, in this Lord Jesus, we for evermore are one.
These prayers and praises let us humbly offer up to the throne of heaven, in the words which Christ himself hath taught us:
All say
The Lord’s Prayer
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, the power and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen.
The Minister continues:
The Almighty God bless us with his grace; Christ give us the joys of everlasting life; and unto the fellowship of the citizens above may the King of angels bring us all. Amen.
Please sit for
The Carol
Tomorrow shall be my dancing day: I would my true love did so chance to see the legend of my play, to call my true love to my dance: Sing O my love, O my love, my love, my love; this have I done for my true love. Then was I born of a virgin pure, of her I took fleshly substance; thus was I knit to man’s nature, to call my true love to my dance: In a manger laid and wrapped I was, so very poor this was my chance, betwixt an ox and a silly poor ass, to call my true love to my dance. Then afterwards baptized I was; The Holy Ghost on me did glance, my Father’s voice heard I from above, to call my true love to my dance.
Words: Traditional
Arrangement: Stuart Nicholson (b. 1975)
Please remain seated for
The First Lesson
Genesis 3
Read by a Junior Chorister.
God announces in the Garden of Eden that the son of a woman shall bruise the serpent’s head:
The Lord God said unto the woman, What is this that thou hast done? And the woman said, The serpent beguiled me, and I did eat.
And the Lord God said unto the serpent, Because thou hast done this, thou art cursed above all cattle, and above every beast of the field; upon thy belly shalt thou go, and dust shalt thou eat all the days of thy life:
And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.
Thanks be to God.
The Choir sings
The Carol
Adam lay ybounden, bounden in a bond; four thousand winter thought he not too long. And all was for an apple, an apple that he took, as clerkes finden written in their book. Ne had the apple taken been, ne had never our Lady a been heavene queen. Blessed be the time that apple taken was: therefore we moun singen Deo Gracias!
Music: Philip Ledger (1937–2012)
Please remain seated for
The Second Lesson
Genesis 22
Read by a Senior Chorister.
God promises to faithful Abraham that in his seed shall all nations of the earth be blessed:
The angel of the Lord called unto Abraham out of heaven the second time, And said, By myself have I sworn, saith the Lord, for because thou hast done this thing, and hast not withheld thy son, thine only son:
That in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea shore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies; And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice.
Thanks be to God.
Please remain seated for
The Carol
Now the holly bears a berry as white as the milk; and Mary bore Jesus who was wrapped up in silk: And Mary bore Jesus Christ our Saviour for to be, and the first tree in the green wood it was the holly. Now the holly bears a berry as green as the grass; and Mary bore Jesus who died on the cross. Now the holly bears a berry as black as the coal; and Mary bore Jesus who died for us all. Now the holly bears a berry as blood it is red; and Mary bore Jesus who rose from the dead.
Words & Music: traditional Cornish Carol
Arrangement: John Rutter (b.1945)
Please remain seated for
The Third Lesson
Isaiah 9
Read by a Lay Vicar Choral.
The prophet foretells the birth of Christ:
Thou hast multiplied the nation, and not increased the joy: they joy before thee according to the joy in harvest, and as men rejoice when they divide the spoil.
For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.
Thanks be to God.
Please stand to sing
The Hymn
Unto us is born a Son,
King of choirs supernal:
See on earth his life begun,
Of lords the Lord eternal.
The Choir sings alone:
Christ, from heav’n descending low,
Comes on earth a stranger:
Ox and ass their Owner know
Becradled in the manger.
This did Herod sore affray,
And grievously bewilder;
So he gave the word to slay,
And slew the little childer.
Of his love and mercy mild
This the Christmas story:
And O that Mary’s gentle child
Might lead us up to glory!
All sing:
O and A and A and O
Cum cantibus in choro,
Let our merry organ go,
Benedicamus Domino.
Words & Music: Puer nobis nascitur
Arrangement: David Willcocks (1919–2015)
Please be seated for
The Fourth Lesson
Isaiah 11
Read by the Master of the Music.
The prophet foretells the Messiah’s Kingdom of peace:
There shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots: And the spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord; And shall make him of quick understanding in the fear of the Lord: and he shall not judge after the sight of his eyes, neither reprove after the hearing of his ears:
But with righteousness shall he judge the poor, and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth: and he shall smite the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked. And righteousness shall be the girdle of his loins, and faithfulness the girdle of his reins.
The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them. And the cow and the bear shall feed; their young ones shall lie down together: and the lion shall eat straw like the ox. And the sucking child shall play on the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the cockatrice’ den.
They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain: for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea.
Thanks be to God.
The Choir sings
The Carol
There is no rose of such virtue as is the rose that bear Jesu: Alleluia! For in this rose containèd was heaven and earth in little space: Res miranda. By that rose we may well see there be one God in persons three: Pares forma. Then leave we all this worldly mirth and follow we this joyous birth: Transeamus.
Words: 15th Century
Music: Jack Oades (2018)
Please remain seated for
The Fifth Lesson
Luke 1
Read by the Principal Teacher of the Cathedral Choir School.
The angel Gabriel visits the Blessed Virgin Mary:
In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth, to a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary.
And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women. And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be.
And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God. And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name Jesus. He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.
And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word.
Thanks be to God.
The Choir sings
Canticle
O Virgin of virgins, how shall this be? For neither before thee was any like thee, nor shall there be after. Daughters of Jerusalem, why marvel ye at me? The thing which ye behold is a divine mystery.
My soul doth magnify the Lord: and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour. For he hath regarded: the lowliness of his handmaiden. For behold, from henceforth: all generations shall call me blessed. For he that is mighty hath magnified me: and holy is his Name. And his mercy is on them that fear him: throughout all generations. He hath shewed strength with his arm: he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts. He hath put down the mighty from their seat: and hath exalted the humble and meek. He hath filled the hungry with good things: and the rich he hath sent empty away. He remembering his mercy hath holpen his servant Israel: as he promised to our forefathers, Abraham and his seed for ever. 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.
O Virgin of virgins, how shall this be? For neither before thee was any like thee, nor shall there be after. Daughters of Jerusalem, why marvel ye at me? The thing which ye behold is a divine mystery.
Words: Luke 1
Music: Herbert Howells (1892-1983) from The Gloucester Service (1946)
Please remain seated for
The Sixth Lesson
Luke 2
Read by The Dean’s Vicar.
Saint Luke relates the birth of Jesus:
It came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed. (And this taxing was first made when Quirinius was governor of Syria.) And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city.
And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:) to be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.
And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.
Thanks be to God.
Please stand to sing
The Hymn
O little town of Bethlehem,
How still we see thee lie!
Above thy deep and dreamless sleep
The silent stars go by;
Yet in thy dark streets shineth
The everlasting Light;
The hopes and fears of all the years
Are met in thee tonight.
O morning stars, together
Proclaim the holy birth,
And praises sing to God the King,
And peace to men on earth.
For Christ is born of Mary;
And, gathered all above,
While mortals sleep, the angels keep
Their watch of wondering love.
The Choir sings alone:
How silently, how silently,
The wondrous gift is given!
So God imparts to human hearts
The blessings of his heaven.
No ear may hear his coming;
But in this world of sin,
Where meek souls will receive him, still
The dear Christ enters in.
All sing:
O holy Child of Bethlehem,
Descend to us, we pray;
Cast out our sin, and enter in:
Be born in us today.
We hear the Christmas angels
The great glad tidings tell;
O come to us, abide with us,
Our Lord Emmanuel.
Words: Phillips Brooks (1835–1893)
Music: English Trad. arr. Ralph Vaughan Williams (1872–1958)
Please be seated for
The Seventh Lesson
Luke 2
Read by a Prebendary.
The shepherds go to the manger:
There were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.
And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.
And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.
And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us. And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.
Thanks be to God.
Please remain seated for
The Carol
As I walked down the road at set of sun, the lambs were coming homewards, one by one, I heard a sheep-bell softly calling them along the little road to Bethlehem. Beside an open door, as I drew nigh, I heard sweet Mary sing a lullaby. She sang about the lambs at close of day and rocked her tiny King among the hay. Across the air the silver sheep-bell rang, ‘The lambs are coming home,’ sweet Mary sang, ‘Your Star of Gold is shining in the sky, so sleep, my little King, go lullaby.’
Words: Margaret Rose (1888-1958)
Music: Michael Head (1900-76)
Please remain seated for
The Eighth Lesson
Matthew 2
Read by a Dignitary.
The Wise Men are led by the star to Jesus:
Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.
Then Herod, when he had privily called the wise men, enquired of them what time the star appeared. And he sent them to Bethlehem, and said, Go and search diligently for the young child; and when ye have found him, bring me word again, that I may come and worship him also. When they had heard the king, they departed; and, lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was.
When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy. And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh.
Thanks be to God.
Please remain seated for
The Carol
Star of the East that long ago brought wise men on their way where, angels singing to and fro, the Child of Bethlehem lay – above that Syrian hill afar thou shinest out to-night, O Star! Star of the East, the night were drear but for the tender grace that with thy glory comes to cheer earth’s loneliest, darkest place; for by that charity we see where there is hope for all and me. Star of the East! Show us the way in wisdom undefiled to seek that manger out and lay our gifts before the child – to bring our hearts and offer them unto our King in Bethlehem!
Words: Eugene Field (1850-1895)
Music: Ernest Dines (b.1986)
composed for the Cathedral Choir
Please stand for
The Ninth Lesson
John 1
Read by The Dean.
Saint John unfolds the mystery of the Incarnation: How the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us.
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life; and the life was the light of men. And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.
There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe. He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light. That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.
He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. He came unto his own, and his own received him not. But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
Thanks be to God.
Please remain standing to sing the
Hymn
O come, all ye faithful, Joyful and triumphant;
O come ye, O come ye to Bethlehem;
Come and behold him born, the King of angels:
O come, let us adore him, Christ the Lord.
God of God, Light of Light,
Lo! He abhors not the Virgin’s womb;
Very God, begotten, not created.
Sing choirs of angels, sing in exultation,
Sing, all ye citizens of heav’n above;
Glory to God in the highest.
Yea, Lord, we greet thee, born that happy morning,
Jesu, to thee be glory given;
Word of the Father, Now in flesh appearing:
Translation: Frederick Oakley (1802–80)
Arrangement: David Willcocks (1919–2015)
Please remain standing for
The Christmas Collect
Let us pray.
O God, who makest us glad with the yearly remembrance of the birth of thy only Son, Jesus Christ: Grant that, as we joyfully receive him for our redeemer, so we may with sure confidence behold him, when he shall come to be our judge; who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, world without end. Amen.
The Blessing
Christ, who by his incarnation gathered into one things earthly and heavenly, grant you the fullness of inward peace and goodwill, and make you partakers of the divine nature; and the blessing of God Almighty, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, be upon you and remain with you always. Amen.
Please remain standing to sing the
Hymn
During this hymn, a collection of money is made. Should you wish to donate online, please tap the button below to give securely by card.
Hark! the herald angels sing
Glory to the new-born King;
Peace on earth, and mercy mild,
God and sinners reconciled!
Hark! the herald angels sing
Glory to the new-born King.
The Choir sings alone:
Joyful, all ye nations rise,
Join the triumph of the skies;
With the angelic host proclaim,
Christ is born in Bethlehem.
All sing:
Hark! the herald angels sing
Glory to the new-born King.
Christ by highest heaven adored!
Christ, the everlasting Lord!
Late in time behold him come,
Offspring of a Virgin’s womb.
Women sing:
Veiled in flesh the Godhead see;
Hail, the incarnate Deity.
Pleased as Man with man to dwell,
Jesus, our Emmanuel.
All sing:
Hark! the herald angels sing
Glory to the new-born King.
Men sing:
Hail, the heaven-born Prince of peace!
Hail, the Sun of righteousness!
Light and life to all he brings,
Risen with healing in his wings.
All sing:
Hark! the herald angels sing
Glory to the new-born King.
Mild, he lays his glory by,
Born that man no more may die,
Born to raise the sons of earth,
Born to give them second birth.
Words: Charles Wesley (1707–88)
Music: George Frederick Handel (1685–1759)
Please remain at your seat for the duration of
The Organ Voluntary
Toccata from Suite Op.5 (1933)
Maurice Duruflé (1902-86)
Acknowledgements
Developed by Clark Brydon (Education & Safeguarding Officer).
n.b.: Translations are provided automatically by Google Translate. Saint Patrick’s Cathedral is not responsible for automatically generated content or for content on external websites.
To report a problem or to send feedback and suggestions, please email: education@stpatrickscathedral.ie