“Here endeth the Lesson,” Simon intoned. After slowly reverencing the altar, he returned to his seat.
After a few moments of silence Father Anslem stood and made the Sign of the Cross as he intoned the Magnificat.
“My soul doth magnify the Lord, and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my savior.” The Choir continued, “For he hath regarded the lowliness of his handmaiden.”
Next Alister stood up and went to the Lectern. He proclaimed:
“The Second Lesson is written in the Gospel according to Saint Matthew, in Chapter 2, beginning at the first verse.”
He proclaimed the account of the Magi seeing the star and traveling to Bethlehem to do the Christ Child homage. Helena recalled how King Herod became afraid of the Christ Child and wanted to put him to death.
“Here endeth the Second Lesson,” Alister intoned. Like Simon, he lingered for a moment at the lectern and bowed at the Altar before sitting down.