Joy comes subtly in the Collect as the darkness of our hearts is lightened by the gracious visitation of our Lord. Similarly, though joy frames the Introit with its antiphon (Phil 4:4), the Introit psalm itself hints at the joy concealed in the Gospel: “The Lord sets the prisoners free; the Lord opens the eyes of the blind. The Lord lifts up those who are bowed down; the Lord loves the righteous” (Ps 146:7–8). The Gradual takes its joy from Zechariah’s prophecy, “Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion” (Zech 9:9). Again I say, rejoice!

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