Except as noted, my standard for what is normal is based on the unanimous testimony of four manuscripts of the Sarum ordinal (Salisbury Cathedral 175, Oxford Corpus Christi 44, BL Harley 2911, and BL Arundel 130), Chichele and other ‘London Group’ breviary manuscripts, and BL Royal 2. A. XIV, a carefully corrected breviary from a different textual tradition.

Temporale, beginning with first Sunday in Advent and ending with Ded. eccles. [Dedication of a Church]. All the saints’ days in the T are found between Dec. 25 (Nativ. Christ) and Jan. 19.

Stephen, martyr (Dec. 26), full office with six proper lessons for the saint; gospel homily as lecc. 7–9

John the Evangelist (Dec. 27), full office with six proper lessons and gospel homily as on Dec. 26

Holy Innocents (Dec. 28), full office with six proper lessons and gospel homily as on Dec. 26

Thomas Becket (Dec. 29), full office with eight proper lessons; gospel homily only in lec. 7

Silvester (Dec. 31), five proper lessons for the saint (#1–3 and 8–9); #4–6 allocated to Nativ. Christ, #7 to gospel homily

Octave of Stephen (Jan. 2), three proper lessons, or six if on Sunday

At this point most breviaries insert a long series of additional lessons for the Virgin Mary, to be used during the ensuing liturgical seasons.

Octave of John (Jan. 3), three proper lessons, or six if on Sunday

Octave of Innocents (Jan. 4), three proper lessons, or six if on Sunday

Vigil of Epiphany and Octave of Becket (Jan. 5), three lessons for the Vigil, followed on Sunday by three proper lessons for Becket (#4-6); memorials [prayers] on this date for both Becket and Edward Conf.

Lucian (Jan. 8), memorial – usually no more than a rubric or two, without texts

Octave of Epiphany (Jan. 13), lessons for the Octave and three proper lessons (#4-6) for Hilary

Felix (Jan. 14), three proper lessons

Maurus (Jan. 15), three proper lessons

Marcellus (Jan. 16), three proper lessons

Sulpicius (Jan. 17), three proper lessons

Prisca (Jan. 18), just prayer and rubric: three lessons from C