OF Church...I sang the proclamation just prior to the start of Mass for MidNight Mass last year from the Loft.
I was asked to do it by the priest because he was uncomfortable doing the new English setting. I did it from the loft because I was directing and need to start the Entrance Hymn directly after.

I don't know what the standard is maybe someone else could answer that one.

Our parish is looking to do the proclamation before Midnight Mass for the first time ever this year, but we want to do the traditional one (pre-1994) in English. So, where does one find it, the English version with all the specific years before they made it vague and politically correct? (All the links I can find to it through searches are dead-ends--it has been maddening!)

A friend typed this up on his blog from the old Roman Martyrology book, translated in 1946 (now published by Loreto Publications). I'm not sure whether it's quite what RachelR wants, but here it is:

In the year, from the creation of the world, when in the beginning God created Heaven and Earth, five thousand one hundred and ninety-nine;

from the flood, two thousand nine hundred and fifty-seven;

from the birth of Abraham, two thousand and fifteen;

from Moses and the coming of the Israelites out of Egypt, one thousand, five hundred and ten;

from the anointing of King David, one thousand and thirty-two;

in the sixty-fifth week, according to the prophecy of Daniel;

in the one hundred and ninety-fourth Olympiad;

in the year seven hundred and fifty-two from the founding of the city of Rome;

in the forty-second year of the empire of Octavian Augustus,

when the whole earth was at peace,

in the sixth age of the world,

Jesus Christ, eternal God, and Son of the eternal Father,

desirous to sanctify the world by His most merciful coming,

having been conceived of the Holy Ghost,

and nine months having elapsed since His conception,

is born in Bethlehem of Juda, having become man of the Virgin Mary.

THE NATIVITY OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST, ACCORDING TO THE FLESH

(Belated thanks to chonak for the answer to my question! I had a similar text that I ended up using, as you will see.)

*Because I have received so much from this forum, I know it is time to try to give back a little. Attached is the GABC document that I created to print off what our schola needed, with both the tone and the words. I am brand new at this stuff, so if you spot any errors, please let me know!

We do it as the last thing before the Introit, with a male and a female cantor alternating and then singing together at the end. (That's a practicality choice: I trust myself and the bass to not have any nerves and not mess up, but it is lovely.)

I'm at a loss of words. Why did my attachment disappear? I will post a new one as soon as I get the file from my PC.

Two years ago, I was asked to chant that prior to Mass. Considering it was nearly a last minute request by the Liturgy Coordinator (I know, really should be the pastor doing that stuff...) I think I did alright.

Yes, aldrich, anybody can ask me about the lunar month, but they will get nothing from me about it! Well, I can say it's not the month of Brumaire, but that's about all I know on the subject.

I did it every year before Midnight Mass at Historic St. John the Evangelist, in MD. I had a very good tenor (with a very big ego) who wanted to sing it before all the Christmas Masses. He was crushed when I told him it could ONLY be done before Midnight Mass. This year the Deacon has dropped "hintus maximus" that he should do it....so I was only too glad to ask him. Happily, he has a powerful "basso profundo" which should work well. Thanks for the copy aldrich.