Part 34 (1/2)
THE COLLECT.
O almighty G.o.d, who hast knit together thine elect in one communion and fellows.h.i.+p, in the mystical body of thy Son Christ our Lord: Grant us grace so to follow thy blessed Saints in all virtuous and G.o.dly living, that we may come to those unspeakable joys, which thou hast prepared for them that unfeignedly love thee; through Jesus Christ our Lord. _Amen_.
FOR THE EPISTLE. Rev. vii. 2.
And I saw another angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the living G.o.d; and he cried with a loud voice to the four angels, to whom it was given to hurt the earth, and the sea, saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our G.o.d in their foreheads. And I heard the number of them which were sealed; and there were sealed an hundred and forty and four thousand, of all the tribes of the children of Israel.
Of the tribe of Juda were sealed twelve thousand.
Of the tribe of Reuben were sealed twelve thousand.
Of the tribe of Gad were sealed twelve thousand.
Of the tribe of Aser were sealed twelve thousand.
Of the tribe of Nepthalim were sealed twelve thousand.
Of the tribe of Mana.s.ses were sealed twelve thousand.
Of the tribe of Simeon were sealed twelve thousand.
Of the tribe of Levi were sealed twelve thousand.
Of the tribe of Issachar were sealed twelve thousand.
Of the tribe of Zabulon were sealed twelve thousand.
Of the tribe of Joseph were sealed twelve thousand.
Of the tribe of Benjamin were sealed twelve thousand.
After this I beheld, and lo, a great mult.i.tude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands; and cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our G.o.d which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb. And all the angels stood round about the throne, and about the elders, and the four beasts, and fell before the throne on their faces, and wors.h.i.+pped G.o.d, saying, Amen; Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honour, and power, and might, be unto our G.o.d for ever and ever: Amen.
THE GOSPEL. St Matth. v. 1.
Jesus, seeing the mult.i.tudes, went up into a mountain; and when he was set, his disciples came unto him. And he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying, Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted. Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth. Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled. Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see G.o.d. Blessed are the peace-makers: for they shall be called the children of G.o.d. Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad; for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.
| SAINT KENTIGERN, (_January_ 13.) | | SAINT PATRICK,(_March_ 17.) | | SAINT COLUMBA, (_June_ 9.) AND | | SAINT NINIAN (_September_ 16.) | | THE COLLECT.
| | O G.o.d, who by the preaching of thy blessed servant Saint _N_.
| didst cause the light of the Gospel to s.h.i.+ne in this our land | [_or_ in these islands]; Grant, we beseech thee, that having his | life and labours in remembrance, we may shew forth our thankfulness | unto thee for the same by following the example of his zeal and | patience; through Jesus Christ our Lord. _Amen_.
| | THE EPISTLE. 1 Thess. ii. 2.
| | We were bold in, our G.o.d to speak unto you the gospel of G.o.d | with much contention. For our exhortation was not of deceit, nor | of uncleanness, nor in guile; but as we were allowed of G.o.d to | be put in trust with the gospel, even so we speak; not as | pleasing men, but G.o.d, which trieth our hearts. For neither | at any time used we flattering words, as ye know, nor a cloke | of covetousness; G.o.d is witness: nor of men sought we glory, | neither of you, nor yet of others, when we might have been | burdensome, as the apostles of Christ. But we were gentle among | you, even as a nurse cherisheth her children: so being | affectionately desirous of you, we were willing to have imparted | unto you, not the gospel of G.o.d only, but also our own souls, | because ye were dear unto us. For ye remember, brethren, our | labour and travail: for labouring night and day, because we | would not be chargeable unto any of you, we preached unto you | the gospel of G.o.d. Ye are witnesses, and G.o.d also, how holily | and justly and unblameably we behaved ourselves among you that | believe: as ye know how we exhorted and comforted and charged | every one of you, as a father doth his children, that ye would | walk worthy of G.o.d, who hath called you unto his kingdom and | glory.
| | THE GOSPEL. St Matth. xxviii. 16.
| | Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, into a mountain | where Jesus had appointed them. And when they saw him, they | wors.h.i.+pped him: but some doubted. And Jesus came and spake | unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in | earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them | in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy | Ghost: teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have | commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end | of the world. Amen.
| | SAINT MARGARET OF SCOTLAND _November_ 16.
| | THE COLLECT.
| | O G.o.d, who didst call thy servant Queen Margaret to an earthly | throne that she might advance thy heavenly kingdom, and didst | endue her with zeal for thy Church and charity towards thy | people; Mercifully grant that we who commemorate her example | may be fruitful in good works, and attain to the glorious | fellows.h.i.+p of thy Saints; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
| _Amen_.
| | FOR THE EPISTLE. Proverbs x.x.xi. 10.
| | Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above | rubies. The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, | so that he shall have no need of spoil. She will do him good | and not evil all the days of her life. She seeketh wool, and | flax, and worketh willingly with her hands. She is like the | merchants s.h.i.+ps; she bringeth her food from afar. She riseth | also while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, | and a portion to her maidens. She considereth a field, and | buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she planeth a vineyard.
| She girdeth her loins with strength, and strengtheneth her arms.
| She perceiveth that her merchandise is good: her candle goeth | not out by night. She layeth her hands to the spindle, and her | hands hold the distaff. She stretcheth out her hand to the | poor; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy. She is | not afraid of the snow for her household; for all her household | are clothed with scarlet. She maketh herself coverings of | tapestry; her clothing is silk and purple. Her husband is | known in the gates, when he sitteth among the elders of the | land. She maketh fine linen, and selleth it; and delivereth | girdles unto the merchant. Strength and honour are her clothing; | and she shall rejoice in time to come. She openeth her mouth | with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness. She | looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the | bread of idleness. Her children arise up, and call her blessed; | her husband also, and he praiseth her. Many daughters have done | virtuously, but thou excellest them all. Favour is deceitful, | and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the Lord, she | shall be praised. Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let | her own works praise her in the gates.
| | THE GOSPEL. St Matth. xiii. 44.
| | The kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; | the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof | goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field.
| Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, | seeking goodly pearls: who, when he had found one pearl of | great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it.