THIRD SUNDAY IN LENT

Sunday of I Class, Semidouble

Station at St. Lawrence without the Walls.

INTROIT.  Oculi mei.  Ps. 25

Mine eyes are ever looking unto the Lord, for he shall pluck my feet out of the net : turn thee unto me, and have mercy upon me : for I am desolate and in misery.  Ps. ibid.  Unto thee, O Lord, will I lift up my soul : my God, in thee have I put my trust, let me not be confounded. 

Glory be.

COLLECT.

We beseech thee, Almighty God, look upon the hearty desires of thy hûmble servants : and stretch forth the right hand of thy majestŷ, to be our defence against all our enemies.  Through Jesus Christ thy Son our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee in the unity of the Holy Spirit, ever one God, world without end.  Amen.

COLLECT 2 Of Ash Wednesday

ALMIGHTY and everlasting God, who hatest nothing that thou hast made, and dost forgive the sins of all those who are penitent; Create and make in us new and contrite hearts, that we, worthily lamenting our sins and acknowledging our wretchedness, may obtain of thee, the God of all mercy, perfect remission and forgiveness.

COLLECT 3  Of the Saints

Defend us, O Lord, we beseech thee, from all dangers both of body and soul: and at the intercession of thy blessed and glorious ever-Virgin Mary, Mother of God, of blessed Joseph, of thy holy Apostles Peter and Paul, of blessed N., and of all thy Saints, grant us thy saving health and peace; that being defended from all adversities and all false doctrines, thy Church may serve thee in all freedom and quietness.  Through Jesus Christ thy Son our Lord, who with thee in the unity of the Holy Spirit liveth and reigneth God, world without end.  Amen.
 

The Lesson from the EPISTLE of blessed Paul the Apostle to the Ephesians.

Eph. 5.1-14

BRETHREN : Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.  But fornication and all impurity or covetousness must not even be named among you, as is fitting among saints. Let there be no filthiness, nor silly talk, nor levity, which are not fitting; but instead let there be thanksgiving. Be sure of this, that no fornicator or impure man, or one who is covetous (that is, an idolater), has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for it is because of these things that the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. Therefore do not associate with them, for once you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord; walk as children of light (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true), and try to learn what is pleasing to the Lord. Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. For it is a shame even to speak of the things that they do in secret; but when anything is exposed by the light it becomes visible, for anything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it is said, "Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give you light."

GRADUAL.  Ps. 9.  Up, Lord, and let not man have the upper hand: let the heathen be judged in thy sight. . While mine enemies are driven back, they shall fall and perish at thy presence.

TRACT.  Ps. 123.  Unto thee lift I up mine eyes, O thou that dwellest in the heavens. 

 . Behold, even as the eyes of servants look unto the hand of their masters.  

 . And as the eyes of a maiden unto the hand of her mistress: even so our eyes wait upon the Lord our God, until he have mercy upon us.
 . Have mercy upon us, O Lord, have mercy upon us.
 

The Continuation of the HOLY GOSPEL according to Luke

Lk. 11.14-28

AT that time : Now [Jesus] was casting out a demon that was dumb; when the demon had gone out, the dumb man spoke, and the people marveled. But some of them said, "He casts out demons by Be-el'zebul, the prince of demons"; while others, to test him, sought from him a sign from heaven. But he, knowing their thoughts, said to them, "Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste, and a divided household falls. And if Satan also is divided against himself, how will his kingdom stand? For you say that I cast out demons by Be-el'zebul. And if I cast out demons by Be-el'zebul, by whom do your sons cast them out? Therefore they shall be your judges. But if it is by the finger of God that I cast out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you. When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own palace, his goods are in peace; but when one stronger than he assails him and overcomes him, he takes away his armor in which he trusted, and divides his spoil. He who is not with me is against me, and he who does not gather with me scatters.  "When the unclean spirit has gone out of a man, he passes through waterless places seeking rest; and finding none he says, `I will return to my house from which I came.' And when he comes he finds it swept and put in order. Then he goes and brings seven other spirits more evil than himself, and they enter and dwell there; and the last state of that man becomes worse than the first."
As he said this, a woman in the crowd raised her voice and said to him, "Blessed is the womb that bore you, and the breasts that you sucked!" But he said, "Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and keep it!"  The Creed is said.

OFFERTORY.  Ps. 19.  The statues of the Lord are right, and rejoice the heart, sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb: moreover thy servant keepeth them.
 
 

SECRET.

Grant, O Lord, we pray thee, that this oblation may in such wise cleanse us from all our sins: that we thy servants, being sanctified both in body and soul, may worthily offer unto thee this our sacrifice. Through Christ our Lord.  Amen.

SECRET 2  Of Ash Wednesday

Grant, we beseech thee, O Lord, that like as we do by these our oblations bring to remembrance the institution of this holy Sacrament, so we may by thee be enabled to offer the same according to thy will.

SECRET 3  Of the Saints

Graciously hear us, O God of our salvation, and by the power of this Sacrament defend us from all dangers both of body and soul: granting us in this world the succour of thy grace, and in the world to come life everlasting.  Through Christ our Lord.  Amen.

COMMUNION.  Ps. 84.  The sparrow hath found her an house, and the swallow a nest, where she may lay her young: even thy altars, O Lord of hosts, my King and my God: blessed are they that dwell in thy house: they will be alway praising thee.

POSTCOMMUNION.

O Lord, who sufferest us to be partakers of thy wondrous mysteries: grant, we beseech thee; that by thy mercy we may be absolved from all our iniquities, and defended against all adversities.  Through Christ our Lord.  Amen.

POSTCOMMUNION. 2  Of Ash Wednesday

We beseech thee, Lord, mercifully to protect us who have now received this holy Sacrament: that this our fast may be acceptable in thy sight, and profitable unto us for the healing of our souls. 

POSTCOMMUNION. 3  Of the Saints

Grant, we beseech thee, O Lord, that the gifts now offered by us in these holy mysteries may evermore cleanse and defend us: that at the intercession of the blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God, of blessed Joseph, of thy holy Apostles Peter and Paul, of blessed N., and of all thy Saints, we may be absolved from all our offences and defended against al adversities.  Through Christ our Lord.  Amen.

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