INTROIT

Me exspectaverunt.  Psalm 119.

The ungodly laid wait for me to destroy me:
But I will consider thy testimonies, O Lord:
I see that all things come to an end:
But thy commandment is exceeding broad.  (Alleluia, alleluia).  §

Blessed are those that are undefiled in the way:
And walk in the law of the Lord.
Glory be ...
As it was ...

(Repeat to §.)

Grant, O Lord, that, like as blessed N., thy Virgin and Martyr: by the merits of her chastity and godliness of conversation did ever walk acceptably in thy sight; so she may at all times effectually intercede for our forgiveness.  Through.
 
 

THE LESSON

Ecclesiasticus 51.9 – 12

O Lord my God, Then lifted I up my supplications from the earth, and prayed for deliverance from death.  I called upon the Lord, the Father of my Lord, that he would not leave me in the days of my trouble, and in the time of the proud, when there was no help.  I will praise thy name continually, and will sing praises with thanksgiving; and so my prayer was heard:  For thou savedst me from destruction, and deliveredst me from the evil time: therefore will I give thanks, and praise thee, and bless they name, O Lord our God.
 
 
 
 
 

GRADUAL

(Psalm 46) God shall help her with his countenance:
God is in the midst of her, therefore shall she not removed.
The rivers of the flood shall make glad the city of God:
The holy place of the tabernacle of the Most Highest.
Alleluia,
Alleluia.
This is a wise virgin, and one of the number of the prudent.
Alleluia.

After Septuagesima, instead of the Alleluia, and verse following, is said:
 

TRACT

Come thou bride of Christ, receive the crown,
Which the Lord hath prepared for thee for ever:
For whose love thou didst shed thy blood.
(Psalm 45) Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity.
Therefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.
In thy comeliness and in thy beauty go forth, ride prosperously and reign.
 

In Eastertide, instead of the Gradual, is said:
 

ALLELUIA

Alleluia,
Alleluia.
This is a wise virgin, and one of the number of the prudent.
Alleluia.
(Wisdom 4) Better it is to have no children, and to have virtue.
Alleluia.
 
 
 

THE GOSPEL

St. Matthew 13.44 – 52

At that time: Jesus spake this parable unto his disciples: 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. Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a net, that was cast into the sea, and gathered of every kind: Which, when it was full, they drew to shore, and sat down, and gathered the good into vessels, but cast the bad away. So shall it be at the end of the world: the angels shall come forth, and sever the wicked from among the just, And shall cast them into the furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth. Jesus saith unto them, Have ye understood all these things? They say unto him, Yea, Lord. Then said he unto them, Therefore every scribe which is instructed unto the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which bringeth forth out of his treasure things new and old.
 
 
 
 
 
 

OFFERTORY  Psalm 45

Full of grace are thy lips: because God hath blessed thee for ever, and world without end.  (Alleluia.)
 

SECRET

We beseech thee, O Lord, graciously to accept this our sacrifice which we offer unto thee, pleading the merits of blessed N., thy Virgin and Martyr: that the same may effectually avail for our succor unto everlasting life.  Through.
 
 

COMMUNION  Psalm 119

I deal with the thing that is lawful and right, O Lord, let the proud do me no wrong: I hold straight all thy commandments, and all false ways I utterly abhor (alleluia).
 
 

POSTCOMMUNION

O Lord our God, who hast fulfilled us with the bounty of thy heavenly gifts: grant, we beseech thee; that, at the intercession of blessed N., thy Virgin and Martyr, we may ever live by the partaking of the same.  Through.
 
 

ANOTHER GOSPEL

St. Matthew 19.3 - 12

At that time: The Pharisees came unto Jesus, tempting him, and saying unto him, Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife for every cause? And he answered and said unto them, Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female, And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh? Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder. They say unto him, Why did Moses then command to give a writing of divorcement, and to put her away? He saith unto them,  Moses because of the hardness of your hearts suffered you to put away your wives: but from the beginning it was not so. And I say unto you,  Whosoever shall put away his wife, except it be for fornication, and shall marry another, committeth adultery: and whoso marrieth her which is put away doth commit adultery. His disciples say unto him, If the case of the man be so with his wife, it is not good to marry. But he said unto them, All men cannot receive this saying, save they to whom it is given. For there are some eunuchs, which were so born from their mother’s womb: and there are some eunuchs, which were made eunuchs of men: and there be eunuchs, which have made themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven’s sake. He that is able to receive it, let him receive it.
 
 

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