St. Lawrence's Day. The Collect. ENABLE US, we beseech thee, O Almighty God, to extinguish in ourselves the flames of vice, by whose grace blessed Lawrence triumphed over the torments of fire. Thro'. The Epistle. 2 Cor. ix. 6. 10. Brethren He who soweth sparingly, shall also reap sparingly; and he who soweth in blessings, shall also reap of blessings. Every one as he hath determined in his heart, not with sadness, or of necessity for God loveth a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound in you: that ye always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work. As it is written: He hath dispersed abroad, he hath given to the poor: his justice remaineth for ever. And he that ministereth seed to the sower, will both give you bread to eat, and will multiply your seed, and increase the growth of the fruits of your justice, The Gospel. John xü 24. 26. At that time: Jesus said to his disciples: Amen, amen I say to you, unless the grain of wheat falling into the ground, die, itself remaineth alone. But if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit. He that loveth his life, shall lose it: and he that hateth his life in this world, keepeth it unto eternal life. If any man minister unto me, let him follow me: and where I am, there also shall my minister be. If any man minister to me, him will my Father honour, The Assumption of the blessed Virgin Mary.* : The Collect. FORGIVE, O Lord, we beseech thee, the sins of thy people that we, who are not able to do any thing of ourselves that can be pleasing to thee, may be assisted in the way of salvation by the prayers of the Mother of thy Son. Thro'... For the Epistle. Eccles, xxiv. 11. 20. I SOUGHT rest, and I shall abide in the inhe ritance of the Lord. Then the Creator of all things gave his orders, and said to me; and he that made me, rested in my tabernacle, and he said to me: Let thy dwelling be in Jacob, and thy inheritance in Israel, and take root in my elect. From the beginning, and before the world was I created, and unto the world to come shall not cease to be, and in the holy dwelling-place I have ministered before him. And so was I established in Sion, and in the holy city likewise I rested, and my power was in Jerusalem. And I took root in an honourable people, and in the portion of my God his inheritance, and my abode in the full assembly of the saints. I was exalted as a cedar in Libanus, and as a cypress-tree on mount Sion, I was exalted like a palm-tree in Cades, and as a rose-plant in Jericho; as a fair olive-tree in the plains, and as a plane-tree by the water in the * It is an article of doctrine grounded on apostolical tradition, though not of divine faith, that the ever illustrious Virgin Mother of God, was immaculate from the first instant of her conception. And that thus privileged at her birth above all others of her species, she was equally favoured at her death; her body not being suffered to en dure corruption, she being immediately assumed body and soul into heaven, to receive the honors of her divine maternity. A day is par ticularly set apart therefore by the Church, to commemorate this Le lestial glory to which the Virgin Mother of God has been raised. streets, was I exalted. I gave a sweet smell like cinnamon, and aromatical balm : 'I yielded a sweet odour like the best myrrh. The Gospel. Luke x. 38. 42. At that time: Jesus entered into a certain town and a certain woman named Martha, received him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary. Who sitting also at the Lord's feet, heard his word. But Martha was busy about much serving. Who stood and said: Lord, hast thou no care that my sister hath left me alone to serve? Speak to her therefore, that she help me. And the Lord answering, said to her: Martha, Martha, thou art careful, and art troubled about many things. But one thing is necessary. Mary hath chosen the best part, which shall not be taken from her. St. Bartholomew's Day. The Collect. O ALMIGHTY and eternal God, who comfortest thy people by the sacred and venerable solemnity of thy blessed Apostle Bartholomew: grant, we beseech thee, that we may love what he believed, and practise what he taught. Thro'. The Epistle. 1 Cor. xii. 27. 31. Brethren: You are the body of Christ, and members of a member. And God indeed hath set some in the Church, first apostles, secondly prophets, thirdly doctors, after that miracles, then the graces of healings, helps, governments, kinds of tongues, interpretations of speeches. Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all doctors? Are all workers of miracles? Have all the grace of healing? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret? But be ye zealous for the better gifts. The Gospel. Luke vi. 12. 19. At that time: Jesus went out into a mountain to pray, and he passed the whole night in the prayer of God. And when day was come, he called upon his disciples: and he chose twelve of them (whom also he named Apostles): Simon whom he surnamed Peter, and Andrew his brother, James and John, Philip and Bartholomew, Matthew and Thomas, James the son of Alpheus, and Simon who is called Zelotes, and Jude the brother of James, and Judas Iscariot who was the traitor. And coming down with them, he stood in a plain place, and the company of the disciples, and a very great multitude of people from all Ju dea and Jerusalem, and the sea-coast of Tyre and Sidon, who were come to hear him, and to be healed of their diseases. And they that were troubled with unclean spirits were cured. And all the multitude sought to touch him, for virtue went out from him, and healed all. St. Matthew's Day. The Collect. GRANT, O God, we may be aided by the prayers of blessed Matthew, the Apostle and Evangelist that what we cannot obtain by our weakness, may be granted us by his intercession. Thro'. : For the Epistle. Ezec. i. 10. 14. THE likeness of the four living creatures was this: there was the face of a man, and the face of alion on the right side of all the four; and the face of an ox on the left side of all the four; and the face of an eagle over all the four. And their faces and their wings were stretched upwards: two wings of every one were joined, and two covered their bodies. And every one of them went straight forward: whither the impulse of the spirit was to go, thither they went, and they turned not when they went. And as for the likeness of the living creatures, their appearance was like that of burning coals of the fire, and like the appearance of lamps. This was the vision running to and fro in the midst of the living creatures, a bright fire, and lightning going forth from the fire. And the living creatures ran and returned like flashes of lightning. The Gospel. Matt. ix. 9. 13. At that time: Jesus saw a man sitting in the custom-house, named Matthew; and he said to him: Follow me. And he arose up, and followed him. And it came to pass as he was sitting at meat in the house, behold many publicans and sinners came and sat down with Jesus and his disciples. And the Pharisees seeing it, said to his disciples: Why doth your master eat with publicans and sinners? But Jesus hearing it, said: They that are in health need not a physician, but they that are ill. Go then and learn what this meaneth: I will have mercy, and not sacrifice. For I am not come to call the just, but sinners. St. Michael's Day.* The Collect. O God, who, by a wonderful order, hast regu The book of Daniel affords ample testimony of men being benefited by the prayers and intercession of the angels; the Prophet makes particular mention of St Michael, and on that account, the Church specially supplicates on this day; the powerful protection of his prayers. The Protestants have retained our Collect in their Lir turgy. |