Common of Confessors (I) Introit: Ps. xxxvi: 30-31 The mouth of the just man shall meditate wisdom, and his tongue shall speak judgment: the law of his God is in his heart. (P.T. Alleluia, alleluia.) [Ps.] Do not emulate evil doers, nor envy those that work iniquity. Glory be. The mouth of the just man. Collect: O God, who dost gladden us by the annual solemnity of blessed N., Thy confessor, mercifully grant that we who celebrate his heavenly birthday, may also imitate his example. Through our Lord.... Epistle: Ecclesiasticus xxxi: 8-11 A reading from the Wisdom books. Gradual: Ps. xci: 13, 14 The just shall flourish like the palm tree. He shall grow like the cedar of
Libanus in the house of the Lord. [Ps.] To show forth Thy mercy in the morning,
and Thy truth in the night. From Septuagesima to Easter the Gradual and Alleluia are replaced by: Blessed is the man that fears the Lord: he shall delight exceedingly in His commandments. His seed shall be mighty upon earth. The generation of the righteous shall be blessed. Glory and wealth shall be in his house. And his justice remains forever and ever. During Paschaltide the Gradual and Tract are replaced by: Alleluia, alleluia. Blessed is the man that endures temptation, for when he has been proved, he shall receive the crown of life. Alleluia. The Lord loved him and adorned him. He clothed him with a robe of glory. Alleluia. Gospel: Luke xii: 35-40 At that time, Jesus said to His disciples: "Let your loins be girt and lamps burning in your hands, and you yourselves like to men who wait for their lord, when he shall return from the wedding: that when he comes and knocks they may open to him immediately. Blessed are those servants whom the Lord, when He comes, shall find watching: amen I say to you that he will gird himself and make them sit down to meat, and passing will minister to them. And if he shall come in the second watch, or in the third watch, and find them so, blessed are these servants. But this know ye, that if the householder did know at what hour the thief would come, he would surely watch, and would not suffer his house to be broken into. Be you then also ready, for you do not know the hour at which the Son of man will come." Offertory My truth and My mercy shall be with him: and in My name shall his horn be exalted. (P.T. Alleluia!) Secret: We offer Thee, O Lord, the sacrifice of praise, in remembrance of Thy saints; through whose intercession we trust to be delivered both from present and from future ills. Through our Lord. Communion: Matthew xxiv: 46-47 Blessed is that servant, whom when his lord shall come he shall find him watching. Amen, I say to you, he will place him over all his goods. (P.T. Alleluia.) Postcommunion Refreshed with this heavenly food and drink, we humbly beseech Thee, our God, that we may be protected by his prayers in whose remembrance we have received them. Through our Lord.
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