February 3rd

St. Blaise, Bishop & Martyr

Introit: Daniel iii: 84, 87

O ye priests of the Lord, bless the Lord. O ye holy and humble of heart, praise God. [Ps.] All ye works of the Lord, bless the Lord: praise and exalt Him above all forever. Glory be. O ye priests.

Collect:

O God, who givest us joy by the annual solemnity of blessed Blaise, Thy martyr and bishop, mercifully grant that we may rejoice in his protection whose birthday we celebrate.

Epistle: 1 Corinthians i: 3-7

A reading from the epistle of blessed Paul the apostle to the Corinthians.
Brethren: Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in our tribulation; that we also may be able to comfort them who are in all distress, by the exhortation wherewith we are also exhorted by God. For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so also by Christ does our comfort abound. Now whether we be in tribulation, it is for your exhortation and salvation: or whether we be comforted, it is for your consolation: or whether we be exhorted, it is for your exhortation and salvation, which works the enduring of the same sufferings which we also suffer. That our hope for you may be steadfast: knowing that as you are partakers of the sufferings, so shall you be of the consolation, in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Gradual: Ps. viii: 6-7

Thou hast crowned him with glory and honor. And hast set him over the works of Thy hands, O Lord.

Alleluia, alleluia. This is the priest whom the Lord hast crowned. Alleluia.

From Septuagesima to Easter the Alleluia is replaced by the Tract:

Blessed is the man that fears the Lord. He delights exceedingly in His commandments. His seed shall be mighty upon the earth. The generation of the righteous shall be blessed. Glory and wealth shall be in his house, and his justice remains for ever and ever.

Gospel: Matthew xvi: 24-27

The continuation of the holy Gospel according to Matthew.

At that time, Jesus said to His disciples, «If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For he that will save his life shall lose it. And he that shall lose his life for My sake shall find it. For what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world, yet suffers the loss of his own soul? For the Son of Man shall come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and then will render to every man according to his works.»

Offertory: Ps lxxxviii: 21-22

I have found David My servant, with My holy oil I have anointed him; for My hand shall help him, and my arm shall strengthen him.

Secret:

Sanctify, O Lord, the offerings devoted to Thee, and, appeased by the intercession of blessed Blaise, Thy martyr and bishop, and likewise by this sacrifice, look favorably upon us.

Communion: Ps. xx: 4

Thou hast set on his head, O Lord, a crown of precious stones.

Postcommunion:

May this communion, O Lord, purify us from guilt, and by the intercession of blessed Blaise, Thy martyr and bishop, make us partakers of a heavenly remedy.