For Emilia Manzanero

For the Grace of a Happy Death

Introit:  Psalm xii: 4

Give light to mine eyes that I may not sleep in death, lest mine enemy say: "I have overcome him." [Ps. xii: 1] How long, O Lord?  willt you utterly forget me?  How long will you hide your face from me?  Glory be.... Give light....

Collect:

Almighty and merciful God, Thou hast conferred upon mankind both the remedies of health and the gift of everlasting life;  look mercifully upon Thy servants, and refresh the souls which Thou hast created, that at the hour of death they may be found worthy to be presented to Thee, their creator, free from every stain of sin, by the hands of Thy holy angels.  Through our Lord.... 

Epistle:  Romans xiv: 7-12

A reading from the Epistle of blessed Paul the Apostle to the Romans
Brethren:  N  For whether we live, we live unto the Lord: or whether we die, we die unto the Lord. Therefore, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord’s. . For to this end Christ died and rose again: that he might be Lord both of the dead and of the living.  But thou, why judgest thou thy brother? Or thou, why dost thou despise thy brother? For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ.  For it is written: As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to me and every tongue shall confess to God. Therefore every one of us shall render account to God for himself.

Gradual Psalm xxii: 4

Even though I walk in the midst of the sghadow of death I fear no evil;  for Thou art at my side, O Lord.  v.  With Thy rod and Thy staff that give me courage.
Alleluja. alleluja.  v. Ps. xxx: 2, 3  In Thee, O Lord, I take refuge; let me never be put to shame.  In Thy justice rescue me and save me, incline Thine ear to me, make haste to deliver me.  Alleluja

After Septuagesima, the Alleluja and its verse are omitted, and the following Tract is said:
Psalm xxiv: 17-18 and 1-4

Bring my soul out of distress, O Lord; put an end to my affliction and my suffering, and take away all my sins.  v. To Thee, O Lord, I lift up my soul.  In Thee, O God, is my trust;  let me not be put to shame, let not mine enemies exalt over me.  v.  No one who waits for Thee shall be put to shame;  those shall be put to shame who heedlessly break faith.

During Paschaltide the Gradual is omitted and the following Alleluja is said:

Alleluja. alleluja.  v. Ps. cxiii: 1  When Israel came forth fro Egypt, the house of Jacob from a people of alien tongue, Alleuja.  v. Ps. cvii: 2  My heart is steadfast, O God;  my heart is steadfast;  I will sing and chant praise to Thee, my glory.  Alleluja.

Gospel:  Luke xxi: 34-36
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The continuation of the Holy Gospel according to Luke

At that time, Jesus said to His disciples:  "Take heed to yourselves, lest perhaps your hearts be overburdened with self indulgence and drunkenness and the cares of this life: and that day come upon you suddenly. . For as a snare shall it come upon all that dwell upon the face of the whole earth.  Watch ye, therefore, praying at all times, that you may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that are to come and to stand before the Son of man.

Offertory:  Psalm xxx: 15, 16

O Lord, in Thee I trust, O Lord, I say, "Thou art my God";  In Thine hands is my destiny.

Secret:

Accept, O Lord, we beseech Thee, the sacrifice which we offer thee for the Last moments of our life, and grant that by it all our sins may be washed away;  that we, who by Thy will are afflicted with Thy scourges in this life, may obtain eternal rest in the life to come.   Through our Lord....

The Common Preface

Communion:  Psalm lxx: 16, 17, and 18:

O Lord, I will tell of Thy singular justice.  O God, Thou hast taught me from my youth; and now that I am old and gray, O God, forsake me not.

Postcommunion:

We beseech Thy clemency, almighty God, that Thou wouldst deign to strengthen us, Thy servants, with Thy grace, through the reception of this Sacrament, so that at the hour of our death the enemy may not prevail against us:  Rather, may we deserve to be accompanied by Thine angels in our passage to eternal life.  Through our Lord....