SEPTUAGESIMA (FEBRUARY 1ST)

Adam and Eve Cast Out of the Garden

✠ THE DIVINE LITURGY OF ST. JAMES ✠

ACCORDING TO THE USE OF THE ANCIENT CHURCH OF THE WEST

✠ Septuagesima ✠

✠ THE PREPARATION ✠

INTROIT:

Circumdederunt The sorrows of death came about me, the pains of hell gat hold upon me and in my tribulation I made my prayer unto the Lord and he regarded my supplication out of his holy temple. Ps. 18 I will love thee, O Lord, my strength: the Lord is my stony rock, my fortress and my Savior. Glory be.

✠ COLLECTS ✠

O LORD, we beseech thee favorably to hear the prayers of thy people; that we, who are justly punished for our offences, may be mercifully delivered by thy goodness, for the glory of thy Name; through Jesus Christ our Savior, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost ever, one God, world without end. Amen.

FEAST OF ST. POLYCARP

God of all creation, Who was pleased to give the Bishop Saint Polycarp a place in the company of the Thy Martyrs, grant, through his intercession, that, sharing with him in the chalice of Christ, we may rise through the Holy Spirit to eternal life. Through Jesus Christ our Lord, Thy Son, Who livest and reignest with Thee in the unity of the Holy Spirit, ever One God, world without end. Amen.

FEAST OF ST. JOHN CHRYSOSTOM

ALMIGHTY GOD, Thou gavest Thy servant John Chrysostom grace eloquently to proclaim Thy righteousness in the great congregation and fearlessly to bear reproach for the honor of Thy Name: Mercifully grant to all bishops and pastors such excellence in preaching and faithfulness in ministering Thy Word, that Thy people may be partakers with them of the glory that shall be revealed; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who livest and reignest with Thee and the Holy Ghost, ever one God, world without end. Amen.

ST. EPHREM THE ASSYRIAN

O Lord and Master of my life, take from me the spirit of sloth, meddling, lust of power and idle talk, But give rather the spirit of chastity, humility, patience and love to thy servant. Yea, O Lord, and King, grant me to see my own sins and not to judge my brother, for thou art blessed unto ages of ages; O God, be gracious to me, a sinner. Amen

ST. ISAAC THE ASSYRIAN

Almighty God, who didst endue thy servant Isaac the Assyrian with a spirit of deep humility and a profound love for thee: Grant us, we beseech thee, the grace to seek thee with our whole hearts and to find in thy love a wellspring of eternal joy; in thy contemplation a bright and shining mirror of the uncreated light of the Holy Trinity; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost, ever one God, world without end. Amen.

ST. CHARLES MARTYR

O Lord God, who didst endue thy blessed martyr Charles with courage and constancy to die for the honor of thy Church and the liberty of thy people: Grant us so to follow his example of steadfast faith and patience, that we may attain unto thy heavenly kingdom; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost, ever one God, world without end. Amen.

ST. JOHN OF SAINT-DENIS

O God, who by thy grace didst lead thy servant Bishop John of Saint-Denis to labor for the unity of thy Church, the reestablishment of Western Orthodoxy and the sanctification of thy faithful people: Grant that we, strengthened by his example, may seek thy will in all things and strive for the peace and unity of thy holy Church; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost, ever one God, world without end. Amen.

ST. BRIGID OF IRELAND

ALMIGHTY GOD, whose servant Brigid, kindled with the flame of Thy love, became a shining light in Thy Holy Church: Grant that we also may be aflame with the spirit of love and discipline and walk before Thee as children of light; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who livest and reignest with Thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, ever one God, world without end. Amen.

FEAST OF ST. IGNATIUS OF ANTIOCH

ALMIGHTY God, mercifully look upon our infirmities: that whereas we are afflicted by the burden of our sins, the glorious intercession of thy Martyr and Bishop Saint Ignatius may be our succor and defense. Through.

✠ THE LITURGY OF THE WORD ✠

THE OLD TESTAMENT LESSON: Joshua 8:1–8, 18–23

And the LORD said unto Joshua, Fear not, neither be thou dismayed: take all the people of war with thee, and arise, go up to Ai: see, I have given into thy hand the king of Ai, and his people, and his city, and his land: And thou shalt do to Ai and her king as thou didst unto Jericho and her king: only the spoil thereof, and the cattle thereof, shall ye take for a prey unto yourselves: lay thee an ambush for the city behind it. So Joshua arose, and all the people of war, to go up against Ai: and Joshua chose out thirty thousand mighty men of valour, and sent them away by night. And he commanded them, saying, Behold, ye shall lie in wait against the city, even behind the city: go not very far from the city, but be ye all ready: And I, and all the people that are with me, will approach unto the city: and it shall come to pass, when they come out against us, as at the first, that we will flee before them, (For they will come out after us) till we have drawn them from the city; for they will say, They flee before us, as at the first: therefore we will flee before them. Then ye shall rise up from the ambush, and seize upon the city: for the LORD your God will deliver it into your hand. And it shall be, when ye have taken the city, that ye shall set the city on fire: according to the commandment of the LORD shall ye do. See, I have commanded you. And the LORD said unto Joshua, Stretch out the spear that is in thy hand toward Ai; for I will give it into thine hand. And Joshua stretched out the spear that he had in his hand toward the city. And the ambush arose quickly out of their place, and they ran as soon as he had stretched out his hand: and they entered into the city, and took it, and hasted and set the city on fire. And when the men of Ai looked behind them, they saw, and, behold, the smoke of the city ascended up to heaven. And the king of Ai they took alive, and brought him to Joshua.

THE NEW TESTAMENT LESSON: Hebrews 2

Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip. For if the word spoken by angels was stedfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompence of reward; How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him; God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to his own will? For unto the angels hath he not put in subjection the world to come, whereof we speak. But one in a certain place testified, saying, What is man, that thou art mindful of him? or the son of man, that thou visitest him? Thou madest him a little lower than the angels; thou crownedst him with glory and honour, and didst set him over the works of thy hands: Thou hast put all things in subjection under his feet. For in that he put all in subjection under him, he left nothing that is not put under him. But now we see not yet all things put under him. But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man. For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings. For both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren, Saying, I will declare thy name unto my brethren, in the midst of the church will I sing praise unto thee. And again, I will put my trust in him. And again, Behold I and the children which God hath given me. Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. For verily he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham. Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people. For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted.

THE EPISTLE: 1 Corinthians 9:24-27

Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain. And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible. I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air: But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.

THE HOLY GOSPEL: Matthew 20:1-16

For the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which went out early in the morning to hire labourers into his vineyard. And when he had agreed with the labourers for a penny a day, he sent them into his vineyard. And he went out about the third hour, and saw others standing idle in the marketplace, And said unto them; Go ye also into the vineyard, and whatsoever is right I will give you. And they went their way. Again he went out about the sixth and ninth hour, and did likewise. And about the eleventh hour he went out, and found others standing idle, and saith unto them, Why stand ye here all the day idle? They say unto him, Because no man hath hired us. He saith unto them, Go ye also into the vineyard; and whatsoever is right, that shall ye receive. So when even was come, the lord of the vineyard saith unto his steward, Call the labourers, and give them their hire, beginning from the last unto the first. And when they came that were hired about the eleventh hour, they received every man a penny. But when the first came, they supposed that they should have received more; and they likewise received every man a penny. And when they had received it, they murmured against the goodman of the house, Saying, These last have wrought but one hour, and thou hast made them equal unto us, which have borne the burden and heat of the day. But he answered one of them, and said, Friend, I do thee no wrong: didst not thou agree with me for a penny? Take that thine is, and go thy way: I will give unto this last, even as unto thee. Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own? Is thine eye evil, because I am good? So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen.

✠ THE LITURGY OF THE FAITHFUL ✠

OFFERTORY:

It is a good thing to give thanks unto the Lord: and to sing praises unto thy Name, O most Highest.

SECRET:

Receive we beseech thee, O Lord our offerings and prayers: and through these heavenly mysteries both cleanse us from our sins and graciously hear us. Through.

Through thy mercy, O Lord, and the intercession of blessed Mary ever Virgin, may this oblation further our prosperity and peace, both now and for ever. Defend us, O Lord, who wait upon thy mysteries, that we cleaving to heavenly things, may serve thee both in mind and body. Through.

COMMUNION:

Show thy servant the light of thy countenance and save me, for thy mercy’s sake: let me not be confounded, O Lord, for I have called upon thee.

POSTCOMMUNION:

May thy faithful people, O God, be strengthened by thy gifts, that, by partaking of them, they may continue to seek after them and seeking them, partake of them without end. Through.

May this Communion, O Lord, cleanse us from all stain of sin and at the intercession of blessed Mary, the Virgin Mother of God, make us partakers with her of everlasting salvation. Grant, we beseech thee, O Lord our God: that we, whom thou hast made partakers of heavenly gladness, may by thee be defended from all earthly perils. Through.