SEXAGESIMA (FEBRUARY 8TH)

CHRIST THE SOWER, THE GOOD SEED, AND THE BEARER OF ALL GOOD FRUIT

✠ THE DIVINE LITURGY OF ST. JAMES 

ACCORDING TO THE USE OF THE ANCIENT CHURCH OF THE WEST ✠

✠ Sexagesima ✠

✠ THE PREPARATION ✠

INTROIT: 

Arise, O Lord, wherefore sleepest thou? Awaken, and cast us not away for ever: wherefore hidest thou thy countenance and forgetest our adversity and misery? Our belly cleaveth unto the ground; arise, and save us, O Lord, our helper and our deliverer. Ps. 44 O God, we have heard with out ears: our fathers have told us.

✠ COLLECTS ✠

The Sunday Called Sexagesima, Or The Second Sunday Before Lent

O LORD God, who seest that we put not our trust in any thing that we do; Mercifully grant that by thy power we may be defended against all adversity; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

THE PRESENTATION OF CHRIST IN THE TEMPLE, CANDLEMAS

ALMIGHTY and everliving God, we humbly beseech thy Majesty, that, as thy only-begotten Son was this day presented in the temple in substance of our flesh, so we may be presented unto thee with pure and clean hearts, by the same thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

FEAST OF ST. BLAISE

Almighty and Everlasting God, Who, in Thy infinite wisdom, didst raise up Thy servant Saint Blaise to be a physician of both body and soul, a faithful bishop and a valiant martyr: Grant unto us, thy humble servants, the grace to emulate his steadfast devotion and unwavering faith. May we, in times of trial, find solace in the blessings of throats bestowed through his intercession and be fortified by the example of his sacrificial life. May his prayers be a source of inspiration and healing, especially for those afflicted with ailments of the throat today. 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. AGATHA

ALMIGHTY GOD, may the Virgin Martyr Saint Agatha implore Thy heavenly compassion for us, O Lord, we pray, for she found favor with Thee by the courage of her martyrdom and the faithfulness of her chastity. Through Jesus Christ Thy Son 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. TITUS

O God, who on thy blessed Confessor Saint Titus didst bestow the virtues of thine Apostles: grant, we beseech thee, that by his merits and intercession; we may so live righteously and soberly in this world, that we may be found worthy to attain unto our country in heaven. Through.

ST. RICHARD OF WESSEX

O ALMIGHTY GOD, who didst guide thy servant Richard from the fleeting honors of this world unto the eternal pilgrimage of thy kingdom: grant that we, following his example of humility and devotion, may so set our affections on things above that, forsaking all vain ambition, we may find our rest in thee; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost, ever one God, world without end. Amen

✠ THE LITURGY OF THE WORD ✠

THE OLD TESTAMENT LESSON: Joshua 24:14–24

Now therefore fear the LORD, and serve him in sincerity and in truth: and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the flood, and in Egypt; and serve ye the LORD. And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.

And the people answered and said, God forbid that we should forsake the LORD, to serve other gods; For the LORD our God, he it is that brought us up and our fathers out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage, and which did those great signs in our sight, and preserved us in all the way wherein we went, and among all the people through whom we passed. And the LORD drave out from before us all the people, even the Amorites which dwelt in the land: therefore will we also serve the LORD; for he is our God.

And Joshua said unto the people, Ye cannot serve the LORD: for he is an holy God; he is a jealous God; he will not forgive your transgressions nor your sins. If ye forsake the LORD, and serve strange gods, then he will turn and do you hurt, and consume you, after that he hath done you good. And the people said unto Joshua, Nay; but we will serve the LORD. And Joshua said unto the people, Ye are witnesses against yourselves that ye have chosen you the LORD, to serve him. And they said, We are witnesses.

THE NEW TESTAMENT LESSON: Hebrews 3-4

Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus; Who was faithful to him that appointed him, as also Moses was faithful in all his house. For this man was counted worthy of more glory than Moses, inasmuch as he who hath builded the house hath more honour than the house. For every house is builded by some man; but he that built all things is God. And Moses verily was faithful in all his house, as a servant, for a testimony of those things which were to be spoken after; But Christ as a son over his own house; whose house are we, if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end. Wherefore (as the Holy Ghost saith, To day if ye will hear his voice, Harden not your hearts, as in the provocation, in the day of temptation in the wilderness: When your fathers tempted me, proved me, and saw my works forty years. Wherefore I was grieved with that generation, and said, They do alway err in their heart; and they have not known my ways. So I sware in my wrath, They shall not enter into my rest.) Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God. But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end; While it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation. For some, when they had heard, did provoke: howbeit not all that came out of Egypt by Moses. But with whom was he grieved forty years? was it not with them that had sinned, whose carcases fell in the wilderness? And to whom sware he that they should not enter into his rest, but to them that believed not? So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief. 

Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it. For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it. For we which have believed do enter into rest, as he said, As I have sworn in my wrath, if they shall enter into my rest: although the works were finished from the foundation of the world. For he spake in a certain place of the seventh day on this wise, And God did rest the seventh day from all his works. And in this place again, If they shall enter into my rest. Seeing therefore it remaineth that some must enter therein, and they to whom it was first preached entered not in because of unbelief: Again, he limiteth a certain day, saying in David, To day, after so long a time; as it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts. For if Jesus had given them rest, then would he not afterward have spoken of another day. There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God. For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his. Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief. For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do. Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. 

THE EPISTLE: 2 Corinthians 11:19-31

For ye suffer fools gladly, seeing ye yourselves are wise. For ye suffer, if a man bring you into bondage, if a man devour you, if a man take of you, if a man exalt himself, if a man smite you on the face. I speak as concerning reproach, as though we had been weak. Howbeit whereinsoever any is bold, (I speak foolishly,) I am bold also. Are they Hebrews? so am I. Are they Israelites? so am I. Are they the seed of Abraham? so am I. Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as a fool) I am more; in labours more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft. Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one. Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep; In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness. Beside those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches. Who is weak, and I am not weak? who is offended, and I burn not? If I must needs glory, I will glory of the things which concern mine infirmities. The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which is blessed for evermore, knoweth that I lie not. 

THE HOLY GOSPEL: Luke 8:4-15

And when much people were gathered together, and were come to him out of every city, he spake by a parable: A sower went out to sow his seed: and as he sowed, some fell by the way side; and it was trodden down, and the fowls of the air devoured it. And some fell upon a rock; and as soon as it was sprung up, it withered away, because it lacked moisture. And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprang up with it, and choked it. And other fell on good ground, and sprang up, and bare fruit an hundredfold. And when he had said these things, he cried, He that hath ears to hear, let him hear. And his disciples asked him, saying, What might this parable be? And he said, Unto you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God: but to others in parables; that seeing they might not see, and hearing they might not understand. Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God. Those by the way side are they that hear; then cometh the devil, and taketh away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved. They on the rock are they, which, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, which for a while believe, and in time of temptation fall away. And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection. But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience.

✠ THE LITURGY OF THE FAITHFUL ✠

OFFERTORY:

O hold thou up my goings in thy paths, that my footsteps slip not; incline thine ear to me and hearken unto my words: show thy marvelous loving kindness, O Lord, thou that art the Savior of them that put their trust in thee.

SECRET:

May the Sacrifice which we offer unto thee, O Lord, evermore quicken and defend 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 forever. 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:

I will go unto the altar of God: even unto the God of my joy and gladness.

POSTCOMMUNION:

We humbly beseech thee, Almighty God: that we, whom thou dost refresh with thy holy Sacraments, may continually serve thee in all virtuous and godly living. Through.

May this Communion, O Lord, cleanse us from all stain of sin: 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.