INTROIT
Ps. 26:7, 9
Hear, O Lord, the sound of my call; be my helper: forsake me not: despise me not, O God my Saviour.
Ps 26:1
The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom should I fear?
Glory Be to the Father…
Hear, O Lord, the sound of my call; be my helper: forsake me not: despise me not, O God my Saviour.
COLLECT
O God, You Who have prepared good things as yet unseen for those who love You, pour a burning love into our hearts, so that we, loving You in and above all things, may obtain Your promises which surpass all desire.
Through our Lord…
COMMEMORATION COLLECT
Commemoration Vigil of the Nativity of St. John the Baptist
Grant, we beseech You, almighty God, that Your household may walk in the way of salvation and, by following the counsels of blessed John the Herald, safely come to our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son, Whom he foretold.
Who livest and reignest with God the Father…
EPISTLE
Lesson from the first letter of St. Peter the Apostle
1 Pet 3:8-15.
Beloved: Be all like-minded in prayer, compassionate, lovers of the brethren, merciful, reserved, humble; not rendering evil for evil, or abuse for abuse, but contrariwise, blessing; for unto this were you called that you might inherit a blessing. For, ‘He who would love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no deceit. Let him turn away from evil and do good, let him seek after peace and pursue it. For the eyes of the Lord are upon the just, and His ears unto their prayers; but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.’ And who is there to harm you, if you are zealous for what is good? But even if you suffer anything for justice’ sake, blessed are you. So have no fear of their fear and do not be troubled. But hallow the Lord Christ in your hearts.
GRADUAL
Ps. 83:10, 9
Behold, O God, our protector, and look on Your servants.
℣. O Lord God of Hosts, hear the prayers of Your servants. Alleluia, alleluia.
Ps. 20:1
℣. O Lord, in Your strength the king is glad; in Your victory how greatly he rejoices! Alleluia.
GOSPEL
Continuation ☩ of the Holy Gospel according to Matthew
Matt 5:20-24.
At that time, Jesus said to His disciples: Unless your justice exceeds that of the Scribes and Pharisees, you shall not enter the kingdom of heaven. You have heard that it was said to the ancients, ‘You shall not kill’; and that whoever shall kill shall be liable to judgment. But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother shall be liable to judgment; and whoever says to his brother, ‘Raca,’ shall be liable to the Sanhedrin; and whoever says, ‘You fool!’, shall be liable to the fire of Gehenna. Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar, and there remember that your brother has anything against you, leave your gift before the altar and go first to be reconciled to your brother; and then come and offer your gift.
OFFERTORY
Ps. 15:7-8.
I bless the Lord Who counsels me; I set God ever before me; with Him at my right hand I shall not be disturbed.
SECRET
Be propitious to our supplications, O Lord, and graciously receive these oblations of Your servants and handmaids, that what each one offered to the glory of Your name, may profit all to salvation.
Through our Lord…
COMMEMORATION SECRET
Commemoration Vigil of the Nativity of St. John the Baptist
Sanctify, O Lord, the gifts offered to You, and, by the intercession of Blessed John the Baptist, purify us by them from the stains of our sins.
Through our Lord…
PREFACE
Holy Trinity
It is truly meet and just, right and for our salvation, that we should at all times, and in all places, give thanks unto Thee, O holy Lord, Father almighty, everlasting God; Who, together with Thine only-begotten Son, and the Holy Ghost, art one God, one Lord: not in the oneness of a single Person, but in the Trinity of one substance. For what we believe by Thy revelation of Thy glory, the same do we believe of Thy Son, the same of the Holy Ghost, without difference or separation. So that in confessing the true and everlasting Godhead, distinction in persons, unity in essence, and equality in majesty may be adored. Which the Angels and Archangels, the Cherubim also and Seraphim do praise: who cease not daily to cry out, with one voice saying:
COMMUNION
Ps. 26:4.
One thing I ask of the Lord; this I seek: to dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life.
POSTCOMMUNION
Grant us, we beseech You, O Lord, that we whom You have filled with the heavenly gift may be cleansed of our hidden sins and delivered from the snares of our enemies.
Through our Lord…
COMMEMORATION POSTCOMMUNION
Commemoration Vigil of the Nativity of St. John the Baptist
May the powerful prayer of blessed John the Baptist go with us, O Lord, and may he plead with our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son, Whose coming he foretold, to be merciful unto us.
Who livest and reignest with God the Father…