Feast of St. James the Greater – in low Masses a commemoration of Christopher, Martyr
Introit • Ps. 138, 17
To me Thy friends, O God, are made exceedingly honorable: their principality is exceedingly strengthened Ps. 138, 1-2. Lord, Thou hast proved me, and known me; Thou hast known my sitting down, and my rising up. Glory be …
Collect (Prayer)
Be thou, O Lord, the sanctifier, and the guardian of Thy people, so that, being defended by the protection of Thine apostle James, thy may both please Thee by their conduct and serve Thee with mind all untroubled. Through our Lord.
Collect (Prayer)
Grant, we beseech Thee, O almighty God, that we, who venerate the birthday of blessed Christopher, Thy martyr, may, through his intercession, be strengthened in the love of Thy name. Through our Lord.
Epistle • 1 Cor. 4, 9-15
Lesson from the Epistle of blessed Paul the Apostle to the Corinthians.
BRETHREN, I think that God hath set forth us apostles, the last, as it were men appointed to death: we are made a spectacle to the world, and to angels, and to men. We are fools for Christ’s sake, but you are wise in Christ; we are weak, but you are strong; you are honourable, but we without honour.
Even unto this hour we both hunger and thirst, and are naked, and are buffeted, and have no fixed abode; And we labour, working with our own hands: we are reviled, and we bless; we are persecuted, and we suffer it. We are blasphemed, and we entreat; we are made as the refuse of this world, the offscouring of all even until now. I write not these things to confound you; but I admonish you as my dearest children. For if you have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet not many fathers. For in Christ Jesus, by the gospel, I have begotten you.
Gradual • Ps. 44, 17, 18
Thou shalt make them princes over all the earth: they shall remember They name, O Lord. Instead of thy fathers, sons are born to thee: therefore shall people praise thee.
Alleluia, alleluia. John 15, 16. I have chosen you out of the world, that you should go, and should bring forth fruit, and your fruit should remain. Alleluia.
Gospel • Matt. 20, 20-23
Continuation of the Holy Gospel According to St. Matthew.
At that time, the mother of the sons of Zebedee with her sons, adoring and asking something of him. Who said to her: What wilt thou? She saith to him: Say that these my two sons may sit, the one on thy right hand, and the other on thy left, in thy kingdom. And Jesus answering, said: You know not what you ask. Can you drink the chalice that I shall drink? They say to him: We can. He saith to them: My chalice indeed you shall drink; but to sit on my right or left hand, is not mine to give to you, but to them for whom it is prepared by my Father.
Offertory • Ps. 18, 5
Their sound hath gone forth into all the earth: and their words unto the ends of the world.
Secret
May the holy sufferings of James, Thy blessed apostle, commend the offerings of Thy people, we beseech Thee, O Lord: and since they are not worthy for any merits of ours let them be made pleasing to Thee by his prayers. Through our Lord.
Secret
Accept, we beseech Thee, O Lord, our offerings and prayers; both cleanse us by these heavenly mysteries and graciously hear us. Through our Lord.
Communion • Matt. 19, 28
You that have followed me shall sit upon seats, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
Postcommunion
Assist us, O Lord, we beseech Thee, by the intercession of Thy blessed apostle James, for whose festivity we have joyfully partaken of Thy holy sacraments. Through our Lord.
Postcommunion
Grant, we beseech Thee, O Lord, our God, that we, who in this life joyfully assist in the commemoration of Thy saints, may hereafter rejoice in beholding them forever in heaven. Through our Lord.