Introit • Ps. 17, 48, 49
My deliverer from the angry nations: Thou wilt lift me up above them that rise up against me: from the unjust man Thou wilt deliver me, O Lord, Ps. 17, 2, 3, 1. I will love Thee, O Lord, my strength: the Lord is my firmament, and my refuge, and my deliverer. My deliverer.
Collect (Prayer)
Enlighten the hearts of Thy faithful, by this sanctified fast, O God of mercy, and of Thy kindness turn a pitying ear to the suppliants to whom Thou givest the spirit of devotion.. Through our Lord.
Collect (Prayer)
O God, Who didst vouchsafe to enlighten Thy Church with the virtues and preaching of blessed Vincent, Thy confessor, grant unto us, Thy servants, that we may be both instructed by his examples and delivered from all evil by his patronage. Through our Lord.
Epistle • Lev. 19, 1, 2; 11-19, 25
Lesson from the Book of Leviticus.
In those days, the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, Speak to all he multitude of the children of Israel, and tou shal say to them, I am the Lord you God, You shall not steal. You shall not lie, neither shall any man deceive his neighbour. Thou shalt not swear falsely by my name, nor profane the name of thy God. I am the Lord. Thou shalt not calumniate thy neighbour, nor oppress him by violence. The wages of him that hath been hired by thee shall not abide with thee until the morning. Thou shalt not speak evil of the deaf, nor put a stumblingblock before the blind: but thou shalt fear the Lord thy God, because I am the Lord. Thou shalt not do that which is unjust, nor judge unjustly. Respect not the person of the poor, nor honour the countenance of the mighty. But judge thy neighbour according to justice.
Thou shalt not be a detractor nor a whisperer among the people. Thou shalt not stand against the blood of thy neighbour. I am the Lord. Thou shalt not hate thy brother in thy heart, but reprove him openly, lest thou incur sin through him. Seek not revenge, nor be mindful of the injury of thy citizens. Thou shalt love thy friend as thyself. I am the Lord. Keep ye my laws: for I am the Lord you God.
Gradual • Ps. 29, 2, 3, 4
I will extol Thee, O Lord, for Thou hast upheld me and hast not made my enemies to rejoice over me. O Lord, my God, I have cried to Thee, and Thou hast healed me: Thou hast brought forth, O Lord, my soul from hell; Thou hast saved me from them that go down into the pit.
Tract. Ps. 102, 10
O Lord, repay us not according to the sins we have committed, nor according to our iniquities. Ps. 78, 8, 9. O Lord, remember not our former iniquities: let Thy mercies speedily prevent us, for we are become exceeding poor. Help us, O Lord our Saviour: and for the glory of Thy name, O Lord, deliver us: and forgive us our sins for Thy name’s sake.
Gospel • John 10, 22-38
Continuation of the Holy Gospel According to St. John.
At that time, it was the feast of the dedication at Jerusalem: and it was winter. And Jesus walked in the temple, in Solomon’ s porch. The Jews therefore came round about him, and said to him: How long dost thou hold our souls in suspense? If thou be the Christ, tell us plainly. Jesus answered them: I speak to you, and you believe not: the works that I do in the name of my Father, they give testimony of me.
But you do not believe, because you are not of my sheep. My sheep hear my voice: and I know them, and they follow me. And I give them life everlasting; and they shall not perish for ever, and no man shall pluck them out of my hand. That which my Father hath given me, is greater than all: and no one can snatch them out of the hand of my Father. I and the Father are one.
The Jews then took up stones to stone him. Jesus answered them: Many good works I have shewed you from my Father; for which of these works do you stone me? The Jews answered him: For a good work we stone thee not, but for blasphemy; and because that thou, being a man, maketh thyself God. Jesus answered them: Is it not written in your law: I said you are gods? If he called them gods, to whom the word of God was spoken, and the scripture cannot be broken;
Do you say of him whom the Father hath sanctified and sent into the world: Thou blasphemest, because I said, I am the Son of God? If I do not the works of my Father, believe me not. But if I do, though you will not believe me, believe the works: that you may know and believe that the Father is in me, and I in the Father.
Offertory • Ps. 58, 2
Deliver me from my enemies, O my God, and defend me from them that rise up against me, O Lord.
Secret
Make it Thy will, O merciful God, that in earnest tribute we may bring the offerings of reparation and praise. Through our Lord.
Communion • Matt. 25, 6, 7
I will wash my hands among the innocent, and will compass Thy altar, O Lord: that I may hear the voice of Thy praise, and tell of all Thy wondrous works.
Postcommunion
Having received the blessing of the heavenly gifts, we, Thy suppliants, implore Thee, O God, that the same may be the cause both of the sacrament and of our salvation. Through our Lord.