Saturday After Ash Wednesday
Introit • Ps. 29, 11
The Lord hath heard, and hath had mercy on me: the Lord became my helper. Ps. 29, 2. I will extol Thee, O Lord, for Thou hast upheld me; and hast not made my enemies to rejoice over me. Glory be …
Collect (Prayer)
Give ear to our supplications, O Lord, and grant that we may keep with devout service this solemn fast, wholesomely instituted for the cure of soul and body. Through our Lord.
Epistle • Is. 58, 9-14
Lesson from Asaias the Prophet.
Thurs saith the Lord God: If thou wilt take away the chain out of the midst of thee, and cease to stretch out the finger, and to speak that which profiteth not. When thou shalt pour out thy soul to the hungry, and shalt satisfy the afflicted soul then shall thy light rise up in darkness, and thy darkness shall be as the noonday.
And the Lord will give thee rest continually, and will fill thy soul with brightness, and deliver thy bones, and thou shalt be like a watered garden, and like a fountain of water whose waters shall not fail. And the places that have been desolate for ages shall be built in thee: thou shalt raise up the foundations of generation and generation: and thou shalt be called the repairer of the fences, turning the paths into rest. If thou turn away thy foot from the sabbath, from doing thy own will in my holy day, and call the sabbath delightful, and the holy of the Lord glorious, and glorify him, while thou dost not thy own ways, and thy own will is not found: to speak a word: Then shalt thou be delighted in the Lord, and I will lift thee up above the high places of the earth, and will feed thee with the inheritance of Jacob thy father. For the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it.
Gradual • Ps. 26, 4
One thing I have asked of the Lord, that will I seek after, that I may dwell in the house of the Lord. That I may see the delight of the Lord, and be protected by His holy temple.
Gospel • Mark 6, 47-56
Continuation of the Holy Gospel According to St. Mark.
At that time, when it was late, the ship was in the midst of the sea, and himself alone on the land. And seeing them labouring in rowing, (for the wind was against them,) and about the fourth watch of the night, he cometh to them walking upon the sea, and he would have passed by them. But they seeing him walking upon the sea, thought it was an apparition, and they cried out. For they all saw him, and were troubled. And immediately he spoke with them, and said to them: Have a good heart, it is I, fear ye not.
And he went up to them into the ship, and the wind ceased: and they were far more astonished within themselves: For they understood not concerning the loaves; for their heart was blinded. And when they had passed over, they came into the land of Genezareth, and set to the shore. And when they were gone out of the ship, immediately they knew him: And running through that whole country, they began to carry about in beds those that were sick, where they heard he was.
And whithersoever he entered, into towns or into villages or cities, they laid the sick in the streets, and besought him that they might touch but the hem of his garment: and as many as touched him were made whole.
Offertory • Ps. 118, 154, 125
O Lord, enliven me according to Thy word, that I may know Thy testimonies.
Secret
Receive, O Lord, the sacrifice with the immolation of which it hath been Thy will to be graciously appeased; grant, we beseech Thee, that, being purified by its operation, we may present such a spiritual affection as shall be well pleasing to Thee. Through our Lord.
Communion • Ps. 2, 11, 12
Serve ye the Lord with fear, and rejoice unto Him with trembling; embrace discipline, lest you perish from the just way.
Postcommunion
Nourished with the gift of the Bread of Life, we beg, O Lord, that, that which is a mystery to us in the present life may become an aid of the eternal. Through our Lord.