Introit • John 21, 15-17
If THOU lovest Me, Simon Peter, feed My lambs, feed My sheep. Ps. 29, 1. I will extol Thee, O lord, for Thou hast upheld me: and hast not made my enemies to rejoice over me. Gory be …
Collect (Prayer)
O God, Who dost behold how we fail in our weakness, mercifully restore us unto Thy love through the examples of Thy saints. Through our Lord.
Epistle • 1 Peter 5, 1-4; 10-11
Lesson from the Epistle of blessed Peter the Apostle.
Brethren: The ancients therefore that are among you, I beseech, who am myself also an ancient, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ: as also a partaker of that glory which is to be revealed in time to come: Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking care of it, not by constraint, but willingly, according to God: not for filthy lucre’ s sake, but voluntarily: Neither as lording it over the clergy, but being made a pattern of the flock from the heart. And when the prince of pastors shall appear, you shall receive a never fading crown of glory. But the God of all grace, who hath called us into his eternal glory in Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a little, will himself perfect you, and confirm you, and establish you. To him be glory and empire for ever and ever. Amen.
Gradual • Ps. 106, 32, 31
Let them exalt him in the Church of the people: and praise him in the chair of the ancients. Let the mercies of the Lord give glory to him, and his wonderful works to the children of men.
Lesser Alleluia
Alleluia, alleluia. Matth. 16, 18. Thou art Peter and upon this rock I will build My Church. Alleluia.
Gospel • Matt. 16, 13-19
Continuation of the Holy Gospel According to St. Matthew.
At that time, And Jesus came into the quarters of Caesarea Philippi: and he asked his disciples, saying: Whom do men say that the Son of man is? But they said: Some John the Baptist, and other some Elias, and others Jeremias, or one of the prophets. Jesus saith to them: But whom do you say that I am?
Simon Peter answered and said: Thou art Christ, the Son of the living God. And Jesus answering, said to him: Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-Jona: because flesh and blood hath not revealed it to thee, but my Father who is in heaven. And I say to thee: That thou art Peter; and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. And I will give to thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven. And whatsoever thou shalt bind upon earth, it shall be bound also in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose upon earth, it shall be loosed also in heaven.
Offertory • Jerem. 1, 9-10
Behold I have given My words in thy mouth: lo, I have set thee this day over the kingdoms, to waste and to destroy, and to build and to plant.
Secret
May this mystical offering profit us, O Lord, to rid us of our sins and to confirm us with Thy everlasting salvation. Through our Lord.
Communion • Matt. 16, 18
Thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build My Church.
Postcommunion
We BESEECH Thee, O almighty God, that these sacred gifts may purge our sins and by their effect make us lead holy lives. Through our Lord.