The Roman Missal: Septuagesima and Lent, to the Saturday of the Fourth Week (English) 12

1[Thursday, First Week of Lent.]

2Introit. Ps. xcv. Praise and beauty are before him: holiness and majesty in his sanctuary.—Sing ye to the Lord a new canticle: sing to the Lord all the earth. Glory, &c.

3Prayer. Devotionem. Favourably look down, O Lord, upon the devotion of thy people, that we, who are afflicted in body by abstinence, may be refreshed in mind by the fruit of good works. Through our Lord, &c.

4[Second and Third Prayers as on Ash Wednesday, p. 118.]

5Lesson. Ezechiel, xviii. 1—9. In those days the word of the Lord came to me, saying, What is the meaning that you use among you this parable as a proverb in the land of Israel, saying, The fathers have eaten sour grapes, and the teeth of the children are set on edge? As I live, saith the Lord, this parable shall be no more to you a proverb in Israel. Behold all souls are mine: as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is mine: the soul that sinneth, the same shall die. And if a man be just, and do judgment and justice, and hath not eaten upon the mountains, nor lifted up his eyes to the idols of the house of Israel; and hath not defiled his neighbour's wife, nor come near to a menstruous woman; and hath not wronged any man, but hath restored the pledge to the debtor; hath taken nothing away by violence; hath given his bread to the hungry, and hath covered the naked with a garment; hath not lent upon usury, nor taken any increase; hath withdrawn his hand from iniquity, and hath executed true judgment between man and man; hath walked in my commandments, and kept my judgments, to do truth; he is just, he shall surely live, saith the Lord Almighty.

6Gradual. Keep me, O Lord, as the apple of thy eye; protect me under the shadow of thy wings. Let my judgment come forth from thy countenance; let thy eyes behold the things that are equitable.

7Gospel. St Matthew, xv. 21—28. At that time, Jesus went forth, and retired into the coasts of Tyre and Sidon. And behold a woman of Canaan who came out of those coasts, crying out, said to him, Have mercy on me, O Lord, thou son of David: my daughter is grievously troubled by a devil. Who answered her not a word. And his disciples came and besought him, saying, Send her away, for she crieth after us: and he answering, said, I was not sent but to the sheep that are lost of the house of Israel. But she came and adored him, saying, Lord, help me. Who answering, said, It is not good to take the bread of the children, and to cast it to the dogs. But she said, Yea, Lord; for the whelps also eat of the crumbs that fall from the table of their masters. Then Jesus answering, said to her, O woman, great is thy faith; be it done to thee as thou wilt: and her daughter was cured from that hour.

8Offertory. The angel of the Lord shall encamp round about them that fear him, and shall deliver them: taste and see that the Lord is sweet.

9Secret. May these sacrifices, we beseech thee, O Lord, which are instituted with medicinal fasts, save us by thy grace. Through our Lord, &c.

10[Second and Third Secrets as above, page 120.]

11Communion. The bread that I will give, is my flesh for the life of the world.

12Postcom. Tuorum nos. By the abundance of thy gifts, O Lord, support us by temporal protection, renovate us by that which will be everlasting. Through our Lord, &c.

13[Second and Third Postcommunions as above, p. 121.]

14[Over the People. Let us pray. Bow down your heads before God.]

15Prayer. Da quæsumus. Grant, we beseech thee, O Lord, to thy Christian people, to acknowledge what they profess; and to love the heavenly gift which they frequent. Through, &c.