My LORD’s BibleThe Roman Missal: Septuagesima and Lent, to the Saturday of the Fourth Week (English) 25
1[Wednesday, Third Week of Lent.]
3Prayer. Præsta nobis. Grant us, we beseech thee, O Lord, that instructed by wholesome fasting, and abstaining from dangerous vices, we may more easily obtain thy favour. Through our Lord, &c.
4[Other Prayers as on Ash Wednesday, page 118.]
5Lesson. Exodus, xx. 12—24. Thus saith the Lord God, Honour thy father and thy mother, that thou mayest be long-lived upon the land which the Lord thy God will give thee. Thou shalt not kill. Thou shalt not commit adultery. Thou shalt not steal. Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour. Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's house; neither shalt thou desire his wife, nor his servant, nor his hand-maid, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is his. And all the people saw the voices, and the flames, and the sound of the trumpet, and the mount smoking: and being terrified and struck with fear, they stood afar off, saying to Moses, Speak thou to us, and we will hear; let not the Lord speak to us, lest we die. And Moses said to the people, Fear not, for God is come to prove you, and that the dread of him might be in you, and you should not sin. And the people stood afar off; but Moses went to the dark cloud wherein God was: and the Lord said to Moses, Thus shalt thou say to the children of Israel, You have seen that I have spoken to you from heaven. You shall not make gods of silver, nor shall you make to yourselves gods of gold. You shall make an altar of earth unto me, and you shall offer upon it your holocausts and peace-offerings, your sheep and oxen, in every place where the memory of my name shall be.
6Gradual. Have mercy on me, O Lord, for I am weak: heal me, O Lord.—All my bones are troubled: and my soul is troubled exceedingly.
7[Tract as on Ash Wednesday, page 119.]
8Gospel. St Matt. xv. 1—20. At that time the Scribes and Pharisees came to Jesus from Jerusalem, saying, Why do thy disciples transgress the tradition of the ancients? for they wash not their hands when they eat bread. But he answering, said to them, Why do you also transgress the commandment of God for your tradition? For God said, Honour thy father and mother; and he that shall curse father or mother, let him die the death. But you say, Whosoever shall say to his father or mother, The gift, whatsoever proceedeth from me, shall profit thee; and he shall not honour his father or his mother: and you have made void the commandment of God for your tradition. Ye hypocrites, well hath Isaias prophesied of you, saying, This people honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me; and in vain do they worship me, teaching doctrines and commandments of men. And having called together the multitudes unto him, he said to them, Hear ye and understand: not that which goeth into the mouth defileth a man, but what cometh out of the mouth, this defileth a man. Then came his disciples and said to him, Dost thou know that the Pharisees, when they heard this word, were scandalized? But he answering, said, Every plant which my heavenly Father hath not planted shall be rooted up. Let them alone, they are blind and leaders of the blind; and if the blind lead the blind, both fall into the pit. And Peter answering said to him, Explain to us this parable. But he said, Are you also yet without understanding? do you not understand, that whatsoever entereth into the mouth goeth into the belly, and is cast into the privy? but the things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart, and those things defile a man: for out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false testimonies, blasphemies. These are the things that defile a man: but to eat with unwashed hands doth not defile a man.
9Offertory. O Lord, be merciful to me for thy name's sake because thy mercy is sweet.
10Secret. Accept, we beseech thee, O Lord, the prayers of thy people with the oblation of sacrifice: and defend us, who celebrate thy mysteries, from all dangers. Through our Lord Jesus, &c.
11[Other Secrets as above, page 120.]
13Postcom. Sanctificet. May the heavenly table, of which we have partaken, sanctify us, O Lord; and purifying us from all errors, render us worthy of the heavenly promises. Through our Lord, &c.
14[Other Postcommunions as above, page 121.]
15[Over the People. Let us pray. Bow down your heads before God.]
16Prayer. Concede. Grant we beseech thee, O Almighty God, that we who seek the favour of thy protection, being delivered from all evils, may serve thee with secure minds. Through our Lord, &c.