The Roman Missal: Septuagesima and Lent, to the Saturday of the Fourth Week (English) 26

1[Thursday, Third Week of Lent.]

2Introit. I am the salvation of the people, saith the Lord: from whatever tribulation they shall cry to me, I will hear them; and I will be their Lord for ever.—Attend, O my people, to my law; incline your ear to the words of my mouth. Glory, &c.

3Prayer. Magnificet. May the blessed solemnity of thy saints Cosmas and Damian magnify thee, O Lord: by which thou hast both granted eternal glory to them, and assistance to us in thy ineffable providence. Through our Lord, &c.

4[Other Prayers as on Ash Wednesday, page 118.]

5Lesson. Jeremias, vii. 1—7. In those days the word of the Lord came to me, saying, Stand in the gate of the house of the Lord; and proclaim there this word, and say, Hear ye the word of the Lord, all ye men of Juda, that enter in at these gates, to adore the Lord. Thus saith the Lord of hosts the God of Israel, Make your ways and your doings good; and I will dwell with you in this place. Trust not in lying words, saying, The temple of the Lord, the temple of the Lord, it is the temple of the Lord. For if you will order well your ways and your doings; if you will execute judgment between a man and his neighbour; if you oppress not the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow, and shed not innocent blood in this place, and walk not after strange gods to your own hurt; I will dwell with you in this place; in the land which I gave to your fathers from the beginning, and for evermore: saith the Lord Almighty.

6Gradual. The eyes of all hope in thee, O Lord; and thou givest them meat in due season. Thou openest thy hand, and fillest every living creature with blessing.

7Gospel. St Luke, iv. 38—44. At that time, Jesus rising up out of the synagogue, went into Simon's house: and Simon's wife's mother was taken with a great fever, and they besought him for her. And standing over her, he commanded the fever, and it left her: and immediately rising, she ministered to them. And when the sun was down, all they that had any sick with divers diseases, brought them to him: but he laying his hands on every one of them, healed them. And devils went out from many, crying out, and saying, Thou art the Son of God. And rebuking them, he suffered them not to speak, for they knew that he was Christ. And when it was day, going out he went into a desert place; and the multitudes sought him, and came unto him; and they stayed him that he should not depart from them. To whom he said, To other cities also I must preach the kingdom of God, for therefore am I sent. And he was preaching in the synagogues of Galilee.

8Offertory. If I shall walk in the midst of tribulation, thou wilt quicken me, O Lord: and thou wilt stretch forth thy hand against the wrath of my enemies; and thy right hand shall save me.

9Secret. In the precious death of thy just, O Lord, we offer to thee that sacrifice which was the genuine source of martyrdom. Through, &c.

10[Other Secrets as above, page 120.]

11Communion. Thou hast commanded thy commandments to be kept exceedingly: O that my ways may be directed to keep thy justifications.

12Postcom. Sit nobis. May we experience, O Lord, the sure salvation of thy sacrament: which we implore by the merits of thy blessed martyrs, Cosmas and Damian. Through our Lord, &c.

13[Other Postcommunions as above, page 121.]

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

15Prayer. Subjectum. May heavenly propitiation increase thy people subject to thee, O Lord, we beseech thee, and make them ever servants of thy commandments. Through our Lord, &c.