The Roman Missal: Septuagesima and Lent, to the Saturday of the Fourth Week (English) 33

1[Thursday, Fourth Week of Lent.]

2Introit. Ps. civ. Let the heart of them rejoice that seek the Lord: seek the Lord, and be strengthened: seek his face evermore. Give glory to the Lord, and call upon his name; declare his deeds among the gentiles. Glory, &c.

3Prayer. Præsta. Grant we beseech thee, Almighty God, that we who are chastised by the fasts we have undertaken, may rejoice with holy devotion; that our earthly affections being weakened, we may more easily apprehend heavenly things. Through our Lord, &c.

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

5Lesson. 4 Kings, iv. 25—38. In those days, a Sunamite woman came to Eliseus to mount Carmel: and when the man of God saw her coming towards, he said to Giezi his servant, Behold that Sunamitess. Go therefore to meet her, and say to her, Is all well with thee, and with thy husband, and with thy son? And she answered, Well. And when she came to the man of God to the mount, she caught hold on his feet; and Giezi came to remove her. And the man of God said, Let her alone, for her soul is in anguish, and the Lord hath hid it from me and hath not told me. And she said to him, Did I ask a son of my lord? did I not say to thee, Do not deceive me? Then he said to Giezi, Gird up thy loins, and take my staff in thy hand and go. If any man meet thee, salute him not; and if any man salute thee, answer him not; and lay my staff upon the face of the child. But the mother of the child said, As the Lord liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee. He arose, therefore, and followed her. But Giezi was gone before them, and laid the staff upon the face of the child, and there was no voice nor sense; and he returned to meet him, and told him, saying, The child is not risen. Eliseus therefore went into the house, and behold the child lay dead on his bed; and going in he shut the door upon him, and upon the child, and prayed to the Lord; and he went up and lay upon the child: and he put his mouth upon his mouth, and his eyes upon his eyes, and his hands upon his hands: and he bowed himself upon him, and the child's flesh grew warm. Then he returned, and walked in the house, once to and fro; and he went up, and lay upon him; and the child gaped seven times, and opened his eyes. And he called Giezi, and said to him, Call this Sunamitess. And she being called, went in to him; and he said, Take up thy son. She came and fell at his feet, and worshipped upon the ground; and took up her son, and went out; and Eliseus returned to Galgal.

6Gradual. Have regard, O Lord, to thy covenant, and forget not to the end the souls of thy poor.—Arise O Lord, judge thy own cause: remember the reproaches of thy servants.

7Gospel. St Luke, vii. 11—16. As on the 15th Sunday after Pentecost.

8Offertory. O Lord make haste to help me: let all those be confounded that desire evils to thy servants.

9Secret. Purify us, O merciful God; that the prayers of thy Church, which are pleasing to thee, bringing pious offerings, may purify our minds, and become still more pleasing in thy sight. Through our Lord, &c.

10[Other Secrets as above, page 120.]

11Communion. O Lord, I will be mindful of thy justice alone; thou hast taught me, O God, from my youth; and unto old age and gray hairs, O God, forsake me not.

12Postcom. Cœlestia. Suffer not, O Lord, thy heavenly gifts, which thou hast provided as a remedy for thy faithful, to become the judgment of those who receive them. 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. Populi tui. O God, the creator and ruler of thy people, drive away the sins by which they are assaulted, that they may be ever pleasing to thee, and secure by thy protection. Through our Lord, &c.