The Roman Missal: Septuagesima and Lent, to the Saturday of the Fourth Week (English) 35

1[Saturday, Fourth Week of Lent.]
2Introit. Isaias lv. You that thirst come to the waters, saith the Lord; and you that have no money, come and drink with joy.—Attend, O my people, to my law: incline your ears to the words of my mouth. Glory, &c.
3Prayer. Fiat Domine. May the affection of our devotion be made fruitful by thy grace, we beseech thee, O Lord, for then will the fasts we have undertaken become profitable to us, if they are pleasing to thy mercy. Through, &c.
4[Other Prayers as on Ash Wednesday, page 118.]
5Lesson. Isaias, xlix. 8—15. Thus saith the Lord, In an acceptable time I have heard thee, and in the day of salvation I have helped thee: and I have preserved thee, and given thee to be a covenant of the people, that thou mightest raise up the earth, and possess the inheritances that were destroyed; that thou mightest say to them that are bound, Come forth; and to them that are in darkness, Show yourselves. They shall not hunger, nor thirst, neither shall the heat nor the sun strike them; for he that is merciful to them shall be their shepherd, and at the fountains of waters he shall give them drink. And I will make all my mountains a way, and my paths shall be exalted. Behold these shall come from afar, and behold these from the north and from the sea, and these from the south country. Give praise, O ye heavens, and rejoice, O earth; ye mountains, give praise with jubilation: because the Lord hath comforted his people, and will have mercy on his poor ones. And Sion said, The Lord hath forsaken me, and the Lord hath forgotten me. Can a woman forget her infant, so as not to have pity on the son of her womb? and if she should forget, yet will not I forget thee; saith the Lord Almighty.
6Gradual. To thee, O Lord, is the poor man left; thou wilt be a help to the orphan.—Why, O Lord, hast thou retired afar off; why doest thou slight us in our wants in time of trouble? whilst the wicked man is proud, the poor is set on fire.
7Gospel. St John, viii. 12—20. At that time Jesus spoke to the multitudes of the Jews, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me, walketh not in darkness, but shall have the light of life. The Pharisees therefore said to him, Thou givest testimony of thyself; thy testimony is not true. Jesus answered, and said to them, Although I give testimony of myself, my testimony is true, for I know whence I come, and whither I go; but you know not whence I come, or whither I go. You judge according to the flesh: I judge not any man. And if I do judge, my judgment is true: because I am not alone, but I and the Father that sent me. And in your law it is written, that the testimony of two men is true. I am one that give testimony of myself; and the Father that sent me giveth testimony of me. They said therefore to him, Where is thy Father? Jesus answered, neither me do you know, nor my Father: if you did know me, perhaps you would know my Father also. These words Jesus spoke in the treasury, teaching in the temple: and no man laid hands on him; because his hour was not yet come.
8Offertory. The Lord is become my firmament, and my refuge, and my deliverer: and in him will I put my trust.
9Secret. Be appeased, O Lord, and accept our offerings, and mercifully compel our rebellious wills to be subject to thee. Through our Lord, &c.
10[Other Secrets as above, page 120.]
11Communion. The Lord ruleth me, and I shall want nothing: he hath set me in a place of pasture: he hath brought me up on the water of refreshment.
12Postcom. Tua nos. May thy holy mysteries purify us, O Lord, we beseech thee: and by their operation render us pleasing to thee. 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. Deus qui. O God who choosest rather to have mercy than to be angry with those who hope in thee, grant us worthily to lament the evils we have done, that we may deserve to find the grace of thy consolation. Through our Lord, &c.
16[Before Vespers, the Crosses and Pictures are covered with a mourning colour.]
17[From this day till Holy Saturday, the Psalm Judica me Deus, and Gloria Patri at the end of the Introit and Lavabo are omitted except on Feasts.]