Saint Gregory the Great
Introit
John 21:15-17
If thou lovest Me, Simon Peter, feed My lambs; feed My sheep. Ps. I will extol Thee, O Lord, for Thou hast upheld me: and hast not made my enemies to rejoice over me. Glory be to the Father.
Collect
O God, Who didst give to the soul of Thy servant Gregory the reward of everlasting bliss: mercifully grant, that we who are oppressed by the burden of our sins, may be raised up by his intercession with Thee. Through our Lord.
Epistle
1 Peter 5:1-4, 10-11
Dearly beloved: the ancients therefore that are among you, I beseech, who am myself also an ancient, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ: as also a partaker of that glory which is to be revealed in time to come: feed the flock of God which is among you, taking care of it, not by constraint, but willingly, according to God: not for filthy lucre’s sake, but voluntarily: neither as lording it over the clergy, but being made a pattern of the flock from the heart. And when the prince of pastors shall appear, you shall receive a never-fading crown of glory. But the God of all grace, Who hath called us unto His eternal glory in Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a little, will himself perfect you, and confirm you, and establish you. To Him be glory and empire for ever and ever. Amen.
Gradual
Psalm 106:30-31
Let them exalt him in the church of the people: and praise him in the chair of the ancients. Let the mercies of the Lord give glory to him: and his wonderful works to the children of men.
Tract
Psalm 39:10-11
I have declared Thy justice in a great church, lo, I will not restrain my lips: O Lord, Thou knowest it. I have not hid Thy justice within my heart: I have declared Thy truth and Thy salvation. I have not concealed Thy mercy and Thy truth from a great council.
Gospel
Matthew 16:13-19
At that time, Jesus came into the quarters of Cæsarea Philippi, and He asked His disciples, saying: Whom do men say that the Son of man is? But they said: Some, John the Baptist, and other some, Elias, and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets. Jesus saith to them: But whom do you say that I am? Simon Peter answered: Thou art Christ, the Son of the living God. And Jesus answering, said to him: Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-Jona, because flesh and blood hath not revealed it to thee, but My Father Who is in Heaven: and I say to thee, that thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build My Church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it; and to thee I will give the keys of the kingdom of Heaven; and whatsoever thou shalt bind upon earth, it shall be bound also in Heaven; and whatsoever thou shall loose on earth, it shall be loosed also in Heaven.
Offertory
Jeremiah 1:9-10
Behold I have given My words in thy mouth: lo, I have set thee this day over the nations, and over the kingdoms, to waste and to destroy, and to build and to plant.
Secret
Vouchsafe, O Lord, we beseech Thee, that through the intercession of blessed Gregory, we may profit by this oblation of the Sacrifice which wrought for the whole world remission of sin. Through our Lord.
Communion
Matthew 16:18
Thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build My Church.
Postcommunion
O God, Who didst make the blessed Pontiff Gregory rank in merit with Thy Saints: mercifully grant that we who celebrate this festival in his memory, may also follow the example of his life. Through our Lord.