Saint Polycarp
Introit
Daniel 3:84, 87, 57
O ye priests of the Lord, bless the Lord: O ye holy and humble of heart, praise God. Ps. All ye works of the Lord, bless the Lord: praise and exalt Him above all for ever. Glory be to the Father.
Collect
O God, who dost gladden us by the annual feast of blessed Polycarp, Thy Martyr and Bishop: mercifully grant that we who celebrate his heavenly birthday, may also rejoice in his protection. Through our Lord.
Epistle
1 John 3: 10-16
Most dearly beloved: Whosoever is not just, is not of God, nor he that loveth not his brother. For this is the declaration, which you have heard from the beginning, that you should love one another. Not as Cain, who was of the wicked one, and killed his brother. And wherefore did he kill him? Because his own works were wicked: and his brother’s just. Wonder not, brethren, if the world hate you. We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not, abideth in death. Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer. And you know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in himself. In this we have known the charity of God, because he hath laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.
Gradual
Psalm 8:6-7
Thou hast crowned him with glory and honour. And hast set him over the works of Thy hands, O Lord.
Alleluia
Alleluia, alleluia. This is the priest whom the Lord hath crowned. Alleluia.
Tract
Psalm 111:1-3
Blessed is the man that feareth the Lord: he delighteth exceedingly in His commandments. His seed shall be mighty upon earth: the generation of the righteous shall be blessed. Glory and wealth shall be in his house, and his justice remaineth for ever and ever.
Gospel
Matthew 10:26-32
At that time, Jesus said to His disciples: Nothing is covered that shall not be revealed: nor hid, that shall not be known. That which I tell you in the dark, speak ye in the light: and that which you hear in the ear, preach ye upon the housetops. And fear ye not them that kill the body, and are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him that can destroy both soul and body in hell. Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and not one of them shall fall on the ground without your Father. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not therefore: better are you than many sparrows. Every one therefore that shall confess me before men, I will also confess him before my Father who is in heaven.
Offertory
Psalm 88:21-22
I have found David My servant, with My holy oil I have anointed him; for My hand shall help him, and My arm shall strengthen him.
Secret
Sanctify, O Lord, the gifts dedicated to Thee, and through them, by the intercession of blessed Polycarp, Thy Martyr and Bishop, graciously regard us. Through our Lord.
Communion
Psalm 20:4
Thou hast set on his head, O Lord, a crown of precious stones.
Postcommunion
Refreshed by the participation in the holy gift, we beseech Thee, O Lord our God, that by the intercession of blessed Polycarp Thy Martyr and Bishop, we may experience the effect of that which we celebrate. Through the Lord.