The Vigil of Saint Lawrence
Introit
Psalm 111:9
He hath distributed, he hath given to the poor: his justice remaineth forever; his horn shall be exalted in glory. Ps. Blessed is the man that feareth the Lord; he delighteth exceedingly in His commandments. Glory be the the Father.
Collect
Attend, O Lord, to our supplications, and by the intercession of Thy blessed martyr, Lawrence, whose feast we anticipate, graciously bestow upon us Thy everlasting mercy. Through our Lord.
Epistle
Ecclesiasticus 51:1-8, 12
I will give glory to Thee, O Lord, O King, and I will praise Thee, O God my Saviour. I will give glory to Thy Name, for Thou hast been a helper and protector to me, and hast preserved my body from destruc- tion from the snare of an unjust tongue, and from the lips of them that forge lies; and in the sight of them that stood by, Thou hast been my helper. And Thou hast delivered me, according to the multitude of the mercy of Thy Name, from them that did roar prepared to devour out of the hands of them that sought my life, and from the gates of afflictions which compassed me about: from the oppression of the flame which surrounded me, and in the midst of the fire I was not burnt: from the depth of the body of hell, and from an unclean tongue, and from lying words, from an unjust king, and from a slanderous tongue. My soul shall praise the Lord even unto death: because Thou, O Lord our God, deliverest them that wait for Thee, and savest them out of the hands of the nations.
Gradual
Psalm 111:9, 2
He hath distributed, he hath given to the poor: his justice remaineth forever and ever. His seed shall be mighty upon earth; the generation of the righteous shall be blessed.
Gospel
Matthew 16:24-27
At that time, Jesus said to His disciples: If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. For he that will save his life, shall lose it: and he that shall lose his life for my sake, shall find it. For what doth it profit a man, if he gain the whole world, and suffer the loss of his own soul? Or what exchange shall a man give for his soul? For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels: and then will he render to every man according to his works.
Offertory
Job 16:20
My prayer is pure, and therefore I ask that a place may be given to my voice in heaven: for there is my judge, and He that knoweth my conscience is on high: let my prayer ascend to the Lord.
Secret
Mercifully receive, O Lord, the sacrifices which we offer Thee, and by the intercession of blessed Lawrence, Thy martyr, loose the bonds of our sins. Through our Lord.
Communion
Matthew 16:24
He that will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me.
Postcommunion
Grant, we beseech Thee, O Lord, our God, that, as in commemorating blessed Lawrence, Thy martyr, we show our joy in a temporal duty, so we may be gladdened by beholding him in eternity. Through our Lord.