COLLECTS, EPISTLES, AND

GOSPELS

FOR VARIOUS OCCASIONS

  
SEPTEMBER EMBER DAYS

This Collect may be said after the collect of the Day.

ALMIGHTY God, the giver of all good gifts, who of thy divine providence hast appointed divers Orders in thy Church: Give thy grace, we humbly beseech thee, to all those who are to be called to any office and administration in the same; and so replenish them with the truth of thy doctrine, and endue them with innocency of life, that they may faithfully serve before thee, to the glory of thy great Name, and the benefit of thy holy Church; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

  
The Lesson. Acts 20. 28.

TAKE heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the Church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood. For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them. Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears. And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified. I have coveted no man's silver, or gold, or apparel. Yea, ye yourselves know, that these hands have ministered unto my necessities, and to them that were with me. In all things I gave you an example, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.

  
The Gospel. St. John 10. 1.

JESUS said unto his disciples, Verily, verily I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheep-fold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber. But he that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep: to him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice, and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out. And, when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him; for they know his voice. And a stranger will they not follow; but will flee from him; for they know not the voice of strangers. This parable spake Jesus unto them: but they understood not what things they were which he spake unto them. Then said Jesus unto them again; Verily, verily I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep. All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers; but the sheep did not hear them. I am the door; by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture. The thief cometh not but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep. But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth; and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep. The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep. I am the good shepherd, and I know mine own and mine own know me, even as the Father knoweth me, and I know the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep. And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold; them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and they shall become one flock, one shepherd.

Or this,

St. John 21. 15.

JESUS saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of John, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs. He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of John, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Tend my sheep. He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of John, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep. Verily, verily I say unto thee, When thou wast young, thou girdedst thyself, and walkedst whither thou wouldest: but when thou shalt be old, thou shalt stretch forth thy hands, and another shall gird thee, and carry thee whither thou wouldest not. This spake he, signifying by what death he should glorify God. And when he had spoken this, he saith unto him, Follow me. Then Peter, turning about, seeth the disciple whom Jesus loved following; which also leaned on his breast at the supper, and said, Lord, which is he that betrayeth thee? Peter seeing him saith to Jesus, Lord, and what shall this man do? Jesus saith unto him, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? Follow thou me.

AT THE DEDICATION FESTIVAL

  The Collect.

ALMIGHTY God, whom year by year we praise for the dedication of this church, and who hast preserved us in safety to worship therein: Hear, we beseech thee, the prayers of thy people, and grant that whosoever in this place shall make his supplication before thee, may by the granting of his petitions be filled with joy to the glory of thy holy Name; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

  
The Epistle. 1 St. Peter 2. 1.

LAYING aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings, as newborn babes, desire the spiritual milk which is without guile, that ye may grow thereby unto salvation: if so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious. To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious, ye also, as living stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. Wherefore also it is contained in the Scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner-stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded. Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which disbelieve, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner, and a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed. But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a people for God's own possession; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.

  
The Gospel. St. Matthew 21. 12.

JESUS went into the temple of God, and cast out all them that sold and bought in the temple; and overthrew the tables of the money-changers, and the seats of them that sold doves; and said unto them, It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of robbers. And the blind and the lame came to him in the temple; and he healed them. And when the chief priests and scribes saw the wonderful things that he did, and the children crying in the temple, and saying, Hosanna to the Son of David; they were sore displeased, and said unto him, Hearest thou what these say? And Jesus saith unto them, Yea; have ye never read, Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings thou hast perfected praise?

AT THE THANKSGIVING FOR HARVEST

The Collects.

One or more of these Collects may be said.

O ALMIGHTY and Everlasting God, who hast given unto us the fruits of the earth in their season, and hast crowned the year with thy goodness: Give us grateful hearts, that we may unfeignedly thank thee for all thy loving-kindness, and worthily magnify thy holy Name; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

STIR up, we beseech thee, O Lord, the wills of thy faithful people; that they who have freely received of thy bounty may, of thy bounty, freely give; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

O LORD Jesus Christ, who hast taught us that man doth not live by bread alone: Feed us, we humbly beseech thee, with the true Bread that cometh down from heaven, even thyself, O blessed Saviour; who livest and reignest, with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, world without end. Amen.

  
The Lesson. Deuteronomy 16. 13.

THOU shalt observe the feast of tabernacles seven days, after that thou hast gathered in thy corn and thy wine: and thou shalt rejoice in thy feast, thou, and thy son, and thy daughter, and thy manservant, and thy maidservant, and the Levite, the stranger, and the fatherless, and the widow, that are within thy gates. Seven days shalt thou keep a solemn feast unto the Lord thy God in the place which the Lord shall choose: because the Lord thy God shall bless thee in all thine increase, and in all the works of thine hands, therefore thou shalt surely rejoice.

  
The Gospel. St. Matthew 6. 28.

JESUS said, Consider the lilies of the field how the grow: they toil not, neither do they spin: and yet I say unto you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Where fore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven; shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith? Be not therefore anxious, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Be not therefore anxious for the morrow; for the morrow will be anxious for itself: sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.

SAINT JOHN BEFORE THE LATIN GATE
[May 6]

The Collect, Epistle, and Gospel as December 27.

This Epistle and this Gospel shall not be used on a Sunday, unless it be the patronal festival of the church.

THE VISITATION OF THE BLESSED
VIRGIN MARY
[July 2]

The Collect.

O GOD, who didst lead the Blessed Virgin Mary to visit Elisabeth, to their exceeding joy and comfort: Grant unto us thy people, that as Mary did rejoice to be called the Mother of the Lord, so we may ever rejoice to believe the incarnation of thine only-begotten Son; to whom with thee and the Holy Ghost be all honour and glory, world without end. Amen.

The Epistle. 1 St. John 4. 12—14.
The Gospel. St. Luke 1. 39—45.

This Epistle and this Gospel shall not be used on a Sunday, unless it be the patronal festival of the church.

SAINT MARY MAGDALENE
[July 22]

The Collect.

O ALMIGHTY God, whose blessed Son did sanctify Mary Magdalene, and did call her to be a witness of his resurrection: Mercifully grant that by thy grace we may be healed of all our infirmities, and always serve thee in the power of his endless life; who with thee and the Holy Ghost liveth and reigneth one God, world without end. Amen.

The Epistle. 2 Corinthians 5. 14—17
The Gospel. St. John 20. 11—18.

This Epistle and this Gospel shall not be used on a Sunday, unless it be the patronal festival of the church.

LAMMAS DAY
[August 1]

The Collect.

O GOD, who didst cause thy holy Apostle Peter to be loosed from his chains and to depart without hurt: Break, we beseech thee, the chains of our sins, and mercifully put away all evil from us; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

The Lesson. Acts 12. 1—11.
The Gospel. St. Matthew 19. 27—30.

This Lesson and this Gospel shall not be used on a Sunday, unless it be the patronal festival of the church.

THE NAME OF JESUS
[August 7]

The Collect.

O ALMIGHTY God, who hast given unto thy Son Jesus Christ the Name which is above every name, and hast taught us that there is none other whereby we may be saved: Mercifully grant that as thy faithful people have comfort and peace in his Name, so they may ever labour to proclaim it unto all nations; through the same Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

The Lesson. Acts 4. 8—12.
The Gospel. St. Matthew 1. 20—23.

This Lesson and this Gospel shall not be used on a Sunday, unless it be the feast of the title of the church.

THE BEHEADING OF SAINT JOHN BAPTIST
[August 29]

The Collect.

O GOD, who didst vouchsafe to thy servant John Baptist to be in birth and death the forerunner of thy Son: Grant that as he was slain for truth and righteousness, so we may contend for the same unto the end; for the love of thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

The Lesson. 2 Chronicles 24. 17—21.
The Gospel. St. Matthew 14. 1—12.

This Lesson and this Gospel shall not be used on a Sunday, unless it be the patronal festival of the church.

THE NATIVITY OF THE BLESSED
VIRGIN MARY
[September 8]

[Also for use on August 15 and December 8]

The Collect.

O ALMIGHTY God, who didst endue with singular grace the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Mother of our Lord: Vouchsafe, we beseech thee, to hallow our bodies in purity, and our souls in humility and love; through the same our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.

The Lesson. Genesis 3. 9—15.
The Gospel. St. Luke 11. 27, 28.

This Lesson and this Gospel shall not be used on a Sunday, unless it be the patronal festival of the church.

HOLY CROSS DAY
[September 14]

The Collect, as Palm Sunday.
The Epistle. 1 Corinthians 1. 17—25.
The Gospel. St. John 12. 27—33.

This Epistle and this Gospel shall not be used on a Sunday, unless it be the feast of the title of the church.

THE COMMEMORATION OF ALL SOULS
[November 2]

The Collect.

O ETERNAL Lord God, who holdest all souls in life: We beseech thee to shed forth upon all the faithful departed the bright beams of thy light and heavenly comfort; and grant that they, and we with them, may at length attain to the joys of thine eternal kingdom; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

    The Epistle. 1 Thessalonians 4. 13—18, or 1 Corinthians 15. 50—58.
    The Gospel. St. John 11. 21—27.

This Epistle and this Gospel shall not be used on a Sunday.

THE CONCEPTION OF THE BLESSED
VIRGIN MARY
[December 5]

See September 8.

MARTYRS

The Collect.

ALMIGHTY God, by whose grace and power thy holy Martyr, Saint N., triumphed over suffering and death: Endue us, we beseech thee, with the same power, that we may finish our course in faith, and with him receive the crown of everlasting life; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

    The Epistle. 2 Timothy 2. 4—10, or Revelation 7.13—17.
    The Gospel. St. Matthew 16. 24—27, or 10. 16—22.

This Epistle and this Gospel shall not be used on any day for which a Proper Epistle and Gospel are appointed.

CONFESSORS AND DOCTORS

The Collect.

O GOD, who hast enlightened thy Church by the example of thy Confessor [or Doctor], Saint N.: Enrich it evermore, we beseech thee, with thy heavenly grace, and raise up faithful witnesses who by their life and doctrine may set forth to all men the truth of thy salvation; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

    The Epistle. 2 Timothy 4. 1—8, or The Lesson. Proverbs 10. 28—32, or Wisdom 7. 7—13.
    The Gospel. St. John 14. 23—31, Jesus said, If a man...even so I do, or St. Matthew 5. 13—19, or 10. 26—32.

This Epistle and these Lessons and Gospels shall not be used on any day for which a Proper Epistle and Gospel are appointed.

BISHOPS

The Collect.

O GOD, the light of the faithful and Shepherd of souls, who didst set blessed N. to be a bishop in the Church, that he might feed thy sheep by his word and guide them by his example: Grant us, we pray thee, to keep the faith which he taught and to follow in his footsteps; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost, ever one God, world without end. Amen.

VIRGINS

The Collect.

O GOD, who didst endue thy holy Virgin N. with grace to witness a good confession [and to suffer gladly for thy sake]: Grant that after her example we may be found ready when the Bridegroom cometh, and enter with him to the marriage feast; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

A VIRGIN MARTYR

The Lesson. Ecclesiasticus 51. 10—12.
The Gospel. St. Matthew 25. 1—13.

A VIRGIN NOT A MARTYR

    The Lesson. Isaiah 61. 10, 11.
    The Gospel. St. Matthew 13. 44—46, or St. Luke 10. 38—42.

These Lessons and these Gospels shall not be used on any day for which a Proper Epistle and Gospel are appointed.

SAINTS' DAYS IN THE KALENDAR NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR

The Collect.

ALMIGHTY God, who dost choose thine elect out of every nation, and dost shew forth thy glory in their lives: Grant, we pray thee, that following the example of thy servant Saint N., we may be fruitful in good works to the praise of thy holy Name; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

SYNODS AND COUNCILS

The Collect.

O ETERNAL God, the fountain of all wisdom, who didst send thy Holy Spirit to lead the disciples into all the truth: Vouchsafe that he, being present with thy servants now assembled in [Synod], may so rule their hearts and guide their counsels that in all things they may seek only thy glory and the good of thy holy Church; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

The Epistle. 1 Corinthians 12. 7—11.
The Gospel. St. John 13. 33—35.

AT A THANKSGIVING FOR THE INSTITUTION OF HOLY BAPTISM

The Collect.

O GOD who hast united men of every nation in the confession of thy Name, and dost continually multiply thy Church with new offspring: Grant that those who have been born again of water and of the Spirit may be one both in inward faith and in outward devotion, and with thankful hearts may shew forth in their lives the grace of that Sacrament which they have received; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

    The Epistle. Romans 6. 3, 4, or 1 Corinthians 12.12, 13.
    The Gospel. St. Matthew 28. 18—20.

This Epistle and this Gospel shall not be used on a Sunday or a Red Letter Day.

AT A THANKSGIVING FOR THE INSTITUTION OF HOLY COMMUNION

The Collect.

O LORD Jesus Christ, who in a wonderful Sacrament hast left unto us a memorial of thy passion: Grant us, we beseech thee, so to venerate the Sacred Mysteries of thy Body and Blood, that we may ever perceive within ourselves the fruit of thy redemption; who livest and reignest with the Father in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Or this,

O LORD Jesus Christ, who hast ordained this holy Sacrament to be a pledge of thy love, and a continual remembrance of thy passion: Grant that we, who partake thereof by faith with thanksgiving, may grow up into thee in all things, until we come to thy eternal joy; who with the Father and the Holy Ghost livest and reignest, one God, world without end. Amen.

    The Epistle. 1 Corinthians 11. 23—28.
    The Gospel. St. John 6. 53—63, Jesus said, Verily, verily....

This Epistle and this Gospel shall not be used on a Sunday or a Red Letter Day.

The Proper Preface appointed for Maundy Thursday may be used.

The Collect, Epistle, and Gospel may always be used on the Thursday after Trinity Sunday.

OVERSEAS MISSIONS

The Collect.

O GOD, our heavenly Father, who didst manifest thy love by sending thine only-begotten Son into the world that all might live through him: Pour thy Spirit upon thy Church that it may fulfil his command to make disciples of all the nations; send forth, we beseech thee, labourers into thy harvest; and hasten the time when the fulness of the Gentiles shall be gathered in, and all Israel shall be saved; through the same Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

The Epistle. Ephesians 3. 1—11.
The Gospel. St. Matthew 28. 16—end.

On Sundays and Red Letter Days this Epistle and this Gospel must not supersede those appointed for the Day.

HOLY WOMEN

The Collect.

O GOD, who dost enlighten the hearts of thy faithful people: Grant us after the example of thy servant N. to seek those things that are above; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost, ever one God, world without end. Amen.

Lesson. Proverbs 31. 10, 29—31.
Gospel. St. Luke 10. 38—42.

AFTER ASH WEDNESDAY

[See also p. 148.]

SECOND WEEK OF LENT

THIRD WEEK OF LENT

FOURTH WEEK OF LENT

FIFTH WEEK OF LENT

EASTER WEEK

ROGATlON DAYS

WHITSUN WEEK

[See also p. 219.]

CHRISTMAS EVE