22 March 2015 - Passion Sunday

¶ During Passiontide, beginning with Vespers on Saturday before Passion Sunday, the crosses, icons, and statues are either removed from view or veiled in purple cloth. They remain thus until the mass of Easter Vigil. Also, the Gloria Patri is omitted in all instances in masses of the sesason, but is included in feasts. The Psalm Judica me is also omitted from the Prayers at the Foot of the Altar in masses of the Season. In the Introit, the antiphon is repeated up until the Psalm as usual, but is repeated immediately after the Psalm is recited (as there is no Gloria Patri). Musical instruments, including bells, are not heard after the Gloria in Excelsis at the Maundy Thursday mass until the Gloria of Easter Vigil.

¶ During Passiontide, the Seasonal Collects are as follows:

Against the Persecutors

of the Church

Collect

Graciously accept the prayers of thy Church, we beseech thee, O Lord, that, overcoming all hostility and error, she may serve thee in safety and freedom. (Through.)

Secret

Protect us, we beseech thee, O Lord, who assist at thy mysteries, that holding fast to things divine, we may serve thee both in body and soul. (Through.)

Postcommunion

We beseech thee, O Lord our God, that thou wouldst not allow to be exposed to human perils, those whom thou hast been pleased to make sharers of these divine mysteries. (Through.)

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PASSION SUNDAY

Sunday of the First Class – Purple

INTROIT Ps. 42.1-2

Do me justice, O God, and fight against a faithless people; from the deceitful and impious man rescue me. For thou, O God, art my strength. Ps. 42.3. Send forth thy light and thy truth; they shall lead me on and bring me to thy holy mountain, unto thy dwelling place. V. Do me justice. And this method of reciting the introit is observed during all masses of the season in Passiontide.

COLLECT

O Almighty God, look with mercy upon thy family. Guide and guard us in body and soul by thy bounteous grace and protection. Through.

SEASONAL COLLECT
Against the Persecutors of the Church

EPISTLE Heb. 9.11-15

Brethren: But Christ, being come an high Priest of the good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hand, that is, not of this creation: Neither by the blood of goats or of calves, but by his own blood, entered once into the Holies, having obtained eternal redemption. For if the blood of goats and of oxen, and the ashes of an heifer, being sprinkled, sanctify such as are defiled, to the cleansing of the flesh: How much more shall the blood of Christ, who by the Holy Ghost offered himself unspotted unto God, cleanse our conscience from dead works, to serve the living God? And therefore he is the mediator of the new testament: that by means of his death for the redemption of those trans-gressions which were under the former testament, they that are called may receive the promise of eternal inheritance.

GRADUAL Ps. 142.9,10; 17.48-49

Rescue me from my enemies, O Lord. Teach me to do thy will.
V. O Lord, who preserved me from the wrathful nations, thou wilt exalt me above my adversaries, thou wilt rescue me from the man of violence.

TRACT Ps. 128.1-4

Often they have fought against me from my youth. V. Let Israel now say, "Often have they fought against me from my youth.
V. Yet they could not prevail over me. The wicked have furrowed my back. V. They have continued their iniquity, but the Lord, who is just, will humble the pride of the sinners."

+ The Continuation of the Holy Gospel according to John (8.46-59)

At that time, Jesus said to the crowds of the Jews, Which of you shall convince me of sin? If I say the truth to you, why do you not believe me: He that is of God heareth the words of God. Therefore you hear them not, because you are not of God. The Jews therefore answered and said to him: Do not we say well that thou art a Samaritan and hast a devil? Jesus answered: I have not a devil: but I honour my Father. And you have dishonoured me. But I seek not my own glory: there is one that seeketh and judgeth. Amen, amen, I say to you: If any man keep my word, he shall not see death for ever. The Jews therefore said: Now we know that thou hast a devil. Abraham is dead, and the prophets: and thou sayest: If any man keep my word, he shall not taste death for ever. Art thou greater than our father Abraham who is dead? And the prophets are dead. Whom dost thou make thyself? Jesus answered: If I glorify myself, my glory is nothing. It is my Father that glorifieth me, of whom you say that he is your God. And you have not known him: but I know him. And if I shall say that I know him not, I shall be like to you, a liar. But I do know him and do keep his word. Abraham your father rejoiced that he might see my day: he saw it and was glad. The Jews therefore said to him: Thou art not yet fifty years old. And hast thou seen Abraham? Jesus said to them: Amen, amen, I say to you, before Abraham was made, I am. They took up stones therefore to cast at him. But Jesus hid himself and went out of the temple. 

The Creed is said.

OFFERTORY Ps. 110.1,118.17,107.

I will praise thee, O Lord, with my whole heart. Be good to thy servant, that I may live and keep thy words. O Lord, give me life according to thy word.

SECRET

O Lord, may these offerings free us from the bondage of sin and win for us the gift of thy mercy. Through.

SEASONAL COLLECT
Against the Persecutors of the Church

COMMUNION I Cor. 11.24, 25

This is my Body which shall be given up for you; this cup is the New Covenant in my Blood, said the Lord. Do this as often as you receive it, in remembrance of me.

POSTCOMMUNION

Be close to us, O Lord our God, and with thine unfailing help defend those who have been renewed through thy Sacrament. Through.

SEASONAL COLLECT
Against the Persecutors of the Church