27 May 2015 - Ember Wednesday of Whitsunweek (Commemoration of St. Venerable Bede and St. John I)

Of the First Class Octave, Semi-double

Red

INTROIT Ps. 67.8, 9

O God, when thou didst go forth at the head of thy people, marching with them and dwelling among them, alleluia. The earth trembled and the skies dripped with rain, alleluia, alleluia. Ps. 67.2. Let God arise, and let his enemies be scattered, and let those who hate him flee before him. V. Glory be.

COLLECT

May the Holy Comforter, who proceedeth from thee, O Lord, enlighten our minds and guide us in all truth, as thy Son hath promised; who liveth and reigneth.

Commemoration: St. Venerable Bede O God, who by the learning of blessed Bede, thy Confessor and Doctor, hast glorified thy Church: grant that thy servants may ever be enlightened by his wisdom and helped by his merits. Through. Commemoration: Of St. John I O Eternal Shepherd, do thou look favourably upon thy flock, which we beseech thee to guard and keep for evermore through the Blessed John thy Martyr and Pope, whom thou didst choose to be the chief shepherd of the whole Church. Through.

SEASONAL COLLECT
Against the Persecutors of the Church

LESSON Acts 2.14-21

In those days, Peter standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and spoke to them: Ye men of Judea, and all you that dwell in Jerusalem, be this known to you and with your ears receive my words. For these are not drunk, as you suppose, seeing it is but the third hour of the day: But this is that which was spoken of by the prophet Joel: And it shall come to pass, in the last days, (saith the Lord), I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy: and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams. And upon my servants indeed and upon my handmaids will I pour out in those days of my spirit: and they shall prophesy. And I will shew wonders in the heaven above, and signs on the earth beneath: blood and fire, and vapour of smoke. The sun shall be turned into darkness and the moon into blood, before the great and manifest day of the Lord to come. And it shalt come to pass, that whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

Alleluia. V. Ps. 32.6 By the Word of the Lord the heavens were made, and by the breath of his mouth all the celestial bodies thereof were created.

¶ After the Kyrie, Flectamus genua (Let us bend the knee) is not said.

COLLECT

Almighty and merciful God, grant that the Holy Spirit may come and dwell in us, that we may be a temple of his glory. Through.

SEASONAL COLLECT
Against the Persecutors of the Church

LESSON Acts 5.12-16

In those days, by the hands of the apostles were many signs and wonders wrought among the people. And they were all with one accord in Solomon's porch. But of the rest no man durst join himself unto them: but the people magnified them. And the multitude of men and women who believed in the Lord was more increased: Insomuch that they brought forth the sick into the streets and laid them on beds and couches, that, when Peter came, his shadow at the least might overshadow any of them and they might be delivered from their infirmities. And there came also together to Jerusalem a multitude out of the neighbouring cities, bringing sick persons and such as were troubled with unclean spirits: who were all healed.

Alleluia, alleluia. (All kneel.) V. Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of thy faithful, and kindle in them the fire of thy love.

SEQUENCE
As on Pentecost,
but do not say Alleluia at the end.

+ The Continuation of the Holy Gospel according to John (6.44-52)

At that time, Jesus said to the Jews: No man can come to me, except the Father, who hath sent me, draw him. And I will raise him up in the last day. It is written in the prophets: And they shall all be taught of God. Every one that hath heard of the Father and hath learned cometh to me. Not that any man hath seen the Father: but he who is of God, he hath seen the Father. Amen, amen, I say unto you: He that believeth in me hath everlasting life. I am the bread of life. Your fathers did eat manna in the desert: and are dead. This is the bread which cometh down from heaven: that if any man eat of it, he may not die. I am the living bread which came down from heaven. If any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, for the life of the world.

The Creed is said.

OFFERTORY Ps. 118.47-48

I will meditate on thy commandments, which I love dearly; and I will lift up my hands to thy commands, which I cherish, alleluia.

SECRET

Accept the gifts we offer thee, O Lord, and grant that the celebration of these sacred rites may be reflected in our holy lives. Through.

Commemoration: St. Venerable Bede

May the holy prayer of Bede, thy Confessor and Doctor, fail us not, O Lord: may it render our offerings acceptable, and ever obtain for us thy pardon. Through. Commemoration: Of St. John I In thy loving kindness, we beseech thee, Lord, be moved by the offering of our gifts and enlighten thy Church: that thy flock may prosper everywhere and the shepherds, under thy guidance, may be rendered acceptable to thee. Through.

Communicantes
As at the Vigil of Pentecost.

COMMUNION John 14.27

Peace I leave with you, alleluia. My peace I give to you, alleluia, alleluia.

POSTCOMMUNION

We have received the Sacrament of Heaven, O Lord. We now humbly beseech thee that the sacred rite which we have celebrated may be our joy for all eternity. Through.

Commemoration: St. Venerable Bede

May Blessed Bede thy Confessor and illustrious Doctor intercede for us, we beseech thee, O Lord, that these thy sacrifices may obtain for us salvation. Through. Commemoration: Of St. John I Appeased by this Sacrifice, O Lord, in which thou hast nourished thy Church on heavenly food, do thou so guide her that she may be steered with a firm hand and, while enjoying more liberty, may persist in wholeness of faith. Through.

SEASONAL COLLECT
Against the Persecutors of the Church