1 August 2015 - Saint Peter's Chains (Commemoration of the Holy Maccabees)

Greater Double – Red

INTROIT Acts 12.11

Now I know in very deed that the Lord hath sent his angel, and hath delivered me out of the hand of Herod, and from all the expectation of the people of the Jews. Ps. 138.1,2 Lord, thou hast proved me and known me: thou hast known my sitting down and my rising up. V. Glory be.

COLLECT

O God, who didst cause blessed Peter the Apostle, to depart, loosed from his chains and unhurt, loose, we beseech thee, the chains of our sins, and graciously keep all evils far from us. And then under one ending:

Commemoration: Of St. Paul

O God, who by the preaching of blessed Paul the Apostle, didst teach the multitude of the Gentiles: grant, we beseech thee, that we who celebrate his heavenly birthday, may also experience his patronage. Through.

Commemoration: Holy Machabees

May the fruits of the fraternal crown of thy martyrs, O Lord, make us joyful, both to afford our faith increase of virtues and to console us with their manifold prayers. Through.

SEASONAL COLLECTS
Of the Saints
Collect ad Libitum

EPISTLE Acts 12.1-11

In those days, Herod the king stretched forth his hands to afflict some of the Church: and he killed James, the brother of John, with the sword; and seeing that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded to take up Peter also. Now it was in the days of the Azymes: and when he had apprehended him, he cast him into prison, delivering him to four files of soldiers to be kept, intending after the pasch to bring him forth to the people. Peter therefore was kept in prison: but prayer was made without ceasing by the Church unto God for him. And when Herod would have brought him forth, the same night Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains; and the keepers before the door kept the prison: and behold an angel of the Lord stood by him, and a light shined in the room and he striking Peter on the side, raised him up, saying, Arise quickly; and the chains fell off from his hands: and the angel said to him, Gird, thyself and put on thy sandals; and he did so: and he said to him, Cast thy garment about thee and follow me: and going out he followed him: and he knew not that it was true which was done by the angel; but he thought he saw a vision. And passing through the first and the second ward, they came to the iron gate that leadeth to the city, which of itself opened to them; and going out, they passed on through one street, and immediately the angel departed from him. And Peter coming to himself, said, Now I know in very deed that the Lord hath sent His angel, and hath delivered me out of the hand of Herod, and from all the expectation of the people of the Jews.

GRADUAL Ps. 44.17, 18

Thou shalt make them princes over all the earth: they shall remember thy Name, O Lord.
V. Instead of thy fathers, sons are born to thee; therefore shall people praise thee.

Alleluia, alleluia. V. Loosen, O Peter, at God’s commendment, our earthly bondage: opening unto the blessed the doors of the heavenly Kingdom. Alleluia.

+ The Continuation of the Holy Gospel according to Matthew (16.13-19)

At that time, Jesus came into the quarters of Caesarea Phillippi, and he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that the Son of man is? But they said, Some, John the Baptist, and other some, Elias, and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets. Jesus saith to them, But whom do you say that I am? Simon Peter answered, Thou art Christ, the Son of the living God. And Jesus answering, said to him, Blessed art thou, Simon BarJona, because flesh and blood hath not revealed it to thee, but my Father who is in Heaven: and I say to thee, that thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it; and to thee I will give the keys of the kingdom of Heaven; and whatsoever thou shalt bind upon earth, it shall be bound also in Heaven; and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth, it shall be loosed also in Heaven. 

Creed.

OFFERTORY Ps. 44.17, 18

Thou shalt make them princes over all the earth: they shall remember thy Name, O Lord, throughout all generations.

SECRET

May the sacrifice offered to thee, O Lord, the intercession of blessed Peter ever vivify and strengthen us. Under one ending:

Commemoration: Of St. Paul

Sanctify, O Lord, the offerings of thy people, through the prayers of Paul, thine Apostle: that this sacrifice which is pleasing to thee by thine own institution, may be made yet more acceptable in thy sight through his patronage and intercession. Through.

Commemoration: Holy Machabees

May we devoutly deal with thy mysteries, O Lord, for the honor of thy holy martyrs, and by them may both protection and joy be increased unto us. Through.

SEASONAL COLLECTS
Of the Saints
Collect ad Libitum

Preface: Of the Apostles.

COMMUNION Matt. 16.18

Thou art Peter: and upon this rock I will build my Church.

POSTCOMMUNION

Filled with the sacrificial food of thy Sacred Body and Precious Blood, we beseech thee, O Lord, our God, that what we perform in pious devotion we may effectually obtain in assured redemption. 

And under one ending:

Commemoration: Of St. Paul

Having received thy holy Sacrament O Lord, we entreat thee, that through the intercession of blessed Apostle Paul, the mysteries we have celebrated to his glory, may be to us a healing remedy. Through.

Commemoration: Holy Machabees

Grant, we beseech thee, O almighty God, that we may more and more closely follow the faith of those whose memory we venerate in partaking of thy sacrament. Through.

SEASONAL COLLECTS
Of the Saints
Collect ad Libitum