14 February 2016 - First Sunday in Lent (Commemoration of St. Valentine, Pr.M.)

Sunday of the First Class – Purple 

INTROIT Ps. 90.15-16

He shall call upon me, and I will answer him, I will deliver him and glorify him with length of days. Ps. 90.1. He who dwelleth in the shelter of the Most High shall abide in the protection of the God of heaven. V. Glory be.

COLLECT

O God, each year thou dost purify the Church through the lenten observance. May the good works of thy Church obtain for us the grace we ask for through our self-denial. Through.

Commemoration: St. Valentine, Priest and Martyr

Grant, we beseech thee, O almighty God, that we, who celebrate the heavenly birthday of blessed Valentine, thy Martyr, may by his intercession be delivered from all the evils that threaten us. Through.

SEASONAL COLLECTS
As given before Ash Wednesday

EPISTLE II Cor. 6.1-10

Brethren: We do exhort you that you receive not the grace of God in vain. For he saith: In an accepted time have I heard thee and in the day of salvation have I helped thee. Behold, now is the acceptable time: behold, now is the day of salvation. Giving no offense to any man, that our ministry be not blamed. But in all things let us exhibit ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience, in tribulation, in necessities, in distresses, In stripes, in prisons, in seditions, in labours, in watch-ings, in fastings, In chastity, in knowledge, in longsuffering, in sweetness, in the Holy Ghost, in charity unfeigned, In the word of truth, in the power of God: by the armour of justice on the right hand and on the left: By honor and dishonor: by evil report and good report: as deceivers and yet true: as unknown and yet known: As dying and behold we live: as chastised and not killed: As sorrowful, yet always rejoicing: as needy, yet enriching many: as having nothing and possessing all things.

GRADUAL Ps. 90.11-12

God hath given his angels charge over thee, that they guard thee in all thy ways. V. Upon their hands they shall bear thee up, lest thou dashest thy foot against a stone.

TRACT Ps. 90.1-7; 11-16

He who dwelleth in the shelter of the Most High shall abide in the protection of the God of heaven. V. He shall say to the Lord, thou art my support and my refuge; my God, in thee I trust. V. For he hath delivered me from the snare of the hunters: and from the sharp word. V. He will overshadow thee with his shoulders: and under his wings thou shalt trust. V. His truth shall compass thee with a shield: thou shalt not be afraid of the terror of the night. V. Of the arrow that flieth in the day, of the business that walketh about in the dark: of invasion, or of the noonday devil. V. A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand: but it shall not come nigh thee. V. For he hath given his angels charge over thee; to keep thee in all thy ways. V. In their hands they shall bear thee up: lest thou dash thy foot against a stone. V. Thou shalt walk upon the asp and the basilisk: and thou shalt trample under foot the lion and the dragon.
V. Because he hoped in me I will deliver him: I will protect him because he hath known my name. V. He shall cry unto me, and I will hear him: I am with him in tribulation, V. I will deliver him, and I will glorify him. I will fill him with length of days; and I will shew him my salvation.

+ The Continuation of the Holy Gospel according to Matthew (4.1-11)

At that time, Jesus was led by the spirit into the desert, to be tempted by the devil. And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, afterwards he was hungry. And the tempter coming said to him: If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread. Who answered and said: It is written, Not in bread alone doth man live, but in every word that proceedeth from themouth of God. Then the devil took him up into the holy city, and set him upon the pinnacle of the temple, And said to him: If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down, for it is written: That he hath given his angels charge over thee, and in their hands shall they bear thee up, lest perhaps thou dash thy foot against a stone. Jesus said to him: It is written again: Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God. Again the devil took him up into a very high mountain, and shewed him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them, And said to him: All these will I give thee, if falling down thou wilt adore me. Then Jesus saith to him: Begone, Satan: for it is written: The Lord thy God shalt thou adore, and him only shalt thou serve. Then the devil left him; and behold angels came and ministered to him. 

The Creed is said.

OFFERTORY Ps. 90.4-5

The Lord will cover thee with his shoulders, and under his wings thou shalt find refuge. His truth shall surround thee with a shield.

SECRET

O Lord, we solemnly offer thee our sacrifice at the beginning of Lent, and pray that by observing abstinence we may also learn to avoid sinful pleasures. Through.

Commemoration: St. Valentine, Priest and Martyr

We beseech thee, O Lord, graciously receive the gifts we offer to thee: and may they, in view of the merits of thy blessed Martyr Valentine, be of help to us towards our salvation. Through.

SEASONAL COLLECTS
As given before Ash Wednesday

COMMUNION Ps. 90.4-5

The Lord will cover thee with his shoulders, and under his wings thou shalt find refuge. His truth shall surround thee with a shield.

POSTCOMMUNION

May the worthy reception of the Blessed Sacrament give us new strength, O Lord. May it cleanse us from our old selves and bring us closer to our salvation. Through.

Commemoration: St. Valentine, Priest and Martyr

O Lord, may this heavenly mystery be to us the renewal of body and soul, that by the intercession of blessed Valentine, thy Martyr, we may feel the influence of this Sacrifice. Through.

SEASONAL COLLECTS
As given before Ash Wednesday