6 March 2016 - Fourth Sunday in Lent (Laetare Sunday) (Commemoration of Sts. Perpetua and Felicitas, MM.)

Sunday of the I Class – Rose or Purple

¶ Depending on local custom, rose vestments may be worn this day or both this day and at ferial masses during this week. Modest flowers may also be upon the altar during this Sunday or during this week, according to local custom.

INTROIT Isa. 66.10-11

Rejoice, O Jerusalem, and come together all ye who love her. Rejoice with joy, ye who have been in sorrow, that ye may exalt and be filled from the abundance of your consolation. Ps. 121.1. I rejoice at the tidings that were told me, We shall go into the house of the Lord. V. Glory be.

COLLECT

O Almighty God, we are being justly punished for our sins, but comfort us with thy grace, that we may live. Through.

Commemoration: Sts. Perpetua and Felicitas, Martyrs

O Lord our God, we pray, may we have unceasing devotion in celebrating the triumphs of thy holy Martyrs Perpetua and Felicitas: and even if we cannot do this fittingly, at least may we render them our humble services. Through.

SEASONAL COLLECTS
As given before Ash Wednesday

EPISTLE Gal. 4.22-31

Brethren: For it is written that Abraham had two sons: the one by a bondwoman and the other by a free woman. But he who was of the bondwoman was born according to the flesh: but he of the free woman was by promise. Which things are said by an allegory. For these are the two testaments. The one from Mount Sinai, engendering unto bondage, which is Agar. For Sina is a mountain in Arabia, which hath affinity to that Jerusalem which now is: and is in bondage with her children. But that Jerusalem which is above is free: which is our mother. For it is written: Rejoice, thou barren, that bearest not: break forth and cry thou that travailest not: for many are the children of the desolate, more than of her that hath a husband. Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise. But as then he that was born according to the flesh persecuted him that was after the spirit: so also it is now. But what saith the scripture? Cast out the bondwoman and her son: for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the free woman. So then, brethren, we are not the children of the bondwoman but of the free: by the freedom wherewith Christ has made us free.

GRADUAL Ps. 121.1, 7

I rejoice at the tidings that were told me, We shall go into the house of the Lord. V. May peace be within thy walls, and prosperity within thy towers.

TRACT Ps. 124.1-2

They who trust in the Lord are like Mount Sion; he who dwelleth in Jerusalem shall never be moved. V. Mountains are round about it, and the Lord is round about his people, from henceforth and forever.

+ The Continuation of the Holy Gospel according to John (6.1-15)

At that time, After these things Jesus went over the sea of Galilee, which is that of Tiberias. And a great multitude followed him, because they saw the miracles which he did on them that were diseased. Jesus therefore went up into a mountain: and there he sat with his disciples. Now the pasch, the festival day of the Jews, was near at hand. When Jesus therefore had lifted up his eyes and seen that a very great multitude cometh to him, he said to Philip: Whence shall we buy bread, that these may eat? And this he said to try him: for he himself knew what he would do. Philip answered him: Two hundred pennyworth of bread is not sufficient for them that every one may take a little. One of his disciples, Andrew, the brother of Simon Peter, saith to him: There is a boy here that hath five barley loaves and two fishes. But what are these among so many? Then Jesus said: Make the men sit down. Now, there was much grass in the place. The men therefore sat down, in number about five thousand. And Jesus took the loaves: and when he had given thanks, he distributed to them that were set down. In like manner also of the fishes, as much as they would. And when they were filled, he said to his disciples: Gather up the fragments that remain, lest they be lost. They gathered up therefore and filled twelve baskets with the fragments of the five barley loaves which remained over and above to them that had eaten. Now those men, when they had seen what a miracle Jesus had done, said: This is of a truth the prophet that is to come into the world. Jesus therefore, when he knew that they would come to take him by force and make him king, fled again into the mountains, himself alone. 

Creed.

OFFERTORY Ps. 134.3, 6

Praise the Lord, for he is good; sing praise to his Name, for he is sweet. All he hath willed, he hath done in heaven and on earth.

SECRET

Look with favor upon these offerings, O Lord, that they may be an aid to our devotion and to our salvation. Through.

Commemoration: Sts. Perpetua and Felicitas, Martyrs

Look down, we beseech thee, O Lord, at the gifts laid upon thine altar for the feast of thy holy Martyrs Perpetua and Felicitas, that, as thou didst by these holy mysteries give glory to them, so thou mayest bestow on us thy pardon. Through.

SEASONAL COLLECTS
As given before Ash Wednesday

COMMUNION Ps. 121.3-4

Jerusalem was built as a city with compact unity; to it the tribes went up, the tribes of the Lord, to give praise to thy Name, O Lord.

POSTCOMMUNION

O merciful God, we never fail to be nourished by thy Sacrament. May we offer it with true devotion and receive it always with faith. Through.

Commemoration: Sts. Perpetua and Felicitas, Martyrs

O Lord, we who are filled with mystic gifts and joys, beseech thee, that at the intercession of thy holy Martyrs Perpetua and Felicitas, we may obtain the spiritual effect of that rite which we are now completing. Through.

SEASONAL COLLECTS
As given before Ash Wednesday