Septuagesima Sunday

THE COLLECT.
O LORD, we beseech thee favourably to hear the prayers of thy people; that we, who are justly punished for our offences, may be mercifully delivered by thy goodness, for the glory of thy Name; through Jesus Christ our Saviour, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost, ever one God, world without end. Amen.

THE EPISTLE. 1 Cor 9. 24
KNOW ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain. And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things: now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown, but we an incorruptible. I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air: but I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection, lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a cast-away.

THE GOSPEL. S. Matth. 20. 1
THE kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which went out early in the morning to hire labourers into his vineyard. And when he had agreed with the labourers for a penny a day, he sent them into his vineyard. And he went out about the third hour, and saw others standing idle in the market-place, and said unto them, Go ye also into the vineyard, and whatsoever is right I will give you. And they went their way. Again he went out about the sixth and ninth hour, and did likewise. And about the eleventh hour he went out, and found others standing idle, and saith unto them, Why stand ye here all the day idle? They say unto him, Because no man hath hired us. He saith unto them, Go ye also into the vineyard; and whatsoever is right, that shall ye receive. So when even was come, the lord of the vineyard saith unto his steward, Call the labourers, and give them their hire, beginning from the last unto the first. And when they came that were hired about the eleventh hour, they received every man a penny. But when the first came, they supposed that they should have received more; and they likewise received every man a penny. And when they had received it, they murmured against the good-man of the house, saying, These last have wrought but one hour, and thou hast made them equal unto us, which have borne the burden and heat of the day. But he answered one of them, and said, Friend, I do thee no wrong; didst not thou agree with me for a penny? Take that thine is, and go thy way; I will give unto this last even as unto thee. Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own? Is thine eye evil, because I am good? So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen.

INTROIT. Ps 18:1-7
I WILL love thee, O Lord, my strength. / the Lord is my stony rock, and my defence : my Saviour;
2 My God, and my might, in whom I will trust; / my shield, the horn also of my salvation, and my refuge.
3 I will call upon the Lord, which is worthy to be praised; / so shall I be saved from mine enemies.
Ant. The waves of death compassed me, / and the floods of ungodliness made me afraid.
5 The cords of hell came about me; / the snares of death overtook me.
6 In my trouble I called upon the Lord, / and complained unto my God.
7 So he heard my voice out of his holy temple, / and my complaint before him entered into his ears.
Glory be. Repeat Antiphon.

GRADUAL. Ps 119:25-32
MY soul cleaveth to the dust; / O quicken thou me, according to thy word.
26 I have acknowledged my ways, and thou heardest me: / O teach me thy statutes.
27 Make me to understand the way of thy precepts; / and so shall I meditate upon thy wondrous works.
28 My soul melteth away for very heaviness: / comfort thou me according unto thy word.
29 Take from me the way of lying, / and graciously grant me thy law.
30 I have chosen the way of truth, / and thy judgements have I laid before me.
31 I cleave unto thy testimonies: / O Lord, confound me not.
Alleluia, All. I will run the way of thy commandments, / when thou hast set my heart at liberty. All.

Additional Propers for Eucharistic Devotions