April 13, 2024 - Saint Hermenegild (R)

Introit

Thou hast protected me, O God, from the assembly of the malignant, alleluia: from the multitude of the workers of iniquity, alleluia, alleluia.

Psalm: Hear, O God, my prayer, when I make supplication to Thee: deliver my soul from the fear of the enemy.

Glory be to the Father. Thou hast protected me, O God, from the assembly of the malignant, alleluia: from the multitude of the workers of iniquity, alleluia, alleluia.

Collect

O God, Who didst teach blessed Hermenegild, Thy Martyr, to choose the heavenly kingdom rather than an earthly throne: grant us, we beseech Thee, that following his example, we may despise the fleeting things of time and seek what is eternal. Through our Lord.

Epistle - Wisdom 5:1-5

Then shall the just stand with great constancy against those that have afflicted them, and taken away their labors. These seeing it, shall be troubled with terrible fear, and shall be amazed at the suddenness of their unexpected salvation. Saying within themselves, repenting, and groaning for anguish of spirit: These are they, whom we had some time in derision, and for a parable of reproach. We fools esteemed their life madness, and their end without honour. Behold how they are numbered among the children of God, and their lot is among the saints.

Paschal Alleluia

Alleluia, alleluia. The heavens shall confess Thy wonders. O Lord: and Thy truth in the Church of the Saints.

Gospel - 14:26-35

At that time, Jesus said to His disciples: If any man come to Me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple. And whosoever doth not carry his cross and come after me, cannot be My disciple. For which of you having a mind to build a tower, doth not first sit down, and reckon the charges that are necessary, whether he have wherewithal to finish it: Lest, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that see it begin to mock him, Saying: This man began to build, and was not able to finish.

Or what king, about to go to make war against another king, doth not first sit down, and think whether he be able, with ten thousand, to meet him that, with twenty thousand, cometh against him? Or else, whilst the other is yet afar off, sending an embassy, he desireth conditions of peace. So likewise every one of you that doth not renounce all that he possesseth, cannot be My disciple. Salt is good. But if the salt shall lose its savour, wherewith shall it be seasoned? It is neither profitable for the land nor for the dunghill, but shall be cast out. He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.

Offertory

The heavens shall confess Thy wonders, O Lord, and Thy truth in the Church of the Saints, alleluia, alleluia.

Secret

Receive our gifts and our prayers, we beseech Thee, O Lord; cleanse us by the heavenly mysteries and mercifully hear us. Through our Lord.

Communion

The just shall rejoice in the Lord, and shall hope in Him: and all the upright in heart shall be praised, alleluia, alleluia.

Post Communion

Grant, we beseech Thee, O Lord, our God: that as we rejoice on earth in keeping the memory of Thy saints, so also we may enjoy their company for evermore. Through our Lord.