The Introits, Collects, etc. St. Matthias, George Herbert, St. David

Saints Days from Septuigesima to Advent

Saint Matthias, the Apostle

February 24

1st Evensong

The Psalms Appointed

113 & 122

The Readings

1 Sam. 16:1–13 & 1 John 2:15

The Antiphon for the Magnificat

Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate from you, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man's sake: * rejoice ye, and leap for joy: for behold, your reward is great in heaven.

Matins

The Psalms Appointed

15 & 24

The Readings

1 Sam. 2:27–35 & Matt. 7: 15-27

The Antiphon for the Benedictus

They will deliver you unto the councils, and in their synagogues will they scourge you, * and before kings and governors shall ye be brought for my sake, for a testimony against them and the Gentiles.

Holy Communion

The Introit Psalm 140. Eripe me, Domine.

DELIVER me, O LORD, from the evil man; * and preserve me from the wicked man;
    2 Who imagine mischief in their hearts, * and stir up strife all the day long.
    3 They have sharpened their tongues like a serpent; * adder's poison is under their lips.
    4 Keep me, O LORD, from the hands of the ungodly; * preserve me from the wicked men, who are purposed to overthrow my goings.
    5 The proud have laid a snare for me, and spread a net abroad with cords; * yea, and set traps in my way.
    6 I said unto the LORD, Thou art my God, * hear the voice of my prayers, O LORD.
    7 O LORD God, thou strength of my health; * thou hast covered my head in the day of battle.
    8 Let not the ungodly have his desire, O LORD; * let not his mischievous imagination prosper, lest they be too proud.
    9 Let the mischief of their own lips fall upon the head of them * that compass me about.
    10 Let hot burning coals fall upon them; * let them be cast into the fire, and into the pit, that they never rise up again.
    11 A man full of words shall not prosper upon the earth: * evil shall hunt the wicked person to overthrow him.
    12 Sure I am that the LORD will avenge the poor, * and maintain the cause of the helpless.
    13 The righteous also shall give thanks unto thy Name; * and the just shall continue in thy sight.

The Collect.

OALMIGHTY God, who into the place of the traitor Judas didst choose thy faithful servant Matthias to be of the number of the twelve Apostles; Grant that thy Church, being alway preserved from false Apostles, may be ordered and guided by faithful and true pastors; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

For the Epistle. Acts i. 15.

IN those days Peter stood up in the midst of the disciples, and said, (the number of names together were about an hundred and twenty,) Men and brethren, this scripture must needs have been fulfilled, which the Holy Ghost by the mouth of David spake before concerning Judas, which was guide to them that took Jesus. For he was numbered with us, and had obtained part of this ministry. Now this man purchased a field with the reward of iniquity; and falling head long, he burst asunder in the midst, and all his bowels gushed out. And it was known unto all the dwellers at Jerusalem; insomuch as that field is called in their proper tongue, Aceldama, that is to say, The field of blood. For it is written in the book of Psalms, Let his habitation be desolate, and let no man dwell therein: and his bishoprick let another take. Wherefore of these men which have companied with us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, beginning from the baptism of John, unto that same day that he was taken up from us, must one be ordained to be a witness with us of his resurrection. And they appointed two, Joseph called Barsabas, who was surnamed Justus, and Matthias. And they prayed, and said, Thou, Lord, which knowest the hearts of all men, shew whether of these two thou hast chosen, that he may take part of this ministry and apostleship, from which Judas by transgression fell, that he might go to his own place. And they gave forth their lots; and the lot fell upon Matthias; and he was numbered with the eleven apostles.

The Gradual Ps 80:8-11

    8 Thou hast brought a vine out of Egypt; * thou hast cast out the heathen, and planted it.
    9 Thou madest room for it; * and when it had taken root, it filled the land.
    10 The hills were covered with the shadow of it, * and the boughs thereof were like the goodly cedar-trees.

11 She stretched out her branches unto the sea, * and her boughs unto the River

The Gospel. St. Matt. xi. 25.

AT that time Jesus answered and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes. Even so, Father: for so it seemed good in thy sight. All things are delivered unto me of my Father: and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him. Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

2nd Evensong

The Psalms Appointed

145

The Readings

1 Sam. 12:1–5 & Acts 20:17–35

The Antiphon for the Magnificat

In the regeneration, when the Son of man shall sit upon the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon the throne of his glory; * ye also shall sit, and shall judge the twelve tribes of Israel, saith the Lord.

George Herbert

(Priest)

February 27

The Collect.

O ETERNAL Lord God, who boldest all souls in life: We beseech thee to shed forth upon thy whole Church in paradise and on earth the bright beams of thy light and thy peace; and grant that we, following the good examples of thy servant George Herbert, and of all those who loved and served thee here, may at the last enter with them into thine unending joy; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

St. David

(Bishop of Menevia )

March 1

Matins

The Psalms Appointed

22 & 67

The Readings

Ezek. 2:1–7 & Acts 11:1–18

The Antiphon for the Benedictus

Blessed be the Name of God for ever and ever, for wisdom and might are his: * I thank thee, O thou God of my fathers, who hast given us wisdom and might, in that thou hast revealed the deep and secret things Alleluia!

Holy Communion

The Collect.

O ALMIGHTY God, who in thy providence didst choose thy servant David to be an apostle to the people of Wales, to bring those who were wandering in darkness and error to the true light and knowledge of thee: Grant us so to walk in that light, that we may come at last to the light of everlasting life; through the merits of Jesus Christ thy Son our Lord. Amen.

The Epistle. Ephesians 2:4-10.

GOD, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) and hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: that in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his

grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

The Gospel. St. Mark 4:26-29.

JESUS said, So is the kingdom of God, as if a man should cast seed into the ground; and should sleep, and rise night and day, and the seed should spring and grow up, he knoweth not how. For the earth bringeth forth fruit of herself; first the blade, then the ear, after that the full corn in the ear. But when the fruit is brought forth, immediately he putteth in the sickle, because the harvest is come.

Evensong

The Psalms Appointed

23 & 146

The Readings

Ezek. 3:4–11 & Acts 4:8–20

The Antiphon for the Magnificat

Blessed is the man that considereth the ways of wisdom in his heart, and that goeth after her as one that traceth: * by her he shall be covered from the heat, and shall dwell in her glory Alleluia!