III Day in the Octave of the Assumption
℣. Grant, Lord, a blessing.
Benediction. May God the Father Omnipotent, be to us merciful and clement.
℟. Amen.
Reading 4
From one of the Tracts upon John, written by St. Augustine, Bishop of Hippo.
21th.
Brethren, we know that all we who are in the body of the Lord, and abide in Him that He also may abide in us, must needs in this world live even unto the end among the wicked; by the wicked I mean not such as blaspheme Christ, for it is now but few who are found who blaspheme Him with their tongue, but many there be who do it by their lives. Among such we must needs live, even unto the end. But what is it that He said, He that abideth in Me and I in him? (John xv. 5). Is it not that whereunto the Martyrs gave ear, He that endureth to the end shall be saved? (Matth. x. 22).
℣. But thou, O Lord, have mercy upon us.
℟. Thanks be to God.
℟. Father, whither goest thou without thy son? Holy Priest, dost thou fare hence without a Deacon?
* It hath never been thy use to offer sacrifice without a minister.
℣. What therefore in me hath displeased thee, my Father? Hast thou tried me and found me unworthy to be called thy son? Make trial if I am indeed a useless servant, even I, whom thou didst choose, to commit unto me the administration of the Cup of the Blood of the Lord.
℟. It hath never been thy use to offer sacrifice without a minister.
℣. Grant, Lord, a blessing.
Benediction. May Christ to all His people give, for ever in His sight to live.
℟. Amen.
Reading 5
In what wise abode in Him the holy Lawrence whose Feast-day we keep to-day? He abode in Him until trial came; he abode in Him until He was browbeaten by the tyrant; he abode in Him until his fearful sentence came; he abode in Him even unto death. That is saying but a little of him; he abode in Him even in savage torture. He was not slain quickly, but tortured in the fire. He was allowed to remain long alive, and yet not allowed to remain long alive, but slowly put to death. During that long death, in all that agony, since he had well eaten and well drunk, filled with that Food, and drunken with that Cup, he felt not the torture.
℣. But thou, O Lord, have mercy upon us.
℟. Thanks be to God.
℟. Leave me not, holy Father, for I have spent already thy treasures.
* I leave thee not, my son, neither forsake thee but there awaiteth thee for Christ’s truth a wrestling sterner than mine.
℣. We, as old men, have an easier race to run; for thee in thy youth, there is kept a more glorious victory over the enemy; yet three days, and thou shalt follow me, the Deacon behind the Priest.
℟. I leave thee not, my son, neither forsake thee but there awaiteth thee for Christ’s truth a wrestling sterner than mine.
℣. Grant, Lord, a blessing.
Benediction. May the Spirit’s fire Divine in our hearts enkindled shine.
℟. Amen.
Reading 6
Nor the holy Martyr Xystus, whose day we kept five days ago, had said unto him: “Be not sorrowful, my son” (for he was the Bishop and Lawrence the Deacon) “be not sorrowful,” said he, “yet three days and thou shalt follow me.” These three days of which he spake were the three clear days which elapse between the day of the passion of holy Xystus, and this day, the day of the passion of holy Lawrence. The three days are those between. O what a strange comfort! He saith not: Be not sorrowful, my son; the persecution will come to an end, and thou wilt be safe, but Be not sorrowful, whither I go, thither shalt thou follow me, and the time will not be long. Three clear days shall pass, and then thou shalt be with me. Lawrence received the prophecy, conquered the devil, and entered into his triumph.
℣. But thou, O Lord, have mercy upon us.
℟. Thanks be to God.
℟. The blessed Lawrence cried and said: My God do I worship, and Him only do I serve
* And therefore I am not afraid of thy tortures.
℣. The darkness is no darkness to me, but the night is all as clear as the morning, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day.
℟. And therefore I am not afraid of thy tortures.
℣. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, * and to the Holy Ghost.
℟. And therefore I am not afraid of thy tortures.
℣. Grant, Lord, a blessing.
Benediction. May the Gospel’s holy lection Be our safety and protection.
℟. Amen.
Reading 7
From the Holy Gospel according to John
John 12:24-28
At that time: Jesus said unto His disciples: Amen, Amen, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone. And so on.
Homily by St. John Chrysostom, Patriarch of Constantinople.
66th on John.
This present life is sweet, and full of many pleasures, not indeed for all, but for those who love it. But if one should have cast his looks heavenward, and studied the excellent things that are there, he will forthwith despise this present life and hold it of no moment. So is bodily comeliness esteemed, only as long as we see none fairer, but as soon as a comelier appeareth, the first is held cheap. And thus if we will look at the beauty above, and study the loveliness of the kingdom in heaven, we shall forthwith loose the ties that bind us to this world.
℣. But thou, O Lord, have mercy upon us.
℟. Thanks be to God.
℟. Upon the bars I denied thee not, O God.
* And when they put me to the fire, I acknowledged thee to be the Lord, O Jesus Christ.
℣. Lord, Thou hast proved mine heart and visited it by night.
℟. And when they put me to the fire, I acknowledged thee to be the Lord, O Jesus Christ.
℣. Grant, Lord, a blessing.
Benediction. He whose feast-day we are keeping, be our Advocate with God.
℟. Amen.
Reading 8
The ties that bind us to this world are the love of earthly things. Listen to what Christ saith, to draw us to loosen these ties. He that loveth his life shall lose it, and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal. This hath the sound of a puzzle, and yet it is full of the most excellent wisdom. How shall he that loveth his life lose it? He shall lose it by yielding to its senseless lusts, by indulging any of its lusts more than he ought. Whereas he that hateth his life in this world, shall keep it unto life eternal, by not obeying it when it demandeth things hurtful.
℣. But thou, O Lord, have mercy upon us.
℟. Thanks be to God.
℟. O Hippolytus, if thou believest in the Lord Jesus Christ,
* I lay before thee treasure an hundredfold, and promise thee life everlasting.
℣. The blessed Lawrence said unto Hippolytus: If thou believest in the Lord Jesus Christ.
℟. I lay before thee treasure an hundred-fold, and promise thee life everlasting.
℣. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, * and to the Holy Ghost.
℟. I lay before thee treasure an hundred-fold, and promise thee life everlasting.
℣. Grant, Lord, a blessing.
Benediction. May He that is the Angels’ King to that high realm His people bring.
℟. Amen.
Reading 9
Christ saith not, He that obeyeth it not, but, He that hateth it. For even as we cannot bear to hear the voice or see the face of them whom we hate, so doth it behove us to turn angrily away from our own life, if it demand from us anything contrary to the will of God. He was about to speak to them touching death, even His Own death, and He foresaw their grief and faintness, and spake in strong expressions, as though He said: What shall I say, if ye take not My death bravely? Unless ye also die, ye shall gain no profit.
℣. But thou, O Lord, have mercy upon us.
℟. Thanks be to God.
Te Deum