Collects, Epistles and Gospels
for the Proper of Saints
Saint
Mary Magdalene (July 22)
The Collect.
MERCIFUL FATHER, give us grace that we never presume to
sin through the example of any creature: but if it shall chance
us at any time to offend thy divine majesty, that then we may
truly repent, and lament the same, after the example of Mary
Magdalene; and by lively faith obtain remission of all our sins.
Through the only merits of thy Son our Lord and Saviour Jesus
Christ. Who liveth and reigneth with thee.
For the Epistle. Song of Solomon 3:2-5,
8:6-7
2 I will rise now, and go about the city in the streets, and
in the broad ways I will seek him whom my soul loveth: I sought
him, but I found him not.
3 The watchmen that go about the city found me: to whom I said,
Saw ye him whom my soul loveth?
4 It was but a little that I passed from them, but I found him
whom my soul loveth: I held him, and would not let him go, until
I had brought him into my mother's house, and into the chamber
of her that conceived me.
5 I charge you, O ye daughters of Jerusalem, by the roes, and
by the hinds of the field, that ye stir not up, nor awake my
love, till he please.
6 Set me as a seal upon thine heart, as a seal upon thine arm:
for love is strong as death; jealousy is cruel as the grave:
the coals thereof are coals of fire, which hath a most vehement
flame.
7 Many waters cannot quench love, neither can the floods drown
it: if a man would give all the substance of his house for love,
it would utterly be contemned.
The Gospel. St Luke 7:36-50
36 And one of the Pharisees desired him that he would eat with
him. And he went into the Pharisee's house, and sat down to meat.
37 And, behold, a woman in the city, which was a sinner, when
she knew that Jesus sat at meat in the Pharisee's house, brought
an alabaster box of ointment,
38 And stood at his feet behind him weeping, and began to wash
his feet with tears, and did wipe them with the hairs of her
head, and kissed his feet, and anointed them with the ointment.
39 Now when the Pharisee which had bidden him saw it, he spake
within himself, saying, This man, if he were a prophet, would
have known who and what manner of woman this is that toucheth
him: for she is a sinner.
40 And Jesus answering said unto him, Simon, I have somewhat
to say unto thee. And he saith, Master, say on.
41 There was a certain creditor which had two debtors: the one
owed five hundred pence, and the other fifty.
42 And when they had nothing to pay, he frankly forgave them
both. Tell me therefore, which of them will love him most?
43 Simon answered and said, I suppose that he, to whom he forgave
most. And he said unto him, Thou hast rightly judged.
44 And he turned to the woman, and said unto Simon, Seest thou
this woman? I entered into thine house, thou gavest me no water
for my feet: but she hath washed my feet with tears, and wiped
them with the hairs of her head.
45 Thou gavest me no kiss: but this woman since the time I came
in hath not ceased to kiss my feet.
46 My head with oil thou didst not anoint: but this woman hath
anointed my feet with ointment.
47 Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven;
for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same
loveth little.
48 And he said unto her, Thy sins are forgiven.
49 And they that sat at meat with him began to say within themselves,
Who is this that forgiveth sins also?
50 And he said to the woman, Thy faith hath saved thee; go in
peace.