GRANT, we beseech thee, Almighty God: that, like as we have
known thy glorious Martyrs to be constant in their confession
of thy faith; so we may feel the succour of their loving intercession.
Through.
The Epistle. Hebrews11. 33.
Brethren: Through faith the Saints subdued kingdoms, wrought
righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions,
quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword,
out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned
to flight the armies of the aliens. Women received their dead
raised to life again: and other were tortured, not accepting
deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection: and
others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover
of bonds and imprisonment: they were stoned, they were sawn asunder,
were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about
in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented;
(of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts,
and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth. And these
all obtained a good report through faith in Jesus Christ our
Lord.
The Gospel. St. Luke 6. 17. [From Mass 7, Sapientiam]
At that time: Jesus came down from the mountain and stood in
the plain, and the company of his disciples, and a great multitude
of people out of all Judea and Jerusalem and from the sea coast
of Tyre and Sidon, which came to hear him, and to be healed of
their diseases; and they that were vexed with unclean spirits;
and they were healed. and the whole multitude sought to touch
him: for there went virtue out of him, and healed them all. And
he lifted up his eyes on his disciples and said: Blessed are
ye poor: for yours is the kingdom of God. Blessed are ye that
hunger now: for ye shall be filled. Blessed are ye that weep
now: for ye shall laugh. Blessed are ye when men shall hate you,
and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall
reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of
Man's sake. Rejoice ye in that day, and leap for joy; for behold
your reward is great in heaven.