ALMIGHTY and everlasting God, who dost enkindle the name of
thy love in the hearts of the Saints; Grant to us, thy humble
servants, the same faith and power of love; that, as we rejoice
in their triumphs, we may profit by their examples; through Jesus
Christ our Lord. Amen.
¶ Or this.
O ALMIGHTY God, who hast called us to faith in thee, and hast
compassed us about with so great a cloud of witnesses; Grant
that we, encouraged by the good examples of thy Saints, and especially
of thy servant [Saint_____], may persevere in running the race
that is set before us, until at length, through thy mercy, we,
with them, attain to thine eternal joy; through him who is the
author and finisher of our faith, thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
The Epistle. Hebrews xii. 1.
SEEING we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of
witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth
so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that
is set before us, looking unto Jesus the author and finisher
of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured
the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right
hand of the throne of God.
The Gospel. St. Matthew xxv. 31.
WHEN the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy
angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory:
and before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate
them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from
the goats: and he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but
the goats on the left. Then shall the King say unto them on his
right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom
prepared for you from the foundation of the world: for I was
an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me
drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: naked, and ye clothed
me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came
unto me. Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when
saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee
drink? When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked,
and clothed thee? Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and
came unto thee? And the King shall answer and say unto them,
Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of
the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.