FOURTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST; SAINTS CYRIL AND METHODIUS

FOURTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST



SAINTS CYRIL AND METHODIUS
Bishop and Confessors 

DOUBLE / GREEN
God does not ask anyone to embrace suffering for its own sake. He asks only that we embrace His will, a divine will that can be shown through suffering as well as through good fortune. God wills that all men and all the rest of creation be brought to share in the blessings of redemption, both now and in eternity. He wills that atonement for sin should be made through sacrifice offered by Christ and His members. He wills that mankind be converted and transformed through the realistic courage of apostolic charity. Upon the ruins of selfish dreams, God must triumph. His infallible truth and invincible power guarantee the final and true glory of a redeemed world.

INTROIT Ps. 26:1, 2

The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the protector of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? Mine enemies that have troubled me have themselves been weakened and have fallen.

Ps. 26:3. If armies in camp should stand together against me, my heart shall not fear.

V. Glory be . . .

COLLECT

Grant, we beseech Thee, O Lord, that the world may be regulated in its course by Thy governance for our peace, and that Thy Church may with tranquil devotion rejoice. Through our Lord . . .


Commemoration of SAINTS CYRIL AND METHODIUS

In Constantinople in the ninth century there lived two gifted and holy brothers, Methodius and Cyril. Emperor Michael III sent them to evangelize the Slavic Moravian Empire in Central Europe, and Christian life was soon flourishing in that land. In 869 the brother missioners journeyed to Rome, where Pope Adrian II consecrated them bishops. Shortly afterward Cyril died. During another 16 years Methodius labored heroically to make Moravia wholly Christian. The Slavs venerate SS. Cyril and Methodius as the foremost among those who brought them to the knowledge of Christ.

O Almighty and Eternal God, the preaching of the blessed confessor bishops Cyril and Methodius brought the Slavonic nations the knowledge of Your holy name. May we who now glory in their feast join them one day in the fellowship of heaven. Through our Lord . . .
 

 
EPISTLE Rom. 8:18-23

Brethren: I reckon that the sufferings of this time are not worthy to be compared with the glory to come that shall be revealed in us. For the expectation of the creature waiteth for the revelation of the sons of God. For the creature was made subject to vanity: not willingly, but by reason of him that made it subject, in hope. Because the creature also itself shall be delivered from the servitude of corruption, into the liberty of the glory of the children of God. For we know that every creature groaneth and travaileth in pain, even till now. And not only it, but ourselves also, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit: even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption of the sons of God, the redemption of our body.

GRADUAL Ps. 78:9, 10

Forgive us our sins, O Lord. lest the Gentiles should at any time say, "Where is their God?"

V. Help us, O God, our Savior; and for the honor of Thy Name, O Lord, deliver us.

Alleluia, alleluia! V. Ps. 9:5

O God, who sittest upon the throne, and judgest justice, be Thou the refuge of the poor in tribulation. Alleluia!

GOSPEL Luke 5:1-11

At that time, when the multitudes pressed upon Jesus to hear the word of God, he stood by the

English: Jesus calling Simon Peter and his brother John (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

 lake of Genesareth, And saw two ships standing by the lake: but the fishermen were gone out of them and were washing their nets. And going into one of the ships that was Simon's, he desired him to draw back a little from the land. And sitting, he taught the multitudes out of the ship. Now when he had ceased to speak, he said to Simon: "Launch out into the deep and let down your nets for a draught."

And Simon answering said to him: "Master, we have laboured all the night and have taken nothing: but at thy word I will let down the net." And when they had done this, they enclosed a very great multitude of fishes: and their net broke. And they beckoned to their partners that were in the other ship, that they should come and help them. And they came and filled both the ships, so that they were almost sinking.

Which when Simon Peter saw, he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying: "Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord." For he was wholly astonished, and all that were with him, at the draught of the fishes which they had taken. And so were also James and John, the sons of Zebedee, who were Simon's partners. And Jesus saith to Simon: "Fear not: from henceforth thou shalt catch men." And having brought their ships to land, leaving all things, they followed him.

OFFERTORY ANTIPHON Ps. 12:4-5

Enlighten mine eyes, that I never sleep in death, lest at any time mine enemy say, "I have prevailed against him."

SECRET

Accept our oblations, we beseech Thee, O Lord, and be appeased by them, and mercifully compel even our rebel wills to turn to Thee. Through our Lord . . .

Commemoration of SAINTS CYRIL AND METHODIUS
 Look favorably on the prayers and offerings of Your people, O Lord. May this celebration of the feast of Your saints please You and bring us Your merciful help. Through our Lord . . .

COMMUNION ANTIPHON Ps. 17:3

The Lord is my firmament, and my refuge, and my deliverer, my God is my helper.

POSTCOMMUNION

May the Mysteries which we have received, we beseech Thee, O Lord, purify us, and fulfill their purpose by defending us. Through our Lord . . .

Commemoration of SAINTS CYRIL AND METHODIUS 
Almighty God, you have given us these Heavenly Gifts. Grant us the grace to despise all earthly gifts through the intercession of Your saints Cyril and Methodius. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son, who lives and rules with You in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God forever and ever.