18th Sunday after Pentecost; SAINT EDWARD King and Confessor (1066 A.D.)

EIGHTEENTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST

SAINT EDWARD
King and Confessor

DOUBLE / GREEN
Forgiveness is every man's need, for every man is born to sin. God may speak like thunder in the human heart, and then the man of good will has no peace until he kneels and confesses and receives His pardon. God's voice may be ignored or laughed at by others. But His rights to obedience and worship cannot be mocked. Through Christ our mediator, God has amply provided for man's reconciliation with the Deity. The confessional is always at hand, and the priest is God's minister of grace. By His death Christ won every grace needed for our present peace and future happiness.
 
INTROIT Eccli. 36:18
Grant peace, O Lord, to those who wait for You, that Your prophets may be found faithful. Hear the prayers of Your servant of Your people Israel.
Ps. 121.1. I rejoice at the tidings which were told me, "We shall go into the house of the Lord."
V. Glory be . . .

COLLECT

O Lord, let Your mercy direct our hearts, for without You we can do nothing to please You. Through our Lord . . .

Commemoration of SAINT EDWARD
King Edward the Confessor reigned in England from the end of the Danish rule (1042) to the Norman conquest (1066). His subjects praised his simplicity, gentleness, humility, and purity. He made a practice of standing at his palace gate, speaking kindly to the beggars and lepers who crowded about him, and often he wrought cures among them. England grew prosperous during his rule of almost unbroken peace, and for ages afterward the people spoke with affection of the "laws of good St. Edward."

O God, You gave the blessed confessor king Edward a crown of everlasting glory. may we who honor him on earth be worthy to rule with him in heaven. Through our Lord . . .
  
EPISTLE I Cor. 1:4-8
Brethren: I give thanks to my God always for you, for the grace of God that is given you in Christ Jesus: That in all things you are made rich in him, in all utterance and in all knowledge; As the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you, So that nothing is wanting to you in any grace, waiting for the manifestation of our Lord Jesus Christ. Who also will confirm you unto the end without crime, in the days of the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

GRADUAL Ps. 121:1, 7
I rejoiced at the tidings which were told me, "We shall go into the house of the Lord."
V. May peace be within your walls, and prosperity within your towers.

Alleluia, alleluia! V.
The nations shall revere Your name, O Lord, and all the kings of the earth shall reverence Your glory. Alleluia!

GOSPEL Matt. 9:1-8
At that time, Jesus entering into a boat, passed over the water and came into his own city. And behold they brought to him one sick of the palsy lying in a bed. And Jesus, seeing their faith, said to the man sick of the palsy: "Be of good heart, son, thy sins are forgiven thee." And behold some of the scribes said within themselves: "He blasphemeth." And Jesus seeing their thoughts, said: "Why do you think evil in your hearts? Whether is easier, to say, Thy sins are forgiven thee: or to say, Arise, and walk? But that you may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins," (then said he to the man sick of the palsy,) "Arise, take up thy bed, and go into thy house." And he arose, and went into his house. And the multitude seeing it, feared, and glorified God that gave such power to men.

OFFERTORY ANTIPHON Ex. 24:4, 5
Moses consecrated an altar to the Lord, offering holocausts on it, and sacrificing victims. He made an evening sacrifice to the Lord God for an odor of sweetness, in the sight of the children of Israel.

SECRET
O God, who allows us to share in Your own divine nature by partaking of this sacrifice, grant that our conduct may be guided by Your revealed truth. Through our Lord . . .

Commemoration of SAINT EDWARD
We offer You, O Lord, this Sacrifice of praise in memory of Your saints. Free us from evil now and in the future through their intercession. Through our Lord . . .

COMMUNION ANTIPHON Ps. 95:8-9
Bring offerings, and enter his courts; worship the Lord in His holy temple.

POSTCOMMUNION
We thank You, O Lord, for nourishing us with Your Sacred Gift. In Your mercy, make us worthy of the Sacrament we have received. Through our Lord . . .

Commemoration of SAINT EDWARD

Refreshed with Heavenly Food and Drink, we humbly pray You, our God, that we may be strengthened by the prayers of Your saint in whose memory we have received this Sacrament. Through our Lord . . .