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| "Woman, Behold Thy Son (Stabat Mater)" (left) and "The Sorrowful Mother (Mater Dolorosa)" (right) -- by James Tissot |
FIRST
READING:
1 Corinthians
11: 17 - 26, 33
17
Now this I ordain: not praising you, that you come together not for
the better, but for the worse.
18
For first of all I hear that when you come together in the church,
there are schisms among you; and in part I believe it.
19
For there must be also heresies: that they also, who are approved,
may be made manifest among you.
20
When you come therefore together into one place, it is not now to eat
the Lord's supper.
21
For every one taketh before his own supper to eat. And one indeed is
hungry and another is drunk.
22
What, have you not houses to eat and to drink in? Or despise ye the
church of God; and put them to shame that have not? What shall I say
to you? Do I praise you? In this I praise you not.
23
For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you,
that the Lord Jesus, the same night in which he was betrayed, took
bread.
24
And giving thanks, broke, and said: Take ye, and eat: this is my
body, which shall be delivered for you: this do for the commemoration
of me.
25
In like manner also the chalice, after he had supped, saying: This
chalice is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as often as you
shall drink, for the commemoration of me.
26
For as often as you shall eat this bread, and drink the chalice, you
shall shew the death of the Lord, until he come.
33
Wherefore, my brethren, when you come together to eat, wait for one
another.
PSALM:
Psalms 40:
7 - 10, 17
7
Sacrifice and oblation thou didst not desire; but thou hast pierced
ears for me. Burnt offering and sin offering thou didst not require:
8
Then said I, Behold I come. In the head of the book it is written of
me
9
That I should do thy will: O my God, I have desired it, and thy law
in the midst of my heart.
10
I have declared thy justice in a great church, lo, I will not
restrain my lips: O Lord, thou knowest it.
17
Let all that seek thee rejoice and be glad in thee: and let such as
love thy salvation say always: The Lord be magnified.
OPTIONAL
SEQUENCE:
Stabat Mater
At
the cross her station keeping,
Stood
the mournful Mother weeping,
Close
to Jesus to the last.
Through
her heart, his sorrow sharing,
All
his bitter anguish bearing,
Now
at length the sword had passed.
Oh,
how sad and sore distressed
Was
that Mother highly blessed
Of
the sole begotten One!
Christ
above in torment hangs,
She
beneath beholds the pangs
Of
her dying, glorious Son.
Is
there one who would not weep,
‘Whelmed
in miseries so deep,
Christ’s
dear Mother to behold?
Can
the human heart refrain
From
partaking in her pain,
In
that mother’s pain untold?
Bruised,
derided, cursed, defiled,
She
beheld her tender Child,
All
with bloody scourges rent.
For
the sins of his own nation
Saw
him hang in desolation
Till
his spirit forth he sent.
O
sweet Mother! font of love,
Touch
my spirit from above,
Make
my heart with yours accord.
Make
me feel as you have felt;
Make
my soul to glow and melt
With
the love of Christ, my Lord.
Holy
Mother, pierce me through,
In
my heart each wound renew
Of
my Savior crucified.
Let
me share with you his pain,
Who
for all our sins was slain,
Who
for me in torments died.
Let
me mingle tears with you,
Mourning
him who mourned for me,
All
the days that I may live.
By
the cross with you to stay,
There
with you to weep and pray,
Is
all I ask of you to give.
Virgin
of all virgins blest!
Listen
to my fond request:
Let
me share your grief divine.
Let
me to my latest breath,
In
my body bear the death
Of
that dying Son of yours.
GOSPEL:
John 19:
25 - 27 OR
Luke 2:
33 - 35
25
Now there stood by the cross of Jesus, his mother, and his mother's
sister, Mary of Cleophas, and Mary Magdalen.
26
When Jesus therefore had seen his mother and the disciple standing
whom he loved, he saith to his mother: Woman, behold thy son.
27
After that, he saith to the disciple: Behold thy mother. And from
that hour, the disciple took her to his own.
OR
33
And his father and mother were wondering at those things which were
spoken concerning him.
34
And Simeon blessed them, and said to Mary his mother: Behold this
child is set for the fall, and for the resurrection of many in
Israel, and for a sign which shall be contradicted;
35
And thy own soul a sword shall pierce, that, out of many hearts,
thoughts may be revealed.
