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Day 23

A reading from the First Letter of St. Peter

If you invoke as Father the one who judges all people impartially according to their deeds, live in reverent fear during the time of your exile. You know that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your ancestors, not with perishable things like silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without defect or blemish. He was destined before the foundation of the world, but was revealed at the end of the ages for your sake. Through him you have come to trust in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are set on God. (1 Peter 1:17-21)

RESPONSORY

The price of your redemption was not something of fleeting value like gold or silver, but the costly shedding of the blood of Christ

-- the lamb without blemish.

The blood of Jesus Christ washes away all our sins

– the lamb without blemish.

From The Dialogue of St. Catherine of Siena (+1380)

Eternal God, eternal Trinity, you have made the blood of Christ so precious through his sharing in your divine nature. You are a mystery as deep as the sea; the more I search, the more I find, and the more I find the more I search for you. But I can never be satisfied; what I receive will ever leave me desiring more. When you fill my soul I have an even greater hunger, and I grow more famished for your light. I desire above all to see you, the true light, as you really are.

I have tasted and seen the depth of your mystery and the beauty of your creation with the light of my understanding. I have clothed myself with your likeness and have seen what I shall be. Eternal Father, you have given me a share in your power and the wisdom that Christ claims as his own, and your Holy Spirit has given me the desire to love you. You are my Creator, eternal Trinity, and I am your creature. You have made of me a new creation in the blood of your Son, and I know that you are moved with love at the beauty of your creation, for you have enlightened me.

Eternal Trinity, Godhead, mystery deep as the sea, you could give me no greater gift than the gift of yourself. For you are a fire ever burning and never consumed, which itself consumes all the selfish love that fills my being. Yes, you are a fire that takes away the coldness, illuminates the mind with its light and causes me to know your truth. By this light, reflected as it were in a mirror, I recognise that you are the highest good, one we can neither comprehend nor fathom. And I know that you are beauty and wisdom itself. The food of angels, you gave yourself to man in the fire of your love.

You are the garment which covers our nakedness, and in our hunger you are a satisfying food, for you are sweetness and in you there is no taste of bitterness, O triune God!

Musical Selection

Primogénito Patris de sinu procedénti qui descéndens ab altis nos próprio sánguine solvit a morte, *digna laudum vota solvámus benedicéntes illi. V. Qui carnis nostrae trábea indútus homo factus servum redémit. *Digna laudum vota.

To the first-born Son going forth from the bosom of the Father, who, descending from on high, released us from death with His own blood. *Let us deliver worthy offerings of praise, blessing Him. V. He who was made man, garbed in the robe of our flesh, redeemed His servant. *Let us deliver

Collect

Omnipotent God,

your glory is incomprehensible,

your majesty infinite,

and your power incomparable.

Found us on the certainty of your promises,

that no matter what happens,

we may be firm in faith

and live uprightly in your church,

bought by the blood of Jesus Christ. Amen. (Book of Common Worship)

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