O Lord, we beseech thee, let thy continual pity cleanse and defend
thy Church; and, because it cannot continue in safety without thy
succour, preserve it evermore by thy help and goodness; through
Jesus Christ our Lord. _Amen_.
THE EPISTLE. Ephes. iii. 13.
I desire that ye faint not at my tribulations for you, which is
your glory. For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our
Lord Jesus Christ, of whom the whole family in heaven and earth
is named, that he would grant you, according to the riches of his
glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner
man; that Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being
rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all
saints, what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height;
and to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye
might be filled with all the fulness of God. Now unto him that
is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think,
according to the power that worketh in us, unto him be glory in
the Church by Christ Jesus, throughout all ages, world without
end. Amen.
THE GOSPEL. St Luke vii. 11.
And it came to pass the day after, that Jesus went into a city
called Nain; and many of his disciples went with him, and much
people. Now when he came nigh to the gate of the city, behold,
there was a dead man carried out, the only son of his mother, and
she was a widow; and much people of the city was with her. And
when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her, and said unto
her, Weep not. And he came and touched the bier; and they that
bare him stood still: and he said, Young man, I say unto thee,
Arise. And he that was dead sat up, and began to speak: and he
delivered him to his mother. And there came a fear on all, and
they glorified God, saying, that a great Prophet is risen up among
us, and that God hath visited his people. And this rumour of him
went forth throughout all Judaea, and throughout all the region
round about.