He first the promised Saviour sought And whom he found, to others taught, And he, among the first, the call "Fisher of men," by night, by day, His ready toils he set ; Nor scrupled he to yield his breath, By many a labor tried, And die, with willing mind, the death And now his name with service meet, And bids the Church prepare to greet BP. MANT. SAINT THOMAS'S DAY. DECEMBER 21. COLLECT. Almighty and everlasting God, who for the more confirmation of the faith didst suffer thy holy apostle Thomas to be doubtful in thy Son's resurrection; grant us so perfectly, and without all doubt to believe in thy Son Jesus Christ, that our faith in thy sight may never be reproved. Hear us, O Lord, through the same Jesus Christ, in whose name we ascribe unto thee all honor and glory, now and for evermore. Amen. HYMN. I hear the glorious Sufferer tell, Attempts his triumphs in a song; "How has the serpent lost his sting, and where 's thy victory, death?" But when he shows his hands and heart, Not the beloved John could rest With more delight upon that breast, Nor THOMAS pry into those wounds with more intense desire. Kindly he opens me his ear, And bids me pour my sorrow there, And tell him all my pains. Thus while I ease my burdened heart, In every woe he bears a part, His arms embrace me, and his hand my drooping head sustains, WATTS. SAINT JOHN THE EVANGELIST'S DAY. DECEMBER 27. COLLECT. Merciful Lord, we beseech thee to cast thy bright beams of light upon thy church, that it, being enlightened by the doctrine of thy blessed apostle and evangelist Saint John, may so walk in the light of thy truth, that it may at length attain to the light of everlasting life, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. HYMN. Among the planets heavenly bright, A holier radiance, JOHN, than thine. Apostle thou of Christ the Lord; Yet by another name we deem Thy claim to high renown approved, P Be ours to mark His portrait fair To note thy life; to see thee fling And view unblamed the throne of God. And may our faith, blest Saint, like thine 66 Disciples by our Master loved." BP. MANT. ANOTHER. Peter, seeing him, saith to Jesus, Lord, and what shall this man do? Jesus saith unto him, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? follow thou me. John xxi. 21, 22. "Lord, and what shall this man do?". Christ hath told thee of his end. This is he whom Jesus loves. |