St Agnes, Virgin, Martyr

  THE PARISH MASS

20 January 2019, 10:30 am

The Introit Hymn

Praise to the Holiest in the height, and in the depth be praise: in all his words most wonderful, most sure in all his ways.   O loving wisdom of our God! When all was sin and shame, a second Adam to the fight and to the rescue came.   O wisest love! that flesh and blood, which did in Adam fail, should strive afresh against the foe, should strive and should prevail;   And that a higher gift than grace should flesh and blood refine, God's presence and his very self, and essence all-divine.

O generous love! that he, who smote in Man for man the foe, the double agony in Man for man should undergo;   And in the garden secretly, and on the cross on high, should teach his brethren, and inspire to suffer and to die.   Praise to the Holiest in the height, and in the depth be praise: in all his words most wonderful, most sure in all his ways.

 

The Entrance Antiphon

 

Behold, now she follows the Lamb who was crucified for us,

powerful in virginity, modesty her offering, a sacrifice on the altar of chastity.

 

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

 

The Lord be with you

And with your spirit   

 

The Invitation to Confession

 Brothers and Sisters let us acknowledge our sins, and so prepare ourselves to celebrate the sacred mysteries. 

 I confess to almighty God and to you, my brothers and sisters, that I have greatly sinned, in my thoughts and in my words, in what I have done and in what I have failed to do, through my fault, through my fault, through my most grievous fault. Therefore I ask blessed Mary ever-Virgin, all the Angels and Saints, and you my brothers and sisters, to pray for me to the Lord our God.

 May almighty God have mercy on us, forgive us our sins, and bring us to everlasting life. Amen

The Kyrie

 

Kyrie eleison, Kyrie eleison, Kyrie eleison,

Christe eleison, Christe eleison, Christe eleison,

Kyrie eleison, Kyrie eleison, Kyrie eleison,

 

The Gloria

 

Glory! Glory! Glory to God! Glory! Glory! Glory to God!   Glory to God in the heights of the heavens, Peace to God’s people, all people on earth.   Son of the Father, all glory and worship; Praise and thanksgiving to you, Lamb of God.

You take away the sin of the world; Have mercy on us, receive our prayer.   Seated in pow’r at the right of the Father, Jesus alone is the Lord, the Most High.   And with the Spirit of love everlasting, Reigning in glory for ever, Amen.

 

The Collect

 

Almighty ever-living God, who choose what is weak in the world to confound

the strong, mercifully grant,

that we, who celebrate the heavenly birthday of your Martyr Saint Agnes,

may follow her constancy in the faith.

Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,

who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,

one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

 

The First Reading(Please be seated)

 

A reading from the Song of Songs:

 

Set me like a seal on your heart, like a seal on your arm.

For love is strong as Death, jealousy relentless as Sheol.

The flash of it is a flash of fire, a flame of the Lord himself.

Love no flood can quench, no torrents drown.

Were a man to offer all the wealth of his house to buy love, contempt is all he would purchase.

 

The word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

The  Gradual Hymn (Please remain seated)

 

The Lord's my Shepherd, I'll not want; he makes me down to lie in pastures green; he leadeth me the quiet waters by.   My soul he doth restore again, and me to walk doth make within the paths of righteousness, e'en for his own name's sake.   Yea, though I walk through death's dark vale, yet will I fear none ill, for thou art with me; and thy rod and staff me comfort still.

My table thou hast furnished in presence of my foes; my head thou dost with oil anoint, and my cup overflows.   Goodness and mercy all my life shall surely follow me; and in God's house forevermore my dwelling place shall be.

 

The Second Reading (Please remain seated)

A reading from the first letter of St Paul to the Corinthians:   Take yourselves for instance, brothers, at the time when you were called: how many of you were wise in the ordinary sense of the word, how many were influential people, or came from noble families? No, it was to shame the wise that God chose what is foolish by human reckoning, and to shame what is strong that he chose what is weak by human reckoning; those whom the world thinks common and contemptible are the ones that God has chosen – those who are nothing at all to show up those who are everything. The human race has nothing to boast about to God, but you, God has made members of Christ Jesus and by God’s doing he has become our wisdom, and our virtue, and our holiness, and our freedom. As scripture says: if anyone wants to boast, let him boast about the Lord.   The word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God

 

The Gospel Acclamation

 

Alleluia, alleluia!

Alleluia, alleluia!

Remain in my love, says the Lord / whoever remains in me, with me in him,

bears fruit in plenty.

Alleluia, alleluia!

The Lord be with you.

And with your Spirit.

 

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew:

Glory to you O Lord

 

Jesus said to the crowds: ‘The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field which someone has found; he hides it again, goes off happy, sells everything he owns and buys the field.

‘Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls; when he finds one of great value he goes and sells everything he owns and buys it.’

 

The Gospel of the Lord

Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ. 

 

The homily by Fr John

 

 

THE CREED(Please stand) 

 

I believe in one God, the Father almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all things visible and invisible  I believe in one Lord Jesus Christ, the Only Begotten Son of God, born of the Father before all ages.   God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, consubstantial with the Father; through Him all things were made.    For us men and for our salvation He came down from heaven, and by the Holy Spirit was incarnate of the Virgin Mary, and became man.   For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate; he suffered death and   was buried, and rose again on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures.

He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and his kingdom will have no end.   I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son, who with the Father and the Son is adored and glorified, who has spoken through the Prophets.   I believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church. I confess one baptism for the forgiveness of sins and I look forward to the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. AMEN.

 

 

The Prayers of the Faithful  (Please stand, sit or kneel) 

 

United in the company of all the faithful and looking for the coming of the kingdom, let us offer our prayers to God, the source of all life and holiness.

 

Lord, hear us;

Lord, graciously hear us

 

The Reader will add:

 

Hail Mary, full of grace. The Lord is with Thee. Blessed art thou amongst women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.

Holy Mary, mother of God, pray for us Sinners now and at the hour of our death. Amen

 

God of mercy, you know us and love us and hear our prayer:  keep us in the eternal fellowship of Jesus Christ our Saviour.  Amen.

 

The Offertory Hymn

 

Angel voices ever singing round thy throne of light, angel-harps for ever ringing, rest not day nor night; thousands only live to bless thee and confess thee Lord of might. Thou who art beyond the farthest mortal eye can scan, can it be that thou regardest songs of sinful man? can we know that thou art near us, and wilt hear us? yea, we can. Yea, we know that thou rejoicest o'er each work of thine; thou didst ears and hands and voices for thy praise design; craftsman's art and music's measure for thy pleasure all combine.

In thy house, great God, we offer of thine own to thee; and for Thine acceptance proffer all unworthily hearts and minds and hands and voices in our choicest psalmody. Honour, glory, might, and merit thine shall ever be, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, blessed Trinity. Of the best that thou hast given earth and heaven render thee.

 

 

The Preparation of the Gifts

 

Pray, brothers and sisters, that my sacrifice and yours may be acceptable to God the almighty Father.

  May the Lord accept the sacrifice at your hands, for the praise and glory of his name, for our good and the good of all his Holy Church. 

        

 The Prayer over the Offerings

 

May the offerings we bring in celebration of blessed Agnes.

win your gracious acceptance, O Lord, we pray,

just as the struggle of her suffering and passion

was pleasing to you.

Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

 

The Eucharistic Prayer

 

The Lord be with you:

And with your spirit

Lift up your hearts:

We lift them up to the Lord

Let us give thanks to the Lord our God

It is right and just

 

The Priest continues with the preface 

 

Holy, holy, holy Lord.

God of power and God of might:

Heaven and earth, heaven and earth

Are full of your glory, your power and might.

Hosanna, hosanna, hosanna in the highest heavens.

Hosanna, hosanna, hosanna in the highest heavens.

 

Blessed, blessed is he who comes:

Blessed, blessed is he who comes;

Blessed is he, blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.

Hosanna, hosanna, hosanna in the highest heavens.

Hosanna, hosanna, hosanna in the highest heavens.

 

The priest continues with the Eucharistic Prayer

 

The mystery of faith:

 

Christ is died, Christ is risen, Jesus Christ will come again.

Hosanna, hosanna, hosanna in the highest heavens.

 

The Priest continues

 

… Through Him, and with Him, and in Him, O God almighty Father, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, all glory and honour is yours, for ever and ever. Amen.

 

At the Saviour’s command and formed by divine teaching, we dare to say:

 

Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name;

thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses,

as we forgive those who trespass against us.

And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil.  

Deliver us Lord, we pray, from every evil; graciously grant peace in our days, that, by the help of your mercy, we may be always free from sin and safe from all distress as we await the blessed hope and the coming of our Saviour, Jesus Christ.

For the kingdom, the power and the glory are yours, now and for ever.

 

The Sign of Peace

                  

Lord Jesus Christ, who said to your apostles: Peace I leave you, my peace I give you, look not on our sins, but on the faith of your Church, and graciously grant her peace and unity in accordance with your will. Who lives and reigns for ever and ever. Amen.

 

The peace of the Lord be with you always:

And with your spirit

 

Let us offer each other the sign of peace.

 

 

Jesus, Lamb of God and source of life, Jesus, loving bearer of our sins, Hear our prayer, have mercy, Hear our prayer have mercy, Give us your peace. Jesus, Son of God and Son of Man, Jesus, true redeemer of the world.

Hear our prayer, have mercy,  Hear our prayer have mercy, Give us your peace.   Jesus, Lord of life and Lord of live, Jesus, here in form of bread and wine, Hear our prayer, have mercy, Hear our prayer have mercy Give us your peace.

Behold the Lamb of God; behold him who takes away the sins of the world. Blessed are those who are called to the supper of the Lamb. 

Lord, I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof, but only say the word and my soul shall be healed.

 

The Communion Antiphon

 

The Lamb who is at the centre of the throne

will lead them to the springs of the waters of life.

 

All those who are Baptised and in ‘good standing’ with their own church are invited to the Altar to receive the Holy Communion. If you do not wish to receive Holy Communion we invite you to come to the Altar to receive God’s blessing from the Priest and indicate this by carrying this service sheet in front of you. Please bring your children as they are especially welcome.  

 

At the distribution of the Sacrament, the minister says to each communicant:

The Body of Christ

The Blood of Christ

The communicant replies each time:  Amen.

 

The Communion Hymn (Please remain seated)

 

Be still and know that I am God,
be still and know that I am God,
be still and know that I am God.

I am the Lord that healeth thee,
I am the Lord that healeth thee,
I am the Lord that healeth thee.

In thee, O Lord, I put my trust,
In thee, O Lord, I put my trust,
In thee, O Lord, I put my trust.

 

 

The Post Communion Hymn (Please stand)

 

In our day of thanksgiving one psalm let us offer
For the saints who before us have found the reward;
When the shadow of death fell upon them, we sorrowed,
But now we rejoice that they rest in the Lord.

 

In the morning of life, and at noon, and at evening,
He called them away from our worship below;
But not till His love, at the font and  the altar,
Had girt them with grace for the way they should go.

 

These stones that have echoed their praises are holy,
And dear is the ground where their feet have once trod;
Yet here they confessed they were strangers and pilgrims,
And still they were seeking the city of God.

 

Sing praise, then, for all who here sought and has found him,
Whose journey is ended, whose perils are past;
They believed in the light; and its glory is round them
Where the clouds of earth’s sorrows are lifted at last.

The Post Communion Prayer

 

O God, who bestowed on blessed Agnes. a crown among the Saints

for her twofold triumph of virginity and martyrdom,

grant, we pray, through the power of this Sacrament,

that, bravely overcoming every evil,

we may attain the glory of heaven.

Through Christ our Lord.Amen.

 

The Blessing and Dismissal

 

The Lord be with you.

And with your spirit.

 

 May the blessing of almighty God, the Father, and the Son, X and the Holy Spirit, come down on you and remain with you forever.

Amen.

Go forth the Mass is ended:     

 Thanks be to God. 

  

 The Angelus

 

The Angel of the Lord brought tidings to Mary:  And she conceived by the Holy Ghost.    Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee; blessed art thou among women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen.    Behold the handmaid of the Lord: Be it unto me according to Thy word.    Hail Mary . . .

And the Word was made Flesh. And dwelt among us.   Hail Mary . . .    Pray for us, O Holy Mother of God, That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.    Let us pray:  We beseech thee, O Lord, pour thy grace into our hearts; that as we have known the incarnation of Thy Son, Jesus Christ, by the message of an angel, so by his Passion and Cross we may be brought to the glory of His Resurrection, through the same Jesus Christ Our Lord.  Amen.

 

 

Please join your fellow worshippers for refreshments at the back of Church. Coffee, tea and soft drinks available.

 

 

 THIS WEEK

 

Wednesday

 Devotion in front of the Blessed Sacrament - 09:45

Low Mass – 10:30 (followed by refreshments)

 

Saturday

Church Open with Kids Club – 10:30 – 12:30

 

Sunday

Parish Mass 10:30

Followed by refreshments.

 

 

 

 

 

St Agnes (- 304)

 

As with so many of the early Roman martyrs, very little is now known about Agnes’ life. Partly this is because the details have been obscured by the light that shines from her martyrdom and the cult that it inspired, and partly because if you are martyred at the age of 12, your life has not really acquired that many details in any case. Agnes was filled with the love of God from an early age, vowed herself to celibacy, and when the opportunity of martyrdom arose, she did not hide away but stepped forward and took it.

 

That is really all that is known: but it is enough. We who are used to compromising with the world at every turn, and would find excuses to avoid any inconveniences that our faith might cause us, let alone martyrdom (“yes, of course I would die for my faith in principle, but wouldn’t I be able to do more good in the long run if I stayed alive just now?”), should admire the simple wisdom of Agnes, realise that there are moments where compromise and moral ambiguity just will not do, and pray for the strength to live up to such moments when they happen.