Propers of St. Thomas of Canterbury, Bishop & Martyr
(Also known as Becket, St. Thomas Becket or
St. Thomas a’ Becket)
Feast Day — December 29th
Introit. Gaudeamus
Rejoice we all in the Lord, keeping holy-day in honour of blessed Thomas the Martyr : in whose passion the Angels rejoice and glorify the Son of God. Ps. 33 Rejoice in the Lord, O ye righteous : for it becometh well the just to be thankful.
Collect.
O God, who for thy Church’s sake didst suffer thy Bishop Saint Thomas gloriously to be slain by the swords of wicked men : grant we beseech thee; that all they who call upon him for succour may be profited by the obtaining of all that they desire. Through the same Jesus Christ thy Son, our Lord. Who liveth and reigneth with thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, ever one God, world without end.
Epistle. Hebrews 5:1
Brethren: Every high priest taken from among men is ordained for men in things pertaining to God, that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins: who can have compassion on the ignorant, and on them that are out of the way ; for that he himself also is compassed with infirmity. And by reason hereof he ought, as for the people, so also for himself, to offer for sins. And no man taketh this honour unto himself, but he that is called of God, as was Aaron. So also Christ glorified not himself to be made an high priest: but he that said also in another place: Thou art a priest forever after the order of Melchisedec.
Gradual. Ecclesiasticus 44.
Behold
a great priest, who in his days pleased the Lord. There was none like unto him
to keep the law of the Most High.
Allelulia, allelulia.
St. John 10. I am the good shepherd: and know my sheep, and am known of
mine. Allelulia.
gospel. St. John 10:11
At that time: Jesus said unto the Pharisees: I am the Good Shepherd; the Good Shepherd giveth his life for the sheep. But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth; and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep. The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep. I am the Good Shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine even, as the Father knoweth me, and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep. And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold; them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one flock and one Shepherd.