The Lessons Appointed for Use on the Feast of
Monnica
Mother of Augustine of Hippo, 387 May 4

1 Samuel 1:10-11,20
Luke 7:11-17 or
John 16:20-24
Psalm 115:12-18 or
Psalm 116:10-17

Preface of Baptism

O Lord, through spiritual discipline you strengthened your servant Monnica to persevere in offering her love and prayers and tears for the conversion of her husband and of Augustine their son: Deepen our devotion, we pray, and use us in accordance with your will to bring others, even our own kindred, to acknowledge Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord; who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

1 Samuel 1:10-11,20

Hannah was deeply distressed and prayed to the LORD, and wept bitterly. She made this vow: "O LORD of hosts, if only you will look on the misery of your servant, and remember me, and not forget your servant, but will give to your servant a male child, then I will set him before you as a nazirite until the day of his death. He shall drink neither wine nor intoxicants, and no razor shall touch his head."

In due time Hannah conceived and bore a son. She named him Samuel, for she said, "I have asked him of the LORD."

Psalm 115:12-18 Page 758, BCP

Non nobis, Domine

12

The LORD has been mindful of us, and he will bless us; *
he will bless the house of Israel;
he will bless the house of Aaron;

13

He will bless those who fear the LORD, *
both small and great together.

14

May the LORD increase you more and more, *
you and your children after you.

15

May you be blessed by the LORD, *
the maker of heaven and earth.

16

The heaven of heavens is the LORD'S, *
but he entrusted the earth to its peoples.

17

The dead do not praise the LORD, *
nor all those who go down into silence;

18

But we will bless the LORD, *
from this time forth for evermore.
Hallelujah!

or

Psalm 116:10-17 Page 759, BCP

Dilexi, quoniam

10

How shall I repay the LORD *
for all the good things he has done for me?

11

I will lift up the cup of salvation *
and call upon the Name of the LORD.

12

I will fulfill my vows to the LORD *
in the presence of all his people.

13

Precious in the sight of the LORD *
is the death of his servants.

14

O LORD, I am your servant; *
I am your servant and the child of your handmaid;
you have freed me from my bonds.

15

I will offer you the sacrifice of thanksgiving *
and call upon the Name of the LORD.

16

I will fulfill my vows to the LORD *
in the presence of all his people,

17

In the courts of the LORD'S house, *
in the midst of you, O Jerusalem.
Hallelujah!

Luke 7:11-17

Jesus went to a town called Nain, and his disciples and a large crowd went with him. As he approached the gate of the town, a man who had died was being carried out. He was his mother's only son, and she was a widow; and with her was a large crowd from the town. When the Lord saw her, he had compassion for her and said to her, "Do not weep." Then he came forward and touched the bier, and the bearers stood still. And he said, "Young man, I say to you, rise!" The dead man sat up and began to speak, and Jesus gave him to his mother. Fear seized all of them; and they glorified God, saying, "A great prophet has risen among us!" and "God has looked favorably on his people!" This word about him spread throughout Judea and all the surrounding country.

or

John 16:20-24

Jesus said, "Very truly, I tell you, you will weep and mourn, but the world will rejoice; you will have pain, but your pain will turn into joy. When a woman is in labor, she has pain, because her hour has come. But when her child is born, she no longer remembers the anguish because of the joy of having brought a human being into the world. So you have pain now; but I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you. On that day you will ask nothing of me. Very truly, I tell you, if you ask anything of the Father in my name, he will give it to you. Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, so that your joy may be complete."

The Bible texts of the Old Testament, Epistle and Gospel lessons are from the New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Church of Christ in the USA, and used by permission.

The Collects, Psalms and Canticles are from the Book of Common Prayer, 1979.

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