June 22 – St. Thomas More (1474-1535) & St. John Fisher (1469 – 1535)
Invitation to Worship
Come, let us worship Christ, the Strength of the Martyrs!
We make the Sign of the Cross over our lips as we begin.
O Holy ONE + open my lips,
~And my mouth will proclaim your praise.
A pure heart create for me, O God;
~And renew in me a righteous spirit.
MORNING HYMN FEAST OF MARTYRS
Christ, in whose passion once was sown
The virtues of all saints to be,
With the white-robed around your throne
We praise you, Sower and the Seed.
Yours was the first and holiest grain
To die and quicken and increase;
And then came these, who died again,
That spring and harvest should not cease.
From you the martyrs, we from those,
Each in your grace’s measure, spring;
Their strength upon our weakness flows
And guides us to the goal we sing.
These were your great ones: we, the least,
One in desire and faith with them,
Called by you, Lord, to keep one feast,
Journey to one Jerusalem.
Text: Walter Shewring, alt.; Tune: FEAST OF LOVE L.M.
PSALMODY
Antiphon
Those who are sowing with tears
will harvest with songs of joy.
Psalm 125/126
When Adonai brought us back to Zion
we were like dreamers:
laughing and dancing,
with songs on our lips!
The nations exclaimed:
“A new world of wonders!
Adonai is with them.”
Yes, our God works wonders.
Rejoice and be glad!
Adonai, free us from bondage
as water to thirsty land.
Those who are sowing in tears
will laugh and sing as they reap.
They went out with weeping and tears
carrying seeds to be sown:
They come back, they return with singing
holding the harvest high.
Glory to the ONE and to the WORD
And to the BREATH of Love;
as always before,
so now and evermore. Amen.
Those who are sowing with tears
will harvest with songs of joy.
READING I Peter 4:12-19
Silent Prayer
Responsory
R. Before our God, the just rejoice; God’s happiness is their delight!
V. Ring our you joy to our God, O you just; for praise is fitting for loyal hearts.
V. They are happy whose God is Adonai, the people God has chosen.
V. Glory to the Abba, and the Word, and the Holy Breath of Love.
Canticle of Zachary– Luke 1:68-79
Antiphon
Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness,
theirs is the reign of heaven.
Blessed + be Adonai, the God of Israel,
Who visits this people to set us free
Raising for us a sign of salvation
In the house of David.
God promised throughout past ages
In words of holy prophets
To save us from our enemies,
And from the control of our oppressors.
Adonai favored our ancestors
And remembered the sacred covenant.
The pledge to Abraham and Sarah
Is now renewed for us;
That freed from the grip of our foes
We might worship without fear
And be both just and holy
For the rest of our days.
And you, child, called “prophet of the Most High,”
Will go ahead to prepare the way,
By teaching this people of salvation
Through forgiveness of their sins.
For the loving compassion of the Holy One
As the Rising Sun will shine upon us
To illumine the darkness and dispel death’s shadow
To Guide our feet on the way of peace.
Glory to the ONE and to the WORD
and to the BREATH of Love!
As always before,
so now and evermore. Amen
Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness,
theirs is the reign of heaven.
Intercessory Prayer
Your martyrs freely embraced death in bearing witness for the faith,
– give us the true freedom of the Spirit.
Your martyrs professed their faith by shedding their blood,
– give us a faith that is constant and pure.
Your martyrs followed in your footstep by carrying the cross,
– give us the strength to carry our own cross and help bear one another’s burdens.
Thomas More reminds us that “the ordinary acts we practice at home each day are of more importance to the soul than their simplicity might suggest;” – help us to live more simply that others may simply live.
John Fisher noted that “a good person is not perfect, but a good person is honest, faithful and unhesitatingly responsive to the voice of God in ones life;” – open our ears, our minds, and our hearts to your Word that we may respond with love.
Prayer of Jesus
Our Father …
Closing Prayer & Blessing
God of light and truth, in the witness of martyrs you
reveal the power of faith in the face of tyranny, greed, and oppression.
Inspired by the lives and teachings of Saints John Fisher and Thomas More,
may we bear witness to the gospel of love, speak truth to power, and work together for the freedom, flourishing, and fulness of life for all your creation. Amen.
Let us bless Adonai,
Thanks be to God!