Monica, Mother of Augustine of Hippo, 387

The Collect:

Rite I:
Deepen our devotion, O Lord, and use us in accordance with thy will, that inspired by the example of your servant Monica, we may bring others to acknowledge Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord, who with thee and the Holy Ghost lives and reigns, One God, forever and ever. Amen.

Rite II:
Deepen our devotion, O Lord, and use us in accordance with your will, that inspired by the example of your servant Monica, we may bring others to acknowledge Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord, who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, One God, forever and ever. Amen.

First Lesson: 1 Samuel 1:10–20

¹⁰ She was deeply distressed and prayed to the Lord, and wept bitterly. ¹¹ 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.’

¹² As she continued praying before the Lord, Eli observed her mouth. ¹³ Hannah was praying silently; only her lips moved, but her voice was not heard; therefore Eli thought she was drunk. ¹⁴ So Eli said to her, ‘How long will you make a drunken spectacle of yourself? Put away your wine.’ ¹⁵ But Hannah answered, ‘No, my lord, I am a woman deeply troubled; I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink, but I have been pouring out my soul before the Lord. ¹⁶ Do not regard your servant as a worthless woman, for I have been speaking out of my great anxiety and vexation all this time.’ ¹⁷ Then Eli answered, ‘Go in peace; the God of Israel grant the petition you have made to him.’ ¹⁸ And she said, ‘Let your servant find favour in your sight.’ Then the woman went to her quarters, ate and drank with her husband, and her countenance was sad no longer.

¹⁹ They rose early in the morning and worshipped before the Lord; then they went back to their house at Ramah. Elkanah knew his wife Hannah, and the Lordremembered her. ²⁰ In due time Hannah conceived and bore a son. She named him Samuel, for she said, ‘I have asked him of the Lord.’

Psalm: Psalm 115:12-18

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!

Gospel: Luke 7:11-17

¹¹ Soon afterwards he went to a town called Nain, and his disciples and a large crowd went with him. ¹²As 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. ¹³When the Lord saw her, he had compassion for her and said to her, ‘Do not weep.’ ¹⁴Then he came forward and touched the bier, and the bearers stood still. And he said, ‘Young man, I say to you, rise!’ ¹⁵The dead man sat up and began to speak, and Jesus gave him to his mother. ¹⁶Fear seized all of them; and they glorified God, saying, ‘A great prophet has risen among us!’ and ‘God has looked favourably on his people!’ ¹⁷This word about him spread throughout Judea and all the surrounding country.

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