Frances Joseph Gaudet, Educator and Social Reformer, 1934

The Collect:

Rite I:
Merciful God, who didst raise up thy servant Frances Joseph Gaudet to be a champion of the oppressed: Grant that we, encouraged by her example, may advocate for all who are denied the fullness of life to which thou hast called all thy children; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Rite II:
Merciful God, who raised up thy servant Frances Joseph Gaudet to be a champion of the oppressed: Grant that we, encouraged by her example, may advocate for all who are denied the fullness of life to which you have called all your children; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

First Lesson: Lamentations 3:26-36

²⁶ It is good that one should wait quietly
   for the salvation of the Lord.
²⁷ It is good for one to bear
   the yoke in youth,
²⁸ to sit alone in silence
   when the Lord has imposed it,
²⁹ to put one’s mouth to the dust
   (there may yet be hope),
³⁰ to give one’s cheek to the smiter,
   and be filled with insults.
³¹ For the Lord will not
   reject for ever.
³² Although he causes grief, he will have compassion
   according to the abundance of his steadfast love;
³³ for he does not willingly afflict
   or grieve anyone.
³⁴ When all the prisoners of the land
   are crushed under foot,
³⁵ when human rights are perverted
   in the presence of the Most High,
³⁶ when one’s case is subverted
   —does the Lord not see it?

Psalm: Psalm 146

¹ Hallelujah!
  Praise the Lord, O my soul! *
       I will praise the Lord as long as I live;
       I will sing praises to my God while I have my being.
² Put not your trust in rulers, nor in any child of earth, *
       for there is no help in them.
³ When they breathe their last, they return to earth, *
       and in that day their thoughts perish.
⁴ Happy are they who have the God of Jacob for their help! W*
       whose hope is in the Lord their God;
⁵ Who made heaven and earth, the seas, and all that is in them; *
       who keeps his promise for ever;
⁶ Who gives justice to those who are oppressed, *
       and food to those who hunger.
⁷ The Lord sets the prisoners free;
  the Lord opens the eyes of the blind; *
       the Lord lifts up those who are bowed down;
⁸ The Lord loves the righteous;
  the Lord cares for the stranger; *
       he sustains the orphan and widow,
       but frustrates the way of the wicked.
⁹ The Lord shall reign for ever, *
       your God, O Zion, throughout all generations.
       Hallelujah!

Gospel: Luke 4:14–21

¹⁴Then Jesus, filled with the power of the Spirit, returned to Galilee, and a report about him spread through all the surrounding country. ¹⁵He began to teach in their synagogues and was praised by everyone.

¹⁶When he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, he went to the synagogue on the sabbath day, as was his custom. He stood up to read, ¹⁷and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written: 
¹⁸ ‘The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,
   because he has anointed me
     to bring good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives
   and recovery of sight to the blind,
     to let the oppressed go free, 
¹⁹ to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour.’ 
²⁰And he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant, and sat down. The eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him. ²¹Then he began to say to them, ‘Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.’

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