Mechthilde of Hackeborn and Gertrude the Great, Mystics and Theologians, 1298 and 1302

The Collect:

Rite I:
Almighty God, who didst give to thy servants Mechthilde and Gertrude special gifts of grace to understand and teach the truth in Christ Jesus: Grant, we beseech thee, that by their teachings we may know thee, the one true God, and Jesus Christ thy Son, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Rite II:
Almighty God, who gave to your servants Mechthilde and Gertrude special gifts of grace to understand and teach the truth in Christ Jesus: Grant that by their teachings we may know you, the one true God, and Jesus Christ your Son; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

First Lesson: 1 Samuel 1:21–28

²¹ The man Elkanah and all his household went up to offer to the Lord the yearly sacrifice, and to pay his vow. ²² But Hannah did not go up, for she said to her husband, ‘As soon as the child is weaned, I will bring him, that he may appear in the presence of the Lord, and remain there for ever; I will offer him as a nazirite for all time.’ ²³ Her husband Elkanah said to her, ‘Do what seems best to you, wait until you have weaned him; only—may the Lord establish his word.’ So the woman remained and nursed her son, until she weaned him. ²⁴ When she had weaned him, she took him up with her, along with a three-year-old bull, an ephah of flour, and a skin of wine. She brought him to the house of the Lord at Shiloh; and the child was young. ²⁵ Then they slaughtered the bull, and they brought the child to Eli. ²⁶ And she said, ‘Oh, my lord! As you live, my lord, I am the woman who was standing here in your presence, praying to the Lord. ²⁷ For this child I prayed; and the Lord has granted me the petition that I made to him. ²⁸ Therefore I have lent him to the Lord; as long as he lives, he is given to the Lord.’

She left him there for the Lord.

Psalm: Psalm 119:41–48

⁴¹ Let your loving-kindness come to me, O Lord, *
       and your salvation, according to your promise.
⁴² Then shall I have a word for those who taunt me, *
       because I trust in your words.
⁴³ Do not take the word of truth out of my mouth, *
       for my hope is in your judgments.
⁴⁴ I shall continue to keep your law; *
       I shall keep it for ever and ever.
⁴⁵ I will walk at liberty, *
       because I study your commandments.
⁴⁶ I will tell of your decrees before kings *
       and will not be ashamed.
⁴⁷ I delight in your commandments, *
       which I have always loved.
⁴⁸ I will lift up my hands to your commandments, *
       and I will meditate on your statutes.

Gospel: Luke 10:38–42

³⁸ Now as they went on their way, he entered a certain village, where a woman named Martha welcomed him into her home. ³⁹ She had a sister named Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to what he was saying. ⁴⁰ But Martha was distracted by her many tasks; so she came to him and asked, ‘Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to do all the work by myself? Tell her then to help me.’ ⁴¹ But the Lord answered her, ‘Martha, Martha, you are worried and distracted by many things; ⁴² there is need of only one thing. Mary has chosen the better part, which will not be taken away from her.’

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