“And we will not have you ignorant, brethren, concerning them that are asleep, that you be not sorrowful, even as others who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again: even so them who have slept through Jesus, will God bring with Him. For this we say unto you in the word of the Lord, that we who are alive, who remain unto the coming of the Lord, shall not prevent them who have slept. For the Lord Himself shall come down from heaven with commandment, and with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God: and the dead who are in Christ, shall rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, shall be taken up together with them in the clouds to meet Christ, into the air, and so shall we be always with the Lord. Wherefore comfort ye one another with these words.”—1 Thess. 12-17.
Gradual.
“The sorrows of death have compassed me: and the perils of hell have found me. I met with trouble and sorrow: and I called on the name of the Lord. O Lord, deliver my soul: The Lord is merciful and just, and now Our God showeth mercy. The Lord is the keeper of little ones: I was humbled, and He delivered me.”—Ps. cxiv. 3-6. Eternal rest give unto them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them. Amen.
Gospel.
“Martha, therefore, said to Jesus: Lord, if Thou hadst been here, my brother had not died. But now also I know that whatsoever Thou wilt ask of God, God will give it Thee. Jesus saith to her: Thy brother shall rise again. Martha saith to Him: I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection, at the last day. Jesus said to her: I am the Resurrection and the Life: he that believeth in Me, although he be dead, shall live: And every one that liveth, and believeth in Me, shall not die forever. Believest thou this? She saith to Him: Yea, Lord, I have believed that Thou art Christ, the Son of the living God, Who art come into this world.”—John xi. 21-27.
Offertory.
Lord Jesus Christ, King of glory, deliver the souls of the faithful departed from the flames of hell, and from the deep pit. Deliver them from the lion's mouth, lest hell swallow them; lest they fall into darkness. And let the standard-bearer, St. [pg 471] Michael, bring them into holy light, which Thou didst promise of old to Abraham and his posterity. We offer Thee, O Lord, a sacrifice of praise and prayer: accept them in behalf of the souls we commemorate this day, and let them pass from death to life, which Thou didst promise of old to Abraham and His posterity. Remember, O Lord, Thy compassion, and Thy tender mercies, which are from the beginning. For ourselves also we pray: “One favor I have asked of Thee, and this I will seek; that I may dwell in Thy house all the days of my life. That I may see Thy beauty, and dwell forever in Thy temple. Amen.”
Secret.
Have mercy, we beseech Thee, O Lord, on the souls of Thy servants [name them], for whom we offer this Victim of praise, humbly beseeching Thy majesty, that by this sacrifice they may arrive at rest eternal, through Jesus Christ Our Lord. Amen.
Preface.