Sunday
Wisdom of Solomon 17: 1For great are thy judgments, and cannot be expressed: therefore unnurtured souls have erred.

2For when unrighteous men thought to oppress the holy nation; they being shut up in their houses, the prisoners of darkness, and fettered with the bonds of a long night, lay [there] exiled from the eternal providence.

3For while they supposed to lie hid in their secret sins, they were scattered under a dark veil of forgetfulness, being horribly astonished, and troubled with [strange] apparitions.

4For neither might the corner that held them keep them from fear: but noises [as of waters] falling down sounded about them, and sad visions appeared unto them with heavy countenances.

5No power of the fire might give them light: neither could the bright flames of the stars endure to lighten that horrible night.

6Only there appeared unto them a fire kindled of itself, very dreadful: for being much terrified, they thought the things which they saw to be worse than the sight they saw not.

7As for the illusions of art magick, they were put down, and their vaunting in wisdom was reproved with disgrace.

8For they, that promised to drive away terrors and troubles from a sick soul, were sick themselves of fear, worthy to be laughed at.

9For though no terrible thing did fear them; yet being scared with beasts that passed by, and hissing of serpents,

10They died for fear, denying that they saw the air, which could of no side be avoided.

11For wickedness, condemned by her own witness, is very timorous, and being pressed with conscience, always forecasteth grievous things.

 

Prayer:  O Lord, our God, in Thy goodness and love for men forgive me all the sins I have committed today in word, deed or thought. Grant me peaceful and undisturbed sleep. Send Thy Guardian Angel to guard and protect me from all evil. For Thou art the guardian of our souls and bodies, and to Thee we ascribe glory, to the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, now and ever, and to the ages of ages. Amen.
*(Evening Prayer and Confession of Sins)

Monday
Ecclesiasticus 10:1  A wise judge will instruct his people; and the government of a prudent man is well ordered.

2As the judge of the people is himself, so are his officers; and what manner of man the ruler of the city is, such are all they that dwell therein.

3An unwise king destroyeth his people; but through the prudence of them which are in authority the city shall be inhabited.

4The power of the earth is in the hand of the Lord, and in due time he will set over it one that is profitable.

5In the hand of God is the prosperity of man: and upon the person of the scribe shall he lay his honour.

6Bear not hatred to thy neighbour for every wrong; and do nothing at all by injurious practices.

7Pride is hateful before God and man: and by both doth one commit iniquity.

8Because of unrighteous dealings, injuries, and riches got by deceit, the kingdom is translated from one people to another.

9Why is earth and ashes proud? There is not a more wicked thing than a covetous man: for such an one setteth his own soul to sale; because while he liveth he casteth away his bowels.

10The physician cutteth off a long disease; and he that is to day a king to morrow shall die.

Prayer:  O come, let us worship God our King.
O come, let us worship and fall down before Christ our King and God.
O come, let us worship and fall down before Christ Himself, our King and God.

Tuesday
Ecclesiasticus 10:11   For when a man is dead, he shall inherit creeping things, beasts, and worms.

12The beginning of pride is when one departeth from God, and his heart is turned away from his Maker.

13For pride is the beginning of sin, and he that hath it shall pour out abomination: and therefore the Lord brought upon them strange calamities, and overthrew them utterly.

14The Lord hath cast down the thrones of proud princes, and set up the meek in their stead.

15The Lord hath plucked up the roots of the proud nations, and planted the lowly in their place.

16The Lord overthrew countries of the heathen, and destroyed them to the foundations of the earth.

17He took some of them away, and destroyed them, and hath made their memorial to cease from the earth.

18Pride was not made for men, nor furious anger for them that are born of a woman.

19They that fear the Lord are a sure seed, and they that love him an honourable plant: they that regard not the law are a dishonourable seed; they that transgress the commandments are a deceivable seed.

20Among brethren he that is chief is honorable; so are they that fear the Lord in his eyes.

Prayer:  Soul of Christ, sanctify me, Body of Christ, save me Blood of Christ, inebriate me, Water from Christ’s side, wash me, Passion of Christ, strengthen me, O good Jesus, hear me, Within Thy wounds hide me, Suffer me not to be separated from Thee, From the malicious enemy defend me, In the hour of my death call me, And bid me come unto Thee, That I may praise Thee with Thy saints, and with Thy angels, Forever and ever, Amen.

Wednesday
Ecclesiasticus 10:21  The fear of the Lord goeth before the obtaining of authority: but roughness and pride is the losing thereof.

22Whether he be rich, noble, or poor, their glory is the fear of the Lord.

23It is not meet to despise the poor man that hath understanding; neither is it convenient to magnify a sinful man.

24Great men, and judges, and potentates, shall be honoured; yet is there none of them greater than he that feareth the Lord.

25Unto the servant that is wise shall they that are free do service: and he that hath knowledge will not grudge when he is reformed.

26Be not overwise in doing thy business; and boast not thyself in the time of thy distress.

27Better is he that laboureth, and aboundeth in all things, than he that boasteth himself, and wanteth bread.

28My son, glorify thy soul in meekness, and give it honour according to the dignity thereof.

29Who will justify him that sinneth against his own soul? and who will honour him that dishonoureth his own life?

30The poor man is honoured for his skill, and the rich man is honoured for his riches.

31He that is honoured in poverty, how much more in riches? and he that is dishonourable in riches, how much more in poverty?

Prayer:  Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known that anyone who fled to thy protection, implored thy help, or sought thine intercession was left unaided.  Inspired by this confidence, I fly unto thee, O Virgin of virgins, my mother; to thee do I come, before thee I stand, sinful and sorrowful. O Mother of the Word Incarnate, despise not my petitions, but in thy mercy hear and answer me.
*Memorare

Thursday
Ecclesiasticus 11:1   Wisdom lifteth up the head of him that is of low degree, and maketh him to sit among great men.

2Commend not a man for his beauty; neither abhor a man for his outward appearance.

3The bee is little among such as fly; but her fruit is the chief of sweet things.

4Boast not of thy clothing and raiment, and exalt not thyself in the day of honour: for the works of the Lord are wonderful, and his works among men are hidden.

5Many kings have sat down upon the ground; and one that was never thought of hath worn the crown.

6Many mighty men have been greatly disgraced; and the honourable delivered into other men’s hands.

7Blame not before thou hast examined the truth: understand first, and then rebuke.

8Answer not before thou hast heard the cause: neither interrupt men in the midst of their talk.

9Strive not in a matter that concerneth thee not; and sit not in judgment with sinners.

10My son, meddle not with many matters: for if thou meddle much, thou shalt not be innocent; and if thou follow after, thou shalt not obtain, neither shalt thou escape by fleeing.

Prayer:  Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful and kindle in them the fire of your love. Send forth your Spirit and they shall be created. And You shall renew the face of the earth. O, God, who taught the hearts of the faithful by the light of the Holy Spirit,  grant that by the same Holy Spirit we may be truly wise and ever rejoice in His consolations, Through Christ Our Lord, Amen.

Friday
Ecclesiasticus  11:11   There is one that laboureth, and taketh pains, and maketh haste, and is so much the more behind.

12Again, there is another that is slow, and hath need of help, wanting ability, and full of poverty; yet the eye of the Lord looked upon him for good, and set him up from his low estate,

13And lifted up his head from misery; so that many that saw from him is peace over all the

14Prosperity and adversity, life and death, poverty and riches, come of the Lord.

15Wisdom, knowledge, and understanding of the law, are of the Lord: love, and the way of good works, are from him.

16Error and darkness had their beginning together with sinners: and evil shall wax old with them that glory therein.

17The gift of the Lord remaineth with the ungodly, and his favour bringeth prosperity for ever.

18There is that waxeth rich by his wariness and pinching, and this his the portion of his reward:

19Whereas he saith, I have found rest, and now will eat continually of my goods; and yet he knoweth not what time shall come upon him, and that he must leave those things to others, and die.

Prayer:  With the Saints, give rest, O Christ, to the souls of Thy servants, where there is no pain, no sorrow, no sighing, but life everlasting.
*Kontakion of the Departed

 

Saturday
Ecclesiasticus 11:21Marvel not at the works of sinners; but trust in the Lord, and abide in thy labour: for it is an easy thing in the sight of the Lord on the sudden to make a poor man rich.

22The blessing of the Lord is in the reward of the godly, and suddenly he maketh his blessing flourish.

23Say not, What profit is there of my service? and what good things shall I have hereafter?

24Again, say not, I have enough, and possess many things, and what evil shall I have hereafter?

25In the day of prosperity there is a forgetfulness of affliction: and in the day of affliction there is no more remembrance of prosperity.

26For it is an easy thing unto the Lord in the day of death to reward a man according to his ways.

27The affliction of an hour maketh a man forget pleasure: and in his end his deeds shall be discovered.

28Judge none blessed before his death: for a man shall be known in his children.

29Bring not every man into thine house: for the deceitful man hath many trains.

30Like as a partridge taken [and kept] in a cage, so is the heart of the proud; and like as a spy, watcheth he for thy fall:

31For he lieth in wait, and turneth good into evil, and in things worthy praise will lay blame upon thee.

32Of a spark of fire a heap of coals is kindled: and a sinful man layeth wait for blood.

33Take heed of a mischievous man, for he worketh wickedness; lest he bring upon thee a perpetual blot.

34Receive a stranger into thine house, and he will disturb thee, and turn thee out of thine own.

Prayer:  Lord, I have cried to Thee, hearken unto me. Hearken unto me, O Lord. Lord, I have cried to Thee, hearken unto me.  Attend to the voice of my prayer, when I cry unto Thee. Hearken unto me, O Lord. Let my prayer be set forth as incense before Thee, the lifting up of my hands as an evening sacrifice.  Hearken unto me, O Lord.
*Psalm 140 (141)