This week Acts…

Sunday

Prayer: O Lord, deprive me not of Thy heavenly good things.

O Lord, deliver me from the eternal torments. (St John Chrysostom hourly prayers)

The former treatise I made, O Theophilus, of all
things which Jesus began to do and to teach, 2 Until
the day on which, giving commandments by the
Holy Ghost to the apostles whom he had chosen, he
was taken up. 3 To whom also he shewed himself alive
after his passion, by many proofs, for forty days appearing
to them, and speaking of the kingdom of God.
4 And eating together with them, he commanded
them, that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but
should wait for the promise of the Father, which you
have heard (saith he) by my mouth. 5 For John indeed
baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the
Holy Ghost, not many days hence. 6 They therefore
who were come together, asked him, saying: Lord, wilt
thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?
7 But he said to them: It is not for you to know the
times or moments, which the Father hath put in his
own power: 8 But you shall receive the power of the
Holy Ghost coming upon you, and you shall be witnesses
unto me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and
Samaria, and even to the uttermost part of the earth.
9 And when he had said these things, while they
looked on, he was raised up: and a cloud received him
out of their sight. 10 And while they were beholding
him going up to heaven, behold two men stood by
them in white garments. 11Who also said: Ye men of
Galilee, why stand you looking up to heaven? This Jesus
who is taken up from you into heaven, shall so
come, as you have seen him going into heaven.
12 Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount
that is called Olivet, which is nigh Jerusalem, within a
sabbath day’s journey. 13 And when they were come in,
they went up into an upper room, where abode Peter
and John, James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas,
Bartholomew and Matthew, James of Alpheus, and Simon
Zelotes, and Jude the brother of James. 14 All
these were persevering with one mind in prayer with
the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with
his brethren. 15 In those days Peter rising up in the
midst of the brethren, said: (now the number of persons
together was about an hundred and twenty:)
16Men, brethren, the scripture must needs be fulfilled,
which the Holy Ghost spoke before by the mouth of
David concerning Judas, who was the leader of them
that apprehended Jesus: 17Who was numbered with
us, and had obtained part of this ministry. 18 And he indeed
hath possessed a field of the reward of iniquity,
and being hanged, burst asunder in the midst: and all
his bowels gushed out. 19 And it became known to all
the inhabitants of Jerusalem: so that the same field
was called in their tongue, Haceldama, that is to say,
The field of blood. 20 For it is written in the book of
Psalms: Let their habitation become desolate, and let
there be none to dwell therein. And his bishopric let
another take. 21Wherefore of these men who have
companied with us all the time that the Lord Jesus
came in and went out among us, 22 Beginning from
the baptism of John, until the day wherein he was taken
up from us, one of these must be made a witness
with us of his resurrection.

Monday

Prayer: O Lord, if I have sinned in mind or thought, in word or deed, forgive me.

O Lord, deliver me from all ignorance, forgetfulness, faint-heartedness, and stony insensibility.

23 And they appointed two,
Joseph, called Barsabas, who was surnamed Justus,
and Matthias. 24 And praying, they said: Thou, Lord,
who knowest the hearts of all men, shew whether of
these two thou hast chosen, 25 To take the place of this
ministry and apostleship, from which Judas hath by
transgression fallen, that he might go to his own
place. 26 And they gave them lots, and the lot fell upon
Matthias, and he was numbered with the eleven apostles.
And when the days of the Pentecost were accomplished,
they were all together in one place: 2 And
suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a
mighty wind coming, and it filled the whole house
where they were sitting. 3 And there appeared to them
parted tongues as it were of fire, and it sat upon every
one of them:

Tuesday

Prayer: O Lord, deliver me from every temptation.

O Lord, enlighten my heart which evil desire hath darkened.

4 And they were all filled with the Holy
Ghost, and they began to speak with divers tongues,
according as the Holy Ghost gave them to speak.
5 Now there were dwelling at Jerusalem, Jews, devout
men, out of every nation under heaven. 6 And when
this was noised abroad, the multitude came together,
and were confounded in mind, because that every
man heard them speak in his own tongue. 7 And they
were all amazed, and wondered, saying: Behold, are
not all these, that speak, Galileans? 8 And how have we
heard, every man our own tongue wherein we were
born? 9 Parthians, and Medes, and Elamites, and inhabitants
of Mesopotamia, Judea, and Cappadocia,
Pontus and Asia, 10 Phrygia, and Pamphylia, Egypt, and
the parts of Libya about Cyrene, and strangers of
Rome, 11 Jews also, and proselytes, Cretes, and Arabians:
we have heard them speak in our own tongues
the wonderful works of God. 12 And they were all astonished,
and wondered, saying one to another: What
meaneth this? 13 But others mocking, said: These men
are full of new wine. 14 But Peter standing up with the
eleven, lifted up his voice, and spoke to them: Ye men
of Judea, and all you that dwell in Jerusalem, be this
Acts 1:2 636 Acts 2:14

Wednesday

Prayer: O Lord, as a man I have sinned, but do Thou, as the compassionate God, have mercy on me, seeing the infirmity of my soul.

O Lord, send Thy grace to my help, that I may glorify Thy holy name.

3
known to you, and with your ears receive my words.
15 For these are not drunk, as you suppose, seeing it is
but the third hour of the day: 16 But this is that which
was spoken of by the prophet Joel: 17 And it shall come
to pass, in the last days, (saith the Lord,) I will pour out
of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your
daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall
see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams.
18 And upon my servants indeed, and upon my handmaids
will I pour out in those days of my spirit, and
they shall prophesy. 19 And I will shew wonders in the
heaven above, and signs on the earth beneath: blood
and fire, and vapour of smoke. 20 The sun shall be
turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before
the great and manifest day of the Lord come. 21 And it
shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call upon the
name of the Lord, shall be saved. 22 Ye men of Israel,
hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved
of God among you, by miracles, and wonders, and
signs, which God did by him, in the midst of you, as
you also know:

Thursday

Prayer: O Lord Jesus Christ, write me Thy servant in the Book of Life, and grant me a good end.

O Lord my God, even though I have done nothing good in Thy sight, yet grant me by Thy grace to make a good beginning.

23 This same being delivered up, by the
determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, you
by the hands of wicked men have crucified and slain.
24Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the sorrows
of hell, as it was impossible that he should be
holden by it. 25 For David saith concerning him: I foresaw
the Lord before my face: because he is at my right
hand, that I may not be moved. 26 For this my heart
hath been glad, and any tongue hath rejoiced: moreover
my flesh also shall rest in hope. 27 Because thou
wilt not leave my soul in hell, nor suffer thy Holy One
to see corruption. 28 Thou hast made known to me the
ways of life: thou shalt make me full of joy with thy
countenance. 29 Ye men, brethren, let me freely speak
to you of the patriarch David; that he died, and was
buried; and his sepulchre is with us to this present
day. 30Whereas therefore he was a prophet, and knew
that God hath sworn to him with an oath, that of the
fruit of his loins one should sit upon his throne.

Friday

Prayer: O Lord, sprinkle into my heart the dew of Thy grace.

O Lord of heaven and earth, remember me Thy sinful servant, shameful and unclean, in Thy kingdom. Amen.

31 Foreseeing this, he spoke of the resurrection of
Christ. For neither was he left in hell, neither did his
flesh see corruption. 32 This Jesus hath God raised
again, whereof all we are witnesses. 33 Being exalted
therefore by the right hand of God, and having received
of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he
hath poured forth this which you see and hear. 34 For
David ascended not into heaven; but he himself said:
The Lord said to my Lord, sit thou on my right hand,
35Until I make thy enemies thy footstool. 36 Therefore
let all the house of Israel know most certainly, that
God hath made both Lord and Christ, this same Jesus,
whom you have crucified. 37Now when they had heard
these things, they had compunction in their heart, and
said to Peter, and to the rest of the apostles: What
shall we do, men and brethren? 38 But Peter said to
them: Do penance, and be baptized every one of you
in the name of Jesus Christ, for the remission of your
sins: and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
39 For the promise is to you, and to your children, and
to all that are far off, whomsoever the Lord our God
shall call.

Saturday

Prayer: O Lord, accept me in penitence.

O Lord, forsake me not.

 

40 And with very many other words did he
testify and exhort them, saying: Save yourselves from
this perverse generation. 41 They therefore that received
his word, were baptized; and there were added
in that day about three thousand souls. 42 And they
were persevering in the doctrine of the apostles, and
in the communication of the breaking of bread, and in
prayers. 43 And fear came upon every soul: many wonders
also and signs were done by the apostles in
Jerusalem, and there was great fear in all. 44 And all
they that believed, were together, and had all things
common. 45 Their possessions and goods they sold,
and divided them to all, according as every one had
need. 46 And continuing daily with one accord in the
temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they
took their meat with gladness and simplicity of heart;
47 Praising God, and having favour with all the people.
And the Lord increased daily together such as should
be saved.
Now Peter