St. Cecilia

Ps 118:46-47.
I will speak of Your decrees before kings without being ashamed. And I will delight in Your commands, which I love exceedingly. (Alleluja, alleluja.)
Ps 118:1
Happy are they whose way is blameless, who walk in the law of the Lord.
Glory Be to the Father…
I will speak of Your decrees before kings without being ashamed. And I will delight in Your commands, which I love exceedingly. (Alleluja, alleluja.)

O God, Who gladden us by the annual feast of blessed Cecilia, Your Virgin and Martyr, grant, we beseech You, that we may by virtuous conduct follow her whom we venerate in this sacred rite.
Through our Lord…

Lesson from the book of Ecclesiasticus
Sir 51:13-17.
O Lord, my God, You have exalted my dwelling place upon the earth, and I have prayed for death to pass away. I called upon the Lord, the Father of my Lord, that He would not abandon me in the day of my trouble, and in the time of the proud without help. I will ever praise Your name, and will praise it with thanksgiving; and my prayer was heard. And You saved me from destruction, and delivered me from the evil time. For this reason I thank You and I praise You, O Lord, our God.

Ps 44:11-12, 5
Hear, O daughter, and see; turn your ear; for the King shall desire your beauty.
In your splendor and your beauty ride on triumphant, and reign. Alleluia, alleluia.
Matt 25:4; 25:6
The five wise virgins took oil in their vessels with the lamps: and at midnight a cry arose, Behold the bridegroom is coming, go forth to meet Christ our Lord. Alleluia.

Continuation ☩ of the Holy Gospel according to Matthew
Matt 25:1-13.
At that time Jesus spoke this parable to His disciples: “Then will the kingdom of heaven be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went forth to meet the bridegroom and the bride. Five of them were foolish and five wise. But the five foolish, when they took their lamps, took no oil with them, while the wise did take oil in their vessels with the lamps. Then as the bridegroom was long in coming, they all became drowsy and slept. And at midnight a cry arose, 'Behold, the bridegroom is coming, go forth to meet him!' Then all those virgins arose and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said to the wise, 'Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.' The wise answered, saying, 'Lest there may not be enough for us and for you, go rather to those who sell it, and buy some for yourselves.' Now while they were gone to buy it, the bridegroom came; and those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast, and the door was shut. Finally there came also the other virgins, who said, 'Sir, sir, open the door for us!' But he answered and said, 'Amen I say to you, I do not know you.' Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.”

Ps 44:15-16.
Behind her the virgins of her train are brought to the King. They are borne in to You with gladness and joy; they enter the palace of the Lord, the King. (Alleluja.)

May this sacrifice of atonement and praise, we beseech You, O Lord, by the intercession of blessed Cecilia, Your Virgin and Martyr, always make us worthy of your forgiveness.
Through our Lord…

Common
It is truly meet and just, and profitable unto salvation, that we should at all times, and in all places, give thanks to Thee, O Holy Lord, Father Almighty, eternal God, through Christ, our Lord. Through whom the Angels praise Thy Majesty, the Dominions adore it, the Powers are in awe. Which the heavens and the hosts of heaven together with the blessed Seraphim joyfully do magnify. And do Thou command that it be permitted us to join with them in confessing Thee, while we say with lowly praise:

Ps 118:78, 80
Let the proud be put to shame for oppressing me unjustly; I will meditate on Your precepts, on Your statutes, that I be not put to shame. (Alleluja.)

Thou hast fed thy servants, O Lord, with the holy gifts; comfort us ever we pray, by her intercession whose festival we celebrate.
Through our Lord…