Gospel of Saints Matthew and Luke - the Baptism of Christ

Gospel According to Saint Matthew Chapter 3

The preaching of John: Christ is baptized.

[1] And in those days cometh John the Baptist preaching in the desert of Judea. [2] And saying: Do penance: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. [3] For this is he that was spoken of by Isaias the prophet, saying: A voice of one crying in the desert, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make straight his paths. [4] And the same John had his garment of camels' hair, and a leathern girdle about his loins: and his meat was locusts and wild honey. [5] Then went out to him Jerusalem and all Judea, and all the country about Jordan:

[6] And were baptized by him in the Jordan, confessing their sins. [7] And seeing many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them: Ye brood of vipers, who hath shewed you to flee from the wrath to come? [8] Bring forth therefore fruit worthy of penance. [9] And think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham for our father. For I tell you that God is able of these stones to raise up children to Abraham. [10] For now the axe is laid to the root of the trees. Every tree therefore that doth not yield good fruit, shall be cut down, and cast into the fire.

[7] "Pharisees and Sadducees"... These were two sects among the Jews: of which the former were for the most part notorious hypocrites; the latter, a kind of freethinkers in matters of religion.

[11] I indeed baptize you in the water unto penance, but he that shall come after me, is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear; he shall baptize you in the Holy Ghost and fire. [12] Whose fan is in his hand, and he will thoroughly cleanse his floor and gather his wheat into the barn; but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire. [13] Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to the Jordan, unto John, to be baptized by him. [14] But John stayed him, saying: I ought to be baptized by thee, and comest thou to me? [15] And Jesus answering, said to him: Suffer it to be so now. For so it becometh us to fulfill all justice. Then he suffered him.

[16] And Jesus being baptized, forthwith came out of the water: and lo, the heavens were opened to him: and he saw the Spirit of God descending as a dove, and coming upon him. [17] And behold a voice from heaven, saying: This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.

Gospel According to Saint Luke Chapter 3

John's mission and preaching. Christ is baptized by him.

[1] Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judea, and Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, and Philip his brother tetrarch of Iturea, and the country of Trachonitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilina; [2] Under the high priests Annas and Caiphas; the word of the Lord was made unto John, the son of Zachary, in the desert. [3] And he came into all the country about the Jordan, preaching the baptism of penance for the remission of sins; [4] As it was written in the book of the sayings of Isaias the prophet: A voice of one crying in the wilderness: Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make straight his paths. [5] Every valley shall be filled; and every mountain and hill shall be brought low; and the crooked shall be made straight; and the rough ways plain;

[6] And all flesh shall see the salvation of God. [7] He said therefore to the multitudes that went forth to be baptized by him: Ye offspring of vipers, who hath shewed you to flee from the wrath to come? [8] Bring forth therefore fruits worthy of penance; and do not begin to say, We have Abraham for our father. For I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children to Abraham. [9] For now the axe is laid to the root of the trees. Every tree therefore that bringeth not forth good fruit, shall be cut down and cast into the fire. [10] And the people asked him, saying: What then shall we do?

[11] And he answering, said to them: He that hath two coats, let him give to him that hath none; and he that hath meat, let him do in like manner. [12] And the publicans also came to be baptized, and said to him: Master, what shall we do? [13] But he said to them: Do nothing more than that which is appointed you. [14] And the soldiers also asked him, saying: And what shall we do? And he said to them: Do violence to no man; neither calumniate any man; and be content with your pay. [15] And as the people were of opinion, and all were thinking in their hearts of John, that perhaps he might be the Christ;

[16] John answered, saying unto all: I indeed baptize you with water; but there shall come one mightier than I, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to loose: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire: [17] Whose fan is in his hand, and he will purge his floor, and will gather the wheat into his barn; but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire. [18] And many other things exhorting, did he preach to the people. [19] But Herod the tetrarch, when he was reproved by him for Herodias, his brother's wife, and for all the evils which Herod had done; [20] He added this also above all, and shut up John in prison.

[21] Now it came to pass, when all the people were baptized, that Jesus also being baptized and praying, heaven was opened; [22] And the Holy Ghost descended in a bodily shape, as a dove upon him; and a voice came from heaven: Thou art my beloved Son; in thee I am well pleased. [23] And Jesus himself was beginning about the age of thirty years; being (as it was supposed) the son of Joseph, who was of Heli, who was of Mathat, [24] Who was of Levi, who was of Melchi, who was of Janne, who was of Joseph, [25] Who was of Mathathias, who was of Amos, who was of Nahum, who was of Hesli, who was of Nagge,

[23] "Who was of Heli"... St. Joseph, who by nature was the son of Jacob, (St. Matt. 1. 16,) in the account of the law, was son of Heli. For Heli and Jacob were brothers, by the same mother; and Heli, who was the elder, dying without issue, Jacob, as the law directed, married his widow: in consequence of such marriage, his son Joseph was reputed in the law the son of Heli.

[26] Who was of Mahath, who was of Mathathias, who was of Semei, who was of Joseph, who was of Juda, [27] Who was of Joanna, who was of Reza, who was of Zorobabel, who was of Salathiel, who was of Neri, [28] Who was of Melchi, who was of Addi, who was of Cosan, who was of Helmadan, who was of Her, [29] Who was of Jesus, who was of Eliezer, who was of Jorim, who was of Mathat, who was of Levi, [30] Who was of Simeon, who was of Judas, who was of Joseph, who was of Jona, who was of Eliakim,

[31] Who was of Melea, who was of Menna, who was of Mathatha, who was of Nathan, who was of David, [32] Who was of Jesse, who was of Obed, who was of Booz, who was of Salmon, who was of Naasson, [33] Who was of Aminadab, who was of Aram, who was of Esron, who was of Phares, who was of Judas, [34] Who was of Jacob, who was of Isaac, who was of Abraham, who was of Thare, who was of Nachor, [35] Who was of Sarug, who was of Ragau, who was of Phaleg, who was of Heber, who was of Sale,

[36] Who was of Cainan, who was of Arphaxad, who was of Sem, who was of Noe, who was of Lamech, [37] Who was of Mathusale, who was of Henoch, who was of Jared, who was of Malaleel, who was of Cainan, [38] Who was of Henos, who was of Seth, who was of Adam, who was of God.



Prayer for help

Have pity, O Christ,
on those who believe in you. You are the God of glory for all ages.

Hasten to the aid of those who suffer, make speed to comfort those in trouble.

Father of believers, life of the living,
God who is over all, for there is no one above you.

Creator of all things, universal judge, Lord over princes, God of the world.

Sublime majesty of the heavenly Jerusalem, king, glory, and triumph of the kingdom.

God of eternal light, inexpressible,
highest, most loveable, beyond compare.

Great and clement God, wise and omniscient, mover of all things, ancient and new.

Pope Pelagius I



Prayer for salvation

My Saviour, grant that the arduous task of my salvation may be brought to a happy conclusion. May neither the lashing rains,
nor the impetus of torrents racing down from the
mountains,
nor the violent storm be able to shake my house.

With your victorious hand, assist me, Lord!
Be my help, preserve my life,
that I may praise you, the giver and Lord of all that is most precious and the salvation of men.

Without you, Almighty, no work would exist, no project, no idea, no proposal, no security, nor any of those things that
would serve to attain the final end.

You have created and given me, both soul and body; you have raised me up when I had fallen,
and have shown me the way to heaven.

And you will bring me in, without merit of mine, to your house to live with you in eternity
and to sing a hymn to your glory
along with all the blessed.

Maximus



Prayer for the Catholic Church

We beg you, good Jesus, our Lord,
by the intercession of the glorious Virgin Mary your Mother, and of all angels and saints,
to increase the faith of your catholic Church, to grant us peace and forgive our sins.

Grant health to the sick,
a good journey and happy arrival
to those who travel by land or sea or air,
serenity to those who suffer,
liberty to the oppressed;
to slaves, to the vanquished, to pilgrims, liberty, clemency and return to their homeland.

Send your holy angel on sentry
over those who place obstacles to fraternal charity;
in your kindness grant true faith to those who believe not, and eternal repose to those of our brothers
who have died in the faith.

Alcuin’s Liturgical Collection