Bakhita (Josephine Margaret Bakhita), Monastic, 1947

The Collect:

Rite I:
O God of Love, thou didst deliver servant Josephine Margaret Bakhita from the bondage of slavery to serve you in true freedom; by her example help us to see those enslaved among us, and work to release them from their chains. In your mercy, give to all survivors healing from their wounds and joy in their liberation; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Rite II:
O God of Love, you delivered your servant Josephine Margaret Bakhita from the bondage of slavery to serve you in true freedom; by her example help us to see those enslaved among us, and work to release them from their chains. In your mercy, give to all survivors healing from their wounds and joy in their liberation; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

First Lesson: Colossians 1:24–29

²⁴I am now rejoicing in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am completing what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church. ²⁵I became its servant according to God’s commission that was given to me for you, to make the word of God fully known, ²⁶the mystery that has been hidden throughout the ages and generations but has now been revealed to his saints. ²⁷To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. ²⁸It is he whom we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone in all wisdom, so that we may present everyone mature in Christ. ²⁹For this I toil and struggle with all the energy that he powerfully inspires within me.

Psalm: Psalm 91

¹ He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High, *
       abides under the shadow of the Almighty.
² He shall say to the Lord,
   “You are my refuge and my stronghold, *
       my God in whom I put my trust.”
³ He shall deliver you from the snare of the hunter *
       and from the deadly pestilence.
⁴ He shall cover you with his pinions,
   and you shall find refuge under his wings; *
       his faithfulness shall be a shield and buckler.
⁵ You shall not be afraid of any terror by night, *
       nor of the arrow that flies by day;
⁶ Of the plague that stalks in the darkness, *
       nor of the sickness that lays waste at mid-day.
⁷ A thousand shall fall at your side
   and ten thousand at your right hand, *
       but it shall not come near you.
⁸ Your eyes have only to behold *
       to see the reward of the wicked.
⁹ Because you have made the Lord your refuge, *
       and the Most High your habitation,
¹⁰ There shall no evil happen to you, *
       neither shall any plague come near your dwelling.
¹¹ For he shall give his angels charge over you, *
       to keep you in all your ways.
¹² They shall bear you in their hands, *
       lest you dash your foot against a stone.
¹³ You shall tread upon the lion and adder; *
       you shall trample the young lion and the serpent
                                under your feet.
¹⁴ Because he is bound to me in love,
    therefore will I deliver him; *
       I will protect him, because he knows my Name.
¹⁵ He shall call upon me, and I will answer him; *
       I am with him in trouble;
       I will rescue him and bring him to honor.
¹⁶ With long life will I satisfy him, *
       and show him my salvation.

Gospel: Luke 18:1–8

¹Then Jesus told them a parable about their need to pray always and not to lose heart. ²He said, ‘In a certain city there was a judge who neither feared God nor had respect for people. ³In that city there was a widow who kept coming to him and saying, “Grant me justice against my opponent.” ⁴For a while he refused; but later he said to himself, “Though I have no fear of God and no respect for anyone, ⁵yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will grant her justice, so that she may not wear me out by continually coming.” ’ ⁶And the Lord said, ‘Listen to what the unjust judge says. ⁷And will not God grant justice to his chosen ones who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long in helping them? ⁸I tell you, he will quickly grant justice to them. And yet, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?’

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