Irenaeus of Lyon, Bishop and Theologian, c.202

The Collect:

Rite I:
Almighty God, who didst strength thy servant Irenaeus to defend thy truth against every blast of vain doctrine: Keep us, we pray, steadfast in thy true religion, that in constancy and peace we may walk in the way that leads to eternal life; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Rite II:
Almighty God, who strengthened servant Irenaeus to defend thy truth against every blast of vain doctrine: Keep us, we pray, steadfast in your true religion, that in constancy and peace we may walk in the way that leads to eternal life; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

First Lesson: Proverbs 8:6-11 

⁶ Hear, for I will speak noble things,
    and from my lips will come what is right;
⁷ for my mouth will utter truth;
    wickedness is an abomination to my lips.
⁸ All the words of my mouth are righteous;
    there is nothing twisted or crooked in them.
⁹ They are all straight to one who understands
    and right to those who find knowledge.
¹⁰ Take my instruction instead of silver,
    and knowledge rather than choice gold;
¹¹ for wisdom is better than jewels,
    and all that you may desire cannot compare with her.

Psalm: Psalm 8

¹ O Lord our Governor, *
how exalted is your Name in all the world!
² Out of the mouths of infants and children *
your majesty is praised above the heavens.
³ You have set up a stronghold against your adversaries, *
to quell the enemy and the avenger.
⁴ When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, *
the moon and the stars you have set in their courses,
⁵ What is man that you should be mindful of him? *
the son of man that you should seek him out?
⁶ You have made him but little lower than the angels; *
you adorn him with glory and honor;
⁷ You give him mastery over the works of your hands; *
you put all things under his feet:
⁸ All sheep and oxen, *
even the wild beasts of the field,
⁹ The birds of the air, the fish of the sea, *
and whatsoever walks in the paths of the sea.
¹⁰ O Lord our Governor, *
how exalted is your Name in all the world!

Second Lesson: 2 Timothy 2:22-26 

²² Shun youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart. ²³ Have nothing to do with stupid and senseless controversies; you know that they breed quarrels. ²⁴ And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but kindly to everyone, an apt teacher, patient, ²⁵ correcting opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant that they will repent and come to know the truth, ²⁶ and that they may escape from the snare of the devil, having been held captive by him to do his will.

Gospel: Luke 11:33-36

³³ ‘No one after lighting a lamp puts it in a cellar, but on the lampstand so that those who enter may see the light. ³⁴Your eye is the lamp of your body. If your eye is healthy, your whole body is full of light; but if it is not healthy, your body is full of darkness. ³⁵Therefore consider whether the light in you is not darkness. ³⁶If then your whole body is full of light, with no part of it in darkness, it will be as full of light as when a lamp gives you light with its rays.’

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