Margaret of Cortona, Monastic, 1297

The Collect:

Rite I:
Grant, O God, to all thy people, as to thy servant Margaret of Cortona, the spirit of repentance and supplication, that we might seek and desire nothing in this transitory life above thee; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Rite II:
Grant, O God, to all your people, as to your servant Margaret of Cortona, the spirit of repentance and supplication, that we might seek and desire nothing in this transitory life above you; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

First Lesson: Zephaniah 3:7–13

⁷ I said, ‘Surely the city* will fear me,
   it will accept correction;
it will not lose sight*
   of all that I have brought upon it.’
But they were the more eager
   to make all their deeds corrupt. 

⁸ Therefore wait for me, says the Lord,
   for the day when I arise as a witness.
For my decision is to gather nations,
   to assemble kingdoms,
to pour out upon them my indignation,
   all the heat of my anger;
for in the fire of my passion
   all the earth shall be consumed. 

⁹ At that time I will change the speech of the peoples
   to a pure speech,
that all of them may call on the name of the Lord
   and serve him with one accord. 
¹⁰ From beyond the rivers of Ethiopia*
   my suppliants, my scattered ones,
   shall bring my offering. 
 

¹¹     On that day you shall not be put to shame
        because of all the deeds by which you have rebelled against me;
    for then I will remove from your midst
        your proudly exultant ones,
    and you shall no longer be haughty
        in my holy mountain.
^12.    For I will leave in the midst of you
        a people humble and lowly.
    They shall seek refuge in the name of the Lord—
¹³         the remnant of Israel;
    they shall do no wrong
        and utter no lies,
    nor shall a deceitful tongue
        be found in their mouths.
    Then they will pasture and lie down,
        and no one shall make them afraid.

Psalm: Psalm 30:6–13

⁶ Weeping may spend the night, *
       but joy comes in the morning.
⁷ While I felt secure, I said,
   “I shall never be disturbed. *
       You, Lord, with your favor, made me as strong as
                           the mountains.”
⁸ Then you hid your face, *
       and I was filled with fear.
⁹ I cried to you, O Lord; *
       I pleaded with the Lord, saying,
¹⁰ “What profit is there in my blood, if I go down to the Pit? *
       will the dust praise you or declare your faithfulness?
¹¹ Hear, O Lord, and have mercy upon me; *
       O Lord, be my helper.”
¹² You have turned my wailing into dancing; *
       you have put off my sack-cloth and clothed me with joy.
¹³ Therefore my heart sings to you without ceasing; *
       O Lord my God, I will give you thanks for ever.

Gospel: Luke 7:36–50

³⁶ One of the Pharisees asked Jesus to eat with him, and he went into the Pharisee’s house and took his place at the table. ³⁷ And a woman in the city, who was a sinner, having learned that he was eating in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster jar of ointment. ³⁸ She stood behind him at his feet, weeping, and began to bathe his feet with her tears and to dry them with her hair. Then she continued kissing his feet and anointing them with the ointment. ³⁹ Now when the Pharisee who had invited him saw it, he said to himself, ‘If this man were a prophet, he would have known who and what kind of woman this is who is touching him—that she is a sinner.’ ⁴⁰ Jesus spoke up and said to him, ‘Simon, I have something to say to you.’ ‘Teacher,’ he replied, ‘speak.’ ⁴¹ ‘A certain creditor had two debtors; one owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. ⁴² When they could not pay, he cancelled the debts for both of them. Now which of them will love him more?’ ⁴³ Simon answered, ‘I suppose the one for whom he cancelled the greater debt.’ And Jesus said to him, ‘You have judged rightly.’ ⁴⁴ Then turning towards the woman, he said to Simon, ‘Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave me no water for my feet, but she has bathed my feet with her tears and dried them with her hair. ⁴⁵ You gave me no kiss, but from the time I came in she has not stopped kissing my feet. ⁴⁶ You did not anoint my head with oil, but she has anointed my feet with ointment. ⁴⁷ Therefore, I tell you, her sins, which were many, have been forgiven; hence she has shown great love. But the one to whom little is forgiven, loves little.’ ⁴⁸ Then he said to her, ‘Your sins are forgiven.’ ⁴⁹ But those who were at the table with him began to say among themselves, ‘Who is this who even forgives sins?’ ⁵⁰ And he said to the woman, ‘Your faith has saved you; go in peace.’

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