Mechthild of Madgeburg, Mystic, c.1282

The Collect:

Rite I:
Draw the souls of thy people into thy love, O God; that, like thy servant Mechthild, we may yearn to be fully thine, for thou dost know us better than we can know ourselves; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost, one God now and for ever. Amen.

Rite II:
Draw the souls of your people into your love, O God, that like your servant Mechthild, we may yearn to be fully yours, for you know us better than we can know ourselves; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God now and for ever. Amen.

First Lesson: Song of Songs 3:1–5

¹ Upon my bed at night
   I sought him whom my soul loves;
I sought him, but found him not;
   I called him, but he gave no answer.* 
² ‘I will rise now and go about the city,
   in the streets and in the squares;
I will seek him whom my soul loves.’
   I sought him, but found him not. 
³ The sentinels found me,
   as they went about in the city.
‘Have you seen him whom my soul loves?’ 
⁴ Scarcely had I passed them,
   when I found him whom my soul loves.
I held him, and would not let him go
   until I brought him into my mother’s house,
   and into the chamber of her that conceived me. 
⁵ I adjure you, O daughters of Jerusalem,
   by the gazelles or the wild does:
do not stir up or awaken love
   until it is ready! 

Psalm: Psalm 119:41–48

⁴¹ Let your loving-kindness come to me, O Lord, *
       and your salvation, according to your promise.
⁴² Then shall I have a word for those who taunt me, *
       because I trust in your words.
⁴³ Do not take the word of truth out of my mouth, *
       for my hope is in your judgments.
⁴⁴ I shall continue to keep your law; *
       I shall keep it for ever and ever.
⁴⁵ I will walk at liberty, *
       because I study your commandments.
⁴⁶ I will tell of your decrees before kings *
       and will not be ashamed.
⁴⁷ I delight in your commandments, *
       which I have always loved.
⁴⁸ I will lift up my hands to your commandments, *
       and I will meditate on your statutes.

Gospel: Mark 8:22–26

²²They came to Bethsaida. Some people brought a blind man to him and begged him to touch him. ²³He took the blind man by the hand and led him out of the village; and when he had put saliva on his eyes and laid his hands on him, he asked him, ‘Can you see anything?’ ²⁴And the manlooked up and said, ‘I can see people, but they look like trees, walking.’ ²⁵Then Jesus laid his hands on his eyes again; and he looked intently and his sight was restored, and he saw everything clearly. ²⁶Then he sent him away to his home, saying, ‘Do not even go into the village.’ 

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