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Collect of the Week - 43 Dominica in Octavis Paschae (Low Sunday) If I understand the arrangement of the Sarum Missal correctly, the Mass of Easter Day was celebrated on the Sundays after Easter. There was however a Mass for each Sunday, which was celebrated on the following weekdays. This was no doubt in accordance with the prime liturgical directive, to Avoid Confusion. For "Dominica in Octavis Paschae" the Missal therefore gives the collect for Easter Day. However, it goes on to say, Missa Dominicalis per hebdomadam dicitur, "The Sunday Mass is said through the week." And this is the collect which is said through the week: Praesta, quaesumus, omnipotens Deus, ut qui Paschalia festa peregimus, haec, te largiente, moribus et vita teneamus. Per Dominum. Grant, we beseech thee, Almighty God, that we who have passed through the Paschal feasts may, by thy bounty, hold to these things in our manners and in our life. Through the Lord . . . My own rough-and-ready translation; the BCP supplies an entirely new collect, based on 1 Corinthians 5:7, Almighty Father, who hast given thine only Son to die for our sins, and to rise again for our justification; Grant us so to put away the leaven of malice and wickedness, that we may always serve thee in pureness of living and truth; through the merits of the same thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord. "peregimus" suggests a pilgrimage, a journey the great events of our salvation. We have passed through the great celebrations of Holy Week and Easter. A journey is passed in time, it is a temporary thing. But at the end we have "teneamus" - "we may holy fast to these things" - we pray that the events of our journey will make a permanent mark on our lives and conduct. The two clauses are linked by "te largiente", literally "with you giving generously". Whether or not the journey through Easter will make a permanent effect on our lives is down to God's grace. Oriens. %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%