Collect:
Uphold thy church, O God of truth, as you upheld your servant Athanasius, to maintain and proclaim boldly the catholic faith against all opposition, trusting solely in the grace of your eternal Word, who took upon himself our humanity that we might share his divinity; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and ever.
Gospel Tract:
Happy are they who suffer persecution for justice sake; / the kingdom of heaven is theirs. R. Alleluia.
Prayer over the gifts:
Lord, look upon the gifts we offer on the feast of St. Athanasius. Keep us true to the faith he professed and let our own witness to your truth bring us closer to salvation. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Prayer after Communion:
All-powerful God, we join St. Athanasius in professing our belief in the true divinity of Christ your Son. Through this sacrament may our faith always give us life and protection. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.
1 John 5:1-5
Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, and everyone who loves the parent loves the child. By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and obey his commandments. For the love of God is this, that we obey his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome, for whatever is born of God conquers the world. And this is the victory that conquers the world, our faith. Who is it that conquers the world but the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?
R. The mouth of the just murmurs wisdom.
Trust in the Lord and do good,
that you may dwell in the land and be fed in security.
Take delight in the Lord
and he will grant you your heart's requests. R. The mouth of the just murmurs wisdom.
Commit to the Lord your way;
trust in him, and he will act.
He will make justice dawn for you like the light; bright as the noonday shall be your vindication. R. The mouth of the just murmurs wisdom.
The mouth of the just tells of wisdom
and his tongue utters what is right. The law of his God is in his heart,
and his steps do not falter. R. The mouth of the just murmurs wisdom.
Matthew 10:22-25 or 22-3232
You will be hated by all because of my name. But the one who endures to the end will be saved. When they persecute you in one town, flee to the next; for truly I tell you, you will not have gone through all the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes.
‘A disciple is not above the teacher, nor a slave above the master; it is enough for the disciple to be like the teacher, and the slave like the master. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebul, how much more will they malign those of his household!
[ ‘So have no fear of them; for nothing is covered up that will not be uncovered, and nothing secret that will not become known. What I say to you in the dark, tell in the light; and what you hear whispered, proclaim from the housetops. Do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul; rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell. Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground unperceived by your Father. And even the hairs of your head are all counted. So do not be afraid; you are of more value than many sparrows.
‘Everyone therefore who acknowledges me before others, I also will acknowledge before my Father in heaven.]