Tuesday, March 19, 2024

SAINT JOSEPH, SPOUSE OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY; Tuesday of Passion Week

 

SAINT JOSEPH

Spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary and Confessor

Patron of the Universal Church


[Commemoration]
TUESDAY OF PASSION WEEK

Joseph, a member of the royal family of David, was leading the obscure life of a village carpenter when God chose him to be th espouse of the Blessed Virgin and the foster father of the Incarnate Word. Scripture tells us that Joseph was just, pure, gentle, prudent, and a lover of holy silence. Above all, this humble guardian of the Child Jesus was unfailingly obedient to the divine will.
Joseph is not mentioned after he and Mary lost the twelve-year-old Jesus in the Temple and, following three days of agonized search, found their boy discoursing divinely with the learned doctors of the Law. The great task of the foster father of Christ must have been finished before the marriage feast at Cana and the beginning of the Savior's public ministry. Untold millions have since then invoked St. Joseph as the patron of a happy death.

DOUBLE, FIRST CLASS / WHITE
INTROIT
(Ps. 91:13-14)
The just man shall flourish like the palm tree; he shall grow like a cedar of Lebanon planted in the house of the Lord, in the courts of the house of our God.
Ps. 91:2. It is good to praise the Lord, and to sing to Your name, O Most High.
V
. Glory be . . .
 
GLORIA

COLLECT
O Lord, may the merits of the spouse of Your most Holy Mother assist us, so that what we cannot obtain through our own efforts we may have through his intercession; who lives and rules with God the Father, in the unity of the Holy Spirit.

Commemoration of TUESDAY OF PASSION WEEK
May our fasting be acceptable to You, O Lord. Let it atone for our sins, make us worthy of Your grace and lead us to eternal life. Through Our Lord . . .
 
LESSON (Eccli. 45:1-6) [Sirac]
Beloved of God, and men: whose memory is in benediction.
He made him like the saints in glory, and magnified him in the fear of his enemies, and with his words he made prodigies to cease.
He glorified him in the sight of kings, and gave him commandments in the sight of his people, and shewed him his glory.
He sanctified him in his faith, and meekness, and chose him out of all flesh.
For he heard him, and his voice, and brought him into a cloud.
And he gave him commandments before his face, and a law of life and instruction.

GRADUAL Ps. 20:4-5
O Lord, You made him excel by Your choicest blessings; You placed on his head a crown of precious stones.
V. He asked life of You and You gave him length of days forever.

TRACT Ps. 111:1-3
Blessed is the man who fears the Lord, who greatly delights in His commandments.
V. His posterity shall be mighty upon the earth; the righteous generation shall be blessed.
V. Glory and wealth shall be in his house, and his righteousness shall endure forever.

GOSPEL ( Matt. 1:18-21)
When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child, of the Holy Ghost. Whereupon Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing publicly to expose her, was minded to put her away privately. But while he thought on these things, behold the Angel of the Lord appeared to him in his sleep, saying: "Joseph, son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife, for that which is conceived in her, is of the Holy Ghost.
And she shall bring forth a son: and thou shalt call his name Jesus. For he shall save his people from their sins."

OFFERTORY ANTIPHON ( Ps. 88:25)
My truth and My mercy shall be with him; and in My name shall his power be exalted.

SECRET
We worship You, O Lord, as it is our duty. Guard the gifts You have bestowed upon us through the prayers of blessed Joseph, the spouse of the Mother of Jesus, Your Son and our Lord. We offer You this sacrifice of praise on his feast day. Through the same Jesus Christ, our Lord . . .

Commemoration of TUESDAY OF PASSION WEEK
O Lord, we offer You as a sacrifice these gifts, which are symbols of our consolation in this life. May they keep us from ever losing hope in the promises of eternal life. Through Our Lord . . .
 
COMMUNION ANTIPHON ( Matt. 1:20)
Do not be afraid, Joseph, son of David, to take to thee Mary thy wife, for that which is begotten in her is of the Holy Spirit.

POSTCOMMUNION
Be close to us, O merciful God, and through the prayers of Your blessed confessor Joseph, watch over the gifts You have given us. Through Our Lord . . .
 
Commemoration of TUESDAY OF PASSION WEEK 
O Almighty God, may our ceaseless search of divine things make us worthy of the reward of heaven. Through Our Lord . . . 

Monday, March 18, 2024

Monday of Passion Week; Saint Cyril of Jerusalem (A.D. 386); Saint Edward the Martyr (A.D. 979)

 




MONDAY OF PASSION WEEK



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SAINT CY[c

[Commemoration]
SAINT CYRIL OF JERUSALEM
Bishop & Doctor
 

[Commemoration]
SAINT  EDWARD THE MARTYR 


SIMPLE / PURPLE
INTROIT Ps. 55:2
Have pity on me, O Lord, for men trample upon me; all the day long they press their attack against me.
Ps. 55:3. My enemies trample upon me all the day long; they are many indeed who war against me. Have pity on me, O Lord . . .

COLLECT We pray You, O Lord, sanctify our lenten fast and mercifully pardon all our faults. Through our Lord . . .

Commemoration of SAINT CYRIL OF JERUSALEM
After Cyril (c. 315-86) had been ordained to the priesthood in Jerusalem, he was appointed to the vital duty of instructing and preparing the candidates for baptism. We still have one series of his instructions, and they are the earliest extant record of the systematic teaching of the Church on the Creed and the Sacraments. Having been chosen bishop of Jerusalem, he served as one of God's instruments in combating widespread contemporary heresy. Cyril was several times persecuted and driven from his see city because of his defense of the Catholic Faith. He remained at peace, recalling that his Lord had said, "No disciple is above his teacher, nor is the servant above his master" (Matt. 10:25)
 
O Almighty God, may the prayers of Your blessed bishop Cyril help us to know You, the one true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent, so that we may be numbered among the flock that obeys His voice.
 
Commemoration of SAINT EDWARD
St. Edward, called the Martyr, succeeded his father, King Edgar, on the throne of England and ruled that country in a stormy period. He suffered much at the hands of his unnatural step-mother and was murdered by her command, A.D. 979.

O God, the Conqueror of an everlasting kingdom, behold with mercy Thy servants who commemorate blessed King Edward, Thy Martyr and by his merits and prayers grant that we who do glory in his triumph, may receive the same rewards. Through our Lord . . .


LESSON Jonas 3:1-10
And the word of the Lord came to Jonas the second time saying: "Arise, and go to Ninive, the great city: and preach in it the preaching that I bid thee." And Jonas arose, and went to Ninive, according to the word of the Lord: now Ninive was a great city of three days' journey. And Jonas began to enter into the city one day's journey: and he cried and said: "Yet forty days and Ninive shall be destroyed."
And the men of Ninive believed in God: and they proclaimed a fast, and put on sackcloth from the greatest to the least. And the word came to the king of Ninive: and he rose up out of his throne, and cast away his robe from him, and was clothed in sackcloth, and sat in ashes. And he caused it to be proclaimed and published in Ninive, from the mouth of the king and of his princes, saying: "Let neither men nor beasts, oxen, nor sheep taste anything: let them not feed, nor drink water. And let men and beasts be covered with sackcloth, and cry to the Lord with all their strength, and let them turn every one from his evil way, and from the iniquity that is in their hands. Who can tell if God will turn, and forgive: and will turn away from his fierce anger, and we shall not perish?" And God saw their works, that they were turned from their evil way: and God had mercy with regard to the evil which he had said that he would do to them, and he did it not.

GRADUAL Ps. 53:4, 3
O God, hear my prayer; hearken to the words of my mouth.
V. O Lord, by Your name save me, and by Your might deliver me.

TRACT (Ps. 102:10; 78:8-9)
O Lord, repay us not according to the sins we have committed, nor according to our iniquities.
V
. O Lord, remember not our iniquities of the past; let Your mercy come quickly to us, for we are being brought very low. (All Kneel.)
V. Help us, O God our Savior, and for the glory of Your name, O Lord, deliver us; and pardon us our sins for Your name's sake.

GOSPEL John 7:32-39
The Pharisees heard the people murmuring these things concerning him: and the rulers and Pharisees sent ministers to apprehend him. Jesus therefore said to them: "Yet a little while I am with you: and then I go to him that sent me. You shall seek me and shall not find me: and where I am, thither you cannot come." The Jews therefore said among themselves: "Whither will he go, that we shall not find him? Will he go unto the dispersed among the Gentiles and teach the Gentiles? What is this saying that he hath said: You shall seek me and shall not find me? And: Where I am, you cannot come?"
And on the last, and great day of the festivity, Jesus stood and cried, saying: "If any man thirst, let him come to me and drink. He that believeth in me, as the scripture saith: Out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water." Now this he said of the Spirit which they should receive who believed in him.

OFFERTORY ANTIPHON Ps. 6:5
Turn to me, O Lord, and save my life; in Your mercy rescue me.

SECRET
O Lord, our God, grant that this offering of the Sacrifice of salvation may take away our sins and appease Your majesty. Through our Lord . . .


Commemoration of SAINT CYRIL OF JERUSALEM
Look with favor upon the immaculate gift we offer You, O Lord. may we always receive it with clean hearts through the intercession of Your blessed confessor bishop Cyril.
 
Commemoration of SAINT EDWARD 
May our offering be acceptable in Thy sight, O Lord and may it benefit us by the prayer of him on whose feast it is offered. Through our Lord . . .
 

 
COMMUNION ANTIPHON Ps. 23:10 The Lord of hosts, He is the king of glory.

POSTCOMMUNION
O Lord, purify us and heal us through the reception of this Sacrament of salvation. Through our Lord . . .


Commemoration of SAINT CYRIL OF JERUSALEM
O Lord Jesus Christ, sanctify our hearts and minds by the Sacrament of Your own Body and Blood which we have received. Make us worthy to share in Your divine nature through the intercession of the holy bishop Cyril.
 
Commemoration of SAINT EDWARD
Refreshed by partaking of Thy sacred Gift, we beseech Thee, O Lord, our God, that through the intercession of blessed Edward, Thy Martyr, we may perceive the fruit of the rite which we celebrate. Through our Lord . . .
 

PRAYER OVER THE PEOPLE
O Lord, grant Your people health of soul and body. May we be fervent in doing good and so deserve to be protected by Your mighty power. Through our Lord . . .

Sunday, March 17, 2024

PASSION SUNDAY; SAINT PATRICK

 

PASSION SUNDAY
 

[Commemoration]

SAINT PATRICK 
Bishop and Confessor
 

DOUBLE, FIRST CLASS / PURPLE
Jesus, eternal God, became mortal man in order to mediate our redemption, to form a new people that would be His Mystical Self, and to bring all men into an eternal union with Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. There can be no living of Christ without living the price of mediation for souls. That price may vary, from mere fidelity in the performance of monotonous duty, to bearing with loneliness and misunderstanding, or even to suffering violence and death. Sin continues, and therefore suffering for sin must continue. Since Christians share Christ's priesthood through Baptism and Confirmation, His passion becomes their passion, for an "eternal inheritance."

[From this day until Maundy Thursday, in Masses of the Season the Ps. Judica me . . . is omitted on Sundays and Ferias, as also the Gloria Patri at the Introit and at the Lavabo; but on Feasts they are said as usual.]

INTROIT(Ps. 42:1-2) 

Do me justice, O God, and fight against a faithless people; from the deceitful and impious man rescue me. For You, O God, are my strength. 
Ps. 42:3
. Send forth Your light and Your truth; they shall lead me on and bring me to Your holy mountain, to Your dwelling place. Do me justice, O God . . .


COLLECT
O Almighty God, look with mercy upon Your family. Guide and guard us in body and soul by Your bounteous grace and protection. Through Our Lord . . .



Commemoration of SAINT PATRICK
Toward the close of the fourth century, the pagan Irish captured during a slave-hunting raid the Christian youth who would become St. Patrick. The lad was put to work in Ireland as a pigherd for six years. Then he escaped, but with the intention of returning to the land of his captivity as an apostle. The former pigherd was ordained to the priesthood, and in 432 was made a bishop. The Pope himself commissioned Patrick to carry the Faith to Ireland. In his apostolic travels St. Patrick covered the length and breathe of the island. He overcame heartbreaking difficulties and sorrows, because he made Christ his sole changeless friend and helper.
 

O God, You sent Your blessed confessor bishop Patrick to preach Your glory among the nations. May we fulfill all the duties commanded of us through his merits and intercession. Through Our Lord . . . 



EPISTLE (Heb. 9:11-15)
Brethren: But Christ, being come an high Priest of the good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hand, that is, not of this creation: Neither by the blood of goats or of calves, but by his own blood, entered once into the Holies, having obtained eternal redemption. For if the blood of goats and of oxen, and the ashes of an heifer, being sprinkled, sanctify such as are defiled, to the cleansing of the flesh: How much more shall the blood of Christ, who by the Holy Ghost offered himself unspotted unto God, cleanse our conscience from dead works, to serve the living God?
And therefore he is the mediator of the new testament: that by means of his death for the redemption of those transgressions which were under the former testament, they that are called may receive the promise of eternal inheritance.

GRADUAL (Ps. 142:9, 10; 17:48-49)
Rescue me from my enemies, O Lord. Teach me to do Your will.
V. O Lord, who preserved me from the wrathful nations, You will exalt me above my adversaries,You will rescue me from the man of violence.


TRACT (Ps. 128:1-4)
Often they have fought against me from my youth. 
V
. Let Israel now say, "Often have they fought against me from my youth. 
V
. Yet they could not prevail over me. The wicked have furrowed my back. 
V
. They have continued their iniquity, but the Lord, who is just, will humble the pride of the sinners."


GOSPEL (John 8:46-59)
At that time, Jesus said to the crowds of the Jews, "Which of you shall convince me of sin? If I say the truth to you, why do you not believe me: He that is of God heareth the words of God. Therefore you hear them not, because you are not of God."
The Jews therefore answered and said to him: "Do not we say well that thou art a Samaritan and hast a devil?" Jesus answered: "I have not a devil: but I honour my Father. And you have dishonoured me. But I seek not my own glory: there is one that seeketh and judgeth. Amen, amen, I say to you: If any man keep my word, he shall not see death for ever." 
The Jews therefore said: "Now we know that thou hast a devil. Abraham is dead, and the prophets: and thou sayest: If any man keep my word, he shall not taste death for ever. Art thou greater than our father Abraham who is dead? And the prophets are dead. Whom dost thou make thyself?"
Jesus answered: "If I glorify myself, my glory is nothing. It is my Father that glorifieth me, of whom you say that he is your God. And you have not known him: but I know him. And if I shall say that I know him not, I shall be like to you, a liar. But I do know him and do keep his word. Abraham your father rejoiced that he might see my day: he saw it and was glad." The Jews therefore said to him: "Thou art not yet fifty years old. And hast thou seen Abraham?" Jesus said to them:"Amen, amen, I say to you, before Abraham was made, I AM." They took up stones therefore to cast at him. But Jesus hid himself and went out of the temple.
 
CREED

OFFERTORY ANTIPHON (Ps. 118:17, 107)
I will praise You, O Lord, with my whole heart. Be good to Your servant, that I may live and keep Your words. O Lord, give me life according to Your word.

SECRET 
O Lord, may these offerings free us from the bondage of sin and win for us the gift of Your mercy. Through Our Lord . . .



Commemoration of SAINT PATRICK
O Lord, may Your Saints everywhere be a source of joy for us, and may we feel the power of their intercession with You as we solemnly recall the deeds of their lives. Through our Lord . . .
 


Preface of the Holy Cross
 
COMMUNION ANTIPHON (I Cor. 11:24, 25)
"This is My Body which shall be given up for you; this cup is the New Covenant in My Blood," said the Lord. "Do this as often as you receive it, in remembrance of Me."

POSTCOMMUNION 
Be close to us, O Lord our God, and with Your unfailing help defend those who have been renewed through Your Sacrament. Through Our Lord . . .


Commemoration of SAINT PATRICK
O Almighty God, may the expression of our gratitude to You for all Your gifts bring us even greater benefits, through the intercession of Your blessed Confessor bishop Patrick. Through our Lord . . .

Saturday, March 16, 2024

SATURDAY OF THE FOURTH WEEK OF LENT

 

 

SATURDAY OF THE 
FOURTH WEEK OF LENT



SIMPLE / PURPLE
A true lover, God takes the initiative in the shepherding of souls. It is God who seeks, and man who is sought. When God has chosen man, only then does the individual respond. That is the moment of mercy. Such a moment is given to every soul at some time in life, for God "wishes all men to be saved" (I Tim. 2:4). "In this is the love, not that we have loved God, but that He has first loved us" (I John 4:10). This is part of the "light of life" that is Jesus. It means that, when a person wants to love God, God has already given him the grace to love Him. It means that, when someone desires God's mercy, he has already received mercy. God loves with "an everlasting love."


INTROIT Isa. 55:1
"All you who thirst, come to the waters," said the Lord, "and you who have no money, come and drink with joy."
Ps. 77:1. Hearken, My people, to My law; incline your ears to the words of My mouth.
V. Glory be . . .

COLLECT

O Lord, may Your grace bring us the fruitful effects of our devoted love, for the lenten fast that we observe will be of profit to us only if it pleases You. Through Our Lord . . .

 
LESSON Isa. 49:8-15
Thus saith the Lord: "In an acceptable time I have heard thee, and in the day of salvation I have helped thee: and I have preserved thee, and given thee to be a covenant of the people, that thou mightest raise up the earth, and possess the inheritances that were destroyed: That thou mightest say to them that are bound: 'Come forth': and to them that are in darkness: 'Shew yourselves.' They shall feed in the ways, and their pastures shall be in every plain. They shall not hunger, nor thirst, neither shall the heat nor the sun strike them: for he that is merciful to them, shall be their shepherd, and at the fountains of waters he shall give them drink. And I will make all my mountains a way, and my paths shall be exalted.
Behold these shall come from afar, and behold these from the north and from the sea, and these from the south country."
Give praise, O ye heavens, and rejoice, O earth, ye mountains, give praise with jubilation: because the Lord hath comforted his people, and will have mercy on his poor ones. And Sion said: "The Lord hath forsaken me, and the Lord hath forgotten me." "Can a woman forget her infant, so as not to have pity on the son of her womb? and if she should forget, yet will not I forget thee," says the Lord almighty.

GRADUAL Ps. 9:14, 1-2
The poor man is dependent upon You, O Lord; You are the helper of the fatherless.
V. Why, O Lord, do You stand aloof? Why disdain us in time of distress? While the wicked man is puffed up, the needy man is consumed.

GOSPEL John 8:12-20
At that time, Jesus spoke to the multitudes of Jews, saying: "I am the light of the world. He that followeth me walketh not in darkness, but shall have the light of life." The Pharisees therefore said to him: "Thou givest testimony of thyself. Thy testimony is not true."
Jesus answered and said to them: "Although I give testimony of myself, my testimony is true: for I know whence I came and whither I go. You judge according to the flesh: I judge not any man. And if I do judge, my judgment is true: because I am not alone, but I and the Father that sent me. And in your law it is written that the testimony of two men is true. I am one that give testimony of myself: and the Father that sent me giveth testimony of me." They said therefore to him: "Where is thy Father?" Jesus answered: "Neither me do you know, nor my Father. If you did know me, perhaps you would know my Father also." These words Jesus spoke in the treasury, teaching in the temple: and no man laid hands on him, because his hour was not yet come.

OFFERTORY ANTIPHON Ps. 17:3
The Lord is my support, my refuge, and my deliverer; in Him I will place my trust.

SECRET
Accept our gifts as a peace offering, O Lord, and by the constraint of Your mercy make our rebellious wills submit to You. Through our Lord . . .


COMMUNION ANTIPHON Ps. 22:1-2
The Lord rules over me, I shall want for nothing. He has set me in a place of pasture; He has led me to refreshing waters.

POSTCOMMUNION
We pray You, O Lord, purify us through this Sacrament and make us pleasing to You by its grace. Through our Lord . . .



PRAYER OVER THE PEOPLE
O God, it is Your will to show mercy rather than anger to those who trust in You. May we have proper sorrow for our sins so that we may be worthy of Your comfort. Through our Lord . . .

Friday, March 15, 2024

FRIDAY OF THE FOURTH WEEK OF LENT

 

 


FRIDAY OF THE FOURTH WEEK OF LENT



SIMPLE / PURPLE

A miracle reveals the world as it really is, with God in complete control of His world and re-commanding natural law in order to relieve human suffering. God is above all a God of human hearts; and He made us the world by a free act of love to serve His own glory and man's need. A miracle, then raises the natural laws of the world and of life to their highest fulfillment. Their momentary change is their glory. At the great shrines of Our Lady, God continues to work miracles in response to the pleading of her maternal love, just as Jesus, in His own love for Martha, Mary, and Lazarus, answered the pleading of the sister's love.

INTROIT (Ps. 18:15)
The thoughts of my heart are always before You, O Lord, my helper and my Redeemer.
Ps. 18:2. The heavens show forth the glory of God, and the firmament proclaims His handiwork.
V. Glory be . . .


COLLECT
O God, You renew the world through the miracle of Your Sacraments. May Your Church be faithful to Your eternal commands and be assisted by You in this life. Through Our Lord . . .

LESSON (I Kings 17:17-24)
In those days, the son of the woman, the mistress of the house, fell sick, and the sickness was very grievous, so that there was no breath left in him. And she said to Elias: "What have I to do with thee, thou man of God? art thou come to me, that my iniquities should be remembered, and that thou shouldst kill my son?"
And Elias said to her: "Give me thy son." And he took him out of her bosom, and carried him into the upper chamber where he abode, and laid him upon his own bed. And he cried to the Lord, and said: "O Lord, my God, hast thou afflicted also the widow, with whom I am after a sort maintained, so as to kill her son?" And he stretched, and measured himself upon the child three times, and cried to the Lord, and said: "O Lord, my God, let the soul of this child, I beseech thee, return into his body."
And the Lord heard the voice of Elias: and the soul of the child returned into him, and he revived. And Elias took the child, and brought him down from the upper chamber to the house below, and delivered him to his mother, and said to her: "Behold thy son liveth." And the woman said to Elias: "Now by this I know that thou art a man of God, and the word of the Lord in thy mouth is true."

GRADUAL (Ps. 117:8-9)
It is better to trust in the Lord than to confide in man. V. It is better to have confidence in the Lord than to rely on princes.

TRACT (Ps. 102:10; 78:8-9)
O Lord, repay us not according to the sins we have committed, nor according to our iniquities. V. O Lord, remember not our iniquities of the past; let Your mercy come quickly to us, for we are being brought very low (All kneel.) V. Help us, O God our Saviour, and for the glory of Your name, O Lord, deliver us; and pardon us our sins for Your name's sake.

GOSPEL (John 11:1-45)
At that time, there was a certain man sick, named Lazarus, of Bethania, of the town of Mary and of Martha her sister. (And Mary was she that anointed the Lord with ointment and wiped his feet with her hair: whose brother Lazarus was sick.) His sisters therefore sent to him, saying: Lord, behold, he whom thou lovest is sick. And Jesus hearing it, said to them: "This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God: that the Son of God may be glorified by it." Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister Mary and Lazarus. When he had heard therefore that he was sick, he still remained in the same place two days. Then after that, he said to his disciples: "Let us go into Judea again." The disciples say to him: "Rabbi, the Jews but now sought to stone thee. And goest thou thither again?" Jesus answered: "Are there not twelve hours of the day? If a man walk in the day he stumbleth not, because he seeth the light of this world: But if he walk in the night, he stumbleth, because the light is not in him."
These things he said; and after that he said to them: "Lazarus our friend sleepeth: but I go that I may awake him out of sleep." His disciples therefore said: "Lord, if he sleep, he shall do well." But Jesus spoke of his death: and they thought that he spoke of the repose of sleep. Then therefore Jesus said to them plainly: "Lazarus is dead. And I am glad, for your sakes; that I was not there, that you may believe. But, let us go to him." Thomas therefore, who is called Didymus, said to his fellow disciples: "Let us also go, that we may die with him."
Jesus therefore came: and found that he had been four days already in the grave. (Now Bethania was near Jerusalem, about fifteen furlongs off.) And many of the Jews were come to Martha and Mary, to comfort them concerning their brother. Martha therefore, as soon as she heard that Jesus was come, went to meet him: but Mary sat at home.
Martha therefore said to Jesus: "Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died. But now also I know that whatsoever thou wilt ask of God, God will give it thee." Jesus saith to her: "Thy brother shall rise again." Martha saith to him: "I know that he shall rise again, in the resurrection at the last day." Jesus said to her: "I am the resurrection and the life: he that believeth in me, although he be dead, shall live: And every one that liveth and believeth in me shall not die for ever. Believest thou this?" She saith to him: "Yea, Lord, I have believed that thou art Christ, the Son of the living God, who art come into this world."
And when she had said these things, she went and called her sister Mary secretly, saying: "The master is come and calleth for thee." She, as soon as she heard this, riseth quickly and cometh to him. For Jesus was not yet come into the town: but he was still in that place where Martha had met him. The Jews therefore, who were with her in the house and comforted her, when they saw Mary, that she rose up speedily and went out, followed her, saying: "She goeth to the grave to weep there." When Mary therefore was come where Jesus was, seeing him, she fell down at his feet and saith to him. "Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died." Jesus, therefore, when he saw her weeping, and the Jews that were come with her weeping, groaned in the spirit and troubled himself, And said: "Where have you laid him?" They say to him: Lord, come and see. And Jesus wept. The Jews therefore said: "Behold how he loved him." But some of them said: "Could not he that opened the eyes of the man born blind have caused that this man should not die?"
Jesus therefore again groaning in himself, cometh to the sepulchre. Now it was a cave; and a stone was laid over it. Jesus saith: "Take away the stone." Martha, the sister of him that was dead, saith to him: "Lord, by this time he stinketh, for he is now of four days." Jesus saith to her: "Did not I say to thee that if thou believe, thou shalt see the glory of God?"
They took therefore the stone away. And Jesus lifting up his eyes, said: "Father, I give thee thanks that thou hast heard me. And I knew that thou hearest me always: but because of the people who stand about have I said it, that they may believe that thou hast sent me." When he had said these things, he cried with a loud voice: "Lazarus, come forth." And presently he that had been dead came forth, bound feet and hands with winding bands. And his face was bound about with a napkin. Jesus said to them: "Loose him and let him go." Many therefore of the Jews, who were come to Mary and Martha and had seen the things that Jesus did, believed in him.

OFFERTORY ANTIPHON (Ps. 17:28, 32)
You will save the humble, O Lord, but the eyes of the proud You will bring low; for who is God except You, O Lord?

SECRET
O Lord, purify us through the gifts we offer You and let us be reconciled with You forever. Through Our Lord . . .

COMMUNION ANTIPHON (John 11:33, 35, 43, 44, 39)
When the Lord saw the sisters of Lazarus weeping at the tomb, He wept before the Jews, and cried out, "Lazarus, come forth!" And he who had been dead four days came forth, bound hands and feet.

POSTCOMMUNION
O Lord, may the reception of this Sacrament cleanse us forever from our sins and shield us from all adversity. Through Our Lord . . .

PRAYER OVER THE PEOPLE
O Lord, we are aware of our own weakness but we trust in Your strength. May we always rejoice in Your loving care. Through Our Lord . . .

Thursday, March 14, 2024

THURSDAY OF THE FOURTH WEEK OF LENT; SAINT MATILDA (MAUD) (968 A.D.)

 


THURSDAY OF THE FOURTH WEEK OF LENT
 

SIMPLE / PURPLE
Man's cleverest technique cannot synthesize life nor restore it. Man can frustrate life or destroy it but he cannot compound it. Life's mystery escapes human genius. Only God is the author and lord of life. From Him it comes; to Him it returns. He alone can give or restore human life, either directly or, more commonly, through human agents. He alone gives and restores the supernatural life of the soul. As shared divine life surpasses human life, so the marvel of restoring a soul, through the sacraments of Baptism or Penance from the death of sin to the life of grace surpasses the miracle of restoring physical life. It is the mission of the Church to give soul-life to all men.

INTROIT Ps. 104:3-4
Let every heart that seeks the Lord rejoice. Seek the Lord and find strength; seek the Lord evermore.
Ps. 104:1. Give glory to the Lord and invoke His Name; make known His deeds among the nations.
V. Glory be . . .

COLLECT
O Almighty God, grant that we may be happy in chastising our bodies through fasting. May we bring our passions under control, and thus more easily attain the rewards of heaven. Through Our Lord . . .

LESSON IV Kings 4:25-38 [2 Kings 4:25-38]
In those days, a Sunamite woman came to Eliseus to mount Carmel: and when the man of God saw her coming towards, he said to Giezi, his servant: "Behold that Sunamitess. Go, therefore, to meet her, and say to her: Is all well with thee, and with thy husband, and with thy son?" And she answered: "Well."
And when she came to the man of God, to the mount, she caught hold on his feet: and Giezi came to remove her. And the man of God said: "Let her alone for her soul is in anguish, and the Lord hath hid it from me, and hath not told me." And she said to him: "Did I ask a son of my lord? did I not say to thee: 'Do not deceive me?' "
Then he said to Giezi: "Gird up thy loins, and take my staff in thy hand, and go. If any man meet thee, salute him not: and if any man salute thee, answer him not: and lay my staff upon the face of the child." But the mother of the child said: "As the Lord liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee." He arose, therefore, and followed her. But Giezi was gone before them, and laid the staff upon the face of the child, and there was no voice nor sense: and he returned to meet him, and told him, saying: "The child is not risen."
Eliseus, therefore, went into the house, and behold the child lay dead on his bed: And going in, he shut the door upon him, and upon the child, and prayed to the Lord. And he went up, and lay upon the child: and put his mouth upon his mouth, and his eyes upon his eyes, and his hands upon his hands: and he bowed himself upon him, and the child's flesh grew warm. Then he returned and walked in the house, once to and fro: and he went up, and lay upon him: and the child gaped seven times, and opened his eyes. And he called Giezi, and said to him: "Call this Sunamitess." And she being called, went in to him: and he said: "Take up thy son." She came and fell at his feet, and worshiped upon the ground: and took up her son, and went out. And Eliseus returned to Galgal.

GRADUAL Ps. 73:20, 19, 22
Be mindful of Your covenant, O Lord, and forget not forever the lives of Your poor.
V. Arise, O Lord, defend Your own cause; remember the abuse hurled against Your servants.

GOSPEL Luke 7:11-16
At that time, Jesus went into a city that is called Naim: and there went with him his disciples and a great multitude. And when he came nigh to the gate of the city, behold a dead man was carried out, the only son of his mother: and she was a widow. And a great multitude of the city was with her. Whom when the Lord had seen, being moved with mercy towards her, he said to her: "Weep not." And he came near and touched the bier. And they that carried it stood still. And he said: "Young man, I say to thee, arise." And he that was dead sat up and begun to speak. And he gave him to his mother. And there came a fear upon them all: and they glorified God saying: "A great prophet is risen up among us: and, God hath visited his people."

OFFERTORY ANTIPHON Ps. 69:2, 3, 4
O Lord, make haste to help me. Let all be put to shame who plot evil against Your servants.

SECRET
Cleanse us, O merciful God. Let the prayers of the Church, which are so pleasing to You when they are accompanied by this offering, be even more acceptable to You because our souls are free from sin. Through Our Lord . . .

COMMUNION ANTIPHON Ps. 70:16, 17, 18
O Lord, I will be mindful of Your singular justice. O God, You have taught me from my youth, and when I am old and gray, O God, forsake me not.

POSTCOMMUNION
O Lord, let us not be condemned by unworthily receiving this Gift of Heaven which was instituted for the spiritual health of Your faithful. Through Our Lord . . .

PRAYER OVER THE PEOPLE
O God, Creator and Ruler of Your people, free Your own from the temptations assailing them, so that they may please You and be protected by You. Through Our Lord Jesus Christ . . .
 



Saint Matilda

(Saint Maud)



Patron Saint of Misbehaving Children


Saint Matilda was born into nobility in the Westphalia province of Prussia and was raised by her grandmother, an abbess, in an abbey.
Saint Matilda married King Henry the Fowler, the first German king from Saxony, and had five children including Saint Bruno, Archbishop of Cologne.
Saint Matilda interceded with the king on behalf of criminals, nursed the sick, taught the unschooled, and was generous in almsgiving.
Upon King Henry I's, also known as King Henry the Fowler, death, Saint Matilda inherited much of his land.  Two of her children, King Otto I, and Henry, accused Saint Matilda of fiscal irresponsibility because of her generosity to the poor. Her oldest son, now Holy Roman Emperor Otto I, confiscated Saint Matilda's property causing her to flee to a convent.
Holy Roman Emperor Otto I found out pretty quickly that ruling an empire was not easy, so he and Henry sought out their mother's advice with contrition, restoring her lands, and reconciling, and Saint Matilda resumed caring for the poor.

Wednesday, March 13, 2024

WEDNESDAY OF THE FOURTH WEEK OF LENT; BLESSED AGNELLUS OF PISA (1236 A.D.)

 

 

WEDNESDAY OF THE 
FOURTH WEEK OF LENT
 
[wikipedia.org image]
[Commemoration]
 BLESSED AGNELLUS OF PISA



SIMPLE / PURPLE
The Church of the New Testament continues the Israel of the Old Testament. The faithful of God are one social, religious unit that extends backward to our first parents and forward over the world to the end of time. All derive grace from Christ. Hence all, by grace, are brothers in Christ. Old and New Testament saints are celebrated in the one Sacrifice of Christ.
Jesus came to cleanse His people anew, to give them a new and vastly higher dignity, to make them charitable and apostolic. It is now their conscience mission to bring all men to a baptized brotherhood in Christ -- a brotherhood that reaches across every line of nation, race, or color.
 
INTROIT Ezech. 36:23-26
When I shall be sanctified in you, I will gather you from every land; and I will pour upon you clean water, and you shall be cleansed from your filthiness, and I will give you a new spirit.
Ps. 33:2. I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall ever be in my mouth.
V. Glory be . . .

 
Let us pray.
V. Let us kneel.
R. Arise.


COLLECT
O God, You reward the just man and grant pardon to the sinner if he does penance by fasting. Be merciful to Your people who implore You, and forgive us our sins through our confession of guilt. Through our Lord . . .

LESSON
Ezech. 36:23-28
Thus says the Lord God: "And I will sanctify my great name, which was profaned among the Gentiles, which you have profaned in the midst of them: that the Gentiles may know that I am the Lord, when I shall be sanctified in you before their eyes. For I will take you from among the Gentiles, and will gather you together out of all the countries, and will bring you into your own land. And I will pour upon you clean water, and you shall be cleansed from all your filthiness, and I will cleanse you from all your idols. And I will give you a new heart, and put a new spirit within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and will give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my spirit in the midst of you: and I will cause you to walk in my commandments, and to keep my judgments, and do them. And you shall dwell in the land which I gave to your fathers, and you shall be my people, and I will be your God," says the Lord Almighty.

GRADUAL Ps. 33:12, 6
Come, children, hear me; I will teach you the fear of the Lord.
V. Turn to Him that you may be enlightened, and your faces may never blush with shame.

COLLECT
O Almighty God, grant that we may be happy in chastising our bodies through fasting. May we bring our passions under control, and thus more easily attain the rewards of heaven. Through our Lord . . .

Commemoration of BLESSED AGNELLUS
Blessed Agnellus of Pisa was in 1195 AD. He was born to the Italian nobility. Agnellus was Received into the Franciscans by Saint Francis himself. Blessed Agnellus was a Deacon. He was the guard of Saint-Denis, the first Franciscan friary in Paris, France.
Agnellus Worked with the University of Paris. He was then appointed by Saint Francis to introduce the Franciscans into England in 1224. Him together with eight associates, he established houses in Canterbury and London, and finally a school for friars in Oxford. 
Friend of King Henry III. He helped prevent civil war between Henry and Earl Marshall. Known for his personal piety and his strict adherence to the Franciscan Rule, especially on the matter of poverty.
He died on 7 May 1236 AD at Oxford, England of dysentery. His body was reported incorrupt up to the time the Oxford house was dissolved by King Henry VIII.

O Lord Jesus Christ, who didst set blessed Agnellus free from the world's snares to follow Thy cross, make us so follow in his footsteps that we may earn a crown of glory along with him in heaven. Who livest . . .
 


LESSON Isa. 1:16-19
Thus says the Lord God: "Wash yourselves, be clean, take away the evil of your devices from my eyes, cease to do perversely, Learn to do well: seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, judge for the fatherless, defend the widow. And then come, and accuse me", saith the Lord: "If your sins be as scarlet, they shall be made as white as snow: and if they be red as crimson, they shall be white as wool. If you be willing, and will hearken to me, you shall eat the good things of the land," says the Lord Almighty.

GRADUAL Ps. 32:12, 6
Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, the people He has chosen for His own inheritance! V. By the word of the Lord the heavens were made, and by the breath of His mouth all the celestial bodies thereof were created.

TRACT Ps. 102:10; 78:8-9
O Lord, repay us not according to the sins we have committed, nor according to our iniquities.
V.
 O Lord, remember not our iniquities of the past; let Your mercy come quickly to us, for we are being brought very low. (All kneel.)
V.
 Help us, O God our Savior, and for the glory of Your name, O Lord, deliver us; and pardon us our sins for Your names sake.

GOSPEL John 9:1-38
At that time Jesus, passing by, saw a man who was blind from his birth. And his disciples asked him: "Rabbi, who hath sinned, this man or his parents, that he should be born blind?" Jesus answered: "Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents; but that the works of God should be made manifest in him. I must work the works of him that sent me, whilst it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work. As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world."
When he had said these things, he spat on the ground and made clay of the spittle and spread the clay upon his eyes, And said to him: "Go, wash in the pool of Siloe," which is interpreted, 'Sent.' He went therefore and washed: and he came seeing.
The neighbours, therefore, and they who had seen him before that he was a beggar, said: "Is not this he that sat and begged?" Some said: "This is he." But others said: "No, but he is like him." But he said: "I am he." They said therefore to him: "How were thy eyes opened?" He answered: "That man that is called Jesus made clay and anointed my eyes and said to me: 'Go to the pool of Siloe and wash.' And I went: I washed: and I see." And they said to him: "Where is he?" He saith: "I know not."
They bring him that had been blind to the Pharisees. Now it was the sabbath, when Jesus made the clay and opened his eyes. Again therefore the Pharisees asked him how he had received his sight. But he said to them: "He put clay upon my eyes: and I washed: and I see." Some therefore of the Pharisees said: "This man is not of God, who keepeth not the sabbath." But others said: "How can a man that is a sinner do such miracles?" And there was a division among them. They say therefore to the blind man again: "What sayest thou of him that hath opened thy eyes?" And he said: "He is a prophet."
The Jews then did not believe concerning him, that he had been blind and had received his sight, until they called the parents of him that had received his sight,
And asked them, saying: "Is this your son, who you say was born blind? How then doth he now see?" His parents answered them and said: "We know that this is our son and that he was born blind: But how he now seeth, we know not: or who hath opened his eyes, we know not. Ask himself: he is of age: Let him speak for himself."
These things his parents said, because they feared the Jews: for the Jews had already agreed among themselves that if any man should confess him to be Christ, he should be put out of the synagogue. Therefore did his parents say: "He is of age. Ask himself."
They therefore called the man again that had been blind and said to him: "Give glory to God. We know that this man is a sinner." He said therefore to them: "If he be a sinner, I know not. One thing I know, that whereas I was blind. now I see." They said then to him: "What did he to thee? How did he open thy eyes?" He answered them: "I have told you already, and you have heard. Why would you hear it again? Will you also become his disciples?" They reviled him therefore and said: "Be thou his disciple; but we are the disciples of Moses. We know that God spoke to Moses: but as to this man, we know not from whence he is." The man answered and said to them: "why, herein is a wonderful thing, that you know not from whence he is, and he hath opened my eyes. Now we know that God doth not hear sinners: but if a man be a server of God and doth his, will, him he heareth. From the beginning of the world it hath not been heard, that any man hath opened the eyes of one born blind. Unless this man were of God, he could not do anything." They answered and said to him: "Thou wast wholly born in sins; and dost thou teach us?" And they cast him out.
Jesus heard that they had cast him out. And when he had found him, he said to him: "Dost thou believe in the Son of God?" He answered, and said: "Who is he, Lord, that I may believe in him?" And Jesus said to him: "Thou hast both seen him; and it is he that talketh with thee." And he said: "I believe, Lord." And falling down, he adored him.

OFFERTORY ANTIPHON Ps. 65:8-9, 20
Bless the Lord our God, you nations; loudly sound His praise. He has given life to my soul, and has not let my feet falter. Blessed be the Lord, who has not refused my prayer nor His mercy to me!

SECRET
O Almighty God, wash away our sins through these sacrificial gifts so that we may receive Your blessings of true health of mind and body. Through our Lord . . .

 Commemoration of BLESSED AGNELLUS
In memory of Thy Saints, O Lord, we offer Thee the sacrifice of praise, by which we trust to be freed from both present and future evils. Through our Lord . . . 

COMMUNION ANTIPHON Jo. 9:11
The Lord made clay with spittle and anointed my eyes, and I went and washed, and I saw; and I believed in God.

POSTCOMMUNION
O Lord our God, may the Sacrament we have received nourish us with spiritual food and comfort us with bodily aid. Through our Lord . . .

Commemoration of BLESSED AGNELLUS
Refreshed by meat and drink from heaven, o God, we humbly entreat Thee, that we may be protected by the prayers of him in whose memory we have partaken. Through our Lord . . . 

PRAYER OVER THE PEOPLE
O Lord, in Your mercy hear the prayers of those who call upon You. Make their wills like Your will so that You may fulfill their every desire. Through our Lord . . .