Saturday, October 30, 2010




FERIAL DAY
(Mass of preceding Sunday)

[Requiem or Votive Mass allowed]

VIGIL OF ALL SAINTS
[Anticipated]



SAINT ALPHONSUS RODRIQUEZ
Martyr
[Historical]




Also known as: Alphonsus Rodriquez; Alphonso Rodriquez


Jesuit, ordained in 1624. Missionary to Paraguay and Brazil. With Saint Roch Gonzalez and Saint Juan de Castillo, he co-founded the "reduction" of the Assumption on the Ijuhi River. In 1628 they established the All Saints mission in Caaro, Brazil. Killed 15 days into his missionary work. One of the Jesuit Martyrs of Paraguay, the first martyrs in the Americas to be beatified.


Born
1598 in Segovia, Spain


Died
hacked to death with a tomahawk on 15 November 1628 at Caaro, Brazil


Beatified
1934


Canonized
1988 by Pope John Paul II


Name Meaning
noble ready; battle ready; ready to do good


Patronage
native traditions

Friday, October 29, 2010

A view of the restored Mission San Juan Bautis...Image via Wikipedia


Monterey bishop to confer Confirmation in traditional form at Mission San Juan Bautista


Monterey Bishop Richard J. Garcia will confer the Sacrament of Confirmation in the traditional form at Mission San Juan Bautista this Sunday, Oct. 31, the Latin Mass Community of San Juan Bautista has announced.

“His Excellency, Bishop Richard J. Garcia of Monterey, will offer the Sacrament of Confirmation in the Traditional Form on the Feast of Christ the King at Mission San Juan Bautista, October 31st, 2010 at 2 p.m.,” said the Latin Mass Community’s announcement. “Afterwards, Bishop Garcia will assist Holy Mass in the Extraordinary Form in choro.”

“This is the first time Bishop Garcia has visited the Faithful of the Latin Mass Community at Mission San Juan Bautista,” said the announcement. “All are invited to come.”

Bishop Garcia established the traditional Latin Mass at Mission San Juan Bautista on the Feast of Ss. Peter and Paul in 2008.

For more information, Click Here.
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Thursday, October 28, 2010

From Fr. John Zuhlsdorf's Blog: 


NYC, Manhattan Solemn TLM news for Christ the King, All Saints, All Souls




Are you in or near New York City?
There will be a Solemn Mass with the 1962 Missale Romanum at Holy Innocents in Manhattan (near 37th and Broadway) for the Feast of All Saints Monday, 1 November at 6 PM, and for 2 November All Souls Day at 6PM.  On the Feast of All Saints, the choir will  sing Morales Missa Caça and on All Souls Day, Morales Missa pro defunctis.    The choir’s got game, btw.  The undersigned will be celebrant.
Mystic MonkAlso,  on Sunday 31 October, the Feast of Christ the King in the older, traditional calendar, there will be a Solemn Mass at 10 am, also at Holy Innocents with music by Morales, the Missa sobre las voces. (This choir must really like Morales!)  After the Sunday Mass, in the humble hall below the church, there will be a solemn coffee and doughnuts Convivium featuring MYSTIC MONK COFFEE!  I am told there will be a few bags of Mystic Monk given away and some for purchase.
Immediately after Christ the King Mass on Sunday, there will be the recitation of the Act of Consecration of the Human Race to the Sacred Heart.  Bl. Pope Pius XI established the Feast of Christ the King in 1925 and mandated that this Act of Consecration be recited publicly each year on this great Feast.
Here is the text:
Most Sweet Jesus, Redeemer of the human race, look down upon us humbly prostrate before thy altar.  We are Thine, and Thine we wish to be; but to be more surely united to Thee, behold each one of us freely consecrates himself today to Thy Most Sacred Heart. Many indeed have never known Thee; Many too, despising Thy precepts, have rejected Thee.  Have mercy on them all, most merciful Jesus, and draw them to Thy Sacred Heart.
Be Thou King, O Lord, not only of the faithful children who have never forsaken Thee, but also of the prodigal children who have abandoned Thee; Grant that they may quickly return to their Father’s house lest they die of wretchedness and hunger.
Be Thou King of those who are deceived by the erroneous opinions of whom discord keeps aloof, and call them back to the harbor of truth and unity of faith, so that soon there may be but one flock and one shepherd.
Grant, O Lord, to Thy Church assurance of freedom and immunity from harm; give peace and order to all nations, and make the earth resound from pole to pole with one cry; praise to the divine Heart that wrought our salvation; To it be glory and honor forever.  R. Amen.



SAINTS SIMON AND JUDE
Apostles

Simon is called in the Gospels "the zealous one." Jude was the brother of St. James the Less and therefore related to Christ. He is the author of one of the seven Catholic (i.e., addressed to all the faithful) Epistles in the New Testament. It is not known for certain where Simon and Jude preached the Gospel after Pentecost; but according to tradition they finally went to evangelize Persia and were martyred together there.
INTROIT (Ps. 138:17)
Your friends are greatly honored by me, O God; their pre-eminence is definitely established.
Ps. O Lord, you have proved me and You know me; You know when I sit and when I stand.
V. Glory be . . .


COLLECT
O God, Your blessed apostles Simon and Jude brought us the knowledge of Your Holy Name. May our progress in virtue add honor to their eternal glory, and may the honor we pay them make us even more holy. Through Christ Our Lord . . .


EPISTLE (Eph. 4: 7-13)
Brethren: But to every one of us is given grace, according to the measure of the giving of Christ.Wherefore he saith: "Ascending on high, he led captivity captive: he gave gifts to men." Now that he ascended, what is it, but because he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth? He that descended is the same also that ascended above all the heavens: that he might fill all things. And he gave some apostles, and some prophets, and other some evangelists, and other some pastors and doctors: For the perfecting of the saints, for the word of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: Until we all meet into the unity of faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the age of the fullness of Christ.

GRADUAL (Ps. 44:17-18)
You shall make them princes through all the land; they shall remember Your Name, O Lord. V. To take the place of your fathers, sons shall be born to you; therefore peoples shall praise you.


Alleluia, alleluia! V. (Ps. 138:17)
Your friends are greatly honored by me, O God; their pre-eminence is definitely established. Alleluia!


GOSPEL (St. John 15:17-25)
At that time, Jesus said to His disciples: "These things I command you, that you love one another. If the world hate you, know ye that it hath hated me before you. If you had been of the world, the world would love its own: but because you are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. Remember my word that I said to you: The servant is not greater than his master. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they have kept my word, they will keep yours also. But all these things they will do to you for my name's sake: because they know not him that sent me.
"If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not have sin: but now they have no excuse for their sin. He that hateth me hateth my Father also. If I had not done among them the works that no other man hath done, they would not have sin: but now they have both seen and hated both me and my Father. But that the word may be fulfilled which is written in their law: 'They hated me without cause.' "


OFFERTORY ANTIPHON (Ps. 18:5)
Their voice has gone forth through all the earth, and their words unto the ends of the world.


SECRET 
O Lord, we pay homage to the everlasting glory of Your holy apostles Simon and Jude. May these sacred mysteries atone for our sins so that we may be more worthy to honor them. Through Christ Our Lord . . .


COMMUNION ANTIPHON (Matt. 19:28)
You who have followed Me shall sit on thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.


POSTCOMMUNION 
We who received Your Sacraments, O Lord, humbly pray that this sacred rite which we offer in honor of the sufferings of Your blessed apostles Simon and Jude may heal our own infirmities through their intercession. Through Christ Our Lord . . .

Tuesday, October 26, 2010



SAINT EVARISTUS
Pope and Martyr


SIMPLE / RED
The fourth successor of St. Peter, Pope Evaristus was said to have been the son of a Hellenic Jew of Bethlehem. He ruled for some eight years, during a very stormy period in the history of the Church. He died about A.D. 107, and was buried near St. Peter's tomb on the Vatican.

Mass of a
POPE

COLLECT
O Eternal Shepherd, who appointed blessed Evaristus shepherd of the whole Church, let the prayers of this martyr and supreme pontiff move You to look with favor upon Your flock and to keep it under Your continual protection. Through our Lord . . .

SECRET

We have offered our gifts to You, O Lord. Let Your light graciously shine upon Your Church, so that this flock may everywhere prosper, and its pastors, under Your guidance, may be truly pleasing to You. Through our Lord . . .

POSTCOMMUNION
O Lord, govern the Church, which You have been pleased to nourish with Your Heavenly Food. Guide her by Your powerful direction so that she may enjoy greater freedom and remain unshaken in the fullness of faith. Through our Lord . . . 

Monday, October 25, 2010


SAINTS CHRYSANTHUS AND DARIA

Martyrs


SIMPLE / RED
Chrysanthus and his wife Daria carried on an active apostolate among the noble families of Rome during the third century. When they were denounced as Christians, they underwent various tortures with great constancy, and they were buried alive in a sandpit in the year 283.

MASS OF SEVERAL MARTYRS

COLLECT
May the prayers of Your blessed martyrs Chrysanthus and Daria be with us, O Lord, so that we who devoutly honor them may always experience their kind assistance. Through our Lord . . .

EPISTLE II Cor. 6:4-10
Brethren: But in all things let us exhibit ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience, in tribulation, in necessities, in distresses, In stripes, in prisons, in seditions, in labours, in watchings, in fastings, In chastity, in knowledge, in longsuffering, in sweetness, in the Holy Ghost, in charity unfeigned, In the word of truth, in the power of God: by the armour of justice on the right hand and on the left: By honour and dishonour: by evil report and good report: as deceivers and yet true: as unknown and yet known: As dying and behold we live: as chastised and not killed: As sorrowful, yet always rejoicing: as needy, yet enriching many: as having nothing and possessing all things.

GOSPEL St. Luke 11:47-51
At that time Jesus said to the Scribes and Pharisees: "Woe to you who build the monuments of the prophets: and your fathers killed them. Truly you bear witness that you consent to the doings of your fathers. For they indeed killed them: and you build their sepulchres. For this cause also the wisdom of God said: I will send to them prophets and apostles: and some of them they will kill and persecute. That the blood of all the prophets which was shed from the foundation of the world may be required of this generation, From the blood of Abel unto the blood of Zacharias, who was slain between the altar and the temple. Yea I say to you: It shall be required of this generation."

SECRET 
Be pleased, O Lord, by this sacrificial offering that Your people solemnly present to You on the feast of Your holy martyrs Chrysanthus and Daria. Through Christ, our Lord . . .

POSTCOMMUNION 
We have been filled with spiritual gifts and joy, O Lord. May we always profit spiritually from the service we perform here on earth, through the intercession of Your holy martyrs Chrysanthus and Daria. Through Christ our Lord . . .

Saturday, October 23, 2010



SAINT ANTHONY MARY CLARET
Bishop, Confessor

OUR LADY
ON SATURDAY


SIMPLE / WHITE
Mass of a CONFESSOR BISHOP, except
COLLECT
O God, with the virtues of an apostle Thou didst exalt blessed Anthony Mary, and through him build in Thy Church new religious congregations of men and women; grant, we pray, that led by his counsels and helped by his prayers, we may unremittingly work for the salvation of souls. Through our Lord . . .

SECRET
May this annual feast of Saint Anthony Mary Thy Confessor and Bishop make us in Thy kindness acceptable to Thee, O Lord, and may this present rite duly appease Thee, bring happy recompense to him, and assure gifts of Thy grace to us. Through our Lord . . .

POSTCOMMUNION
O God, the Rewarder of faithful souls, grant, that by the prayers of blessed Anthony Mary, Thy Confessor and Bishop, whose venerable feast we celebrate, we may obtain pardon. Through our Lord . . .

Saint Anthony's story 

Anthony was born in Spain's northeast region of Catalonia in 1807 to a working class family. His father was a weaver and employed several people in the first floor factory of their small two story house. When Anthony was born on December 23, 1807, and throughout his earliest years, his hometown of Sallent was in the path of the invading French Armies of Napoleon. With the armies came revolutionary ideas that would trouble Spain throughout Anthony's life. His character was built on lasting childhood experiences and impressions: shared family life and prayer, manual work, competition, creativity and practicality, and sensitivity to the needs of others.
Anthony's parents were prosperous but not wealthy. His father owned some small textile factories where Anthony would work once he was old enough. After the French occupation, hard times hit Spain. Many people were forced to leave farms and small towns for the larger cities. Anthony, the second son, was not to inherit any of the family businesses, so his father sent him to Barcelona as a student and to work in the large textile mills. Anthony, who did very well in the textile design school and on the factory floor, seemed destined to be a successful businessman in the new textile industry, and so as a young man of 18 he left home and set off for Barcelona. His dream and passion was to become a great industrialist and he dedicated himself with great passion and creativity. In order to not restrict his studies to theory only, he went to work as a special designer and technician in a large manufacturing plant in the city. There he was offered the position of technical director of a large textile plant. This encouraged him to further improve himself, and his job became an obsession for him. Night and day, he visualized canvasses, models, and new processes.
Tensions were created as men and women moved from the countryside, where there was greater respect of religion and traditional morality, into the city, where ideas of political liberty meant release from traditional values. The clash deeply disturbed Anthony. He felt the tension in his own personal choices and was distressed to see the neglect of religion and morality in his friends in school and in the factory. His imagination was assailed by a multitude of projects, designs, and the latest trends in the textile industry. And yet, in the midst of this, he saw something was missing in his life, that this way of life wasn't giving him much satisfaction.
The spirituality engendered by his parents and parish community began to mature in his own vocational discernment process. It was a seed long planted, encouraged by family and friends, but often forgotten. The practice of virtue, prayer, and sacraments continued in this free environment. Anthony studied, lived alone, worked, had varied friendships, and was exposed to those things society lacked.
Anthony came to terms with a desire to consecrate his life in service to God and was filled with hope and consolation. He shared this with his father, who at first was disappointed by the decision. His father saw Anthony as the grown man he was at 24 years old, and encouraged him in his reflections even though his personal preference would have been for him to continue in the family business.
Initially Anthony felt his calling was to monastic life. A wise priest urged him to begin his seminary studies and after a year to decide whether his call was indeed monastic. In that first year he was introduced to daily reading of the scriptures and this nurtured his vocation to become an apostolic missionary. At the age of 28 he completed his studies and was ordained a priest for the diocese of Vic. He began parish ministry in his own hometown of Sallent. A prophetic vocation sprang from the scriptures, his life nourished and transformed by the Eucharist, and his identity as a missionary was discovered in the life of the Mother of Jesus.
Active in the ministry of the spoken and written word, he was constantly devoted to prayer and his on-going formation. Claret was enthusiastic about everything he believed in and, having to put his ideas into action, rebelled against the restrictions the government put on his preaching and ministry. He left for Rome where he offered himself to the pope as a missionary. While in Rome he tested his call to the Jesuits, but ill health convinced the superiors he was not called to become one of them. He returned to Spain immediately where, ironically, he took on an extremely busy schedule as a missionary.
Claret's years as a wandering preacher-he was given the title of “apostolic missionary” by the pope-were very happy and extremely successful. He had the ability to talk to all people: children, youths, educated professionals, couples planning marriage, and seniors preparing for death. His messages were always very clear and meaningful in helping people in their trials.
He is heroic among us as a missionary, religious founder, social reformer, and chaplain to royalty, forerunner of Catholic Action and role of laity in the church, writer, publisher, archbishop, and survivor of numerous attempted assassinations.
Anthony became one of the most popular preachers in the country. His missions and retreats emphasized devotion to the Eucharist and the Immaculate Heart of Mary. He also published hundreds of books and pamphlets on the faith.
At the age of 42, Anthony founded the Missionary Sons of the Immaculate Heart of Mary (the Claretians); he later co-founded the Claretian Sisters. Appointed archbishop of Santiago, Cuba, in 1850, Anthony entered a world where immorality was rampant among clergy and there existed great antagonism toward the church. He provided hope and preaching while hearing confessions, instructing slaves, and promoting family-owned farms and credit unions. The reforms he advocated brought enemies, and a hired assassin slashed open his face and wrist. Anthony worked to get his would-be assassin's death sentence commuted to a prison term.
After seven years he was called back to Spain and was named Confessor to Queen Isabella. He felt restricted in his new role but worked in a variety of areas. He founded a science laboratory, a museum of natural history, music and language schools, and an association of writers and artists.
He was exiled from Spain and fled to France during the revolution of 1868 and died there two years later on October 24, 1870 at 62 years of age.
He was declared a Saint on May 7, 1950. The men who have followed in his way, the Claretians, now number over 3,000 strong and minister in over 60 countries worldwide.

Friday, October 22, 2010




LMS Walsingham 2009





FERIAL DAY

(Mass of preceding Sunday)

[
Requiem or Votive Mass allowed]



SAINT MARY SALOME
[Historical, 1st Century]

Wife of Zebedee. Mother of Saint John the Apostle, and Saint James the Greater. May have been a cousin of the Blessed Virgin Mary. One of the "three Marys," the holy women who ministered to Jesus during his earthly ministry, and may have accompanied him on his travels. Witnessed Christ's death on the cross, his entombment, and his resurrection. Mark mentions Salome as one of the women who came to anoint the body of Jesus on the morning of the Resurrection.

Legend says that after the Resurrection she went to Veroli, Italy and spent the rest of her life there spreading the Good News.
Like the Jewish greeting "Shalom" and the Arab "Salaam," Salome is based on an Aramaic word meaning health and peace. It would be hard to think of a more fitting name for a mother.
It is quite probable that Salome was the sister of the Blessed Virgin, and it is certain that she was the wife of Zebedee and the mother of James the Greater and John the Evangelist (Matthew 20:20; 27:56). In the Gospel of St. Matthew (20:20ff) it is written: "Then the mother of the sons of Zebedee approached Him with her sons and did Him homage, wishing to ask Him for something. He said to her, 'What do you wish?' She answered Him, 'Command that these two sons of mine sit, one at Your right and the other at Your left, in Your kingdom.'"
Salome was one of the women who followed Jesus and served him (Mark 15:41), witnessed His Crucifixion and death at Calvary (Matt. 27:56; Mark 15:40), and who brought spices to embalm him on Easter morning (Mark 16:1ff) (Delaney, Encyclopedia).
In art, Mary Salome is shown with her two sainted children (James and John) in her arms. Occasionally Mary Salome is present at the Nativity because there is a legend that the doubting Salome was a midwife, who came, unbelieving, to the stable at Bethlehem and was converted (cf. Jameson, Legends of the Madonna). Sometimes Mary Salome together with Mary Cleophas support the Virgin at the Crucifixion or they are present with Mary Magdalene at the Resurrection.


St Mary Salome with St John and St James



Saint Mary Salome
October 22
[Historical]
Also known as:  Irene (Greek equivalent to Salome)

Profile
Wife of Zebedee. Mother of Saint John the Apostle, and Saint James the Greater. May have been a cousin of the Blessed Virgin Mary. One of the "three Marys," the holy women who ministered to Jesus during his earthly ministry, and may have accompanied him on his travels. Witnessed Christ's death on the cross, his entombment, and his resurrection. Mark mentions Salome as one of the women who came to anoint the body of Jesus on the morning of the Resurrection.

One gospels story that shows Jesus and Salome has her asking Jesus what places her sons will have in His Kingdom. Jesus responds that it is the Father who assigns places in the Kingdom and that James and John will have to follow His own example of humility and sacrifice to earn places there.

Legend says that after the Resurrection she went to Veroli, Italy and spent the rest of her life there spreading the Good News.

Canonized
Pre-Congregation

Name Meaning
peace and prosperity (= Salome)

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Thursday, October 21, 2010





SAINTS HILARION
Abbot

SAINT URSULA
AND HER COMPANIONS
Virgins & Martyrs

SIMPLE / WHITE
Hilarion was born of pagan parents near Gaza in Palestine toward the close of the third century. He studied at Alexandria and there he became a Christian at the age of 15. Following the example of St. Anthony in Egypt, Hilarion resolved to become a hermit in the desert, and Anthony himself trained the youth. He gave all his possessions to the poor, and became the father of monasticism in Palestine and Syria, famous for his miracles and sanctity. He lived to be over 80, dying on the island of Cyprus in 372.

COLLECT
Let the Blessed Abbot Hilarion intercede for us, O Lord. May his prayers win us Your help, since our own actions cannot merit it.

Hans Memling, The Martyrdom of Saint Ursula.Image via Wikipedia


Commemoration ofSAINT URSULA AND HER COMPANIONS

In all the much-embroided legend ofSt. Ursula, there persists the statement that she was a native of Britain (ancient Wales) who was martyred at Cologne. One version has it that she was the daughter of a Christian king of Wales, and that she escaped marriage to a pagan prince by setting out, with a vast company of ladies-in-waiting, on a long voyage to Rome. On their return via the Rhine, they met martyrdom at the hands of Huns. 

O Lord our God, grant that we may always honor the victories of Your blessed virgin martyrs Ursula and her companions. Although we are unable to pay them the honor that is due, may we at least offer them our humble tribute. Through our Lord . . .

SECRET
May the offerings we lay upon Your sacred altar, O Lord, bring us closer to our salvation through the intercession of the blessed abbot Hilarion. Through our Lord . . .


Commemoration of SAINT URSULA AND HER COMPANIONS
O Lord, see the gifts we offer at Your altar in honor of the feast of Your holy virgin martyrs Ursula and her companions. May this sacred rite, which honors them, forgive us our sins. Through our Lord . . .

POSTCOMMUNION

May the Sacrament we have received and the prayers of the blessed abbot Hilarion protect us, O Lord. Grant also that we may imitate the virtues of this saint who is our intercessor with You in heaven. Through our Lord . . .

Commemoration of SAINT URSULA AND HER COMPANIONS
May the intercession of Your holy virgin martyrs Ursula and her companions help us to cherish with pure hearts the Sacrament we have received upon our lips. Through our Lord . . .
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Wednesday, October 20, 2010




THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY,
FOR THE RELIGIOUS OF THE SACRED HEART

SAINT JOHN CANTIUS
Confessor

GREATER DOUBLE / WHITE
Humble manual labor was forever sanctified by Mary, "the handmaid of the Lord," the Mother of Christ and of all mankind. By her prayers, she renders the toil of her adopted human children fruitful and pleasing to God. A fresco (above) in the convent of the Trinita dei Monti in Rome depicts our "Mother most admirable" spinning in a court of the temple. This painting, blessed by Pope Pius IX, is venerated by pilgrims from all parts of the world, and among them extraordinary conversions and cures continually occur.

INTROIT
Hail, holy Mother, who brought forth the King who rules heaven and earth forever and ever.
Ps. 44:2 My heart overflows with good tidings; I sing my song to the king.
V. Glory Be . . .

COLLECT
O God, you wondrously exalted the humble Virgin Mary in the Incarnation of Your only-begotten Son. May we be adopted as sons into Your divine family through the intercession of Your most Admirable Mother. Through the same Jesus Christ, our Lord.

Commemoration of SAINT JOHN CANTIUS
Except for a number of pilgrimages and eight years as a parish priest, John Cantius (1390-1473) spent his life as professor of theology in the University of Cracow. His pockets were always empty on account of his love for the poor. He often told his pupils to "fight all false opinions, but let your weapons be patience, sweetness, and love. Roughness is bad for your own soul and spoils the best cause."

O Almighty God, grant that the example of the holy confessor John may help us to advance in the science of the saints and in mercy towards others, so that we may obtain forgiveness for ourselves through his merits. Through our Lord . . .

LESSON (Cant. 2:10-14)
Behold my beloved speaketh to me: "Arise, make haste, my love, my dove, my beautiful one, and come. For winter is now past, the rain is over and gone. The flowers have appeared in our land, the time of pruning is come: the voice of the turtle is heard in our land: The fig tree hath put forth her green figs: the vines in flower yield their sweet smell. Arise, my love, my beautiful one, and come: My dove in the clefts of the rock, in the hollow places of the wall, shew me thy face, let thy voice sound in my ears: for thy voice is sweet, and thy face comely."

GRADUAL (Cant. 2:2, 16)
As the lily among thorns, so is my love among the daughters. V. My beloved to me, and I to him who feeds among the lilies.

Alleluia, alleluia! V.(Cant. 6:9)
Who is she who comes forth as the morning rising, fair as the moon, bright as the sun, terrible as an army set in array? Alleluia!

GOSPEL (Luke 1:26-35)
And in the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God into a city of Galilee, called Nazareth, to a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David: and the virgin's name was Mary. And the angel being come in, said unto her: Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women. Who having heard, was troubled at his saying and thought with herself what manner of salutation this should be. And the angel said to her: Fear not, Mary, for thou hast found grace with God. Behold thou shalt conceive in thy womb and shalt bring forth a son: and thou shalt call his name Jesus. He shall be great and shall be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of David his father: and he shall reign in the house of Jacob for ever. And of his kingdom there shall be no end. And Mary said to the angel: How shall this be done, because I know not man? And the angel answering, said to her: The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee and the power of the Most High shall overshadow thee.

OFFERTORY ANTIPHON
You bore a child, O Virgin, and remained a virgin still. Mother of God, intercede for us.

SECRET
May this offering bring us prosperity and peace now and always, O Lord, through Your mercy and the intercession of the Blessed Ever-Virgin Mary. Through Christ our Lord.

Commemoration of SAINT JOHN CANTIUS
May the merits of the holy confessor John make these offerings acceptable to You, O Lord. Grant that we may love You above all and love all men for Your sake, so that we may please You by every thought and deed. Through Christ our Lord.

COMMUNION ANTIPHON
You are blessed and venerable, O Virgin Mary, for without loss of your virginity you became the Mother of our Saviour.

POSTCOMMUNION
May we who have partaken of these helps toward our salvation, O Lord, be protected everywhere by the prayers of the most pure Virgin Mary, in whose honor we have offered this sacrifice to Your majesty. Through Christ our Lord.

Commemoration of SAINT JOHN CANTIUS
O Lord, You have fed us with the food of Your own precious Body and Blood. We humbly ask that we may be led by the merits and example of Your holy confessor John to imitate his charity and to share in his glory; who lives and rules with God in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God forever and ever.

Tuesday, October 19, 2010

Ecstasy of St. Peter of Alcantara
Painting by Melchior Perez Holguin, 18th century,
National Museum of Art, Bolivia

SAINT PETER OF ALCANTARA
Confessor

DOUBLE / WHITE
One of the great Spanish mystics of the 16th century, Peter of Alcantara (1499-1562) entered the Franciscan Order at 16. As a friar his time was divided between preaching to the poor and contemplative prayer. He instituted a very severe Franciscan reform known as the "Strick Observance." He defended St. Teresa of Avila when everyone else was against her, and assured her, from his own experience, that her contemplative prayer was genuine. After his death he appeared to Teresa and said to her: "O blessed penitence which has earned for me such great glory!"

Mass of a 
CONFESSOR OF THE FAITH, except
COLLECTO God, You blessed the holy confessor Peter with a remarkable spirit of penance and the highest gift of contemplation. May his merits help us to mortify our flesh and deepen our understanding of the things of heaven. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son, who lives and rules with You in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God forever and ever.

READING Philipp. 3:7-12
Brethren: The things that were gain to me, the same I have counted loss for Christ. Furthermore, I count all things to be but loss for the excellent knowledge of Jesus Christ, my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things and count them but as dung, that I may gain Christ. And may be found in him, not having my justice, which is of the law, but that which is of the faith of Christ Jesus, which is of God: justice in faith. That I may know him and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of his sufferings: being made conformable to his death, If by any means I may attain to the resurrection which is from the dead. Not as though I had already attained, or were already perfect: but I follow after, if I may by any means apprehend, wherein I am also apprehended by Christ Jesus.

SECRET
Grant we beseech Thee, almighty God, that the offering we humbly bring may be pleasing to Thee in honor of Thy Saints, and cleanse us alike in body and in soul. Through our Lord . . .

POSTCOMMUNION
We beseech Thee, almighty God, that we, who have received heavenly nourishment, may thereby, at the intercession of blessed Peter, Thy Confessor, be defended against all adversity. Through our Lord . . .

Monday, October 18, 2010

Saint Luke Icon


SAINT LUKE
Evangelist

DOUBLE, SECOND CLASS / RED
St. Luke, the inspired author of the third Gospel and of the Acts of the Apostles, was a native of Antioch in Syria and a physician, and one of the early converts from paganism. He accompanied St. Paul on a considerable part of his missionary journeying, even companioning him in prison at Rome on two different occasions. His account of these events, contained in the Acts, is firsthand history.
Luke's Gospel is, above all, the Gospel of the Merciful Heart of Jesus. It emphasizes the fact that Christ is the salvation of all men, especially of the repentant sinner and of the lowly. Legend says that Luke painted the Blessed Virgin's portrait. It is certainly true that he painted the most beautiful word-picture of Mary ever written.
INTROIT Ps. 138:17Your friends are greatly honored by me, O God; their pre-eminence is definitely established.
Ps. 138:1-2. O Lord, You have proved me and You know me; You know when I sit and when I stand.
V. Glory be . . .

COLLECT
O Lord, let us have as our intercessor Your holy evangelist Luke, who bore the sufferings of the cross in his own body in honor of Your holy name. Through our Lord . . .

EPISTLE II Cor. 8:16-24
Brethren: Thanks be to God, who hath given the same carefulness for you in the heart of Titus.
For indeed he accepted the exhortation: but, being more careful, of his own will he went unto you. We have sent also with him the brother whose praise is in the gospel through all the churches. And not that only: but he was also ordained by the churches companion of our travels, for this grace, which is administered by us, to the glory of the Lord and our determined will:
Avoiding this, lest any man should blame us in this abundance which is administered by us. For we forecast what may be good, not only before God but also before men. And we have sent with them our brother also, whom we have often proved diligent in many things, but now much more diligent: with much confidence in you, Either for Titus, who is my companion and fellow labourer towards you, or our brethren, the apostles of the churches, the glory of Christ. Wherefore shew ye to them, in the sight of the churches, the evidence of your charity and of our boasting on your behalf.

GRADUAL Ps. 18:5, 2
Their voice has gone forth through all the earth, and their words unto the ends of the world.
V. The heavens show forth the glory of God, and the firmament proclaims His handiwork.

Alleluia, alleluia! V. John 15:16
I have chosen you out of the world that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit shall remain. Alleluia!

GOSPEL Luke 10:1-9
At that time, the Lord appointed also other seventy-two. And he sent them two and two before his face into every city and place whither he himself was to come. And he said to them: "The harvest indeed is great, but the labourers are few. Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest that he send labourers into his harvest. Go: Behold I send you as lambs among wolves. Carry neither purse, nor scrip, nor shoes: and salute no man by the way. Into whatever house you enter, first say: Peace be to this house. And if the son of peace be there, your peace shall rest upon him: but if not, it shall return to you. And in the same house, remain, eating and drinking such things as they have: for the labourer is worthy of his hire. Remove not from house to house. And into what city soever you enter, and they receive you, eat such things as are set before you. And heal the sick that are therein and say to them: The kingdom of God is come nigh unto you."

OFFERTORY ANTIPHON Ps. 138:17
Your friends are greatly honored by me, O God; their pre-eminence is definitely established.

SECRET 
Grant us Your heavenly grace, O Lord, that we may serve You in perfect freedom. Let the offering, which we bring You through the intercession of Your blessed evangelist Luke, heal us and lead us to everlasting glory. Through our Lord . . .

COMMUNION ANTOPHON Matt. 19:28
You who have followed Me shall sit on the thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

POSTCOMMUNION 
O Almighty God, may the Sacrament we have received at Your holy altar sanctify our souls and keep us unharmed through the prayers of Your blessed evangelist Luke. Through our Lord . . .