WEDNESDAY OF THE THIRD WEEK IN LENT

SIMPLE / PURPLE
INTROIT (Ps. 30:7-8)
I will hope in the Lord. I shall rejoice and be glad because of Your mercy, for You have regarded my humility.
Ps. 30:2. In You, O Lord, have I hoped.Let me never be put to shame. In Your justice rescue me and set me free.
V. Glory be . . .

COLLECT
O Lord, may our fasting and our avoidance of sin win for us Your readier forgiveness. Through Our Lord . . .

LESSON (Ex. 20:12-24)
Thus says the Lord God: "Honour thy father and thy mother, that thou mayst be long-lived upon the land which the Lord thy God will give thee. Thou shalt not kill. Thou shalt not commit adultery. Thou shalt not steal. Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour. Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's house; neither shalt thou desire his wife, nor his servant, nor his handmaid, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is his."
And all the people saw the voices and the flames, and the sound of the trumpet, and the mount smoking; and being terrified and struck with fear, they stood afar off, Saying to Moses: "Speak thou to us, and we will hear: let not the Lord speak to us, lest we die."
And Moses said to the people: "Fear not; for God is come to prove you, and that the dread of him might be in you, and you should not sin."
And the people stood afar off. But Moses went to the dark cloud wherein God was. And the Lord said to Moses: "Thus shalt thou say to the children of Israel: You have seen that I have spoken to you from heaven. You shall not make gods of silver, nor shall you make to yourselves gods of gold. You shall make an altar of earth unto me, and you shall offer upon it your holocausts and peace offerings, your sheep and oxen, in every place where the memory of my name shall be."

GRADUAL (Ps. 6:3-4)
Have pity on me, O Lord, for I am weak; heal me, O Lord.
V. For my body is in terror, and my soul. too, is utterly terrified.

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 (Matt. 15:1-20)
At that time, then came to him from Jerusalem scribes and Pharisees, saying: "Why do thy disciples transgress the tradition of the ancients? For they wash not their hands when they eat bread." But he answering, said to them: "Why do you also transgress the commandment of God for your tradition? For God said: 'Honour thy father and mother': And: 'He that shall curse father or mother, let him die the death.' But you say: 'Whosoever shall say to father or mother, "The gift whatsoever proceedeth from me, shall profit thee." And he shall not honour his father or his mother': and you have made void the commandment of God for your tradition. Hypocrites, well hath Isaias prophesied of you, saying: 'This people honoureth me with their lips: but their heart is far from me. And in vain do they worship me, teaching doctrines and commandments of men.' "
And having called together the multitudes unto him, he said to them: "Hear ye and understand. Not that which goeth into the mouth defileth a man: but what cometh out of the mouth, this defileth a man."
Then came his disciples, and said to him: "Dost thou know that the Pharisees, when they heard this word, were scandalized?" But he answering, said: "Every plant which my heavenly Father hath not planted, shall be rooted up. Let them alone: they are blind, and leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both fall into the pit."
And Peter answering, said to him: "Expound to us this parable." But he said: "Are you also yet without understanding? Do you not understand, that whatsoever entereth into the mouth, goeth into the belly, and is cast out into the privy? But the things which proceed out of the mouth, come forth from the heart, and those things defile a man. For from the heart come forth evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false testimonies, blasphemies. These are the things that defile a man. But to eat with unwashed hands doth not defile a man."

OFFERTORY ANTIPHON (Ps. 108:21)
O Lord, be merciful to me for Your name's sake, because Your mercy is sweet.

SECRET
O Lord, accept the prayers and sacrifice Your people offer You. May we who celebrate Your sacred rites be guarded from all danger. Through our Lord . . .

COMMUNION ANTIPHON (Ps. 15:11)
You have made known to me the path of life; You shall fill me with the joy of Your presence, O Lord.

POSTCOMMUNION
O Lord, may the heavenly banquet of which we have partaken sanctify us, free us of all error, and make us worthy of Your promise of heaven. Through Our Lord . . .

PRAYER OVER THE PEOPLE
O Almighty God, may we who seek the help of Your protection be delivered from all evil, to serve You with untroubled minds. Through Our Lord . . .

TUESDAY OF THE THIRD WEEK IN LENT

SIMPLE / PURPLE
INTROIT (Ps. 16:6, 8)
I cry to You, for You will answer me, O God. Incline Your ear and hear my words. Keep me as the apple of Your eye, O Lord; protect me under the shadow of Your wings.
Ps. 16:1. Hear, O Lord, a just cause; hearken to my supplication.
V. Glory be . . .

COLLECT
O Almighty and merciful God, hear our prayers, and in Your kindness grant us Your grace as a result of our self-denial. Through Our Lord . . .


LESSON (IV Kings 4:1-7)
In those days, a certain woman of the wives of the prophets, cried to Eliseus, saying: "Thy servant, my husband, is dead, and thou knowest that thy servant was one that feared God, and behold the creditor is come to take away my two sons to serve him." And Eliseus said to her: "What wilt thou have me do for thee? Tell me, what hast thou in thy house?" And she answered: "I, thy handmaid, have nothing in my house but a little oil, to anoint me." And he said to her: "Go, borrow of all thy neighbours empty vessels, not a few. And go in, and shut thy door, when thou art within, and thy sons: and pour out thereof into all those vessels: and when they are full, take them away."
So the woman went, and shut the door upon her, and upon her sons: they brought her the vessels, and she poured in. And when the vessels were full, she said to her son: "Bring me yet a vessel." And he answered: "I have no more." And the oil stood. And she came, and told the man of God. And he said: "Go, sell the oil, and pay thy creditor: and thou and thy sons live of the rest."

GRADUAL (Ps. 18:13-14)
Cleanse me from my hidden faults, O Lord, and spare Your servant from those of others. V. If they be not master of me, then I shall be blameless, and I shall be free of the most serious sin.

GOSPEL (Matt. 18:15-22)
At that time, Jesus said to His disciples: "But if thy brother shall offend against thee, go, and rebuke him between thee and him alone. If he shall hear thee, thou shalt gain thy brother. And if he will not hear thee, take with thee one or two more: that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may stand. And if he will not hear them: tell the church. And if he will not hear the church, let him be to thee as the heathen and publican. Amen I say to you, whatsoever you shall bind upon earth, shall be bound also in heaven: and whatsoever you shall loose upon earth, shall be loosed also in heaven. Again I say to you, that if two of you shall consent upon earth, concerning anything whatsoever they shall ask, it shall be done to them by my Father who is in heaven. For where there are two or three gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them."
Then came Peter unto him and said: "Lord, how often shall my brother offend against me, and I forgive him? till seven times?" Jesus saith to him: "I say not to thee, till seven times; but till seventy times seven times."

OFFERTORY ANTIPHON (Ps. 117:16-17)
The right hand of the Lord has exercised power, the right hand of the Lord has lifted me up. I shall not die, but live,and declare the works of the Lord.

SECRET
O Lord, may this Sacrament bestow on us the effects of redemption by restraining our human passions and bringing us always closer to our salvation. Through Our Lord . . .


COMMUNION ANTIPHON (Ps. 14:1-2)
Lord, who shall abide in Your dwelling place? Who shall dwell on Your holy mountain? He who walks blamelessly and does justice.

POSTCOMMUNION
O Lord, cleanse us by this sacred Rite and grant us Your pardon and grace. Through Our Lord . . .

PRAYER OVER THE PEOPLE
O Lord, shield us by Your protection and keep us always from committing sin. Through Our Lord . . .

 

MONDAY OF THE THIRD WEEK IN LENT

[Commemoration]

SAINT JOHN CAPISTRAN
Confessor

SIMPLE / PURPLE
God will not force His grace upon anyone. He insists only that every person accept His ordinary channels of grace: the Sacraments, sacramentals, people, circumstances, events, things. When a man does not believe in God's power to use anything or anybody as His instrument, God gives His grace to other men who do so believe. To disbelieve, and to reject God's way and time for answering prayer, is to be like the Nazarene's who rejected Christ. Souls in mission lands, as well as thousands everywhere, await the faith to see God at work in everything, especially through the Sacraments and the Mass.

INTROIT Ps. 55:5
Through God I will glory in this word, through the Lord I will praise this speech: in God I trust, and I will not fear what man can do to me.
Ps. 55:2. Have pity on me, O God, for men trample upon me; all the day they press their attack against me.
V. Glory be . . .

COLLECT
O Lord, mercifully fill our hearts with Your grace. We mortify our bodies by abstaining from food; may we also guard our senses from the danger of unbridled pleasures. Through Our Lord . . .

Commemoration of SAINT JOHN CAPISTRAN 
John was born in 1386, at Capistrano in the kingdom of Naples. He became a famous lawyer and then was appointed governor of Perugia. At the age of 34 he entered the Franciscan Order. John Capistran was the friend of four Popes: he reformed his order, and he evangelized Italy, France, Germany, Austria, Hungary, and Poland. At the close of his life, John led a crusade against the Turks and was a chief organizer of the glorious Christian victory at Belgrade in 1456.
 
O God, blessed John manifested the power of the most holy name of Jesus when he led the faithful in triumph over the enemies of the Cross. May we overcome the deceits of our spiritual enemies and receive the crown of justice from You through the intercession of this saint. Through the same Jesus Christ, our Lord . . .

LESSON IV Kings 5:1-15 [2 Kings]
In those days, Naaman, general of the army, of the king of Syria, was a great man with his master, and honourable: for by him the Lord gave deliverance to Syria: and he was a valiant man, and rich, but a leper.
Now there had gone out robbers from Syria, and had led away captive out of the land of Israel, a little maid, and she waited upon Naaman's wife. And she said to her mistress: I wish my master had been with the prophet that is in Samaria: he would certainly have healed him of the leprosy which he hath.
Then Naaman went in to his lord, and told him, saying: Thus and thus said the girl from the land of Israel. And the king of Syria said to him: Go; and I will send a letter to the king of Israel. And he departed, and took with him ten talents of silver, and six thousand pieces of gold, and ten changes of raiment; And brought the letter to the king of Israel, in these words: When thou shalt receive this letter, know that I have sent to thee Naaman, my servant, that thou mayst heal him of his leprosy.
And when the king of Israel had read the letter, he rent his garments, and said: Am I God, to be able to kill and give life, that this man hath sent to me to heal a man of his leprosy? mark, and see how he seeketh occasions against me.
And when Eliseus, the man of God, had heard this, to wit, that the king of Israel had rent his garments, he sent to him, saying: Why hast thou rent thy garments? let him come to me, and let him know that there is a prophet in Israel.
So Naaman came with his horses and chariots, and stood at the door of the house of Eliseus: And Eliseus sent a messenger to him, saying: Go, and wash seven times in the Jordan, and thy flesh shall recover health, and thou shalt be clean. Naaman was angry, and went away, saying: I thought he would have come out to me, and standing, would have invoked the name of the Lord his God, and touched with his hand the place of the leprosy, and healed me. Are not the Abana, and the Pharphar, rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel, that I may wash in them, and be made clean? So as he turned, and was going away with indignation, His servants came to him, and said to him: Father, if the prophet had bid thee do some great thing, surely thou shouldst have done it: how much rather what he now hath said to thee: Wash, and thou shalt be clean?
Then he went down, and washed in the Jordan seven times, according to the word of the man of God; and his flesh was restored, like the flesh of a little child: and he was made clean. And returning to the man of God, with all his train, he came, and stood before him, and said: In truth, I know there is no other God, in all the earth, but only in Israel: I beseech thee, therefore, take a blessing of thy servant.

GRADUAL Ps. 55:9 2
O God, I have recounted my life to You; You have placed my tears before You.
V. Have pity on me, O God, for men trample upon me; all the day they press their attack against 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 Luke 4:23-30
At that time, Jesus said to the Pharisees: "Doubtless you will say to me this similitude: 'Physician, heal thyself. As great things as we have heard done in Capharnaum, do also here in thy own country.' " And he said: "Amen I say to you that no prophet is accepted in his own country. In truth I say to You, there were many widows in the days of Elias in Israel, when heaven was shut up three years and six months, when there was a great famine throughout all the earth. And to none of them was Elias sent, but to Sarepta of Sidon, to a widow woman. And there were many lepers in Israel in the time of Eliseus the prophet: and none of them was cleansed but Naaman the Syrian." 
And all they in the synagogue, hearing these things, were filled with anger. And they rose up and thrust him out of the city: and they brought him to the brow of the hill whereon their city was built, that they might cast him down headlong. But he passing through the midst of them, went his way.

OFFERTORY ANTIPHON Ps. 54:2-3
Hearken, O Lord, to my prayer and turn not away from my pleading; give heed to me, and answer me.

SECRET
O Lord, transform this gift we offer You in worship into the Sacrament of our salvation. Through Our Lord . . .

Commemoration of SAINT JOHN CAPISTRAN
May the sacrifice we offer please You, O Lord, and protect us against the trickery of our enemies through the intercession of Your blessed confessor John. Through Our Lord . . .

COMMUNION ANTIPHON Ps. 13:7
Who shall bring out of Sion the salvation of Israel? When the Lord shall have restored His people from captivity, then shall Jacob rejoice and Israel be glad.

POSTCOMMUNION
Almighty and merciful God, may we cherish with our hearts the Sacrament we have received with our lips. Through Our Lord . . .

Commemoration of SAINT JOHN CAPISTRAN
We have been nourished by the Food of Heaven and refreshed by Spiritual Drink. Shield us from our evil enemies and keep the Church in enduring peace. Through Our Lord . . .

PRAYER OVER THE PEOPLE
O Lord, aid us by Your mercy. Protect us from the dangers that threaten us because of our sins, and lead us to salvation. Through our Lord . . .

THIRD SUNDAY IN LENT

[Commemoration]

SAINT JOHN DAMASCENE

Confessor and Doctor of the Church

DOUBLE / PURPLE
Today we worship Jesus as the Prince of Light, the "stronger" One, who casts out a devil, defends His authority over the whole kingdom of devils, and demands that we declare our allegiance to Him. Loyalty is in our very blood because God put it there; it is meant to hold us firm when truant desires tempt us. Loyalties reveal where we have put our securities. False loyalties can be given to lofty ideals as well as to earthly pleasures. As "children of the light," be wise. "Hear the word of God and keep it." Above everything, be loyal as love. "Walk in love."

INTROIT Ps. 24:15-16My eyes are ever toward the Lord, for He shall free my feet from the snare. Look upon me, and have pity on me, for I am alone and wretched.
Ps. 24:1-2. I have lifted up my soul to You, O my God; in You I place my trust. Let me not be put to shame.
V. Glory be . . .

COLLECT
O Almighty God, fulfill the petitions of the humble; and defend us with Your right hand of power. Through Our Lord . . .

Commemoration of SAINT JOHN DAMASCENE
Although Christian, John was grand vizier of the Mohammedan caliph of Damascus, when Emperor Leo the Isaurian began his campaign in the eight century against the veneration of holy images. John strongly opposed the destroyers of images, and for that reason lost his high post. John became a monk and passed the rest of his life in prayer, in study, and in writing about the things of God. He composed commentaries on St. Paul, many beautiful poems, and the Fountain of Wisdom, a summary of Christian beliefs. He is the last of the Greek Fathers, and has been called the St. Thomas Aquinas of the East.


Almighty and Eternal God, You endowed blessed John with divine learning and wondrous fortitude of soul in order that he might defend the veneration of sacred images. May the example and prayers of blessed John help us to imitate the virtues and enjoy the protection of the saints whose images we venerate. Through our Lord . . .

EPISTLE Eph. 5:1-9
Brethren: Be ye therefore followers of God, as most dear children: And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us and hath delivered himself for us, an oblation and a sacrifice to God for an odour of sweetness.
But fornication and all uncleanness or covetousness, let it not so much as be named among you, as becometh saints: Or obscenity or foolish talking or scurrility, which is to no purpose: but rather giving of thanks. For know you this and understand: That no fornicator or unclean or covetous person (which is a serving of idols) hath inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. Let no man deceive you with vain words. For because of these things cometh the anger of God upon the children of unbelief. Be ye not therefore partakers with them. For you were heretofore darkness, but now light in the Lord. Walk then as children of the light. For the fruit of the light is in all goodness and justice and truth.

GRADUAL Ps. 9:20, 4
Arise, O Lord, let not man prevail; let the nations be judged in Your presence. V. When my enemies shall be turned back, they shall be weakened and destroyed before you.

TRACT Ps. 122:1-3
To You who are enthroned in heaven, have I lifted up my eyes. 
V. Behold, as the eyes of servants are on the hands of their masters.
V. And as the eyes of a maid are on the hands of her mistress, so are our eyes on the Lord, our God, until He have pity on us.
V. Have mercy on us, O Lord, have mercy.

GOSPEL Luke 11:14-28
At that time, Jesus was casting out a devil: and the same was dumb. And when he had cast out the devil, the dumb spoke: and the multitudes, were in admiration at it. But some of them said: "He casteth out devils by Beelzebub, the prince of devils." And others tempting, asked of him a sign from heaven. But he seeing their thoughts, said to them: "Every kingdom divided against itself shall be brought to desolation; and house upon house shall fall. And if Satan also be divided against himself, how shall his kingdom stand? Because you say that through Beelzebub I cast out devils. Now if I cast out devils by Beelzebub, by whom do your children cast them out? Therefore, they shall be your judges. But if I by the finger of God cast out devils, doubtless the kingdom of God is come upon you. When a strong man armed keepeth his court, those things are in peace which he possesseth. But if a stronger than he come upon him and overcome him, he will take away all his armour wherein he trusted and will distribute his spoils. He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathereth not with me scattereth. When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through places without water, seeking rest: and not finding, he saith: I will return into my house whence I came out. And when he is come, he findeth it swept and garnished. Then he goeth and taketh with him seven other spirits more wicked than himself: and entering in they dwell there. And the last state of that man becomes worse than the first." 
And it came to pass, as he spoke these things, a certain woman from the crowd, lifting up her voice, said to him: "Blessed is the womb that bore thee and the paps that gave thee suck." But he said: "Yea rather, blessed are they who hear the word of God and keep it."

OFFERTORY ANTIPHON Ps. 18:9, 10, 11, 12The precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart, and His judgments are sweeter than honey and the honeycomb; for Your servant observes them.

SECRET 
May this offering cleanse us from our sins, O Lord, and may it sanctify Your servants in body and soul for the celebration of this sacrifice. Through Our Lord . . .

Commemoration of SAINT JOHN DAMASCENE
O Lord, may our offerings be pleasing to You through the prayerful intercession of blessed John and of Your saints whose images we today venerate in our churches because of the efforts of their defender. Through Our Lord . . .

COMMUNION ANTIPHON Ps. 83:4-5
The sparrow has found herself a home, and the turtledove a nest in which to lay her young -- Your altars, O Lord of hosts, my king and my God! Blessed are they who dwell in Your house; they shall praise You forever and ever.

POSTCOMMUNION 
O God, You have allowed us to share in this great Sacrament. In Your mercy free us also from all guilt and danger of sin. Through Our Lord . . .

Commemoration of SAINT JOHN DAMASCENE
Shield us, O Lord, with Your divine protection through the Gift we have just received. Cover us over with the prayers of blessed John and of all Your saints whose images are held in veneration in our churches today because of his efforts. Through Our Lord . . .

SATURDAY OF THE SECOND WEEK IN LENT

INTROIT (Ps. 18:8)
The law of the Lord is perfect, converting souls. The testimony of the Lord is trustworthy, giving wisdom to the simple. Ps. 18:2. The heavens show forth the glory of God, and the firmament proclaims His handiwork. V. Glory be . . .

COLLECT
O Lord, may our fasting attain its saving effect so that the mortification of our bodies may bring a new life to our souls. Through Our Lord . . .

LESSON (Gen. 27:6-40)
In those days, Rebecca said to her son Jacob: "I heard thy father talking with Esau, thy brother, and saying to him: 'Bring me of thy hunting, and make me meats that I may eat, and bless thee in the sight of the Lord, before I die.' Now therefore, my son, follow my counsel: And go thy way to the flock, bring me two kids of the best, that I may make of them meat for thy father, such as he gladly eateth. Which when thou hast brought in, and he hath eaten, he may bless thee before he die." And he answered her: "Thou knowest that Esau, my brother, is a hairy man, and I am smooth: If my father should feel me, and perceive it, I fear lest he will think I would have mocked him, and I shall bring upon me a curse instead of a blessing." And his mother said to him: "Upon me be this curse, my son: only hear thou my voice, and go, fetch me the things which I have said."
He went, and brought, and gave them to his mother. She dressed meats, such as she knew his father liked. And she put on him very good garments of Esau, which she had at home with her: And the little skins of the kids she put about his hands, and covered the bare of his neck. And she gave him the savoury meat, and delivered him bread that she had baked. Which when he had carried in, he said: "My father?" But he answered: "I hear. Who art thou, my son?" And Jacob said: "I am Esau, thy firstborn: I have done as thou didst command me: arise, sit and eat of my venison, that thy soul may bless me." And Isaac said to his son: "How couldst thou find it so quickly, my son?" He answered: "It was the will of God, that what I sought came quickly in my way:" And Isaac said: "Come hither, that I may feel thee, my son, and may prove whether thou be my son Esau, or no." He came near to his father, and when he had felt him, Isaac said: "The voice indeed is the voice of Jacob; but the hands, are the hands of Esau." And he knew him not, because his hairy hands made him like to the elder.
Then blessing him, He said: "Art thou my son Esau?" He answered: "I am." Then he said: "Bring me the meats of thy hunting, my son, that my soul may bless thee." And when they were brought, and he had eaten, he offered him wine also, which after he had drunk, He said to him: "Come near me, and give me a kiss, my son." He came near, and kissed him. And immediately as he smelled the fragrant smell of his garments, blessing him, he said: "Behold, the smell of my son is as the smell of a plentiful field, which the Lord hath blessed. God give thee of the dew of heaven, and of the fatness of the earth, abundance of corn and wine. And let peoples serve thee, and tribes worship thee: be thou lord of thy brethren, and let thy mother's children bow down before thee. Cursed be he that curseth thee: and let him that blesseth thee be filled with blessings."
Isaac had scarce ended his words, when, Jacob being now gone out abroad, Esau came, And brought in to his father meats, made of what he had taken in hunting, saying: "Arise, my father, and eat of thy son's venison; that thy soul may bless me." And Isaac said to him: "Why! who art thou?" He answered: "I am thy firstborn son, Esau." Isaac was struck with fear, and astonished exceedingly; and wondering beyond what can be believed, said: "Who is he then that even now brought me venison that he had taken, and I ate of all before thou camest? and I have blessed him, and he shall be blessed."
Esau having heard his father's words, roared out with a great cry; and, being in a consternation, said: "Bless me also, my father." And he said: "Thy brother came deceitfully and got thy blessing." But he said again: "Rightly is his name called Jacob; for he hath supplanted me lo this second time: My birthright he took away before, and now this second time he hath stolen away my blessing." And again he said to his father: "Hast thou not reserved me also a blessing?" Isaac answered: "I have appointed him thy lord, and have made all his brethren his servants: I have established him with corn and wine, and after this, what shall I do more for thee, my son?" And Esau said to him: "Hast thou only one blessing, father? I beseech thee bless me also." And when he wept with a loud cry, Isaac being moved, said to him: "In the fat of the earth, and in the dew of heaven from above, Shall thy blessing be."

GRADUAL (Ps. 91:2-3)
It is good to praise the Lord, and to sing to Your name, O Most High. V. To proclaim Your mercy in the morning and Your truth throughout the night.

GOSPEL (Luke 15:11-32)
At that time, Jesus spoke to the Pharisees and Scribes this parable: "A certain man had two sons. And the younger of them said to his father: 'Father, give me the portion of substance that falleth to me.' And he divided unto them his substance. "And not many days after, the younger son, gathering all together, went abroad into a far country: and there wasted his substance, living riotously. And after he had spent all, there came a mighty famine in that country: and he began to be in want. And he went and cleaved to one of the citizens of that country. And he sent him into his farm to feed swine. And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him. And returning to himself, he said: 'How many hired servants in my father's house abound with bread, and I here perish with hunger! I will arise and will go to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and before thee. I am not worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants.' And rising up, he came to his father. "And when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him and was moved with compassion and running to him fell upon his neck and kissed him. And the son said to him: 'Father: I have sinned against heaven and before thee I am not now worthy to be called thy son.' And the father said to his servants: 'Bring forth quickly the first robe and put it on him: and put a ring on his hand and shoes on his feet. And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it: and let us eat and make merry: Because this my son was dead and is come to life again, was lost and is found.' And they began to be merry. Now his elder son was in the field and when he came and drew nigh to the house, he heard music and dancing. And he called one of the servants, and asked what these things meant. And he said to him: 'Thy brother is come and thy father hath killed the fatted calf, because he hath received him safe.' And he was angry and would not go in. His father therefore coming out began to entreat him. And he answering, said to his father: 'Behold, for so many years do I serve thee and I have never transgressed thy commandment: and yet thou hast never given me a kid to make merry with my friends. But as soon as this thy son is come, who hath devoured his substance with harlots, thou hast killed for him the fatted calf.' But he said to him: 'Son, thou art always with me; and all I have is thine. But it was fit that we should make merry and be glad: for this thy brother was dead and is come to life again; he was lost, and is found.' "

OFFERTORY ANTIPHON (Ps. 12:4-5)
Give light to my eyes that I may never sleep in death, that my enemy may never say, "I have overcome him."

SECRET
O Lord, be appeased by this sacrifice. We seek forgiveness for our own sins; let us not be burdened with the sins of others. Through Our Lord . . .


COMMUNION ANTIPHON (Luke 15:32)
You ought to rejoice, my son, for your brother was dead, and has come to life; he was lost, and is found.

POSTCOMMUNION
May this sacramental libation of Your Sacrament fill our hearts, O Lord, and impart its own strength to us. Through Our Lord . . .


PRAYER OVER THE PEOPLE
O Lord, watch over Your household with constant, loving care. Let Your protection forever shield those who place their trust solely upon the hope of Your heavenly grace. Through Our Lord . . .

SAINT GABRIEL

Archangel

THURSDAY OF THE 

SECOND WEEK IN LENT

GREATER DOUBLE / WHITE
Gabriel the Archangel announced to Daniel the time of the coming of the Messias (Dan. 9:21), and to Zachary the future birth of the Precursor of the Word Incarnate (Luke 1:10). Then came the sublime message to Mary at Nazareth and the God-inspired salutation, "Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with thee; blessed art thou among women" (Luke 1:28).
In the "Hail Mary," the words of the Angel of the Annunciation have been repeated through the centuries by countless millions of human beings. Thrice daily the church bells ring the "Angelus" to recall through the ages how the strong angel who stands before God bowed in reverence to a humble Jewish virgin, soon to become the Mother of Christ and the Queen of heaven and earth.
INTROIT (Ps. 102:20)Bless the Lord, all you His angels, you mighty in strength who do His bidding, obeying the voice of His commands.
Ps. 102:1. Bless the Lord, O my soul, and let all my being bless His holy name.
V. Glory be . . .

COLLECT
O God, from among all the angels You chose the archangel Gabriel as the messenger of the mystery of Your Incarnation. May his intercession in heaven help us as we celebrate his feast on earth; who lives and rules with God the Father, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God forever and ever.

Commemoration of THURSDAY OF THE SECOND WEEK IN LENT
O Lord, help us by Your grace to be diligent in fasting and prayer, that we may be shielded against the enemies of our soul and body. Through our Lord . . .

LESSON (Dan. 9:21-26)
In those days, behold the man, Gabriel, whom I had seen in the vision at the beginning, flying swiftly, touched me at the time of the evening sacrifice. And he instructed me, and spoke to me, and said: "O Daniel, I am now come forth to teach thee, and that thou mightest understand. From the beginning of thy prayers the word came forth: and I am come to shew it to thee, because thou art a man of desires: therefore, do thou mark the word, and understand the vision.
"Seventy weeks are shortened upon thy people, and upon thy holy city, that transgression may be finished, and sin may have an end, and iniquity may be abolished; and everlasting justice may be brought; and vision and prophecy may be fulfilled; and the Saint of saints may be anointed.
Know thou, therefore, and take notice: that from the going forth of the word, to build up Jerusalem again, unto Christ, the prince, there shall be seven weeks, and sixty-two weeks: and the street shall be built again, and the walls, in straitness of times. And after sixty-two weeks Christ shall be slain: and the people that shall deny him shall not be his. And a people, with their leader, that shall come, shall destroy the city, and the sanctuary: and the end thereof shall be waste, and after the end of the war the appointed desolation."

GRADUAL (Ps. 102:20, 1)
Bless the Lord, all you His angels, you mighty in strength who do His bidding. V. Bless the Lord, O my soul, and let all my being bless His holy name.

TRACT (Luke 1:28, 42, 32, 35)
Hail, Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. V. Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb! V. Behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb and shalt bring forth a son; and thou shalt call his name Emmanuel. V. The Holy Spirit shall come upon thee and the power of the Most High shall overshadow thee. V. And therefore the Holy One to be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.

GOSPEL (Luke 1:26-38)
At that time, 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. And therefore also the Holy which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God. And behold thy cousin Elizabeth, she also hath conceived a son in her old age: and this is the sixth month with her that is called barren. Because no word shall be impossible with God." And Mary said: "Behold the handmaid of the Lord: be it done to me according to thy word."

OFFERTORY ANTIPHON (Apoc. 8:3, 4)
An angel stood before the altar, having a golden censer in his hand; and there was given to him much incense, and the smoke of the incense went up before God.

SECRET
Accept the offering of our gift and the prayers of the blessed archangel Gabriel, O Lord. May he whom we venerate on earth be our advocate before You in heaven. Through Our Lord . . .

Commemoration of THURSDAY OF THE SECOND WEEK IN LENT
O Lord, may the fast we observe in Your name sanctify us through this Sacrifice, so that our acts of penance may accomplish within us the effects they outwardly signify. Through our Lord . . .

COMMUNION ANTIPHON (Dan. 3:58)
All you angels of the Lord, bless the Lord; sing a hymn of praise and exalt Him above all forever.

POSTCOMMUNION
We have received the Sacrament of Your Body and Blood, O Lord our God. may Gabriel, who brought us the news of Your Incarnation, help us to obtain the benefits of it; who lives and rules with God . . .

Commemoration of THURSDAY OF THE SECOND WEEK IN LENT
Let us not be wanting of Your grace, O Lord. May it fire us with devotion to Your service and bring us Your assistance. Through our Lord . . .

TUESDAY OF THE SECOND WEEK IN LENT

[Commemoration]

SAINT ISIDORE THE FARM LABORER
Confessor 

IN ALL DIOCESES OF THE UNITED STATES

SIMPLE / PURPLE
INTROIT Ps. 26:8, 9
My heart has spoken to You; I have sought You. Your presence, O Lord, I will still seek; hide not Your face from me.
Ps. 26:1. The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom should I fear?
V. Glory be . . .

COLLECT
O Lord, help us keep the holy lenten fast. Teach us our duties and assist us with Your grace to perform them. Through Our Lord . . .

Commemoration of SAINT ISIDORE
In the twelfth century, Isidore earned his living as a day laborer on an estate just outside Madrid. Because he attended Mass daily, some fellow laborers, reported to the owner that Isidore was neglecting his work. St. Isidore was not troubled by what was said of him, because he knew that the Christian must have patience and must keep up his courage, "for the coming of the Lord is at hand" 

O Merciful God, shield us from the pride that comes from learning, through the intercession of Your holy farm worker Isidore. May his merits and example help us to please You by our humble service. Through Our Lord . . .

LESSON III Kings 17:8-16 [I King 17:8-16]
In those days, the word of the Lord came to Elias the Thesbite, saying: "Arise, and go to Sarephta of the Sidonians, and dwell there: for I have commanded a widow woman there to feed thee."
He arose, and went to Sarephta. And when he was come to the gate of the city, he saw the widow woman gathering sticks, and he called her, and said to her: "Give me a little water in a vessel, that I may drink." And when she was going to fetch it, he called after her, saying: "Bring me also, I beseech thee, a morsel of bread in thy hand." And she answered: "As the Lord thy God liveth, I have no bread, but only a handful of meal in a pot, and a little oil in a cruise: behold I am gathering two sticks, that I may go in and dress it, for me and my son, that we may eat it and die."
And Elias said to her: "Fear not; but go, and do as thou hast said but first make for me of the same meal a little hearth cake, and bring it to me, and after make for thyself and thy son. For thus saith the Lord, the God of Israel: 'The pot of meal shall not waste, nor the cruise of oil be diminished, until the day wherein the Lord will give rain upon the face of the earth.' "
She went, and did according to the word of Elias: and he ate, and she, and her house: and from that day The pot of meal wasted not, and the cruise of oil was not diminished according to the word of the Lord, which he spoke in the hand of Elias.

GRADUAL Ps. 54:23, 17, 18, 19
Cast your care upon the Lord, and He will support you.
V. When I called upon the Lord, He heard my voice and delivered me from those who war against me.

GOSPEL Matt. 23:1-12
At that time Jesus spoke to the multitudes and to his disciples, Saying: "The scribes and the Pharisees have sitten on the chair of Moses. All things therefore whatsoever they shall say to you, observe and do: but according to their works do ye not. For they say, and do not. For they bind heavy and insupportable burdens and lay them on men's shoulders: but with a finger of their own they will not move them. And all their works they do for to be seen of men. For they make their phylacteries broad and enlarge their fringes. And they love the first places at feasts and the first chairs in the synagogues, And salutations in the market place, and to be called by men, Rabbi. But be not you called Rabbi. For one is your master: and all you are brethren. And call none your father upon earth; for one is your father, who is in heaven. Neither be ye called masters: for one is your master, Christ. He that is the greatest among you shall be your servant. And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be humbled: and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted."

OFFERTORY ANTIPHON Ps. 50:3
Have mercy on me, O Lord; in the greatness of Your compassion, O Lord, blot out my sinfulness.

SECRET
O Lord, sanctify us by this sacred rite so that we may be cleansed from earthly sinfulness and come to our eternal reward. Through Our Lord . . .

Commemoration of SAINT ISIDORE
Let our prayers win peace for Your people, O Lord, so that their offerings may be pleasing in Your sight. Grant the requests we confidently make of You through the intercession of Your blessed confessor Isidore. Through Our Lord . . .

 

COMMUNION ANTIPHON Ps. 9:2-3
I will declare all Your wondrous deeds; I will be glad and rejoice in You; I will sing praise to Your name, O Most High!

POSTCOMMUNION
O Lord, make us ever obedient to Your commandments so that we may be deserving of Your heavenly gifts. Through Our Lord . . .

Commemoration of SAINT ISIDORE

May this Heavenly Sacrament bring us health of soul and body, O Lord, and through the intercession of Your blessed confessor Isidore make us feel the power of the sacred rite that we have celebrated. Through Our Lord . . .

PRAYER OVER THE PEOPLE  

O Lord, be moved by our prayers and heal the sickness of our souls. Grant us pardon for our sins and make us always joyous in Your blessings. Through our Lord . . .

MONDAY OF THE 

SECOND WEEK IN LENT

[Commemoration]

SAINT BENEDICT

Abbot

SIMPLE / PURPLE
INTROIT Ps. 25:11-12
Redeem me, O Lord, and have pity on me, for my foot stands on the right path. In the assemblies I will bless the Lord.
Ps. 25:1. Do me justice, O Lord, for I have walked in innocence, and in the Lord I trust without wavering.
V. Glory be . . .

COLLECT
O Almighty God, while Your servants mortify their bodies by fasting, may they also follow after righteousness and avoid sin. Through Our Lord . . .

Commemoration of SAINT BENEDICT

Benedict was born in central Italy, about the year 480, when the civilized world was being overrun by pagan and heretical tribes. As a young man, he withdrew to the mountainous region of Subiaco to live there as a hermit. Soon many disciples followed him. Later, St. Benedict left Subiaco for Monte Cassino and founded on its summit a monastery that became the most famous in Europe. After having rescued Europe from the darkness and ignorance that followed the downfall of the Roman Empire, St. Benedict's monks went out into the whole world to combat paganism with the light of Christ. They were the great civilizers, and their influence upon subsequent history is incalculable.
Even more importantly, the spirituality of Western Christianity has been shaped by the famous Rule Benedict devised for his monks. With this Rule he provided a "school of the Lord's service" which embraced a program of liturgical prayer, sacred study, and work, lived socially in community under one common father, with noticeable emphasis on peace, moderation (especially as regards austerities), and charity towards all men.

Let the blessed Abbot Benedict intercede for us, O Lord. May his prayers win us Your help, since our own actions cannot merit it. Through Our Lord . . .

LESSON Dan. 9:15-19
In those days, Daniel prayed to the Lord, saying, "O Lord, our God, who hast brought forth thy people out of the land of Egypt, with a strong hand, and hast made thee a name as at this day: we have sinned, we have committed iniquity, O Lord, against all thy justice: let thy wrath and thy indignation be turned away, I beseech thee, from thy city, Jerusalem, and from thy holy mountain. For by reason of our sins, and the iniquities of our fathers, Jerusalem, and thy people, are a reproach to all that are round about us.
"Now, therefore, O our God, hear the supplication of thy servant, and his prayers: and shew thy face upon thy sanctuary, which is desolate, for thy own sake. Incline, O my God, thy ear, and hear: open thy eyes, and see our desolation, and the city upon which thy name is called: for it is not for our justifications that we present our prayers before thy face, but for the multitude of thy tender mercies. O Lord, hear: O Lord, be appeased: hearken, and do: delay not, for thy own sake, O my God: because thy name is invocated upon thy city, and upon thy people."

GRADUAL Ps. 69:6, 3
Help me and deliver me, O Lord, make no delay! V. Let my enemies who seek my life be put to shame and confounded.

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 8:21-29
At that time, Jesus said to them: "I go: and you shall seek me. And you shall die in your sin. Whither I go, you cannot come." The Jews therefore said: "Will he kill himself, because he said: Whither I go you cannot come?" 
And he said to them: "You are from beneath: I am from above. You are of this world: I am not of this world. Therefore I said to you that you shall die in your sins. For if you believe not that I am he, you shall die in your sin." They said therefore to him: "Who art thou?" Jesus said to them: "The beginning, who also speak unto you. Many things I have to speak and to judge of you. But he that sent me, is true: and the things I have heard of him, these same I speak in the world." And they understood not that he called God his Father.
Jesus therefore said to them: "When you shall have lifted up, the Son of man, then shall you know that I am he and that I do nothing of myself. But as the Father hath taught me, these things I speak. And he that sent me is with me: and he hath not left me alone. For I do always the things that please him."

OFFERTORY Ps. 15:7, 8
I bless the Lord, who has given me understanding. I set the Lord ever before me; with Him at my right hand I shall not be disturbed.

SECRET 
O Lord, protect us through this sacrifice which we offer to atone for our sins and to give glory to You. Through Our Lord . . .

Commemoration of SAINT BENEDICT
Accept this offering which we humbly present in honor of Your Saints, O God, and through it purify our bodies and our souls. Through our Lord . . .

COMMUNION ANTIPHON Ps. 8:2
O Lord, our Lord, how glorious is Your name over all the earth!

POSTCOMMUNION 
O Lord, may this Communion cleanse us from sin, and bestow upon us spiritual health from heaven. Through Our Lord . . .

Commemoration of SAINT BENEDICT
Almighty God, we pray that the reception of this Bread of Heaven may strengthen us against all adversity through the intercession of Your blessed Confessor Benedict. Through our Lord . . . 

PRAYER OVER THE PEOPLE
Hear our petitions, O Almighty God. Your love has given us hope; let Your unfailing mercy protect us. Through our Lord . . .