OUR LADY OF RANSOM

GREATER DOUBLE / WHITE
This feast was extended to the whole Church in thanksgiving to the Blessed Virgin, for having in the thirteenth century inspired St. Peter Nolasco and St. Raymond of Pennafort to found a religious order for the release of Christians captured by the Saracens. The Mercedariansvowed to give themselves up as hostages for the imprisoned Christians when ransom and military means failed. Their heroism saved countless souls from apostasy and despair.

Image via Wikipedia

Mass of the BLESSED VIRGIN MARY,except

COLLECT
O God, through the glorious Mother of Your Son You enriched the Church with a new religious congregation dedicated to freeing Christians from slavery among the heathens. We venerate Mary as the foundress of this institution and pray that she may also deliver us from our sins and the slavery of the devil through her own merits and intercession. Through the same Jesus Christ, our Lord . . .

SECRET
O Lord, through Your mercy and the intercession of the Blessed ever-Virgin Mary, let this offering bring us prosperity and peace now and forever. Through our Lord . . .


POSTCOMMUNION
O Lord, grant that we who have received the Sacrament of our salvation may be protected through the intercession of the Blessed ever-Virgin Mary, in whose honor we have offered this Sacrifice to Your majesty. Through our Lord . 

St. Thomas of Villanova, renowned for the works of charity and love for the poor

El Greco

Martyrdom of St. Maurice and His Legions

1580-81
Oil on canvas, 448 x 301 cm
Chapter House, Monastery of El Escorial

SAINT THOMAS OF VILLANOVA
Bishop and Confessor

SAINT MAURICE AND HIS COMPANIONS
Martyrs

DOUBLE / WHITE
Thomas of Villanova (1488-1555), great saint of the Spanish Renaissance and good friend of Emperor Charles V, joined the Hermits of St. Augustine, where his heroic qualities soon marked him for responsible offices in his community and then for ecclesiastical honor as archbishop of Valencia. A man of infinite charity in word and deed, he lived as frugally as the poor who benefited by his unstinted almsgiving. While provincial of his order in Castile, he sent the first group of Augustinians to the Americas. Establishing themselves in Mexico, they were integral in the growth of Christianity in the New World.

Mass of a CONFESSOR BISHOP, except
COLLECT
O God, You blessed the holy bishop Thomas with an extraordinary love for the poor. Be moved by his intercession to pour out the treasury of Your mercies upon all who humbly pray to You. Through our Lord . . .

Commemoration of SAINT MAURICE AND HIS COMPANIONS
Near Lake Geneva, Switzerland, about A.D. 297, the Theban Legion of 660 soldiers under the command of St. Maurice died to a man for abstaining from pagan sacrifice. 

O Almighty God, let the solemn feast of Your holy martyrs Maurice and his companions fill us with joy. May we glory in their feast, as we also rely on the power of their intercession. Through our Lord . . .

SECRET 
Let our annual commemoration of Your blessed confessor bishop Thomas please You, O Lord. Grant that this Sacrifice of atonement which we offer on his feast may bring him greater honor and fill us with Your grace. Through our Lord . . .

Commemoration of SAINT MAURICE AND HIS COMPANIONS
Look graciously, O Lord, on the gifts we offer You in memory of Your holy martyrs Maurice and his companions. May the intercession of these saints who are pleasing to You win us Your grace for all time. Through our Lord . . .

POSTCOMMUNION 
O God, rewarder of the faithful, pardon our sins through the intercession of Your blessed confessor bishop Thomas, whom we honor this day. Through our Lord . . .

Commemoration of SAINT MAURICE AND HIS COMPANIONS
You have comforted us by Your Sacraments, O Lord, and filled us with the joy of heaven. May Your saints defend us, even as we glory in their own victory. Through our Lord . . .

Second Annual Conference for Catholic Tradition to be hosted by Angelus Press in Kansas City, Missouri

The Kingship of Christ conference will focus on the restoration of all things to Christ and its implementation in the present day, despite the legal negation of the Kingship of Christ on earth and the significant social destruction of the Church during the last several centuries.

Angelus Press announced its second annual conference on Catholic Tradition, titled The Kingship of Christ, to be held October 7 - 9 at the Airport Hilton in Kansas City, Missouri.

The three day event offers a singular opportunity for Catholics to grow in faith and their knowledge of the Catholic Church's essential doctrine on Christ the King.

Following on the very successful 2010 conference, which celebrated the 40th anniversary of the Society of St. Pius X, The Kingship of Christ conference includes several new presenters and a fresh array of subjects with His Excellency Bishop Tissier de Mallerais as keynote speaker.

Topics and speakers include:

· The Social Kingship of Christ according to Cardinal Pie, with Fr. Juan-Carlos Iscara
· The Rosary and the Battle of Lepanto, with Andrew J. Carendon, M.A.
· The Relationship of Church and State, with Brian McCall, J.D.
· Quas Primas - Pius XI on Christ the King, with Fr. Daniel Themann
· The Errors of the Modern World, with John Rao, Ph.D.
· Archbishop Lefebvre: A Life for Christ the King, with His Excellency Bishop Tissier de Mallerais
· The Queenship of Our Lady, with Fr. Albert, O.P.
· The Cristeros and the Martyrs of the Mexican Revolution, with Christopher Check
· Catholic Action: Whose Job Is It?, with His Excellency Bishop Tissier de Mallerais
· A Call for Today's Crusade, with Fr. Gerard Beck
· Conclusion and Summary, with Fr. Arnaud Rostand

“The Kingship of our Lord Jesus Christ has been attacked in the decades following the Second Vatican Council,” said Angelus Press editor, James Vogel. “All are invited to come and learn about this essential doctrine, its denial by the enemies of the Church, and what we and our family and friends can do to work for its restoration.”

Conference tickets are available for purchase until Thursday, September 22.
View Hotel reservation information

Holy Mass will be celebrated at the Hilton Hotel, both Friday and Saturday. The Holy Rosary will be said, followed by Dinner with Bishop Tissier de Mallerais on Saturday evening. A Pontifical High Mass will be celebrated on Sunday, October 9, at St. Vincent de Paul Church in Kansas City, Missouri. (Shuttles provided from hotel)

About Angelus Press: Angelus Press is an apostolate of the Catholic press. We have the mission of spreading the Catholic Faith through the printed word by our Traditional Catholic books and magazine publications. We offer resources ranging from the promotion of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, the spiritual life, and lives of the Saints, to the crisis in the Church, theology, liturgy, and catechetics - anything that will help the Christian save his soul.

"I shall have the pleasure of speaking on the political mission of lay Catholics and on the fight of our venerated founder, Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre, for Christ the King."

Bishop Tissier de Mallerais

Dear Friends,

The 2011 Angelus Press Conference, The Kingship of Christ, (October 7 - 9) offers you and your loved ones a singular opportunity to grow in your faith and knowledge of the Catholic Church's essential doctrine of Christ the King. This event promises to be a unique and valuable experience for all Catholics, young and old.

You are greatly encouraged to share the conference information far and wide!

Following on the tremendously successful 2010 conference and 40th anniversary celebration of the Society of St. Pius X, The Kingship ofChrist includes a powerful cast of new presenters and a fresh array of subjects with His Excellency Bishop Tissier de Mallerais as keynote speaker!

Our additional speakers include:

• Fr. Arnaud Rostand, District Superior for the United States
• Fr. Juan-Carlos Iscara, professor of history at St. Thomas Aquinas Seminary
• Fr. Gerard Beck, first assistant to the District Superior
• Fr. Albert, OP
• Fr. Themann; John Rao, Ph.D., Professor of History at St. John’s University
• Brian McCall, J.D., Professor of Law at the University of Oklahoma
• Andrew J. Clarendon, M.A., Professor of History at St. Mary’s College
• Christopher Check, Executive Vice President of The Rockford Institute

If you make one special trip this year for the Faith, let this conference be the reason!

No other event will engage Catholic laymen to pursue and establish the Kingship of Christ on earth, more than this 3 day gathering of friends and family, held once again at the beautiful Hilton Hotel near the Kansas City airport.

Consider the fascinating presentations and subject matter which aim to inspire Catholics to bring this knowledge into their own spheres of influence in the world - for the Kingship of Christ!

• The Social Kingship of Christ according to Cardinal Pie, with Fr. Juan-Carlos Iscara
• The Rosary and the Battle of Lepanto, with Andrew J. Carendon, M.A.
• The Relationship of Church and State, with Brian McCall, J.D.
• Quas Primas - Pius XI on Christ the King, with Fr. Daniel Themann
• The Errors of the Modern World, with John Rao, Ph.D.
• Archbishop Lefebvre: A Life for Christ the King, with His Excellency Bishop Tissier de Mallerais
• The Queenship of Our Lady, with Fr. Albert, O.P.
• The Cristeros and the Martyrs of the Mexican Revolution, with Christopher Check
• Catholic Action: Whose Job Is It?, with His Excellency Bishop Tissier de Mallerais
• A Call for Today's Crusade, with Fr. Gerard Beck
• Conclusion and Summary, with Fr. Arnaud Rostand

In addition, Holy Mass will be celebrated at the Hilton Hotel, both Friday and Saturday. The Holy Rosary will be said, followed by Dinner with Bishop Tissier de Mallerais on Saturday evening.

A Pontifical High Mass will be celebrated on Sunday, October 9, at St. Vincent de Paul Church in Kansas City, MIssouri. (Shuttles provided)

Dear friends, The Kingship of Our Lord Jesus Christ, a doctrine which Archbishop Lefebvre held dear, has been attacked in the decades following the Second Vatican Council. Come learn of this essential doctrine, its denial by the enemies of the Church, and what you, your family and friends can do to work for its restoration!

Here are just a few comments from last year's conference attendees:

“A stellar success — worth every penny. My wife and I will be back next year.”

“I was impressed by the level of professionalism exhibited in these conferences. The 40-year celebration was well-planned and a joy to attend. Congratulations."

“This is an event no Catholic should miss. It was truly the high-point of my year.”

“The talks were among the most profound and edifying I’ve ever heard.”

“I’ve never been more impressed by the quality of talks at a conference.”

FOURTEENTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST

 

SAINT JOSEPH OF CUPERTINO
Confessor

 

DOUBLE / GREEN
INTROIT  Ps. 83:10-11
O God, our Protector, look, and gaze upon the face of Your Christ. Better indeed is one day in Your courts than a thousand elsewhere.
Ps. 83:2-3.  How lovely is Your dwelling place, O Lord of hosts! My soul yearns and faints for the courts of the Lord.
V . Glory be . . .

COLLECT
Keep Your Church, O Lord, in Your everlasting mercy. Without Your assistance our human nature is bound to fall, so help us to shun whatever is harmful and guide us towards those things that will aid our salvation. Through our Lord . . .

Commemoration of SAINT JOSEPH OF CUPERTINO
Because he was apparently a most ungifted and unpromising youth, Joseph of Cupertino (1603-63) was unwanted at home. Finally the Conventual Franciscans accepted him as a lay brother and assigned to him the task of rubbing down a mule. Brother Joseph's obedience and patience under severe criticism, his spirit of poverty, and his angelic purity brought about his ordination to the priesthood. He worked such extraordinary miracles that his fame spread over all Christendom. He is known as the flying Saint, patron of aviators and those who fly.
 
O God, at Your command Your only-begotten Son was lifted up above the earth that He might draw all things to Himself. May the merits and example of Your seraphic confessor Joseph help to raise us above all earthly desires so that we may come to Jesus, who lives and rules with You . . .
 

EPISTLE Gal. 5:16-24
Brethren: Walk in the Spirit: and you shall not fulfill the lusts of the flesh. For the flesh lusteth against the spirit: and the spirit against the flesh: For these are contrary one to another: so that you do not the things that you would. But if you are led by the spirit, you are not under the law.
Now the works of the flesh are manifest: which are fornication, uncleanness, immodesty, luxury,
Idolatry, witchcrafts, enmities, contentions, emulations, wraths, quarrels, dissensions, sects, Envies, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like. Of the which I foretell you, as I have foretold to you, that they who do such things shall not obtain the kingdom of God.
But the fruit of the Spirit is, charity, joy, peace, patience, benignity, goodness, longanimity, Mildness, faith, modesty, continency, chastity. Against such there is no law. And they that are Christ's have crucified their flesh, with the vices and concupiscences.


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.

Alleluia, alleluia!  V. Ps. 94:1
Come, let us praise the Lord with joy, let us sing joyfully to God our Saviour. Alleluia!

GOSPEL Matt.  6:24-33
At that time, Jesus said to His disciples:  "No man can serve two masters. For either he will hate the one, and love the other: or he will sustain the one, and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon. "Therefore I say to you, be not solicitous for your life, what you shall eat, nor for your body, what you shall put on. Is not the life more than the meat: and the body more than the raiment? Behold the birds of the air, for they neither sow, nor do they reap, nor gather into barns: and your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are not you of much more value than they? And which of you by taking thought, can add to his stature one cubit? "And for raiment why are you solicitous? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they labour not, neither do they spin. But I say to you, that not even Solomon in all his glory was arrayed as one of these. And if the grass of the field, which is to day, and to morrow is cast into the oven, God doth so clothe: how much more you, O ye of little faith? "Be not solicitous therefore, saying: What shall we eat: or what shall we drink, or wherewith shall we be clothed? For after all these things do the heathens seek. For your Father knoweth that you have need of all these things. Seek ye therefore first the kingdom of God, and his justice, and all these things shall be added unto you."

OFFERTORY ANTIPHON  Ps. 33:8-9
The Angel of the Lord shall encamp around those who fear him, and shall deliver them. Taste and see how good is the Lord.

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

Commemoration of SAINT JOSEPH OF CUPERTINO
 We offer You, O Lord, this Sacrifice of praise in memory of Your saints. Free us from evil now and in the future through their intercession. Through our Lord . . .

COMMUNION ANTIPHON Matt. 6:33
"Seek first the kingdom of God, and all other things shall be given you besides," said the Lord.

POSTCOMMUNION 
May Your Sacrament ever cleanse and strengthen us, O God, and lead us to eternal salvation. Through our Lord . . .

Commemoration of SAINT JOSEPH OF CUPERTINO
Refreshed with Heavenly Food and Drink, we humbly pray You, our God, that we may be strengthened by the prayers of Your saint in whose memory we have received this Sacrament. Through our Lord . . .

Image via Wikipedia

THE IMPRESSION OF THE
STIGMATA OF SAINT FRANCIS
Confessor

DOUBLE / WHITE
In 1224, two years before his death, three years after he had laid down active leadership of his order, Francis of Assisi received the greatest gift of his singularly blessed life -- the Stigmata. During the course of a 40-day fast on Mount Alvernia in honor of St. Michael, Francis was visited by a dazzling seraphic figure whose feet and hands were nailed to a cross -- to indicate to Francis that the martyrdom he yearned for would be of the mystical, rather than the physical order. He was then afflicted with the five wounds of the Crucifixion, and bore their sufferings until his death.
INTROIT Gal. 6:14But as for me, God forbid that I should glory save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom the world is crucified to me, and I to the world.
Ps. 141:2. With a loud voice I cried out to the Lord, with a loud voice I pleaded with the Lord.
V. Glory be . . .

COLLECT
O Lord Jesus Christ, You reproduced the sacred marks of Your suffering in the body of the most blessed Francis in order that Your love might set our hearts afire in a world that has grown cold. may the merits and prayers of saint Francis help us to bear our cross and win forgiveness through true repentance; who lives and rules with God the Father . . .

EPISTLE Gal. 6:14-18
Brethren: But as for me, God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ: by whom the world is crucified to me, and I to the world. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision: but a new creature. And whosoever shall follow this rule, peace on them and mercy: and upon the Israel of God. From henceforth let no man be troublesome to me: for I bear the marks of the Lord Jesus in my body. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brethren. Amen.

GRADUAL Ps. 36:30-31
The mouth of the just man utters wisdom, and his tongue speaks justly.
V. The law of God is in his heart, and his steps do not falter.

Alleluia, alleluia! V.
The poor and humble Francis enters heaven a rich man, and is welcomed with heavenly music. Alleluia!

GOSPEL Matt. 16:24-27
At that time, Jesus said to his disciples: "If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. For he that will save his life, shall lose it: and he that shall lose his life for my sake, shall find it. For what doth it profit a man, if he gain the whole world and suffer the loss of his own soul? Or what exchange shall a man give for his soul? For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels: and then will he render to every man according to his works."

OFFERTORY ANTIPHON
My truth and My mercy shall be with him; and in My name shall his power be exalted.

SECRET 
Bless the gifts we offer to You, O Lord, and cleanse us from all stain of sin through the intercession of blessed Francis. Through our Lord . . .

COMMUNION ANTIPHON Luke 12:42
This is the faithful and prudent steward whom the master has set over his household to give them their ration of grain in due time.

POSTCOMMUNION 
O God, in many ways You displayed the wondrous mystery of redemption in Your blessed confessor Francis. Grant that we may imitate his devotedness to the cross and find our strength by constantly meditating upon it. Through our Lord . . .

SSPX

From: RealCatholicTV  | Sep 15, 2011

The recent events at the Vatican are a signal that a stiff wind is blowing in the right direction. Hopefully it will soon become a cyclone.

THE SEVEN SORROWS OF THE
BLESSED VIRGIN MARY

Stain Glass Image
of Saint Nicomedes

SAINT NICOMEDES
Martyr

DOUBLE, SECOND CLASS / WHITE
Our Lady had the comfort of St. Joseph's presence when Simeon prophesied to her, "Thy own soul a sword shall pierce" (Luke 2:35). The Provider was with her also during the flight into Pagan Egypt, and when they lost the twelve-year-old Jesus in Jerusalem. But it was after Joseph's death that Mary bore the most tremendous of her sorrows: the meeting on the way to Calvary, the standing at the foot of the Cross, the removal of her Son's body from the instrument of torture, the entombment. Mary's boundless compassion for the sufferings of Jesus made her the Queen of Martyrs; and in her unspeakable agony she became the Mother of Christ's Mystical Body.
INTROIT John 19:25There were standing by the cross of Jesus His mother and His mother's sister, Mary of Cleophas, and Salome and Mary Magdalene.
John 19:26, 27. "Woman, behold, thy son," said Jesus; then to the disciple, "Behold, thy mother."
V. Glory be . . .

COLLECT
O God, in Your passion the prophecy of Simeon was fulfilled that a sword of sorrow should pierce the sweet soul of Your glorious Virgin-Mother Mary. We reverently recall her sufferings and sorrows. Mercifully grant us the fruits of the redemption that was paid for by Your own sufferings; who lives and rules in God the Father . . .

Commemoration of SAINT NICOMEDES
Toward the close of the first century Nicomedes, a priest, was scourged to death for refusing to sacrifice to idols.

Stay close to Your people, O Lord, so that the brilliant merits of Your blessed martyr Nicomedes may help us, and his prayers win for us Your unfailing mercy. Through our Lord . . .

LESSON Judith 13:22, 23-25
The Lord hath blessed thee by his power, because by thee he hath brought our enemies to nought. Blessed art thou, O daughter, by the Lord the most high God, above all women upon the earth. Blessed be the Lord who made heaven and earth, who hath directed thee to the cutting off the head of the prince of our enemies. Because he hath so magnified thy name this day, that thy praise shall not depart out of the mouth of men who shall be mindful of the power of the Lord for ever, for that thou hast not spared thy life, by reason of the distress and tribulation of thy people, but hast prevented our ruin in the presence of our God.

GRADUAL
You are sorrowful and tearful, O Virgin Mary, standing by the cross of the Lord Jesus, your Son, our Redeemer.
V. O Virgin Mother of God, He whom the whole world cannot contain, the Author of life who was made man, bears this punishment of the cross!

Alleluia, alleluia! V. By the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ stood the sorrowing Holy Mary, the Queen of Heaven and Mistress of the world.

SEQUENCE

At the Cross her station keeping,
Stood the mournful Mother weeping,
Close to Jesus to the last.

Through her Heart, His sorrow sharing,
All His bitter anguish bearing,
Now at length the sword has passed.

O how sad and sore distressed
Was that Mother highly blessed
Of the sole-begotten One!

Christ above in torment hangs,
She beneath beholds the pangs
Of her dying, glorious Son.

Is there one who would not weep,
'Whelmed in miseries so deep,
Christ's dear Mother to behold?

Can the human heart refrain
From partaking in her pain,
In that Mother's pain untold?

Bruised, derided, cursed, defiled,
She beheld her tender Child,
All with bloody scourges rent.

For the sins of His own nation
Saw Him hang in desolation
Till His spirit forth He sent.

O sweet Mother! Font of love,
Touch my spirit from above,
Make my heart with yours accord.

Make me feel as you have felt;
Make my soul to glow and melt
With the love of Christ, my Lord.

Holy Mother, pierce me through,
In my heart each wound renew
Of my Savior crucified.

Let me share with you His pain,
Who for all our sins was slain,
Who for me in torments died.

Let me mingle tears with you,
Mourning Him who mourned for me,
All the days that I may live.

By the Cross with you to stay,
There with you to weep and pray,
Is all I ask of you to give.

Virgin of all virgins blest!
Listen to my fond request:
Let me share your grief divine.

Let me to my latest breath,
In my body bear the death
Of that dying Son of yours.

Wounded with His every wound,
Steep my soul till it has swooned
In His very Blood away.

Be to me, O Virgin, nigh,
Lest in flames I burn and die,
In His awful judgment day.

Christ, when you shall call me hence,
Be your Mother my defense,
Be your cross my victory.

While my body here decays,
May my soul your goodness praise,
Safe in heaven eternally.
Amen. Alleluia!

GOSPEL John 19:25-27
At that time, there stood by the cross of Jesus, his mother and his mother's sister, Mary of Cleophas, and Mary Magdalen. When Jesus therefore had seen his mother and the disciple standing whom he loved, he saith to his mother: "Woman, behold thy son." After that, he saith to the disciple: "Behold thy mother." And from that hour, the disciple took her to his own.

OFFERTORY ANTIPHON Jer. 18:20
Remember, O Virgin Mother of God, to speak good things in our behalf before the face of God, that He may turn away His anger from us.

SECRET
O Lord Jesus Christ, we offer You our prayers and sacrifices. May we, who commemorate the piercing of the sweet soul of blessed mary, Your Mother, share the reward of the saints through her loving and constant intercession and the prayers of those who stood with her beside the cross, as well as through Your own meritorious death; who lives and rules with God the Father . . .

Commemoration of SAINT NICOMEDES
Graciously receive the gifts we offer You, O Lord, and may the prayer of Your blessed martyr Nicomedes make them acceptable to Your majesty. through our Lord . . .

COMMUNION ANTIPHON
Happy the heart of the Blessed Virgin Mary, who without dying earned the palm of martyrdom beneath the cross of our Lord.

POSTCOMMUNION
O Lord Jesus Christ, may this sacrifice which we have received in memory of the sorrows of Your Virgin-Mother obtain for us from Your mercy every grace and help; who lives and rules with God the Father . . .

Commemoration of SAINT NICOMEDES
Cleanse us by the Sacrament that we have received, O Lord, and wash us all sinfulness through the intercession of Your blessed martyr Nicomedes. Through our Lord . . .

Interview with Bishop Bernard Fellay after his meeting with Cardinal William Levada

At the conclusion of the meeting that Bishop Bernard Fellay and his two General Assistants had at the Vatican with Cardinal William Levada, Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith on September 14, 2011, at 10:00 a.m., the Superior General of the Society of St. Pius X answered our questions [for the readers of DICI].

Read the interview here:

http://www.dici.org/en/news/interview-with-bishop-bernard-fellay-after-his-meeting-with-cardinal-william-levada/

Constantine was converted by vision of Cross. Heraculius rescued the True Cross.

The finding of the True Cross,
Agnolo Gaddi, Florence, 1380.

THE EXALTATION OF THE HOLY CROSS

GREATER DOUBLE / RED
This feast commemorates both the dedication of the basilica built by Constantine for the Holy Sepulcher, and also the return of the True Cross to Jerusalem by Emperor Heraclius of Judea during the seventh century. After Heraclius had recovered it by force from King Chosroes of Persia, he tried to carry it along the Via Dolorosa to Calvary, but was unable to make any headway. Bishop Zachary of Jerusalem, pointing to his luxurious clothing, said, "Attired in these rich robes, you are far from imitating the poverty of Jesus Christ and His humility in bearing His Cross." The Emperor caught the hint--and went on to Calvary barefooted and wearing a simple cloak, carried the holy Cross to the Basilica on Calvary [A.D. 629].
INTROIT Gal. 6:14But it is fitting that we should glory in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, in whom is salvation, life, and resurrection for us, by whom we are saved and delivered.
Ps. 66:2. May God have mercy on us and bless us; may He let His face shine upon us; and may He have mercy upon us.
V. Glory be . . .

COLLECT
O God, today's feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross fills us each year with joy. May we, who have known its mystery on earth, also be worthy to enjoy in heaven the happiness which it has purchased for us. Through the same Jesus Christ, our Lord . . .

EPISTLE Philipp. 2:5-11
Brethren: For let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being made in the likeness of men, and in habit found as a man. He humbled himself, becoming obedient unto death, even to the death of the cross. For which cause, God also hath exalted him and hath given him a name which is above all names: That in the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those that are in heaven, on earth, and under the earth: And that every tongue should confess that the Lord Jesus Christ is in the glory of God the Father.

GRADUAL Philipp. 2:8, 9
For us Christ became obedient to death, even to death on a cross.
V. Therefore God also has exalted Him and has bestowed upon Him the name that is above every name.

Alleluia, alleluia! V.
O sweet wood, O sweet nails! O precious the burden suspended thereon! You alone are worthy to bear the king and Lord of heaven. Alleluia!

GOSPEL John 12:31-36
At that time, Jesus said to the multitudes of the Jews,"Now is the judgment of the world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out. And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all things to myself." (Now this he said, signifying what death he should die.) The multitude answered him: "We have heard out of the law that Christ abideth for ever. And how sayest thou: The Son of man must be lifted up? Who is this Son of man?" Jesus therefore said to them: "Yet a little while, the light is among you. Walk whilst you have the light, and the darkness overtake you not. And he that walketh in darkness knoweth not whither be goeth. Whilst you have the light, believe in the light, that you may be the children of light."

OFFERTORY ANTIPHON
By the sign of the holy cross, O Lord, protect Your people from the deceits of their every foe, that our service may be pleasing to You and our offering acceptable, alleluia!

SECRET 
O Lord our God, we are preparing to receive the Body and Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, who brought honor to the symbol of the cross. We are privileged to venerate this same holy cross; grant that we may also enjoy for all eternity the salvation it has purchased for us. Through the same Jesus Christ, our Lord . . .

COMMUNION HYMN
Deliver us from our enemies, O God, by the sign of the cross.

POSTCOMMUNION PRAYER
Be close to us, O Lord our God, and with Your unfailing help defend those who rejoice in the glory of Your holy cross. Through our Lord . . .

Image by Lawrence OP via Flickr

The Northern Cross – Local News

http://wdtprs.com/blog/From Fr. Zuhlsdorf blog:

Deacon gets first taste of solemn high Mass

By Kyle Eller
The Northern Cross

When Deacon Scott Peters of St. Benedict in Duluth was in deacon formation, he was told repeatedly that you never know just what ministry you will find yourself in. But perhaps the last thing he expected was to be preparing for a solemn high Mass as it would have been celebrated in 1962.

Yet that Mass, with a polyphony choir, a chant schola, servers and another permanent deacon who is coming up from a Twin Cities parish famous for its traditional liturgies to fill the subdeacon role, will take place at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 14, at St. Benedict. The liturgical celebration is the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, and it is the anniversary of Pope Benedict XVI’s motu proprio “Summorum Pontificum,” which liberalized access to the traditional Mass.

“I never thought that I would be working in liturgy, especially the Traditional Latin Mass,” Deacon Peters said. When he was in formation, he was doing social work and thought his ministry might involve that. He says he didn’t even know what the old rite was.

He said the whole thing began with the Duluth Men’s Schola. (Full disclosure: This writer is the founder and director of the schola, which will be singing Sept. 14.) Then Father Eric Hastings, who will celebrate the Sept. 14 Mass, began to offer the simplest version of the Traditional Latin Mass, a “low Mass,” and there were no servers, so Deacon Peters learned how to serve.

From there, things began to develop slowly. The next step was doing the more complicated sung version of the Traditional Latin Mass, a “missa cantata,” culminating in a heavily attended missa cantata last year featuring a polyphony choir. (This year the choir will be singing William Byrd’s “Mass for Four Voices.”)

From there, the next step was a solemn high Mass, which is vastly more complex — and a vastly more demanding liturgy for a deacon.

Deacon Peters said all along it was something meant to be guided by the Holy Spirit and carried out peacefully.

“There are no agendas, there were no expectations, it was just people who loved liturgy and wanted to be faithful to what the Holy Father was asking of us,” he said.

[...]

Deacon Peters freely admits that his work with the traditional liturgy has changed him as a deacon. “I’m a different deacon than I was before,” he said. He said he is more prayerful and reverent in how he approaches the sacrifice of the Mass, in whichever form it’s celebrated, a sentiment he has also heard from altar servers.  [I have often written this about the effect the older Mass on priests who learn it.  Why should it be different for deacons?... for lay people?] Fr. Z.

He said the approach for this Mass and all the work associated with it is not confrontational or controversial but simply motivated by a desire to hand a “precious treasure” on, as a gift.

“We want it to be an act of love,” he said. [Do I hear an "Amen!"?] Fr. Z.

He said the parish is inviting all the faithful from the region to attend. Priests and deacons from the diocese are invited to attend the Mass and sit in choir, as there is no concelebration in this form of the Mass. For details, contact the parish at (218) 724-4828.

WDTPRS kudos to Dcn. Peters and Fr. Hastings.