THURSDAY AFTER PENTECOST

 

The Burial of Saint Petronilla by Giovanni Francesco Barbieri (1623)

Commemoration of SAINT PETRONILLA

Virgin

 

DOUBLE / RED
After Pentecost, Christianity's first step beyond provincial limits was into partly pagan Samaria. The first missioner to the Samaritans was the deacon Philip. He was the Holy Spirit's instrument for making Christ known and for working many miracles. Jesus empowered His Apostles with miraculous command over devils and diseases. But He also told them to count on the people for hospitality and support. He trained them to accept the humiliations and uncertainties of poverty.


INTROIT Sap. 1:7
The Spirit of the Lord has filled the whole world, alleluia! and that which contains all things has knowledge of His voice, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!
Ps. 67:2. Let God arise, and let His enemies be scattered, and let those who hate Him flee before Him.
V. Glory be . . .

COLLECT
O God, who this day instructed the hearts of the faithful by the light of the Holy Spirit, grant that, through the same Holy Spirit, we may always be truly wise and rejoice in His consolation. Through our Lord . . .


Commemoration of SAINT PETRONILLA
Aurelia Petronilla, specially honored in France, was a disciple of St. Peter, the first Pope. She died A.D. 60.

Hear us, O God, our Savior: and as we rejoice in the feast of blessed Petronilla, Thy Virgin: so we may learn a filial devotion to Thee. Through our Lord . . .

LESSON Acts 8:5-8
In those days, Philip, going down to the city of Samaria, preached Christ unto them. And the people with one accord were attentive to those things which were said by Philip, hearing, and seeing the miracles which he did. For many of them who had unclean spirits, crying with a loud voice, went out. And many, taken with the palsy, and that were lame, were healed. So there was great joy in that city.

Alleluia, alleluia! V. Ps. 103:30
Send forth Your Spirit and they shall be created, and You shall renew the face of the earth. Alleluia! (Here all kneel.)
V. Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of Your faithful, and kindle in them the fire of Your love.

SEQUENCE

Holy Spirit, come and shine
On our souls with beams divine
Issuing from your radiance bright.
Come, O Father of the poor,
Ever bounteous of your store,
Come, our heart's unfailing light.

Come, Consoler, kindest, best,
Come our bosom's dearest guest,
Sweet refreshment, sweet repose.
Rest in labor, coolness sweet,
Tempering the burning heat,
Truest comfort of our woes.

O divinest light, impart
Unto every faithful heart
Plenteous streams from love's bright flood.
But for your blest Deity,
Nothing pure in man could be;
Nothing harmless, nothing good.

Wash away each sinful stain;
Gently shed your gracious rain
On the dry and fruitless soul.
Heal each wound and bend each will,
Warm our hearts benumbed and chill,
All our wayward steps control.

Unto all your faithful just,
Who in you confide and trust,
Deign the sevenfold gift to send.
Grant us virtue's blest increase,
Grant a death of hope and peace,
Grant the joys that never end.
Amen. Alleluia!

GOSPEL Luke 9:1-6
At that time, Then calling together the twelve apostles, he gave them power and authority over all devils and to cure diseases. And he sent them to preach the kingdom of God and to heal the sick. And he said to them: "Take nothing for your journey, neither staff, nor scrip, nor bread, nor money; neither have two coats. And whatsoever house you shall enter into, abide there and depart not from thence. And whosoever will not receive you, when ye go out of that city, shake off even the dust of your feet, for a testimony against them." And going out, they went about through the towns, preaching the gospel and healing every where.

OFFERTORY ANTIPHON Ps. 67:29-30
Make lasting what You have wrought in us, O God; in Your temple in Jerusalem let the kings offer presents to You, alleluia!

SECRET
Bless our offering, O Lord, and cleanse our hearts by the light of the Holy Spirit. Through our Lord . . .

Commemoration of SAINT PETRONILLA  
 Accept this gift, O Lord, from a people dedicated to You. We offer it in honor of Your Saints for the help we have received from them when we were in trouble. Through our Lord . . .

COMMUNION ANTIPHON Acts 2:2, 4
Suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a violent wind blowing, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting, alleluia! And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and began speaking of the wondrous deeds of God, alleluia, alleluia!

POSTCOMMUNION
May the coming of the Holy Spirit cleanse our hearts, and, as a heavenly dew, water them to bring forth good fruit. Through our Lord . . .

Commemoration of SAINT PETRONILLA
O Lord, You have feasted Your family with the food of heaven. May we always be refreshed through the intercession of Your Saint whose feast we celebrate this day. Through our Lord . . . 

PENTECOST SUNDAY

 
DOUBLE, FIRST CLASS WITH OCTAVE / RED
On Pentecost, Jesus crowned His life and teaching by sending the Holy Spirit into the hearts of Mary and the Apostles and three thousand converts. In them and through them, began a new generation of men, a new supernatural family, a new Mystical Christ embracing members of every race. Jesus gave His own Holy Spirit to be the soul of His new Mystical Body. That body, the Church, which rested with Him in germ beneath Mary's Heart and was born of His pierced side upon the Cross, came into its full, active maturity on Pentecost. The Holy Spirit came in visible form to begin His invisible activity.

INTROIT Sap. 1:7
The Spirit of the Lord has filled the whole world, alleluia! and that which contains all things has knowledge of His voice, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!
Ps. 67:2. Let God arise, and let His enemies be scattered, and let those who hate Him flee before Him.
V. Glory be . . .

COLLECT
O God, who this day instructed the hearts of the faithful by the light of the Holy Spirit, grant that through the same Holy Spirit we may always be truly wise and rejoice in His consolation. Through our Lord . . .

LESSON Acts 2:1-11
When the days of the Pentecost were accomplished, they were all together in one place: And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a mighty wind coming: and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. And there appeared to them parted tongues, as it were of fire: and it sat upon every one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost: and they began to speak with divers tongues, according as the Holy Ghost gave them to speak. Now there were dwelling at Jerusalem, Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven. And when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded in mind, because that every man heard them speak in his own tongue. And they were all amazed, and wondered, saying: "Behold, are not all these that speak Galilean? And how have we heard, every man our own tongue wherein we were born? Parthians and Medes and Elamites and inhabitants of Mesopotamia, Judea, and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya about Cyrene, and strangers of Rome, Jews also, and proselytes, Cretes, and Arabians: we have heard them speak in our own tongues the wonderful works of God."

Alleluia, alleluia! V. Ps. 103:30.
Send forth Your Spirit and they shall be created, and You shall renew the face of the earth. Alleluia! (Here all kneel.)
V. Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of Your faithful, and kindle in them the fire of Your love.

SEQUENCE
Holy Spirit, come and shine
On our souls with beams divine
Issuing from your radiance bright.
Come, O Father of the poor,
Ever bounteous of your store,
Come, our heart's unfailing light.

Come, Consoler, kindest, best,
Come our bosom's dearest guest,
Sweet refreshment, sweet repose.
Rest in labor, coolness sweet,
Tempering the burning heat,
Truest comfort of our woes.

O divinest light, impart
Unto every faithful heart
Plenteous streams from love's bright flood.
But for your blest Deity,
Nothing pure in man could be;
Nothing harmless, nothing good.

Wash away each sinful stain;
Gently shed your gracious rain
On the dry and fruitless soul.
Heal each wound and bend each will,
Warm our hearts benumbed and chill,
All our wayward steps control.

Unto all your faithful just,
Who in you confide and trust,
Deign the sevenfold gift to send.
Grant us virtue's blest increase,
Grant a death of hope and peace,
Grant the joys that never end.
Amen. Alleluia!

GOSPEL John 14:23-31
At that time, Jesus answered and said to him: "If any one love me, he will keep my word. And my Father will love him and we will come to him and will make our abode with him. He that loveth me not keepeth not my words. And the word which you have heard is not mine; but the Father's who sent me. "These things have I spoken to you, abiding with you. But the Paraclete, the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring all things to your mind, whatsoever I shall have said to you. Peace I leave with you: my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, do I give unto you. Let not your heart be troubled: nor let it be afraid. You have heard that I said to you: 'I go away, and I come unto you.' If you loved me you would indeed be glad, because I go to the Father: for the Father is greater than I. And now I have told you before it come to pass: that when it shall come to pass, you may believe. I will not now speak many things with you. For the prince of this world: cometh: and in me he hath not any thing. But that the world may know that I love the Father: and as the Father hath given me commandments, so do I. Arise, let us go hence."

OFFERTORY ANTIPHON Ps. 67:29-30
Make lasting what You have wrought in us, O God; in Your temple in Jerusalem let the kings offer presents to You, alleluia!

SECRET
Bless our offering, O Lord, and cleanse our hearts by the light of the Holy Spirit. Through our Lord . . .

COMMUNION ANTIPHON Acts 2:2, 4
Suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a violent wind blowing, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting, alleluia! And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and began speaking of the wondrous deeds of God, alleluia, alleluia!

POSTCOMMUNION
May the coming of the Holy Spirit cleanse our hearts, and, as a heavenly dew, water them to bring forth good fruit. Through our Lord . . .

Octave Day of the Ascension; Our Lady Help of Christians

OCTAVE DAY OF THE ASCENSION

OUR LADY HELP OF CHRISTIANS

(Historical)

Common of the Blessed Virgin Mary, except:

COLLECT

O Almighty and merciful God, who didst wondrously appoint the most Blessed Virgin perpetual help for Christians in need of protection, grant in Thy mercy that after battling in life under such a protectress, we may be able to conquer our enemy at death. Through our Lord . . .

SECRET

For the triumph of the Christian faith we immolate to Thee, O Lord, these victims of propitiation; may the Blessed Virgin's help render them of profit to us, for such a perfect victory ever comes through her. Through our Lord . . .

POSTCOMMUNION

After refreshing Thy people with a participation of Thy Body and Blood, O Lord, come to their aid, so that with the help of Thy Blessed Mother they may be freed from all evil and danger, and preserved in good works; Who livest and reignest . . .

In the Paschal Season, the first reading is from the 12th chapter of the Apocalypse; the rest of the year it is from the 3rd chapter of Genesis. Both texts prophesy the victory of "the Woman" over the Serpent or the Dragon. One occurs at the beginning of the Bible, the other at the end. This Woman, whose offspring or son is the instrument of victory, is understood to be the image of the New Sion, the Church, the holy people of messianic times. Yet at the same time she can be considered the image of Mary, daughter of Sion, type of the Church and mother of the redeemed people. In these readings, Mary is the New Eve; she is the Mother of the Living. In both cases she faces conflict and this conflict continues for "the rest of her children" who are also menaced. However, the Woman is always there to assist them.

The assistance of the Woman is especially helpful to those engaged in "new wars" and who keep the commandments of God."

Saint Pius V gave Mary the title: "Help of Christians," after the victory of the Christian fleet over the Turks at Lepanto on October 7, 1571, and he added this invocation to her litany. When Pius VII returned to Rome on May 24, 1814, after spending five years of exile and captivity, he established the Feast of Our Lady, Helper of the Papal States.

The invocation of Mary as Help of Christians is part of the oldest prayer addressed directly to Mary, the "Sub tuum praesidium," which was found on a papyrus dating, at the latest, from the end of the third century. This prayer was composed at a time of great danger for Christians and for the Church. "Praesidium" is translated as "an assistance given in time of war by fresh troops in a strong manner."

Yet, Mary help of all Christians is not only helpful to those engaged in new wars, as the Gospel shows quite clearly. She is the bearer of joy, readying all Christians of good will to receive God's grace and the many gifts of life. Yes, ultimately, it is the caring woman of Cana who makes victory over dragon and serpent possible -- in letting Christ act on his own terms and at his own hour. Anthony de Mello writes in conclusion to the introduction of his last book:

"I dedicate this book to the Blessed Virgin Mary, who has always been for me a model of contemplation. She has been more: I am convinced that it is her intercession that has obtained for me, and for many of the people I have guided, graces in prayer that we should never have acquired otherwise. There, then, is my first piece of advice to you if you would make progress in the art of contemplation: Seek her patronage and ask for her intercession before you start out on this way. She has been given the charisma of drawing down the Holy Spirit on the Church, as she did at the Annunciation and at Pentecost, when she prayed with the Apostles. If you get her to pray with you and for you, you will be very fortunate indeed."

This, then, is Mary, the help of all Christians and as such, she is the star that prepares the coming of the rising sun, Christ.

WITHIN THE OCTAVE

FERIAL DAY
Mass from the preceding Sunday

[Saint Andrew Bobola (1657) Historical]

Jesuit missionary and martyr. He was born a member of a noble Polish family in 1590. Entering the Society of Jesus at Vilna in 1622, he preached in the church of St. Casimir there. He took solemn vows in 1630 and was made superior of the Jesuits in Brobuisk. There he preached and distinguished himself by his work of mercy during a plague. In 1636, Andrew was sent to the Lithuanian missions. A house was provided for him in Pinsk, Belarus, by Prince Radziwell, and he worked there despite attacks by Protestants and schismatics. On May 10, 1657, Andrew was kidnapped by two Cossacks who beat him and tied him to the saddles of their horses so they could drag him to a place of torture. He was partially flayed alive and finally decapitated. His remains were buried in Pinsk and then moved to Polosk. St. Bobola was canonized by Pius XI on April 17, 1938.

[Saint Godric of Finchale (1170) Historical]

Oldest three children born to a freedman Anglo-Saxon farmer. An adventurous seafaring man, he spent his youth in travel both on land and sea as a peddler and merchant mariner first along the coast of the British Isles, then throughout Europe. Sometime sailor, sometime ship's captain, he lived a seafarer's life of the day, and it was hardly a religious one. He was known to drink, fight, chase women, con customers, and in a contemporary manuscript, was referred to as a "pirate". Convertedupon visiting Lindisfarne during a voyage, and being touched by the life of Saint Cuthbert. 

Pilgrim to Jerusalem and the holy lands, Saintiago de Compostela, the shrine of Saint Gaul in Provence, and to Rome. As a self-imposed austerity, and a way to always remember Christ's lowering himself to become human, Godric never wore shoes, regardless of the season. Lived as a hermit in the holy lands, and worked in a hospital nearJerusalem. Hermit for nearly sixty years at Finchale, County Durham, England, first in a cave, then later in a more formal hermitage; he was led to its site by a vision of Saint Cuthbert. It was a rough life, living barefoot in mud and wattle hut, wearing a hair shirt under a metal breastplate, standing in icy waters to control his lust, living for a while off berries and roots, and being badly beaten by Scottish raiders who strangely thought he had a hidden treasure. 

Noted for his close familiarity with wild animals, his supernatural visions, his gift of prophecy, and ability to know of events occurring hundreds or thousands of miles away. Counseled Saint Aelred, Saint Robert of Newminster, Saint Thomas Beckett, and Pope Alexander III. Wrote poetry in Medieval English. The brief song Sainte nicholaes by Godric is one of the oldest in the English language, and is believed to be the earliest surviving example of lyric poetry. He was said to have received his songs, lyrics and music, complete during his miraculous visions. He died of natural causes on May 11, 1170.

SUNDAY AFTER THE ASCENSION

Saint Bernardino of Siena by El Greco.

[Commemoration]

SAINT BERNARDINE OF SIENA
Confessor

DOUBLE / WHITE
INTROIT Ps. 26:7, 8, 9 
Hear, O Lord, my voice as I cry to You, alleluia! my heart has spoken to You; I have sought You. Your presence, O Lord, I will seek; hide not Your face from me, alleluia, alleluia! 
Ps. 26:1. The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom should I fear? V. Glory be . . .

COLLECT
O Almighty and Eternal God, make our wills devoted to You so that our hearts may sincerely serve Your majesty. Through Our Lord . . .

Commemoration of SAINT BERNARDINE OF SIENA
Bernardine (1380–1444), Italian preacher. Born of noble parentage, left all and was a Franciscan of the Observant congregation and one of the most effective and most widely known preachers of his day. His popular, lively sermons still make good reading. He was vicar general of his congregation, and he repeatedly refused ecclesiastical preferment. St. Bernardine was one of the great promoters of devotion to the Holy Name of Jesus.

O Lord Jesus Christ, You didst grant to blessed Bernardine, Thy Confessor, a surpassing love for Thy holy name: we beseech Thee, by his merits and intercession, graciously pour into our hearts the spirit of Thy love: Who livest and reignest . . .

EPISTLE I Peter 4:7-11
Beloved: Be prudent therefore and watch in prayers. But before all things have a constant mutual charity among yourselves: for charity covereth a multitude of sins. Using hospitality one towards another, without murmuring, As every man hath received grace, ministering the same one to another: as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. If any man speak, let him speak, as the words of God. If any minister, let him do it, as of the power which God administereth: that in all things God may be honoured through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Alleluia, alleluia! V. Ps. 46:9
God reigns over all the nations, God sits on His holy throne. Alleluia!
V. John 14:18. I will not leave you orphans; I go away, but I will come to you, and your heart shall rejoice. Alleluia!

GOSPEL John 15:26-27; 16:1-4 
At that time, Jesus said to His disciples: "When the Paraclete cometh, whom I will send you from the Father, the Spirit of truth, who proceedeth from the Father, he shall give testimony of me. And you shall give testimony, because you are with me from the beginning."These things have I spoken to you things have I spoken to you that you may not be scandalized. They will put you out of the synagogues: yea, the hour cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doth a service to God. And these things will they do to you; because they have not known the Father nor me. But these things I have told you, that when the hour shall come, you may remember that I told you of them."

OFFERTORY ANTIPHON Ps. 46:6
God ascends His throne amid shouts of joy, the Lord is taken up with the sound of trumpets, alleluia!

SECRET 
Cleanse us through this spotless offering, O Lord, and let our souls be made strong by Your heavenly grace. Through Our Lord . . .

Commemoration of SAINT BERNARDINE OF SIENA
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 John 17:12-13, 15
Father, while I was with them, I kept them whom You gave Me, alleluia! but now I am coming to You; I do not pray that You take them out of the world, but that You keep them from evil, alleluia, alleluia! 

POSTCOMMUNION 
Grant, O Lord, that we may always be grateful for the Sacramental Gift that we have just received. Through Our Lord . . .

Commemoration of SAINT BERNARDINE OF SIENA

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 . . .

THE HOURS OF OUR LADY #17

We continue with our posting of the Introduction to The Little Office of the Blessed Virgin Mary:

 

(The translation of the Psalms and the brief introductory comments on the Psalms of this Little Office of the Blessed Virgin are taken largly from: The Psalms and Canticles by George O'Neill, S.J. [Bruce Publishing Co. 1937.] The late Father O'Neill's work has long been out of print.)

[Continued]

 INTRODUCTION 

David dictating the Psalms,

 10th/11th century

"Everyone knows the role of the Psalms in the Jewish and Christian liturgies. They were not all, indeed, composed with a liturgical purpose; but even those which were originally the outpouring of individual sentiments were admirably adapted to such a destination. We possess few details on their use in the religious ceremonies of Israel before the exile. (The exile means the captivity of the Jews deported by Nabuchodonosor into Babylon in 597 and 586 B.C., terminating more than 50 years later with the return of many under Sassabasar and later under Esdras). Several Biblical texts indicate, however, that even before the exile the Psalms were much in use in public worship. Compare I Par. 16; Is. 37, 20; Jer. 30, 11, etc., and the titles of a number of the Psalms. The same was true after the exile, as we are told in different places of the Talmud, which goes so far as to note what Psalms were sung on different days. From the Jewish worship, the use of the Psalms passed from the very beginning into the worship of the Christian Church. (I Cor. 14, 15; Eph. 5, 19; Col. 3, 16). Nothing was more natural, since the Apostles, and those of the early Christians who had come from Judaism, had been accustomed to this kind of prayer. Besides, the Psalter has nothing THAT IS SPECIFICALLY JEWISH; its supplications and its praises suited the new religion even better than the old. So that as the Christian liturgy gradually became organized, it made an extensive use of the Psalms; the Churches of Syria used to sing the entire Psalter, 'the heart of God,' as they called it, on all vigils of feasts; the Greek and Latin Churches recited it once a week, and it is this pious custom which Pope Pius X restored to us in modern days."

(Fillion, S.S., The New Psalter).  

 

 

[To be continued]

SAINT UBALDUS
Bishop and Confessor

 

ROGATION DAY

 

VIGIL OF  THE ASCENSION

Image via Wikipedia

 

SIMPLE / WHITE
After being consecrated bishop of Gubbio, Italy, in 1129, Ubaldus Baldassini served his flock for more than 30 years with the firm justice, the mildness, and the patience of a true father in Christ. He was revered especially as a peacemaker. On an occasion when rival factions were rioting in the streets of Gubbio, Ubaldus threw himself between the combatants and they laid down their arms at once, for fear of wounding their bishop. At another time, when Emperor Frederick Barbarossa was about to sack Gubbio, Bishop Ubaldus met the Emperor on the road and persuaded him to spare the city.

Mass of a CONFESSOR BISHOP, except

COLLECT
Help us, O Lord, and stretch out Your right hand in compassion to save us from the wickedness of the devil, through the intercession of Your blessed confessor bishop Ubaldus. Through Our Lord . . .

Commemoration of the MASS OF ROGATION  

The death and resurrection of Jesus have opened heaven and won the grace to avoid sin and to gain eternal happiness. But many of the consequences of sin still remain; and every person has his guilt to confess and atone for. Besides, there are the countless needs of soul and body that put all men on their knees before God. Earthquakes and other calamities afflicted Europe in the fifth century and St. Mamertus, instituted a penitential procession with public supplications in his Diocese. Hence, the special days of petition, called Rogation Days, marked by a special Mass, the Litany of the Saints, and, where possible, a procession during which the Litany is sung. It is well to join penance and fasting to all prayer. In 816 A.D., Pope Leo III introduced this Mass in Rome, and soon after it became a general observance throughout the Church.

In our difficulties, O almighty God, we rely upon Your loving mercy. Let Your protection shield us from all harm.

Commemoration of the VIGIL OF THE ASCENSION

O God, the source of all good, grant us Your inspiration that we may have proper thoughts, and Your guidance that we may carry them into practice. Through our Lord . . .

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

Commemoration of the MASS OF ROGATION

May these gifts free us from the ties of sinfulness, O Lord, and win us  the gift of Your mercy.

Commemoration of the VIGIL OF THE ASCENSION

Accept the prayers and offerings of the faithful, O Lord, and let our love and devotion lead us to the glory of heaven. Through our Lord . . .

POSTCOMMUNION
O Almighty God, may the expression of our gratitude to You for all Your gifts bring us even greater benefits, through the intercession of Your blesses Confessor bishop Ubaldus. Through our Lord . . .

Commemoration of the MASS OF ROGATION

Mercifully grant us our requests, O Lord, that the consolation we receive in our grievous troubles may increase our love for You.

Commemoration of the VIGIL OF THE ASCENSION

Grant that we, who have been fed at Your heavenly banquet, O Lord, may desire only what is right and that we may fulfill these holy desires. Through our Lord . . .

SAINT JOHN BAPTIST DE LA SALLE

Confessor

 

ROGATION DAYS

 DOUBLE / WHITE

John Baptist de la Salle (1651-1719) was born of a titled family in Rheims. Although a private fortune and a high order of talent promised a brilliant secular career, John Baptist studied for the priesthood (at St. Sulpice), offering his first Mass with an intensity of devotion that never afterward left him. Gradually the heretical mood of the times and the abysmal ignorance of the poor disclosed a special vocation to him" "to teach the poor and to lead the young in the path of truth" (Collect).Weathering the reverses and heartbreaks that beleaguer every creative spirit, John baptist established the Brothers of the Christian Schools, whose vocation would be to teach and only to teach.
Although good teaching was important to John Baptist, spiritual formation was more so; and, in the face of a rampant Jansenism, he was advocating frequent and even daily Communion. When his foundation was firmly rooted and oriented, he resigned as superior, living thereafter as the humblest of his subjects. He died two years later, on Good Friday.

Mass of a CONFESSOR OF THE FAITH, except

COLLECT
O God, You inspired the holy confessor John Baptist to teach the poor and to lead the young in the path of truth, and then founded a new congregation in Your Church through him. May his intercession and example fill us with zeal to glorify You by the saving of souls, so that we may also share his reward in Heaven. Through Our Lord . . .

Commemoration of the MASS OF ROGATION  

The death and resurrection of Jesus have opened heaven and won the grace to avoid sin and to gain eternal happiness. But many of the consequences of sin still remain; and every person has his guilt to confess and atone for. Besides, there are the countless needs of soul and body that put all men on their knees before God. Earthquakes and other calamities afflicted Europe in the fifth century and St. Mamertus, instituted a penitential procession with public supplications in his Diocese. Hence, the special days of petition, called Rogation Days, marked by a special Mass, the Litany of the Saints, and, where possible, a procession during which the Litany is sung. It is well to join penance and fasting to all prayer. In 816 A.D., Pope Leo III introduced this Mass in Rome, and soon after it became a general observance throughout the Church.

Grant, we beseech Thee, O almighty God, that we, who in our affliction put our trust in Thy mercy, may ever be defended by the protection against all adversity. Through our Lord . . .


GOSPEL Matt. 18: 1-5
At that time, the disciples came to Jesus, saying, "Who then is greatest in the kingdom of heaven? And Jesus called a little child to Him, set him in their midst, and said, "Amen I say to you, unless you turn and become like little children, you will not enter into the kingdom of heaven. Whoever, therefore, humbles himself as this little child, he is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoever receives one such little child for My sake, receives Me."


SECRET
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 . . .


Commemoration of the MASS OF ROGATION 
 May these oblations, O Lord, we beseech Thee, loosen the bonds of our wickedness, and obtain for us the gifts of Thy mercy. Through our Lord . . .


POSTCOMMUNION
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 . . .

Commemoration of the MASS OF ROGATION 
Favorably receive our prayers, O Lord, we beseech Thee; may we in our distress be consoled by Thy gifts and grow in love accordingly. Through our Lord . . . 

THE HOURS OF OUR LADY #16

We continue with our posting of the Introduction to The Little Office of the Blessed Virgin Mary:

 

(The translation of the Psalms and the brief introductory comments on the Psalms of this Little Office of the Blessed Virgin are taken largly from: The Psalms and Canticles by George O'Neill, S.J. [Bruce Publishing Co. 1937.] The late Father O'Neill's work has long been out of print.)

[Continued]

 INTRODUCTION 

"The Psalms form what has been called 'the heart of the Bible,' a 'Bible within the Bible' which they sum up. Their dogmatic and moral richness is positively astonishing. Their prophetical wealth is also remarkable, for they contain, concerning the Messias and His Church, numerous and luminous oracles which allow us to follow the marvellous progress of revelation in regard to the most weighty and most interesting of all religious questions. It is not surprising, then, that of all the books of the Old Testament, the Psalter, that is, the 150 Psalms of the Bible, is the MOST FREQUENTLY QUOTED IN THE NEW TESTAMENT. It has been reckoned that of 283 citations borrowed from the Old Testament by the New, 116 are drawn from the Psalms."

(Fillion, S.S., The New Psalter).

 

[To be continued]