Saint Francis Caracciolo, Within the Octave of Corpus Christi

SAINT FRANCIS CARACCIOLO 

Confessor

WITHIN THE OCTAVE

DOUBLE / WHITE  Three things made Francis of Caracciolo stand out from his wealthy Neapolitan friends: he was powerfully drawn to our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament, he fasted every Saturday in honor of the Virgin Mary, and he had a generous love for the poor. When he was seriously ill at the age of twenty-two, he vowed that if he were cured he would devote himself to the service of God and his fellow men. He became a priest and was the founder of the order of Minor Clerks Regular. Francis instituted perpetual adoration as one of the works of his order. He died in A.D. 1608.

INTROIT Ps. 21:15; 68:10
My heart is become like wax melting in the midst of my bowels, for the zeal of Thy house hath eaten me up.
 Ps. 72:1. How good is God to Israel, to them that are of a right heart.
 V. Glory be . . .

COLLECT
O God, who didst adorn blessed Francis, the founder of a new Order, with zeal for prayer and love of penance, grant that Thy servants may make such progress by imitating him, that through constancy in prayer and bodily mortification they may deserve to attain heavenly glory. Through our Lord . . .

LESSON Wisd. 4:7-14
The just man, if he be prevented with death, shall be in rest. For venerable old age is not that of long time, nor counted by the number of years: but the understanding of a man is grey hairs. And a spotless life is old age. He pleased God, and was beloved, and living among sinners, he was translated. He was taken away, lest wickedness should alter his understanding, or deceit beguile his soul. For the bewitching of vanity obscureth good things, and the wandering of concupiscence overturneth the innocent mind. Being made perfect in a short space, he fulfilled a long time. For his soul pleased God: therefore he hastened to bring him out of the midst of iniquities.

GRADUAL Ps. 41:1, 2, 3
As the hart panteth after the fountains of waters, so my soul panteth after Thee, O God.V. My soul hath thirsted after the strong living God.

Alleluia, alleluia! Ps. 72:26
My flesh and my heart hath fainted away, Thou art the God of my heart and the God that is my portion forever. Alleluia!

GOSPEL Luke 12:35-40
At that time, Jesus said to His disciples, "Let your loins be girt and lamps burning in your hands. And you yourselves like to men who wait for their lord, when he shall return from the wedding; that when he cometh and knocketh, they may open to him immediately. Blessed are those servants whom the Lord, when he cometh, shall find watching. Amen I say to you that he will gird himself and make them sit down to meat and passing will minister unto them. And if he shall come in the second watch or come in the third watch and find them so, blessed are those servants. But this know ye, that if the householder did know at what hour the thief would come, he would surely watch and would not suffer his house to be broken open. Be you then also ready: for at what hour you think not the Son of man will come."

OFFERTORY ANTIPHON Ps. 91:13
The just man shall flourish like the palm-tree, he shall grow up like the cedar of Libanus.

SECRET
O Most merciful Jesus, grant that as we commemorate the glorious merits of blessed Francis, on fire with love like him we amy be worthy to gather around Thy holy table; who livest and reignest . . .

COMMUNION ANTIPHON Ps. 30:20
O how great is the multitude of Thy sweetness, O Lord, which Thou hast hidden for them that fear Thee!

POSTCOMMUNION
We beseech Thee, Lord, let our minds ever retain the joyous memory and fruit of this most holy Sacrifice which we have offered to Thy Majesty on today's solemnity of blessed Francis. Through our Lord . . .