SAINT JOHN BOSCO (1888 A.D.)

Dots show locations of the Salesian's missions. Image via Wikipedia

SAINT JOHN BOSCO

Confessor

DOUBLE / WHITE
John Bosco (1815-88) grew up on a Piedmont farm in Italy. While still a student-priest at Turin, he began his mission for the abandoned boy apprentices of the early industrial era, who roamed uncared for on the streets of the city. Priests and Brothers gathered about John Bosco as his work developed, and formed the Salesian Order, named in honor of St. Francis of Sales. He also founded a community of Sisters to aid needy girls. Today, the missioners of John Bosco carry on his ideals of gentleness and charity among poor children in Asia, Africa, and South America, as well as in Europe and North America.

INTROIT III Reg. 4:29

God gave him wisdom and understanding exceedingly great, and a heart as wide as the sands on the seashore.
Ps. 112:1. Praise the Lord, you His children, praise the name of the Lord.
V. Glory be . . .

COLLECT

O God, You made Your confessor St. John a father and teacher for the young and willed that he should found in Your Church flourishing new communities under the protection of the Virgin Mary. Enkindle in us the same fire of love to seek after souls and serve You alone. Through Our Lord . . .

EPISTLE Philipp. 4:4-9

Brethren: Rejoice in the Lord always: again, I say, rejoice. Let your modesty be known to all men. The Lord is nigh. Be nothing solicitous: but in every thing, by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your petitions be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasseth all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. For the rest, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever modest, whatsoever just, whatsoever holy, whatsoever lovely, whatsoever of good fame, if there be any virtue, if any praise of discipline: think on these things. The things which you have both learned and received and heard and seen in me, these do ye: and the God of peace shall be with you.

Gradual
Ps 36:3-5
Trust in the Lord and do good, that you may dwell in the land and be fed with its riches.
V. Take delight in the Lord, and He will grant you your heart’s requests. Commit to the Lord your way; trust in Him, and He will act. Alleluia, alleluia.
Ps 73:21
V. The afflicted and the poor shall praise Your name. Alleluia.

GOSPEL Matt. 18:1-5

At that time, the disciples came to Jesus, saying: "Who, thinkest thou, is the greater in the kingdom of heaven?" And Jesus, calling unto him a little child, set him in the midst of them. And said: "Amen I say to you, unless you be converted, and become as little children, you shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, he is the greater in the kingdom of heaven. And he that shall receive one such little child in my name, receiveth me."

OFFERTORY ANTIPHON Ps. 33:12

Come, children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the Lord.

SECRET

Accept, O Lord, our offering of this perfect host of salvation. May we love You in all things and above all things so that our lives may praise and glorify You. Through Our Lord . . .

COMMUNION ANTIPHON Rom. 4:18

Hoping against hope he believed, so that he became the father of many nations, according to what was said to him.

POSTCOMMUNION

We have partaken of the sacred mystery of Your Body and Blood, O Lord. remind us always of our obligation of gratitude through the intercession of Your blessed confessor saint John; who lives and rules with God the Father . . .

The dreams of Saint John Bosco (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

3rd SUNDAY AFTER EPIPHANY; THE CONVERSION OF SAINT PAUL

THIRD SUNDAY AFTER EPIPHANY

THE CONVERSION OF SAINT PAUL

INTROIT (Ps. 96:7-8)

Worship God, all you His angels. Sion heard and was glad, and all the daughters of Juda rejoiced.
Ps. 96:1. The Lord is king; let the earth rejoice; let the many isles be glad!
V. Glory be . . .

COLLECT

Almighty and eternal God, look mercifully upon our weakness, and stretch forth the right hand of Your power to protect us. Through Our Lord . . .

Commemoration of THE CONVERSION OF SAINT PAUL

Saul, the youthful Pharisee of Jerusalem who stood by as a witness at the death of the first martyr, Stephen, grew into manhood with a consuming desire to destroy the religious followers of Jesus. Three years after the crucifixion of Christ, while in the very act of extending his persecution of the Christians from Jerusalem to Damascus, Saul was confronted by his Savior with the question, "Why dost thou persecute me?" In the dazzling light of this vision, Saul was called to a double vocation: to be a chosen vessel to carry the name of Jesus among nations, and to suffer much for Christ. In this new life, Saul was renamed Paul.

It was the suffering for the name of Jesus--not only the physical hardships, the deprivations and rejections of his journeys, but the complete giving of himself for his neighbors--that lay at the root of Paul's unparalleled missionary success. Because he "lived Christ," Paul glorified in his tribulations, wrote the lyrical praise of Christian love, exhorted his Christians to be imitators of him, as he was of Christ. He so thoroughly "emptied himself" for men that he could say, "It is now no longer I that live, but Christ lives in me."

We celebrate the conversion of the blessed apostle Paul today. You taught the whole world through his preaching, O God; may we come to You by following his example.

Commemoration of SAINT PETER

O God, You have entrusted the keys of the kingdom of heaven yo Your blessed apostle Peter, and have given him the power of bishop to bind or to loose. may his intercession free us from the slavery of sin; who lives and rules with God the Father . . .

READING (Romans 12:16-21)

Brethren: Be not wise in your own conceits. To no man rendering evil for evil. Providing good things, not only in the sight of God but also in the sight of all men. If it be possible, as much as is in you, have peace with all men. Revenge not yourselves, my dearly beloved; but give place unto wrath, for it is written: "Revenge is mine, I will repay, saith the Lord." But ,"If the enemy be hungry, give him to eat; if he thirst, give him to drink. For, doing this, thou shalt heap coals of fire upon his head." Be not overcome by evil: but overcome evil by good.

GRADUAL (Ps. 101:16-17)

The nations shall revere Your name, O Lord, and all the kings of the earth shall reverence Your glory. V. For the Lord has built up Sion, and He shall appear in His glory.

Alleluia, alleluia! (V. Ps. 96:1)

The Lord is king; let the earth rejoice; let the many isles be glad!

Alleluia!

GOSPEL (Matthew 8:1-13)

At that time, when Jesus had come down from the mountain, great multitudes followed him: And behold a leper came and adored him, saying: "Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean." And Jesus stretching forth his hand, touched him, saying: "I will, be thou made clean." And forthwith his leprosy was cleansed. And Jesus saith to him: "See thou tell no man: but go, shew thyself to the priest, and offer the gift which Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them."
And when he had entered into Capharnaum, there came to him a centurion, beseeching him,
and saying, "Lord, my servant lieth at home sick of the palsy, and is grievously tormented." And Jesus saith to him: "I will come and heal him." And the centurion, making answer, said: "Lord, I am not worthy that thou shouldst enter under my roof; but only say the word, and my servant shall be healed. For I also am a man subject to authority, having under me soldiers; and I say to this, Go, and he goeth, and to another Come, and he cometh, and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it." And Jesus hearing this, marvelled; and said to them that followed him. "Amen I say to you, I have not found so great faith in Israel. And I say to you that many shall come from the east and the west, and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven: But the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into the exterior darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth." And Jesus said to the centurion: "Go, and as thou hast believed, so be it done to thee." And the servant was healed at the same hour.

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 shall declare the works of the Lord.

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 THE CONVERSION OF SAINT PAUL

O Lord, sanctify the offerings of Your people through the intercession of the blessed apostle Paul. The sacrifice we offer is already acceptable to You because You instituted it; may it become even more pleasing to You through the prayers of Your saint.

Commemoration of SAINT PETER

O Lord, we offer You the prayers and sacrifice of Your Church through the intercession of Your apostle Peter. May this Mass which we celebrate in his honor win pardon for us. Through Our Lord . . .

COMMUNION ANTIPHON (Luke 4:22)

All marveled at these things that came from the mouth of God.

POSTCOMMUNION

Make us worthy, O Lord, to reap the fruits of these great mysteries which you have graciously given us to celebrate. Through Our Lord . . .

Commemoration of THE CONVERSION OF SAINT PAUL

We have been made holy by this life-giving Sacrifice, O Lord. May we always be aided by the prayers of Your saint, whom You gave us as a protector and a guide.

Commemoration of SAINT PETER

May our offering bring us happiness, O Lord. We praise You for the wondrous things You accomplished through Your apostle Peter, and ask for forgiveness through his intercession. through Our Lord . . .

January 12 Within the Octave of Epiphany

Jesus Found in the Temple (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

SIMPLE / WHITE

Within the Octave

The Mass of First Sunday after the Epiphany is Said:


Introit

Upon a high throne I saw a man sitting, Whom a multitude of angels adore, singing in unison: Behold Him, the name of Whose empire is forever.
Ps 99:1
Sing joyfully to God, all you lands; serve the Lord with gladness.
V. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.
R. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
Upon a high throne I saw a man sitting, Whom a multitude of angels adore, singing in unison: Behold Him, the name of Whose empire is forever.

Collect 
O Lord, we beseech You, in Your heavenly goodness, hear Your people who pray to You; that they may perceive what they ought to do, and have the strength to fulfill what they have seen.
Through Jesus Christ, thy Son our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, ever one God, world without end.
R. Amen.

Lesson
Rom 12:1-5
Brethren: I exhort you, by the mercy of God, to present your bodies as a sacrifice, living, holy, pleasing to God - your spiritual service. And be not conformed to this world, but be transformed in the newness of your mind, that you may discern what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God. By the grace that has been given to me, I say to each one among you: let no one rate himself more than he ought, but let him rate himself according to moderation, and according as God has apportioned to each one the measure of faith. For just as in one body we have many members, yet all the members have not the same function, so we, the many, are one body in Christ, but severally members, one of another, in Christ Jesus, our Lord.

Gradual
Ps 71:18, 3.
Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, Who alone does wondrous deeds.
V. The mountains shall yield peace for the people, and the hills justice. Alleluia, alleluia.
Ps 99:1
Sing joyfully to God, all you lands; serve the Lord with gladness. Alleluia.

GOSPEL
Continuation of the Holy Gospel according to
R. Glory be to Thee, O Lord.
Luke 2:42-52
When Jesus was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem according to the custom of the feast. And after they had fulfilled the days, when there were returning, the Boy Jesus remained in Jerusalem, and His parents did not know it. But thinking that He was in the caravan, they had come a day’s journey before it occurred to them to look for Him among their relatives and acquaintances. And not finding Him, they returned to Jerusalem in search of Him. And it came to pass after three days, that they found Him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. And all who were listening to Him were amazed at His understanding and His answers. And when they saw Him, they were astonished. And His Mother said to Him, Son, why have You done so to us? Behold, in sorrow Your father and I have been seeking You. And He said to them, How is it that you sought Me? Did you not know that I must be about My Father’s business? And they did not understand the word that He spoke to them. And He went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was subject to them; and His Mother kept all these things carefully in her heart. And Jesus advanced in wisdom and age and grace before God and men.

Secret
May this sacrifice that we offer You, O Lord, ever give us new life and protection.
Through Jesus Christ, thy Son our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, ever one God, world without end.
R. Amen.

Post Communion
O Almighty God, grant, we humbly beseech You, that those whom You refresh with Your sacrament may also worthily serve You in a way that is well pleasing to You.
Through Jesus Christ, thy Son our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, ever one God, world without end.
R. Amen.