MONDAY OF THE SECOND WEEK OF ADVENT; SAINT SABBAS (532 A.D.), Abbot

MONDAY OF THE SECOND WEEK OF ADVENT

[Commemoration]
SAINT SABBAS
Abbot

DOUBLE, FIRST CLASS / PURPLE


INTROIT Isa. 30:30
People of Sion, behold, the Lord shall come to save the nations; and the Lord shall make heard the glory of His voice in the joy of your heart.Ps. 79:2 Take heed, you who rule Israel, you who shepherd over Joseph. 
V. Glory be . . .

COLLECT
O Lord, stir up our hearts to accept the message of Your only-begotten Son, so that, through His coming on earth, we may serve Him always with a pure intention; who lives and rules with You . . . 

Commemoration of SAINT SABBAS
When Sabbas (439-532), a native of Cappadocia, was twenty years old, he became a disciple of the great solitary, St. Euthymius, in the Judean wilderness. On the death of Euthymius, Sabbas was made leader of the solitaries by the appointment of the patriarch of Jerusalem. Several times he left his loved solitude to intervene with the Emperors of the East for the liberty and welfare of the Church. Venerated for his holiness, Sabbas died on December 5, 532 A.D., at the age of 93.


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

EPISTLE Rom. 15:4-13
Brethren: For what things soever were written were written for our learning: that, through patience and the comfort of the scriptures, we might have hope. Now the God of patience and of comfort grant you to be of one mind, one towards another, according to Jesus Christ: That with one mind and with one mouth you may glorify God and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Wherefore, receive one another, as Christ also hath received you, unto the honour of God. For I say that Christ Jesus was minister of the circumcision for the truth of God, to confirm the promises made unto the fathers: But that the Gentiles are to glorify God for his mercy, as it is written: "Therefore will I confess to thee, O Lord, among the Gentiles and will sing to thy name." And again he saith: "Rejoice ye Gentiles, with his people." And again: "Praise the Lord, all ye Gentiles: and magnify him, all ye people." And again, Isaias saith: "There shall be a root of Jesse; and he that shall rise up to rule the Gentiles, in him the Gentiles shall hope." Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing: that you may abound in hope and in the power of the Holy Ghost. 

GRADUAL Ps. 49:2-3, 5
Out of Sion, perfect in beauty, God shall come revealed. 
V. Gather before Him His saints, who have ratified His covenant with sacrifice.

Alleluia, alleluia! V. Ps. 121:1
I rejoiced at the tidings which were told me, "We shall go into the house of the Lord."
Alleluia!

GOSPEL Matt. 11:2-10
At that time, when John had heard in prison the works of Christ: sending two of his disciples he said to him: "Art thou he that art to come, or look we for another?" And Jesus making answer said to them: "Go and relate to John what you have heard and seen. The blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead rise again, the poor have the gospel preached to them. And blessed is he that shall not be scandalized in me." 
And when they went their way, Jesus began to say to the multitudes concerning John: "What went you out into the desert to see? a reed shaken with the wind? But what went you out to see? a man clothed in soft garments? Behold they that are clothed in soft garments, are in the houses of kings. But what went you out to see? A prophet? Yea I tell you, and more than a prophet. For this is he of whom it is written: 'Behold I send my angel before my face, who shall prepare thy way before thee.' "

OFFERTORY ANTIPHON Ps. 84:7-8
You will turn again, O God, and bring us life, and Your people shall rejoice in You. Show us Your mercy, O Lord, and grant us Your salvation.

SECRET 
O Lord, let our humble offering of these prayers and sacrifices appease You for our sins. We have no merits of our own to depend on; so assist us with Your aid. Through Our Lord . . . 

Commemoration of SAINT SABBASMay the offerings we lay upon Your sacred altar, O Lord, bring us closer to our salvation through the intercession of the blessed abbot Sabbas. Through Our Lord . . .


COMMUNION ANTIPHON Bar. 5:5; 4:36
Arise, O Jerusalem, and stand on high, and behold the joy that comes to you from your God.

POSTCOMMUNION 
We have just been nourished with Your Body and Blood, O Lord. Teach us through this Sacramental rite to despise the things of earth and to yearn for the things of heaven. Through Our Lord . . . 

Commemoration of SAINT SABBAS
May the Sacrament we have received and the prayers of the blessed abbot Sabbas protect us, O Lord. Grant also that we may imitate the virtues of this saint who is our intercessor with You in heaven. Through Our Lord . . .