SEVENTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST
Baptism received, though a great mystery of God-life shared with men, is only a beginning. Life means a source, a fountain of activity, a movement with the purpose of perfecting being. It is not enough to be engrafted into Christ as His living member. Christian life must bear Christian fruit, for the glory of Christ, for the perfection and happiness of the Christian, and for the conquest of the world under the Kingship of Christ and the Queenship of Mary. Apostolic activity at every level is the mark of Christian vitality.
INTROIT Ps. 46:2
Clap your hands, all you peoples, shout to God with cries of joy.
Ps. 46:3. For the Lord is the Most High, the awe-inspiring; He is the great King over all the earth.
V. Glory be . . .
COLLECT
O God, whose ever-watchful providence rules all things, we humbly implore You to remove from us whatever is harmful, and to bestow on us only that which will be helpful. Through our Lord . . .
Commemoration of SAINTS Nazarius, Celsus, Victor, and Innocent
Nazarius, an ardent Christian of the first century, left his native city of Rome to preach the Faith to pagans in many Italian towns and villages. He took with him on his missionary journeys a young co-apostle by the name of Celsus. Both of these missionary pioneers died for Christ at Milan, about A.D. 68.
Pope Victor I, born in Africa, was martyred under Septimus Severus, A.D. 198. Pope Innocent I was a contemporary of St. Jerome, who urged Christians to keep the faith of Pope Innocent and to "receive no other doctrine, however wise and attractive it may appear." Pope Innocent died A.D. 417.
Defend us, O Lord, through the blessed martyrdom of Your saints Nazarius, Celsus, Victor, and Innocent, and may their merits support us in our weakness. Through our Lord . . .
EPISTLE Rom. 6:19-23
Brethren: I speak an human thing, because of the infirmity of your flesh. For as you have yielded your members to serve uncleanness and iniquity, unto iniquity: so now yield your members to serve justice, unto sanctification. For when you were the servants of sin, you were free men to justice. What fruit therefore had you then in those things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of them is death. But now being made free from sin and become servants to God, you have your fruit unto sanctification, and the end life everlasting. For the wages of sin is death. But the grace of God, life everlasting in Christ Jesus our Lord.
GRADUAL Ps. 33:12, 6
Come, children, hear me; I will teach you to fear the Lord.
V. Turn to Him that you may be enlightened, and your face may never blush with shame.
Alleluia, alleluia! V. Ps. 46:2
Clap your hands, all you peoples, shout to God with cries of joy. Alleluia!
GOSPEL Matt. 7:15-21
At that time, Jesus said to His disciples: "Beware of false prophets, who come to you in the clothing of sheep, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. By their fruits you shall know them. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit, and the evil tree bringeth forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can an evil tree bring forth good fruit. Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit, shall be cut down, and shall be cast into the fire. Wherefore by their fruits you shall know them. Not every one that saith to me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven: but he that doth the will of my Father who is in heaven, he shall enter into the kingdom of heaven."
OFFERTORY ANTIPHON Dan. 3:40
As with holocausts of rams and bullocks, and thousands of fat lambs, let our sacrifice be made in Your sight this day that it may please You; for there is no confusion to those who trust in You, O Lord.
SECRET
O God, this perfect Sacrifice has replaced the many offerings of the Old Law. Accept it now from Your devout servants and bless it, as You once blessed the offering of Abel, that the individual gift, which each one of us presents in honor of Your name, may bring all of us closer to salvation. Through our Lord . . .
Commemoration of SAINTS Nazarius, Celsus, Victor, and Innocent
Let Your wrath be appeased, Almighty God, by the gifts we offer You in honor of Your saints Nazarius, Celsus, Victor, and Innocent, and grant us new life through these offerings as we receive them back from You. Through our Lord . . .
COMMUNION ANTIPHON Ps. 30:3
Incline Your ear, make haste to deliver me!
POSTCOMMUNION PRAYER
O Lord, let the gentle healing power of Your Sacrament ris us of our evil inclinations and lead us to do good. Through our Lord . . .
Commemoration of SAINTS Nazarius, Celsus, Victor, and Innocent
May the prayers of Your saints Nazarius, Celsus, Victor, and Innocent, win forgiveness for us, O Lord. Grant that the Sacrifice we offer in this life may be our everlasting possession in the life to come. Through our Lord . . .
Thank you Deacon, am assisting at Holy Mass tonight at our local Carmelite monastery and needed this information on today's propers. God bless you!
ReplyDeleteKentucky here; Thank you, Deacon, for this website. It is with me EVERY week, at The Holy Mass. Has been for years.
ReplyDelete