SAINT ALPHONSUS RODRIQUEZ (1617 A.D.)

 

SAINT ALPHONSUS RODRIQUEZ

Saint Alphonsus Rodríguez, S.J., (Spanish: Alfonso) (July 25, 1532 – October 31, 1617) was a Spanish Jesuit lay brother, now venerated as a saint. He was a native of Segovia. He is sometimes confused with Fr. Alphonsus (Alonso) Rodriguez, S.J., a Jesuit who wrote the Exercicio de perfección y virtudes cristianas (3 vols., Seville, 1609), which has frequently been re-edited and translated into many languages. Though his life was punctuated with personal tragedies and disappointments, his impact on the people he met was his legacy. He served with such love that the act of opening the door became a sacramental gesture. He closed a life of humility, mortification and charity by a saintly death on October 31, A.D. 1617.

 

 INTROIT (Ps. 91:13, 14)

The just shall flourish like the palm tree, he shall grow up like the cedar of Libanus, planted in the house of the Lord, in the courts of  the house of our God.

It is good to give praise to the Lord and to sing to Thy name, O Most High. Glory be to the Father . . . 

-- The just shall . . .

COLLECT

O God, strength of the weak and greatness of the humble, who didst make Thy servant Alphonsus wonderful by the practice of constant penance and the merit of deep humility, grant that we may mortify our flesh as he did and faithfully carry the cross in the footsteps of Thy Son, and thus attain eternal glory, Who livest and reigneth . . .

EPISTLE

I Corinthians 4:9-14

⁹ Brethren, For I think that God hath set forth us apostles, the last, as it were men appointed to death: we are made a spectacle to the world, and to angels, and to men.

¹⁰ We are fools for Christ's sake, but you are wise in Christ; we are weak, but you are strong; you are honourable, but we without honour.

¹¹ Even unto this hour we both hunger and thirst, and are naked, and are buffeted, and have no fixed abode;

¹² And we labour, working with our own hands: we are reviled, and we bless; we are persecuted, and we suffer it.

¹³ We are blasphemed, and we entreat; we are made as the refuse of this world, the offscouring of all even until now.

¹⁴ I write not these things to confound you; but I admonish you as my dearest children, in Christ Jesus our Lord.

GRADUAL (Ps. 36: 30-31)

The mouth of the just shall meditate wisdom, and his tongue shall speak judgment. The law of God is in his heart and his steps shall not be supplanted.

GOSPEL (Luke 12: 32-34)

At that time, Jesus said to His disciples: "Fear not, little flock, for it hath pleased your Father to give you a kingdom.

³³ Sell what you possess and give alms. Make to yourselves bags which grow not old, a treasure in heaven which faileth not: where no thief approacheth, nor moth corrupteth.

³⁴ For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also."

OFFERTORY (Ps. 20: 2-3)

In Thy strength, O Lord, the just  man shall joy, and in Thy salvation he shall rejoice exceedingly; Thou hast given him his heart's desire.

SECRET

May the holy prayers of blessed Alphonsus accompany our offerings to Thee, for, whilst he prayed before Thine altars, Thou didst refresh him with the sweetness of heavenly favors. Through our Lord . . .

COMMUNION (Matt. 19: 28, 29)

Amen I say to you, that you, who have left all things and followed Me, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall possess life everlasting.

POSTCOMMUNION

May this heavenly banquet give us the spirit of fortitude, O Lord, so that like the blessed Confessor Alphonsus we may escape the snares of the enemy and deserve to enjoy eternal peace. Through our Lord Jesus Christ . . .