EMBER WEDNESDAY IN ADVENT
Luke 1: 26-38
SAINT EUSEBIUS
Bishop and Martyr
SIMPLE / PURPLE
Three days of fasting, prayer, and charityconsecrate
to God each of the four seasons of the year. "Let the abstinence of him
that fasts become the meal of the poor man," says St. Leo, reminding us
that we fast not only for ourselves but
for our neighbors. These are also days of praying and meriting grace
for those to be ordained on Saturday. The Epistle in the Mass deals with
the promise of the Saviour, and the Gospel with the announcement of His
coming. So these Advent Ember Days are, finally, a spiritual
preparation for His advent.
Three days of fasting, prayer, and charity
INTROIT Isa. 45:8
Ps. 18:2. The heavens show forth the glory of God, and the firmament proclaims His handiwork.
V. Glory be
COLLECT
V. Let us pray. Let us kneel.
R. Arise
O Almighty God, may the coming feast of our redemption
LESSON Isa. 2:2-5
In those days, the prophet Isaias said:
In the last days the mountain of the house of the Lord shall be prepared on the top of mountains, and it shall be exalted above the hills, and all nations shall flow unto it. And many people shall go, and say: Come and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, and to the house of the God of Jacob, and he will teach us his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for the law shall come forth from Sion, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem. And he shall judge the Gentiles, and rebuke many people: and they shall turn their swords into
GRADUAL Ps. 23:7, 3, 4
Lift up your gates, O princes, and be lifted, O eternal gates; and the king of glory shall enter in.
V. Who can ascend the mountain of the Lord? Or who may stand in His holy place? He whose hands are sinless, whose heart is clean.
COLLECT
Make haste to come, O Lord, we beg You! Grant us Your heavenly aid, so that those who trust in Your goodness may be consoled by Your coming; who lives and rules with God the Father
Commemoration of SAINT EUSEBIUS
Eusebius was bishop of Vercelli in northern Italy in the middle of the fourth century. St. Ambrose says that he was the first in the West to introduce the practice of community life among secular clergy. Eusebius was exiled to Palestine and Cappadocia by Emperor Constantius for his defense of St. Athanasius and his opposition to the Arian heresy, which denied the divinity of Christ. Though greatly mistreated in exile, [he won the title of martyr for his grievous sufferings] the courageous bishop survived the ordeal and, on the death of the Emperor, took up the fight for the Church once more. He won other enemies, however, by urging clemency toward repentant Arian bishops, the very ones who had been a cause of his exile. St. Eusebius died in peace at Vercelli in 371 A. D.
O God, who gladdens us each year by the feast of Your blessed martyr bishop Eusebius, mercifully grant that we who celebrate his birthday may also enjoy his protection. Through Our Lord
EPISTLE Isa. 7:10-15
In those days, the Lord spoke again to Achaz, saying:
"Ask thee a sign of the Lord thy God, either unto the depth of hell, or unto the height above."
And Achaz said: "I will not ask, and I will not tempt the Lord." And he said: "Hear ye therefore, O house of David: Is it a small thing for you to be grievous to men, that you are grievous to my God also? Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign. Behold a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son and his name shall be called Emmanuel. He shall eat butter and honey, that he may know to refuse the evil, and to choose the good."
GRADUAL Ps. 144:18, 21
The Lord is near to all who call upon Him, to all who call upon Him in truth.
V. My lips shall speak the praise of the Lord; let all men bless His holy name.
GOSPEL Luke 1:26-38
At that time, the angel Gabriel was sent from God into a city of Galilee, called Nazareth, To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David: and the virgin's name was Mary. And the angel being come in, said unto her: "Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women." Who having heard, was troubled at his saying and thought with herself what manner of salutation this should be. And the angel said to her: "Fear not, Mary, for thou hast found grace with God.
And Mary said to the angel: "How shall this be done, because I know not
OFFERTORY ANTIPHON Isa. 35:4
Take courage, and be afraid no longer. Behold, our God will render justice; He Himself will come and save us.
SECRET
May our fasting be acceptable to You, O Lord. Let it atone for our sins and make us worthy of Your grace, so that we may attain the fulfillment of Your everlasting promises. Through our Lord
Commemoration of SAINT EUSEBIUS
Bless the gifts we have set apart for You, O Lord. May the prayers of Your blessed martyr bishop Eusebius help these offerings to win Your mercy for us. Through Our Lord
COMMUNION ANTIPHON Isa. 7:14
Behold, a virgin shall conceive and shall bear a son, and his name shall be called Emmanuel.
POSTCOMMUNION
O Lord, may the banquet of salvation, of which we have partaken with joy, bring us a new life. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son, who lives and rules with You in the unity of the Holy Spirit; one God forever and ever.
Commemoration of SAINT EUSEBIUS
O Lord, may this Communion cleanse us from sin, and bestow on us spiritual health from heaven through the intercession of Your martyr bishop Eusebius. Through Our Lord
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